The Lurkers
The Lurkers + Who Killed Nancy Johnson? + Spring Park + Crash Induction
8.00 - 9.00pm The Lurkers 7.00 - 7.40pm Who Killed Nancy Johnson? 6.05 - 6.45pm Spring Park 5.10 - 5.50pm Crash Induction Doors 4pm £5 OTD
Original punk band, established 1977 Inspired by American bands such as the Ramones and the New York Dolls, the British beat boom of the sixties and Glam Rock acts like Slade and Sweet, THE LURKERS formed in West London in mid 1976 and quickly forged their own identity with their own brand of punk tunes and lyrics encompassing subjects such as social unacceptability and personal politics.
The band built up a huge loyal following around the punk heyday of 1977 and signed to Beggars Banquet where they scored five top forty hits between 1977 and 1979 . They also appeared on Top of the Pops and many other television shows and became regulars on the popular Radio One John Peel Show.
Due to changing musical tastes within the band and Beggars Banquet concentrating on their new signing Gary Numan, The Lurkers decided to call it a day in 1980. Just two years later, a sudden resurgence of interest in the band inspired them to get back together to record for original manager, Mike Stone's, Clay Label, home of emerging hardcore punks Discharge and GBH. In 1984, new singer Mark Fincham ran off to work the drag clubs of Berlin and the band once again folded.
Original bassist Arturo Bassick got the whole thing going again in 1987 after a chance meeting with the huge German Punk band Die Toten Hosen, all of whom were massive Lurkers fans. Die Toten Hosen financed the comeback album, 'Wild Times Again', which launched The Lurkers' career once more - they have continued ever since, with one line-up or another.
Line Up
The Lurkers
WHO KILLED NANCY JOHNSON? are a Reading-based high-energy punk/post-punk band with a growing reputation as an incendiary live act.
"It's really worth getting to see these guys" - Punkarolla
Influences include The Ruts, Wire, Magazine, Black Flag, Fugazi, Killing Joke.
"Powerful yet melodic... this lot would be well received up Blackpool on the Rebellion line up" - Lights Go Out
The songs - apart from one cover that pops up in the live set from time to time - are original.
"A brilliant band... full of energy... a really cool post-punk feel" - New Music Saturday
Formed in Reading (UK) in 2015 from the embers of punk/pop band Nancy Johnson, the change of name mirrored a development from the frat-boy approach of Nancy Johnson to a more edgy and aggressive sound.
"A style that is quite unique... pour out a huge amount of energy... if you get the chance, go see ’em" - Plasma Music TV
Since 2016 the band has gigged at multiple venues in Reading, Basingstoke, Oxford, Guildford, High Wycombe, Kingston, London, Brighton, Chatham, Southampton, St Albans, Colchester and Cirencester, releasing their first EP, Cops and Robbers, in January 2017.
"Spiked with amphetamines... a band that embraces punk's origins as well as influences from the last four decades" - thePUNKsite
In late 2017 WKNJ made their first visit outside the UK with a couple of dates in Milan, and played a set for BBC Introducing LIVE.
"Quality stuff" - IssuePunkZine
In 2018 they toured France, released their second EP, Flat Earth Theory, followed by an eponymous full-length CD-only album that collects all their recorded work so far, including remixes and material not released elsewhere.
"Well worth checking out" - 4.52am
Most recently (September 2018) they released a single, They Reap, for Musicians Against Homelessness, followed by the They Reap Sessions EP in February 2019. A vinyl release via Sounds of the Suburbs is incoming later in the year.
"Jaw-droppingly good... more hooks than a deep sea fishing line" - Scene Sussex
Who Killed Nancy Johnson are Stefan BALL - vocals ; Dawid BYCHOWSKI - bass; Pete MOULTON - guitar; Mark WREN - drums. The question mark is optional.
"Bloody good... shades of Killing Joke" - RG New Music
Spring Park
We are a 4-piece party punk band based in MK. We play punk originals and covers from '77 through to the 21st century.
