The Iconoclasts - Some demos (1983-85)

The Iconoclasts came into being after the split of A.T.A., one of the few punk of the anarcho-punk scene in the Liverpool-Wirral area. Originally formed in 1980 by Jarv (a.k.a Jarvo, Jar, vocals), Shone (guitars), Penny (drums) and Lloyd (bass) (see picture, one) in 1981 they added to the line-up a female singer Mandy Bendix (see picture, two). The group continued as a four-piece, having lost Jarv along the way. They played their final gig at Lark Lane in 1983 as a quintet, with Andy O added on guitars (see picture, three).

The Iconoclasts, a Wirral-based all-girl punk band, formed in 1983 by Mandy Bendix (vocals, guitars, former A.T.A., later Mere Dead Men), Dibbie (a.k.a. Dib, vocals, guitars, ex Joyful Assault), another Mandy (a.k.a. Moge, bass, vocals, former Joyful Assault, later Decomposed) and Spekki (drums). In an ad distributed in 1985 the girls described their songs as follows: ‘Our songs consist of serious and funny material as we try to look on the funny and everyday side of life.’ In 1984 the recorded three demo, one in February, the second in June and the third in November.

Demo (June 1984, 51/2 Track)
- A Type Of Anarchy
- Epitaph
- Floor Monster
- Fight Alone
- Funfair Pts 1+2
- Spotty Dog

Demo (November 1984, 4 Track)
- Pervert
- Do You Care
- Zitty
- Blood Red

In 1985 Linda joined on guitars, soon to leave the band, together with Bendix to form Mere Dead Men (with former A.T.A. bass player Lloyd, later to join Redo Zebri).

About the time of the split Mandy Bendix recalls: ‘Mere Dead Men formed in 1985, by a handful of people, Mandy included to liven up a small and very sad punk scene. Liverpool and its surrounding areas where caught up in the throes of the metal and goth movements, there were hardly any punk bands of their type left […] there were a few hardcore bands around and anarcho bands, but as we said no-one was keeping the original spirit of punk alive, which is what MDM are all about. We began playing locally and promoting gigs at Stairways night club, we then started using some of Mandy's old Iconoclasts contacts […] and started playing around the UK. From that we went on to promote shows at Planet X in Liverpool, and started to get a decent following together.’

demo 1 + demo 2

(see also: http://www.myspace.com/meredeadmen.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=73052825&albumId=1053699 )