How many punks bands do you know of are made up of just one drummer and one vocalist? The Epsilons(name taken from the estate near their home) were the only 'Anarcho Punk' band that did just that. As simple as it may seem, their 'rap like' style of singing backed up by catchy drum beats became a great way for them to spread their words of wisdom and it was all received very well by most who saw them. Eventually, D & V became the name everyone knows them by now, but it was only a description standing for drums and vocals(John Peel accidentally made people think it stood for diarrhea and vomit at some point). The Epsilons were Jeff Antcliffe on vocals and his friend Andrew Paul Leech that lived in the same neighborhood on drums.
Jeff admits that the inspiration that made him wake up and become a vocalist was another vocalist by the name of Tapper Zuki, who was part of the Jamaican DJ scene. Jeff listened to everything he said, studied the way he delivered his lyrics, and sang them on his own as practice. Other notable influences include Joe Strummer from the Clash, Crass, Annie Anxiety, Flux of Pink Indians, Chumbawamba and Adrian Sherwood. D & V played their first gig in early 1980 with The Eratics, Epileptics, Rubella Ballet and several others at the Grimaldi squat in Pentonville Road, London. People were confused at first, and wondered if their guitarist and bassist hadn't show up, not aware that they never had either.
In 1982, a cassette release was recorded for Rob's 96 tapes label in Stoke Newington titled 'The New Beginning'. This led to the band appearing at the infamous Zig Zag squat gig with several other bands in December of that same year. D & V had gotten lucky earlier and managed to see Crass with help from one of Crass's guitarists named Andy Palmer. They saw Crass as an inspiration, people who had very similar beliefs as their own. This followed with a connection with Crass and their Crass Records label.
D & V entered Southern Studios in October of 1983 and recorded their first single with the aid of John Loder and Penny Rimbaud of Crass. It was called 'The Nearest Door' and took people by surprise with it's simple yet inspiring songs.
It wasn't until 1984 that D & V released anything else. Further connections with Crass led to them recording a full length titled 'Inspiration Gave them Motivation to move on out of their Isolation'. The name of the title was to describe what the band had just gone through, since they had left their home and were welcomed by several other bands that they eventually ended up touring with. As usual, violence plagued the band, and on one occasion, Andy had to drum for Flux of Pink Indians, since Martin had been beaten up and sent to the hospital.
In 1986, D & V released their final record titled 'Snare' on Flux of Pink Indian's One Little Indian label before splitting during the summer of 1986. Jeff just decided to stop doing it and felt the band had gone full circle. He ultimately left the U.K. scene and went on to 'Walk the Earth' eventually settling in Australia. his lyrics were very direct as he would often scream at the audience "You're all bleeding sheep! Wake up and get a life!"
Sing sweet songs. Sing sweet songs. Sing sweet songs.
Sing sweet songs. Sing sweet songs. You sing sweet songs.
Sing sweet songs.It’s gone on too long.
You sing sweet songs love and dreams,
this tired world’s wearing out.(out, out, out)
You sing songs about love and dreams.
Your world’s wearing out(out,out,out)
You sing sweet songs love and dreams,
this tired world’s wearing out.(out, out, out)
You sing songs about love and dreams.
Your world’s wearing out(out,out,out)
Harmonies irrelevance, irrelevance, irrelevance!
Harmonies irrelevance, irrelevance, irrelevance!
Downloads:
The New Beginning Cassette 1982 96 Tapes
http://www.box.net/shared/q39xdt35zxfvf0sz30uu
The Nearest Door 7" 1983 Crass Records
http://www.box.net/shared/71if8guxepg5nkk5n6ox
Various Artists Rising Free Tape 1983
http://www.box.net/shared/hplz0ol1qanq19ayoqmk
Inspiration Gave them the Inspiration to move on out of their Isolation 1984
http://www.box.net/shared/r5mtkyb3syj3fdk4r6p9
Peace News Benefit Live at Marcus Garvey Centre, Nottingham 2/5/1984
http://www.box.net/shared/8mncedfbndoqv04pjozy
Snare 1986
http://www.box.net/shared/m5k1jtc4pcus13754gzq
