Phobia

PHOBIA got together at the tail end of Punk’s hardcore wave in 1984. Influenced by such hardcore giants as Discharge, GBH and The Exploited, the Legendary Sex Pistols, The Clash, and many others, Warby recruited friends and aquaintances from the local punk scene. Our first Bass player John didn’t have a Bass but got one so he could be in the band. DJ Neil of Hawthorns and X Records was one of our early drummer tryouts, but his style was too wierd for us. A couple of drummer and bass player changes later We played our first gig with Paul Makin sharing vocals with Davy at Wood street Socialist club in Bolton on August 24th 1985, supporting TVOD. Paul was replaced by Ratty in September 85 and had his first gig with Phobia at the Bolton Institute on 18th September, 2 or three days after agreeing to join us. The Food Scientists were the headliners that night. Photo’s show Ratty reading from the lyric book on stage. We played the Fun Under Crisis Karnival, in Queens Park, headlining at 1:00 in the morning because The Fall didn’t turn up. The Deformed were .. us. An outdoor gig at ’the shooting range’ on scout road was interrupted by a visit from the Police who ordered us to stop playing but we re started after a couple of minutes and the Police decided the crowd of Punks and Hippies was probably better left to it. After only a handfull of gigs we ended up on stage at the famous 100 Club in London’s Oxford Street. That night was part of the 1986 annual Punk Festival. We supported Broken Bones and Xtract. We played a gig at Nibblers in Horwich the night after. Soon after that, Punk was fizzling out and so did we. Various members of the band have continued to play in other bands, notably Colin who’s bands have included PMT Anarchy Spanky, Blood Sucking Freaks, and currently Forced Entry. Bob & Ratty both spent time in PMT also. Bob has played drums in a Dead Kenneies tribute band. Must ask him about that... Warby and Davvy went off playing happy families. (Not together, OO er!!).Phobia’s last gig the first time around was in December 1986We were gone but......Davvy asked us to do a one off for a milestone Birthday. (Not telling which one!! ha.. ha.. ) We didn’t end up doing that.BUT..WE ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!";