Vic Godard (born Victor John Napper) is an English singer-songwriter formerly of the punk group Subway Sect. He is now also a solo performer, while continuing to appear with various incarnations of Subway Sect.

Biography

Born Victor John Napper in Mortlake, Surrey, Godard was raised in nearby Barnes, London.

In 1976, Godard formed Subway Sect with three other fans of the Sex Pistols at the suggestion of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, who wanted another band for the line-up of the 100 Club Punk Festival. Despite their inexperience, Subway Sect made a successful debut at the festival and were taken on by Clash manager Bernie Rhodes. Godard also recorded an LP at Olympic Studios, called T.R.O.U.B.L.E., with a group of London jazz musicians known as Working Week, which was eventually released two years later by Rough Trade Records.

In the mid-1980s, Godard retired from music and became a postman.

In 1990, Godard wrote the song "Johnny Thunders", a tribute inspired by reading an obituary of the New York Dolls guitarist. It was recorded at the home of Paul Baker, a fellow postman. Godard also recorded ten other tracks and the recordings, with Paul Cook on drums, eventually became the album The End of the Surrey People. Produced by Edwyn Collins, it was released on the Postcard Records label. Collins' group Orange Juice had made the Subway Sect song "Holiday Hymn" a feature of their set in the early 1980s.

In 2009, Godard recorded We Come As Aliens for Overground records (with a vinyl edition on GNU Inc) with Subway Sect, as well as an EP with Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh called Blackpool.

2012 saw Godard & Subway Sect touring the UK & Europe extensively, while also recording 1979 Now with Edwyn Collins. 2013 included a collaborative tour with the Sexual Objects (featuring Davy Henderson of The Fire Engines) and two BBC sessions with Marc Riley. He released the 7" only single "Caught in Midstream" / "(You Bring Out) The Demon in Me".

2014 began with the release of 30 Odd Years a 45-track box-set on Godard's own GNU Inc records. Godard remains a busy and creative artist, but no more popular (or better) than he was 40 years ago.

Discography

with Subway Sect

Vic Godard and Subway Sect

Albums

  • What's the Matter Boy? (1980), Oddball/MCA
  • Songs For Sale (1982), London
  • We Come As Aliens (2010), Overground
  • 1979 Now! (2014), Gnu

;Compilations:

  • A Retrospective (1977–81) (1985), Rough Trade
  • Twenty Odd Years – The Story of... (1999), Motion
  • Singles Anthology (2005), Motion
  • Live in Stereo (2009), GNU Inc
  • Peel Sessions (2011), GNU Inc
  • Live + Rare Vol 2 (2012) GNU Inc
  • 30 Odd Years (2014), GNU Inc

Singles

  • "Split Up the Money" (1980), Oddball/MCA
  • "Stop That Girl" (1981), Rough Trade
  • "Stamp of a Vamp" (1981), Club Left
  • "Hey Now (I'm in Love)" (1982), London
  • "Johnny Thunders" (1992), Rough Trade
  • "Won't Turn Back" (1993), Postcard
  • "No Love Now" (1996), Garcia [as 'Spirit of the Sect']
  • "Place We Used to Love" (1999), Creeping Bent
  • "Caught in Midstream" (2013), AED

Vic Godard

Albums

  • T.R.O.U.B.L.E. (1986), Rough Trade
  • End of the Surrey People (1993), Postcard
  • Long Term side-Effect (1998), Tugboat
  • In T.R.O.U.B.L.E. Again (2002), Tugboat

Singles

  • "Holiday Hymn" (1985), El
  • "Blackpool" (2010), GNU Inc [as 'Vic Godard & Irvine Welsh']
  • "Better Not Turn On", download (2012) [with Georgio Valentino]
  • "Vic to Vic" (2013), Famelic [with Mates Mates]

References

  • Vic Godard and The Subway Sect Official Homepage. New live dates, bio, video, audio, News and ongoing archive
  • 2002 interview
  • Info about the Blackpool EP with Irvine Welsh – Vic Godard & Irvine Welsh
  • Original Subway Sect interview in Sniffin Glue
  • 30 Odd Years Boxset – Vic Godard
  • 2014 interview