BASEMENT 5

STAY COOL | HANG LOOSE | ADMIT NOTHING | STAY COOL | HANG LOOSE | ADMIT NOTHING |STAY COOL | HANG LOOSE | ADMIT...
Photo: Dennis Morris
BASEMENT 5 were arguably the first black punk-informed rock band and described by many artists who followed them as "hugely influential" and "groundbreaking". Starting out in London in 1978, 'The Basements' were an innovative and highly original post-punk group who created a kind of politically charged, futurist, punk-fuelled dub. The lyrics were an attempt to reflect the situation of young people in Britain in the era of Thatcherism, high unemployment, strikes, racism, and working class poverty.
Originally assembled by former Roxy DJ Don Letts with £1,500 from Island Records' chief Chris Blackwell, the band's personnel was Winston Fergus on vocals, former Roxy barman and friend Leo Williams on bass and friends J.R. on guitar and Tony ('T') on drums.
By 1979 after a short vocal stint by Don Letts himself, Basement 5's lineup was solidified with Sex Pistols/Bob Marley photographer Dennis Morris as vocalist, Leo, J.R. and soon to follow, ex-101'ers and PIL drummer Richard Dudanski. In their short life, the band supported John Lydon's Public Image Limited (PIL) debut at London's Rainbow Theatre, performed a number of shows in Portugal and signed to Island Records. The result was the album 1965-1980 co-produced by the legendary Martin Hannet (Joy Division. Magazine). Recorded at Basing Street Studios and mixed at Strawberry Studios, it became the first and only Basement 5 LP.
Hannet had this to say about '1965-1980': "You have to play it very loud to enjoy it fully. It was the most difficult production, I must say, the heaviest. It was eighteen degrees in the shade, the end of August. As I recall it has been the most physical album that I've ever done. Made me feel like I'd been carrying bricks around. Heavy work. Putting the bass lines in the right place. But it was good."
Long out of print, the creatively packaged LP was eventually reissued on an Island Masters CD (IMCD 145) as a partial album along with selected tracks from its original dub mini-LP partner 'Basement 5 In Dub'.
Basement 5 had broken up by the end of July 1981.
DENNIS MORRIS | noted photographer of Bob Marley and Sex Pistols | former art director at Island Records | formed 'Urban Shakedown' and signed to Paul Weller's Response label | his hip-hop crew 'Boss' released four singles on Virgin Records | his prolific photographic career can be seen in books such as Bob Marley a Rebel Life and This Happy Breed | recently named one of '100 Great Black Britons'
www.dennismorris.com
Dennis is currently lead vocalist with 'Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping' featuring Youth (Killing Joke) on bass and Lenzini (Dirty District) on guitar...STAY TUNED - MORE INFO TO COME!!!.
VIDEO: Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping - 'Crazy Baldheads'
Dennis circa 1979
Dennis Now
LEO WILLIAMS | bassist with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones' Big Audio Dynamite | member of Screaming Target with Don Letts | teamed up with BAD's Greg Roberts as bass player in Dreadzone | currently bassist with Mick Jones and Tony James' Carbon Silicon.
www.leo24.com
Photo: Leo Williams
Leo performing with Carbon Silicon Plain MySpace Layouts by Iron Spider