View source for Demented Are Go

{{Short description|Welsh psychobilly band}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Demented Are Go
| image           = File:20170915 Demented are Go 021.jpg
| caption         = Live at Goldmark's in Stuttgart, Germany, 2017
| landscape       = yes
| image_size      = <!--(Only use for images smaller than 220 pixels)-->
| origin          = [[Cardiff]], Wales
| genre           = [[Psychobilly]], [[punk rock]]
| years_active    = 1982–1995, 1996–present
| label           = Crazy Love Records,<ref name=pt/> [[People Like You Records|People Like You]] (Germany),<ref name=TXP/> Link Records, ID Records<ref name=pt/>
| associated_acts = [[The Phenomenauts]], Hellbillys
| website         = http://www.dementedarego.de/
| current_members = Mark "Sparky" Phillips (vocals)<br/>Holger Dag (guitar)<br/>Grischa (bass)<br/>Gaybeul Gualdi (drums)<ref name=BHN/>
| past_members    = Gavin Evans<br>Dick Thomas<br>"Lex" Luthor Taylor<br>Mike Pannell<br>Stan Standen<br>Philip Doyle<br>Tony Biggs<br>Ray Thompson<br>Graeme Grant<br>Billy Favata<br>Paul "Choppy" Lambourne<br>Kelvin Klump<br>Tony "Strangy" Gilmore<br>'Rockin' Rick Tanner<br>Ant "The Horse Man" Thomas<br>Criss Damage<br>Ed Fleming 
}}

'''Demented Are Go''' ('''DAG''' aka '''Demented Are Go!''') are a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[psychobilly]] band that was formed around 1982 near [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]].<ref name=pt/> They were one of the earliest in the initial wave of bands to mix [[punk rock]] with [[rockabilly]], and as a result, are considered to be highly influential to the psychobilly scene.<ref name=TXP/><ref name=UKFest/>
The band often claims their name originated from the phrase "[[Demon]] [[Teddy Boy|teds]] are go!" as an adaptation of the phrase "Thunderbirds are go!" from the ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'' TV series. Psychobilly is often associated with [[horror (genre)|horror]].

==Career==

===Formation===

Demented Are Go formed in [[Penarth]], [[South Wales]], near Cardiff. Initially, the band was disorganized, with Mark Phillips or "Sparky"<ref name=TXP/> playing drums, Ant Thomas singing, Richard Jones playing [[bass (instrument)|bass]], and Steve Jordan, playing [[rhythm guitar]] with a gold-top [[Les Paul]]. The band's image was represented by Jones' red dyed hair and Jordan's leather trousers. Dick Thomas, a veteran musician of the punk-pub rock circuits,<ref name=pt/> joined the band in early 1983 and proceeded to reshuffle the line-up (Thomas moved to drums and Phillips sang vocals), taught the bass player how to play his instrument, and, otherwise, consolidated the overall band.

===Early recordings===
After six weeks of rehearsals, the band's first gig was third on the bill to a line-up of [[Crass]]-type [[anarchism|anarchist]] bands at the Sea Lion in [[Penarth]] and was met with good reception. Several years of playing everything from [[working men's club]]s in the [[Rhondda Cynon Taff|Rhondda]] to the [[red-light district]] in [[Hamburg]], turning up at the Klub Foot twenty minutes after they were due on stage.

They recorded two songs for their first release on a 1984 compilation, ''Hell's Bent on Rockin''' from [[Nervous Records]],<ref name=pt/> a well-known [[record label]] in the [[psychobilly]] scene. At this point Jones and Jordan Had been replaced by Gavin Evans on guitar and Ed Fleming on bass. These tracks were engineered and co-produced by Paul "Doc" Stewart at Village Way Recording. Evans and Fleming left in late 1984, the line-up then incorporated multi-instrumentalist Ray Thompson, who had been working with Dick on various side projects since 1983.

===''In Sickness & In Health''===
In 1986, they released their first album, ''[[In Sickness & In Health]]'', on ID Records,<ref name=pt/> which was recorded in less than 24 hours with 90% first takes, with Ray Thompson on bass. The core members at this time remained Mark, Ant and Dick.

The band moved to [[London]] in 1986 in an attempt to be closer to regular work. Ray's departure left a difficult hole to fill, which resulted in what became known as the "Month of a Thousand Bass Players", it was actually closer to a year, which involved getting ANYONE who knew how to play a Bass to fill the slot.<ref name=TXP/> Dick left in 1987, after continuing frustration with the direction which the band was taking. Undeterred, the then new double-bass player and songwriter, Graeme Grant, recruited Lex "Luther" (at Dick's last Klubfoot gig)<ref name=TXP/> to replace Dick, who incidentally coached Lex to bring him up to speed with the band's material. In 1988, this was followed with the second full-length album, ''Kicked Out of Hell'' that reached high positions in the "[[Independent music|indie]]" charts, in both the United Kingdom (UK) and abroad.

The band began extensively touring [[Europe]] and gained both a [[psychobilly]] and punk rock following.<ref name=TXP/> At this point, the lead singer, Phillips, started frequently using [[psychoactive drug]]s,<ref name=pt/> such as LSD ([[lysergic acid diethylamide]]), and alcohol.<ref name=pt/> Graeme and Luthor both left the band at the end of 1989,<ref name=pt/> with the latter rejoining the band shortly after. Billy Favata replaced Graeme on double bass,<ref name=pt/> but later moved to America while Graeme would eventually return to bass duties in 1992.<ref name=pt/>

===''The Day the Earth Spat Blood''===
In 1989, the band was back in the studio with a new line-up. Joining Sparky and stalwart drummer Ant, were Mike Pannell on guitar, Billy Favata on double bass and Simon Cohen on fiddle. When the sound engineer asked, "Can I hear your first song?" he was greeted with the reply, "Ok. We're just going to write it." The result – written, recorded and mixed in three days – was the EP ''The Day the Earth Spat Blood'' (Link Records).[1] The album has since become something of an underground classic with Cohen's cover artwork being used by footwear brand Dr. Martens to adorn a range of boots in 2016 – some twenty-seven years after the album was first released. The album was a departure from Demented's first two psychobilly albums and fused elements of rockabilly, hard rock, bluegrass and experimentation. Consequently, the group released the album under the title 'Demented Are Go presents – The Demon Teds.' The volatile line-up performed around Britain and played dates in Holland and Germany. Pannell left in 1990, going on to play with Something Shocking (Fury Records), Rose Tinted Spectacles, Soulteros and the Royal Scumbag Orchestra (Heroe de la Guitarra Records).

===''Orgasmic Nightmare''===
The group too then signed to psychobilly label Fury Records in 1991, writing and recording their next full-length album ''Orgasmic Nightmare'', which contained input from their former bassist. Demented would tour almost constantly for the next two years.

===''Tangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of Hell''===
[[File:Dementedarego 1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Demented Are Go's singer's makeup shows the band's horror-film aesthetic.]]
A second album for Fury Records, ''Tangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of Hell'', was recorded in 1993,<ref name=pt/> followed by two tours in Japan.<ref name=pt/> The band was infamous for Sparky showing up to Japanese performances naked and doing strange things with a rubber fish.<ref name=pt/> During a tour in Germany in spring 1995, the band broke up due to Sparky's deteriorating mental state.<ref name=pt/>

===Reformation – ''I Wanna See You Bleed!''===
In 1996, Demented Are Go re-formed to release the EP ''I Wanna See You Bleed!'' for Hell Razor Records (this would be Graeme's last recording with the band). The band then toured the west coast of the United States|U.S. in 1997. They would again be known more for their wild stage show, which included on-stage sex with a vacuum cleaner.<ref name=pt/> At the end of 1997, Graeme Grant left the band, due to other commitments, but before leaving, he recruited Stan Standen on guitar to replace Lex.<ref name=pt/>

===''Hellucifernation''===
The band released the full-length album, ''[[Hellucifernation]]'', on Crazy Love Records in 1999.<ref name=pt/> However, a European tour for the record's release was cancelled due to the re-emergence of Phillips' mental health issues.<ref name=pt/> The band considered breaking up, but were offered a headline gig in [[New Jersey]], United States (US), and decided to give Phillips a second try.<ref name=pt/> Upon arrival in the US, Phillips first caused trouble at a hotel by cross-dressing and partaking in illicit drug use;<ref name=pt/><ref name=TXP/> he then set fire to a surrounding [[woodland]] at the [[music venue]].<ref name=pt/><ref name=TXP/> After the band's [[soundcheck]], the members visited a nearby [[shopping mall]], where Phillips pinched a young girl's behind;<ref name=pt/> as she was 16 years old, Phillips was consequently arrested, in a silver dress and purple boots, and charged with molesting a minor.<ref name=pt/> Unable to pay the [[US dollar|USD]]$60,000 bail amount, the rest of the band returned to England, leaving Phillips in custody in the US.<ref name=pt/>

===''Hellbilly Storm''===
After serving a month in prison and payment of a US$100 fine, Phillips returned to England.<ref name=pt/> Lex Luther re-joined the band, along with drummer Criss Damage and Paul "Choppy" Lambourne on double bass.<ref name=pt/> The band played two US tours, recorded a live album (with Kelvin Klump replacing Lambourne on double bass), ''...Live at the Galaxy'', on Crazy Love Records,<ref name=pt/> and appeared at numerous European festivals.

In May 2002, Demented Are Go! performed at the first Wreckers Ball festival in Southern California. Following the festival, Demented Are Go! went on a two-week tour with [[The Kings of Nuthin']], booked by psychobilly label Hairball 8 Records to promote the ''Kicked Outta Purgatory'' compilation. During the summer of 2003, Phillips was arrested numerous times on tour, resulting in further line-up changes. The band continued touring, including a successful Japanese tour and another tour of the US; the US tour was led by Phillips, and included psychobilly scene stalwarts, Tony "Strangy" Gilmore (double bass) and Philip "Doyley" Doyle (guitar), until September 2005.<ref name=pt/><ref name=TXP/> Following the US tour, the band members separated again.

During a month-long break, a new album, ''[[Hellbilly Storm]]'', was released on German label, People Like You Records. The line-up on this recording was Phillips, Strangy, Doyley, Criss Damage, Stan, Lex Luther, and special guests, Charlie Harper and Country Woman.

At the beginning of a 2006 US tour, Phillips was detained by US immigration authorities due to his criminal history; he was subsequently sent back to England. Following the cancellation of the US tour, Demented Are Go played shows in Europe.

In 2012 the album ''Welcome back to Insanity Hall'' was released, featuring the line-up of Phillips (vocals), Criss Damage (drums) with newcomers Holger Grothe Dag (guitar) and Grischa Dördelmann (double bass).  In 2013, Criss Damage would be replaced on drums by Gaybeul Gualdi.

==Discography==
[[File:Dementedarego2.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Grischa on upright bass, Dresden 2006]]

===Studio albums===
*''[[In Sickness & In Health]]'' (ID Records – NOSE 9) – 1986
*''Kicked Out of Hell'' (ID Records – NOSE 21) – 1988
*''The Day the Earth Spat Blood'' (Link Records – LINK MLP 084) – 1989
*''[[Orgasmic Nightmare]]'' (Fury Records – F3016) – 1991
*''[[Tangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of Hell]]'' (Fury Records – DAGLP1) – 1993
*''Hellucifernation'' (Crazy Love Records) – 1999
*''Hellbilly Storm'' (People Like You Records) – 2005
*''Welcome back to Insanity Hall'' (People Like You Records) – 2012
*''Psychotic Mutilation'' (Sunny Bastards Records) – 2025

===Singles===
* "Holy Hack Jack" (12" single) (ID Records – EYE T8) – 1986
* "Marijuana" (7" single) (Fury Records) – 1993
* "German Tour Single" (Limited edition 7" of 1000 copies) (Pin Up Records – Pin Up 95032) – 1995
* "I Wanna See You Bleed!!" (10" single) – Scandal Records 1996
* "Demons of the Swamp" (Limited edition 7" of 1000 copies) (Krueger Records – BZH666) – 1997
* "Daddy's Making Monsters" (7" single) (Crazy Love Records) – 1999
* "Hotrod Vampires" / "Out of Control" (7" single) (People Like U Records) – 2005
* "Lucky Charm" / "Another thing coming" (7" single) (People Like U Records) – 2012

===Compilations===
*''The Best of Demented Are Go'' (Dojo Records) – 1993
*''Satan's Rejects 1: The Very Best of Demented Are Go'' (Anagram Records) – 1997
*''Satan's Rejects 2: The Very Best of Demented Are Go'' (Harry May Records) – 1999
*''I Wanna See You Bleed!!'' (Remastered with live and demo tracks) (Hell Razer Records) – 2000

===Live albums===
*''Sick Sick Sick'' (ID Records – NOSE 15) 1987
*''Live and Rockin'' (Link Records – LINL LP 116) – 1990
*''Go Go Demented'' (Link Records – LRMO 5) – 1990
*''Live in Japan'' (Tombstone Records – TOMB-DISK 705/2) – 1993
*''Who Put Grandma Under the Stairs'' (Receiver Records) – 1996
*''Stomping at the Klubfoot'' (Mayo Records) – 2002
*''Live at the Galaxy'' (Crazy Love Records) – 2003

==Band members==
===Current members===
*Mark "Sparky" Phillips (vocals 1982–present)
*Holger Dag (guitar 2012–present)
*Grischa (double bass 2006–present)
*Gaybeul Gualdi (drums 2013–present)

===Former members===
*Gavin Evans (guitar 1984)
*Dick Thomas (guitar 1982–1986)
*"Lex" Luthor Taylor (guitar 1985–89, 1990–97, 1999–2005)
*Mike Pannell (guitar 1989–90)
*Stan Standen (guitar 1997–2000, 2002–2010)
*Philip Doyle (guitar, 2003–05)
*Tony Biggs (double bass 1985–86)
*Ray Thompson (bass 1986)
*Graeme Grant (double bass 1988,1993)
*Billy Favata (double bass 1989–91)
*Paul "Choppy" Lambourne (double bass)
*Kelvin Klump (double bass, 2003)
*Tony "Strangy" Gilmore (double bass, 2003–05)
*Rockin' Rick Tanner (double bass 2006)
*Ant Thomas (drums 1982–1999)
*Criss Damage (drums 2001–04, 2010–13)

===Timeline===
<div class="left" >
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea   = left:100 bottom:90 top:0 right:10
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/2022
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =
 id:vocals    value:red        legend:Vocals
 id:guitar    value:green      legend:Guitar
 id:bass      value:blue       legend:Double_Bass
 id:drums     value:orange     legend:Drums
 id:violin    value:pink       legend:Violin
 id:studio    value:black      legend:Studio_album
 id:live      value:gray(0.7)  legend:Live_album
 id:bars      value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1982
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1982

LineData =
 layer:back
 color:studio
 at:01/01/1986 
 at:01/01/1988 
 at:01/01/1989 
 at:01/01/1990 
 at:01/01/1993 
 at:01/01/1996 
 at:01/01/1999 
 at:01/01/2005 
 at:01/01/2012 
 color:live
 at:01/03/1990 
 at:01/03/1993 
 at:01/01/2003

BarData =
 bar:Sparky  text:"Mark Phillips"
 bar:Ed      text:"Ed Flemming"
 bar:Tony    text:"Tony Biggs"
 bar:Ray     text:"Ray Thompson"
 bar:Graeme  text:"Graeme Grant"
 bar:Billy   text:"Billy Favata"
 bar:Choppy  text:"Paul Lambourne"
 bar:Eddie   text:"Darren Edwards"
 bar:Kelvin  text:"Kelvin Klump"
 bar:Strangy text:"Tony Gilmore"
 bar:Rick    text:"Rick Tanner"
 bar:Grischa text:"Grischa"
 bar:Ant     text:"Ant Thomas"
 bar:Criss   text:"Criss Damage"
 bar:Gaybeul text:"Gaybeul Gualdi"
 bar:Dick    text:"Dick Thomas"
 bar:Gavin   text:"Gavin Evans"
 bar:Lex     text:"Luther Taylor"
 bar:Mike    text:"Mike Pannell"
 bar:Stan    text:"Stan STanden"
 bar:Doyley  text:"Philip Doyle
 bar:Holger  text:"Holger Dag"
 bar:Simon   text:"Simon Cohen"

PlotData=
 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Sparky  from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/2022        color:vocals
 bar:Ed      from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1985        color:bass
 bar:Tony    from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1986        color:bass
 bar:Ray     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1988        color:bass
 bar:Graeme  from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1989        color:bass
 bar:Graeme  from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1997        color:bass
 bar:Billy   from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1992        color:bass
 bar:Choppy  from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998        color:bass
 bar:Eddie   from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000        color:bass
 bar:Kelvin  from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004        color:bass
 bar:Strangy from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005        color:bass
 bar:Rick    from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007        color:bass
 bar:Grischa from:08/08/2006 till:01/01/2022        color:bass
 bar:Ant     from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/2000        color:drums
 bar:Criss   from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2013        color:drums
 bar:Gaybeul from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2022        color:drums
 bar:Dick    from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1987        color:guitar
 bar:Gavin   from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1985        color:guitar
 bar:Lex     from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1989        color:guitar
 bar:Lex     from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1997        color:guitar
 bar:Mike    from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1990        color:guitar
 bar:Stan    from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2000        color:guitar
 bar:Doyley  from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006        color:guitar
 bar:Holger  from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2022        color:guitar
 bar:Simon   from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992        color:violin

</timeline>
</div>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="pt">{{cite web
| title        = Demented Are Go
| publisher    = Wreckingpit.com
| url          = http://www.wreckingpit.com/psycho/bands/demented.php3
| archive-date = 2019-01-14
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20190114180335/http://www.wreckingpit.com/psycho/bands/demented.php3}}
</ref>
<ref name="TXP">{{cite web
| first        = Ryan
| last         = Davis
| title        = Catching up with the notorious Demented Are Go! (an interview with Criss Damage)
| date         = Sep 2003
| publisher    = Texaspsychobilly.com
| url          = http://www.texaspsychobilly.com/feature_sep03.htm
| archive-date = 2004-03-23
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20040323165747/http://www.texaspsychobilly.com/feature_sep03.htm}}
</ref>
<ref name=BHN>{{cite news
| first        = Nick
| last         = Linazasoro
| title        = Forerunners of the psychobilly scene book Brighton gig
| date         = 2020-01-23
| publisher    = Brighton and Hove News
| url          = https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/01/23/forerunners-of-the-psychobilly-scene-book-brighton-gig/
| access-date  = 2021-10-23}}
</ref>
<ref name=UKFest>{{cite news
| title        = Demented Are Go
| year         = 2021
| publisher    = UKFestivalGuides.com
| url          = https://www.ukfestivalguides.com/artists/demented-are-go/
| access-date  = 2021-10-23}}
</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Demented Are Go}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061012153059/http://www.peoplelikeyourecords.de/OUR_BANDS/OUR_BANDS_DEMENTED_ARE_GO/our_bands_demented_are_go.htm Demented Are Go Label – People Like You Records]

{{Demented Are Go}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:British psychobilly musical groups]]
[[Category:Welsh rock music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
[[Category:Welsh punk rock groups]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Wales]]