The Apostles

The Apostles
The Apostles performing at the Spread Eagle, Southend on Sea, December 1981
Background information
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genres	Punk rock, anarcho-punk
Years active	1979–1990
Labels	Mortarhate Records
Associated acts	Academy 23, Innocent Bystander, Political Asylum, Oi Polloi, The Parkinsons, Geordie, Hellbastard, Sidewinder, Nero Circus, Heavy Water, The Demolition Company
Past members	Andy Martin William 'Bill' Corbett Julian Portinari Dan McIntyre Pete Byng-Hall Chris Low Dave Fanning Chris Widni Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty Sean Stokes Colin Murrell

The Apostles are an experimental punk rock band who developed within the confines of the 1980s anarcho-punk scene in the UK, but did not necessarily adhere to the aesthetics of that movement.

The Apostles were formed in the Islington area of London in 1979 by William 'Bill' Corbett (vocals), Julian Portinari (bass), Dan McIntyre (drums) and Pete Byng-Hall (guitar). This line-up of the group did not play any concerts, and only appeared in a small number of fanzines (including Paroxysm Fear and New Crimes) before Bill Corbett left the group.

Andy Martin joined as vocalist in summer 1981, and the group played their first concert on 22 September 1981. This line-up of the group then recorded an eponymous demo tape later that year.

The music of the group is generally characterised by a varied eclecticism which encompasses punk and Blues rock, with influences like Lemon Kittens, Five Or Six, and other avant-garde groups.

The remaining founder members of the group left the group in early 1982. Martin recruited Dave Fanning (ex-Innocent Bystander) as bass player, along with a revolving line-up of musicians - including John Soares, Kev Apostle, Flump, Chris Low (ex-Political Asylum) and Olly Bucket (Eat Shit) - in order to continue the group, who went on to play numerous concerts in the London area, and to record 8 demo cassettes and 4 7" singles between 1982 and 1984.

Andy Martin and Dave Fanning were joined in 1984 by Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty (later of Hellbastard, Sidewinder, Nero Circus and Heavy Water) and drummer Chris Widni which created a line-up which remained relatively stable (with the addition of Sean Stokes and Colin Murrell) until the groups demise at the end of the 1980s. The group recorded over 10 demo cassettes, 4 7" singles and 7 12" LP's between mid-1984 and 1990. Original guitarist Pete Bynghall re-joined the group in late 1988 for their last recordings and final concert (cf Live At The Academy).

Always highly critical of the seemingly inward looking anarchist movement of the times, the autonomous and extreme libertarian approach of The Apostles seemed to portray classic anarchism, as opposed to the conformity of many of their contemporaries, This led the group receiving respect from notable members of the anarcho-punk movement such as Conflict, who released three records by The Apostles, and Crass with whom the band co-operated with during the squatting of the Zig-Zag Club and during the time in which The Autonomy Centre and Centro Iberico anarchist venues operated. Both Martin and Fanning worked during this period at the Little @ printers - an anarchist printers located in the same building as the Autonomy Centre in Wapping. The Autonomy Centre was founded with proceeds from the Crass "Bloody Revolutions" single in 1980 where Martin was a keyholder prior to joining The Apostles.