The original line up consisted of Kevin (Slob) Law (guitar), Dave Bass (bass), Roger Boden (drums) and Kevin Singer (real name - Kevin Inman) (vocals).
Kevin Singer was later replaced by the singularly named Oscar early in 1978, and Mal R Joey (real name - Malcolm Ball) later joined the band as rhythm guitarist.
The Sussed shared two adjoining bed-sit flats in Poplar Road, Bearwood, Birmingham for nearly two years! It became a mental and psychological nightmare - a nightmare that would make 10 weeks in the Big Brother house feel like a mere weekend at Butlins! Quite how they managed to remain together until 1979 is an achievement in itself!
I WAS SUSSED... I WAS SUSSED... YOU GOTTA 'AVE A NERVE TO BE A PERV...
Long disbanded, and with founder members Dave Bass and Kev (Slob) Vegas now keeping the fires burning with PUNK'D the Spirit of 1977, the Sussed were, perhaps, the ONLY punk band around in 1978 who's anthem song was better known than they were! A mystery band? A one hit wonder? A lost treasure? One thing is for sure, their blend of high energy British punk-rock, strong melodic song writing, dynamic stage presence and anarchic sense of humour made them as ripe today as they were back then!
Although originally formed in 1977 by Slob and Dave in the south coast town of Eastbourne, the band relocated to their native Birmingham at the height of the British punk scene. Early appearances (under the name of The Worms) soon followed, but the first performance of The Sussed was at The Stone House (Birmingham) in January 1978.
As pubs and clubs across the city took advantage of the new "youth explosion", the Sussed took advantage of a weekly residency at The Stone House (Birmingham) where they performed alternate Saturday and Sunday nights. A strong "cult" following emerged, and among the many guest bands who supported them there were The Killjoys (later Dexy's Midnight Runners), Mis-Spent Youth and a very early incarnation of Duran Duran.
But, Birmingham Barbarellas was THE place to be at the time, and The Sussed became regulars. They hosted both headline nights and regularly played on the same bill as The Clash, The Damned, Generation X and many more. Even on nights when the band weren't on the bill, you could guarantee they would be there, and part of the "clique" that made that era so influential.
They joined Shoestring Records in the summer of 1978, and the release of their debut single I Like You / Tango / The Perv (a "triple" A side) soon followed.
"I Like You" is a breezy, bubbling bonanza of bop and bubble bounce for all those who delight in the hit sounds of Radio One. "Tango" is aimed at the up and coming Black Sabbath Saturday Night Dance Formation Team, and "The Perv" is a special little ditty for raincoat buyers and John Peel!"
Mike Davies - Melody Maker, August 1978
_______________________________________________________
Although the single was well received, had plenty of radio air play (and gained good regional sales) it failed to launch the band to national fame. They became unhappy with their management company and "split" (only to reform as two separate bands) during the summer of 1979. For a short time the two new bands were both using the name "Sussed".
The "new" Sussed featured the original line up (minus Oscar and Mal R Joey) with the addition of Nigel Dolman as front man. They took an entirely different musical approach, and enjoyed relative success playing universities and colleges both regionally and nationally. They also entered into (and made the national final) of the Melody Maker "Battle of the Bands '79" competition. However, after a name change to "Pop Art" and a classic case of "musical differences", the band finally split in 1980.
"Archetypal amateurs of the 'anyone can play' variety, and so engagingly buffoonish that one can only giggle indulgently and wish them all the best! ...Every town should have at least one band like The Sussed. Any town with two is in dead trouble!"
Stephen Gordon - Sounds, April 1979
_______________________________________________________
Oscar continued as "Oscar AND the Sussed" and formed an entirely new band playing reggae standards and one or two original songs. Mal R Joey went on to form The Troops and, later, collaborated once more with Slob (and Mis-Spent Youth's Jon Buxton) in The Jet Set.
Oscar released "I've Got Me Parka" for Graduate Records in 1980 which became a regional standard in the "mod" revival of the early 80's.
Nigel Dolman later fronted Wolverhampton band Michelangelo's David, and pursued a career in acting (landing roles in ITV's "Boon" and numerous BBC TV plays. He also achieved a number 1 record in Mexico with "High Sex Drive" as solo artist Dolmann. He is currently a presenter for BBC local radio.
After a short and unremarkable career in jingle/song publishing, Slob turned to video and now runs a small production company.
Slob and Dave still play live in PUNK'D the Spirit of 1977 a band described as "the ULTIMATE live tribute to punk!" performing classic songs from the Sex Pistols to the Adverts!
Many of The Sussed's original songs now live on with Shropshire based band The Part Time Punks By combining their own input plus a wealth of new material, a whole new generation of youngsters are rapidly getting Sussed all over again!
Will the real Oscar Please stand up.
Hi Lads glad to see everyone's still having a bash,So am I, we will have to do a one off gig on perve's reunited sometime, anyway I am now doing my own show, see the show on my website. www.oscarmartinlive.com
Luv OSCAR
Sounds great. It's funny, loads of the old/odd bands I wrote about are doing stuff again. They have no delusions about A&R men or world domination, just to have some fun, and judging by the last time I ventured out of my room to see the Machines in Southend, everyone is having a lovely time. Without getting chased by Teds, either, which is nice. Keep me in touch with developments.
Thank's for adding us Scottish Punk's , Most appreciated..
So hows life going with you..? What you been up to ?
peter4pm
Why not have a listen to our latest album TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS in full by going to www.generationpunk.com
click on the bands link ..scroll down until you see our album cover and click listen ..It's that easy..
Then go by the bugger ....!!!
