Insurrection 2010. Left to right: Ian Allsopp, Mark Le Page, Pete Riddle, Rene Tostevin and Jon Langlois. (Picture By Peter Frankland, 0901587)
THERE can’t be many local bands who can claim to have been included on an LP that sold more than 7,000 copies or have five pages dedicated to them in a book.
But hardcore punk band Insurrection can.
The group, which folded in 1989, had in its relatively short tenure amassed a modest underground following.
And they are getting back together to play the Fermain Tavern next Saturday.
Formed in 1986, the band consisted of vocalist Mark Le Page, guitarists Jon Langlois and (briefly) Carl Broadhurst, bassist Peter Riddle and drummer Rene Tostevin. Ian Allsopp was recruited as second vocalist at a late date.
Over their three-year lifespan the band set about making a name for themselves in the underground UK hardcore scene of the late 80s, a period chronicled in the closing volume of Ian Glasper’s trilogy, Trapped In a Scene.
The book charts bands which emerged from the remnants of the anarcho-punk scene of the early 80s, evolving into a movement which, so the author claims, ‘pushed musical boundaries into new avenues of extremity, helping to shape the alternative music scene of today’. Not bad for a bunch of local lads struggling to get gigs in the late 80s.
This was a time when venues had a ‘smart clothes’ policy and when spiky-haired types playing fast and loud music were generally frowned upon. Although the band played the likes of the Savoy, The Deep End and the Cocq du Nord, it was at the latter venue that the group seemed most at home, putting on their own nights with guest bands from the UK such as Concrete Sox.
Left to their own devices, they employed the do-it-yourself ethic so synonymous with punk.
After featuring on compilation LPs on Peaceville Records and two tours in the UK, the band split in 1989 when three of its members chose to stay in the UK, leaving Jon Langlois and Mark Le Page to return to Guernsey and form Earthcorpse.
Apart from re-forming for a one-off gig at The Peppermint Twist in 1995, without second vocalist Ian, next week will see the classic line-up back together in over 20 years.
So why get back together now?
‘We were looking to reform last year,’ said guitarist Jon Langlois, explaining that the band wanted to play a gig to coincide with the inclusion in Trapped In a Scene.
However, the preferred venue of The Fermain Tavern being booked up and vocalist Mark Le Page’s involvement in band Darker Shores meant the reformation was postponed.
The band is looking to continue performing sporadically and is aiming to record again.
‘We’d also like to re-release some of our previous material but it’s difficult, as Peaceville Records has been sold and it isn’t easy to track down the master tapes.’
- Insurrection play The Fermain Tavern next Saturday with The Ejs. ‘Expect lots of old punk and hardcore music.’ Doors open 8pm, entry is £5 on the door.
Article posted on 16th January, 2010 - 2.30pm
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