Menace

Menace
Menace in 1977
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Punk Rock
Years active	1977-present
Labels	Illegal Records Small Wonder Records Fresh Records Vinyl Japan Knock Out Records Menace Recordings Sound Of The Suburbs
Members	Noel Martin Pete Bradshaw Dave Jenkins Simon Edwards
Past member(s)	Charlie Casey Steve Tannett Morgan Webster John Lacey Andrew Tweedy Uncle Albert Oddy Johnny Moses Jasper Hood Finn Panton Martin Sawtell Rob Menace Harvey Hark
Website	www.menace77.co.uk

Menace are a UK based punk band first formed in London in 1976. The band originally consisted of Noel Martin Drums, Steve Tannett Guitar, Charlie Casey Bass and Morgan Webster Vocals (RIP 1991). The current line up is Noel Martin Vocals, Pete Bradshaw Guitar, Dave Jenkins Bass and Simon Edwards Drums.^[1]

Menace were London's first generation no-nonsense boot boys, pre-dating Sham 69 and Cockney Rejects who overtook them in terms of mass popularity.

They formed in 1976 at the Hope And Anchor pub in Islington, London when Webster met the other three members and were soon playing The Roxy. Their high-energy, unpretentious sets won them few admirers in the music press, but they swiftly built a strong following that brought together both punks and skinheads. They're often citied as being the first to unite this potentially volatile mix. However, there was nothing premeditated about the audience they attracted, as most of the band had been skinheads in their youth.

Menace were initially signed to Mile Copeland's Illegal Records and released their debut single in August 1977 with "Screwed Up" backed with "Insane Society". Charlie Harper of the UK Subs bought the very first copy when he bumped into Martin picking up the first box of singles from Copeland's office. It was good, honest working class sloganeering (If we're working class, why ain't we got jobs?) and more musically adept than you might imagine. After the release of the band's second single, the classic "GLC" backed with "I'm Civilised", Sniffing Glue trumpeted that they "are the best punk band in England today!" after witnessing some highly charged early shows at The Vortex and the Hope And Anchor.