Subway Sect

Subway Sect were without doubt one of the finest punk bands of the era but they released just two singles over a two year period and one John Peel Radio session. Vic Godard and guitarist Rob Simmons started out playing the blues at college in South London before busking in tube stations as makeshift rehearsal venues (hence their name). Like many others their outlook changed after seeing the Pistols. Their first gig was the 100 Club Punk Festival with The Clash, Pistols and Damned, etc, on 20 September 1976 (Malcolm McLaren was their manager at the time). They dressed in stark black as opposed to the sartorial punk finery of the main protagonists. But out of the chaos emerged someone whom Edwyn Collins later described as "the best songwriter of his generation" - Vic Godard. Edwyn caught an early Sect gig when they supported The Clash on The White Riot Tour in 1977. "We thought they were brilliant," he recalled. "The Clash were more like a traditional rock group, but Subway Sect made a glorious racket. We found it all very inspiring." And whenever Vic thought the band was getting too mainstream, he switched sounds - supporting Souixie & the Banshees they dressed in tweeds and played northern soul covers. Subway Sect don't give you mere posturing. They give you the real meaning of punk.