There is no street punk, young hardcore guy or self-respecting subcultural misfit who hasn't seen the GBH logo emblazoned on the back of a leather jacket, a jean vest or a torn t-shirt. And now the world will get another reminder, like a slap, why GBH is so important, in the form of Perfume and Piss, the first album by this legendary and iconic punk band for Hellcat Records.
Incendiary themes, who raise their fists and break down doors like “Kids Get Down”, “Cadillac One” and “This is Not the Real World” carry the torch forward with the band's signature fury., a mix of nihilism, optimism, pessimism, anarchy, violence, humor and deadly seriousness, all at the same time.
Charged GBH has been around for more than 30 years as a band; much more than the typical commercial rock radio groups that appear today and disappear tomorrow. Their longevity is a testament to the purity of their sound and vision.. Although, as vocalist and founding member Colin Abrahall tells it, There was never anything resembling a “plan.”.
“We didn't think it would last a week when we started”, he says between laughs. “None of us really knew how to play our instruments or do our role in the band well.”. We just improvised a good time. If you had been born the day we were formed in 1979, you would be a mature adult now!”
GBH could only have been born in Birmingham (o, according to Abraham, maybe in detroit), with its heavily industrialized factories. From Led Zeppelin to Judas Priest, passing through Black Sabbath and Charged GBH, Birmingham's vibe is as distinctive as it is blue-collar, raw and real. “You stay in the band because if not, “You have to go back to work in the factory.”, dice Colin. “So you do what you have to do.”
World tours and concerts in legendary venues such as the 100 Club over the years 80 were commemorated by a series of albums that are emblematic today, as City Baby Attacked by Rats (1982), the epitome of what punks around the world know and love as the “UK82” sound.
City Baby’s Revenge came two years later, followed by no less than six albums over the years 90. Ha ha, launched in 2002, It was the last full album we heard from GBH… And boy was it worth the wait!
Perfume and Piss es, in the words of the band itself, “the best album we have made in a long time”. The album was created in stages (two weeks of work, two weeks off), which allowed them to refine the material and compose a more complete album. “We are really happy with it”, dice Colin.
“We've been on several cool labels in the past, and since hellcat started, “We always wanted to be there.”, comment. “Signing with Hellcat is a dream come true for us.”
More of 30 years later, GBH still calls a beat-up old van home, and they wouldn't change it for anything. “It's what we live for — the main purpose of each day is to get to the concert: that is the reason for being.”
And what would Colin Abrahall think of 1978 about the GBH of 2010?
“I think he would be quite speechless to see that we continue doing what we do”, dice. “We used to live day to day. We didn't think much about the future. I don't think he said I sold out or betrayed punk rock or anything like that.. “We remain faithful to our roots.”
