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Getting the Fear

Getting The Fear

Getting the Fear

Smells like Punk Spirit

Getting the Fear were amongst the first batch of UK teenagers to hatch after the punk revolution. Weaned on a diet of anarchy and revolt, they were taught to tear up rule books, defy definition and question authority. Punk had broken down the doors and paved the path to artistic freedom by rejecting the philosophic tenets that were drummed into musicians by the ‘men in suits’. There was no longer the need to shout-out-loud but still plenty to deplore and denounce.

It’s grim up north

Based in a bleak Northern Town called Bradford, Aki, Barry and Buzz were originally in band with Ian Astbury called Southern Death Cult. When Ian split to form The Cult, they were suddenly left without a singer. After a nine-month search they were introduced to Bee, who was looking for a band…
“At the time I’d left my Japanese band and was hanging out with the Psychic TV & Coil gangs. One night, while doing the door at London’s first ever Fetish club Skin2, a scruffy looking guy called Mark Manning (who’d later transform into Zodiac Mindwarp) mentioned that his mates in Bradford were looking for a singer for their band. I contacted them and went up to Bradford to have a rehearsal with them. After a subsequent session in their publisher’s London recording studio, we sealed the deal.” Bee

Same, same but different

Musically GTF were worlds apart. That diversity culminated in a melting pot, which often boiled over and sometimes created a curiously strange brew.
“Looking back I really admire them for letting me express stuff that they weren’t in tune with, which I suspect came from that fact that they although they didn’t agree with the sentiment they were inspired by the passion that drove it. ” Bee

Getting the Cash!

After a few months of writing songs and performing shows all over the UK, Getting the Fear secured a massive record contract with RCA Records. Elated at time, little did they know that it would mark the beginning of the end for the band. A few days after band had recorded their first single (Last Salute), the company’s Managing Director left and took half his staff with him. When the single was released the band had no A&R person, no press person and no TV or radio person to promote it. The only upside was that they managed to get a photograph of Charlie Manson’s embroidered waistcoat on the front sleeve without anyone realising - although that seems tame now, at the time it was unthinkable that a major record company would release it.

They had to break up the band…

Over the next few months GTF struggled to deal with the dysfunctional record company but eventually decided to disband. Aky & Buzz for a band called Joy and Bee & Barry formed Into A Circle.

Epitaph

In March 2021, Dais Records plan to release ‘Death is Bigger’, an album of Getting the Fear’s original recordings, in the USA.

Death is Bigger (1984-1985)

2021 Release

Getting the Fear - Last Salute
Last Salute

1988

Discography