The Smirks were an English new wave band from Manchester who played from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Although they failed to meet with commercial success, they built a small but loyal base of fans.
They are remembered mostly for a quirky vocal style and for a curious campaign Smirks against Travolta, simultaneously a homage and a parody of Rock Against Racism. The Smirks session for the John Peel show was recorded on 19 April 1978 and broadcast a week later.
Despite being more of the new wave/power pop genre, they did support Killing Joke and Joy Division at the ULU gig in London, 1980.
Their acrimonious dispute with Beserkley Records, for whom they recorded an album that was never released, is also noteworthy and was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary. The album was finally due to be released in October 2007, but was delayed by the sale of Sanctuary Records to Universal Music and is still awaiting release.
Links to Peel[]
Peel discovered the group in 1978 and had them do a session for his show during that year. He would play further material from the group in 1979, as well as in the 80's.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1978-04-19. First Broadcast: 26 April 1978. Repeated: 12 May 1978
- Fool / Banking With The Bankers / Ok Uk / The Island Sea
Other Shows Played[]
- 04 June 1979: Angry With Myself (EP - American Patriots) Smirksongs
- 09 June 1979 (BFBS): New Music (7" - To You) Smirksongs
- 13 June 1979: To You (Single) Smirksongs
- 1980
- 15 April 1980: New Music (7" - To You) Smirksongs
- 1986
- 01 March 1986 (BFBS): To You (7") Smirksongs