Evolution

Evolution of their Indie Rock Sound

BandPersonnelSignificant SongsGuilt by AssociationKnocked About WithPeriod
The ExtractionVocals: Cyril
Guitar: Iggy
Bass: Jack
Drums: Johnny
Amos
Hovis Butties
I’ll Get Yer Paper Dad
Too Many Coppers
Urban Filth/Necro
XS
Xpozez
1979-80
Chaos BrosVocals: Johnny Zero
Guitar: Toby Bricheno
Bass: Tim Bricheno
Drums: Captain Miff
We Are Chaos Bros
Religion Stinks
Saints Preserve Us
Love Conquers All
Tim Bricheno (All About Eve/Sisters of Mercy)
Toby Bricheno
Xpozez
Aemotii Crii
Anne Gwirter
1981-82
Dancing BeesVocals/Bass: Johnny
Guitar: Toby Bricheno
Going Out (In the Pouring Rain)Toby Bricheno (Composer)1982
MC4sVocals: Johnny Zero
Guitar: Mick Guitar
Bass: Charlie Brook
Drums: Mick Sticks
Mexico
Speeding Car
Beat the Bottle
It’s My Camera
Charlie Brook (Eat Organic)1983-84
Harold Wilson’s LawnmowerVocals: Johnny Zero
Guitar/Organ: Mick Guitar
Sierra Sierra
Zoom
The Hindu Project
1985
Revenge RockersVocals: Johnny Zero
Guitar: Fintan McConnell
Bass: Dave Smith
Drums: Max Bontempi
Kiss Me Deadly
100 Punks
Valley of the Dolls
Fintan McConnell (The Filters/Fintan McConnell’s Irish Folk Band)The Clash
Kosmo Vinyl
Mickey Foote
20 Flight Rockers
Mickey Finn (T Rex)
Huw Lloyd-Langton (Hawkwind)
1985-86
The IsolationistsVocal/Guitar: Johnny
Guitar/Bass: Andy deForest
Drums: Ian Brown
Isolation
Burning Baby
Sea of Red, Sea of Green
Mick Stead (+Paul Stead/Beautiful South) (The Luddites)Icebox Julian
The Dashed Unfair
Bob & John’s Novelty Box
1987
Martin’s DadVocal/Guitar: Johnny
Guitar: Andy deForest
Bass: Mick Stead
Drums: Martin Sykes
Heavenly in Black
Forever Falling
Martin’s Dad
1988
Krankhaus
previously the Receders
Vocal/Guitar: Johnny
Guitar Flash Harry
Bass: Eddie Gee
Drums: Barry Bang
Lifesaver 101
What About Us
Wankel on the Warpath
2014 – 2021
KaiserKillersVocals/Guitar/Bass: Johnny Zero
Guitar/Bass/Organ: Andy deForest
Drums: Barry Bang
Lead Guitar: Flash Harry
Bass: Pietro Futura
Saints Preserve Us
Love Conquers All
Honey (One Day in Atlantic City)
Don’t be a Stranger (Than You Already Are)
Gun Crazy
2020 on

Kaiserkillers evolution of their indie sound. In the early days, Johnny was asked by childhood friend Jack if he would like to join a band. This is how the conversation went, “I’ll be the singer”, “No, Cyril’s the singer”. “OK, I’ll play guitar”, “Iggy’s the guitarist”. “Bass?” “I’m the bassist”. “I’ll play Drums, then” was Johnny’s final gambit. “Yay, welcome aboard!” Like many young punk bands of the period, ability and equipment were at a premium, but some useful driving punk anthems emerged from this period.

Later, the Chaos Bros. beckoned, with Toby on guitar, brother Tim (then of the Aemotii Crii, later of All About Eve and Sisters of Mercy) guesting on bass and Captain Miff Smiff on percussion. Captain Miff would later leave the band to pursue a career as a full time professional cat burglar. The CBs morphed into the DBs and the Dancing Bees were briefly thrust into the world.

The MC4s were a departure for Johnny, featuring a blend of the funky sound of the period, cut with 70s style rock. Mick Guitar’s output of original material in this period was phenomenal. Mick Sticks the drummer then was taken seriously ill and several guest drummers were utilised during this period, including Almondbury Pete, who stored his drums at the priest’s house, adjacent to the band’s practice room. For all we know, they remain there to this very day covered in a sheen of holy dust and cobwebs! After a period of inactivity, the MC4s morphed into the writing and recording outfit Harold Wilson’s Lawnmower, sometimes with organ and often with several guest contributors.

The bright lights of the capital beckoned and Johnny joined up with Jimmy (Fintan) McConnell, Dave Smith and Max Bontempi to form Generation X acolytes, Revenge Rockers. During this star-studded period, the RRs were regularly brushing shoulders with the Clash, Kosmo Vinyl and Mickey Foote (Clash producer), as well as other luminaries crossing their paths, such as former T Rex Percussionist Mickey Finn, 20 Flight Rockers (with ex Gen X drummer Mark Laff) and former Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton.

Returning to his native North, Johnny teamed up for the first time with Andy deForest, who would become a long time collaborator; initially in the Isolationists. A new direction and a new band took shape in 1988 as Martin’s Dad hit the streets, featuring Johnny, Andy, drummer Syko and ex Luddites’ Mick Stead (brother of fellow Luddite and later of the Beautiful South, Paul Stead) on bass. Martin’s Dad’s standout track was Heavenly in Black, but the once seen – never forgotten – live rendition of the eponymous track ‘Martin’s Dad’, with Syko of vocals, Andy on drums and Johnny on lead guitar will live long in the memory! Martin ‘Syko’ Sykes would later leave music behind to concentrate on his career as a highly sought after international hit man.

A long period of musical inactivity followed, with Johnny mainly concentrating on colouring in with felt pens and Andy in mortal combat with the heinous Tooth God. Krankhaus brought Johnny out of unofficial retirement and later the KaiserKillers would emerge with an onslaught of the driving, powerhouse PowerPopPunk numbers that bring you here today. The addition of Flash Harry, Barry Bang and Pietro Futura completes the line up

The past is the past and only the future matters. To paraphrase a famous musical outfit you may have heard of: “Where are we going Johnny? To the toppermost of the poppermost!”

Jim Verdana , San Bernadino CA, April 2021


Kaiserkillers evolution of their indie sound

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