Ancient History

Back when Dinosaurs Roamed... Late 70s

Drummer Stu, Guitarist Rob and Bassist/Singer Tony had originally played together in Catch 22 in the late 70s. With the onslaught of Hardcore and the demise of real punk rock n roll, Rob and Tony soon became disilusioned with music in general. Rob put away his guitar and Tony moved to Florida... as you do.

The Wilderness Years... 80s, 90s

Meanwhile, Stu joined goth band White Dog Complex with Singer Miz (also ex-Catch 22) and Guitarist Kev (ex-Tone Deaf), and then went on to play with another goth band, Leather Jesus.

Nearly There... 2002-5

Fast forward to 2002, and Tony was wandering around Leicester with some quality tunes in his head, having returned to Blighty and started a family... "catchy lyrics, straight-up punk attitude", he was thinking... when who should he meet again by chance at a UK Subs gig but Rob! Tony suggested laying down some of his new ideas on tape and Rob was bang up for it. It then took Tony two months to track down the inimitable Man of Goth, Stu.

Stu was still drumming for Leather Jesus, but agreed to give it a go. After much rehearsing, and with a new name reflecting their origins, First Wave were more than ready for their first gig, at the Shed in Leicester. On the same bill were an "unusual" band from Northampton, by the name of Post-Teen Neurotic Breakdown Complex. First Wave quickly made friends with this friendly bunch of mutant punks, including bassplayer Monkey. Monkey later formed a garage/new-wave band in which he played guitar, along with Johnny Yau who later went on to form The Bitter Suite. This new project was ominously named The Flaming Kermits. Monkey eventually left Post-Teen.... At the same time, Leather Jesus split, leaving Stu to concentrate on First Wave.

Back to The Future... 2005-NOW

After a couple of mad, bad and occasionally fun years, the Flaming Kermits finally crashed and burned, and Monkey had a guitar, three chords, and some songwriting under his belt. He was on the lookout for a new band to join. Rob was looking to take time out from First Wave, and so Tony asked Monkey to join in Early 2005, resulting in the present line-up. Since joining, Monkey has written a number of new tunes for First Wave, including "Girl from the KGB", "Rock The Boat" and "The Problem with England", all with the garage-rock/punk/pop sensibilities which made the Flaming Kermits popular.

From then on, it's been onwards and upwards for First Wave, with support slots recently with the Cockney Rejects, Abrasive Wheels, Anti Nowhere League, Vibrators, Vice Squad, UK Subs, 999, The Lurkers, TV Smith, Ed Tudor-Pole, Demob, Angelic Upstarts, Street Dogs, John Otway, Spear of Destiny, etc etc...