Spizz is the performance moniker of English art-punk musician and singer Kenneth Spiers, who used it with annual variations: Spizz 77, Spizzoil, Spizzenergi, Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzles, and Spizzenergi2.

As one of the first Rough Trade acts, Spizzoil (with guitarist Pete Petrol) released two singles. In 1979, he assembled a full band, Spizzenergi, which released two further singles, including the UK hit “Where’s Captain Kirk?”

In 1980, he renamed the band Athletico Spizz 80 and released the album Do a Runner on A&M. With ex-Edge guitarist Lu Edmonds, they became Spizzles for the 1981 album Spikey Dream Flowers. Back on Rough Trade, they released two 1982 singles as Spizzenergi2.

Members: Spizz (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, kazoo), Pete Petrol (guitar, bass, vocals, 1979, 1982, 1990, 2004), Jim Solar (bass, piano, 1979-82, 1986, 1996), Dave Scott (guitar, vocals, 1979-80, 1996-97), Mark Coalfield (piano, vocals, 1979-80), Brian B. Benzene [Bryn B. Burrows] (drums, vocals, 1979, 1982), Lu Edmonds (guitar, vocals, 1980-81), Ian Page (piano, synthesizer, vocals, 1983, 1985-86), Phil Nicholl (piano, vocals, 1988-89), Matt Broughton (bass, vocals, 1991-present), Simon Kinder (guitar, vocals, 1991-present), Jeff Walker (drums, 1996-present)

Background

Kenneth Spiers (born 1959) came from Solihull, a West Midlands market town southeast of Birmingham. He debuted as Spizz ’77 with an impromptu vocal performance at Barbarella’s Punk Festival, a Bank Holiday event on August 29, 1977, with sets by The Drones, Eater, The Killjoys, The Unwanted, The Victims, and The Worst.^> On October 24, he appeared third-billed (along with Paul Rutherford’s Spitfire Boys) behind Kevin Rowland’s Killjoys at the Vortex, a punk haven on London’s Wardour St.

Spiers linked with guitarist Pete Petrol (real name Pete O’Dowd) in Spizzoil, which performed as a guitar–vocal duo. On August 1, they did a session for BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, whose 8/7 broadcast aired featured two songs and two suites: “Cold City,” “6,000 Crazy,” “Pure Noise – Alien Language – Protect From Heat,” and “Platform 3 – Switched Off.” Drummer Palmolive briefly joined Spizzoil between stints in The Slits and The Raincoats.

Spizzoil Singles

In October 1978, Rough Trade issued the debut Spizzoil single: “6,000 Crazy” backed with “Fibre” and “1989.” Spizz co-wrote A1 and B2 with Petrol and co-produced the album with manager Dave Woods, a prior associate of Siouxsie & The Banshees.

A1. “6,000 Crazy” (2:14)
B1. “Fibre” ()
B2. “1989” (2:45)

Spizz designed the two-tone sleeve: an assortment of text strips and xeroxed military stock imagery, plus a Devo-esque Spizzoil pic by Janette Beckman, whose photography graces the first three Police albums.

“6,000 Crazy” was the seventh Rough Trade release, slotted between singles by Stiff Little Fingers and the Monochrome Set. New wave soundman Dave Hunt (aka Nobby Turner) earned one of his earliest engineering credits on “6,000 Crazy.”

In February 1979, Spizzoil released Cold City: 4 EP, their second max-single, comprised of two Spizz/Petrol tracks (“Cold City,” “Platform 3”) and the Spizz solo-writes “Red and Black” and “Solarisation.”

A1. “Cold City” (2:04)
A2. “Red and Black” ()
B1. “Solarisation” (1:46)
B2. “Platform 3” (1:51)

Dave Hunt engineered Cold City in sequence with albums by Matumbi and the Flying Lizards. Spizz designed the sleeve, which continues the two-tone theme with diagonal stripes and columns. The pics of Spizz and Petrol (credited as Pete Petrolium) in construction helmets and OIL sweatshirts are credited to one Byron Lizard.

On March 12, Spizzoil cut their second Peel sessions for the DJ’s 3/21 broadcast, which aired rough takes of an upcoming a-side (“Soldier Soldier”) and two future album tracks (“European Heroes,” “Energy Crisis”), plus “Life’s So Safe,” a session exclusive.

Spizzenergi Gigs

In the spring of 1979, Spiers assembled Spizzenergi as a full band with Petrol and bassist Jim Solar (James Little), drummer Brian B Benzine, and keyboardist Mark Coalfield (Mark Stephens). Guitarist Rem Radium deputized Petrol on the first energi gig.

On February 17, 1979, Spizzenergi played a triple-bill with Punishment of Luxury and The Human League at the Warwick Student Union in Coventry. Spizzenergi and the League crossed paths again on June 22 at London’s Marquee Club. Two nights later, Spizzenergi headlined over newcomers The Psychedelic Furs at the Nashville Room in West Kensington.

On September 7, 1979, Spizzenergi released “Soldier Soldier,” a co-written original (Spizz, Solar, Coalfield) backed with “Virginia Plain,” a Roxy Music cover. The picture sleeve was his third and final use of slanted two-tone militaristic imagery.

A. “Soldier Soldier” (3:51)
B. “Virginia Plain” (2:10) originated as a 1972 non-album Roxy Music a-side; written by Bryan Ferry and added to American copies of the band’s debut album.

Spizzenergi plugged the single at the first annual Futurama, a September 8–9 festival event at Queens Hall in Leeds with sets by The Fall, Hawkwind, Manicured Noise, Monochrome Set, The Only Ones, Scritti Politti, and Teardrop Explodes. Spizzenergi played on Day One (Saturday), which also featured A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, The Edge, Fischer-Z, Joy Division, Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark, and PUNILUX.

In October, Petrol cleared for guitarist Dave Scott. Spizzenergi played shows at the Brighton Conference Centre (10/10) and the Chelmsford Odeon (10/11) with The Cure and Siouxsie & The Banshees.

On November 13, Spizzenergi cut a Peel session for the DJ’s 11/27 broadcast, which aired rough takes of an upcoming single (“Where’s Captain Kirk?”) and four songs earmarked for Spizz’s first album (“New Species,” “Touched,” “Intimate,” “Effortless”).

“Where’s Captain Kirk?”

In December 1979, Spizzenergi released “Where’s Captain Kirk?” — a speedy Star Trek send-up backed by Spizz and Coalfield; backed with “Amnesia,” a Spizz lone-write.

A. “Where’s Captain Kirk?” (2:18)
B. “Amnesia” (2:28)

“Where’s Captain Kirk?” sports the first Spizz color sleeve: a doctored xerox of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) against a yellow backdrop. This marked the first appearance of the signature logo: bold red caps, horizontally gashed apart from a blunt, distended N.

In January 1980, “Where’s Captain Kirk?” became the inaugural No. 1 song on the newly established UK Indie Singles Chart. Benzine cleared for drummer Hero Shima (Suresh Singh).

Athletico Spizz 80

For 1980, Spizz reconfigured the band as Athletico Spizz 80 with Scott, Solar, Mark Coalfield, and drummer C.P. Snare (Clive Parker).

On February 5–6, 1980, Athletico Spizz 80 played two straight nights at Birmingham’s Top Rank Suite on a triple bill with The Clash and Mikey Dread.^> Spizz sold out multiple nights (April 9–11) at London’s Marquee Club.

On April 30, Athletico cut the fourth overall Spizz Peel session for the DJ’s 5/12 broadcast, which aired two upcoming a-sides (“Hot Deserts,” “Central Park”) and two songs set for their upcoming album: “Rhythm Inside” and the resurrected “Red and Black.”

On May 27, Athletico Spizz 80 played London’s Hammersmith Palais on a triple-bill with The Human League and Scars.

In June 1980, Athletico Spizz 80 released a standalone single: Coalfield’s “No Room” backed with the Spizz original “Spock’s Missing,” his second Star Trek number.

A. “No Room” (3:20)
B. “Spock’s Missing” (5:24)

“No Room” was the fifth and final Spizz single on Rough Trade, which labelled the sides A Side and Alternative Side. The back-sleeve features a picture of Spock as portrayed in the 1966–66 Star Trek series (and the 1979–91 film franchise) by American actor Leonard Nimoy.

Do a Runner

Athletico Spizz 80 released Do a Runner on July 18, 1980, on A&M.

Do a Runner features ten proper songs, including five Coalfield compositions: “The Rhythm Inside,” “Personimpersonator,” and the Peel-previewed “Touched,” “Intimate,” and “Effortless.”

Side A contains two Spizz/Solar numbers from the Spizzoil era (“New Species,” “European Heroes”) and the Spizz/Coalfield “Energy Crisis.” Side B includes two Spizz solo-writes: “Red and Black” (another rearranged Spizzoil number) and “Clocks are Big,” a prelude to the epic “Airships,” a Solar/Spizz/Coalfield creation.

A1. “Touched” (2:40)
A2. “New Species” (2:21)
A3. “Intimate” (2:00)
A4. “Effortless” (3:00)
A5. “European Heroes” (2:10)
A6. “Energy Crisis” (4:38)

B1. “Red and Black” (3:48)
B2. “The Rhythm Inside” (2:30)
B3. “Personimpersonator” (2:40)
B4. “Clocks Are Big” (0:32)
B5. “Airships” (8:41)

Sessions occurred during Spring Bank Holiday, May 2–5, 1980, at Berry Street Studios, a Clerkenwell, Central London, facility used beforehand by Essential Logic, Mo-Dettes, and The Raincoats. “6000 Crazy” soundman Dave Hunt engineered Do a Runner in sequence with albums by Family Fodder, Landscape (Tea Rooms of Mars), Rip Rig + Panic, and This Heat.

Spizz co-designed the cover art with Rocking Russian, the design firm behind recent visuals for Bill Nelson, Darling, M, The Movies, Peter Hammill (pH7), and the Rich Kids. Do a Runner shows a computerized map of Europe overlaid with African map details within the silhouetted figure of a running man (a possible reference to African athletes outperforming Europeans in the Olympics). The inner-sleeve features pink monochrome group shots by associate Gabor Scott, who captured the band at up-angles before a modernist tenement.

Do a Runner reached No. 25 on the UK Albums Chart.

Athletico Spizz 80 Singles

On August 15, 1980, Athletico Spizz 80 released the standalone single “Hot Deserts,” a Spizz/Coalfield number backed with Coalfield’s “Legal Proceedings.”

A. “Hot Deserts” (3:24)
B. “Legal Proceedings” (3:11)

Former Gong bassist Mike Howlett produced the single amid work on titles by OMD, The Revillos, and Martha + The Muffins.

Spizz created the sleeve art, which places the running man figure in a desert (front) and shows a group lineup doodle of the members depicted as historical military figures apart from Spizz, drawn in working man’s gear with a shirt that reads “Athletico Oil.”

In mid-September, Athletico Spizz 80 played Queen’s Hall in Leeds as part of the Futurama 2 Festival, a two-day event with sets by Altered Images, Clock DVA, Echo & The Bunnymen, I’m So Hollow, League of Gentlemen, Music for Pleasure, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Soft Cell, and U2. Spizz appeared on day two (Sunday the 14th) along with Boots for Dancing, Classix Nouveaux, Durutti Column, Flowers, Frantic Elevators, Hazel O’Connor, The Psychedelic Furs, Soft Boys, Vice Versa, and Young Marble Giants.^>

On September 17, Athletico Spizz 80 and 999 played London’s Lyceum Ballroom, where both acts were filmed for URGH! A Music War, a 1981 A&M double-album and concert film with thirty-six new wave acts. Spizz perform a medley of “Clocks Are Big” and “Where’s Captain Kirk?”^> URGH! also features live numbers by Gary Numan, Klaus Nomi, The Members, Oingo Boingo, Orchestra Manoeuvres In the Dark, Pere Ubu, The Police, Skafish, Steel Pulse, Toyah Willcox, UB40, Wall of Voodoo, X, and XTC.

On October 3, 1980, Athletico Spizz 80 released “Central Park,” a group-written song backed with a dub version.

A. “Central Park” (5:25)
B. “Central Park (Doctors and Nurses dub)”

Howlett produced the single ahead of work with Bruce Woolley, Modern Eon, and the Original Mirrors. The back-sleeve spoofs the London Underground Central Line with NYC’s Central Park named inside the roundel symbol of London Transport.

Months later, Spizz rearranged “Central Park” as an album track under his subsequent band configuration.

At the end of 1980, Dave Scott and Mark Coalfield withdrew from the fold. Coalfield surfaced in Playgroup, an experimental dub band that made the 1982/83 Cherry Red albums Epic Sound Battles Chapter One and Chapter Two.

The Spizzles

For 1981, Spizz retained Solar and Snare for Spizzles, a four-piece configuration with guitarist Lu Edmonds, who played on the second Damned album Music for Pleasure. Edmonds crossed paths with Spizz as a member of The Edge, a Futurama act with Damned temp-drummer Jon Moss (future Culture Club) and former Jade Warrior bassist Glyn Havard (a subsequent Yacht). The Edge made the 1980 album Square 1 and masqueraded as The Belvederes behind American singer Jane Aire.

Spizzles embarked on an April 1981 UK tour with Department S.

Spikey Dream Flowers

The Spizzles released Spikey Dream Flowers in 1981 on A&M.

Side A contains Spizz co-writes with Solar (“Brainwashing Time,” “Dangers of Living”) and Lu (“Five Year Mission,” “Robot Holiday”).

Side B features the Spizz lone-write “Melancholy” and three Solar co-writes. Each side contains a re-recorded a-side from the Coalfield era: “Soldier, Soldier” and the recent “Central Park.”

A1. “Brainwashing Time” (4:37)
A2. “Five Year Mission (featuring “The Return of Spock”)” (2:17)
A3. “Dangers of Living” (3:32)
A4. “Robot Holiday” (2:27)
A5. “Soldier, Soldier (featuring theme from “Spikey Dream Flowers”)” (3:47)

B1. “Downtown” (3:00)
B2. “Risk” (3:34)
B3. “Central Park” (4:22)
B4. “Melancholy” (2:40)
B5. “Scared” (4:00)

On February 27, 1981, Spizzles lifted “Risk” as an advance single backed with “Melancholy.” The sleeve resumes the militarist theme from the Spizzoil period. The back sleeve shows Spizzles posed in a spotlight against their enlarged, ‘spooky’ reflections.

Sessions spanned January 2–18 at Matrix Studios, a Little Russell St. facility used for late Seventies classic by XTC (Go-2), Penetration, Marianne Faithfull, Wilding/Bonus, Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, and recent titles by Gary Numan (Telekon), Bernard Szajner (aka Zed), and TC Matic.

Alternative TV soundman Wally Brill engineered Spiky Dream Flowers in sequence with titles by Henry Badowski, Karel Fialka, Thomas Dolby, and Siam.

On April 10, A&M lifted “Dangers of Living” as the album’s second single (b/w “Scared”).

A&M art director Michael Ross oversaw the Spiky Dream cover, which shows an prong-headed straw figure (lower right) spun from the same metal yarn as the center frame. The back cover shows a head-to-head group shot by Paul Cox, whose photography graces contemporary sleeves by A Flock of Seagulls, Billy Squier, Landscape, Magnum, and The Selecter.

Spizzenergi2 Singles

For 1982, Spizz retained Solar and summoned Spizzenergi vets Pete Petrol and Brian B Benzine for Spizzenergi2, a five-piece configuration with guitarist CS Gas. They returned to Rough Trade for two singles.

On March 19, 1982, Spizzenergi2 released “Mega City: 3,” a Spizz original paired with “Work,” a Spizz/Solar number.

A. “Mega City: 3” (3:32)
B. “Work” (3:24)

On August 6, Spizzenergi2 released “Jungle Fever” backed with “The Meaning,” both co-credited to Spizz and one Colin White.

A. “Jungle Fever” (4:28)
B. “The Meaning” (3:24)

Rough Trade issued both singles in yellow-dominant sleeves under the SO catalog designation (RTSO 6 and 7) for Spizz releases. “Mega City: 3” and “Jungle Fever” appeared between spring/summer Rough Trade singles by Weekend (“The View from Her Room,” RT 097) and Scritti Politti (“Asylums In Jerusalem,” RT 111). Spizzenergi2 co-produced both singles with manager Dave Woods.

Discography: