A to Z of N. Ireland Punk Bands

ALIENATED

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Alienated were an Anarcho punk band from Larne, on the east coast of County Antrim. Formed in 1983, the band were a proper DIY collective with a high turnaround of personnel. Initially the band consisted of Allister (Ali) Girvin vocals, David Butler on guitar and Mike Gale on drums. During their brief time together the band managed to record three demo tapes, the first of which, ‘No Right To Govern’ from 1983, featured the track “Living In Fear” (recorded on cassette recorder and using biscuit tins for drums!!) which would turn up a year later on the third Bullshit Detector compilation album on Crass Records.

Two further demos were released ‘Curse Of The Earth’ September 1983 which featured David ‘Smout’ Martin on guitar, who had by that time replaced Dave. Ian Davis also played guitar on some tracks, Ian “played guitar very badly and briefly with Alienated. I was good friends and neighbour of Michael Gale and just kinda fella into the band. We Recorded a couple of songs in Smout’s living room, with me playing David Butler’s guitar through Smout’s mum’s music centre (radiogram!). We recorded a song I wrote entitled “Falkland War” with Ali Girvin on vocals. This track featured on another punk compilation album in a similar vein to the Bullshit Detector compilation. Sadly I can't remember who released it”.

The band’s final demo, ‘The Best Of The Worst’ which was issued in March 1984 saw Smout moving to bass and Pete Magill joining as their new guitarist. Later, Phil Coburn joined the band briefly on synth. Eventually, lead singer Ali was also replaced in the band. Smout recalls that towards the end of the band’s time together that “Allister's self censorship of the bands lyrics lead to him leaving. We played on for a while with me on bass and vocals”.

Alienated organized the infamous Dixon hall at Drain’s Bay gig on Saturday 21st July 1984 (with Toxic Waste, Stalag 17, The Icons and Never Surrender) but never got to play as they had elected to put themselves on last as headliners (well, they had organized the gig). Sadly this was to backfire when the gig was shut down early due to “crowd trouble”. The trouble at the concert was to make the front page of the next issue of the Larne Times, with the headline “Police save a nasty punk concert row”.
When Alienated split in 1984, Pete Magill and Ian Davis played in a band called The Prophets which consisted entirely of former members of Alienated. David, Pete, Ian and Phil Coburn aka Toby. Ian Davis again “We had gone in an indie garage direction. Creation records had expressed an interest but we broke up while trying to record something to send them!”

Mike and Smout went on to form KC & the Moonshine band (later renamed Stagnant Excretia) with Smout on guitar, Michael on drums, KC vocals & Anne on bass. KC & The Moonshine Band’s track "Which Side" appeared on the Mortarhate compilation LP "We Won't be your Fucking Poor" in 1985.