Description

Original 1997 UK press

Instant Agony was an English punk rock act formed in Birkenhead in 1979. The Liverpool Four were Steve Hockey on vocals; Tabby on vocals, bass; Barry Bazza on drums and Anthony Ant on guitar. The band released 4 singles during their original time (1979-1984) together before things went a bit wrong for them. They seemed to make an impression that lasted with punk bands in far flung corners of the world acknowledging them as an influence. This is despite the fact that other than one 100 Club appearance they didn’t play outside the North West back in the day. In 1996 Tabby and Hockey relaunched Instant Agony and gigged solidly for another 10 years at least, managing further 7”s and two albums, this time without losing the tapes. They even achieved perhaps their greatest exposure when Hockey and Tabby featured in a Daily Mirror article on old punks entitled Pretty Ancient. Hockey wasn’t amused and reckons his quotes were made up, but then seeing as on their song Homicidal Media (comes as a B-side on this single) he sang about “shit and lies” perhaps he should’t have been surprised.

Track list:
1, No Pain No Gain
2. Homicidal Mania