SLUG

Genre: Punk

Location: London, UK

We're an Anarcho Punk band from London. Formed in 2012 from the ashes of various other bands.
We've played a few gigs so far and have quite a few lined up for the rest of the year.
We're not in it for the money or fame, but for the love of punk and we've got quite a lot to say on various issues we feel strongly about as well!

As SLUG are a new band they do not have much of a history, however, this is a history of how and why SLUG formed, what they are about and what they hope to achieve.


Trev and JJ (both from former band Active Slaughter) and Bruce (from former band Bug Central) decided to get a band together in the summer of 2012 All three have been very close friends for well over a decade now.

JJ, only recently released from prison, serving a 2 years 8 months prison sentence, for Shac/ALF various offences against an animal testing facility, felt that since the end of Active Slaughter, before he went to prison, there was a lot more still that he wanted to say and do band wise, especially since returning from prison. He wanted to carry on the message he had been saying in Active Slaughter for 10 years, the only other band he's ever been in.

Trev has massive experience in punk and had been drumming in many anarcho punk bands for over 30 years now. He's been in many bands inc Active Slaughter, Intensive Care, Bug Central (and also still drumming in Cop Car Pile Up). Trev and JJ have worked together for so many years that it was inevitable that they would work together again as they make a good team and both share many a strong views politically and personally. Trev and his bands previous to Active Slaughter being a big influence on JJ.

Bruce was Bug Central's bass player and was in them for years, as well as Intensive Care a few years before.

Bruce has also worked with Trev for many years in two different bands and also makes a great partnership with Trev. Bruce as well as JJ and Trev had strong feelings about the world around him and with his love of punk rock felt there was a lot more he wanted to do and a lot more he wanted to say in his songs, Bruce was a song writer, bass player and vocalist so he was going to be a big part of the band and bring his great experience into the band.

So with the three band members together and no band name, the band starting rehearsing. Not knowing where the band was going to go, the three of them started to write songs and practice them in the studio.

At this time JJ was the only guitarist and was also the lead vocalist, with Bruce on backing vocals. After a few songs worked on hard and pretty much completed, the three of them decided the band had potential and all three felt they had hunger again to do this band.

After a few rehearsals JJ felt he and the band would benefit from a lead vocalist, someone who is not playing an instrument, someone who would have the energy and charisma to put across SLUG's message and put on a good show. Two days after the band discussing this - Bruce, JJ and Trev were at a gig and were talking to Sam Bricket.(friend of JJ's of whom Sam got to know by going to active slaughter gigs and often joining them on stage for vocals). Sam, who many know around the punk scene and can be seen at loads of gigs, had brought it up in conversation that he wanted to start a band. JJ thought instantly that Sam would make a great front man. And so that was that, Sam was in.
Sam was soon brought into the studio and he fit into the band perfectly. He had the same hunger they all had.

So now Sam was on lead vocals, with JJ doing second vocals and Bruce also sharing vocals. Three vocalists now, with Sam at the forefront and with even more energy and charisma than the three had hoped for....Sam was out on full frontal attack ready and eager to get the band moving.

But there was something still missing.... All four members thought they could do with another guitar to beef up the sound they wanted.

JJ had recently met Phil, a friend of Sam's, and as Phil seemed to know many musicians, JJ asked Phil if he knew of any guitarists who may fit into the new London anarcho band. Phil said he himself could play lead guitar and had done so for years and had played tons of gigs and festivals with various punk bands. So Phill was offered lead guitar... Everything seemed to be fitting into place.

A few nights after agreeing with JJ to join the band, Phill was out with Sam. Phil mentioned to Sam he had "Joined JJ's new band". (Phil not knowing Sam had joined also) Sam then replied "Really?!? So have I!"

After a couple of rehearsals with Sam on lead vocals, Phil then came in to the studio and instantly fit into the band just as Sam did. Phil adding his great lead guitar and many guitar solos that left the rest of the band stunned. This was now not just Bruce, JJ and Trev's band, but it was also Phil and Sam's band.

The band came up with the name SLUG.... And so SLUG was born.

SLUG would be an anarcho punk band with many influences from all forms of punk and hardcore bands. Each member into all different forms of punk and music in general having an input into the writing of the songs.

A few weeks on and 7 songs later, in December 2012 the band went into the recording studio and recorded the 7 tracks, all of which can be downloaded for free on SLUG's website www.slugattack.com

SLUG have already played 4 gigs and have more lined up over the next few months. The aim of SLUG is to play as many gigs as they can and to also record as many songs as they can. Each song with a message, a message close to their hearts.

SLUG are not trying to change the world, but if they can just help people think about the world and what's going on around them then SLUG as a band have done their job.

Phil, being from the squat scene and somebody who has squatted for years recently came up with an idea to record a song he wrote about Mike Weatherley, the Tory mp for Hove, who pushed through the law to have squatting made illegal. Once SLUG record this track sometime in early 2013 it will be released as a single with another band (soon to be announced) with a couple of tracks from each band. This single (CD format and downloadable) will then be be sold and all money raised will go towards a homeless charity.

SLUG want to do loads of things like this.... Not only will they have their message out there supporting various issues and causes but they will also play benefit gigs, release various songs to raise money for various charities/organisations and also occasionally put on their own benefit gigs for various good causes, as various members from SLUG have done so in the past.

The causes SLUG will raise money and awareness for will be many including animal rights, social and community centres, anti fascists, political prisoners, squatters rights, anti war and many other good causes that members of SLUG support.

As well as having tunes about many issues, SLUG also hope to have actually good tunes that the wider audience of punk will appreciate. They aim to have a varied punk sound as possible and with the added bonus of three vocalists in the band this will help to get the diverse sound SLUG currently have and hope to expand on.

So with 7 songs recorded and two DIY music videos also made:

http://youtu.be/vLq4WWXSx6w

http://youtu.be/QdRgZKM7_YY

SLUG will be busy in 2013 with more gigs, recordings and music videos.

Check them out if you have not done so already, Support the band and the causes they promote.

www.slugattack.com
Description
If you're a promoter and want us to play your gig get in touch.
Interviews for fanzines and reviews for our recorded tracks are also welcome

Influences: Active Slaughter, Bug Central, Oi Polloi, Anthrax UK, CRASS, Terminal City Ricochet, CRESS, Aus Rotten and many others..

Band Interests:
Animal liberation, human rights, anti war, anti homophobia, anti sexist, anti fascist, class war


Email us at slug@slugattack.com


Members:

• Bruce - bass/vocals
• JJ - guitar/vocals
• Phil - lead guitar
• Sam - lead vocals
• Trev - drums



Official Website: http://www.slugattack.com