The Wall (band)

Punk rock band formed in Sunderland, England

The Wall

Origin| Sunderland, England
Genres| Punk rock
Years active| 1978–1983, 2007–?
Labels| Small Wonder, Fresh, Polydor, No Future, Spectacle Music
Members| Andy Forbes
Andy Griffiths
Al Gregg
Day Raven
Mark Gibson
Past members| Ian Lowery
John Hammond
Bruce Archibald
Nick Ward
Rab Fae Beith
Ivan Kelly
Pete Wilson
Clair Bidwell

The Wall were a punk rock band formed in Sunderland, England, in early 1978. They have released two studio albums.

## History

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### Early days

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Formed in early 1978, the initial line-up was Ian Lowery (vocals), Andy Griffiths (bass, vocals), John Hammond (lead guitar, vocals), and Bruce Archibald (drums), and this line-up recorded the band's debut single, "New Way", which was issued in April 1979.[1][2] Played regularly by BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel, the single sold more than 10,000 copies.[2] This success led Lowery and Griffiths to relocate to London, although Hammond and Archibald didn't follow them and were replaced by Nick Ward on guitar, and by Rab Fae Beith, former drummer with Patrik Fitzgerald (who The Wall had toured with) and The Pack.[1] After meeting Paul Cook and Steve Jones, the two former Sex Pistols decided they wanted to work with the band, and produced the next single, "Kiss the Mirror" / "Exchange", The Wall becoming the first punk band to be produced by an ex Pistol.[2] Rab became the band's manager, and when their first label Small Wonder ceased operating, he got them a deal with Fresh Records and went into the studio to record the next single "Ghetto". Although originally recorded with Lowery on vocals, it would be re-recorded with new singer Ivan Kelly (formerly of Ruefrex). Lowery had decided that Ward should be replaced, but the rest of the band disagreed and instead decided that Lowery should go.[2] Lowery went on to form Ski Patrol (with Archibald) and The Folk Devils, as well as recording solo work. He died in 2001.[2] Former Straps guitarist Andy Forbes was also added to the line-up when Ward decided to leave the band.

### First album

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The debut album, Personal Troubles and Public Issues was released in late 1980. After an unprovoked drunken attack by Kelly on an elderly man while the band were walking through London, the singer was immediately sacked from the band, with Griffiths taking over on vocals.[2] The band were given a support slot on the Stiff Little Fingers Go For It national tour, which was a great success and recorded the Remembrance EP to coincide with the dates, with a stand-in bassist playing in the live shows.[2][3] On returning from the tour, Claire Bidwell of The Passions joined on bass guitar, leaving Griffiths free to concentrate on vocals.[2]

### Second album

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The band's second album, Dirges and Anthems was released in April 1982, the band now signed to Polydor Records. Polydor insisted that "Epitaph" be released as a single, but it was outsold by the Hobby for a Day EP released on Fresh Records shortly before, and the band were dropped by Polydor.[2] The Wall were reduced to a duo of Beith and Griffiths, with the addition of guitarist Al Gregg and Claire Bidwell on bass, who soldiered on for one last effort, the Day Tripper 4 track EP and 10 track 12-inch, in late 1982, before the group split up for good in 1983.

## Post breakup

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Beith had a short spell with And Also the Trees before joining UK Subs in 1984, and running his own RFB record label. He later worked as a motorcycle mechanic.[2]

A collection of the band's independent releases was issued in 1998 on Captain Oi!.[2]

In August 2007, the band reformed for a headline appearance at the Blackpool Rebellion with seven of the original members, Andy Griffiths (vocals), Nick Ward (guitars), Al Gregg (guitars & bass), Andrew Forbes (guitars), John Hammond (guitars), Claire Bidwell (bass) and Mark Dyvig (drums); with a warm-up gig the previous night at The Thatched House in Stockport. This was followed by the release of a new live album in August 2009 on Captive Records (Opus Productions/Captive Records). The debut album, Personal Troubles and Public Issues was re-issued on CD by Westworld Recordings on 13 May 2016. Singer Andy Griffiths died on 17 August 2020 of pancreatic cancer.

## Discography

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Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart.[4]

### Albums

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* Personal Troubles and Public Issues (1980) Fresh FRESHLP2(#18) CD: (2016) Westworld Recordings (WW0035CD)
* Dirges and Anthems (1982) Polydor POLS1048 initial copies had free 7-inch EP single (Plastic Smiles / Victims of Future Wars / Missing Presumed Dead) (RAB1)
* The Punk Collection (1998) Captain Oi! AHOY CD95
* The Wall - Live (2009) Opus/Captive Records CAPCD001
* A New Way to Peroxide (2021) (compilation of the Ian Lowery era)

### Singles and EPs

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* "New Way" b/w "Suckers" / "Uniforms" (1979) Small Wonder SMALL13
* "Kiss the Mirror" / "Exchange" (September 1979) Small Wonder SMALL21(#26)
* "Ghetto" b/w "Another New Day" / "Mercury" (April 1980) Fresh FRESH17 (#19)
* "Remembrance" b/w "Hsi Nao" / "Hooligan Nights" (April 1981) Polydor POSP260
* Hobby for a Day EP - "Hobby for a Day" / "8334" / "Redeemer" (July 1981) Fresh FRESH27 (#14)
* "Epitaph" b/w "Rewind" / "New Rebel" (November 1981) Polydor POSP365
* Day Tripper 4 track 7-inch EP/10 track 12-inch EP (December 1982) No Future 02.21 (#21)

## References

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1. ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Wall", in The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glasper, Ian (2004) Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980 - 1984, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 1-901447-24-3
3. ^ Larkin, Colin (1992) The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music, Guinness Publishing, p. 306, ISBN 0-85112-579-4
4. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4