The First Wave Story
Our Beginning
Into the Future
Our Beginning
Back in 2002 in sunny Leicester, UK, Three good mates got back together to play punk rock. As previous members of Catch 22 and Irrational Defects, both original bands from the late 70s, they knew there was only one name possible, First Wave.
Our Evolution
Into the Future
Our Beginning
After initial gigs around the East Midlands, original guitarist Bobby Blades called it a day, to be replaced by Monkey, formerly of Flamin' Kermits, joining drummer Stooge and Frontman Tony Taylor on stages all over the UK and venturing into Europe too with a mini-tour in France. Monkey left in 2013 after a blinding performance at Rebellion Punk Music Festival, to be replaced by Graham Warne.
Into the Future
Into the Future
Into the Future
After many more tours around the UK and Europe, and more Rebellion performances, Stooge was replaced by Dean Ross in 2015, Warney left in 2023, and Monkey returned to the First Wave family. With a critically well-received album Time's Up? under their belt, First Wave are looking to continuing their 20+ year legacy of melodic punk rock.
What do Others Say?
Review of Time's Up
Review of Blue Screen Exile
Review of Blue Screen Exile
Northampton and Leicester area three-piece First Wave, succeed with their new album Times Up? despite the occasional cliche'd hiccup. The unfussy production sounds like it all could have been taken direct from the PA desk. First Wave discard fancy ornamentation and the trio pump out track after track of satisfying high-power punk with self-explanatory titles such as 'End of Times', 'Totalitarian Creep' and 'Staring at Oblivion'. Although their sound on Time's Up? - a combination of Leatherface / early Rancid - is essentially formulaic, it's hard not to be persuaded by their obvious passion while tracks like 'Bochum Breakdown', with its superbly snaking bass lines and inventive and inspired musical assault, and the intensity of 'DVL 666', suggest plenty of future potential.
Sean McGhee, Vive Le Rock
Review of Blue Screen Exile
Review of Blue Screen Exile
Review of Blue Screen Exile
Rather Touchingly, this album from Leicester punks First Wave comes with a note on paper headed 'Aylestone Glass & Glazing, Clearly the Best', which says to me that these are some nice down-to-earth geezers. And with 'Blue Screen Exile' that's just what you get: unpretentious old school punk sometimes exploring new-ish themes like the self-explanatory 'Selfie Generation'. 'Baby Green Eyes' has a nicely sleazy Noo Yoik swagger to it, as does 'Drinking in the Bar', while the mysteriously named 'The Chambers of Scarlett Jones' is a more brooding affair with effective use of harmonica and a namecheck for Joey Ramone that builds in momentum most satisfactorily, as does 'Are You Entertained?' 'Stray Dog' is taut and choppy, 'A Man Named Joe' has an odd key change which lifts it nicely, and closer 'New Revelations' is rather more contemplative.
Shane Baldwin, Vive Le Rock