Portsmouth

 

Al Lemon Jacko Jim Thornton

A very early Acid Attack picture, probably around 1981. This line-up never recorded and only Jacko remained until the end. It's partly notable as on the far left of the picture in the leopard print trousers is Al, who is the bass player for the excellent UK Ramones! Also in the pic are first guitarist "Lemon" (in the white) and Drummer Jim Thornton on the right, who went on to play in another local band called Bedlam 1547.

 
 

Acid Attack epitomise the DIY ethic of UK punk rock!

 Hailing from Portsmouth, they were in existence for four years in which time they released the 13 track cassette album “Sulphuric” and contributed the track “Suburbia's Dream” to the Sane Records 1984 compilation LP “On the Street”.

 In terms of era, they fit into what is now known as the UK82 punk scene but their sound is not so easy to categorise. They were neither Oi or hardcore punk. They were aiming beyond such restricting labels. They mainly gigged locally, aside from one headline slot in South Wales, but their name spread far and wide thanks to word of mouth, sales of Sulphuric (aided greatly by the practice of smearing postage stamps with soap in order to reuse them) and interviews in many of the punk fanzines of the time. Sulphuric also received a short but favourable review in the music paper Sounds, who noted that “Acid Attack are a spirited punk band with sufficient ideas and energy to lift them above the morass of thrash-and-screech merchants”.

 Acid Attack formed in late 1980, went through numerous line up changes and had split up by the end of 1984. That was it ….. Or so they thought. Since around 2008 they’ve received enquiries from a few independent punk labels in the US, Italy and Spain about the possibility of releasing their demos. After speaking to a few labels without reaching the agreement stage they finally took the plunge with Only Fit For The Bin Records.

 Suburbia's Dream is an 18 track album containing all of the Acid Attack studio recorded material. The tracks were recorded by two of their line-ups, over three studio sessions and are the sound of enthusiastic young punks getting to grips with their instruments and developing their sound. This CD release will come with an eight page booklet plus a reissue of their first badge, a sticker and a hand designed fanzine style A4 booklet featuring photos, posters and the lyrics to all of their tracks …. created by the founder member and lead singer Jacko.

 As the opening track goes …… There's gonna be another Acid Attack!

Buy the CD / Fanzine / Sticker / Badge here : TO BUY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original A4 Gig Flyer for 'Acid Attack', 'Ad-Nauseum' & 'Bedlam 1547' at the "The Cumberland Tavern", Eastney, Portsmouth from Sunday 7th March 1982. 

 

Thanks to Dave Clark

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