Two singles · one Peel session · an album that vanished
Subway Sect
Without doubt one of the earliest and finest punk bands of the era — but you'll never know, because they released just two singles over two years and one John Peel session.
Words · KULTUR
Recordings were made for an album, but they were lost, leaving the tantalising thought that what disappeared was probably as ground-breaking as The Scream, Unknown Pleasures or Pink Flag.
Vic Goddard and guitarist Rob Simmons started out playing the blues at college in South London before busking in tube stations as makeshift rehearsal venues — hence the name, supposedly after a Hammersmith subway. They were nearly called the Numb Hearts. Like many others, their outlook changed after seeing the Sex Pistols at the Marquee. They loved the image, if not the music.
“I thought the Pistols were the end of rock'n'roll… but they weren't. Nor were the Clash. We never used ordinary guitars, a Gibson or a Strat: we used Fender Mustangs because they have a trebly, scratchy sound. We became quite purist. Our guitarist refused to allow any macho, rock'n'roll attitude on stage.”
— Vic Goddard · England's Dreaming, Jon Savage
The band originally comprised Paul Myers on bass, Robert Simmons and Vic Goddard on guitar and Paul Packham on vocals. A reshuffle saw Myers move to drums and Goddard to vocals. Having been forced to rehearse twelve hours a day for a week by Malcolm McLaren at Manos in Chelsea, they were ready to gig.
Their first appearance was the 100 Club Punk Festival on 20 September 1976, alongside The Clash, the Pistols and the Damned, among others — appearing in stark black as opposed to the sartorial punk finery of the main protagonists. Rehearsals happened at The Clash's Rehearsal Rehearsals in the Camden Stables.
