UK Decay - For Madmen Only

The post-punk period was probably more important than the initial big bang itself, as a myriad of bands around the country served up exciting and inventive music. Forming in Luton, UK Decay confirmed that musical gravity was not the sole preserve of London; there was dark matter in the rudimentary chords of For My Country, an indie anthem in 1980. By 1982, things had become really interesting with the 10-minute Werewolf on the Rising From The Dread 12” EP plugging into the PiL and Bauhaus mixing board. The main course here though is their 1981 For Madmen Only album. Musically, this is a mature statement from beginning to end. Basslines throb, drums clatter and Steve Spon’s guitar work is sharp and melodic. With his lyrics and delivery, Steven Abbott was always the focus of the band, and Shattered, Stage Struck, Last In The House Of Flames and Unexpected Guest are fantastic. Considering what Beggars did for Bauhaus, one wonders how much further UK Decay would have gone with a decent label behind them. Instead, they will have to settle for receiving the kudos of influencing bands such as Nine Inch Nails.

UK Decay – Singles

UK Decay was born out of the ashes of another Luton band called the Resiztors, who had formed in 1978. The Resiztors' lineup consisted of guitarist Steve "Abbo" Abbott, drummer Steven David Harle, bassist Martin "Segovia" Smith and vocalists Ricky Smith and Paul Wilson. After the vocalists' departure in the spring of 1979, the remaining band members changed their name to UK Decay, with Abbo as singer (and guitarist). They soon released a Split Single 7" EP in partnership with fellow local band Pneumania, on their own Plastic Records label. The EP featured two tracks from each band, with UK Decay contributing "UK Decay" and "Car Crash". The Split Single sold extremely well, mainly thanks to a damning review in the NME by Danny Baker and Charles Shaar Murray. At the same time, some UK Decay members produced their own monthly fanzine The Suss and ran it from their own punk record and clothes shop called Matrix. Guitarist Steve Spon was soon recruited from Pneumania, allowing Abbo to concentrate on frontman duties. The next release for Plastic Records was UK Decay's The Black 45 four-song EP, issued in early 1980. It hovered in the UK Indie Chart for 15 months. Alex Howe from Fresh Records offered to license the first two singles, and signed UK Decay to the label. The first official release for Fresh Records was the single "For My Country", issued in September 1980. "For My Country" received airplay from John Peel (for whom they would record two sessions) and spent eight months in the indie chart, reaching No. 13. The single was promoted by a major UK tour with hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys.