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Autumn Poison were an anarcho punk group from Southend, and were formed around the 'core' members of Graham Burnett, Sheena Fulton and Paul Brown. They existed between 1980 - 1985 and played many concerts in and around Southend, often with the like minded Kronstadt Uprising. When they first formed, they were originally called Enola Death, but soon changed their name to Autumn Poison. Graham had switched to Vocals after previously playing drums in Stripey Zebras, whom had played many great shows in 1980 around the area, especially at Focus and The Zero 6. The band were an important
part of the 'cassette culture' of the 1980's (Graham ran his own label
- New Crimes Tapes that was affiliated with his fanzine, New Crimes) and
released two key cassettes on New Crimes Tapes - the first 'Songs of Anger,
Songs of Hope', was originally issued with a free lyric booklet and badge
and was a good document of the first phase of the bands career, featuring
songs such as 'Police Force', 'The Sun Says' and 'Fox Hunting'. With the
key line up of Graham and Sheena on Vocals, Julian Ware-Lane on Guitar,
Steve on Bass and Kevin Hickling on Drums, the band played a lot of concerts
in the period, often in conjunction with the Kronstadt Uprising, many
of which were benefits for the CND or local Animal Rights groups. Key
shows of the time would have included The Thorpedene Community Centre
gig with Kronstadt and Hagar The Womb on the 14.08.82, a local headliner
at The Cliff Hotel with The Committee on the 06.08.83 and a gig at The
Grand Hotel in Leigh with The Omega Tribe and Youth in Asia on the 25.09.83. After Autumn Poison disbanded, Graham and Paul would go on to occasionally collaborate under the title of 'Love Over Law', and release several cassette albums in the late 1980's early 1990's. Graham had also run the 'Pritty Toons Press' for several years, producing local fanzines such as his own, New Crimes, as well as Necrology and Confidential Waste, and nowadays runs permaculture workshops and various eco-friendly schemes. (See links page for details). Paul Brown had a brief tenure in Kronstadt Uprising, and in 1984 played with Steve Pegrum in local band 'The Children of the Revolution'. He continues to play and teach guitar. Kevin co-ran 'SLAB' in the mid '80's (Southend Libertarian Anarchist Broadsheet) and still drums. |
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Discography 'Kitchen Sink Politics' - Cassette Album (New Crimes Tapes 1984) 'Bullshit Detector Volume #4' - Features The Autumn Poison song 'Utopia, a New World in our Hearts' - LP (Resistance Productions 1984) |