Friday, June 24, 2011

A Touch of Hysteria


     Another great band that was greatly influenced by the Mob, but didn't last long, A Touch of Hysteria only released one five track demo and played just a handful of gigs before disappearing. A Touch of History was formed in February of 1982 and was The Pilgrim(Lager) on vocals, Fran on guitar, Alec on bass and Chris on drums. the name was taken from an art piece that Chris did about The Mob's first album(Witch Hunt) which he had titled 'A Touch of Hysteria'. They weren't very political, but wrote a lot about religion.


      The band began gigging right away playing their first gig on the road at the refectory at Lancaster University. Associations with The Mob, interest from Rob of 96 tapes and Chris's cousin being the drummer for the Apostles, led to the band becoming more well known. this almost led to a split single between them and the Astronauts on All The Madmen, but it never happened. Several gigs were planned, but a lot of them never happened also, but they still had a few enjoyable ones.


    In 1983, A Touch of Hysteria put out their one and only release which was recorded at the 8 track Linden Sound studio in Shap.The band took the tapes and sold them at gigs. One notable gig was when they played with Psycho Faction(it was Psycho Faction's last gig). By this time, members of the band began to take interests more into their own lives.


Three of the members wanted to go travelling, while Chris went on to art school and eventually met the right people there to form Lush. The band sort of stopped, and in 1996 Chris committed suicide during the best time of Lush's career.


     In 2006, the band reformed with all original members, but had someone else to fill in for the late Chris. They played the reunion gig for Chris. Later on the band reformed and now continues to play to this day.



"The Lords Crusade"

Come hence and take the cross
All western men of the faith.
Go forth and fight for thy lord.
Salvation of sin
shall be fair reward.

An army of saints,
but millions lie dead.
White armor white steeds,
but the banners blood red.

An army of saints,
but millions lie dead.
White armor white steeds,
but the banners blood red.

Come hence and take the cross
All Western self-seeking men.
Carnage, Bludgeon, forcefully gain yet
pardoned are the Christians
of the Lords Crusade.

An army of saints,
but millions lie dead.
White armor white steeds,
but the banners blood red.

An army of saints,
but millions lie dead.
White armor white steeds,
but the banners blood red.


"The Rulers"


The rulers of our time
Amassed before us
Their wracked bodies shake in
fearAs youth deliverance grows near

Rouse from your lair
And crush
societies harness
Our failing rules parting scene
Nothing to lose but your
chains

The rulers of our time
Amassed before us
Their wracked bodies shake in
fear
As youth deliverance grows near

Near!

Near!


"To Cross the Rubicon"


I sound you out the over and done with.
I serve you white feathers from yet to come.
They gained admittance through a chink in your armor.
anesthetized your brain and the battle was won.

Fly by night from the nearing new bloods.
To blurt our excuses will do you no good.
you challenged the system to avoid the draft.
Your days are numbered and that's a fact.

I call your gloomy carnival to a close.
Hark the new spirit coming to take up the cause.
Burst in like a lion creep out like a lamb.
Mr. Facing both ways
its you that I accuse.

I sound you out the over and done with.
I serve you white feathers from yet to come.

They gained admittance through a chink in your armor.
anesthetized your brain and the battle was won.
And the faces we saw were the faces we followed.
Without ever seeing what was before our eyes.
You kept on telling me you knew the answers.
but you never questioned, never tried.

I call your gloomy carnival to a close.
Hark the new spirit coming to take up the cause.
Burst in like a lion creep out like a lamb.
Mr. Facing both ways
its you that I accuse.

I sound you out the over and done with.
I serve you white feathers from yet to come.


"Death Cart"


Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Through the streets the death carts pass
as they've have done before.
Guilty men condemned to die
like cattle to their slaughter.

What crime could be so inhumane
that a man should die this way?
Fortis on the gallows
he must hand this dark & shameful day.

No pity from the throng who flocked the streets to scorn the rogues.
A head bent low upon his chest to hide the tears of shame.
To die in peace is all he wished
without the gallows threat.
But he had killed the one he loved
and now he has to swing.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

Come along, along with me.
Tap dance on nothing at the Tyburn tree.

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!

OH, GOD, FORGIVE THIS WRETCHED MAN!


Soon to come downloads:

Demo 1983
http://www.box.net/shared/gcned3cers2tvnmdrcf2
Demo 1983
http://www.box.net/shared/rqhyfya1ufy4juqqxmou
Live 200x Reunion gig
http://www.box.net/shared/48xsfaey2x7cd6mftrh2

5 comments:

  1. i heard that there will a discography cd coming out of A Touch of Hysteria

    ReplyDelete
  2. Top notch band that I've just heard of nearly 40 years too late for what.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Top notch band that I've just heard of nearly 40 years too late for what.

    ReplyDelete