The Epileptics ‘1970’s E.P.’ reissue on white vinyl
THE EPILEPTICS
‘1970’s E.P.’
Label: Overground Records
Cat. No. OVER 174 – 7” white vinyl, 500 only
Release Date: 10th July 2020
In 1978 forming a punk band and expecting to be taken seriously was not on the list headed “Good Ideas” but that didn’t deter four young punks from deciding to lower the tone of the neighbourhood and deciding to call themselves The Epileptics after a suggestion by one of their mothers.
Crass played in Bishop’s Stortford in August 1978 and the two bands got talking. A few weeks later The Epileptics had a gig with Crass at The Basement in Covent Garden. Only five people turned up during the soundcheck, then left. The Epileptics played their set to Crass followed by Crass playing their set to The Epileptics. An alliance had been formed that would last for many years!
Complaints of ‘ill-conceited jocularity’ from The British Epilepsy Association resulted in a name change to Epi-x, then changed to The Licks under pressure from Stortbeat who released the band’s debut ‘1970s’ single, much played by John Peel.
More releases and national acclaim followed, all too much for the local punks to handle so a backlash started and in 1979 the last few gigs ended in slanging matches.
When Flux Of Pink Indians released Neu Smell in the summer of 1981 it did so well, Stortbeat decided that they were going to re-release 1970’s. The band were in Southern and complained about this to Penny Rimbaud. He suggested that they re-record it and played drums on these versions, released in the autumn of 1981 on Spiderleg Records.
This reissue of 500 copies reproduces the original artwork and labels as closely as possible and is on white vinyl.
Track Listing:
1970’s (Were Made In Hong Kong)/ Systems Rejects/Hitler’s Still A Nazi – War Crimes