PragVEC was a post-punk band from London formed in 1978. The band name was a contraction of the two words "pragmatism" and "vector", chosen at random.

History

PragVEC were formed in February 1978 by ex-Derelicts members Susan Gogan (vocals, synthesizer) and John Studholme guitar, synthesizer, along with David Boyd (bass) and Nicholas Cash (drums).

On 16 October 1978, they released their debut EP, the four-song 7-inch Bits, on their own Spec Records label.

PragVEC played concerts during 1978 and 1979, opening for bands such as Cabaret Voltaire, Scritti Politti, the Psychedelic Furs, the Monochrome Set, Au Pairs, Magazine, Chelsea, Stiff Little Fingers and the Teardrop Explodes.

During their short existence, they also recorded a total of three sessions for the John Peel programme. The last of these showed them moving away from the guitar-based sound of the first EP towards the use of the Wasp, a battery-powered portable synthesizer with a built-in speaker. Two of the songs, "Rural Erotic" and "Third Person", were re-recorded for the No-Cowboys album, released in December 1980. Packaged in a polythene bag, the record was presented as a compilation by various bands, although all of the material was recorded by PragVEC. Gogan joined the Atoms. Jim Thirlwell, who had contributed Wasp synth to No-Cowboys, went on to form Foetus.

Personnel

;Former members

  • Susan Gogan – vocals, synthesizer
  • John Studholme – guitar, synthesizer
  • David Boyd – bass
  • Nick Cash – drums

;Guest studio members

  • John Glyn - tenor sax
  • Art Moran - alto sax
  • Jim Thirlwell - synthesizer, vocals

Discography

Studio albums

  • No-Cowboys (1980, Spec Records)

Singles and EPs

  • Bits 7-inch EP (1978, Spec Records)
  • "Expert" 7-inch single (1979, Spec Records)
  • PragVEC 12-inch EP (1979, Celluloid Records)

References

  • Unofficial bandsite
  • Susan Gogan interview