Healthy Junkies

Healthy Junkies are a UK rock group formed in late 2010 by singer Nina Courson and guitarist Phil Honey-Jones. Their sound combines punk rock with grunge, psychedelic rock, new wave, garage rock and goth, with theatrical elements in their live presentation.

Formation and line-up

Nina Courson and Phil Honey-Jones meet after Courson moves to London in 2007, having left Paris in her late teens. Honey-Jones has previously played guitar in the psychedelic rock band HiroshAmour. The two immediately start working together and later complete the band with a bass player and drummer. In later line-ups, Adam Lewis plays drums; he has previously been in HiroshAmour and Breed 77. Dave Whitmore also plays drums after being discovered while performing in a Nirvana tribute band.

Background and themes

Courson’s early life in the account of the band includes running away from home at 14, being found in Paris, and later receiving help from Mo Mo, who introduces her to glamour and the music of David Bowie. The band name is presented as a reaction against the use of psychiatric medication such as Prozac and fluoxetine, and the group’s lyrics and image connect to ideas of rebellion, mental health and self-expression.

Releases and recording

Healthy Junkies release the single “No Control” and the album Delirious Dream, which is issued through Cargo Records. Their material is described as drawing on their punk and grunge influences while retaining a psychedelic edge.

Live activity

The band tour across the UK, Europe, Ireland and the United States, building a following through regular live shows. In 2018 they play the Arena stage at Rebellion Punk Festival in Blackpool, in front of an audience of more than 1,000. They also support a number of established punk acts, including The UK Subs, GBH, The Rezillos, Theatre of Hate, Sham 69, The Professionals and The Damned.

Camden event work

Courson and Honey-Jones also run a monthly Camden night called Punk and Roll Rendezvous. The event is free, books at least one act from outside London, and sometimes includes international bands. It leads to the launch of a three-day festival in 2017 and another in 2018. The project is presented as a way of bringing people together and encouraging self-expression without prejudice.