999 (band)

999

Company type	Punk rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1 December 1976 (1976-12-01) in London, England
Founder	Nick Cash, Guy Days
Headquarters	London , England
Area served	United Kingdom, United States, international
Key people	Nick Cash, Guy Days, Jon Watson, Pablo LaBritain, Arturo Bassick, Stuart Meadows
Products	Studio albums, singles, live albums
Website	www.999official.com

999 is a punk rock group originating from London, established in December 1976. Between 1976 and 1985, the band consisted of Nick Cash (vocals and guitar), Guy Days (lead guitar), Jon Watson (bass), and Pablo LaBritain (drums). Following a motor accident, LaBritain was temporarily replaced in 1980 by Paul Edwards (known as 'Ed Case'), who later played drums for Hazel O'Connor. After bassist Jon Watson departed in 1985, Danny Palmer took over, followed by Arturo Bassick in 1991.

From 1978 until 2007, 999 issued fourteen singles and twelve studio albums. Five of their singles entered the UK Top 75 charts between 1978 and 1981, with "Homicide" reaching the Top 40. Their extensive touring across the United States during the early 1980s contributed to their third and fourth albums, The Biggest Prize in Sport and Concrete, making appearances on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Although formed in 1976, the band has experienced only two permanent line-up changes and continues to produce music and perform live. AllMusic describes them as "one of the longest-lived groups of the punk era."

Career

The band’s name, 999, is derived from the UK's emergency telephone number. Founded in London by brothers Nick Cash—formerly a vocalist and guitarist with Kilburn and the High Roads—and Guy Days, a session guitarist, the group began in late 1976. They placed advertisements in Melody Maker seeking band members and declined offers from notable musicians such as Chrissie Hynde and Jon Moss. Eventually, Jon Watson joined on bass and Pablo LaBritain on drums; LaBritain had a brief tenure with the Clash. Their first live performance took place in January 1977, and they officially adopted the name 999 by May of that year.

999 rapidly gained recognition as a compelling live act within London's punk scene, frequently playing at venues like the Hope and Anchor in Islington. Their debut single "I'm Alive," which they released independently, was well received in punk clubs and led to a recording deal with United Artists Records alongside the Buzzcocks. Their follow-up single "Nasty Nasty" is now regarded as an essential punk track.

The band's self-titled debut album, produced by Andy Arthurs and released in March 1978, climbed to No. 53 on the UK Albums Chart. The song "Emergency" featured on the punk compilation 20 of Another Kind, which reached No. 45 in the UK charts. Mojo magazine later recognized "Emergency" as one of punk’s finest singles.

Their sophomore album, Separates, produced by Martin Rushent, is often cited among top punk records and includes notable tracks like "Homicide." In America, an alternate version titled High Energy Plan served as their initial U.S. release. In October 1978, they recorded their sole John Peel session for BBC Radio 1 and appeared on a double LP from the Front Row Festival held at Hope and Anchor.

The band toured extensively throughout the United States, where both The Biggest Prize In Sport and Concrete charted on Billboard’s 200 list. Singles such as "Homicide" and "Hollywood" received considerable airplay on influential rock radio stations including KROQ Los Angeles. Their dedication to performing in less mainstream American markets helped cultivate devoted fan bases.

While enjoying modest chart success in the UK during this period, their critical standing diminished domestically throughout the 1980s. The self-released album Face To Face briefly revived interest but did not prevent a gradual decline that resulted in two breakups before they eventually reunited. Since then, they have released multiple albums and continue to tour globally, appearing at festivals like Antifest in 2005. Additionally, bassist Jon Watson performs with The Lurkers.

Members

Present lineup

• Nick Cash – lead vocals and guitar (1977–1982, 1983–1987, 1993–present)
• Guy Days – guitar and backing vocals (1977–1982, 1983–1987, 1993–present)
• Arturo Bassick – bass guitar (1993–present)
• Stuart Meadows – drums and percussion (2018–present)

Past members

• Jon Watson – bass guitar (1977–1982, 1983–1986)
• Danny Palmer – bass guitar (1986–1987)
• Pablo LaBritain – drums (1977–1982, 1983–1986, 1993–2017)
• Ed Case – drums (1980)

Studio albums

• 999 (March 1978, United Artists) – reached No. 53 on UK charts
• Separates (September 1978, United Artists)
• The Biggest Prize in Sport (January 1980, Polydor) – peaked at No. 177 in the U.S.
• Concrete (April 1981, Albion) – attained No. 192 in the U.S.
• 13th Floor Madness (November 1983, Albion)
• Face to Face (March 1985, LaBritain)
• You Us It! (November 1993, Anagram)
• Takeover (March 1998, Get Back)
• Dancing in the Wrong Shoes (1999, Receiver; reissue of Face to Face)
• Death in Soho (2007, Overground)
• Bish! Bash! Bosh! (April 2020, Cleopatra Records)

Compilation albums

• High Energy Plan (1979, PVC/Radar/Passport; exclusive to U.S./Canada), a variation of Separates with some singles substituted
• The Singles Album (1980, SOS)
• Identity Parade (1984, Albion)
• In Case of Emergency (1986, Dojo)
• The Early Stuff (The UA Years) (1992, EMI)
• The Albion Punk Years (1996, Anagram)
• Scandal in the City (1997, Line Music; re-release of The Albion Punk Years)
• Emergency (1997, Receiver)
• Slam (1999, Overground)
• The Punk Singles Collection: 1977–1980 (2001, Captain Oi)
• Outburst! Demos & Outtakes 77-79 (2003, Overground)
• The Sharpest Cuts 93-07 (2019, Gutterwail Records)
• Sharpest Cuts Too, Vol 2 (2023, Gutterwail Records)

Live albums

• The Biggest Tour in Sport – Recorded Live (1980, Polydor)
• Lust Power and Money (Live) (1987, A.B.C.)
• Live and Loud (1989, Link)
• The Cellblock Tapes (1990, Link)
• Live in L.A.: 1991 (1994)
• Live at the Nashville 1979 (1997, Anagram)
• English Wipeout: Live (2002, Overground)
• Nasty Tales: Live (2006, Secret Records)
• Bay Area Homicide (2016, Cleopatra Records) — comprehensive four-disc box set
• Live (2021, Secret Records)
• 999 – Rip It Up! – Live at the Craufurd Arms – CD+DVD Album (2024, Secret Records)

Singles

• "I'm Alive" / "Quite Disappointing" (July 1977, LaBritain), reissued by United Artists in 1979
• "Nasty Nasty" / "No Pity" (October 1977, United Artists), also distributed as a promotional 78 rpm
• "Emergency" / "My Street Stinks" (January 1978, United Artists) – reached No. 75 UK
• "Me and My Desire" / "Crazy" (April 1978, United Artists)
• "Feelin' Alright with the Crew" / "Titanic (My Over) Reaction" (August 1978, United Artists)
• "Waiting" / "Action" (September 1978, LaBritain), complimentary with mail-order of the Separates LP
• "Homicide" / "Soldier" (October 1978, United Artists) – peaked at No. 40 UK
• "Found Out Too Late" / "Lie Lie Lie" (September 1979, Radar Records) – attained No. 69 UK
• "Trouble" / "Make a Fool of You" (January 1980, Polydor)
• "Hollywood" / "Boiler" (April 1980, Polydor)
• "Boys in the Gang" / "Brent Cross" (1980, Albion; released only in Germany and Austria)
• "Obsessed" / "Change" / "Lie Lie Lie" (April 1981, Albion) – reached No. 71 UK
• "Li'l Red Riding Hood" / live tracks included (June 1981, Albion) – charted at No. 59 UK
• "Indian Reservation" / remixes included (November 1981, Albion) – peaked at No. 51 UK
• "Wild Sun" / additional tracks included (June 1982, Albion), also available as a 12-inch single
• "13th Floor Madness" / additional tracks included (October 1983, Albion), also issued as a 12-inch single
• "Arabesque" released in 1984

Compilation and soundtrack inclusions

• "Quite Disappointing" and "Crazy" featured on the double compilation LP Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival (March 1978, Warner Bros.) – reached UK chart position 28
• "Emergency" alongside "Homicide" included in 20 of Another Kind (February 1979, Polydor) – attained UK chart position 45
• A live rendition of "Homicide" captured at London’s Lyceum Ballroom in September 1980 appears on the film Urgh! A Music War
• "Obsessed" included on the compilation Trauma (1979, Pickwick International)
• "Inside Out" selected for the soundtrack of the US Showtime series Shameless
• The Prairie Cartel’s cover version of "Homicide" featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack
• Both original and cover versions of "Homicide" have been utilized in various documentaries and series such as The Killing of America, Too Old to Die Young, as well as by the band Error, which includes members from Bad Religion and Nine Inch Nails

Music videos

• "Emergency" (1978)
• "Homicide" (1978)
• "Obsessed" (1981)

See also

• List of punk bands from the United Kingdom
• List of 1970s punk rock musicians
• List of Peel Sessions

External links

• Official 999 Website
• 999 profile on punk77.co.uk
• 999 on Punkmodpop
• Interview with Nick Cash at Scanner zine
• Interview with Nick Cash at Left of the Dial zine