D.N.A. / Walking Corpses / The Ultimate System

Catalogue Number - Small 17

Label - Small Wonder

Year Of Release - 1979

Quantity Pressed - ????

35 years after the birth of Murder the Disturbed, loyal fans are finally being rewarded with the long-awaited first album, due for release in the summer of 2013. One of the North East’s original punk bands is back louder than ever, with the same attitude and a familiar, faintly alarming stage presence.   With a bizarre sense of continuity the current line-up is the one that failed to survive the band’s acrimonious split in 1979.

The band was formed in 1977 in Concord, a suburb of Washington, Tyne and Wear. Living within a stones' throw of each other, the four unemployed 17 year-olds used to hang around the town’s Oval Youth Club, bored stiff and pessimistic about their prospects. At the time, the punk scene was just getting off the ground in the area and news that someone at the Youth Club, Steve ‘Zodiac’ Minto, had a guitar was the catalyst for the lads going out in search of instruments to form a band; the tale of Danny Tindale crawling around a music shop window acquiring useful equipment, guided by pointing fingers from outside, has passed into local folklore. 

Geared up, the band named themselves The Disturbed because they felt it was important to have a name with ‘The’ in it. Despite not being able to play much, if at all, they were confident enough to hit the road. The original line-up was John Farrer and Chris Mordey on vocals, Roy Errington on bass, Tommy Watson on drums and Steve Zodiac on guitar. The first gig was at the Oval in January 1978, where the hostile reaction of the audience prompted a name change to Murder the Disturbed. Roy Errington took the threats of violence seriously and left, so Chris Mordey had to transfer to bass.

The hand of fate then played its part by carefully placing a wallet on the footpath just as John Farrer was heading to sign on. John decided that the most responsible course of action would be to spend the money wisely and that is how Flakey Ned, the band's first PA, was acquired. He has always maintained that the owner of the wallet would be happy and proud to have sponsored the performing arts in his local community.

A few gigs followed, but these had to be local because the gear was transported in shopping trolleys and on skateboards. What the band lacked in musical skill, they made up for in entertainment value and enthusiasm. Farrer’s stage outfits were hideous. He wore heavy make-up or a horror mask and would sing Norma Normal to a pet mannequin of the same name. Zodiac wore a doctor’s white coat with pieces of teacake and fresh fruit pinned to it and his ridiculous jacket with Superior Being daubed across the back was just asking for trouble in the hard-drinking Miners’ Welfare Clubs. Legging it away from gigs helped raise the band’s fitness levels, and slowly, a following of loyal fans started to develop.

Murder the Disturbed hit the studio in 1978 at Spectro Arts Centre in Newcastle. The resulting tape contained three tracks: DNA, Walking Corpses and Ultimate System. This was promptly despatched to Small Wonder Records and the lads were invited down to London for a chat about a contract.

By this time, Tommy Watson had been replaced on drums by the curious-looking Foster ‘Gonzo’ Nevans and as he was too young to sign anything, his Dad had to tag along as well …..

The trip proved worthwhile as the band signed and released the Genetic Disruption EP (Small 17 of 1979) which contained the original ropey Spectro recordings. Small Wonder didn’t want to redo the tracks in case it might “spoil the feel” and, in the process, cost the band (and themselves) a few quid. At the time, a journalist described it as “excellent plodding incompetence”. Make of that what you will, but the iconic EP made it into both the NME and Sounds Alternative Charts, peaking at number 6, ahead of Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Cure!!

Unparalleled chart success brought a decision to beef up the sound.  In came Adam Lynam, who was one of the band’s roadies, to replace Gonzo on drums and former Government Oven band member Chris Gibbon was drafted in as second guitarist. The two blended in well but progress was slow which frustrated Zodiac who threw in the towel and left. Steve had been the driving force in the band and without him it simply fell apart. This was the end of the original Murder the Disturbed.

The ongoing story of the band members is refreshingly simple. Steve Zodiac, Adam Lynam and Chris Mordey re-emerged to form the quirky, indie-pop band Strange Relations. Chris Gibbon joined Sunderland based new wave outfit The Revolving Doors. After a short while, and an even shorter list of gigs, Strange Relations changed their name to Let Them Eat Cake and the volatile Zodiac morphed into Jason Quest. Martin Stephenson, from The Martin Stephenson Band, joined then Quest left to be replaced by Jamie Harwood. In an abrupt about face The Cake changed its name to The Daintees and signed to Kitchenware Records. The five-piece enjoyed a successful nationwide tour and minor indie chart recognition with the Roll on Summertime EP. After a year or so, Chris Mordey and Adam Lynam left to team up with guitarist Chris Gibbon in a band that, when they finally found themselves a singer, went on the road under the name The Hoobs. Gigs focussed mainly on the Newcastle area, but this was the mid-80s and the local music scene was all but dead so the band eventually fizzled out. Around about the same time, Jamie Harwood also left the Daintees and hooked up with MTD chanter John Farrer to create the jangly, guitar-based Violet Chimes.

Fast-forward to 2011 and John Farrer's mid-life crisis is really kicking in. Unable to ride a motorbike, and totally disinterested in golf, he decides to work through his frustrations by getting MTD back together. Initially, the line-up is Farrer, Chris Mordey, Adam and Zodiac. After a while Steve Zodiac felt that history was repeating itself and again called it a day.  Thinking this is the end, Adam leaves to join Newcastle band Murdaball. However, John doesn’t give up he drafts in his mate Will Clousten on drums and tracks down Chris Gibbon. His aim is to make a full length CD, the album that never was, containing many of the songs that never got to vinyl.

 Practises go well and the band plays local gigs, where they are enthusiastically received. After all those years, nobody expects them to sound like a bunch of 17 year olds who could barely play and they don’t, but the name Murder the Disturbed is still apt. New renditions of old favourites have a harder, raw edge to them with a lot more power than the originals.

Once the recording is in the bag, Will Clousten immerses himself in a philosophy degree. Luckily, Chris Mordey bumps into second generation drummer Adam Lynam in Newcastle and gives him an advance copy of the CD. Adam really likes the new sound and is keen to rejoin the band, making the current line-up the same as it was back in 1979; Farrer, Mordey, Gibbon and Lynam.

The long-awaited CD will be available later in 2013, and beyond that, the band are working on new material and will continue to play live.

Thanks to Susan Scanlon

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