999 -

999 was an English rock band that emerged in the initial London punk wave with the 1977 singles “I’m Alive” and “Nasty! Nasty!” and the 1978 albums 999 and Separates. Guitarist-singer Nick Cash played alongside Ian Dury in the early Seventies retro-R&B act Kilburn and the High Roads.

Members: Nick Cash (guitar, vocals), Guy Days (guitar, vocals), Pablo LaBritain [Paul Buck] (drums), Jon Watson (bass, 1976-86), Danny Palmer (bass, 1986-93), Arturo Bassick [Arthur Billingsley] (bass, vocals, 1993-present)

Background

999 formed on Dec. 5, 1976, in London when singer-guitarist Nick Cash and guitarist Guy Days assembled a quartet with bassist Jon Watson and drummer Pablo LaBritain.

Cash was born Keith Lucas and studied fine-art painting at Canterbury College of Art under Ian Dury, who formed Kilburn and the High Roads with students from the college, including Lucas on guitar. He remained with the group through 1975 and played on the Dawn album Handsome.

Cash began a songwriting partnership with Days, his brother and fellow guitarist who also played on Kilburn demo sessions. The brothers advertised in Melody Maker for a bassist and drummer, then selected Watson and LaBritain through auditions. LaBritain was a school friend of Joe Strummer and drummed at several early Clash rehearsals.

They commenced rehearsals in December 1976 in the basement of Broomfields Bakery in Brixton. Initially called The Dials, they made their live debut on Jan. 22, 1977, supporting Stretch at the Northampton Cricket Club. As The Fanatics, they linked with the Albion booking agency, which secured spring 1977 dates on the London club circuit, including the Nashville and Hope & Anchor.

The quartet next adopted 48 Hours, the title of a Clash song. In May 1977, the members settled on 999, the British emergency telephone number referenced in the Clash song “London’s Burning.”

999 issued “I’m Alive” (b/w “Quite Disappointing”) in August 1977 on the self-financed LaBritain label as LAB 999. After sales exceeded 10,000 copies, they signed with United Artists. 999 then entered Olympic Studios in London with producer Andy Arthurs to record the self-titled debut.

Discography: