Class of ’79: A live jukebox!

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Class of ’79 and Death Pop – Lewes Con Club, 25/04/2025

Are you in need of some punk power? This outfit, Class of ‘79 can deliver – and then some! Playing a set list built on iconic songs from the Punk and New Wave scene.

Ah yes, the heady days of the 1970’s, a decade as I recall of major upheavals. Yeah, yeah, yeah we had the hippies and prog rock, large festivals, drugs, and of course some peace and love thrown in. This led to and clashed with social and major industrial unrest, 4 day weeks, power cuts and large strikes. In came Punk Rock! Different drugs and the safe and boring “pop” culture was turned on its head.

Being a student way back then, was kinda tough at times, more often than not as I recall in the 70’s – sure wild parties, drugs but also, the poverty, the cold (Edinburgh), the terrible digs, hard work, the daily morning rush or fight for the bathroom. Then came the bands and music. We survived the Glam era and the notoriously long hot summer of 76. Punk and New Wave had well and truly arrived and had been running amok for a while. This era produced some fantastic music and Class of ’79 promised to fire up those memories!

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

These four guys blasting out classic punk tunes, for me anyway, also brings back further memories of mega pint university weekends and trips to local live music venues in and around Edinburgh.

Tonight in Lewes at The Con Club, we had a “super group” descend promising to reignite the memories of crowded gigs and punk tunes of the 70’s. This is not just a “tribute” outfit or a “covers band”, these guys have real class and a real rock and roll pedigree! Class of ’79 features members from The Rezillos,  Eddie & the Hot Rods, UK Subs, The Selecter, The Godfathers and a couple from Dept S.

Class of ‘79 were gonna take us back to Rock ‘N’ Roll High school! So, these guys have a history with some of the most ground-breaking bands of the punk era, and it’s testament to their excellence and the songs created that Class of ’79 came together to bring some of these songs back to life.

The Class of ’79 – The band:

Phil Thompson on guitar, vocals, shades and jumps: Phil is best known for his dynamic and flamboyant performances as guitarist with The Rezillos, Department S and has also recently been seen onstage as guitarist for Vapors.

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Simon Bowley on drums, vocals and shorts: Simon has been the driving force for punk pioneers Eddie & the Hot Rods for 28 years playing shows all over the world, also seen a while back drumming for Department S.

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Steve Crittall on guitar, vocals and shades: Steve has had a long and successful career with an impressive list of bands he has been in including The Godfathers, The Selecter, UK Subs, Ten Benson, Alvin Gibbs and the Disobedient Servants, and the reformed post Punk/New Wave warriors The Innocents.

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Mike Lea on bass and vocals : Mike spent many years with Manchester band Sugar Bullets who had a great underground following , he later joined post punk / new wave band Department S.

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Set

Well, I am not gonna give the full listing, no spoilers here! For the full set?, well I recommend you go catch them live.

The guys took to the stage, settled in to their position and Phil checked the pronunciation of Lewes, once this was confirmed “Good evening Lewes” and Class of ’79 let rip with the Clash favourite, a shot of nihilistic rage that is White Riot and swiftly into Buzzcocks Ever Fallen In Love. Damn! That was loud and fast, and brilliant! This salvo set the tone for what was to come. We were in for a treat!

A night of catchy, sharp, sometimes very short songs, followed with My Perfect Cousin and a stirring Pyscho Killer, with some top guitar play from Phil and Steve. Simon putting down the required fills and patterns on the kit as Mike shuffled our intestines with the thumping bass line. These guys are first class and deserve your attention.

Class of ’79 soon had the audience in their hands, as they fired through a smokin’ set of old punk tunes. Is Vic There? Was fired up, as Phil mentioned there were three previous members of Department S on stage! A fabulous rendition of The Specials Gangsters was next. It fitted perfectly with the proceedings. Silly Thing had the crowd joining in, some fine loud voices on display, almost…almost drowning out the band!

A Video! – Is Vic There?

Advisory – turn it up!

Earl Vince and The Valiants Somebodys Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In certainly fired up the crowd, as this one is on The Rezillos live set list. Classic stuff! And brilliantly brought to life by Class of ’79!

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Ruts classic thumper of a  tune Babylons Burning received an incendiary play through and then we had a Jam track, Tube Station at Midnight supported magnificently by the crowd with “whoooo – ahh” moments. Great fun!

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

With two members of Eddie and The Hot Rods in the venue, it was a real thrill to hear Do Anything You Wanna Do. The Rods Simon on drums and in the crowd was Richard Holgarth, the Rods guitarist. Sorry about the name mix up Richard! We chatted after the set about how much he had enjoyed the version of the song being played tonight. We talked about Barrie Masters and the last time I saw him at an Undercover festival in Brighton.

The guys left the stage briefly and returned for a triple tracker encore closing with another Pistols track Pretty Vacant.

A nice selection of T Shirts and music on the merch desk, I meant to get a T, but was so busy chatting with everyone and the desk had been dismantled by the time I got round to it! Next time…

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Some wonderful musical memories evoked tonight, covering some of those things I mentioned previously. Memorable times when we had no home phone let alone mobile phones!

A Video: Do Anything You Wanna DO!

(turn it up nice and loud)

Are you craving some punk rock classic power? This outfit, Class of ‘79 can deliver for you – and then some!

Class of ’79  aim to capture the spirit and sound of that era by playing a set list built on iconic songs from the Punk and New Wave scene. Every song was a class rendition enjoyed by the sizeable audience.

Class of ’79: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Class of 79 brought their punk rock/new wave live jukebox to Sussex and it was bloody brilliant! They captured the spirit of a generation. It was like being electrocuted with pure energy and pleasure. Mission accomplished fellas!

Class of ’79 can be found on FaceBook

Support: Death Pop

Death Pop: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Tonight support was provided by a local outfit Death Pop. There is little information about these guys that I could find anywhere, and they were new to me.

“Death Pop – Nice n Sleazy skuzzed up punk ‘n roll with a raw no frills approach that takes in stuff like The Misfits and The Damned…” The quiet atmosphere of The Con Club was absolutely disrupted by the noisy arrival of Death Pop.

The Death Pop guys breeze through a short set of their own punk/rock tunes. They certainly worked and sounded better after an impromptu sound check after the first two numbers into their set. An interesting mix of sounds topped off with some sax.

Once the guys were happy the beefier sound we got made me thinking of the Ruts, Anti Nowhere League or Angelic Upstarts.

They set about pumping up the crowd with their set which included the opener Stars, Angels, Ghosts and closing with a power charge Endless Nights.

Set complete, the atmosphere was now electric but nicely so, and alive. Ready for Class of ’79.

And Finally…

Huge thanks to CLASS OF ’79 and Death Pop.

Thanks to the team from Black Rabbit Productions keep up top date with these guys! BRINGING LIVE MUSIC TO BRIGHTON & SUSSEX. Thanks to Lewes Con Club

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

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