Formed in the post-industrial northern town of Bradford in 1979 as Heaven Seventeen, post punk legends 1919 scorched a path across the punk scene in the early 80’s. Playing with other Bradford bands such as New Model Army and Southern Death Cult and with luminary figures like Mark (Zodiac Mindwarp) Manning joining and leaving the ranks, anything was possible. Now with new members, original guitar hero Mark Tighe is back making new music under the moniker 1919. Here though is a mighty short visit with one of the original post punk bands of the era…
The first real gigging band they were known as was “Heaven
Seventeen” until Mick Reed a drummer from Dewsbury who liked his drums tribal
joined. After rehearsing for a while they developed their sound and a new name
to match. It was now late 1980 and 1919’s sole aim was to pound out a rhythmic,
heavy and melodic / dark dance beat.
The first release was a limited edition white label double
A side 7” inch single with “Repulsion” and “Tear Down These Walls” stamped on
the labels with “Take it or leave it”, sent out to various radio stations and
Magazine/fanzines. Eventually 1919 signed a deal with Red Rhino Records based
in York, and “Repulsion/Tear Down These Walls” was re-released due to the
demand. Recording started on the next single, another double A side entitled “Caged/After
The Fall”. The even more menacing mini-album “Machine” was the last outing with
Red Rhino released in 1983. The band felt that Red Rhino were not pushing them
enough and decided to upsticks and leave. Signing with Abstract Records in
London, plans were made to record a new 12” EP. The Cry Wolf 12” single with
Storm/Dream on the B side was still the old dark sound with tribal
drums/dissonant guitar lines, but Dream was a more dark/dance track, it still
retained a sinister edge but the eastern guitar/big flange bass was more PIL
territory than the other tracks. By 1984 the band was in turmoil and problems
within the band caused a split, Mick went one way and the remaining three went
the other. They had started to demo new tracks for the next release, before
recording proper. Mick had brought a mate in who sort of played sax and the
whole thing was going down the Gary Glitter. The Earth Song EP was released (remember
these were still rough demos) without the bands permission which contributed to
the 21 plus year absence of 1919.
