UK Decay -

UK Decay was an English art-punk/goth-rock band from Luton, Bedfordshire, that released two shortplayers on self-press Plastic Records circa 1979/80, followed by a trio of singles on small-press Fresh Records during 1980 and 1981, culminating with the album For Madmen Only. An EP followed on Crass-subsidiary Corpus Christi in 1982, after which the band released a live cassette chronicling their final gig in December of that year.

Members: Martin “Segovia” Smith (bass, guitar, 1977-81), Steven David Harle (drums, 1977-82), Ricky Smith (vocals, 1977-78), Dave Stubbs (guitar, 1977-78), Mick Dove (bass, 1977-78), Paul Wilson (vocals, 1978-79), St. Albans Simon (vocals, 1978-79), Steven “Abbo” Abbot (vocals, guitar, 1978-present), Steve Spon (guitar, keyboard, 1979-present), Lorraine “Lol” Turvey (bass, 1981), Creetin K-os (bass, 1981), Ed “Twiggy” Branch (bass, 1981-present)

UK Decay were an English post-punk band from Luton, Bedfordshire. They issued two self-financed Plastic Records releases before signing with Fresh Records for three singles and the 1981 album For Madmen Only. The band moved to Corpus Christi for the 1982 EP Rising From the Dread and ended its original run after a December 1982 concert in London.

Members: Steven “Abbo” Abbott (vocals, guitar, 1979–83, 1993, 2005–present), Steve Spon (guitar, keyboards, 1979–83, 1993, 2005–present), Steven David Harle (drums, 1979–83, 1993), Martin “Segovia” Smith (bass, 1979–81), Lorraine “Lol” Turvey (bass, 1981), Creetin K-OS (bass, 1981), Edwin “Twiggy” Branch (bass, 1981–83, 1993, 2005–present), Ray “Raymondo” Philpott (drums, 2008–present)

Background

The Resiztors formed in Luton during 1978 with guitarist Steven “Abbo” Abbott, drummer Steven David Harle, bassist Martin “Segovia” Smith, and singers Ricky Smith and Paul Wilson. The singers departed during spring 1979. Abbott assumed the microphone, and the remaining trio adopted the name UK Decay.

The musicians operated within a local network that included the monthly fanzine The Suss, the Matrix record and clothing shop, and their Plastic Records imprint. They arranged a split single with fellow Luton band Pneumania and financed the pressing themselves.

Pneumania guitarist Steve Spon joined UK Decay after the split release. His arrival allowed Abbott to concentrate on singing while retaining a secondary guitar role.

Split Single

UK Decay and Pneumania issued the Split Single EP in October 1979 on Plastic Records.

Pneumania occupied the first side with “Exhibition” and “Coming Attack.” UK Decay contributed “UK Decay” and “Car Crash,” both written by Abbott.

A1. Pneumania — “Exhibition” (2:52)
A2. Pneumania — “Coming Attack” (0:56)
B1. UK Decay — “UK Decay” (2:19) – Abbott
B2. UK Decay — “Car Crash” (2:03) – Abbott

Both bands recorded the four tracks at Quest Studios in Luton with engineer Dave Cooke and co-producer Capt. Mick Bluett. The musicians produced the sessions and issued the record through their Plastic operation.

Trevor Forde photographed the sleeve; graphics by TJ Con.

The Black 45

UK Decay released the four-song EP The Black 45 in early 1980 on Plastic Records.

The EP introduced Spon on guitar and keyboards alongside Abbott, Smith, and Harle. “Message Distortion” drives a terse political complaint through direct punk construction and abrasive guitar scrape. “Disco Romance” breaks into a buoyant, lightly comic figure under Abbo’s semi-camp delivery. “Black Cat” stages a melodramatic witchcraft narrative within an austere early form.

A1. “Message Distortion” (2:06) – Abbott, Spon
A2. “Disco Romance” (1:48) – Smith, Abbott
B1. “The Black Cat” (2:18) – Abbott, Spon
B2. “Middle of the Road Man” (2:42) – Smith, Abbott

UK Decay returned to Quest Studios and produced the EP with engineer Dave Cooke. Former Pneumania bassist Steve the Voice created the artwork; TJ Con handled graphics.

The Black 45 reached No. 42 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. Fresh Records director Alex Howe licensed the Plastic catalogue and signed UK Decay for subsequent releases.

“For My Country” / “Unwind”

In August 1980, Fresh issued standalone single “For My Country” backed with “Unwind.”

“Message Distortion” drives a terse political complaint through direct punk construction and abrasive guitar scrape. “Disco Romance” breaks into a buoyant, lightly comic figure under Abbo’s semi-camp delivery. “Black Cat” stages a melodramatic witchcraft narrative within an austere early form.

A. “For My Country” (2:17)
B. “Unwind” (3:24)

UK Decay wrote and produced both tracks at Quest Studios with engineer Dave Cooke. The single completed the band’s run of Luton studio recordings before its move to Southern Studios.

Steve the Voice and TJ Con designed the cover; photography by Kevin Soper.

“For My Country” reached No. 13 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. UK Decay promoted the single during a British tour with Dead Kennedys.

The band recorded its first John Peel session on April 22, 1980, with versions of “Unwind,” “Rising From the Dread,” “Sexual,” and “For My Country.” BBC Radio 1 broadcast the session one week later.

“Unexpected Guest” / “Dresden”

Fresh issued “Unexpected Guest” in February 1981, backed with the non-album group composition “Dresden.”

A. “Unexpected Guest” (4:06) – Abbott, Spon
B. “Dresden” (4:14) – UK Decay

UK Decay recorded and produced the single in December 1980 at Southern Studios in London with engineer Tony Cook. The session marked the band’s first documented work at the studio before its album collaboration with John Loder.

Catherine Clark designed the foldout sleeve; Evelyn D. and Riff Raff supplied photographs.

“Unexpected Guest” reached No. 4 on the UK Independent Singles Chart, the band’s highest placement on the survey.

1981 Bass Changes

Segovia left UK Decay in January 1981. Lorraine “Lol” Turvey of The Statics covered British dates and an ensuing European tour.

Social Unrest bassist Creetin K-OS joined for a five-week North American tour during March and April. UK Decay shared bills with Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, D.O.A., and Circle Jerks. K-OS remained for further British dates before returning to the United States.

Northampton bassist Edwin “Twiggy” Branch joined during summer 1981 and completed the album sessions. Both Branch and K-OS contributed bass parts to the finished record.

UK Decay recorded a second John Peel session on July 27, 1981, with “Last in the House of Flames,” “Stage Struck,” “Glass Ice,” and “Duel.” Radio 1 broadcast the recordings on August 5.

For Madmen Only

UK Decay released their debut album, For Madmen Only, in October 1981 on Fresh Records.

Abbott, Spon, and Harle appear throughout the album, with bass help from Branch and K-OS. Spon also plays piano. UK Decay wrote and arranged all eleven tracks.

“Unexpected Guest” emerges from an extended introduction before its recurring figure releases a sudden surge. “Duel” locks repetition into sustained, ominous tension. “Stage Struck” twists its theatrical strain through phased guitar. “Sexual” erupts in a brief, fevered rush. “Mayday Malady” breaks from surrounding severity with an exuberant charge.

A1. “Duel” (3:55)
A2. “Battle of the Elements” (3:21)
A3. “Shattered” (3:49)
A4. “Stage Struck” (4:14)
A5. “Last in the House of Flames” (3:33)

B1. “Unexpected Guest” (5:00)
B2. “Sexual” (1:45)
B3. “Dorian” (3:36)
B4. “Decadence” (3:03)
B5. “Mayday Malady” (3:18)
B6. “For Madmen Only” (5:35)

Sessions spanned February through August 1981 at Southern Studios in London. UK Decay co-produced the album with Southern founder John Loder; Tony Cook and Simon Scofield shared engineering duties. Loder had recorded the 1981 Crass album Penis Envy after engineering the 1980 Poison Girls album Chappaquiddick Bridge at Southern.

Bernard Chandler designed the gatefold sleeve around Jan Toorop’s painting The Disintegration of Faith.

Fresh lifted “Sexual” in October 1981, backed with “Twist in the Tale,” a non-album UK Decay exclusive. Loder produced and recorded the single; Chandler designed its wraparound sleeve.

B. “Twist in the Tale” (4:04)

For Madmen Only reached No. 2 on the UK Independent Albums Chart and remained listed for twelve weeks.

UK Decay Records reissued the album as DK LP 1 during 1983. The band expanded the 2009 CD edition with the four Rising From the Dread tracks and the earlier recordings “Barbarian,” “The Black Cat,” “Unwind,” and “For My Country.”

Rising From the Dread

UK Decay released the EP Rising From the Dread in August 1982 on Corpus Christi Records.

Branch joins Abbott, Spon, and Harle across the four group compositions. “Werewolf” occupies the first side of the twelve-inch release.

“Werewolf” opens with disembodied growls and effects before a circular bass figure and intricate percussion establish a long ascent; a descending double-time run then breaks into feedback, echo, phasing, and delay. “Jerusalem Over” threads Blakean and hymn-derived phrases through an indictment of imperial piety. “Rising from the Dead” turns an executed prisoner’s return into a furious indictment of capital punishment. “Testament” sets a defiant individualist text against a primitive, hard-struck pattern.

A. “Werewolf” (10:19)
B1. “Jerusalem Over (The White Cliffs of Dover)” (3:30)
B2. “Rising From the Dead” (3:00)
B3. “Testament” (3:10)

UK Decay recorded the EP in May 1982 at Southern Studios with co-producer John Loder and engineer Simon Scofield. Loder connected the band with Crass drummer Penny Rimbaud, whose Corpus Christi imprint issued the record after the collapse of Fresh Records.

Bernard Chandler adapted the sleeve design from paintings by Eugène Grosset and Léon Frédéric.

Final Concert and A Night for Celebration

UK Decay played their final original-era concert at the Klub Foot in London on December 30, 1982. Ritual and Actifed supported the band at the Clarendon Hotel venue.

UK Decay Records issued the complete performance during summer 1983 as the cassette A Night for Celebration.

1. “Unwind / Werewolf”
2. “Dresden”
3. “Barbarian”
4. “Barbarians”
5. “Sexual”
6. “Stage Struck”
7. “Rising From the Dead”
8. “Twist in the Tale”
9. “Unexpected Guest”
10. “Testament”
11. “The Black Cat”
12. “UK Decay”
13. “For My Country”
14. “Unwind”

The cassette preserves Abbott, Spon, Branch, and Harle at the Klub Foot. UK Decay expanded the recording for the 2005 CD Nights for Celebration.

Later Activity

Abbott and Branch formed Furyo with Harle and former Gene Loves Jezebel guitarist Albie De Luca during 1983. The group released two mini-albums before ending its run during 1985.

Spon formed In Excelsis with former Ritual members and later recorded as Nostramus. Branch played bass with Peter Murphy between 1986 and 1992. Harle died in Bangalore, India, during May 1995.

UK Decay briefly regrouped during 1993 and rerecorded three songs. The 2007 compilation Death, So Fatal assembled early demos, single tracks, Peel recordings, live material, and the 1993 remakes.

Abbott, Spon, and Branch resumed concert activity with drummer Ray “Raymondo” Philpott during 2008. The band released the Chris Tsangarides-produced album New Hope for the Dead on Rainbow City Records in May 2013, followed by the 2014 EP Wonderful Town.

Discography

Studio Albums

1981 — For Madmen Only
2013 — New Hope for the Dead

Live Albums

1983 — A Night for Celebration
2005 — Nights for Celebration

Compilations

2007 — Death, So Fatal

Singles and EPs

1979 — Split Single with Pneumania
1980 — The Black 45
1980 — “For My Country” / “Unwind”
1981 — “Unexpected Guest” / “Dresden”
1981 — “Sexual” / “Twist in the Tale”
1982 — Rising From the Dread
2013 — “Killer” / “Heavy Metal Jews”
2014 — Wonderful Town

Discography: