U-Samples

Mick Mitchell  – U Samples:

I really got into punk in 1977,when I was still at school. I remember seeing the Sex Pistols interview with Bill Grundy and thinking this is brilliant. Also the LWT show with Janet Street Porter about punk and the 100 Club festival. I went out and bought The Damned album and every punk record I could lay my hands on. My first (real) gig was at the Marquee to see 999 and the Tools and I became a regular there most weekends as well as the Roxy, Red Cow Hammersmith, Rochester Castle etc etc. Soon after I met up with similar minded folk in my home town of Harlow and quite a local scene grew up. 

We all hung out at the Playhouse in Harlow and the Triad in Bishops Stortford. Bands sprung up – The Sods (formerly The Rage), The Newtown Neurotics, The Gangsters, Pete The Meat & The Boys, followed by The Epileptics (who became Flux of Pink Indians), Urban Decay, The Eratics, The U Samples (I was the bass player) to name but a few. We were a very clandestine and tight group of like-minded people, having to (literally) fight National Front skinheads and narrow minded local idiots. I remember one gig with The Newtown Neurotics and The Gangsters playing at The Stow, in Harlow. The gig was invaded during the Gangsters set by skinheads. Bill hit one of them round the head with his mike stand. It was like a scene from the wild west, the whole place just erupted !!

Originally called The Spasms, The U Samples formed in 1979 when three mates – Neil Puncher (known as Anarchy on Vocals), Andy Smith (Guitar) and Chunky (drums) got together and started rehearsing at Andy’s parents pottery in Quendon. They needed a Bass player and I happened to have just got a bass (even though I couldn’t play it yet) and I was asked to join. I also suggested the name change from The Spasms to the U Samples and brought my book of lyrics along to the group (with such ditties as “Lord Mountbattens life’s in pieces” – though this one unfortunately never made it to the set).

Our first gig was in the bar (The Maltings) at the Triad club in Bishops Stortford 14th May 1979 supporting The Victims, Urban Decay, The Epileptics and The Vertical Strokers. I had only done one rehearsal and didn’t know half the songs, so I made it up as I went along. We still managed to get an encore though ! 

This was quickly followed by another gig on May 23rd with Urban Decay, The Eratics and The Epileptics. I got Til (Urban Decay guitarist and now with Kallinger Co) to help me with the Bass lines at rehearsals. At first I put stickers on the frets to help me ! Further gigs followed on June 15th- (with Urban Decay & Epi-X, who were the Epileptics under a different name). 1st July in the main hall at Triad supporting The Epileptics, Urban Decay & The Newtown Neurotics. 6th July – with Urban Decay, The Eratics and Rubella Ballet. This turned out to be our final gig, though we didn’t realise at the time. I remember having a cigarette stubbed out on my throat at this one.

We did an interview for a local fanzine “Bad news you’re having” which was written by Tony Mottram and Cliff Burnham. The interview was carried out in the same way as our performances – alcohol fuelled and chaotic.

We never formally split up – we just stopped playing ! no particular reason. It was short lived but lots of fun.

Andy and Neil went on to join Flux of Pink Indians, as guitarists later in the year and both appear on their first single “Neu smell”.

I eventually moved to Devon. Chunky (I never did know his real name) is, I believe somewhere in Australia. I am still in touch with Neil, who is in Harlow. No idea of where Andy is, or what he is up to.

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Thanks to Mick Mitchell for above entry and piccies (July 6th 1979 gig in the Maltings,Triad)

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