A trip to a world full of metal women, maniacal police, punctured egos, arrogant celebrities, futureless politics, and Orwellian madmen. Unforgiving, incendiary, dangerous, inspiring, uncompromising end of the world party music.

12 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Punk, ROCK: Ska



Details:
The Papers were formed in 1979, were based in the wild end of Brixton South London and oscillated between the music scenes in Brixton and Deptford Crossfields estate â the home of Dire Straits, Squeeze and many other fine bands. The scene was agitated, uncompromising, exhilarating, ripe for political protest and full of invention and unstoppable musical carnage. In the middle of this The Papers emerged with their strident tough talking explosion of challenging agi-pop.
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They are:
John Fitzsimons, Lead vocals, guitar, writer
John Wilkinson, Lead guitar, keys, backing vocals, writer
Norman Marsh, Drums
Mike Fitzsimons, Bass, backing vocals

Twin brothers John and Mike Fitzsimons were born in Orpington, Kent in 1951. The sons of Irish emigrants they graduated from Essex University in 1971 and spend most of their energies directed towards music projects until forming the Papers in 1980. Bands along the way included âThe Mighty Plodâ (www.themightyplod.com), The Stan Laurel Band, and Targets as well as many other experimental projects. John Wilkinson was born in Barrow in Furnace, a graduate of Warwick University. He met John and Mike in London in the mid 1970âs and collaborated on music projects until 1979 when the Papers were formed. Norman Marsh was born in Putney, played drums with many London bands until he was introduced to the Papers in 1979.
Following an introduction by good friends The Skunks (http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skunks.doleq.htm ) (later The Craze) to Salamander productions, within a year the papers were recording their first single with Tony Taverner at Maison Rouge studios in Fulham, London owned and run by Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson. Panache Music (Malcolm Forester) signed the band for publishing and produced the first two singles.
The first single âHow many Moreâ featured the then US president Ronald Reagan (probably the worldâs first âsampleâ). This single gained the band the reputation they wanted â politico agi pop. Rising to number one in the indie charts and being played by national BBC Radio. A proliferation of gigs followed, notably many at new festivals. The follow up âReggae On The Radioâ while as strong musically did not have such an impact. The music industry were unsure what to do with a band that straddled politics and pop. Deals came to an inevitable end. The band continued to play for a couple of years and expanded the line up to include sax (Bernie Hagley of Vanity Fair www.vanityfare.co.uk ) Vocals (Jenny Geraty) and Percussion (Barry) and released a third single in 1984 âThe Only One I Seeâ an anti war epic, recorded at Mekon studios with Rob Doran (Hard Corps http://www.lexiconmagazine.com/NWC/Hard_Corps.html ).

Mike went on to Join the Piranhas in Brighton, Norman and John 'went west'.

With political stakes raised even higher in todays 'modern world' and the emergence of the new wave of British Bands such as Hard Fi, The Futureheads and Bloc Party it was decided to release the Papers songs. Listen in and youâll see why. The themes are eerily similar, nuclear proliferation, war, environmental meltdown. The Papers music has been digitally re-mastered and the new album is now available - and the band are back - working on new material. Get ready for another dose of hard-nosed agi-pop â and learn to dance.