Billyclub formed in the frozen Tundra that is Kenosha Wi march 95. the lads started gigging and built up a following, they met Erv from Idol records at one of Terry Bones Sunday afternoon piss ups in the Chicago burbs (very nice thank you) the 1st release was a 7” single with Self Help and a cover of 999’s “Homicide” it was well received and got reviewed by none other than the Billboard magazine. The debut album "it’s better to be Pissed Off", was the next release (96) after the 1st successful US tour we all relocated to Dallas. Billyclub released another 7" “I Saw God” on Sour Records, we started writing songs for the next CD however things were not working out within the band and we parted company with Kurt, Dave Woodard (ex REO Speeddealer) stepped in and we resumed writing and recording, the CD was titled “out to Lunch and that came out in june/july 98 we then started to tour the US the band had another line up change and Terry Bones (Discharge, UK Subs, Broken Bones ETC!) joined us ..we did a small tour and Cold front records came to see us liked what they saw and that resulted in the Serve Loud ep, we toured the US (west coast, mid west) again, in 1999 we finally got on a good tour…thanks to Colin Abrahall we did the whole GBH USA tour during winter 99 and what a laugh that was, most nights Tezz got on stage with GBH to do the Discharge song "Realities Of War" and Ross got on stage with us to play “Surf” this tour resulted in the “Punk as Fuck “(Idol) EP and the “Punkrockambulance” EP (Casey Orr (Gwar, Rigor Mortis, Ministry) played bass on this ep. Kurt also did backing vocals.) After the long rest from Tour Fatigue Tezz Buggered off to Kansas with his new love and Kurt expressed his interest in reforming the original line up and basically finish what we started, so we thought that would be a good idea so we had to part co with Dave (no fault of Dave's cos he is an awsome front man!), so with Kevin and Kurt back we did a small east coast tour ending in New York.
We drove back home to Dallas and straight into a head on collision with personal problems for Kurt, this story unfolds in the FUVM ep, check out the songs Big F, Die Already and FUVM! This was released on Hello (2000) this was to be the last thing we did with the original line up, finally calling it a day in 2001 however we have played reunion shows when Karl goes back to Dallas.
2002 Karl moved back to the UK and put together a new line up with his brother Mok and with Andy n John the line was complete.
Billyclub played the 1st concrete Jungle festival and Keith from Cultjam Records watched the gig and as soon as we came off stage he came over and asked us to join the label, we already had the album recorded so we did the artwork (thanks Jizz) and Cultjam released the “No Justice” cd oct 2007..check the blogs for the reviews.
Karl's 1st band was Xtract which formed in 79, John joined Xtract when the band reformed in 85 , Karl has also Played in the Exploited, Broken Bones, UK Subs, The Phantom Rockers and most recently has been playing with GBH. you can find Video of his time in GBH on you tube! If you look real hard you can also find both old and new footage of Billyclub in action on you tube for our back catalogue try itunes, also have a gander at http://www.idolrecords.com/...amazon also has our stuff check out the brand new Billyclub web site, new shirts ,new cd also paypal has been set up making it easier to buy merch.
www.Billyclub.co.uk..
BILLYCLUB: LIVE @ THE SUGARMILL - 18/12/2003
If you arrange a europetour, let me know something, cause I arange gigs by myself, and I know some promotors, and if it's posible, take short bus window lickers or dogsflesh with you.