GBH (band) - WikiHQ

GBH (originally known as Charged GBH) are an English punk rock band which was formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy (replaced by Ross Lomas after two years) and drummer Andy "Wilf" Williams.

Background

GBH were early pioneers of British street punk, often nicknamed "UK 82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited, and The Varukers.

The band's name was originally Charged GBH, then was shortened to GBH. It is widely understood that the name came from then-bassist Sean McCarthy being charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH), though vocalist Colin Abrahall denied this in 2018, claiming it was just a name like U.K. Subs; and, when pushed, said the initials stood for "Girls, Booze, and Hash". Though the core line up of Colin, Ross, and Jock has stayed the same throughout their history, the drum stool has been occupied by a number of incumbents following Wilf's departure after the Midnight Madness and Beyond album and Oh No, It's GBH Again 12" EP. 1989 saw the arrival of German drummer Kai Reder who played on three albums (No Need to Panic, A Fridge Too Far, and From Here to Reality), as well as the Wot a Bargain 12".

They and many of their UK82 peers such as The Exploited, Picture Frame Seduction, Discharge, and The Varukers have all enjoyed success among punks in the United States. Although many of their contemporaries have evolved towards other styles over the years, GBH have remained fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more speed metal-inflected, inspired and influenced sound particularly those of Motörhead and Tank, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Exodus, and all of the "big four of thrash metal" (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax). Metallica frontman James Hetfield has repeatedly expressed his enthusiasm for GBH and said such bands were the beginning of thrash metal to him. Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM has said he had listened to second-wave punk bands before starting his own band, mentioning GBH as an example. GBH have also influenced 1990s and 2000s rock bands such as Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day, The Offspring, and Rancid.

Band members

Current

Colin Abrahall – vocals (1978–present)
Colin "Jock" Blyth – guitar, backing vocals (1978–present)
Ross Lomas – bass, backing vocals (1980–present)
Scott Preece – drums (1994–present)

Former

Sean McCarthy – bass (1978–1980)
Andrew "Wilf" Williams – drums (1978–1986)
Kai Reder – drums (1986–1992)
Joseph "Fish" Montanaro – drums (1992–1994)

Timeline

Discography

;Studio albums

{| class="wikitable"

!Year of release

!Title

!Label

|1982

|City Baby Attacked by Rats

|Clay (Later Reissued by Captain Oi!)

|1984

|City Babys Revenge

|Clay (Later Reissued by Captain Oi!)

|1986

|Midnight Madness and Beyond