The Ignerents

The Ignerents were formed in 1977 in Whitstable, Kent, by brothers Chris and Steve Harris, joined by neighbour Mark Leighton on guitar, vocalist Kevin Holmes (later replaced by Ben Challis) and drummer Stan ‘Gretsch’ Littlejohn. The band were an important part of the local punk scene in the late seventies in Kent alongside bands like Wild Billy Childish’s Pop Rivets, Naughty Thoughts and the Rivals. Like others they identified with Punk if not actually playing Punk. As such their live set would as likely feature the punky ‘Uganda Calling’ as the r’n’b cover ‘I’m a Hog For You Baby.’

Phil Harris (Manager) We are not trying to jump on the image bandwagon, but looking for the excitement that has been brought to music by the new wave.. 

Times/Observer Sep 1977

As well as playing local watering holes the band also trod the decks of such salubrious and legendary punk dives as the Roxy Club and Vortex.

Ben Challis, the singer, recounts.

“I guess Kent was very much like much of the rest of the UK – punk was soon quite high profile – locally I saw bands like the Ramones, Blondie, The Undertones and Boomtown Rats at Canterbury Odeon and Kent University put on a fair few gigs – I saw The Jam playing through a disco PA (theirs blew up in the first song) in a tiny bar and they were great – they came back a year later and played the University Sports Hall to probably 1000 students and locals.

I saw The Damned at Kent Uni too – and Canterbury College of Art (where Ian Dury had taught) had gigs too.  In Folkestone there was the Lees Cliff Hall and they put on gigs and in Margate we played with 999 at Dreamland, in bar in the amusement park (in front of about 100 locals and 100 South London skinheads – we thought we were doomed but they loved our song ‘Black Dr Martens’ so took to us). Various pubs put on gigs in Whitstable and Canterbury and elsewhere (I saw Eddie & The Hot Rods over on the East Kent coast somewhere) and we played in Ashford too. Even Schools put on gigs – we played with another local punk band The Names at the SImon Langton Boys School.

Ben Challis 2010

There was also a fabulous record shop in Harbour Street in Whitstable – Rock Bottom – I think it was called and it was run by a guy called Jim – who sold all the vinyl we wanted – even some fanzines. Jim moved to Canterbury (Canterbury Rocks) and got prosecuted for displaying/selling the Stiff album ‘If it Aint Stiff it Aint Worth a Fuck’.  He is still in business as far as I know! Used to sell records to one of Coldplay!  It was a DIY time as you know – find a church hall, put on a gig and hope the vicar liked punk – or didn’t understand!

The Pop Rivets were fronted by (Wild) Billy Childish, still going too but they were further up the coast that us, in Chatham, so I didnt really know them. We played with the Rivals a couple of times but I have no idea what happened to them.So it was a scene of sorts but the brights glittering lights of London was where we went whenever we could afford it ……… or we got a booking!”

Ben Challis 2010

All of the band went to School together in Faversham and were managed by a third Harris brother, Phil, who was quick to recruit Ben Challis from another local punk band, The Plague, when Kevin Holmes dropped out as lead singer just before the band’s first gig in Whitstable. In it’s final and most successful line-up (as the Ignerents), the band was a four piece consisting of Ben Challis (vocals), Steve Harris (guitar), Chris Harris (base) and Stan Gretsch (drums).

Having demoed for Step Forward records with the excellent ‘Uganda Calling’ the band released one single in 1979 (Radio Interference b/w Wrong Place Wrong Time) on Ace Records and then re-released it on their own label. The Ignerents also featured on the First Offenders compilation album in 1980 with two tracks, Harbour Street and I Won’t Be There. Wrong Place Wrong Time also featured on the German Punk series ‘Back To Front’. The band finally evolved into a new band, The Beekeepers, which featured Nick Appleton on guitar alongside Steve and with Chris, Ben and Stan, and then after Stan died, Russell Lax on drums. The Beekeepers released one single, Platform 5 b/w The Trouble With You in 1981.

On the live circuit the Ignerents were active from 1977-1981 with infrequent gigs that included the Marquee Club (with Chelsea) and the Vortex in London (with Wayne County & The Electric Chairs) and they supported bands like 999 and The Only Ones.

Above Picture sleeve ‘Radio Interference’ – Right Photo at Marquee – Mick Mercer

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Feature courtesy of Ben Challis February 2010 | Check out The Ignerents Blog

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