English Dogs

English Dogs are a British punk band from Grantham, England, formed in October 1981. They begin as a crossover punk rock and heavy metal act, and their early recordings and line-up changes shape a career that runs across several phases and side projects. The band remains active.

Early years and first releases

The group records two demos in 1982, Show No Mercy and Free To Kill. In early 1983 they tour Germany as support to GBH, then follow that with a British tour supporting Discharge. Later in 1983 they sign to Clay Records and release the six-track EP Mad Punx And English Dogs. Their first full-length album, Invasion of the Porky Men, appears the following year.

Line-up changes and heavier sound

After the debut album, vocalist Wakey leaves and is replaced by former Ultraviolent singer Ade Bailey. The band also adds guitarist Graham “Gizz” Butt, formerly of the Destructors, and his playing pushes their sound towards heavier metal riffing and guitar leads. They then leave Clay Records and sign to Rot Records, releasing the EP To The Ends Of The Earth in September 1984. Their metal direction continues on Forward into Battle and the album Where Legend Began, issued through Under One Flag in 1986.

Later activity and related projects

In 1986 they appear on a thrash bill at Camden’s Electric Ballroom alongside Possessed and Voivod. Wakey briefly returns for the 1994 comeback release Bow To None, before being replaced by Stuart “Stu-Pid” Jones for a 1995 single on Wretch Records. In 1997 Butt forms Wardance with ex-Frantix bassist Andy Frantic and former Boys Dream drummer Matt Keys. That same year, English Dogs members also work with former GBH personnel in Sensa Yuma, releasing the album Every Day's Your Last Day on Retch Records and a seven-inch EP of the same title on Ruptured Ambitions. Another English Dogs and GBH-linked project, The Wernt, brings together Wakey, Pinch, GBH guitarist Jock Blyth and bassist Ross Lomas for the album Wreckin' Temples.

1990s to present

Butt later replaces Jim Davies as live guitarist for The Prodigy, which renews interest in English Dogs and leads to a re-release of Where Legend Began. He also forms Janus Stark in the same period, recording with former Charlie guitarist Terry Thomas as producer. English Dogs record I’ve Got A Gun live in Finland at their last show in 1999. By 2000 Pinch joins The Damned. Butt returns in 2004 with The More I See. In May 2007 English Dogs reform with the original line-up except for Pinch, who is replaced by Stuart Meadows of Resistance 77. They mainly perform in Europe and do not play their crossover material. The band release the EP Tales of the Asylum in 2008, then go through another line-up change in 2009 before a hiatus. Wakey Wakefield later reforms the group with himself as the only original member.

Members and label information

The listed members are Jon Murray, Pinch, Pete Wakefield and Mark Watson. The band is also associated with Candlelight Records.