Mutants - 1977-78 Recordings [Re-Up]

Birkenhead band formed straight from school in the summer of ’76 by Keith Wilson (aka Keith 'Kid' Steele, on guitar, later of Geisha Girls) and Paul Codman (aka Paul Pleasant, on drums, later in Egypt for Now and Geisha Girls) inspired by the pub rock of Eddie and the Hot Rods and by raw approach of the Stooges and MC5. After several changes the official line-up included, besides Keith 'Kid' Steele and Paul Pleasant, Sweet William on vocals, Al Sation (aka Paul Brady later Crawl, Ulterior Motive) on bass, and Roddie Rodent (aka Roddie Gilliard, later Muffin Man) on guitar.
The Mutants played their first ever gig at Mr. Digby’s in Birkenhead (with Slaughter and the Dogs) and quickly established themselves as an easy target for music criticism: they were too spikey, fast and ‘punky’ for a rock audience and too ‘rocky’ for a punk audience. For this reason they were banned from the premier new wave venue Eric’s due to their ‘unsuitability’. (Apparently, they responded by covering the entire club exterior, doors and all, with hundreds of posters for their upcoming gigs at the Havanna. And later, Eric’s would attempt to book the band at double their usual fee but the band at this point refused the offer). Their London debut was at the Roxy in Covent Garden, supporting The Police.
The Mutants released their first single in 1977:


Bos sman (1977)
- Boss Man
- Backyard Boys’



The single got some favourable reviews and even peaked at number six in the ‘Sounds’ new wave chart in October ’77, even though the band were disappointed, as the record failed to capture the raw energy and excitement of their live sound. The band continue touring extensively through the North, but when the time came to go back into the studio, the lack of commitment from a major label and the subconscious awareness of their inability to realise that ‘mass-market break’ took its toll. Keith Wilson, left just before the band released their second single:


Schoolteacher (1978)
- Schoolteacher
- Lady
- Hard Time



After the release of the single the band continued for several months, but due to the diminishing enthusiasm the Mutants split in late summer ’78.

Mutants

(see also http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/mutants.htm
and http://whycontrol1977.blogspot.com/2008/03/bombsite-fanzine-1977-mutants.html thanks why control)