The Gonads

The Gonads are a punk and oi group from London, England, led by Garry Bushell, who is the band’s only constant member. Bushell is known as a Sounds writer, a former manager of Cockney Rejects and The Blood, a principal figure behind the Oi! albums, a novelist, and a former writer for The Sun. The band forms in Charlton, in south-east London, and is associated with oi, street punk and punk rock.

History and membership

In their early 1980s period, the band’s backing players come from other Oi! scene groups, rather than remaining as a fixed line-up. Musicians who appear in or around the band include Steve Kent and Mark Brennan from The Business; J.J. Bedsore and Mark Brabbs from The Blood; Barry Damery from Infa-Riot; John Fisher from Combat 84; Tony Frater from Red Alert; Tony Feedback from the Angelic Upstarts; pianist Frankie Flame; and Ron Rouman, also known as Lol Pryor, who is described as a former manager of The Business and co-founder of Link Records with Brennan. The Cockney Rejects provide backing on “TNT”, which appears on the Total Noise #1 compilation EP.

The band later goes through numerous reformations. By the turn of the 1990s it has effectively stopped for a time, but it continues to reappear in later line-ups. The musicians listed as members are Garry Bushell, Tony Frater, Steve Kent, Tony Morrison and Steve Whale.

Style and songs

The Gonads are described as Oi!/punk pathetique also-rans, with a deliberately comic approach. They are said to have tried to be funny, and sometimes succeeded. Songs mentioned include “I Lost My Love To A U.K. Sub” and “S.E.7 Dole Day”, which is a cover of the Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.

Politics and activity

The band supports the Anti-Nazi League and plays gigs for Prisoners’ Rights. Bushell’s public reputation on the political right is linked in part to the Strength Thru Oi! controversy and his work at The Sun, but he is also described as having spoken out against fascism.

Album

Old Boots No Panties is identified as the band’s only album.