Punishment of Luxury

Punishment of Luxury

Punishment of Luxury, also known as Punilux, is a Newcastle upon Tyne group associated with new wave, post-punk and punk. The band forms in December 1976 in north-east England and has roots in left-wing English fringe theatre groups. Its name comes from an 1891 painting by Giovanni Segantini in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Recording history

The group releases its first single, Puppet Life, on Small Wonder in June 1978. In 1979 it signs to United Artists, which issues the single Jellyfish/Engine Of Excess and the album Laughing Academy. The following year it releases Secrets/Brain Bomb. These records receive critical acclaim and sell well.

After an extensive European tour, the band enters the studio for a second album, a concept record titled Gigantic Days. United Artists is then taken over by EMI, which drops the group before the album is completed. Punishment of Luxury later releases two albums on Red Rhino: Seven in 1983 and Feels Like Dancing Wartime in 1984. Gigantic Days is eventually released on CD in 1998.

Personnel

A Peel Session line-up in August 1978 includes Brian Bond on lead vocals, Jeff Thwaite on drums, Malla Cabbala on guitar and vocals, Nevil Luxury on lead guitar and vocals, and Jimmy Giro on bass and vocals. The group’s listed members are Brian Bond, Les Denham, Mark Duncan, Jimi Giro, Red Helmet, Malakabala, Nevilluxury and Steve Sekrit.