Amebix are an English crust punk band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs. The group has reunited as of 2008. By being one of the first bands to blend anarcho-punk and heavy metal music, Amebix are often cited as one of the key bands that helped to create the crust punk style. [1] [2] Such notable bands as Sepultura, Neurosis and Deviated Instinct have paid homage to the band. [3]

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History

Amebix was initially formed by Rob Miller (a.k.a. 'The Baron') along with his brother Stig, Andy Billy Jug and Clive while in school in Devon in 1978. Initially referring to themselves as "The Band with No Name" the band played extensively around the local area, during which time they recorded a six-track demo tape. Using his role as part-time columnist in a local paper Rob Miller gave a tape to Crass when they played in Plymouth. The track "University Challenged" from this demo was then featured on the first Crass Records Bullshit Detector compilation LP. ^[4]

After this the band replaced drummer Andy Billy Jug with Martin, whose parents' manor house in Dartmoor was then used to practice in. It was around this time that the band began to refer to themselves as 'Amebix'. According to an interview with lead singer and bassist Rob Miller, Amebix refers to the amoeba. However, Martin was removed by his parents from the band and relocated to London where he suffered a breakdown and was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. The song "Largactyl" was written about Martin's experience. ^[5]

The band then recruited Norm (Screaming Heads, Phantasmagoria, NormYard) as a synth player and decided to relocate to Bristol, living in a number of squats. They recruited Disorder drummer Virus to play drums and finally had a semi-stable line-up. ^[6] This line-up would record the first 2 7"s (Who's the Enemy EP and "Winter") and the 12" (No Sanctuary ). A fill-in synth player would appear on the 12" EP No Sanctuary , and in 1984 they would acquire a new synth player, George. ^[7] While recording the No Sanctuary EP at Southern Studios they met Jello Biafra of American punk band Dead Kennedys and punk label Alternative Tentacles. They became Tentacles' first UK signing with the Arise! album in 1985. The final line-up would come together in 1985 with the addition of Spider on drums. They signed to Heavy Metal Records for the release of 1987's Monolith , whose release/distribution difficulties led to the band eventually splitting, although they were to continue touring, their final tour ending in Sarejevo before the collapse of Yugoslavia. Spider, George, and Stig went on to perform in Zygote. Vocalist Rob Miller now lives on the Isle of Skye where he works as a self-taught swordsmith.

According to The Baron's myspace page, Amebix have reformed as of February 2008. On March 9, 2008 Amebix reissued their last album Monolith as a sliding scale download through Moshpit Tragedy Records.

Influences

Amebix took inspiration from Motörhead (and to a lesser extent Lemmy-era Hawkwind), Black Sabbath, and Venom, combined with an ethos and worldview akin to Crass. They were also influenced by various post-punk and gothic rock bands, including Public Image Ltd., Bauhaus, Joy Division, and especially Killing Joke.

Members

Current lineup

• Rob "The Baron" Miller - vocals, bass (1978-1987, 2008-present)
• Stig - guitar, backing vocals (1978-1987, 2008-present)
• Roy Mayorga - drums, percussion, keyboards (2008-present)

Past members

• Ric Gadsby - bass (1978-1979)
• Andy Billy Jug - drums (1978-1981)
• Clive - bass (1979)
• Martin - drums (1981)
• Norm - keyboards (1981-1984)
• Virus - drums (1981-1985)
• Jenghiz - keyboards (1984)
• George - keyboards (1984-1987)
• A. Droid - keyboards (1984-1987)
• Spider - drums (1985-1987)

Discography

Studio albums

• Arise! (1985, LP/CD, Alternative Tentacles)
• Monolith (1987, LP/CD, Heavy Metal Records)

EPs

• Who's the Enemy (1982, 7", Spiderleg Records)
• No Sanctuary (1984, 12", Spiderleg Records)

Live albums

• No Gods (1985)
• No Masters (1986)
• Make Some Fucking Noise (1997)

Compilation albums

• The Power Remains (1993, LP, Skuld Releases)
• No Sanctuary: The Spiderleg Recordings (2008, LP+7"/CD, Alternative Tentacles)

Singles

• Winter (1983, 7", Spiderleg Records)

Demos

• Amebix (1979, self-released)
• Right to Ride (1987, self-released)

References

1. Rise of Crust
2. Peter Jandreus, ''The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk 1977-1987'', Stockholm: Premium Publishing, 2008, p. 11.
3. Amebix biography @ Allmusic
4. Metal Archives
5. Ian Glasper, ''The day the country died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984'', London, Cherry Red Books, 2006 (ISBN 1-901447-70-7), p. 200.
6. Rock Detector
7. Yahoo! Music