The Blood

:"For the "Seinfeld" episode, see The Blood (Seinfeld episode). For the album by Kevin Max, see "The Blood" (album)."

The Blood are a London-based punk rock band, formed in 1982. Led by Cardinal Jesus Hate and JJ Bedsore (AKA Bill Sykes and JJ Manson), the band formed in the early 1980s under the name "Coming Blood." Their music is a blend of hardcore punk, Oi!, heavy metal, football chants and shock rock.

Many of their songs criticize religion or discuss political or philisophical topics. Their first single, "Megalomania", ridiculed the Pope. Their second single "Stark Raving Normal" criticized one-dimensional patriotism, apathy and mediocrity. The Cardinal calls himself a punk secular humanist. [ [http://www.myspace.com/theblood MySpace.com - The Blood - - Punk / Punk / Punk - www.myspace.com/theblood ] ] Their first album, "False Gestures for a Devious Public" (1983), hit the UK top 30 and was voted one of the year’s best releases by Sounds magazine. [ [http://www.zeromag.com/articles/article_view.php?id=741&pi=0&PHPSESSID=6ba97 Zeromag.com - Zero Mag for the Zero Decade ] ] [ [http://www.garry-bushell.co.uk/oi/index.asp www.garry-bushell.co.uk - Oi! – The Truth by Garry Bushell ] ] They used to be managed by Garry Bushell, and their song "Such Fun" was on the Oi! compilation album "Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot!." J.J. Bedsore died 2004 of multiple organ failure due to years of chronic alcoholism.

On December 10, 2006, (International Human Rights Day) The Blood was reformed by the Cardinal and some of his friends to release the song, "Kill The Pimps", on the Eyeline Productions record label. The song criticizes governments that turn a blind eye to human trafficking.http://:www.myspace.com/theblood] [http://www.theblood.biz] On September 11, 2007, The Blood released their first acoustic DVD, "Samurai Lullaby", on the Eyeline Productions record label. The filmic footage on this DVD is taken from the tragedy of 9 11. On June 1, 2008, The Blood released an acoustic CD album "punk@theopera". The concept album unfolds the voyage of two young people who struggle to free themselves from human-trafficking pimps and a tyrannical religious cult.

Band members

1983

*Cardinal Jesus Hate - vocals
*JJ Bedsore - guitar
*Muttley - bass
*Dr. Wildthing - drums
*Frankie Flame - Keyboards

1985

*Cardinal Jesus Hate - vocals
*JJ Bedsore - guitar
*Micky James - Bass
*Mark Mitchell - Drums
*Phil Butcher Taylor - Keyboards

1995

*JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
*Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Shane Atlas - Drums
*Cardinal Smith - vocals on studio track "You Kill My Head Out"

1996

*JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
*Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Mark Hannan/Shane Atlas - Drums

1999

*JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
*Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Brad Sims - Drums

2006

*The Cardinal - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*Richard "Orible" Hogben - Drums
*Monty-Mutent The Merciful - Vocals, Keyboards
*Dave Shit - Bass

2007

*The Cardinal - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*The Hammond Summers - Hammond Organ, Piano, Accordion
*Nick Pilton - Backing Vocals

Discography

Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart. [cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title= [http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/b.htm Indie Hits 1980-1999] |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ]

ingles, EPs

*"Megalomania" EP (1983) #6
*"Stark Raving Normal" EP (1983) #20
*"Fabulous As Usual" EP
*"Boots" EP
*"Kill The Pimps" single

Albums

*"False Gestures For A Devious Public" (1983) Noise #5 (reissued 2005, Captain Oi!)
*"Se Parare Nex" (1985)
*"Smell Yourself"(1995) CD, LP and single released by Blind Beggar records
*"Spillage"(1998) CD released by SolidInc records
*"Split live (W/ Dizzy Dizzy)"(recorded 1999, released 2004) CD released by DSI records
*"punk@theopera" (2008) Self-Penned CD by the Cardinal(no other previous band members were involved with the writing, recording, production, release or performance of this)

Compilation appearances

*"Such Fun" (Released on "Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot")

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.theblood.biz The Blood]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theblood The Blood Myspace]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/punk/theblood The Blood tribute website]
* [http://www.zeromag.com/articles/article_view.php?id=741&pi=0&PHPSESSID=6ba97 Article about The Blood]
* [http://www.garry-bushell.co.uk/oi/index.asp History of Oi! that mentions The Blood]
* [http://www.skinheadnation.co.uk/oi!.htm Chapter on Oi! that mentions The Blood]
*" [http://www.punkoiuk.co.uk/INTERVIEWS/blood.asp The Blood Interview] ", Punk & Oi in the UK