Play Dead – Early 7” Singles

In the early 80’s Play Dead were constantly referred to as second division Killing Joke wannabees. But is that the reality when you sit down to listen to their early beginnings? Debut single “Poison Take A Hold” might not have the greatest production values, but they get their point across, this is a band destined for the club dance floor. Play Dead make a decent enough racket for a band trying to find their place in the world for this is not straight forward proto Goth. The labels really don’t help when you have pounding drums, some blinding bass runs, guitars fully signed up to the ‘Geordie School Of Guitar’ and vocals that defy logic or categorisation. Of course by the time they had recorded their debut mini album they were a fully-fledged Goth band. But that’s not why we’re here. Play Dead were part of the first generation that could be called Post Punk, along with other bands such as Southern Death Cult, Theatre Of Hate, Bauhaus and The Danse Society who were all ploughing the fertile soil that punk had left behind. Play Dead were finding their own way, dipping their toes in the turbulent waters. There are no keyboards, no fancy guitar solos either, this is a new kind of Punk, Punk that you can dance to.

Ripped from three original 7” singles released between June 1981 and April 1982 to MP3 @ 320kbps

Play Dead; Poison Takes A Hold 7”

A.     Poison Takes A Hold

B.     Introduction

Play Dead; T.V. Eye 7”

A.     T.V. Eye

B.     Final Epitaph

Play Dead; Propaganda 7”

A.     Propaganda

B.     Propaganda (Mix)