999

999 are an English rock band who formed in London in 1977. They are often cited as one of the first punk rock bands. Between 1978 and 1981, they had five Top 75 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and one Top 40 single. After extensive touring across the Atlantic Ocean, the band's third and fourth studio albums charted in the United States. Despite breaking up a couple of times, they continue to record and play live to the present day.

Career

999 button, Toronto-the Edge Club present

Named after Britain?s emergency telephone number, 999 was founded in London by singer/guitarist Nick Cash and Guy Days. Cash and Days met each other when the former was a member of the pub rock band Kilburn and the High-Roads, and the latter was a session guitarist who played on some of the band?s demo tapes. In late 1976, they placed an advertisement in Melody Maker for band members and ended up turning down Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Jon Moss of (Culture Club) and Tony James (Generation X). They recruited Jon Watson on bass) and Pablo LaBritain on drum, LaBritain having briefly played with The Clash. The band that eventually became known as 999 performed their first concert at the Northampton Cricket Club in January 1977. After experimenting with several different band names, the band became 999 in May 1977.

999 soon established themselves as a powerful live act on London's punk scene and became regulars at the Hope and Anchor, Islington. On the strength of their well received, self-financed debut single, 999 were signed to United Artists Records around the same time as the Buzzcocks. "I'm Alive" became a firm favourite in the punk clubs.The band's second single, "Nasty Nasty", was cited nearly 20 years after its release as a seminal punk single.

Their self-titled debut album, produced by Andy Arthurs, was released in March 1978. One retrospective review claimed it "demonstrated their limitations as well as their strengths. The 45 cuts like "Me And My Desire" and "Emergency" demonstrated the latter, but the album lacked that special ingredient, uniqueness or originality to make it stand out from the crowd." The album reached #53 in the UK Albums Chart. The following year, the song "Emergency" from the album appeared ? alongside songs by bands like The Jam and The Stranglers ? on the punk compilation 20 of Another Kind. That album reached #45 in the UK chart. Years later, "Emergency" was included years later in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all time.

The band's second album, Separates was produced by Martin Rushent. One reviewer lists it as one of the best punk albums of all time. In the United States, a slightly altered version of Separates, re-titled High Energy Plan, became the band's first American release. In October 1978, a month after the album?s release, 999 recorded their only session for John Peel at BBC Radio 1. 999 also played at Front Row Festival, a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band?s inclusion, alongside the likes of Wilko Johnson, The Only Ones, the Saints, The Stranglers, X-Ray Spex, and XTC, on a hit double LP of recordings from the festival.

999 toured widely in the United States and the band was rewarded when their albums The Biggest Prize In Sport and Concrete charted on the Billboard 200. In the US, "Homicide" & "Hollywood" garnered frequent rotation on Rock of the 80s format radio stations like KROQ in Los Angeles. According to Dave Thompson, "For many Americans, they were the first to actually bother with the backwoods, playing places which other Brit bands hadn't heard of, and returning to them again and again. And while no one knows how many American bands were first inspired to take up arms by 999, those that did still wear their loyalties loudly."

Despite a number of minor hit singles, the band's critical appeal in Britain had begun to wane. Their stock was lifted temporarily with the arrival of the self-released Face To Face 999's popularity continued to decline steadily, leading to the group disbanding twice in the 1980s, reforming soon afterwards. They have since released several albums and continue to tour. Bassick also plays for The Lurkers.

Line-ups

Original: Nick Cash (b. Keith Lucas, 6 May 1950) ? vocals and guitar; Guy Days ? guitar and vocals; Jon Watson ? bass; Pablo LaBritain ? drums.
End of 1979: Ed Case replaces LaBritain on drums.
Spring 1980: LaBritain returned to replace Case.
Split up in 1982 but reformed in 1983.
End of 1983: Danny Palmer replaced Watson on bass.
Split up in 1987 but reformed in 1993.
End of 1993: Arturo Bassick (of The Lurkers) replaced Palmer on bass.

Reviews

999's debut single, "I'm Alive", was "a headlong rush of anti 9 to 5 rebellion complete with a bruising power-pop punk guitar attack and rent-a-yob pitched-in vocals."
"It's a three-minute Charge of the Light Brigade with all the hallmarks of 1977: the vocals are histrionic, the music embarrassingly simple, the instruments turned up to full volume and the production almost absent."
"They produced a series of snappy singles sung with urgency - "Nasty Nasty", "Me And My Desire" and "Emergency" - which received favourable reviews but didn't sell in sufficient quantities to make the charts."
"A ferocious live band, the group harnessed every iota of their stage performance for the studio, turning in an album that zips past at the speed of light, in a blur of chant-worthy choruses and pogo-able riffs."
"Singer Nick Cash has a sort of affected, high pitched snarl when he wants to emphasize a point, but when the band sings straight verses or chorus parts with backing vocals they can have a nice punk pop sound that's a lot like the Boys".
"They have also been the subject of a welter of compilations and live albums in the wake of renewed interest in punk nostalgia, but the better elements of their back catalogue argue strongly against the 'dregs of punk' tag that has hung around their necks in recent times."
"Not until they?re all laid out in front of one, does it become apparent just how many great 45s this band had!"
"While never gaining back their original popularity and record sales, they have for the past 30 years or so maintained a live and recording profile to become one of Britain's best loved punk acts and always a great live act."
Reviews of Separates: Larkin (2002) described it as "stronger, with compelling numbers such as the single "Homicide" resorting to muscular choruses instead of simple speed." Joynson (2001) called it a "progression on their debut" with a "tighter sound." Stephen "SPAZ" Schnee of Allmusic said it is "more polished."
Reviews of Face to Face: Strong (2003) believes that 999 "redeemed themselves" with this "more accomplished" effort. Larkin (2002) described it as "more convincing." Joynson (2001) called it "quite engaging melodic rock." Thompson (2000) hailed it as proof that "the group were still a power in the land" Buckley & Ellingham (1996) describe it as "quirky, relaxed and tuneful."

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