The Alsatians

A rare and classic UK Powerpop release from 1980. No picture sleeve was ever issued.

The Alsatians : A Brief History

In 1976, Alan Draper (guitar & vocals) formed the Barley Wine Band with Dyl (vocals), Tim Scott (bass) and Nik Sands (drums). They recorded a one-sided single for Extortion Records called ‘New Coffee Mug’ and made their live debut at the Institute of Education, Soho on 9^th May 1977.

In April 1978 they underwent a name change and became the Alsatians, their first gig under this name was at the Middleton Arms, Hackney on 1^st May 1978, supporting the Tickets. Sands quit shortly thereafter and Draper joined punk band Minnie Ralores during the summer of ’78, debuting with them at the Bridge House, Canning Town on 3^rd June that year.

Singers Lesley Croney and Mark Hope left Minnie Ralores and Draper drafted Dyl back into the line-up alongside Sue Scott (bass), John K (sax), Sheila Porteous (guitar) and Tony Gregson (drums). This version of the Alsatians entered the Melody Maker Contest held at City University, London on 15^th May 1979 and were highly commended by the judges – Splodgenessabounds were the eventual winners.

After a residency at the Bridge House during the summer of ’79, Sue Scott left to join the Gymslips and Draper formed the ‘classic’ Alsatians line-up with Dyl (vocals & flute), Tim Scott (bass) and Bruce Stockley (drums) and recorded and released ‘Teen Romance’ / ‘Our Man In Marrakesh’ on SRT Records in March 1980.

Other crowd favourites were 'Here Come The Superheroes', 'See You Around' & 'Crazy'.

The Alsatians gigged throughout 1980, marrying a new wave energy to a classic pop sensibility and building a faithful following based in the East End of London. They regularly played the Bridge House, as well as Redbridge Tech, the Paviours Arms, City of London Poly and North East London Poly. Several other guitarists joined and left during this period including Kev Beaumont and Maff Davis.

On 23^rd January 1981, the Alsatians played at the celebrated Marquee Club in Soho, supporting Mighty Mars, with hundreds of Alsatians fans attending they blew off the topping band and got fined £15 a minute for going back on stage for encores as the crowd wouldn’t let them go. After this triumph they did several more gigs at the Bridge House before breaking up on their final gig there on 26^th May 1981.


Kev Beaumont	Alan Draper	Dyl Draper
Live at the "Bridgehouse" on Monday 28th February 1980


Kev Beaumont	Dyl Draper	Bruce Stockley	Alan Draper	Tim Scott
The above photo was taken on Thursday 15th May 1980


Dyl Draper	Kev Beaumont	Tim Scott	Alan Draper	Bruce Stockley
The above photo was taken on Thursday 15th May 1980

Dyl Draper - Vocals	Alan Draper - Vocals & Guitar
Tim Scott - Bass	Bruce Stockley - Drums