Abrasive Wheels

The Abrasive Wheels specialised in the sort of massive rowdy choruses that could put an ear-to-ear smile on the face of a dead man. Like so many of those intense bands of the time, 1980/84 their fire burnt brightly for just a relatively short time, but the shadows it cast, and the colourful musical legacy they bestowed on the punk scene, were both important and influential to many a band that came after them. The band reformed in 2003 and has been playing shows in the UK,Europe, Canada, USA.The Abrasive Wheels’ first release for Riot City was the fast ‘n’ furious three-track ‘Vicious Circle’ EP in early 1982, and, encouraged by its success (it spent three months in the Indie charts and reached No. 12), the label re-released ‘Army Song’, this time on red vinyl, two months later. The band also contributed the storming ‘Criminal Youth’ to Riot City’s showcase 1982 compilation album ‘Riotous Assembly’. Thanks to the vitriolic strength of these early releases, the band started to build a large and loyal following of punks and skins the length and breadth of the country. Other releases came on after the ‘Riotous Assembly’ compilation, of course, ‘When The Punks Go Marching In’ was the first full length album to be released on Riot City Records… and what a debut for both band and label. Fourteen tracks of pumped-up street punk, it gripped the listener from start to finish, via the pounding ‘Voice Of Youth’ (complete with its infamous chant of ‘Put Maggie Thatcher on the dole’!), the boozy sing along ‘Just Another Punk Band’ and the insistent ‘Slaughterhouse’, which is the Abrasive Wheels at their raucous best. The album peaked at No. 3 in the Indies in late 1982, but was to be the last release for Riot City, because Abrasive Wheels then eloped to producer Mike Stone’s Clay Records, home to Discharge and GBH.And so the way was paved for the second album, ‘Black Leather Girl’, which appeared in March 1984. Recorded over the course of two months in Strawberry Studios, Stockport. In 2002 the band reformed with Steve Popplewell (Guitar) adding to the original lineup. Harry, Nev and Dave were replaced with Chris Bertram ( Bass ), Eden Townsley ( Guitar ) and Skruff on (drums). Skruff has since moved to pastures new and drumming duties now fall to Mickey Waddington. The band has had glowing live reviews.The new album Skum has had rave reviews from UK Punk and Oi, Big cheese Magazine, Fungal punk fanzine, Repeat fanzine, John Peel Radio, to name but a few. It would seem that the wheels are back and not stopping there they are touring and writing a new album for 2011. ‘The ABW EP’ (Abrasive, 1981) ‘Vicious Circle’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Army Song’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Burn ‘Em Down’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Jailhouse Rock’ (Clay, 1983) ‘Banner Of Hope’ (Clay, 1983) ‘The Prisoner’ (Clay, 1984) 12"s: ‘The Prisoner’ (Clay, 1984) LPs: ‘When The Punks Go Marching In’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Black Leather Girl’ (Clay, 1984) Nothing to prove ( SOS 2005 ) Skum (Crashed out recordings ) 2009/2010 ‘The ABW EP’ (Abrasive, 1981) ‘Vicious Circle’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Army Song’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Burn ‘Em Down’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Jailhouse Rock’ (Clay, 1983) ‘Banner Of Hope’ (Clay, 1983) ‘The Prisoner’ (Clay, 1984) 12"s: ‘The Prisoner’ (Clay, 1984) LPs: ‘When The Punks Go Marching In’ (Riot City, 1982) ‘Black Leather Girl’ (Clay, 1984) Nothing to prove ( SOS 2005 ) Skum (Crashed out recordings ) 2009/2010