History: The idea for AFS came about after a Sunday morning skate at Bones Skatepark in 2004, Carl, Jonny and fellow skater Jason were sitting out side the pub having a beer and Jonny mentioned he'd always fancied being in a Punk Rock band, Carl says 'Well I play guitar,Jason plays bass and our mate Robin plays drums,so lets do it' ,the rest as they say is pretty much history, around 3 weeks after the initial idea we were holed up in carl's office in Bamber Bridge recording our first 4 track ep.

The band name came about via an article in Sidewalk Skateboarding about a website we had set up for older skaters called Middle Age Shred,the article opened with 'So here's a new web site for all you Arthritic Foot Soldiers out there',Jonny thought 'That'll do for a name' and it stuck.

So here we are six years,three bassists,4 albums,a live ep,and a couple of coloured vinyl singles later still doing what the fuck we want.



Fungalpunks gobbology: I first saw AFS about 6 years ago and have been a keen fan ever since. Their music is intrinsically melodic with plenty of catchy cuteness and cheeky angst. The band do things their way and depsite unwarranted criticism their output, passion and ability is still of a startling standard and things just get better. I struggle to say anything bad about the Arthritic Foot Soldiers and having viewed and reviewed a whole heap of AFS doings I know for sure my punk rock journey has been very much enhanced. I hope the band continue in their fine ways and look forward to many more hours of happy listening.

JONNY - (VOX)
CARL - (GUITAR)
BRET - (BASS)
ROB - (DRUMS)

Gigs played so far: not enough, but around 50, kinda difficult since we are in different bands

Hometown: 75% Chorley 25% Manchester

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/arthriticfootsoldiers

Style: old skool sing along

Influences: Jonny:Old School Punk i.e The Ruts/Clash/Pistols new school punk i.e. Bad religion/NOFX/Pennywise

Discography:
2005 - "Tales of a Drunken Generation"
2006 - "Only Beer Can Save Us Now”
2007 – “Delirium Tremors”
2008 – “Prime Cuts EP” 7 inch Blue vinyl
2009 – “Immature Nobodies”
2010 – “No Wonder” 7 inch red vinyl
2010 – “Trash Vegas”
2010 -- "Trash Vegas" Vinyl album

Contact: info@afs.me.uk

Management: sod that!

History: For personal reasons Phil took a break from the band - to devote more time at home, this was in September by the following December Steve and Dunk realised he wasn't coming back.  With Phil gone, Steve and Dunk decided to keep the band going, and took to practicing and writing new material, in a shed with the aid of a drum machine.

Following a chance conversation with an old friend Andre, he happened to mention that he used to play drums (what he didn't mention was that it had been 6 years ago and with his school band!). Undeterred Andre joined Mispelt as the sticksman for the Mk 2 line up, right from the get go he was just 'helping us out till we got another drummer'.  1 e.p. (Same Shit Different Day), airplay on The John Peel show and umpteen gigs later...

By now Andre was living and working in London and unfortunately able to devote less and less time to the band, so we needed to get ourselves yet another drummer (our support slot with S.L.F. at The Roadmender Northampton was his last gig), luckily another old friend and former Myosis drummer Hils was available and was looking for a band, with her own kit, transport, phenomenal ability and with no plans to move - we now believed we had the definitive line up...what could possibly go wrong?
 
It was with Hils that we started to get more attention as a band, this line up saw us play at 100 club with Menace and UK Subs, our 1st TV appearance and our 1st record 'deal' with Frozenorth Records (the only record we went on however was "What Would Mummy Say" a comp album featuring Eastfield and Greenland Whale Fishers to name but two.). However once again what has lovingly come to be known as 'the Curse of The Mispelt' struck us...Things had changed dramatically for Hils on a personal front, so with Hils having boarded a one way flight to Berlin to be with her new beau and with gigs waiting - what were we to do?

Enter Timmi (ex Choka). This line up saw some of our best new material and the consolidation of the older stuff into the way it sounds today ($punkA and North of Watford), various zines were giving us rave reviews, interviews and airplay on the Lock Up (Radio 1) and Hardcore Street Sounds (Total Rock), a host of gigs under our belt including Jb's, Carling Academy.  Also the Continental and CBGB's in NY. Unfortunately things started to go wrong on a personal front between band members and sadly saw the end of this line up of the band.
 
So along came Kev, our 5th and (hopefully) final drummer - his 1st gig with us was at Wasted 2004. With each change of drummers Mispelts' sound has changed and developed and to his credit Kev has taken the best of what has been done before enhanced it and made it his own. His style (an amalgamation of Marky Ramone / Keith Moon / Clem Burke) has given us the power and edge, couple this with Steve's riff - tastic delivery is what makes us sound like we do today.

This Line-up has seen one of our best eps to date (Drive It Like You Stole It), gigs galore up and down the country and a brief sortie into the Netherlands, more good reviews and radio bits.  However, towards the end of 2007 Dunk started toying with the idea of bringing a new dynamic into the band, an additional guitarist wouldn’t work, for a brief spell in 2004 he gave up bass duties and focused primarily on vocals, but never felt completely comfortable and with the departure of Timmi, Craig the bass player went too.
 
The sense that something was missing still persisted. We were well aware of Gen long before she joined the band; her first band (Defenestration) supported us at their first gig in 1999. They went on to very very big things but that unit imploded, in 2006 she formed another band (Thracia) with whom we had done few gigs.
 
When Dunk was thinking about changing the dynamics of the band in 2007 and bringing in a female lead Kev talked to Gen about this. However it wasn’t until February 2008 while Kev was out with Thracia as their guest on their tour of Malta did Gen put herself forward to try out for Mispelt, we knew she really liked what we did but never considered that she liked it so much that she would want to be part of it. Blown away? Hell yeah!

A practice was hastily arranged in March 2008 – and we haven’t looked back. As a unit we have bonded almost instantaneously, to reflect the radical change of sound we became MISPELT 2.0 and in the July we recorded the critically acclaimed "Junkfood Generation EP" our best CD to date.

Nevertheless this 2.0 tag has really proved too complicated for some so for the forthcoming album and for all future exploits we are back to plain old MISPELT!

Oh and for you fungal anoraks out there Gens first full gig with Mispelt was at The Shay, Halifax on 26th April 2008!

Fungalpunks Gobbology: Yes sir the current line-ups first gig was a dear old SAS gig in the sweet brickyard that is Halifax.  Was I impressed - mightily so and to watch Gen strut her stuff and deliver those fantastic vocals was a true notable occasion on the Spit and Sawdust trail.  What Mispelt do is combine 4 wonderfully friendly people who have down to earth attitudes and can play quite fuckin' wonderfully. 

I chase many underdog bands and help a few out along the way and it would be no under-estimation if I were to say Mispelt are one of my favourites.  As a peddlar my biggest failing is not doing enough for them and hopefully I can crack a whip and get them moving a bit faster.  With an array of solid melodic songs, an abundance of experience to call upon and a realistic outlook I hope the band achieve far more than they expect.  Few are worth success but these dudes (and dudette) deserve the world.

GEN - (VOX)
STEVE - (GUITAR)
KEV - (DRUMS)
DUNK - (BASS AND A BIT OF GOB)

Gigs played so far: 50+ with current line up prior to that we've gigged everywhere and anywhere in the UK (and USA), including the likes of;CBGB + Continental SUPPORT SLOTS
Hometown: Northampton / Kettering

MySpace: www.myspace.com/mispelt2pointzero
Style: PUNK ROCK

Discography:
Outraged of Norfolk / Say goodbye' Recorded at 'The Lodge' studios 1999 - with Phil on drums
Same Shit - Different Day
The Good, The Sad And The Paranoid
$punkA
North Of Watford
Drive it like you stole it 
The Mispelt Must Die - best of 2000 - 2003
Junkfood Generation

History: From Sheffield's finest punk-rock band comes the first new material in a couple of years and they've produced a song that could take the world by storm. overall, it's absolutely fantastic and proof positive that this band are one of the most potentially commercially successful punk bands around today.” dead earnest label

Punkrock from the steel city their old skool 'hand wired, hand-cranked' live show is refreshingly 'Authentic!' as played on BBC radio, Trax fm, Motor fm, Punky radio, Challenge FM, Basile FM, Shrugs FM and many other independent and web/internet based broadcasting stations. Their track 'Stranger' reached number 8 in the North Wales based Tudno FM chart show in July last year and 'Fluer Du Lys' entered the same same chart at number 11 in March 2010

Formed in may 2004 in Sheffield, UK. they have over the last four years toured extensively in europe. one highlight concert was in berlin, germany performing a headline spot to more than 15,000 people in the volkspark football stadium. this show was broadcast live on air by motor fm in berlin and following this, the track ‘Fairy Punk Princess’ went on to gain the number one spot on germany based internet download sites. more recently 'FLeur Du Lys' has been selected for play to fans at bramall lane football stadium when sheffield utd are at home.

Two tracks ‘Stranger’ and ‘Belliss Coldwine’ will feature on a pillay-evans film, 'Tattoos: A Scarred History' which had its debut at the cannes film festival in May 2009 and released on 12th April 2010.

The new Harry Sparks film 'Rotkäppchen: The Blood Of Red Riding Hood' will also include 'Stranger' in the film and on the soundtrack and was released in September 2009.

In may 2010 they will be recording their second release at the Axis studio in Doncaster.

History: Danger's Close are one of Ipswich's best punk bands, that have quickly established themselves around the region as a act worth paying attention to. Initially formed in Dec 2005, various personnel changes have seen a settled line up created featuring members with much experience of the local music scene - their musical endeavours have stretched to an array of bands including Kneedeep, Remains Unfound, Whiskey chaser.

Fronted by Ipswich’s own Abby, Danger’s Close have earned a reputation for their energetic on stage delivery, which they have refined by performing live regularly.

The band are influenced by late-80s and early 90’s punk bands such as No Use For A Name and NOFX, and these influences have fed both into their choice of punk covers and into their distinctive and original song-writing.

Fungals Gobbology: I have seen Danger's Close with two different singers in recent years and both times was an equally impressive burst.  The band know how to concoct a bloody good tune and despite impressing far and wide are still sorely let down by the scene.  They play Rebellion and feedback is always top notch so why the slow going? 

The band are ready to make even bigger strides so do your bit to help em' along.   The material I have reviewed so far is punk to the core and the attitude of the band is as concrete as you like.  As and when the SAS gets rolling again Danger's Close will be high up on my list of bands to book.

ABBY - (VOX)
SPEN - (GUITAR)
DAVE - (BASS & VOX)
ZAK - (DRUMS & VOX)
AJ - (GUITAR)
 
Gigs played so far: Approx 150
Hometown: Ipswich

MySpace: www.myspace.com/dangersclosemusic
Website: Danger’s close Face book
Style: Punk rock
Influences: Nofx, no use for a name, UK SUBS

Discography:
The heat the beer and the bad PA
Closer than you think
DC EP
Scheiunde Split EP with Destructors 666
Apathy

Contact:
Pspencer@atil.co.uk or ring Spen on 07944907231

1 song to sum up the Danger’s Close: "out of your depth"

History: Formed in 2008 when Wayne got fed up of having a line up that never wanted to gig he drafted in his two long time friends Bri Slutcher & Damo and Kings of the Delmar were reborn.  Before long they hit the road and were soon making waves with their no-nonsense approach to punk rock.

KOTD have always been well recieved and have gained notoriety for their live shows and dedication to the music they play. The band are always continually writing new material, working on improving their stage presence, fine tuning current songs and booking gigs wherever they can. Although they are North West based, they have also ventured out from safe ground and played all over Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man only to be just as welcomed as they are back home.
The future looks to be just as good as previous years, if not even better, with new material recently unleashed and the critically acclaimed debut album ‘We Are What We Are’. KOTD are on the onslaught and taking no prisoners and having just been taken on Punky Galores roster should be on the road even more. 



Fungalpunks Gobbology: If you like your punk with a melody that is both strong and enchanting then look no further than the mightily impressive Kings of the Delmar.  These dudes will play here, there and everywhere and have a kick-arse show to boot.  Due credit has been slow coming due to an idle-headed scene but it is indeed getting there.  Amiable lads with talent aplenty these 3 deviants waste no time in producing the goods over and over and are one of the best outfits out there.  The band is steeped in punk rock know how and pickled in booze and this makes for one hell of an exciting show.  Onwards and upwards!

History: In 2006 The Distrakted was born from 4 Manchester based lads who had a passion for listening to and playing Hardcore Punk. After spending a year together writing material, playing live shows and perfecting their sound, as well as adding and losing members between 2008 and 2010.

The Distrakted have always been well recieved and have gained notoriety for their live shows and dedication to the music they play. The band are always continually writing new material, working on improving their stage presence, fine tuning current songs and booking gigs wherever they can. Although they are North West based, they have also ventured out from safe ground and played various other areas such as the Midlands, only to be just as welcomed as they are back home.

The future looks to be just as good as previous years, if not even better, with new material recently unleashed, a recenty released CD, The Distrakted are on the onslaught, and taking no Prisoners.



Fungalpunks Gobbology: The Distrakted have had slight line-up changes and struggled to build any impetus within the closed ranks of this scene.  However what they have done with the small glints of light they have been given is shine bright and leave all and sundry with a pleasing impression. 

The hardcore outbursts of this crew are tattoooed with British and American tones thus making an interesting end expulsion.  The delight for me comes in that here we have a band who once again are decent, hard working dudes with a willing attitude and ever-increasing talent. 

Seriously, these guys are getting better by the gig and if you want yer lugs nailing good and hard then get these boys on your bill.   No matter what genre of gig I feel The Distrakted are always worth slipping into the mix so as to shake things up a little and make one hell of a racket.  The future is very promising for this crew and if the curve keeps turning upward the hardcore scene had better watch out!

JONNY TALLENTS - (VOX)
JIM MANNEH - (GUITAR)
TOM WEST - (BASS, VOX)
PHIL TINGLE - (DRUMS, VOX)

Gigs played so far: Approx 60
Hometown: Manchester

MySpace: www.myspace.com/thedistrakted
Style: Hardcore Punk

Discography: 
The Distrakted (Demo CD) (2008)
Self-Titled EP (2009)

Contact: the.distrakted@hotmail.co.uk or ring Jonny on 07837520171
1 song to sum up the Distrakted: "I Am Not A Number"

Fungalpunk OMD Amanita
http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/

History: Girlfixer play with a no-nonsense in-yer-face passion. An aggressive female vocal sings, screams and shouts over heavy guitar driven punk rock influenced by bands such as The Distillers, The Bronx and Gallows. Haling from Nottingham, Girlfixer are certain they have something fresh and exciting to offer.

Straying away from the standard punk rock trends, Girlfixer’s music is littered with catchy rock and roll riffs and rhythmic breakdowns. Having formed late 2006, it has taken Girlfixer less than three years to go from four mates jamming covers in a garage, to being one of the East Midlands most up and coming punk rock bands.

A fearsome gigging schedule has led to gigs all over the UK, two forays into Germany, a gig at the Concrete Jungle festival and The Dirty Weekend Festival, a UK tour with Aussie punks A.I.M and support slots for established bands such as UK Subs, Anti-Nowhere League, Discharge, Sonic Boom 6, The Flatliners and The Varukers.

Confident about their uncompromising, raw and furious sound Girlfixer, are committed to promoting their music. After 3 years of extensive gigging and hard work, Girlfixer landed a spot on the Hidden Talent Booking roster in Oct 2009, joining a host of amazing bands from the UK and US ska/punk/reggae scene including The Exploited, The Subhumans, Random Hand, Sonic Boom 6, Leftover Crack, Street Dogs, Voodoo Glow Skulls and many more. 2010 looks to be a busy year for Girlfixer, with lots of great support slots and gigs already booked and plans for recording a debut album. Watch this space!



Fungalpunks Gobbology:  I first saw Girlfixer strut their uni-sex stuff at a gig of mine in Bolton supporting aussie band Anger in Motion.  I'd had a fair drink that night but still came away mightily impressed and hoped to catch up with them again at some point.  A fair few months later Slit boy Dean Diggle put this lot on in Manchester supporting Static Thought and I thought 'why not have a tootle on down.'  Now this was some viewing that displayed what a band can achieve with focus, dedication and downright talent.  The set rocked and each component displayed individual character and solid confidence that pleased me no end. 

With a bounty of concrete songs, an eye-catching front lady, a slam-dunking guitarist, a cultured and mightily effective bassist and a pretty power-pumping drummer Girlfixer meet a whole set of criteria and I reckon can only go on to bigger and better things.  I bloody well hope so.

NATALIE - (VOX)
ANTONY. - (GUITAR)
LANCE - (BASS, VOX)
NICOLA - (DRUMS)

Gigs played so far: Approx 140
Hometown: Nottingham

MySpace: www.myspace.com/girlfixermusic
Style: Heavy punk rock

Discography:
3 track demo (2007)
Tracks - Regret This, Human Pollution, Blackout
3 track demo (2008)
Tracks - Casualty Condemn Me, Nation Of Sedation, Addict

Contact: girlfixer-music@hotmail.co.uk

Fungalpunk OMD Amanita
http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/

History: Formed in December 2003 under the moniker The Terrorists, The Bombs have had a roller coaster existence, fitting that they hail from Blackpool then. Renowned for high octane, energetic, passionate live shows the band have featured on many diverse line-ups and festivals supporting the likes of One Way System, The Epoxies and GMT to name but a few.

Several line-up changes have hindered the bands progression but original members Class & Kage have finally found their tag-team counter-parts in Mohawk & Gibbons and the band have truly stepped up a level.

Featured on various compilations, radio shows, magazines the Bombs history is all over the internet but it's a history they're happy to leave behind as they head into 2010 riding their first full studio album 'Sweet Chin Music' which follows on from their previous 4 EP releases and promises to take them to the next level. A band who play for the crowd and to the crowd - and always will!

Fungalpunks gobbology: Slam, bam nut your mam - these guys rock your nuts so hard you just wanna go home and wrestle yer parents.  Riffing rhythms that judder your internal organs and make you wanna just shit your pants big time.  Many angles, one focus - The Senton Bombs combine flavours and come up with a multi-coloured design to impress the most sonically blind dudes you can imagine.

Its all action and the general drive and desire is what makes this band such an exciting addition to any gig.  I like the fact that the guys are good down-to-earth lads who are great to have around and who always put in a good show.  One of the best bands to grace a Spit and Sawdust stage and one I am very keen on seeing maximising their obvious potential.  They trespass beyond punk and so should attract the attention of any genuine punk promoter (the ones in the know will understand, the others will be at a loss) thus making bigger waves than they already do.  Wake up and take a chance - disappointment will not even be a consideration.

JOEY CLASS  (BASS, VOX)
'EL DIABLO' DAMIEN KAGE  (GUITAR, VOX)
JOHNNY GIBBONS  (GUITAR, VOX)
MASON MOHAWK  (DRUMS)

Gigs played so far: Approx 200 (no shit)
Hometown: BLACKPOOL

MySpace: www.myspace.com/thesentonbombs
Website: www.thesentonbombs.webs.com/
Style: PUNK INFECTED ROCK N ROLL

Discography: 
DDT (2005)
5-track EP Release
DEATH VALLEY DRIVER (2006)
5-track EP Release
CRIMSON MASK (2007)
6-track EP Release
FROM PARTS UNKNOWN (2008)
4-track EP Release
TURN HEEL (2008)
14-track EP Compilation
SWEET CHIN MUSIC (2009)
14-track Album

Contact: roguestyle@hotmail.co.uk or via myspace or facebook.

Fungalpunk OMD Amanita
http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/

History: First formed in 2005 with the intention of combining the energy of punk, the flash of sleaze and the sheer reckless abandon of being in a band with no aspirations towards a career or commercial acceptance - simply the rush of playing noisy, filthy rock 'n' roll for the pure hell of it - the Kingcrows went through a lengthy development period before playing their first gig at the end of 2006. The lineup went through a number of changes but stabilised in its current form by October '08.

Since the band started they've played with the likes of Spear Of Destiny, UK Subs, Tokyo Dragons, Adam Bomb, the Negatives, the X-Rippers, Guitar Gangsters and Peter & The Test Tube Babies, as well as innumerable local, national and international bands. Two seven track EPs have so far come out, the latest effort A Murder Most Foul having just been released for worldwide download on iTunes, Amazon, Play.com, Napster and all the other major download sources. The live shows are chaotic, visual and always bloody good fun.