Atombuzz

The beginnings of ATOMBUZZ can be found in deepest darkest Worthing, the year is 1993, Natt and Stez (lead guitar) were after a bass player as they had just sacked their last one for being really crap. An advert was placed in the local paper and Steve was soon auditioning for the band.
He turned up on his shitty 125 while his Mum drove his equipment round in her car. After proving he could play (fuck knows how he did that) he was in.
Next they were on the look out for a rhythm player. Steve knew Alex through mutual musical friends and introduced him to Natt at the Factory Nightclub and soon he joined the mighty ATOMBUZZ.
At the time Atombuzz were playing classic covers PARANOID and CRAZY TRAIN and self penned tunes TWIST OF THE TONGUE and GLUCO HALUSO GENSO.

Rehearsals were had in Natt's parents front room and were often long affairs, pausing every so often for the obligatory 10 minute guitar solos from Stez, this would give the others a sufficient gap to have a drink and a smoke before breaking into the next song. The more this went on though, the more tedious it got, cushions and pillows would be piled up in front of Stezs' amp so as to drown out the sound,
In late 1994 Steve writes his first Buzz tune and their first potential number one, AWAY FROM HOME, this could sell millions. It’s a change to their usual style and different to what they are listening to and it sparks Alex into rewriting FYG (a song from a previous band), their second potential number one.

Stez, not happy with this musical change in direction and after seeking advice from friends of the band, leaves.

The boys decide that they should look for another lead player, and after a little searching find Debbie, a local guitarist. She is recruited and rehearsals are relocated to a hall in Littlehampton. Things don't go well with Debbie however and just days before a gig, while they were down the local, they tell her that they are splitting up. Atombuzz reform sans Debbie later that night and play their first ever gig as a three piece in front of an extatic crowd at Flappers. 
After losing the rehearsal hall, due to breaking too many lights as all they seemed to do was play football in the hall they relocated to Lancings Penhill Center - oh the irony.
Although their style was forming, neither Steve nor Alex was a great singer so the search for a frontman began. It ended very soon and Ian joined in Feb 1996. Ian was a friend of Atombuzz and back then a fan too. His attitude was great and was perfect for the Buzz. His first gig was a week after joining and so as not to pressure him they decided to share vocal duties on various songs, a thing which carries on to this day.  
Alex, Steve and Natt took over writing duties after Stez left and begin to bash out more could be top ten singles; PULL A PIG, FUCK OFF, FAT SLAG, FROSTBITTEN and CARNATE SLEEPING are all from this period. CARNATE being the first song that ATOMBUZZ wrote as a whole band.
1996 saw the band fill venues across the south, getting banned from a few in the process. Such was their live reputation that if they were seen in public without their stage gear no one could recognise them.
Gigs were lined up all over the place and soon a release was needed to keep the fans happy. After an extensive world (!) tour during the first four months of the year ATOMBUZZ decided to record an EP.

The boys visited Anzak Studios in Brighton to record five tracks. They decided on songs that would show their different song writing styles. These tracks would become The FYG EP.

AWAY FROM HOME was written by Steve, it features Ian and Steve on vocals.

FROSTBITTEN was written by Natt and Alex, it features Steve on lead vocals and everyone on backing

FYG was written by Alex, it features Alex on lead and Ian on backing

CARNATE SLEEPING was the first collectively written Atombuzz song. Originally meant to be a jazz piece, the only thing that survives from that is the intro, Ian on vocals

GLUCO was written by Natt and Stez, it features Ian and Steve on Vocals. Alex had to rewite some of the guitar parts as Stez never show him how to play the main guitar melodies!

And so it was recorded and they saw that it was good. they took it upon themselves to line up a series of gigs and promote the EP. These shows included the last days of The Factory and The Crow Bars last stand, both favourite drinking holes of Atombuzz.

Atombuzz had an amazingly successful year in 1996 and for their year end finale the boys had decided to learn a few off beat cover songs like BAGGY TROUSERS by Madness, write a couple of newies and also dig up a few gems from their past like DYING IN THE RAIN and INSECURE NIGHTMARES, however this was not to be the case. (Have you ever seen Bad News?)

New Years Eve 1996/1997, with the band at the peak of its brilliance, lets itself down by falling apart live on stage. It could almost have been planned like so many of their stunts. But at the climax of the show, midnight, Natt and Steve announced to the packed crowd that they are leaving the band. This sparks mayhem and the show is then thrown into chaos as band members fight and refuse to play each others songs, so no BAGGY TROUSERS and no NIGHTMARES, not much of anything after that really. It just leaves Ian singing AULD LANG SYNE on his own and Alex crying into his beer. They depart on sour terms with sour words. (like bollocks and Fuck you cunt!).Atombuzz, like this, are no more.

Although soon after the split the band could be seen out drinking together again, there was no chance at that time of them reforming and getting back on stage. Natt and Steve were both off doing other projects. 

Directionless for well over a month before Alex and Ian decide to recruit a new bassist and drummer.

Nick S joins the buzz for the first time; having been a fan of the band for ages it was a real privilege for him. It also meant he already knew the songs and didn’t have to learn a lot.
Chris Foggo joined from Alex’s' side project THE CONFUSION and although not as accomplished as Natt on drums seemed to fit in well with the "fuck it" attitude.  

With a new drummer on board and a new bass player Alex and Ian got to work sorting out the next phase in the Buzz saga. Battle of the Bands 1997 was only six weeks away and they decide to enter. Not giving the new boys much time to learn old songs they concentrate on just six oldies and write 2 new songs. BLACK LUNG (about underage smoking) and ROUND AND ROUND (about townies driving their cars at night).Not giving them more time meant the old songs were not really up to scratch (drum wise) and they had to place more emphasis on a show. A whole twenty-minute set was planned out with jokes, songs and ad-libs and a new version of FAT SLAG so that nothing could go wrong, that was the plan anyway.
Its now a running joke that Alex will break a string every time he touches a guitar, well that joke started at this gig, broken during FYG they had to fill up a 2 minute string change with 2 minutes of really shit jokes it worked, it was quite amusing and all seemed to fit in with the plan.

REUNION 1

ATOMBUZZ were offered a chance to play a gig in the woods for a group of bikers they knew. Alex, Ian and Nick jumped at the chance but Chris was too scared (he was only young) (actually were not really sure why he didn't do it but he didn't so that’s the excuse used). They phoned Natt and Atombuzz were nearly reformed. During the gig Steve joined them on bass for a couple of songs, and a fucking great night was had by all. Atombuzz were paid in beer so they probably shouldn’t have driven home that night but they did, fuck it they're rock stars!

This all got them thinking again and they all started to spend a bit more time together, talking things over and getting drunk again.

REUNION 2

APRIL 2001, THE FREEBUTT- BRIGHTON,
Playing with local band SELF DESTRUCT (Jim, ex The Confusion) Atombuzz are the middle act on the bill. Everything is geared up for their triumphant return, so what happens next is a real let down. Bad sound engineering and dodgy equipment really fuck around with Alex’s sound and he is virtually unheard for most of the gig and as if that isn’t enough, the captain digs in as if its Alex’s fault. Although newies PISSED BLOKE, BEEP BEEP, and LANCIN’ CHIX, go down well the evening is spoiled by the sound and the remarks. Atombuzz don't play together again for years after this.
To be fair, Atombuzz didn't split up this time, they lost the use of Henry's studio as he was a knob end tax dodger. This was really disappointing for them.
Some Atombuzz members took time out from this to get married, start families, some didn't, then came the all important news which brings us up to date.

January 2005, Alex starts to set up a web site for Atombuzz, nothing fancy, a free site with a few photos and stuff just to document the band really.  He lets the ex members of the band know and after a bit of interest very soon they decide its time, they are ready to unleash the beast, ATOMBUZZ are to reform. Alex decides to buy the .com for Atombuzz and set up a half decent web site for them, loads of photos, biographies, the lot, and so www.atombuzz.com is born.     

Atombuzz find a new studio in Worthing to rehearse at and very soon word gets out that the boys have reformed and a month later they have their first gig in over four years.
26^th May 2005 make their return to the live circuit; a half hour set whizzes by as they play BEEP BEEP, FAT SLAG, TOTALLY RANDOM MAN and many other classics. They are asked to return in a couple of months and also have other gigs lined up.

September 2005, Atombuzz make their second live appearance in Worthing, this time a headline set sees them play to over 100 people at the place where it all fell appart 10 years ago, The Vintners Parrot. Atombuzz blast thru a 45 minute set of old classics and new tunes and new covers. Everyone enjoys the Buzz return to glory and a month later they begin recording their debut album.

October 2005, Brickhouse Studios, Portslade, Brighton,
Atombuzz record 14 tracks, 10 of which become the album, the other 4, covers, will never be released on a special edition of the FYG ep.
The album is titled DECADE OF ALCOHOL (binge drinking and casual violence). 

Track Listing

RIOT RIOT

FAT SLAG

PISSED BLOKE

MADAME GOURMET

BETTER DAYS

PULL A PIG

BEEP BEEP

TWIST OF THE TONGUE

HUNK

LANCING CHIX

 
Atombuzz are playing at THE MUD CLUB in Bognor to promote the album and are busying themselves for a few gigs in Brighton in the summer months

Atombuzz headed out to play Worthing again, twice in two weeks. August 2006, OCCASIONS, their homecoming, headline gig, the first Worthing show without Steve. A fucking cracker. Loads of new songs, CHAV SCUM, DRAFTED, DOA etc are played to an excitable crowd. The sound is crisp, the playing is tight and Ian has a new toy! A cordless mic. He is a free man, running the length of the venue, singing in peoples faces - its fucking great to watch.

Next gig A charity fundraiser at occasions, this time with SOURPUSS and LYING SEASONS, Nicks main band.He was a busy boy that night. Atombuzz resurrected a few gems for the gig - TRANSVESTITE was great, sounded better than rehersal.

Atombuzz then head off to Brighton to play with BEST LEFT DEAD at their last ever show and it was very cool. A set of only the newest and finest tracks was put together and went down a storm.

With Christmas fast approaching time was running out to sort another gig out before the end of the year, but our good friend Nick at I Made This Records, sorted out a gig at THE REST for us to play. With the help of KILL ZED (ex muttley) we put on a fantastic show, more reminisent of the old Atombuzz days, with classics and new tracks and a fucking good laugh.  2006 draws to a close and Atombuzz ponders its next move.

January 2007.  It's cold, wet and windy in Worthing and Atombuzz gather once again to make noise and conquer the world.
A gig is sorted out at The Pressure Point in Brighton along with other "punk" bands. Atombuzz rehearse like never before and it doesn't take long until a new song is written, JOHNNY BE BADD, a Natt lyrics and Alex music song and a right fast punk song which will be a classic in its own right. A great verse and catchy chorus along with a great middle bit - superb! (guess the influences if you can)
 
February 2007, Atombuzz play the Pressure Point, but its not a great gig. Alex and Natt have a car accident on the way to the gig which leaves them a bit fed up. Also a few things are playing on their mind, thus the following happens, - Nick, Bass player for over 6 years is asked to leave the band. Alex and Natt decide that its time for a change. They want someone who is wholly dedicated to the Buzz, who can write for us and has a different style. So nothing personal, Nick is a great bloke and great bassist, they just decided that they want to go a different way.

March 2007 Rossi D joins Atombuzz on bass.

May 2007, Ross plays his first gig with Atombuzz at The Rest also playing are Kill Zed. Atombuzz play a blinder of a set and Ross is the star of the show, His playing has brought it up a level and the boys sound tighter than a camels arse in a sand storm.

With this new found edge, Atombuzz lined up a few more gigs, at the Rest, The Warwick and a big charity gig at Club East for KWASH.

Atombuzz play The Rest, August 2007, and play Johnny for the first time, it goes down a belter. Fuck Iron Flag!!!

They then play the Pressure Point to a full house (almost), along with Soulscream, Next Stop - Crawley, Halloween, A packed out club play host to Atombuzz and Soulscream, Atombuzz play Reprise for the first time and don't fuck it up. They continue writing new songs for the new album, STD gets it premier at the Battle of the Bands Grand Final at the Railway Club in LA. After beating locals acts like mono (tone) and Kill Time in the previous rounds, Atombuzz play an awesome set in front of a crowd of hundreds!

Atombuzz are robbed of 1st place by a bunch of spotty oiks who are shit. Sakless Jack came 3rd behind us. We were not happy.

Time for the Buzz Christmas Break...............

Jan 2008 Sees the boys reconveen after their Christmas break, and soon are busy working away on new songs and new gigs.

29th Feb, the Vintners Parrot, Atombuzz headline a show with a ferociuos 30 minutes set of non stop oldies and new songs. Steve, back over from France for a while, joins the boys on Lancin Chix. Shame he can't remember the words.

1st April, Atombuzz head back into Brighton to play the Pressure Point again. Armed with a new found confidence and enthusiasm they will knock Brighton for 6..........unfortunatly, nobody turns up for the gig, the other bands not being local, therefore do not bring a crowd with them. This spurs Atombuzz into deciding they need a break.

Atombuzz call time on gigging for the next three months. Alex is busying himself waiting for the next Buzz baby. Natt and Ian concentrate on writing lyrics for a new batch of songs which Alex and Ross will convert into Atombuzz Gold.

Atombuzz will be back...............

........................ Atombuzz are back.........

May 2008, Atombuzz return to Ivy Arch to rehearse and write for the Album and next few gigs.

Already armed with lyrics and ideas, they put them to work. The Result: A.D. Absurdo, Crisis Intervention and Man Beaver/Man Eater. Pure brilliance from the boys once again.

Atombuzz enter a battle of the bands competition for the first time since coming secong in the Cravin Tunes BOTB last year.

The winner of this get to play at the LA Pebbles On The Beach Festival in August on Littlehampton Seafront. Armed with a set of pure classics, Atombuzz descend on The Dolphin in LA. Also playing are Souled as Scene and The Lost Boys. Atombuzz kill em dead, wipe the floor with them and beat them all. The pub is awake and loving the set. Playing 30 minutes or pure brilliance and self edited songs (there is kids about), and still managing to add Lancin Chix and Fat Slag into the mix without losing any of the aggression they are renowned for. Needless to say they won hands down. (TBH- the other bands were fantastic too and if the boys hadn't been on top of our game that night they would have shit it)

The Pebbles Festival is on 23rd August 2008 on LA seafront.

7th August, Atombuzz play a Pebbles preview showcase at The Crown in LA along with other bands from the Pebbles bill. Atombuzz open the night with a 40 minute blast through old and new songs. After the other bands have played, they are asked to do another set to round the evening off, they oblige and blast through another 20 minutes of pure punk mayhem. A good time was had by all.

21st August they have a warm up show planned at the Vintners Parrot in Worthing, this will be an all out Atombuzz assault.

23rd August LA PEBBLES ON THE BEACH 2008 - Almost a year of planning, hard work and headaches, the time comes for the first (of many) LA Pebbles festivals. Someone's crazy idea in a pub had suddenly come to life, for three days people were working their arses off building stages, sets, fencing, beer tents, buying this, getting that and all pulling together with one main focus and aim: to make this weekend a massive success for the organisers, the bands and the town.

If you ventured to the beach from thurs 21st onwards then you probably saw a lot of people all running about, so busy, so knackered but so excited. Hour by hour the stage came together, the site looked fantastic and people were genuinely proud to be a part of Pebbles 2008.

23rd August, 1pm, The gates open, people start to drift in, 1.30pm, the first band play, the LCS Steel Band, good stuff, Pebbles is here!! the next band play, then the next and the next and so on until at around 7.30pm it's the turn of Atombuzz. By this time the sun has started to set, the crowd has well and truely built up and the band were buzzing, ready to get on stage. And so it came to pass, Atombuzz arrived on stage to applause, Ian welcomed them, thanks them and then Alex started CHAV SCUM, superb stuff. they blasted through 40 minutes of great tunes, got the crowd singing to Kids In America and Sheena,  clapping to Drafted and Alex dedicated Better Days to his daughter (as it's the only one she used to like). The young children liked it too,  for the Buzz Babies it was the first time they had seen their dads play and they thought it was fantastic.

Special thanks has to go to Rob Weller, who came on stage with the Buzz dressed as Pebbles the Fish, playing his guitar during a few of the numbers, It looked great and the pics from that are magic.

Also thanks to: Kev W, Fergi, Stew R, Mark L, Claire B, Mike F, Catherine F, Christine B, Brett W, Alex, Matt, Alan B, Frankie D, Andy (bar), the other bands on the bill, the crowds, the sun everything!!! We could name everyone but it would be an endless list, please dont be offended if we've missed you out as you are all fucking stars!!!!!

Rock on Pebbles 2009!!!

A most enjoyable set, a superb weekend, great support, great music.

CHAPTER 16 - CRISIS INTERVENTION

27th/28th September, Atombuzz once again enter Brickhouse Studios in Portslade to record the follow up to DOA.

The new album "Crisis Intervention" is recorded in much the same way as DOA although the improvements in technology in the studio along with the engineer aid us no end.

Managing to get through 11 songs over the two days and mix it to a half decent stage, Natt returns a week later to remix and master the Album. Sheena T provides the Buzz with superb artwork for the album and it then goes into print production.

The album is released on 1st February 2009

CHAPTER 17 - TOTAL ROCK RADIO - NWO SHOW

Tina and Thekla have a monday night show at www.totalrock.com, the show is called new world order and is dedicated to up and coming unsigned bands. Atombuzz were contacted a while ago as the girls had recieved a copy of the DOA album, it was left on their desk by person or persons unknown and was aleft on the bottom of the pile due to the crap artwork the boys had on the cover. It finally rose to the top, the girls listened to it, they loved it and the rest as they say is history. Played almost on a weekly basis tracks like Pull a Pig, Riot Riot and Madame Gourmet became listener favourites, so when the boys released Crisis, they sent it to them. Unsure at first (its a grower) they started playing No Fat Chix on air, a few weeks of this and a growing listener base saw the girls invite Natt for an on air interview, he duly obliged, was fantastic (will be uploaded soon) and there are now 5 or 6 tracks on rotation on NWO show.

CHAPTER 18 - THE NEXT EP

Despite Crisis Intervention only being on the shelves for a few months, Atombuzz have already started writing for the next EP, two songs, Maniac Cop and Final Demand are again a little different with out being different from the last songs.

2009 is a relatively quiet year on the gig front, lots of promoters have given up or pubs and clubs have turned into trendy fuckwank eateries. Atombuzz concentrate on polishing their set an Natt starts writing lyrics furiuosly. Ross starts writing for the band also and comes up with the first full song, previously contriuting to arrangements or filling in songs, He and Natt write The Tower, which then spurs Alex on to Write F.E.A.R. with Natt. Half a new album is already written.

August 2009, Atombuzz again play LA Pebbles, this year going on in the dark - woooooooo-. Final Demand and Maniac Cop are both played live for the first time and go down a storm, very positive. Only playing tracks from Crisis, with the exception of the newies, Atombuzz gather many new fans that day, and many gigs too. A busy end for 2009? Damn Right!