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Background

100,000 BodyBags shared their roots and members with several other bands and formed a marginal, though notable part in the movement known as the Hackney Bohemia.

 

 

The BodyBags Family Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funeral In Berlin (Mark 1) 1984 - 1986

 

From left to right:

Craig Bruzas (Guitar/Vocals) Gnats Curtis (Bass/Vocals) Steve Gatehouse (Drums/Vocals)

 

The band, Funeral In Berlin, is infamous amongst keen Manic Street Preachers fans. And we're talking the original Manics line-up here. Richey was yet to join and Flicker was playing bass. For a long time they were their biggest rivals. The bands gigged together regularly, with the Manics providing support. Places in the diary include Markham, Six Bells, and Blackwood's Little Theatre - the night of the infamous riot.

 

Recordings that exist:

 

Funeral In Berlin (Mark 2) 1986 - 1987

Bill 'Oi' Birch joined joined and for a short period FIB boasted two bass players. Again, there were various Manics supports under their original line-up.

 

Early practice Early FIB gig

 

Recordings that exist:

 

Funeral In Berlin (Mark 3) 1987 - 1988

Gnats Curtis was kicked out and replaced by 100,000 Bodybags co-founder Mickey Mills.

 

        

From left to right:

Mickey Mills (Guitar)

Bill 'Oi' Birch (Bass)

Steve Gatehouse (Drums/Vocals)

Craig Bruzas (Guitar/Vocals)

 

There were several gigs with the Manics, including the Brahms and Listz and The Legendary TJ's, both in Newport.

 

More pics from the time.

 

Recordings that exist:

 

 

Funeral In Berlin (Mark 4) 1988 - 1988

Gatehouse leaves. Steve Strange joins on drums.

 

The line-up:

There were several gigs with the Manics, including the Brahms and Listz and The Legendary TJ's, both in Newport.

 

 

 

Rape Of Lucretia (Mark 1) 1989 - 1990

Bill Birch left and was replaced on bass by Martyn Gingell.

 

 

The band change their name to Rape of Lucretia, taken from the title of an F.I.B song.

 

 

 

Rape Of Lucretia (Mark 2) 1990 - 1992

Brewer decided to share the vocals with a dedicated singer, Maria.

 

From left to right:

Craig Bruzas (Guitar/Vocals)

Mickey Mills (Guitar)

Maria (Vocals)

Martyn Gingell (Bass)

Steve Strange (sitting) (Drums/Vocals)

 

Two songs, Warriors and Waiting were recorded and produced by Mad Ant for a Various Artists album called Resurrection, A New Beginning on the Nottinghamshire Tower label (TOW001). This album also featured The Adams Family and sells among collectors of 90s Goth for between £20-30 pounds Sterling. There are limited quantities available for sale from the R.O.L members. Contact Craig for details and price.

 

Recordings that exist:

Brewer Mickey Maria Martyn Steve Strange
Rape of Lucretia photo session

 

 

 

 

 

Rape Of Lucretia (Mark 3) 1992 - 1993

Martyn, Maria, and Steve Strange leave. In come Fridge and CooperMan

 

          

From left to right:

Mickey Mills (Guitar)

Fridge (Bass)

CooperMan (Drums)

Craig Bruzas (Guitar/Vocals);

 

Recordings that exist:

 

 

Laura Is 1993

CooperMan and Fridge are kicked out and Simon Cullen comes in on drums. After practicing and writing songs over a six-month period, and various low-key gigs, the trio decide on a name change.

 

 

 

 

100,000 Bodybags  1993 - Present

 

The original line-up was:

The original line-up, taken at the Last of the New Wave sessions Brewer and his beloved Marshall stack

 

Recordings that exist:

 

 

The Hackney Bohemia

The Hackney Bohemia was, and is, a thriving underground arts movement. To hyperlink to the page listing bands that played a crucial part within the movement, click here. This is an extract from the BodyBags entry.

 

"100,000 BodyBags originated from Blackwood, the home of The Manic Street Preachers. This crew were very much around in the 1990's. Ginger, a Blackwood passion for weird and wonderful things, was a very ardent follower of the BodyBags. Wrote songs against war and great lyrics combined with an energetic sound provided fulfilling entertainment for those bored with the suit and tie. They played a storming gig at the Samuel Beckets in Stoke Newington in July 1994 and made a small impact on the Hackney Bohemia scene during that time. They were a crucial part of the Blackwood Bohemia and produced some wonderful sound recordings of their stuff, all with relevant and controversial statements. I think they really ought to be gigging at this moment, a breath of fresh air and would probably have something to say about Bush's War of Terror."

 

© Geoffrey Morgan (Reproduced with permission)

 

 

 

Brewer's History

 

 Brewer reacts ecstatically to news that Problem has entered the Lithuanian Dance charts.

 

Craig 'Brewer' Bruzas is the only member to have been in all previous forerunners to 100,000 BodyBags. Mad Ant's first memories were of a quiet, aloof person, almost arrogant. He knew Brewer through the Manic Street Preachers during the Funeral In Berlin days. When they finally met in person, to record the Rape of Lucretia songs destined for the Resurrection - New Beginnings LP, his opinion changed. Brewer liked to work within a close-knit circle and Mad Ant was called back several times to record R.O.L, Laura is, and 100,000 Bodybags. Over several years, a large collection of demos were made.

 

Brewer likes to shock and surprise. He is a great front-man for the band and has a certain quick wit and the ability to alienate a crowd within one sentence. Several occasions stand out.

Simon remembers a time the BodyBags played in a Battle of the Bands at the Savas Club in Usk.

 

Simon: "It was posh as hell in there. All the bands were poncing about in the changing room putting eyeliner on while we sat out front, with our feet on the stage, drinking cans we'd smuggled inside the bass drum. We were the first band on and were told off for not using the dressing room, and for climbing up over the front of the stage instead of using the proper entrance. Brewer spoke, "This first song is a love song. It's about a man who loves his daughter so much that he gives her one every night." The only sound from the audience were gasps of horror. Carol Decker's (T'Pau) husband was one of the judges and managed the band that eventually won the comprtition. We got thrown out for being 'noisy', and for Sean [Cullen] picking a fight with the winning band's bass player - while the guy was halfway through his set."
 

 

 

Simon's History

Simon Cullen will tell you that he joined his first band six months after he started playing drums. Brewer would tell you he joined his first band about six months BEFORE he started playing drums.

Simon: "My [first] band was called various things, mostly "bag of shite". But names I remember from the time are 'Von Trappe' (no, really) and 'Xposed'. They really were the most piss poor of piss poor bands."

 

The band name was a source of contention from the beginning.

 

Simon: "The original singer was Darren Jones, nicknamed Dazzy. He was a big Ozzy fan, so he wanted to call the band 'Dazzy Osbourne'. We played a gig in Fleur-de-Lys community centre to a hundred and fifty people. We knew five songs."

 

It was while he was in Xposed that Simon and his brother Shaun first met Mad Ant who turned up to record them on a PortaStudio four-track. Mad Ant knew the singer; Darren Jones had sung in his brother's first band. They knackered Mad Ant's PortaStudio by plugging an input straight into a 100-Watt amplifier's output. As Shaun plucked his bass string, the VU meter needle rose so fast that it bent. At least they paid him for his time and effort - unlike the Manic Street Preachers.


Simon: "I left them [Xposed] to join various Thrash and Death Metal bands from Newport and Cardiff. Then Brewer rang and the rest is Punk Rock history."

 

 

 

 

Orange Free State (OFS) 1991 - 1996

 

In the days when it was safe for grown men to play in playgrounds

From left to right: Mad A (Guitar), Merion "Sam" Samson (Drums), Someone who wishes to remain anonymous (Bass), Phil Gardiner (Vocals)

Mad Ant's last band before joining the BodyBags. They were very REM with elements of Morrissey and New Model Army.

The original line-up was:

Mad Ant's History

To read about Mad Ant's bands, demos, and encounters with the Manic Street Preachers, click here.