The Plague (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Marc Jefferies, Gareth Martin, Graham Robinson, Greg Horton |
| Defunct | 1981 (first period) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2005 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Punk rock music, singles, albums |
The Plague is a punk rock group from South East London, England, established in 1976. The band remained active until 1981 before reuniting in 2005. The founding members were:
- Marc Jefferies – lead guitar and vocals
- Gareth Martin – rhythm guitar and vocals
- Graham Robinson – bass guitar (subsequently replaced by Neil Hiller)
- Greg Horton – drums and vocals
They became well-known for their frequent live appearances at London's The Roxy as well as tours across the UK. Their 1978 single "In Love" gained airplay on Radio 1 and received strong endorsement from the influential DJ John Peel, achieving modest commercial recognition.
Origins
The Plague formed when Gareth, Graham, and Marc bonded over shared musical inspirations including The Damned, The Who, and The Sex Pistols. They completed their lineup by adding drummer Greg Horton. Rehearsals took place in Bromley, and by early 1977 they secured a recurring slot at the Battersea Arts Centre, becoming the first punk band to perform there. Their association with venues run by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) ended abruptly after controversy surrounding their song "1, 2, Fuck You!" resulted in a ban from all ILEA premises—an emblematic challenge for punk bands at the time.
Following their initial demo featuring songs such as "Again and Again," "On The Dole," and "Nightmares," The Plague established a strong connection with The Roxy club, sharing bills with prominent groups like the UK Subs and Slaughter and the Dogs. They built a loyal fanbase known as the "Battersea Mob," who supported them even during tours to cities like Coventry and Manchester. During this era, they wrote significant tracks including "Spies," "Personality Clash," "No Strings Attached," "End of the World," "Politician," and "Nuffin' Doing."
After The Roxy closed, The Plague continued to perform at venues such as the Institute of Psychiatry in Camberwell and Toyah Willcox's club night called "Mayhem." A noteworthy performance at the Institute attracted attention from major label CBS Records.
Early singles and career
Their single "In Love," backed with "Wimpy Bar Song," was issued in 1978 through two independent labels: Psycho Records and Evolution Records. It received airplay on Radio 1 and was championed by John Peel.
In December 1979, Music Week reported that Ben Nisbet's and Ronnie Beck's publishing company had placed The Plague's masters—including "Wimpy Bar Song"—with Evolution Records.
The band’s follow-up single, "Out With Me All Night" (accompanied by "Er!" and "I Don't Wanna Be Like Jimmy"), was released in 1979 but achieved only limited success.
Disbanding
Around 1980, internal tensions led to rhythm guitarist and vocalist Gareth Martin departing. The group attempted to carry on with vocalist Sue Slack before rebranding themselves as Indoor Games with David Hood, who continues his musical career in Scotland. Lacking their original dynamic, The Plague dissolved in 1981.
The X Tapes
With renewed enthusiasm for original punk rock, Detour Records issued a compilation album in 2005 titled The X Tapes ((p) and (c) 2005 Bin Liner Records), assembling The Plague’s demos and singles. This collection includes tracks like "In Love," "Wimpy Bar Song," "Out With Me All Night," among others from their early work.
Reunion and Later Years
In 2005, The Plague came back together when Gareth and Greg reconnected with Marc; however, Graham Robinson chose not to participate due to his move away. Chris Gambold stepped in as bassist and remained with the band until 2016. Following their reunion, the group has performed in London and developed new tracks that combine their traditional sound with contemporary influences.
Their 2015 release, What Do You Expect, features original compositions such as "End of the World" and "On the Dole," along with fresh material, all accessible via their BandCamp platform. Throughout 2016, they appeared at several London venues including Tottenham Chances Club and The Gunners, promoting both What Do You Expect and The X Tapes.
The 2017 compilation Gary Crowley’s Punk and New Wave included their single "In Love," underscoring the band's lasting impact.
Shows at Brighton's Prince Albert in December 2019 and October 2023 earned favorable critiques from Scene Sussex. The 2023 ensemble comprised Simon Godfrey (vocals/bass), Lee Morrell (drums), and Dave Leak (guitar), delivering a powerful performance featuring tracks like "Kick Us Down," "Mr Nice," and the ska-punk number "Fake News."