The magazine grew with the scene it championed, and for a year, it ruled the British fanzine roost. But the bank clerk, Mark Perry, was sick of writing -- he wanted to step out and be written about himself. His last band, the New Beatles, had done nothing; his next, Alternative TV, could scarcely do any worse.
Featuring Perry on vocals, ex-Generation X drummer John Towe, Mickey Smith (bass), and former Nobodies guitarist Alex Fergusson, the band formed in March 1977, rehearsing at Throbbing Gristle's studios in Hackney -- both "Love Lies Limp" and "Alternative to NATO" were written and recorded there -- and on May 6, 1977, ATV made their live debut in Nottingham.
The first lineup splintered almost immediately. Smith was replaced by New Beatle Tyrone Thomas, and on June 5 ATV opened for Wayne County's Electric Chairs in Brighton. Six gigs later, Towe quit, but not before ATV released their first single, "Love Lies Limp," as a free flexidisc with the final, August 1977 issue of Sniffin' Glue.
Towe was replaced by Chris Bennett, and in this form the band continued to gig, at the same time as preparing the ground for their debut album. They are caught rehearsing in The Punk Rock Movie, the cinéma vérité documentary of punk's first savage summer; more exposure came in December, when the "How Much Longer" single appeared on Perry's own Deptford Fun City wing of Miles Copeland's Illegal setup. The Image Has Cracked, the group's live and studio debut album, appeared the following spring.
Singles "Action Time Vision" and "Life After Life" followed, together with the archive Towe-era "Life," but ATV were changing first, as Perry rocketed on toward the Throbbing Gristle sound which by now captivated him (the official bootleg Live at the Rat '77, incidentally, was recorded by Genesis P-Orridge).
By the time of Vibing Up the Senile Man (Part One), the second ATV album, and its accompanying single, "The Force Is Blind," only Perry remained from the original band; only bassist Dennis Burns remained from any of those who had followed. And, of ATV's original, punk-era press disciples, even Sounds found the album unlistenable.
Unperturbed, Perry took the new album out on the road, but an end of sorts was in sight. In March 1979, on-stage at Chelmsford, ATV called it a day. Side one of the valedictory Scars on Sunday album preserves highlights from this final show; side two introduces the Good Missionaries, the band that would pick up exactly where ATV left off, only without the encumbrance of such an historically resonant name.
But of course it wasn't the end really. The first ATV reunion, with Fergusson back on board, occurred as early as 1981; another kept Perry amused through the second half of the decade and, in 1999, Perry celebrated the release of his 20th album, under the born-yet-again name of Alternative TV.
The Radio Story
Alternative TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The terror is in your radio oh oh
Strange people look at strange faces, strange people say "we are weird"
Strange people look at strange faces, strange people say that "we are weird"
But the terror is in your radio, the terror is in your radio oh oh
Johnny come home early from work that evening, about half-past five
He opened the door slowly and run into the flat expecting to find Julie there
He looked everywhere but he couldn't find her
So of course he thought she went out somewhere
So he sat down in front of the TV to wait for his dearest Julie
He switched on the TV and got into some, uh, light entertainment
It was so strange she wasn't home
It was so strange she wasn't home
And then whilst sitting there by the TV set he saw this, uh, envelope lying on the coffee table
"That's weird"
He picked it up and opened it
It said "To Johnny: "I'm afraid, Hello Johnny, this is Julie speaking, I'm fed up with all your chores, I'm fed up with washing your clothes, I'm fed up with waiting hand on foot on you, so I've finally decided to leave you, so that's it Johnny, that's the end of our relationship, I've finally decided to walk out on you and I'm going out with David now, so, okay, I hope it's not too much of a shock. Hope it's not too much of a shock"
Johnny just couldn't believe it, oh Julie had gone and left him
He just fell back into the armchair, stunned
Oh, man, he was so knocked out, he just couldn't believe it
Oh Julie had gone on an left him, what was he gonna do? Oh, what was he gonna do?
He stumbled around for a little while, just trying to come to his senses because Julie had left him
Just trying... senses...
And then the phone, the phone began to ring. The phone began to ring, he picked it up
I can't speak to anyone, man, get off the end of the line
I can't speak to
This is a real dilemma, this is a real dilemma
This is a real
I gotta find, I gotta find somebody but it isn't you
Get off the end of the line [...]
He put the receiver back where it belonged, and he settled down in the armchair again
Slightly shaking from the upheavel
So he knows where he can find help. He went for the helpline on the radio
That'll pull him out of it
He'll find some, he'll find some help
He must find some help
So he went to the radio and he was [...]
And all he could get was this, all he could get was this noise
The lyrics of Alternative TV's song The Radio Story tell a story about a man named Johnny who comes home to find that his girlfriend Julie has left him, feeling fed up with all the chores she does for him. He is shocked and doesn't know what to do, so he turns on the radio hoping to find some help. However, all he hears is noise, indicating that the radio is not helpful in providing the solution he seeks. The repetition of the line "the terror is in your radio" emphasizes the idea that the media, in this case, the radio, can be a source of terror or chaos, which is not necessarily helpful in difficult situations.
The song can be interpreted as a critique of the media's role in society and its inability to provide real help or solutions for people's problems. At the same time, it highlights the importance of human connection and seeking help from other people rather than relying solely on technological or media solutions.
Line by Line Meaning
The terror is in your radio, the terror is in your radio
The scary events happening in the world are broadcasted on the radio and it causes fear and anxiety in people.
Strange people look at strange faces, strange people say "we are weird"
People who are different than the norm are perceived as strange by society and are often labeled as weird.
But the terror is in your radio, the terror is in your radio oh oh
The source of fear and anxiety is not the strange people or their weird behaviors, but rather the news and events broadcasted on the radio.
Johnny come home early from work that evening, about half-past five
Johnny returned home from work earlier than usual, around 5:30pm.
He opened the door slowly and run into the flat expecting to find Julie there
Johnny entered the apartment slowly, hoping to see his girlfriend Julie sitting there.
He ran upstairs and said "hi Julie I'm home", but she wasn't anywhere to be seen
Johnny went upstairs and called out to Julie but she was not there.
He looked everywhere but he couldn't find her
Johnny searched the apartment thoroughly but Julie was nowhere to be found.
So of course he thought she went out somewhere
Johnny assumed that Julie must have gone out somewhere without letting him know.
So he sat down in front of the TV to wait for his dearest Julie
Johnny sat down in front of the television, waiting for Julie to return home.
He switched on the TV and got into some, uh, light entertainment
Johnny turned on the television and watched some light-hearted entertainment to pass the time.
It was so strange she wasn't home
Johnny found it strange that Julie was not at home and started to worry about her.
And then whilst sitting there by the TV set he saw this, uh, envelope lying on the coffee table
While watching TV, Johnny noticed an envelope lying on the coffee table.
"That's weird"
Johnny found it strange to see the envelope there.
He picked it up and opened it
Johnny picked up the envelope to find out what was inside.
It said "To Johnny: "I'm afraid, Hello Johnny, this is Julie speaking, I'm fed up with all your chores, I'm fed up with washing your clothes, I'm fed up with waiting hand on foot on you, so I've finally decided to leave you, so that's it Johnny, that's the end of our relationship, I've finally decided to walk out on you and I'm going out with David now, so, okay, I hope it's not too much of a shock. Hope it's not too much of a shock"
The letter was from Julie, telling Johnny that she was leaving him for someone else because she was tired of doing all the household chores and waiting on him hand and foot.
Johnny just couldn't believe it, oh Julie had gone and left him
Johnny was in disbelief that Julie had left him for someone else.
He just fell back into the armchair, stunned
Johnny was shocked by the news and couldn't react, so he fell back into the armchair in a state of disbelief.
Oh, man, he was so knocked out, he just couldn't believe it
Johnny was so shocked that he couldn't come to terms with the fact that Julie had left him.
Oh Julie had gone on an left him, what was he gonna do? Oh, what was he gonna do?
Johnny was lost and didn't know what to do after Julie walked out on him.
He stumbled around for a little while, just trying to come to his senses because Julie had left him
Johnny was dazed and confused, trying to make sense of why Julie left him.
And then the phone, the phone began to ring. The phone began to ring, he picked it up
Johnny's phone started ringing and he answered it.
I can't speak to anyone, man, get off the end of the line
Johnny was not in a good state of mind and didn't want to talk to anyone on the phone.
This is a real dilemma, this is a real dilemma
Johnny was facing a real problem and didn't know what to do next.
I gotta find, I gotta find somebody but it isn't you
Johnny realized that he needed to talk to someone but not the person on the other end of the phone.
He put the receiver back where it belonged, and he settled down in the armchair again
Johnny hung up the phone and sat back down in the armchair.
Slightly shaking from the upheaval
Johnny was trembling and anxious after the traumatic events that had occurred.
So he knows where he can find help. He went for the helpline on the radio
Johnny decided to seek help from the helpline on the radio.
That'll pull him out of it
Johnny hoped that the helpline on the radio would help him come out of his distressful state of mind.
He'll find some, he'll find some help
Johnny believed that he would be able to find help through the helpline on the radio.
He must find some help
Johnny realized that he needed to find help to cope with the situation.
So he went to the radio and he was [...]
Johnny went to the radio to seek help but was only able to hear noise and not the helpline he was expecting.
And all he could get was this, all he could get was this noise
Johnny was disappointed that he was not able to get the help he needed from the radio, as all he could hear was noise.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pointless_walks
Best gig in a long time. Astronauts brilliant too :)