Ligotage was a short-lived British post-punk and glam rock band formed in 1983, most notable for being fronted by Beki Bondage following her departure from the famous punk group Vice Squad. Moving away from her traditional, raw street-punk origins, the project explored a more commercial, radio-friendly sound that blended hard rock, alternative metal, and glam influences. The band's lineup was rounded out by experienced musicians from prominent contemporary punk acts like Chelsea and the UK Subs, creating a supergroup of sorts within the UK punk scene.
The band's definitive musical statement came in the form of their sole full-length album, Forgive & Forget, released via Picasso Records on 1 October 1984. Although presented and structured like a standard studio LP, the 12-track album was actually captured entirely live during a performance at London's iconic Marquee Club on 27 August 1984. Alongside driving original tracks like "Crime and Passion," the record features energetic covers of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." Failing to gain commercial traction, the band dissolved shortly after the album's release.
Released on 1 October 1984 via Picasso Records, Forgive & Forget represents an intriguing, yet flawed, turning point in the career of UK punk icon Beki Bondage. Stepping away from the aggressive street-punk intensity of her former band, Vice Squad, Bondage used her new project Ligotage to experiment with a more commercial, radio-friendly palette. Backed by a seasoned roster of musicians from classic punk mainstays Chelsea and the UK Subs, the album leans heavily into an eclectic mid-80s style. The resulting sound sits at the exact crossroads of hard rock, glam punk, and early alternative metal.
The standard release features a 12-track layout that structurally mirrors a traditional studio album, opening with an unorthodox snippet of Gustav Holst's "Mars – The Bringer of War". Original compositions like "Crime and Passion" and the standout track "Coming for You" show a genuine attempt to write catchy, accessible rock anthems. However, the tracks often struggle under a severe sonic limitation: despite being marketed as a core LP, the entire project was actually recorded live at London's Marquee Club. Consequently, the release lacks the sharp polish required to truly execute its pop-metal ambitions, muddying what could have been a sharp creative transition.
The greatest detriment to the album is the live audio mix, which feels hollow and fails to capture the true power of the instruments or the crisp energy of the band. Even Bondage's famously ferocious, authoritative vocals suffer under the poor club mixing, occasionally coming across as thin or squeaky rather than commanding. The performance itself proves that the band had immense potential and visual style, but without the benefit of a controlled studio environment, the raw execution strips the melodic hooks of their intended, commercial punch.
The tracklist rounds out with two unexpected 1960s covers: Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze". While these choices highlight the band's playful glam-punk sensibilities, they ultimately feel more like novelty live-show encores than cohesive additions to a definitive album. Forgive & Forget remains an essential historical curiosity for die-hard fans of Beki Bondage, but as a standalone rock record, it stands as a frustratingly unpolished testament to a short-lived musical experiment.
Ripped Live to MP3
1. The Corporation
2. Crime And Passion
3. The Fun Goes On
4. Forgive And Forget
5. End Of The Century
6. Misfits
7. Coming For You
8. Vanity
9. Curare
10. These Boots Are Made For Walking (Nancy Sinatra cover)
11. Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix cover)
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