Action Pact's BBC John Peel Sessions 1982-83 issued for the first time. 'Mostly suprior to the records' claims sleevenote writer Mick Mercer

Action Pact were a punk rock band from Stanwell, a small village under the flight-path of London Heathrow Airport, inspiring the song this album takes for its title. Formed in 1981 with guitarist Wild Planet, bassist Dr. Phibes, and then 15-year-olds drummer Joe Fungus and singer George Cheex, who got the job because of 'her courage to scream along with the band's songs'.


Both George and Joe were still attending school when the Heathrow Touchdown EP was released in October, 1981. The band got the attention of BBC DJ John Peel. He played the single many times and booked them to record their first session.


The EP and Peel session tape caught the attention of the fledgling label Fall Out Records, a subsidiary of Jungle, who signed the band as the first act on their roster. Action Pact's label debut, the Suicide Bag EP was released in July 1982 and rocketed to the top of the British punk chart.


Drummer Grimly Fiendish and bassist Thistles later joined the band, and their producer Phil Langham (of The Dark) provided bass for a short while under the name Elvin Pelvin. Dr. Phibes continued to contribute his insightful lyrics to the band.


A series of five more singles entered the indie charts including 'Yet Another Dole Queue Song', and a reworked 'London Bouncers', along with two albums, 'Mercury Theatre - On The Air' and 'Survival of the Fattest'. A second Peel session, and a David Jensen BBC session were also recorded.


They gigged around the UK and in Europe, including with bands like the Newtown Neurotics, whose Steve Drewett featured on one of their singles. They called it a day after four years, around 1985/6.


16 tracks: - Suicide Bag, Losers, Mindless Aggression, People, Cowslick Blues, Fouled on the Footpath, Times Must Change, Drowning Out the Big Jets; Fools Factions, Protest is Alive, These Are a Few..., Gothic Party Time, Question of Choice, Cruellest Thief, New Kings Girl, Mercury Theatre

Additional Details

Label: JUNGLE RECORDS

Genre: Pop/Rock

Run Time: 36:40 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/03/23

UPC: 5013145306215