Spizzenergi

Spizzenergi
The band in 2013 (l-r): Luca Comencini, Spizz, Ben Lawson, Jeff Walker, Phil Ross
Background information
Also known as	Athletico Spizz 80 The Spizzles Spizzenergi 2
Origin	England
Genres	Punk rock, new wave
Years active	1979 (1979)–1982 (1982), 1987 (1987)–1988 (1988), 2007 (2007)–present
Labels	Rough Trade Records; A&M Records; Hobo Railway; Plastic Head
Associated acts	Spizz 77; Spizz Oil; Spizz and the Astronauties
Website	www.spizzenergi.com
Members	Spizz Jeff Walker Luca Comencini Phil Ross Ben Lawson
Past members	Pete Petrol Mark Coalfield Jim Solar Clive Parker Brian B. Benzine (real name Bryn Burrows) Dave Scott Simon Kinder Matt Broughton Lu Edmonds Mark Ferda Tony Piper CS Gas

Spizzenergi formed in the late 1970s, an English punk/new wave band led by vocalist / guitarist Spizz (real name Kenneth Spiers). The band changed its name every year, subsequent names including Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzoil and The Spizzles.

They are notable as the first band to top the newly created UK Indie Chart early in 1980 with their single "Where's Captain Kirk?" More than two decades after its release, it was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all time.

Spizz attended Arden School, Knowle, near Solihull, a comprehensive school in the West Midlands, and was inspired by the burgeoning punk rock movement. After a Siouxsie and the Banshees gig at Birmingham's Barbarellas club he jumped on stage and sang into the microphones on the back of which was given a recording deal. He was already performing (solo) by 1977. Spizz soon got together with like-minded guitarist Pete Petrol (real name Pete O'Dowd) with whom he released a few singles during the height of the punk's popularity. In 1978 Palmolive, drummer with The Slits, joined the band, then named Spizzoil, for a few gigs.

The band supported Siouxsie and the Banshees among others and later toured as a headline act in many countries of Europe.

Spizzenergi Line-up: August – December 1979.

For the first time, Spizz had a dedicated backing band, with a distinctively new wave sound. As Spizzenergi they became the first number one band in the newly formed UK Indie Singles Chart in January 1980. The BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel described "Where's Captain Kirk?" as... "the best Star Trek associated song". Spizz created the artwork for the single cover using felt pens. This was the peak of Spizz's commercial popularity.