The Jermz

Nick Jackson (Jacko Jerm) – Vocals, Aussie Spitfire – Bass,
Mike Gibson (Mike Normal) – Guitars & Kelvin Knight – Drums

The Jermz were from York and all former students of York Art School. Originally called the Germs before they realised there was another band with the same name. Just the one single Powercut / Me and My Baby (One Way Records) and it’s an absolute classic in the style of The Users / Art Attacks.

“You beat me / I’ll beat you / We’ll beat each other black and blue.” Both songs barely last 1.30 seconds each!

Artwork by Rene Eyre

The single was recorded in late October 1977. Amazingly the single was produced in a round four hours by violinist Urban Blitz from the Doctors Of Madness who The Jermz had done some gigs with. It was recorded at Pollen studios where Cyanide had recorded their 2 tracks for a single that was shelved when they got their deal with Pye.

Image – Dick Sefton

Nick Jackson The band paid for the studio. Euston /Feelgood paid for the vinyl only. We had to pay for and physically put the sleeve on. York Free Press did the printing which was in the same building that Sema 4 used to rehearse in. The D. I. Y. spirit….We waited months for the pressing to arrive. By the time it did Aussie gone, Charlie and Mark in, we were a different band. Still, it was a document of what happened. Thanks to … friends of the band who came to help, by hand, the folding and gluing at Priestleys one morning. Facebook

Hugh Bernays (aka Euston Arch) I moved … on to the most prominent of York’s 2nd generation punks, The Jermz.  In partnership with local record shop, Feelgood Discount Records I did their first single with them: ‘Me and My Baby’ and ‘Power Cut on One Way Records. Great picture cover and now upwards of £150 on Discogs. Of all the music I had a hand in, this record by the Jermz is the one that came out best – the last bars of Power Cut still volunteer themselves unbidden in my ears as I go about the business of being 73. Bliss. When they broke up the drummer went to Delta 5 and the rest dispersed, I don’t know where. Joy Division Central

1000 copies were pressed up and it was transferred to acetate at the Master Room, London by world famous engineer George “Porky” Peckham who only signed his favourite platters by scratching “a porky prime cut” in the run out groove on the disc. 

Legend has it that with limited distribution and publicity around only 200 copies exist with the rest ending up in landfill


York Bands Of The Past Facebook Page



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