The Destructors (band)
The Destructors are an English punk rock band from Peterborough, England, originally existing between 1977 and 1979 and then 1980 until 1984. They reformed as Destructors 666 in 2006 and then changed to The Destructors in 2009. The Destructors continue releasing their own brand of punk / skuzz / garage to this day.
The Destructors | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Peterborough, England |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1977–1979 1980–1984, 2006–present |
| Labels | Paperback, Carnage Benelux, Criminal Damage, Death Records, Illuminated, Radical Change, Rowdy Farrago, Captain Oi! |
| Associated acts | 6ck 6ck 6ck, Speed, The Gestapo, Five Go Mad In Europe, The Now, The Blanks |
| Members | Dave Colton Steve Rolls Rob Baylis Ian Stapleton |
| Past members | Allen Adams Phil Atterson Dip (Paul Wicks) Joe MacColl Andrew Jackson Andrew Butler Neil Singleton Dave Ivermee Andy McDonald Graham Butt Nigel Davis Steve Crosby Lee Reynolds |
History
The band was formed by former 6ck 6ck 6ck members Allen Adams (vocals), Phil Atterson (guitar), and Dip (Paul Wicks) (bass) and various drummers including Steve Rolls and Dave Colton. Later the original band were complemented with a varying line-up including Andy Butler (drums) Andrew Jackson (guitar). Butler and Jackson left in 1978 to set up a new band called The Blanks. Some of Jackson's songs were used in later Destructors recordings. A Blanks 3 track EP featured the song Northern Ripper which Allen Adams wrote the words. In 1980 The Destructors name was resurrected by Adams with a new line-up of Neil Singleton (vocals), Andy McDonald (drums), and 'Dave Ivermee ' (rhythm guitar) Allen Adams(bass) and later Graham "Gizz" Butt (lead guitar, formerly of The System, among other bands) before their first release, 1982's Senseless Violence EP.[1] Butt took on the job of writing about half of the band's music, with Adams writing the lyrics. Singleton remembered the songs: "They could be very complicated and a right bastard to remember. He also seemed to have a fixation with serial killers!".[2] A series of EPs and two albums followed before 1984's final album Bomb Hanoi, Bomb Saigon, Bomb Disneyland. The band split shortly after Bomb Hanoi, their records never living up to their live shows, and the band members falling out.[1] According to Singleton: "I don't think we ever made a really good record! They never ever lived up to our live shows; We were so much better on stage".[2] Of the frictions within the band, Butt said: "Neil couldn't get on with Alan, and me and Dave didn't want Andy on drums any more. We weren't happy with Alan organising everything and neglecting his bass-playing role".[2] Adams immediately formed a new band, Five Go Mad In Europe, and resurrected the band name as Destructors V in 1984. Singleton went on to front Trench Fever.[2] Butt went on to form The Desecrators, joined English Dogs, and later formed Janus Stark and then The More I See, also playing guitar with The Prodigy.[2]
The band name was resurrected again in 2006 as Destructors 666, with former members Adams, Dave Colton, and Steve Rolls ex of The Now joined by new members Steve Crosby and Lee Reynolds. Steve Crosby walked out of the studio one night and was never heard from again. Lee Reynolds left the band due to recording commitments with The 925's. Crosby and Reynolds were replaced by Ian Stapleton (bass) and Rob Baylis (drums). In 2009, the band returned to the original name of The Destructors.
Allen 'The Kid' Adams died on 12 November 2019.
Discography
Destructors releases 1982–1984
| Date | Type | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | EP | "Senseless Violence EP" - Paperback (#33) |
| 1982 | EP | "Religion... There Is No Religion EP" - Carnage Benelux (#34) |
| 1982 | EP | "Jailbait EP" - Illuminated |
| 1982 | LP | "Exercise The Demons of Youth" - Illuminated (#12) |
| 1983 | EP | "Forces Of Law EP" - Illuminated (#26) |
| 1983 | LP | "Armageddon In Action" (live) - Radical Change (#10) |
| 1983 | EP | "Cry Havoc and Unleash The Dogs EP" - Criminal Damage (#31) |
| 1983 | LP | "Merry Christmas and Fuck Off" - Death Records |
| 1983 | EP | "Wild Thing", Four track EP - Illuminated Records, ILL1912 |
| 1983 (December) | EP | "Electronic Church" - free with "Trees and Flowers" magazine |
| 1984 (January) | LP | "Bomb Saigon, Bomb Hanoi, Bomb Disneyland" - Carnage Benelux, KILL666 |
Destructors V release 1984 - Releases from the short-lived Destructors variable Destructors V
| Date | Type | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 (August) | EP | "TV Eye" 3 Track E.P - Criminal Damage, CRI108 |
Destructors 666 releases 2006–2009
Destructors 666 started as a one off project with the release of Plus Ca Change Pour La Meme Chose. However, all copies were sold due to the solid fanbase of the band and their strong legacy to the world of punk rock. The split EP is seen as something unique to The Destructors and provides an opportunity to showcase other local talent. All contributors retain full rights to their material and receive costs for recording as well as free copies of the finished CD's. Date EP's started as an idea around the 666 label (Released on the 6th day of the 6th month of the 6th year of the 21st century and continued every year, i.e. 777, 888 etc. Often these are split releases though not always. Concept EPs are another format and cover areas such as Police / CCTV / Witchcraft (Racial Intolerance) etc. Finally, full blown Destructors only releases.
| Date | Type | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 (February) | Split EP | "Plus Ca Change Pour La Meme Chose" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF003) Split EP with The Ruined |
| 2006 (June) | Date EP | "06:06:06" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF666) |
| 2006 (August) | Split EP | "Sturm Und Drang" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF004) Split EP with The 925's |
| 2006 (December) | Split EP | "Gott Mit Uns" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF005) Split EP with Radicus |
| 2007 (March) | Split EP | "No Parasan" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF006, March 2007) Split EP with $UP |
| 2007 (June) | Album | "Many Were Killed Few Were Chosen" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RFA01) |
| 2007 (July) | Date EP | "07:07:07" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF777) |
| 2007 (September) | Split EP | "Biberati Ut Gothi" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF007) Split EP with Fletch Cadillac |
| 2007 (November) | Concept EP | "Sichien Lassen Mit Fremdem Machten" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP1)Theme = Strange Things |
| 2008 (February) | Split EP | "Caveat Emptor" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF008) Split EP with White Clouds & Gunfire |
| 2008 (April) | Split EP | "Labor Omnia Vincit" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF009) Split EP with Eastfield |
| 2008 (June) | Split EP | "Lex Talionis" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF010) Split EP with Dirty Love |
| 2008 (August) | Date EP | "08:08:08" CD - (Rowdy Farrago, RF888) |
| 2008 (September) | Split EP | "Geistbahn" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF011) Split EP with March To The Grave |
| 2008 (October) | Concept EP | "Malleus Maleficarum" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP2)Theme = Witchcraft / Racial Intolerance |
| 2008 (December) | Concept EP | "Bah Humbug" - (Rowdy Farrago,RFXMAS1)Theme = Christmas |
| 2009 (March) | Split EP | "Deus Ex Machina" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF012) Split EP with Dun2Def |
| 2009 (May) | Album | "Pow! That's Kill Musik 666 Volume 1: Revision" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RFA02) |
| 2009 (July) | Concept EP | "Quisnam Vigilo Vigilo" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP3)Theme = Control |
| 2009 (August) | Split EP | "Scheikunde" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF013, August 2009) Split EP with Dangers Close |
| 2009 (September) | Date EP | "09:-09:09" - CD (Rowdy Farrago, RF999) aka The Nein Nein Nein EP |
| Destructors 666 renamed to The Destructors In November 2009 |
The Destructors releases 2009 – 2019
The present day lineup of The Destructors. Continuing to release multi theme albums / EP's and split EP's
| Date | Type | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 (November) | Split EP | "Tormentum Insomniae" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF014) Split EP with Sick On The Bus |
| 2010 (April) | Concept EP | "Politika" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFELECT01) Theme = Politics |
| 2010 (June) | Split EP | "Zengakuren" (Rowdy Farrago, RF015, June 2010) Split EP with The Black Marias |
| 2010 (August) | Album | "Dead Beat To White Heat" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFA03) |
| 2010 (October) | Date EP | "10:10:10 (The Meaning Of Life EP)" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF101010) |
| 2010 (October) | Concept EP | "Helloween" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFHELL01) Theme = Halloween |
| 2011 (January) | Split EP | "Les Fleur Du Mal" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF016) Split EP with Gripper |
| 2011 (May) | Concept EP | "Media Studies"- (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP04) Theme = Media, Celebrity Culture, Journalism |
| 2011 (August) | Split Album | "Wohlgefuhl" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFSA01) Split Album with Dun2Def |
| 2011 (September) | Split EP | "Je Suis Radio" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF017) Split EP with Don't Look Down |
| 2011 (November) | Date EP | "11:11:11 (In Memoriam)" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF111111) |
| 2012 (January) | Album | "Pow! That's Kill Musik (Volume 2 Rewind)" (Rowdy Farrago, RFA04) |
| 2012 (March) | Split EP | "C'etait La Guerre" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF018) Split EP with Beverly Kills |
| 2012 (May) | Concept EP | "S&D&R&R" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP5) Theme = Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll |
| 2012 (July) | Split Album | "Schwerpunkt" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFSA02) Split album with Anarcho-Punk band 'The Astronauts' |
| 2012 (September) | Split EP | "Pax Romanus" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF019) Split EP with Ziplock |
| 2012 (December) | Date EP | "12:12:12 (Ragnarok)" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF121212) |
| 2013 (April) | Split EP | "Sous Les Paves La Plage" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF020) Split EP with PMT |
| 2013 (September) | Album | "The Sublime, The Perverse & The Ridiculous" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFDES01) |
| 2013 (November) | Split EP | "Terrorismo" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF021) Split EP with The Dogtown Rebels |
| 2014 (January) | Concept EP | "New York, New York" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP6) Theme = New York |
| 2014 (March) | Date EP | "13:13:13 (Malchance)" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF131313) |
| 2014 (May) | Split EP | "Divide Et Impera" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF022) Split EP with Cretin 77 |
| 2014 (July) | Concept EP | Dolor Goggler, - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP7) |
| 2015 (January) | Compilation Album | "The Destructors Greatest Misses" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFA05) |
| 2015 (April) | Concept EP | "Politika 2" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFELECT02) |
| 2015 (August) | Split EP | "Deus Luna" - (Rowdy Farrago, RF023) Split EP with The Malingerers |
| 2016 (July) | Concept EP | "The Somme" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFAEP8) |
| 2017 (March) | Album | "Pow! That's Kill Musik (Volume 3 Reflection)" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFA06) |
| 2018 (July) | Album | "Punkopera" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP9) |
| 2018 (October) | Album | "Punkopera" - (Rowdy Farrago, RFEP9V) Vinyl Only |
Band members timeline
This is an overview of the history of The Destructors. Now over 34 years old and still recording and releasing new material.
| Date | Name | Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 6CK 6CK 6CK | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W atterson (guitar), Stuart Band (bass), Graham Black (drums) |
| 1976 | Speed Mark II | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Steve Bavister (guitar), Paul Cooper (guitar), Dip (bass) |
| 1976 | 6CK 6CK 6CK Mark II | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W Atterson (guitar), Paul Cooper (guitar), Dip (bass) |
| 1976 | The Gestapo | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W Atterson (guitar), Paul Cooper (guitar), Dip (bass), Andy Arthurs (drums) |
| 1977 | Destructors | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W Atterson (guitar), Dip (bass), Joe MacColl/Steve Rolls/Dave Colton (drums at different times) |
| 1978 | Destructors Mark II | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W Atterson (guitar), Dip (bass), Andrew Jackson (guitar), Andrew Butler (drums) |
| 1978 | Destructors Mark III | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), T.W Atterson (guitar), Dip (bass), Andrew Butler (drums) |
| 1980 | Destructors Mark IV | Neil Singleton (vocals), Dave Ivermee (guitar), Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (bass), Andrew Butler (drums) |
| 1980-1981 | Destructors Mark V | Neil Singleton (vocals), Dave Ivermee (guitar), Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (bass), Andy McDonald (drums) |
| 1981-1983 | Destructors Mark VII | Neil Singleton (vocals), Dave Ivermee (guitar), Graham "Gizz" Butt (guitar), Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (bass), Andy McDonald (drums) |
| 1983-1984 | Destructors V (Mark VII) | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Nigel Davis (bass), Joe MacColl (drums) |
| 1983-1984 | Five Go Mad In Europe | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Faz Farrow (bass), Joe MacColl (drums) |
| 2006-2007 | Destructors 666 (Mark VIII) | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Steve Rolls (guitar), Steve Crosby (bass), Lee Reynolds (drums), Simon Stabler (sound locator) |
| 2007-2008 | Destructors 666 (Mark IX) | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Steve Rolls (guitar), Steve Crosby (bass), Rob Baylis (drums), Simon Stabler (sound locator) |
| 2008 | Destructors 666 (Mark X) | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Steve Rolls (guitar), Rob Baylis (drums), Tom Savage (bass) |
| 2008-2009 | Destructors 666 (Mark XI) | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Steve Rolls (guitar), Rob Baylis (drums), Ian Stapleton (bass) |
| 2009-2019 | The Destructors | Allen Adams Aka "The Kid" (vocals), Dave Colton (guitar), Steve Rolls (guitar), Rob Baylis (drums), Ian Stapleton (bass) + AC & Tom (Live) |
Timeline
References
- Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
- Glasper, Ian (2004). Burning Britain: The History of Punk 1980-1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 1-901447-24-3.