The Moors Murderers
| The Moors Murderers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1977–1978 |
| Associated acts | Johnny Moped, the Photons, Visage, the Pretenders, the Clash, the Psychedelic Furs, Adam and the Ants, Strange Cruise |
| Past members |
Steve Strange Soo Catwoman Chrissie Hynde The Kid John Vince Ely Rob Egan Tex Topper Headon |
The Moors Murderers was a short-lived punk band who caused controversy by naming themselves after the perpetrators of the Moors murders. The band was founded in 1977 by Steve Strange, later to be in Visage.[1] The band included numerous members who went on to greater fame with other bands.
History
Steve Strange got the idea to start a group called the Moors Murderers after a conversation with Soo Catwoman. They were initially a 'phantom' band who just did a photo session for the German magazine Bravo.[2]
Strange decided to form a real band after the photo session. Their first gig was in December 1977. This was a benefit concert for the NSPCC, supporting the Slits at Holland Park Comprehensive School.[2] Some have suggested that this gig was actually played by the Photons under another name.[2] However others have stated that Chrissie Hynde was already in the band at this time.[3] This discrepancy may be due to the fact that for much of the time the two bands had interchangeable members.[4] The Moors Murderers played a further and final gig at the Roxy club on 13 January 1978.[2]
The band recorded one single for Jet Records called Free Hindley.[1] They approached the Sex Pistols producer Dave Goodman to produce it but he refused. However, he suggested that in order to show that they did not condone murder the B-side should be a version of the Ten Commandments set to music. This suggestion was accepted.[3]
In January 1978 the Sunday Mirror featured an article about the record under the headline 'Why must they be so cruel?'. It also showed a photograph of the band wearing hoods made from pillowcases. Later that month Strange announced that he had left the group in an interview with Sounds magazine. It disbanded shortly afterwards.[3]
Line-up
Around early 1977
- Steve Strange
- Soo Catwoman
Around mid-to-late 1977 (The Holland Park School gig)
- Steve Strange: vocals
- Mark Ryan: guitar, formerly of Adam and the Ants
- John: bass
- Vince Ely: drums, later of the Psychedelic Furs
1978: probably last line-up
- Steve Strange: vocals
- Chrissie Hynde: guitar, later of the Pretenders
- Anthony Doughty: bass, later of Transvision Vamp
- Topper Headon: drums, borrowed from the Clash
Discography
- Free Hindley (acetate/bootleg single)
References
- 1 2 "Moors Murderers, The Band". Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Andrew Gallix (9 May 2010). "The Moors Murderers". Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- 1 2 3 Dave Goodman (10 May 2002). "Steve Strange -correction". Davegoodman.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ↑ "The Photons". Punk77. April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2015.