“Toxteth” / “LSD” | “Wars” (Probe Plus PP2) May 1982

Public Disgrace | Toxteth | (Probe Plus) | I believe Public Disgrace were from the Liverpool area and “Toxteth” was their one and only single. In my head this is the typical sound of the 1981/82 era street punk bands.

What Public Disgrace lack in musicianship, natural skill and ability they certainly make up for on loudness, pissing people off, spiked hair and an abundance of studs on their leather jackets.

They sing about what was relevant to them and in this case it’s the Toxteth riots during July 1981. This apparently came about because of long-standing tensions between the local police and the black community.

England had several inner City riots in 1981 and tensions throughout the country were high. I was still at school at the time of them and can remember the TV News and newspapers being full of one-sided stories and photographs of mayhem and violence.

Anyway, back to this record. “Toxteth” speeds along on it’s raw anger, sloppy drums, tuneless bass and very basic guitar. The vocalist is probably showing his top and bottom teeth as he barks out the words. All I can really make out is ‘Toxteth’ and ‘Anarchy’.

Public Disgrace | Toxteth | (Probe Plus)

The other side has two numbers . . . “LSD” and Wars” follow the amateurish traits of their street punk anthem “Toxteth”, especially “LSD” which I can’t decide if they’re all taking it or if it’s an anti-drug recommendation.

All-in-all, a great record to annoy the neighbours with at maximum volume. In fact it makes me want to go outside and throw gas canisters at anything that moves, in the same way as one of the band members (as pictured) on the fold-out sleeve.