The Anti-Nowhere League is a UK Punk band formed in 1980, by lead singer An… Read Full Bio ↴The Anti-Nowhere League is a UK Punk band formed in 1980, by lead singer Animal (real name Nick Kulmer) and rhythm guitarist Magoo (real name Chris Exall), with Bones on Drums and Baggy Elvy on Bass. Their first gig was at Tunbridge Wells, on the day of the annual carnival, at which they promptly got arrested. This led to their first press coverage with the local newspaper describing their gig as a 'cacophany of noise'. In 1981, Gooky (who left the same year), Hopper and Clive "Winston" Blake came in on Lead Guitar, Drums and Bass respectively, although Hopper was quickly replaced with PJ ('Persian John') (real name Djahanshah Aghssa). They managed to get a slot in the Apocylypse tour along with The Exploited, Chron Gen and Anti Pasti. This led to them signing to John Curd's record label WXYZ, with Curd and Chris Gabrin co-managing the band.
Later that year, they also opened for The Damned on a short tour round the north of England. November 1981 saw the release of their first single, a cover version of Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London', with the song that was to become the group's anthem, 'So What' on the B side.
In 1982, things were looking good for the band, with the 'So What Tour' in the company of such groups as Chelsea, Chron Gen and the Defects, and the release of their debut album We Are...The League. However, the Obscene Publications Squad seized all copies of their records, which were removed from shops and they were banned from TV and Radio. To top it all, they were thrown out of the Top Of The Pops studio...just because Animal happened to be carrying a 3ft axe around with him! However the year finished on a high, with the 'Hardcore Storms America' tour with the UK Subs.
Anti-Nowhere League LogoGilly (real name Mark Gilham) joined the band in 1983 as an extra guitarist, which according to the bands website,[1], was because Magoo was drinking heavily and was often unable to carry out his commitments as guitarist. The band went to Yugoslavia to record a live album, imaginatively called Live In Yugoslavia, but even this was dogged by problems with the authorities insisting that references that Animal had made about recently deceased president Tito be removed from the master tapes, and any language which they deemed to be offensive be bleeped (including a few "when’s", "it’s" and "ands" according to Animal!).
By 1984, things were not looking too good. PJ quit, unable to cope with the pressures of the drugs and alcohol lifestyle the band were now leading and they were musically inactive. 1985 saw Michael Bettel on the drums, followed in 1986 by JB (Jonathan Birch). During this time they signed for GWR Records, and recorded the Perfect Crime album. However, once again there were problems, when GWR refused to put up the money to finish the album once they heard its rough cut, and it was released unfinished to try to get back some of the money already invested in it. This was the final straw, and in 1987 ANWL disbanded. There was a "Farewell" show in 1989.
Fast forward to 1992, and Animal was working on his car, in the rain. The phone went, and it was JB, with the news that Metallica wanted Animal to guest at Wembley Arena, when they did their cover of 'So What'. Apparently Animals response was "Who the fuck are Metallica?, and anyway I'm working on my car!!" JB phoned back later, and managed to persuade Animal to do the slot. Animal put it thus on ANWL's website. "As I waited on the edge of the stage waiting to go on it suddenly dawned on me I was just about to stand in front of 10,000 punters who didn’t know me from Adam and sing a song that I couldn’t fucking remember………….all that kept running through my head was RUN you silly old fucker!". However, after the show, the bug had bitten again. Mark joined that year on Lead Guitar, and 1993 - 1995 was spent playing gigs in the small venues the band had started out in. In 1996, they signed up with Impact Records and recorded their next album Pig Iron. Beef also joined the band after Mark's departure.
1997 saw another personnel change when Winston left the band to be replaced by Jon Jon, and recording the album Scum.
Danny joined on drums in 1998.
The album Out Of Control was released a year later in 1999 2001 Magoo quit playing live shows.
2002 - now.... Jon Jon, Beef and Danny all left, to be replaced by PJ (original drummer), Jez, and Shady. This lineup of the band is still going as of April 2006.
Later that year, they also opened for The Damned on a short tour round the north of England. November 1981 saw the release of their first single, a cover version of Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London', with the song that was to become the group's anthem, 'So What' on the B side.
In 1982, things were looking good for the band, with the 'So What Tour' in the company of such groups as Chelsea, Chron Gen and the Defects, and the release of their debut album We Are...The League. However, the Obscene Publications Squad seized all copies of their records, which were removed from shops and they were banned from TV and Radio. To top it all, they were thrown out of the Top Of The Pops studio...just because Animal happened to be carrying a 3ft axe around with him! However the year finished on a high, with the 'Hardcore Storms America' tour with the UK Subs.
Anti-Nowhere League LogoGilly (real name Mark Gilham) joined the band in 1983 as an extra guitarist, which according to the bands website,[1], was because Magoo was drinking heavily and was often unable to carry out his commitments as guitarist. The band went to Yugoslavia to record a live album, imaginatively called Live In Yugoslavia, but even this was dogged by problems with the authorities insisting that references that Animal had made about recently deceased president Tito be removed from the master tapes, and any language which they deemed to be offensive be bleeped (including a few "when’s", "it’s" and "ands" according to Animal!).
By 1984, things were not looking too good. PJ quit, unable to cope with the pressures of the drugs and alcohol lifestyle the band were now leading and they were musically inactive. 1985 saw Michael Bettel on the drums, followed in 1986 by JB (Jonathan Birch). During this time they signed for GWR Records, and recorded the Perfect Crime album. However, once again there were problems, when GWR refused to put up the money to finish the album once they heard its rough cut, and it was released unfinished to try to get back some of the money already invested in it. This was the final straw, and in 1987 ANWL disbanded. There was a "Farewell" show in 1989.
Fast forward to 1992, and Animal was working on his car, in the rain. The phone went, and it was JB, with the news that Metallica wanted Animal to guest at Wembley Arena, when they did their cover of 'So What'. Apparently Animals response was "Who the fuck are Metallica?, and anyway I'm working on my car!!" JB phoned back later, and managed to persuade Animal to do the slot. Animal put it thus on ANWL's website. "As I waited on the edge of the stage waiting to go on it suddenly dawned on me I was just about to stand in front of 10,000 punters who didn’t know me from Adam and sing a song that I couldn’t fucking remember………….all that kept running through my head was RUN you silly old fucker!". However, after the show, the bug had bitten again. Mark joined that year on Lead Guitar, and 1993 - 1995 was spent playing gigs in the small venues the band had started out in. In 1996, they signed up with Impact Records and recorded their next album Pig Iron. Beef also joined the band after Mark's departure.
1997 saw another personnel change when Winston left the band to be replaced by Jon Jon, and recording the album Scum.
Danny joined on drums in 1998.
The album Out Of Control was released a year later in 1999 2001 Magoo quit playing live shows.
2002 - now.... Jon Jon, Beef and Danny all left, to be replaced by PJ (original drummer), Jez, and Shady. This lineup of the band is still going as of April 2006.
Beware of the Madman
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Anti-Nowhere League:
'Reck a Nowhere I want some girl to reck it for me A strong…
'Reck-A-Nowhere I want some girl to 'reck it for me I…
(We Will Not) Remember You And he's a fucked-up man with a fucked up life Two…
...Long Live Punk The Pistols said there was no future 1976 Punk Rock was…
Animal Hello Mrs Shaw Could I borrow your lawnmower? Or parts…
Animal - Live, Apocalypse Punk Lyceum 20/6/81 Hello Mrs Shaw Could I borrow your lawnmower? (Unintelligib…
Atomic Harvest Hiroshima You ain't seen nothing yet Atomic Atomic Atomic …
Ballad Of J.J. Decay Well gather around you boys now and listen to the…
Ballad of JJ Decay Well, gather around now, you boys and listen to the…
Big Yellow Moon She drives me out of my mind. Sending -the- signals down…
Bitter and Twisted You got something to say?! Don't bleed it, say it!…
Branded The times are changing, see the boys in drag No kisses…
Break The Law I'm going out on the streets and I'm feeling high But…
Burn ..Run get the fire brigade... There's panic in the city It's…
Can't Stand Rock & Roll Well I can't stand Rock'n'Roll I can't stand Rock'n'Roll I…
Chocolate Soldiers We all fall down... we all fall down We all fall…
Crime Brother to brother Man to man Nation to nation We enter the …
Dead Heroes I don't want to change the world I don't want to…
Degeneration We are degeneration We are degeneration We are degeneratio…
For You For you...I shall give We laugh..but no-one's laughing We k…
Fuck Up & Wasted We're so bored with the same old scene We're fucked up…
Fucked Up and Wasted 1, 2, 3, 4! We're so bored with the same old…
Get Ready Shoot it all out across the nation We don't need your…
Good as It Gets Johnny went and joined the army, says he wants to…
Gypsies Tramps & Thieves Oi gippo Well I was born in a wagon of a…
Head in the Wall All the glory that I've seen It's only in my head,…
How Does It Feel Here comes that voice again, falling like acid rain You gav…
I Don Do you remember when Britannia ruled the waves? Do you remem…
I Get Bored No more drama for my life Now we have some people…
I Hate ....People God I wish that I could hide away And find…
I Hate People - Live, Apocalypse Punk Lyceum 20/6/81 God I wish that I could hide away And find a…
I Hate....People God I wish that I could hide away And find…
Johannesburg The victims of oppression I had a vision of a new…
Just Another Day Something's gonna get you It's gonna f**k your day They wo…
Kings & Queens Rolling on down the Old Kent Road We're heading for the…
Landlord Is a Wanker There is a pub in tumbridge wells Where the landlord is a…
League We are the League! Another boring night and I'm feeling pis…
Let I'm going out on the streets and I'm feeling high But…
Let's Break the Law I'm going out on the streets and I'm feeling high But…
Long Live Punk The Pistons said there was no future 1976 Punk Rock was…
Loser I was always picked last for teams, I wore my sister's…
Medication Ah, please don't inject me, inspect me or protect me, 'Cuz…
Mission To Mars I am just a cancer, a human refugee Infecting and injecting…
Mother's C!!! We used to knock around at school But now you're fat…
My God's Bigger Than Yours (My God's bigger than your God) (x2) My God's bigger than…
Never Drink Alone Oi, Oi! Sorry mate, we don't serve you're kind here! H…
Noddy There's a rumor going round Toyland It's about Noddy the…
Noddy - demo There's a rumor going 'round Toyland It's about Noddy the di…
Nowhere Man Nowhere Man, Nowhere Man You laugh at the things you…
On the Waterfront Put their slogans on the factory wall The lights go down,…
Pig Iron Plastic age ...road rage We got videos, stereos, radios and …
Piggy Piggy went to London town to see what he could…
Pump Action There's gangsters in the bars Honest John he's ringing cars…
Queen & Country To fight for Queen and Country To rage in bloody wars To…
Rampton Sitting by my window, with my head (?)cupped(?) in my…
Remember You And he's a fucked-up man with a fucked up life Two…
Rocker The last minute I'm living, I'll tell you no lie I'll…
Run I'm gonna run, run, run, run (x4) I've gotta keep on…
Scum I see images of our decay Should we bow our heads…
Self Harm Went up on a journey, where the animals were small,…
Snow Man Got no fuckin' birds Ain't got no fuckin' money The…
Snowman Got no fuckin' birds Ain't got no fuckin' money The dog don'…
So What (Originally recorded by The Anti-Nowhere League) So fucking…
So What (Live) So fucking what! Well I've been to Hastings And I've been t…
So What! (Originally recorded by The Anti-Nowhere League) So fucking…
Something Else Uh-look-ah there There she comes Here comes that girl again …
So_what (Originally recorded by The Anti-Nowhere League) So fucking…
Streets of London Well did you see the old man….. outside the Seamans…
Suicide...Have You Tried Are you coming to your nightmare tonight The word is out…
System I am...the way I'm free to claim my land And you'll bow…
The Ballad Of JJ Decay Well, gather around now, you boys and listen to the…
The Curtain Thus: The Perfect Crime This is my guilt This is my curtain…
The End of the Day Bring him up, constable! (Order in court – has the def…
The Great Unwashed Too many people got the money Their stacking up a lot…
The Punk Prayer Give me bread and water, give me blood and pain Give…
The Shining Here comes the shining Here comes the shining It's been a l…
There Is No God Don't touch me 'cause I can take it Without you here,…
This Is My England Do you remember when Britannia ruled the waves? Do you remem…
Time is running out I could have been a Christian, marching on to war. I…
Turn to Shit I can't feel my fingers, I can't feel my toes,…
Unwanted Am I just the reason – for this pain inside…
We I put me down a lonely street Two ? by…
We Are the League Another boring night and I'm feeling pissed, My heads fucked…
We Will Not Remember You And he's a fucked-up man with a fucked up life Two…
We Will Survive I put me down a lonely street Two ? by…
We're the League We are the League! Another boring night and I'm feeling pis…
Woman Woman I'm in love in you My love is deep My love is…
Working For The Company Here we go again... I get up at 8, I'm feeling…
World War 3 Well we heard these stories yesterday And now we want to…
Wreck a Nowhere Anti-Nowhere League Miscellaneous Reck A Nowhere I want some…
Wreck Of Nowhere I want some girl to 'reck it for me I want…
…Long Live Punk… The Pistons said there was no future 1976 Punk Rock was…
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