. AllMusic calls them "one of the period's most politically charged and thought-provoking groups". The band espoused an
subculture and skinhead subculture.
subgenre. The band released eight studio albums in their first decade. After a brief split they reformed in 1988, and a number of times subsequently, with new albums appearing in 1992, 2002, 2011, and 2016. More than two decades after its release, their debut single, "The Murder of Liddle Towers", was
included in Mojo magazine's list of the best
punk rock singles of all time. The band's original members were Thomas Mensforth (Mensi) on vocals, Ray Cowie (Mond) on
guitar, Steve Forsten on bass
guitar, and Derek "Decca" Wade on drums. Keith Bell was the manager until 1980, when he was jailed for four and a half years for arson.
Other former members include Ronnie Rocker and bassists Ronnie Wooden, Glyn Warren and Tony Feedback (now in Long Tall Shorty and Kiria's live band). Drummers have included Keith ?Sticks? Warrington (who later joined
Cockney Rejects), Paul Thompson (ex-Roxy
Music), Chris Wright, Evo (who has also played in The Blood,
Major Accident and Warfare). Wade rejoined the band for a few years before leaving again. Brian Hayes (also of Blaggers ITA, Long Tall Shorty) originally joined the band as the second guitarist until Mond left, leaving Hayes as the only guitarist. Mensi was the only original member still in the band.
In August 2006, Mensi announced he was resigning, but requested that the band continue with Chris Wright (of the band Crashed Out) on vocals. The band's lineup became Wright on vocals, Dickie Hammond on
guitar, Neil "Newts" Newton on
guitar, Gaz "Geordie" Stoker on bass and Wade on drums. In the latter part of 2007, Mensi rejoined the band and the lineup became Mensi on vocals, Gaz "Geordie" Stoker on bass, Hammond on
guitar, Newts on
guitar and Brett Mulvaney (and later Jonnie Halling) on drums.
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