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.
Let's Break the Law
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you want to fight me and I don't know why
Yeah, I wanna get dirty all covered in mud
But you turn on me,……all I see is blood
Well lets break the law here tonight.
Tonight, tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
Well we ain't that good and we ain't that clean
We don't really care if your black or white
We're do it now…. until its light
Well lets break the law here tonight
Tonight, tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
………….well lets break the law tonight……..
………….we'll give em what for tonight……
…………..we'll settle the old score tonight…….
And we'll break the law here tonight
Tonight, tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
I'm out on the streets and I'm feeling high…….Lets break the law tonight
But you wanna fight me and I don't know why………Lets break the law tonight
Yeah I wanna get dirty all covered in mud………Lets break the law tonight
But you turn on me all I see is blood,
Well lets break the law here tonight
Tonight, tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
Tonight.
The Anti-Nowhere League's song "Let's Break the Law" is about youth rebellion and going against societal norms. The singer in the song is out on the streets, feeling high and ready to have a good time, but they encounter resistance from someone who wants to fight them. Despite the conflict, the singer is determined to break the law and get dirty, even if it means seeing blood. The chorus of the song is a call to action, inviting others to join in breaking the law.
The song is a rallying cry for a generation of youth who feel disenfranchised and frustrated with the status quo. The lyrics are a celebration of violence and lawlessness, a sentiment that was reflected in the punk rock scene of the time. The song's aggressive sound and rebellious message spoke directly to a generation that felt like they had no voice.
"Let's Break the Law" was released in 1982 and became one of the Anti-Nowhere League's signature songs. It was banned by many radio stations and labeled as indecent due to its violent lyrics. Despite its controversial nature, the song became an anthem for disaffected youth and remains popular to this day. The song has been covered by several other punk and metal bands, including Slayer and Metallica.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going out on the streets and I'm feeling high
I am heading out and feeling euphoric
But you want to fight me and I don't know why
You are looking to pick a fight without reason
Yeah, I wanna get dirty all covered in mud
I am ready and willing to engage in rough behavior
But you turn on me,……all I see is blood
You have suddenly become violent and things have turned ugly
Well lets break the law here tonight.
Let's engage in illicit activities tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They want to imprison me and throw away the key
I'm out with my lads and I'm feeling mean
I am out with my friends and feeling aggressive
Well we ain't that good and we ain't that clean
We are not upstanding citizens
We don't really care if your black or white
We are indifferent towards race
We're do it now…. until its light
We are going to keep engaging in law-breaking behavior until morning
………….well lets break the law tonight……
Let's break the law tonight
………….we'll give em what for tonight……
We will retaliate tonight
…………..we'll settle the old score tonight…….
We will resolve longstanding issues tonight
And we'll break the law here tonight
We are going to engage in illicit activities tonight
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They want to imprison me and throw away the key
I'm out on the streets and I'm feeling high……Lets break the law tonight
I am feeling euphoric and want to engage in illicit behavior tonight
But you wanna fight me and I don't know why……Lets break the law tonight
You are looking to pick a fight without reason, let's break the law tonight
Yeah I wanna get dirty all covered in mud……Lets break the law tonight
I want to engage in rough behavior and break the law tonight
But you turn on me all I see is blood,
You have suddenly become violent and things have turned ugly
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They want to imprison me and throw away the key
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They want to imprison me and throw away the key
They wanna lock me up and throw away my key
They want to imprison me and throw away the key
Tonight.
Tonight
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CLIVE HARVEY BLAKE, NICK JOHN CULMER, CHRIS DAVID EXALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrSupercar55
The song that always seems to be on the radio when I’m driving and I realise that my headache is actually a hangover… 🍺🚗
Davinder Singh
One of the best , I mean the best punk bands out back in the day , let's break the law , brilliant song ,
nodrip1
The fucking best!
Billy Downey
Look up powerage south africa anti apartheid white band. Who were anti apartheid in the 80's. It was tough then. Billy
Alun Davies
They really cheer me up and I agree with most of what they sing
Dan-D fae White city AUFC
Loved them, used to blast it out my window of my block of flats in a council scheme in West Scotland
barnowl01292
Ayr? best team in creation...
Skipraida
Clydebank boy here👌
orlando umanzor
2020 and still relevant
Dan-D fae White city AUFC
Getting right back into this again, can't wait to see bands live again if the nanny state lets us, we should have the choice to live or hide at home from microbes, too short as it is