Warsaw Pakt

Warsaw Pakt was a short-lived punk group (1977-8), though some of its members had heritages linking them to the 1960s underground. This was apparent in their sound, which was a sophisticated punk thrash with plenty of energy but also more structure than some contemporaries.

Drummer Lucas Fox had been in the first incarnation of Motörhead, with Larry Wallis of the legendary Pink Fairies, while Colquhoun's other work includes spells in The Deviants and Pink Fairies reunions.

Their claim to fame is to have recorded an album (Needle Time) that was in the shops 24 hours after the first note was recorded, viz the session ended at 10 p.m. on Saturday 26th November 1977 and the album was ready to be sold by 7a.m. on Sunday 27th November 1977. The band were trying to make a point about technology in doing this, and the album sleeve was a 12" square brown bag with stickers and rubber stamping to give the band name and album title.

After Warsaw Pakt, guitarist, Andy Colquhoun, joined Brian James' Tanz Der Youth, and subsequently moved on to The Pink Fairies, and then a band with ex-MC5 guitarist, Wayne Kramer.

When Needle Time was deleted by Island Records within a week of release, (after reputedly selling 5,000 copies), the band released a few out-takes under the title "See You In Court" before evaporating.

It is interesting to note that the seminal post-punk band Joy Division, at one time called Warsaw, changed its name to the former in late 1977 for fear of being confused with Warsaw Pakt.

Needle Time Album Track Listing with Composer Credits

Side 1:
# It's Not True (P. Townshend)
# Even Money (Colquhoun/Day/Walker)
# Fruit Machine (Colquhoun/Day)
# Dog Fight (Colquhoun/Day)
# Fast Eddie (Colquhoun/Farren)
# Sick & Tired (Colquhoun/Day).

Side 2:
# Nose Bleed (Colquhoun/Farren)
# Steppin' Outa Line (Colquhoun/Day)
# Believe Me Honey (Colquhoun/Farren)
# Lorraine (Colquhoun/Day/Walker)
# Safe And Warm (Colquhoun/Farren)
# Speeding (Colquhoun/Day).

Farren being Mick Farren and P. Townshend being The Who's Pete Townshend.

Personnel

Jimmy Coull (vocals)Lucas Fox (drums)Andy Colquhoun (lead guitar)John Walker (rhythm guitar)Chris Underhill (bass)