Darkness & Jive are a post-punk, post-industrial indie band from the North East of England (Wallsend on the east side of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne). The band was formed in 1981 by 3 school pals: Paul Johnstone guitar and lead vox, Gary McKenzie, synth and keyboards and Tony Kennedy bass guitar with a drummer imported from Northern Ireland, Steve Rainey (formerly the guitar player in Northern Irish punk band, The Androids). Steve sadly died of cancer in 2015.
The band never had the chance to perform throughout the UK on any major national tour. Most of the gigs were played in the North East of England and Yorkshire with some excursions into Scotland and one slot supporting the Lotus Eaters at the famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London. The band also supported Stiff Little Fingers at Newcastle City Hall on the SLF tour of 1983.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played tracks from the group in the 80's and had them do two sessions for his radio programmes. In 2001, he revisited the band, by playing their track, 'Hooked On You' on his 13 March 2001 show.
Sessions[]
Darkness & Jive - Peel Session 1982
Their both sessions are available on John Peel Sessions (CD, 2011, Not On Label)
1. Recorded: 1982-10-06 First Broadcast: 26 October 1982. Repeated: 11 November 1982
- Death In Venice / Guys And Dolls / Candle / Rage In A Cage
2. Recorded: 1983-06-01. First Broadcast: 08 June 1983. Repeated: 05 July 1983
- Shake Down / Speak Clearly / Jigsaw / Victims
Other Shows Played[]
- 1982
- 06 October 1982: Tarzan (b/w 7" - Hooked On You) Red Rhino
- 13 October 1982: Tarzan (b-side 'Hooked On You' single) Red Rhino (JP: "They're bridging the considerable gulf between Adam Ant and Marc Bolan.")
- 20 October 1982 (BFBS): Tarzan (7" - Hooked On You) Red Rhino
- 31 October 1982 (BFBS): Tarzan (7" - Hooked On You) Red Rhino
- 1983
- 22 March 1983: Death In Venice (v/a 7" - Better Than A Poke In The Eye...) Lula Music
- 28 March 1983 (BBC World Service): Death In Venice (v/a 7" EP - Better Than A Poke In The Eye...) Lula
- 01 May 1983 (BFBS): Furnace (7" - Furnace / Guys 'n' Dolls) Red Rhino
- 15 May 1983 (BFBS): Furnace (7" - Furnace / Guys 'n' Dolls) Red Rhino
- 18 May 1983: Furnace (7" - Furnace / Guys 'n' Dolls) Red Rhino
- 01 October 1983 (BFBS): Furnace (7" - Furnace / Guys 'n' Dolls) Red Rhino
- 2001
- 13 March 2001: Hooked On You (7") Red Rhino