Acid Reign

F

ounded in 1986 by lyricist/vocalist Howard Smith and cohorts Kevin Papworth (guitar), Gary Jennings (guitar), Ian Gangwer (bass) and Ramsey Wharton (drums/keyboards) they quickly set about recording the Moshkinstein mini LP in 1988 on the 'Music For Nations' subsidiary label 'Under One Flag'. Their follow-up, The Fear (1989), met with critical acclaim, however, and now on the rise they changed the membership for Adam (ex-Lord Crucifer) replacing Jennings and Mac (ex-Holoslade) replacing Gangwer to release a set of singles to be followed with their final effort, Obnoxious, in 1990. The act then split the following year when Adam left to join Cathedral with Wharton following him shortly after. Kev would join Lawnmower Deth. The news of their departure was overshadowed by their final single effort, recorded before the last album featuring their Thrashy cover of The Nerves' Hangin' On The Telephone, initially made famous by Blondie. The compilation The Worst of Acid Reign (1991) posthumously summed up their career. In 2015 the act reformed with Howard Smith (vocals), Pete Dee (bass), Marc Jackson (drums), Paul Chanter (guitars) and Dean Cook (guitars) to release The Age of Entitlement.