Biography
Formed at the start of 1981, the Sex Gang Children ranked among the most distinctive and enduring British goth acts of the early 1980s thanks to frontman Andi Sex Gang’s long-running involvement. The initial core included Sex Gang, bassist Dave Roberts, guitarist Terry MacLeay, and drummer Rob Stroud, all previously unknown, which made the group’s name its most striking feature at first. The phrase “Sex Gang Children” originated in a William Burroughs line that Bow Wow Wow had inserted into one of their songs; Boy George briefly considered it after leaving that band following only two live appearances in February 1981. Hoping for a quick record contract, George decided the name would limit their prospects, adopted Culture Club instead, and passed the unused title to Andi.
By the early months of 1982 the Sex Gang Children had become frequent performers at the Clarendon Hotel in Hammersmith, where they captured their first release, the cassette-only live set Naked. Shortly after its appearance the Illuminated label signed them, resulting in the four-track Beasts EP, which reached stores in August 1982. Almost immediately the record was pulled when it emerged that the Diane Arbus photograph on the sleeve had been used without permission. Although the sleeves were stripped off to avert a lawsuit, Beasts still climbed to number eight on the independent chart and remained in the listings for most of the following year.
Attention also arrived from outside the immediate scene. Tony James, between his time with the recently dissolved Generation X and his work launching Sigue Sigue Sputnik, produced the band’s next single, October 1982’s “Into the Abyss.” In spring 1983 the second album, Song and Legend, held the top spot on the independent chart for two weeks and yielded two further singles, the title track and the atmospheric, violin-driven “Sebastiane.” The group also appeared on The Whip, the influential goth compilation assembled by Dave Roberts. Despite these accomplishments, the expiration of their Illuminated contract in June 1983 brought complications; several major labels expressed interest, yet the band rejected every offer in the belief that superior terms lay ahead. Having already severed ties with Illuminated, momentum faded.
Rob Stroud was the first to leave, simply failing to appear for a scheduled performance; he later joined Aemotii Crii. Steve Harle stepped in briefly before former Theatre of Hate drummer Nigel Preston took the role. A one-off arrangement with the independent Clay label produced the September 1983 single “Mauritia Mayer.” Combined with additional tracks recorded since the previous album—including further sessions overseen by Tony James—the material suggested a strong follow-up LP. Preston, however, soon departed to rejoin Billy Duffy in the Cult. Ray Taylor-Smith, formerly of that same band, replaced him, only to be removed months afterward when immigration authorities discovered his unlawful presence in the U.K. after the group’s first American tour; he was deported, prompting Dave Roberts to exit as well.
Andi and MacLeay sustained the project a little longer, returning to Illuminated with new rhythm-section members Cam Campbell and Kevin Matthews to record the single “Draconian Dream.” Producer Simon Boswell also reworked “Dieche,” the B-side of the earlier “Into the Abyss” release, which was flipped to the A-side and became the band’s final independent-chart entry in July 1984. Weeks afterward the Sex Gang Children disbanded. Sex Gang immediately repurposed the remaining songs for his solo debut, and while he continued an independent career, the original lineup has periodically reconvened both to issue fresh recordings and to reissue earlier material.
By the early months of 1982 the Sex Gang Children had become frequent performers at the Clarendon Hotel in Hammersmith, where they captured their first release, the cassette-only live set Naked. Shortly after its appearance the Illuminated label signed them, resulting in the four-track Beasts EP, which reached stores in August 1982. Almost immediately the record was pulled when it emerged that the Diane Arbus photograph on the sleeve had been used without permission. Although the sleeves were stripped off to avert a lawsuit, Beasts still climbed to number eight on the independent chart and remained in the listings for most of the following year.
Attention also arrived from outside the immediate scene. Tony James, between his time with the recently dissolved Generation X and his work launching Sigue Sigue Sputnik, produced the band’s next single, October 1982’s “Into the Abyss.” In spring 1983 the second album, Song and Legend, held the top spot on the independent chart for two weeks and yielded two further singles, the title track and the atmospheric, violin-driven “Sebastiane.” The group also appeared on The Whip, the influential goth compilation assembled by Dave Roberts. Despite these accomplishments, the expiration of their Illuminated contract in June 1983 brought complications; several major labels expressed interest, yet the band rejected every offer in the belief that superior terms lay ahead. Having already severed ties with Illuminated, momentum faded.
Rob Stroud was the first to leave, simply failing to appear for a scheduled performance; he later joined Aemotii Crii. Steve Harle stepped in briefly before former Theatre of Hate drummer Nigel Preston took the role. A one-off arrangement with the independent Clay label produced the September 1983 single “Mauritia Mayer.” Combined with additional tracks recorded since the previous album—including further sessions overseen by Tony James—the material suggested a strong follow-up LP. Preston, however, soon departed to rejoin Billy Duffy in the Cult. Ray Taylor-Smith, formerly of that same band, replaced him, only to be removed months afterward when immigration authorities discovered his unlawful presence in the U.K. after the group’s first American tour; he was deported, prompting Dave Roberts to exit as well.
Andi and MacLeay sustained the project a little longer, returning to Illuminated with new rhythm-section members Cam Campbell and Kevin Matthews to record the single “Draconian Dream.” Producer Simon Boswell also reworked “Dieche,” the B-side of the earlier “Into the Abyss” release, which was flipped to the A-side and became the band’s final independent-chart entry in July 1984. Weeks afterward the Sex Gang Children disbanded. Sex Gang immediately repurposed the remaining songs for his solo debut, and while he continued an independent career, the original lineup has periodically reconvened both to issue fresh recordings and to reissue earlier material.
Albums
