999
 999 formed in London in May 1977. Led by vocalist/guitarist
Nick Cash, a onetime student at the Canterbury College of Art
under the tutelage of Ian Dury and a former member of the pub-rock
unit Kilburn and the High
Roads.
The band very quickly established themselves as a popular
fixture on the London punk circuit, issuing their debut single I'm
Alive on their own label in late 1977.
The single won the band a deal with United Artists, which
issued both Nasty Nasty and Emergency in 1978. An
eponymous LP debut, followed later in the year.
Some great singles followed, including Homicide and High
Energy Plan, and a US tour preceded the release of 1980's The
Biggest Prize in Sport (accompanied by an EP entitled The
Biggest Tour in Sport which featured material recorded live
during the American dates).
The 1981 album Concrete featured covers of Little Red
Riding Hood and Fortune Teller - an indication that the
group's creativity was running dry. 1983's 13th Floor Madness
was universally panned for its disco grooves, although 1985's
self-released Face to Face was acclaimed as a return to
form.
At the end of the year, Watson left the band and was replaced
by bassist Danny Palmer in time to record 1987's Lust, Power
and Money, a live set recorded in London. 999 broke up shortly
after.
|
