Singer Simon Greenham, guitarist Andy Farrier, bassist Kaos (who later, as Chaos, became the band’s gurning slaphead singer) and drummer Potts formed Chaos UK in Portishead in 1979. It was the first step onto a long road that would see many band members scattered by the wayside and result in damaged eardrums all over the world.
Right up to their fairly recent demise, Chaos UK peddled an amusing brand of ramshackle, ferocious, cidersoaked hardcore, topped-off with barbed, but often wryly humorous, lyrics. Of course, things sometimes verged on the downright stoopid, as on Farmyard Boogie from the band’s otherwise disappointing self-titled 1984 Riot City album.
Over the years, Chaos UK played as far afield as the US, Mexico and Japan. The latter particularly took the band to their hearts, resulting in regular tours out east and a signing to the Vinyl Japan label in the 90s.
This set kicks off with all four tracks from their debut 7”, the Burning Britain EP, released by Riot City in 1982, and thereafter does a decent job of taking the choicest cuts from the band’s back catalogue. Collectors may wish to note, however, that this is identical to Anagram’s 1998 release of the same name.
