Actives
The Actives, hailing from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland were formed in 1981 by friends & roadies of already established anarcho-punk band, The Alternative. The inaugural line-up was Budgie, (Alan Burgess), on bass; Paul `Kirky` Kirk on drums & Lewis (Kennedy) on vocals. Main influences were the Damned, The Ramones & Motorhead. A number of temporary guitarists came & went until Graeme `Smed` Smith, (aka Smedley Feedback), joined in 1982. They quickly recorded a couple of demos, the second of which impressed enough to see them secure a publishing deal with Strategy Music in London co-helmed by Charlie Casey, bass-player w/ Menace. A recording deal w/ Quiet Records, a subsidiary of the larger Illuminated Records, followed shortly after. (see discography below).
In 1984, after two e.p.`s and a (very badly recorded) LP, Lewis departed to sunnier climes, i.e., Spain. Rice, (Eric Beveridge) ex-The Alternative, joined on vocals. 6 months later Kirky upped sticks & joined legendary Edinburgh punk/goth band, Twisted Nerve. He was replaced by ex-Skeptix/Shattered Family drummer, Mole, (Craig Harrower). Taking over on vocals was their, by-now-infamous manager, Sconey, (Stephen McKeown). They continued intermittently until late 1986. Kirky re-joined on a temporary basis in mid 1985 & then Mole stepped in once again. Memorable highlights include almost fusing the electrical supply @ the Venue in Glasgow in 1983, (don`t ask!), whilst supporting the Abrasive Wheels and blowing the Toy Dolls off the stage of the Metro in Rosyth, Fife in 1985. Numerous support slots with more well-known British punk bands of the time were attained, and certainly a fun time was had by all. When they were sober/ straight enough to remember, that is.
Honourable mentions must go to the Winchburgh Rodents, esp. Massive/Smack/Pug & Danish, Pano, Richard Bentley, Derek Cunningham, Charlie Casey, Lee Scott, Linda Bentley, Patrol, Willie Pretzel, Davie Lennox, The Alternative, Wulf Surman, Johnny Crass, and Wee Bill for supplying the cheap sherry.
Discography;
RIOT 7" e.p. - Quiet Records. 1983. Riot / Out of Control / Life / Attack (pints of special). QS001
WAIT & SEE 12" e.p. - Quiet Records. 1984. Wait & See / Words / I Don`t Need / Actives. QS004T
KICK IT DOWN LP - Quiet Records. 1984. QSLP 001.
RE-ACTIVATED LP - Intimidated Records. 2004. (Marbled Vinyl).
Paul (Thomsen) Kirk later re-appeared on the musical radar in 2003 w/ a solo release, "Trace Elements", under the moniker, AKATOMBO, on Colin Newman`s, (WIRE front-person), SWIM label. He still records & releases under that name. He resides in Hiroshima, Japan.
Sconey drives very large trucks in Canada.
Smed, Lewis, Budgie & Rice are still in the Dunfermline area.
Mole was last seen in Edinburgh playing a mean game of pool.
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