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999
One of the
longest-lived
groups of
the punk
era, 999
formed in
London in
December
1976. The
band
included:
vocalist/guitarist
Nick Cash,
guitarist
Guy Days,
bassist Jon
Watson, and
drummer
Pablo
LaBrittain.
After
dispensing
with a
series of
names
(including
48 Hours,
the Fanatics
and the
Dials), 999
quickly
established
themselves
as a popular
fixture on
the London
punk
circuit,
issuing
their
incendiary
debut
single,
I'm Alive,
on
their own
LaBrittain
Records in
late 1977.
The single
won them a
deal with
United
Artists, who
issued both
Nasty
Nasty
and
Emergency
in
1978; a
debut album
999,
followed
later in the
year. For
their next
effort,
1978's
Separates
,
999
enlisted
producer
Martin Rushent,
resulting in
a more
polished,
mainstream
veneer for
material
like the
near-hit
Homicide
and
High Energy
Plan.
In 1981
Concrete
was
released, an
album
containing
covers of
Li'l Red
Riding Hood
and
Fortune
Teller
. This was
an
indication
that the
group's
wellspring
of
creativity
was running
dry.
1983's
13th Floor
Madness
was
universally
panned for
its
disco-like
grooves,
although
1985's
self-released
Face to
Face
was
acclaimed as
a melodic
return to
form. At the
end of the
year, Watson
exited the
group's
ranks and
was replaced
by bassist
Danny Palmer
in time to
record
1987's
Lust, Power,
and Money
, a
live set cut
in London.
The band
continues to
tour today,
with an
ever-changing
line-up. |
