A PUNK and New Wave band from Scotland will be coming to Reading this May.
The Rezillos formed in Edinburgh back in 1976, right at the beginning of the movement.
Although emerging at the same time as other bands in the punk rock scene, The Rezillos did not share the nihilism or social commentary of their contemporaries, but instead took a more light-hearted approach in their songs.
At the time, they prefered to describe themselves as “a new wave beat group”.
Their songs are influenced by 1950s rock n roll, 1960s English beat music and garage rock, and early 1970s glam rock, with recurring lyrical themes of science fiction and B Movies; their influences mirrored those of US bands the Cramps and the B-52s, who were starting out at the same time.
The Rezillos’ biggest hit over here was the Top 20 single Top of the Pops in 1978, but they are best known outside the UK for their cover version of Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight, which was featured on the soundtrack to Jackass The Movie in 2002.
Since The Rezillos recorded it, the song has been covered by other punk bands, including Youth Brigade and Murphy’s Law.
Released in July 1978, the Rezillos’ first studio album Can’t Stand the Rezillosis considered a classic album of the first wave of British punk The Rezillos’ vocalists, Eugene Reynolds and Fay Fife, formed the Revillos, a group with an ever-changing line-up that continued where the Rezillos left off.
The Revillos split in 1985, briefly reforming in 1994 for a tour of Japan, and again in 1996 for a UK tour.
In 2001, the Rezillos reformed after being invited to play at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, and have continued to play live ever since, as well as releasing new singles occasionally.
They will be at The Face Bar in Chatham Street on Thursday, May 11, thanks to Club Velocity. Tickets cost £20, and doors open at 8pm.
For more details, search www.wegottickets.com for The Rezillos
