Secret Police / These Boots Are Made For Walking

Catalogue Number - Raw 15

Label - Raw Records

Year Of Release - 1978

Quantity Pressed - ?????

 

Secret Police / Secret Police / Intro to ... These Boots Are Made For Walking

Catalogue Number - N/A

Label - Pye

Year Of Release - 1978

Quantity Pressed - 1 Copy Only Known To Exist

Format - Double Sided 7" Acetate

 

 

   

"Secret Past"

Side One

Withdrawal / 1984 / Bleak Outlook / Secret Police / These Boots Are Made For Walking

Side Two

I'm Not Me / Fraulin / The End Is Nigh / Secret Police / These Boots Are Made For Walking

Label - Delorean Records

Catalogue Number - No One

Year Of Release - 1985

 

Formed in March 1977 in London they played under their original name, SMAK, for the first two months, including the recording of the "Live at the Roxy" LP, before settling on the name of The Unwanted and playing at many of London's Punk hotspots, The Man In The Moon, Marquee Club, the Roxy and the Vortex.

Although a highly entertaining live act, consistent line up changes resulted in a stop-start career. Members came and went including bassist Dave Postman from Flowers Of Romance, drummer Robbie from Peroxide Romance and those who went on to greater things, Robin Wills (later to the Barracudas) and Vince Ely (to the Psychedelic Furs).

Their debut single "Withdrawal" (on Raw records) was  a superb slice of ramalamadolequeue, but the album they craved, and deserved, would never happen.

The rest of the year was spent sporadically touring, before a second single, and a complete image overall, occurred at the start of 1978.

"Secret Police" (again on Raw) was a loping sub-reggae single and most fans felt short changed after their original full on punk attack.

The band continued on for a few months more supporting their long time friends Siouxsie and the Banshees and X-Ray Spex whenever the opportunity arose.

However in May, Ollie's past caught up with him as he was given a six month prison sentence for stealing a union jack flag from a flag pole in Bromley the previous June.

The Unwanted were no more.

 

Ollie would later reappear in the 80s fronting Glam-Goth legends, The Specimen.

 

The above eight photographs were taken at the "Stuart Hall", 'Norwich Arts Centre" when the band supported label mates 'The Killjoys' on Friday 26th August 1977.  All photographs taken by 'Allen Adams'.

 

The above article appeared in the Cambridge Students own newspaper "Varsity With Stop Press" on Saturday 12th November 1977.

 

The above gig dates for the "Roxy" appeared in "Sounds" on 17th September 1977.

The above gig date for the "Music Machine" appeared in "Sounds" on 24th December 1977.

The above gig date for the "Roxy Club" is for when the band were still called 'Smack' and is for Wednesday 21st December 1977 and appeared in "NME" on 24th December 1977.

The above gig date for the "Music Machine" appeared in "NME" on 24th December 1977.

The above gig date for the "Music Machine" appeared in "Sounds" on 24th December 1977.

Above is an original A5 Gig flyer from when 'The Unwanted' supported 'Siouxsie & The Banshees' at the 'Alexander Palace'

 

Above is an original 12" x 16" Promotional poster for the album "(Oh No It's) More From Raw (RAWLP 2)" from 1978.

 

 

Above is an Original 1¾ Tin Badge from 1977.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Joe Public & Allen Adams.