Ask anyone what punk is (or was) all about and they will probably mention The Sex Pistols, swearing at Bill Grundy on the telly, The Clash, bondage trousers, safety pins and mohican haircuts. They may claim that it all started in the USA. All correct, perhaps, but only a small part of the story. Punk was a youth movement that led from 1976 onwards to the formation of thousands of new groups across the country. Every town of any size developed a new music scene, and any village of more than a few hundred people had its own version of "The Infested", "The Rancid" or "The Vomitones". My own corner of the UK, around Canterbury, Whitstable, Margate and Herne Bay in Kent, was no exception, and I latched onto a number of groups, particularly The Ignerents.
The Ignerents were formed in 1977 in Whitstable, Kent, by brothers Chris 'Stax' Harris (bass) and Steve Harris (guitar), vocalist Kevin Holmes (soon replaced by Ben Challis), neighbour Mark Leighton on guitar (later repalced by Nick Appleton), and drummer Stan 'Gretsch' Littlejohn.
The group released one single in 1979 (Radio Interference b/w Wrong Place Wrong Time) on local label Ace Records and then re-released it on their own 'Rundown' label.
Manager Phil Harris said "We are not trying to jump on the image bandwagon, but looking for the excitement that has been brough to music by the new wave.. " Times/Observer Sep 1977.
At the time I thought the Ignerents were the best group in the history of rock 'n roll...and I was right. I still think they are...and I am still right. Here is their single:
...and here's another blistering track:
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