Neon

Neon formed in early 1978 and were from County Durham and they really did sound like no other band at that time. Originally coming from the remains of a band called The Hephalumps they weren't going to be your bog standard 1234 merchants. However as Tim Jones recalls "We were immediately labelled punk from our first gig so that's what we thought we were although in retrospect there were so many other influences that eventually became known as New Wave." and he accurately describes their sound as "progressive punk.... Fast and furious guitar riffs." I'll add weird time signatures verging on jazz to that! Live their "playing jerks with danceable tension" opined Phil Sutcliffe in Sounds to complete the description of their sound.

Mark Dunn - Bass Guitar.
Tim Jones - Guitar. Paddi Addison - Drums
Martin Holder - Guitar.

They supported fellow North East bands such as Penetration and Punishment Of Luxury and toured with The Pretenders. In their live set at the time were songs such as Wuh Wuh, I'm A Gents (at your convenience), Hunny Bunny and Life's A Downer and other tracks heading towards Devo weird territory! Lenny Love of Sensible Records (home initially of The Rezillos) liked the band and put out their first single. A John Peel radio session on 22/3/79 featuring Confuse The News, Eying Up Diddies, Plum Plum Crazy and Exterminate helped get a deal with Radar. This produced one more single and that was it for this strange (and some say the worst dressed ever) band.

I've probably not sold the band that well but if you can, check out the two singles below. You won't be disappointed. You can even buy a CDR of their stuff straight from the band.
Email: info@archhouse9.fsnet.co.uk for more details.


Bottles / I'm Only Little / Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere (Sensible Records 1978)		Don't Eat Bricks / Hanging Off An 'O' (Radar 1978)