Crass’ first release was The Feeding of the 5000 (an 18-track, 12″ 45 rpm EP on the Small Wonder label) in 1978. Workers at an Irish record-pressing plant refused to process it because of the offensive and blasphemous content of the song “Asylum”, and the record was released without it.…
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The band formed in early 1978, with an original line-up of Phil Stanton (vocals), Rob “Spike” Harrington (guitar and vocals), Andy Lealand (guitar), Mark “Shark” Harris (drums), and Mark “Savage” Parsons (bass guitar). Parsons and Stanton left in 1979, with Harrington moving to lead vocals, and Lealand’s girlfriend Louise Wright…
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After the release of Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll and its extensive world tour in 1978, Blackmore decided that he wanted to take the band in a new, more mainstream direction, away from the “sword and sorcery” themes. Dio did not agree with this change and left the band.
On 22 March, they recorded a further session for John Peel’s 3 April broadcast. Another single, “Marching Men” was released on 19 May as means to promote the release of their album produced by Mick Ronson . Despite taping a video promo for Donnie Sutherland and After Dark , the…
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The roots of Atomkraft date to mid-1978, when Tony “Demolition” Dolan and Paul Spillett got together with the intention to form a band. Initially using the name of Moral Fibre and playing punk rock, they recruited guitarists Ian Legg and Chris Taylor. Ian Legg then left and was replaced by…
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In 1978, Queen released Jazz , which reached number two in the UK and number six on the Billboard 200 in the US. The album included the hit singles ” Fat Bottomed Girls ” and ” Bicycle Race ” on a double-sided record. Critical reviews of the album in the…
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By the end of 1978, SLF’s growing popularity was reflected in “Suspect Device” reaching No. 4 and “Alternative Ulster” being voted No. 11 in the annual Festive Fifty broadcast on the John Peel show.
At Christmas 1978, Ian Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow , but Blackmore did make a guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1978, Queen toured the US and Canada
In the second half of 1978, SLF toured as the support band to the Tom Robinson Band .