Raped

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Sean Purcell - Vocals, Paddy Fields  -Drums, Tony Baggett - Bass and Faebhean Kwest - Guitar
"We are NOT sexist. Nor is our name...if anything, we are the victims (though we might enjoy the experience a little)." Raped
  Formed in early 1977. Originally going to be called The Solicitors  they finally settled on the suitably shocking Raped. Featuring a guitarist with an unspellable first name who auditioned  for the Pistols, a totally straight bass player who last played for Steppenwolf, A bizzare Japanese cross dressing  drummer and the focal point of the band a spiky blonde haired, Iggy loving Brian Connelly cum Billy Idol look alike.

Its curious that a movement that threw up swastikas as a fashion statement, gave us songs like 'Belsen Was A Gas' and bands like the 'Moors Murderers' could get so upset over a band that called itself 'Raped'.  These boys did everything they could to ensure that they got nowhere while gaining massive publicity. From their name to the names of their songs and their image these boys pissed people off. In Mid 77 when everyone was trying to look like street punk these were dressing like their glam heroes in makeup. Particularly guilty was the Japanese drummer Paddy Fields who favoured pink and purple and blonde hair ,high heels, tights and hot pants which he could probably get away with hiding behind a drum kit !!!

Frequent scams gave them publicity if nothing else. Deliberately  playing on their sexuality ( kissing on stage and claiming bisexuality- Sean and Faebhean) they claimed in the Ripped & Torn interview that Faebhean was gay or that he was descended from Aleister Crowley or playing a gig in front of kids..

'Jenny's got her nose in a library book..
So into masturbation she's forgotten how to fuck'

'Foreplay Playground 'Demo
 

  Unable to secure a recording contract they became part of the core of bands at that time that included Siouxsie, The Ants and The Slits who were deemed unsignable and commercial suicide. At the same time they attracted the same sort of fanatical following and had good press in the fanzines like Ripped & Torn, In The City and Trick. With this being the case their manager formed a record company and released two singles which kind of proved the above as they struggled to against the weight of negative publicity. Their first record said it all 'Not available in WH Smiths Boots or Woolies' yet was a good seller.  When  the resulting publicity failed to bring reward the name  ' Raped' was a millstone around their necks.
  As  a result of this they changed their name to Cuddly Toys as well as their image and style of music. With   Purcel's looks and glammy band image it was no suprise that they were quite big in Japan who seem to go for androgeny in a big way and I think they had success there along the way releasing two albums with a few more band twists and turns. In a way they missed the New Romantic  /glammy years of the early eighties which they were probably more suited.

In an email to Punk 77 Faebhean writes "Cuddly Toys dissolved in 1980-81 - mainly due to the Japanese company running off with the money we had put to one side to 'buy' us into the British and Japanese charts!!!  We were going to be managed by Marc Bolan but he died in the famous car crash. Paddy went back to Japan and changed sex (!) Sean died of a brain tumour 3 years ago, Tony became a market gardener! and I ...well, I'll tell you some day!     Lots of love.......Faebhean Kwest   

  faebhean.kwest@zoom.co.uk

 

From the back of 'Cheap Night Out'
  From Brian Young (Ex-Rudi whom Raped played with in Ireland) "Also just got in touch with my old buddy Fabhean Kwest (Raped after reading his piece in the website...a GREAT live band...and unlike most of the UK punk 'stars' we met they were brilliant people...(all the UK bands we met were utter wankers...and filled with their own self importance...especially the Adverts!...meeiow!).."
  Many thanks to Faebhean for the pictures and interview. Many  thanks also to Mike Clarke for the many scans he sent me and  whose site can be found at www.mrpibbs.com/inmat/
 

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