GBH (band)

GBH (originally known as Charged GBH) are an English punk rock band which was formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy (replaced by Ross Lomas after two years)[3] and drummer Andy "Wilf" Williams.[4]

This article is about the band. For information on the British legal phrase, see Grievous bodily harm.

GBH
GBH performing on a Warped Tour
Background information
OriginBirmingham, England
Genres
Years active1978–present
LabelsClay, Captain Oi!, Anagram, SOS, Cleopatra, Go Kart, Idol, Sanctuary, Castle, Hellcat, Rough Justice / Music For Nations, Roadrunner
Websitehttp://www.gbhuk.com/ (Official website)
MembersColin Abrahall
Ross Lomas
Colin "Jock" Blyth
Scott Preece
Past membersSean McCarthy
Andrew "Wilf" Williams
Kai Reder
Joseph Montanaro

Background

GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited, and The Varukers. GBH have gone on to influence several punk rock musicians, as well as metal, including the early Bathory albums.[5]

The name GBH was inspired by then-bassist Sean McCarthy's trial for grievous bodily harm. Though the core line up of Colin, Ross, and Jock has stayed the same throughout their history, the drum stool has been occupied by a number of incumbents following Wilf's departure after the Midnight Madness and Beyond album and Oh No It's GBH Again 12" EP. 1989 saw the arrival of German drummer Kai Reder who played on three albums (No Need to Panic, A Fridge Too Far, and From Here to Reality), as well as the Wot a Bargain 12".[4] Kai was replaced by American Joe "Fish" Montanero for one album (Church of the Truly Warped); this was the band's last release for the Rough Justice label. The drum stool was then occupied from around 1994 by former Bomb Disneyland/Bomb Everything drummer Scott Preece, who has remained to this day and played on all releases since.

Throughout their recording history, the band has often included a cover version on many of their albums. "Boston Babies" originally recorded by Slaughter and The Dogs (on City Baby Attacked By Rats), "I Feel Alright" from The Damned and The Stooges (on City Baby's Revenge), "Avenues and Alleyways" by Tony Christie (on No Need To Panic), "Needle In A Haystack" originally by The Velvelettes (appeared on A Fridge Too Far), "Destroy" by The Vibrators (on From Here To Reality), "I Need Energy" by Zero Boys (on Church of the Truly Warped).

Biography

GBH embarked on several English and mainland US tours during the early 1980s, including several gigs at the 100 Club. 1982 saw the release of GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked by Rats, which reached No. 17 in the UK Albums Chart, as well as No. 2 in the UK Indie Chart. The band’s singles had also reached the UK Indie Chart, leading to an appearance on the UK TV programme The Tube, where they performed "Give Me Fire" (UK Indie Chart No. 2). Lyrically, the album dealt with criticism of British and European culture, violence, morbidity (especially in reference to the song "Passenger on the Menu", which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571), atheism, nihilism and humour. Musically, the album was loud and fast, with few songs exceeding three minutes. The success of the first album was repeated with their second LP, City Babys Revenge, in 1983 and saw more extensive touring in America and Europe and higher profile UK shows, including the Carlisle Punk Festival. With the Carlisle Punk Festival the band co-headlined with fellow UK82 stalwarts The Exploited, and shared the bill with the likes of Toy Dolls, Chelsea, and The Destructors. In 1984, the band dropped the "Charged" from their name and became just GBH (grievous bodily harm).[4][6]

They and many of their UK82 peers such as The Exploited, Picture Frame Seduction, Discharge, and The Varukers have all enjoyed success among punks in the United States. Although many of their contemporaries have evolved towards other styles over the years, GBH have remained fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more speed metal-inflected sound, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped,[4] although they have since returned to a more purist punk sound. They have enjoyed a mixed reception from the music press, with 1993's album, From Here To Reality, being described by the NME as "having no redeeming features whatsoever".[4]

The band is still active and touring and maintain a strong following both in the UK and the rest of Europe, as well as in the United States and Japan. The band released their twelfth studio album, Momentum, on Hellcat Records in 2017.

Band members

Current

  • Colin Abrahall – vocals (1978–present)
  • Colin "Jock" Blyth – guitar (1978–present)
  • Ross Lomas – bass (1980–present)
  • Scott Preece – drums (1994–present)

Former

  • Sean McCarthy – bass (1978-1980 died 1980)
  • Andrew "Wilf" Williams – drums (1978–1986)
  • Kai Reder – drums (1986–1992)
  • Joseph "Fish" Montanaro – drums (1992–1994)

Timeline

Discography
Studio albums
Year of release Title Label
1982 City Baby Attacked by Rats Clay
1983 City Babys Revenge Clay
1986 Midnight Madness and Beyond Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1987 No Need To Panic Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1989 A Fridge Too Far Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1990 From Here To Reality Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1992 Church of the Truly Warped Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1996 Punk Junkies We Bite (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
2002 Ha Ha Go Kart
2004 Cruel and Unusual Idol
2010 Perfume and Piss Hellcat
2017 Momentum Hellcat
Mini album
Year of release Title Label
1981 Leather, Bristles, Studs, And Acne Clay
Split mini albums
Year of release Title Featuring Label
1998 Punk As Fuck Billyclub Idol
2001 Punk Rock Ambulance Billyclub Idol
12 inch EPs / singles
Year of release Title Label
1984 Do What You Do Clay
1986 Oh No, It's GBH Again Rough Justice
1988 Wot A Bargain Rough Justice
7 inch EPs / singles
Year of release Title Label
1982 No Survivors Clay
1982 Sick Boy Clay
1982 Give Me Fire / Man Trap Clay
1983 Catch 23 / Hellhole Clay
1984 Do What You Do Clay
Live albums
Year of release Title Label
1989 No Survivors Clay
1993 Live In Japan Anagram
1996 Celebrity Live Style (later released as Live In Los Angeles on Anagram) Cleopatra
2014 Dover Showplace 1983 Cleopatra
2015 Live At The Ace Brixton 1983 Radiation Reissues
2015 City Baby Attacked by Rats (CD Album ) Secret Records
2020 Best Of Live (Vinyl) Secret Records
Compilation albums
Year of release Title Label
1982 Leather, Bristles, No Survivors & Sick Boys Clay
1986 Clay Years 1981-1984 Clay
1989 No Survivors '83 Clay
1992 The Clay Recordings Clay
1995 The Clay Punk Singles Collection Clay
1999 Punk Rock Hits Cleopatra
2002 The Punk Singles 1981-84 Castle
2005 Dead on Arrival: A Punk Rock Anthology Sanctuary
2007 Race Against Time: The Complete Clay Recordings Castle
Demos
Year of release Title
1980 1980 Demo
1980 Practice 1980
Compilation appearances (selected)
Year of release Title Label
1981 Punk And Disorderly Abstract/Posh Boy
1982 Burning Ambitions: A History Of Punk Cherry Red
1982 Punk And Disorderly - Further Charges Anagram
1999 A Triple Dose Of Punk - 60 Song box set Cleopatra

DVDs and videos
Year of Release Title
1983 Live At Victoria Hall, Hanley
1986 Brit Boys Attacked By Brats
1995 Kawasaki Live
1996 Live in L.A. 1988
2003 Live at the Ace, Brixton
2004 Kawasaki Live/Brit Boys Attacked by Brats
2005 G.B.H. Live in LA/Live at Victoria
2006 Charged: On Stage
2016 City Baby Attacked By Rats (includes CD)

References
  1. Deming, Mark. "G.B.H." AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  2. Ulibas, Joseph (5 September 2014). "UK street punks GBH is still out on the road doing what they do best". AXS. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018.
  3. Glasper, Ian (May 2014). Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984. ISBN 9781604869897.
  4. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who’s Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  5. "Interview: Quorthon (Bathory)". Deathmetal.org. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  6. "GBH - As Charged ." www.njhindl1.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
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