Monday, June 13, 2011

Reality


     Kids are taught that they live in a perfect world where everything is fine and everyone will lead on to healthy, successful lives. The worst part about this false Utopian ideology is that the children are tricked into believing these lies as truths. Unknown to them, it is nothing compared to the harsh truth that is Reality. Reality chose their name based somewhat on the above ideas. In 1981, four kids from school (Headley 'Veng' Harnett on guitar and vocals, Dick, Gullet and Neut on bass) began the band as Alternative Imbecile.

     Soon after, the band recruited Louise who was from a different town and changed their name to Reality. The band began gigging around 1981 and 1982, playing a highlight event for Chelsea in King's Lynn and supporting Flux of Pink Indians in Norwich. The band depended on burrowed equipment, and like most 'Anarcho' bands, met with a lot of violent interruptions during several gigs. Reality also played a cover of 'The 1970's have been made in Hong Kong' by Flux of Pink Indians for their live set.


     After being together for only a year, the band released their first, very underrated and best release titled 'Blind to the Truth'(E.P.) all on their own, bypassing the demo stage, during 1982. Unfortunately for the band, Louise lost interested and left the band, followed by Neut who was replaced by Sam on bass. Reality had to shorten down to a trio, but they kept on going anyways, continuing to gig and create new material. In 1983, Sam was kicked out of the band because of personal issues, and replaced by Pete on bass. Reality was now ready to record their second 7"


     Connections with Conflict led to Reality releasing the 'Who Killed the Golden Goose?' single on Mortarhate in 1984. In an interview Steve said " It was about people who loved money and then fell on hard times. Kind of like a modern parable! It was one of a couple songs where the lyrics were written by friends; kind of democratizing the band, letting other people who weren't in bands get a look in. Another example was later on we always let one particular friend come on stage and sing 'Acceptable Death Loss' as part of our encore. He loved it."

     Around 1984, the band added a lead guitarist, and the band continued to play until around 1985. Soon afterwards, the band began working on a new album, but for some unknown reason, it never happened. The last release was a demo recorded in 1984. The continuing disillusionment of the 'Anarcho' scene around the mid-eighties led the the unfortuante demise of Reality.



Something that bothers me about this band are the tracks 'Acceptable Death Loss' and Death to Morality'. If you follow the way they are listed on the 'Blind to the Truth' E.P. then you would see that  the overground compilation 'Anti-Society' took the track 'Death to Morality' and titled it 'Acceptable Death Loss'. this is just a thought, I am not sure what went one.


"Nato"


Spending all our money
on a useless cause.
No representation in
a paranoid Clause.

Nato: Bombs and weapons.
Nato: Deformed babies.
They wont stop with a cold war 'cos
what they want is war with the pact of Warsaw

Defending our country but
not defending us...
They'll keep us from the commies
but not from radio-active dust.

One mad general
is all that they need.
Make the peasants
lie down and bleed.

Sadists in uniform are
far above sin
Hello Ronald Reagen
Come on... Welcome in...

One day a fuse will blow
and then our computers will show
non-existant missiles on their way
and it's the end of humanity today.

Nato: Bombs and weapons.
Nato: Deformed babies.
They wont stop with a cold war 'cos
what they want is war with the pact of Warsaw


Nato: Bombs and weapons.
Nato: Deformed babies.
They wont stop with a cold war 'cos
what they want is war with the pact of Warsaw


President Reagen will not apologize
and his ego will grow in size.
A nuclear theatre war will be encurred.
So much for NATO, it's just turd...

Just turd, turd, turd, turd, turd.


"Death of Morality"


The sea is red with the blood of our cousins
dying in pain in the name of humanity.

But if it makes money it's conveniently forgot.
The pain and suffering of a dying whale!
But if it makes money it's conveniently forgot.
The pain and suffering of a dying whale!

They kill them for lipstick
that's morally corrupt
But then nobody
really gives a fuck!

The pain of a mother
dying beside her young
before her blubber is sliced from her flack

Well if it makes money it's conveniently forgot.
The pain and suffering of a dying whale!

They kill them for lipstick
that's morally corrupt
But then nobody
really gives a fuck!

They kill them for lipstick
that's morally corrupt
But then nobody
really gives a fuck!


"Acceptable Death Loss"


They ram a needle
up its arse.
What's in the syringe
you must not ask...
Dieing minutes later
with milky blood-shot eyes,
another possible nerve gas
has been devised.

At Porton down: They love pain and fear.
Their acceptable death loss is thousands a year.
At Porton Down: They love war and strife.
They manufacture war with an animals life.

They don't give a damn as
the innocent animals die.
While the whole wide world
just turns a blind eye.
Nerve gas was too nice,
you died too quickly.
and now for their war games
they want something more sickly.

At Porton down: They love pain and fear.
Their acceptable death loss is thousands a year.
At Porton Down: They love war and strife.
They manufacture war with an animals life.

At Porton down: They love pain and fear.
Their acceptable death loss is thousands a year.
At Porton Down: They love war and strife.
They manufacture war with an animals life.



At Porton down: They love pain and fear.
Their acceptable death loss is thousands a year.
At Porton Down: They love war and strife.
They manufacture war with an animals life.


They ram a needle
up its arse.
What's in the syringe
you must not ask...
Dieing minutes later
with milky blood-shot eyes,
another possible nerve gas
has been devised.


Soon to come downloads:

Blind to the Truth E.P. 1982(Highly Recommended)
http://www.box.net/shared/6n8kz9lpg5e220z9rfhh
Who Killed the Golden Goose? E.P. 1984
http://www.box.net/shared/96hu4jtbfyvuydcxbz4f
Demo tracks 198?
http://www.box.net/shared/9mm925zaz18i1df4ip52
Rehearsal tapes 198?
http://www.box.net/shared/9aj01mz9sr9gnro6j8o6
Live 198?
http://www.box.net/shared/riigru5khm1xjy8jerbr
Best loved Hit's Demos and live tape 1981-1985
(One of my friends lost the cable that connects the cassette player to the computer so I can't do this one)

5 comments:

  1. Just an update for you Im Sam and i wasnt kicked out the band, lol , they didnt want anyone to know but i was in the R.A.F. and i got the chance to go to the carribean for 6 months. learned to love reggea when i was there.

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    Replies
    1. Good to hear that you’re still about, I remember you teaching me to play Warhead by the U.K. Subs

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  2. I see. Thanks for the clarification. I'll edit that bit later on today.

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  3. nice post! greets from Rasensprenger-Prolet

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  4. if Veng reads this i remember reality well i was good mates with john m from the same village,If i remember right Tox (vengs brother) went on to manage a few well known punk bands i think peter and the test tube babies were one band but at my age memory is flaky

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