features in: Album Chart of 1981 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s |

14 originals on the Exploited’s April '81 debut plus a cover of Puncture’s “Mucky Pup”. Fuck army life, fuck the Royal Family, fuck the SPG, fuck the Dole Q; it's a barrage of pissed-off sing-a-longs screaming Punks not Dead. The Edinburgh 4-piece line-up: Wattie Buchan (vocals), John Duncan (guitar, backing vocals), Gary McCormack (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Glen Campbell (drums). Supporting vocals come from friends of the group, Carole & Navi. This is the definition of garage – raw, repetitive and slightly chaotic, exemplified on “Sex And Violence” which is completely mindless – and ridiculously catchy, non-stop ‘til your throat’s sore, football terraces style. “SPG” immediately breaks the dumb trance and gets in your face with it’s core message – fuck the SPG. The Special Patrol Group (SPG) was a unit of Greater London’s Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing a centrally-based mobile capability for combating serious public disorder and crime that could not be dealt with by local divisions. One of the SPG’s most controversial incidents came in 1979, while officers were policing a protest by the Anti-Nazi League in Southall. During a running battle, demonstrator Blair Peach was allegedly beaten to death by the SPG. In the inquiries which followed, a variety of unauthorised weapons were found in the possession of SPG officers, including baseball bats, crowbars and sledgehammers. No SPG officer was ever charged with the attack, although later, an internal report was leaked which stated that the Metropolitan Police paid an out of court settlement to Peach’s family. The original Metropolitan police report, published on 27 April 2010, concluded that the fatal blow that killed the anti-racism activist was probably made by a police officer. A police radio or truncheon is thought to have delivered the fatal blow. The internal report also concluded that some officers had conspired to cover up the truth surrounding the death of the special needs teacher. No self respecting street punk album of 1981 would be complete without mention of the economic UK nightmare which was affecting three million – “Dole Q” spells it out – NO FUN. This is immediately followed with the album’s killer highlight – last years single “Exploited Barmy Army” – if there’s no social respite for the disaffected youth at least you can join the gang for this glorious 150 seconds of rolling rhythm release. “Punks Not Dead” made the Top 20 of the national chart and went to #1 in the indies; for many, The Exploited were one of 1981's bare necessities.
The Jukebox Rebel
10–Nov–2008
Tracklist |
A1 | [01:51] ![]() |
A2 | [01:42] ![]() |
A3 | [01:52] ![]() |
A4 | [03:35] ![]() |
A5 | [02:37] ![]() |
A6 | [02:40] ![]() |
A7 | [05:11] ![]() |
B1 | [02:07] ![]() |
B2 | [02:07] ![]() |
B3 | [01:51] ![]() |
B4 | [02:28] ![]() |
B5 | [02:03] ![]() |
B6 | [02:52] ![]() |
B7 | [02:39] ![]() |
B8 | [02:03] ![]() |