mrJim
Senior Member
The Adicts
Sometime around 1975-76 Monkey, Mel, Pete Dee and Kid Dee, four lads from Ipswich, Suffolk, England started a band called “Afterbirth & The Pinz”. They quickly changed their name to The Adicts and are largely still intact and playing today. Over time they became known for their lead singers “Joker” makeup and the band members Clockwork Orange inspired “droog” clothing and image.
What first drew my attention to them was the leader singers “joker” makeup. It reminded me of "Zal" Cleminson from the Alex Harvey Band and Paul Pope of Molkie Cole, but the interesting thing was The Adicts were “Punk”. Their music was a very up tempo punk style that just seemed to encourage having fun. It struck me as being different from the majority of punk music, but still used the rip roaring fast paced punk tempo and chords I like.
I was pretty blown away by them and a big Adicts fan ever since.
The Adicts are not what would be considered a typical punk band. Their image and dress is not in the typical punk “torn shirt”, “spikes” and Mohawk inspired stereotypical genre. The band wears all-white “droog” clothing with black boots and bowler hats, the lead singer today dresses in wildly patterned suits colorful shirts and flared pants. Their stage shows have evolved over the years and today include the use of streamers, beach balls, and confetti and joker playing cards dealt out to the crowed. The Adicts have fine-tuned their persona and evolved over the years without changing the core principals they defined themselves by back in the early 80’s.
The music is indeed punk and many songs have a punk anthem about them, but unlike typical punk music the lyrics are light-hearted and up tempo, but rest assured the songs are fast short with no guitar or drum solo’s. The Addicts also sometimes use a variety extra instruments, sound clips, violin the occasional key board, gongs and noises in their music. They are used well and are something seldom found in “punk” music. In one song there is sound clip of Chickens, when I play it my dog will get up from a sound sleep jump off the coach and run to the speakers and wait for the Chicken sounds then she goes nuts.
After listening to them for years I still go crazy when I play their music. They really like to have a good time and comes through in their music. Anthem style songs are typically sprinkled around in every album. Some of the best are “Viva La Revolution”, “Joker in the Pack”, “Steamroller”, “F*** It Up”, “Life Goes On” and “Walk On” the list just goes on and with these guys. Unfortunately, I have never seen the Addicts live. If I ever even get remotely close to one of their shows, I intend to make it happen. I have DVD’s of their shows and they are on YouTube it looks like a simply unbelievably good time. I have been fortunate to see Iggy Pop, the Ramones, The Dead Milkmen and hopefully I’ll get the same chance to see The Adicts.
Core Members still today
Monkey, Pete Dee, Kid Dee
Songs of Praise - 1981
Sound of Music - 1982
Smart Alex - 1985
Fifth Overture - 1986
Twenty-Seven - 1992
Rise and Shine - 2002
Rollercoaster - 2004
Songs of Praise: 25th Anniversary Edition (Re-recording of Songs of Praise) - 2008
Life Goes On - 2009
All the Young Droogs - 2012
Joker in the Pack
Breakdown
Steamroller
Youll Never Walk Alone
Who Spilt my Beer?
. A band as you say were a little different....Im sure I used to own a copy of "bad boy" 7 in single in my record collection 
were they big there in England ?
