(c’77-’79) – Barnaby ‘Sniff’ Russel (guitar), Russ ‘Savage’ Russel (vocals), Jane Roberts (drums), and ? ‘Aggy’ ? (bass).

Revolt pumped out a Crisis-esque sound with a rougher edge. The Russel brothers were affiliated to the Socialist Youth League and played some RAR gigs in the Guildford area. They covered X-Ray Spex’s “Oh Bondage Up Yours”, changing Bondage to Tyndall in order to slag off the then leader of the National Front (nka: BNP).

Ex-Wombat, Sniff formed the band in July ’77 with Savage (ex-Crew), calling on Alex Binnie to play bass and Matt ? to drum. Their first two gigs at the Union Hall Bar at the University of Surrey, Guildford and the Roxy, London, both supporting Crisis, saw them billed as Youth. Binnie and the drummer left, and the band were renamed Revolt with Roberts grabbing the sticks and Aggy on bass. They continued with support slots for Crisis, Ellery Bops, Visions and others.

A second headline gig at the Sixth Form College, Woking was nearly cancelled after Savage was hospitalized by Teds; and subsequently he departed the band. Constant fan ‘Shag’, with three days to learn the set, stepped in and proceeded to insult everybody from the audience to the college’s principal. Revolt were the first band to be banned from Woking College.

The group lasted just two more gigs, disbanding after a gig at St. Catherines Church Hall in February ’79. At some point in ’79, Insect Robin the Cleaner, the drummer in Crisis, was temporarily replaced Jane Roberts, who performed a gig or two with the band but was deemed unsuitable and replaced by Luke Rendall. In late July, issue No.4, the June/July ’80 issue, of Down in the Street, featured the band along with Actifed, Crisis, and Matrix.

Gallery:

Revolt get a mention on the cover of Stuart Home’s ‘Down In The Street’ fanzine. Picture courtesy of John Hudson
Article on Revolt from ‘Down In The Street’ fanzine No.4. Picture courtesy of John Hudson