Eater

Eater is a late 1970s punk band from London, United Kingdom. The group forms in 1976 and is active until 1979. Its line-up includes Andy Blade on vocals, Brian Chevette on guitar, Lutfi “Social Demise” Radwan on drums, later replaced by the 14-year-old Roger “Dee Generate” Bullen, and Ian Woodcock on bass; Dee Generate is later replaced by Phil Rowland. The band’s listed members include Ian Woodcock.

Career

The band makes its first public performance in November 1976, supporting the Buzzcocks. It signs to the small London independent label The Label and releases several 7-inch singles as well as The Album LP. Eater splits at the end of the 1970s.

Repertoire and later activity

Among the band’s best-known songs are “Don’t Need It”, “Lock It Up”, “Thinkin’ of the USA” and a cover of T. Rex’s “Jeepster”. It also records versions of Velvet Underground and David Bowie songs, including “Queen Bitch” and “Sweet Jane”.

After the original run

Andy Blade makes several attempts to launch a solo career in the 1980s but does not secure a deal. He later writes The Secret Life of a Teenage Punk Rocker, a book about his time with Eater and beyond. The band reforms for the 1996 Holidays in the Sun festival in Blackpool, plays a one-off show at the 100 Club in 2006 with support from TV Smith of The Adverts, and also supports the Buzzcocks on the 30th anniversary of their original tour at the Forum.