LEAD VOX / GUITAR: MARK PERRY
GUITAR / BACK VOX: LEE McFADDEN
BASS / BACK VOX: STEVE CARTER
DRUMS: KEV MANN
Mark Perry started the first UK punk fanzine, Sniffin' Glue, in July 1976 after hearing and seeing US punk band, the Ramones. He was working as a bank clerk at the time.
Within a few months Mark had left his job and Sniffin'Glue had become an essential part of the growing UK punk scene which included bands like the Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Damned. As the main punk writer, Mark became one of the most important personalities in the scene, making numerous media appearances to explain punk to the masses.
In early 1977, Mark started the Step Forward Records label with Miles Copeland. Releases included early records by the likes of the Fall, Sham 69, Chelsea and the Cortinas. Mark was also involved with Miles' other labels, Deptford Fun City Records and Illegal Records.
In March 1977, Alternative TV were formed by Mark
(vocals/guitar) with guitarist, Alex Fergusson. ATV (as they are known) played their first gig at the Nottingham Punk Festival in May 1977. They released their first single, 'Love Lies Limp', as a free flexi disc given away with the last issue of Sniffin' Glue (no.12), August 1977.
Following an abortive demo with EMI, ATV released the first proper single, 'How Much Longer'/'You Bastard', on Deptford Fun City Records. Following various line-up changes, their first album was released in May 1978.
Becoming fed up with the punk scene, Mark took ATV into areas of experimentation in late '78 and, after playing as the Good Missionaries for a few gigs, the band broke up for the first time in late 1979.
The Good Missionaries
During 1980, Mark released a solo album, 'Snappy Turns'. He also played drums for the Lemon Kittens and the Door & the Window and sung with the Reflections. ATV reformed briefly in 1981 and recorded the 'Strange Kicks' album for Miles' label IRS.
ATV - 1986
Mark left the music biz in 1982 but was soon back in 1984 with a new ATV line up and playing gigs like Alan McGee's early Living Room Club. The band continued, on and off, into the mid 90s playing various gigs and recording for various labels along the way. This period focused more on Mark's songwriting abilities than on ATV as a punk band.
In 1995, ATV played a punk festival in Bath and went back into the punk fold for a few years, bringing more of the older classics back into their set. ATV have continued to play live, although they are, once again, playing a more eclectic set.
In 1996, Mark got back into writing by providing the text for Erica Echenberg's photo book, 'And God Created Punk', which was published by Virgin. In 2000, Sanctuary Books published 'Sniffin' Glue: The Essential Punk Accessory', which compiles all the issues of Mark's fanzine along with lots of new writing and photos.
In January 2001, Alternative TV visited New York for the first time and played a few gigs including an appearance at Punk Magazine's anniversary party at CBGB. In April they returned to NYC at the invitation of Spin Magazine to play their 25 Years Of Punk party, again at CBGB (a live CD of this show was released in May 2002). In August 2001, the band released a new studio album - Revolution - and did a tour of the UK.
In the summer of 2002 Alternative TV started work on their next studio album, working title: 'Inside Project'. On the writing front, Mark has written the booklet notes for the new Saint Etienne album.
ALTERNATIVE TV - WHO'S WHO.
This is a chronological list of musicians who have been in Alternative TV. It's followed by a list of all the various line-ups:
MP=Mark Perry - lead vocals, guitar, other instruments. Also in Lemon Kittens, Door & The Window, the Reflections and the Long Decline.
AF=Alex Fergusson - guitar, vocals. Went on to play in Cash Pussies and Psychic TV.
MS=Micky Smith - bass. No info on other projects.
JT=John Towe - drums. Was in Generation X. Went on to play in Rage and the Adverts.
TT=Tyrone Thomas - bass, guitar. Also in Convent Nuns and other bands.
CB=Chris Bennett - drums. Went on to play in Secret Affair.
DB=Dennis Burns - bass. Also in the Reflections. Then retired from music.
KT=Kim Turner - guitar. Played drums for the Andy Fraser Band.
ML=Mick Linehan - guitar. Went on to play in the Lines.
DG=Dave George - guitar, other instruments. Kept the Good Missionaries name going for a few years in Hastings.
AG=Anno Graver - vocals. Sang with Gong and Here & Now.
HB=Henry Badowski - drums, sax. Also played bass in Chelsea, the Damned and King. And solo as 'Henry'.
GH=Gillian Hanna - vocals. No info on other projects.
AG=Alan Gruner - keyboards. No info on other projects.
RW=Ray Weston - drums. No info on other projects.
KB=Karl Blake - guitar, drums. Also in Lemon Kittens, Shocked Headed Peters and the Reflections.
N=Nag - bass. Also in the Door & The Window and the Reflections.
P=Protag - guitar. Went on to play with Blythe Power.
SC=Steve Cannell - bass. Went on to play in Danielle Dax's band and others.
AP=Allison Phillips - drums. Also played in Ut and Taboo.
CG=Clive Giblin - guitar. Also in Shocked Headed Peters and other bands.
F=Fish - drums. No info on other projects.
JK=James Kyllo - guitar, vocals. Also played in the Dropkick Me Jesus.
DM=Dave Morgan - drums. Also in the Weather Prophets and the Rockingbirds.
B?=Bob ???? - drums. Also played with the Cardiacs.
LB=Luci Bocchino - guitar. Also played in the Long Decline and the Flips.
RU=Rob Ugly - bass. Also played in the Long Decline and the Dole Claimers.
JI=John Isaac - drums. Also played with Christian Death.
DU=Dick Ugly - keyboards. Played in the Dole Claimers.
LM= Lee McFadden - bass. Played in the ARF, Long Decline and loads of others.
TB=Tony Barber - bass, guitar. Played in Boy Wonders, Buzzcocks and others.
KM=Kevin Mann - drums. TV Personalites, The Creation. and others
GH=Grahame Hullett - bass. Played in Yacca and others.
SC= Steve Carter - bass - Played in Sad Lovers & Giants.
Other people who have helped ATV by playing or singing
something on various occasions but were not members - Jools Holland,
Genesis P-Orridge, Steve Jameson, Kif Kif, Stefie Sharpstrings, Sam Dobson, Brian James, Pete Brown, Terry Edwards, Ed Ball, Susie Webb, Yvette Eady, Mika Mizushima, Mike Cook, Roddy Frame, Annie Stubbs, Siobhan Davigneau and a few others who's names I've forgotten!
Line-ups (See above for key to initials):
(Note: dates are approx. Some line-ups lasted longer than others!)
1977
MP/AF/MS/JT.
MP/AF/JT/TT.
MP/AF/TT/CB.
MP/TT/CB/DB.
1978
MP/CB/DB/KT.
MP/CB/DB/ML.
MP/DB/ML.
MP/DB.
1979
MP/DB/DG/AG.
MP/DB/DG/HB/GH. (played as 'the Good Missionaries').
(Break in 1980)
1981
MP/DB/AF/AG/RW.
(Break in 1982 & 1983)
1984
MP/DG/KB/N/P.
1985
MP/KB/SC/AP.
1986
MP/SC/AP/P.
1987
MP/SC/AP/CG.
1988
MP/SC/CG/F.
1989
MP/JK.
1990
MP/JK/SC/DM.
(Break between 1991 & 1995)
1995
MP/AF/TT/CG/Bob..???
1996
MP/TT/CG/B?
1998
MP/TT/LB/RU/JI (a couple of gigs with DU & a couple
with LM).
2000
MP/TT/JI/TB.
2001
MP/TT/TB/KM.
MP/TT/KM/GH.
MP/TT/GH/JI.
MP/GH/JI/TB.
2002
MP/GH/JI/LB.
MP/JI/LB/SC.
Only a couple of weeks to the Brighton gig, should be an absolute cracker, three great bands and, well some records from me hopefully! Hope you're doing ok cheers Ian
This 14 track album by Dan Melchior is out now on the Topplers Record Label.
Dan Says... It's a good one I think, very loud and blasted out like the more 'punk' moments on 'Thankyou very much' , but with a good dose of mangled pop too.
Available from good independent dealers in the US and UK or direct from Topplers.
P.S. Dan stood in on guitar on an ATV tour of the USA!
A brand new tune from Night of Treason not due for release until 15th August , however due to the sad passing of Harry Patch the last WW1 soldier we have decided to put it up with a special slide show to honour him and all those who fought so we could enjoy our freedom...
The Godfathers of Britpop THE MEMBERS (Sound of the Suburbs,Solitary Confinement,Rat up a Drainpipe,Off Shore Banking Buisiness,Working Girl etc)are at the Talking Heads Portswood Road , Southampton this Friday Supported by Night of Treason playing some classic Punk and some Classic original soon to be recorded killer tunes , tickets are £10 adv or £12 on the door or send us a message to reserve from us and go on the door list and pay only £10 instead of £12 easy innit!!! Doors at 7.30pm.
oh the 16th jeezzz mate, lol i have came to new york,lol, i don't know if i can come back, because i dont have any money to go back to UK hmmm i guess if you mates can come to NY ??
"Shine On" is a instrumental surf version of our garage rocker "We Know Where Mr Barrett Lived" (the vocal version - our tribute to TVPs "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" - is uploaded on our profil)
THERE WAS A MAN or We Know Where Mr Barrett Lived
there once was a man had the world, he had it all, money to spend money to lend, yes he was a king, but he could not controll the absent thing, that ticked in his brain, yes a mind game, he pondered so long to an unknown song, so more that he was long gone, pailed by the secrets that took his sparkle in his eyes, away in his dreams, oh how very obsence,
if you shine on again, then we know where ya been, and if we knew what we were searching for, then Syd you wouldn't seek the secrets once more, whether were or not maybe we'll never know, but the secrets we have well lets us search forevermore,
there once was a man who was sick of himself, who heard a thousand thoughts in head, who kingdom land no one would understand, yes oh yes his mystic land, oh why don't you tell us more,
there was a man who could tell no more, now he is a man who is lost ashore, with blank eyes, that looked on and on, chase the dream wonder on, in your darkest dream when noting is what seem, you still go on and dream, even when you sleep forever, there is everything to uncover, were still left to wonder, there was a man but was he just a man
Luke Sky has reformed Fashion for a new album. Given that 2 of the band are dead and one is missing, this will take a bit of doing. The new album – a remote virtual space recording project – should be available later this year (I'm writing it as fast as I can, okay.)
New Fashion line-up:
Luke Sky – guitars/ primo vox, keyboards
Kev Mann (Alternative TV) – drums
Moose Harris (New Model Army/The Damned) – bass
Bàlcöny – keyboards
From the brink of the 80's headfirst into the 08's, Fashion are still the future of no future!
