Alternative TV

Punk veterans still alive and kicking.

In early 1977, Mark started the Step Forward Records label with Miles Copeland. Releases included early records by the likes of the Fall, Sham 69, Chelsea & the Cortinas.

Alternative TV was formed in March 1977 by Mark Perry (vocals/guitar) with guitarist, Alex Fergusson. ATV (as they are known) played their first gig at the Nottingham Punk Festival in May 1977 and released their first single, ‘Love Lies Limp‘, as a free flexi disc given away with the last issue of Sniffin’ Glue (no.12), August 1977.

Following an abortive demo with EMI, ATV released the first proper single, ‘How Much Longer‘/’You Bastard‘. Following various line-up changes, their first album, ‘The Image has Cracked’, featuring the iconic single, ‘Action Time Vision’, was released in May 1978.

Mark took ATV into new musical areas in late ’78 with their experimental second album ‘Vibing Up the Senile Man’ and the band broke up for the first time in late 1979. In 1980, Mark released a solo album, played the drums for the Lemon Kittens and the Door & the Window and sang with the Reflections. ATV reformed briefly in 1981 and recorded the ‘Strange Kicks‘ album. In 1984 a new ATV lineup was playing gigs like Alan McGee’s early Living Room Club. The band continued, on and off, into the mid-90s, but focused more on Mark’s songwriting abilities than on ATV as a punk band.

In January 2001, Alternative TV visited New York for the first time and played a few gigs including an appearance at Punk Magazine’s anniversary party at CBGB. In April they returned to NYC at the invitation of Spin Magazine to play their 25 Years Of Punk party, again at CBGB.

In 2015, Alternative TV released their first studio album in 14 years, ‘Opposing Forces’, which was well-received by fans and critics alike. Last year, they followed it with ‘Primitive Emotions’, a collection of singles and compilation tracks released on various labels in recent years.

Want to listen before you buy? go to https://youtu.be/wN0UdtunOFM