Control Zone were formed in the summer of 1977 on the Monkstown Estate, Newtownabbey and took their name from one of their self penned songs. Control Zones were restricted parking areas erected in all town centres across N. Ireland which were implemented to try and prevent car bombs. These areas were identified by street signs (Control Zones).

Control Zone were Stephen Craig "Gus" - Bass, Vocals, Keith Barry "Keef" - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Alan Clarke "Clarkey" - Drums, Stephen Stewart "Stewarty"- Rhythm Guitar, Kazoo and Maurice McKeown – Vocals. Practice sessions took place in the local community school and eventually the band assembled a set covers supplemented with the odd original track and began playing gigs in the greater Belfast area including The legendary Harp Bar and Pound Club in Belfast.   
 
Gus recounts the first incarnation of the band “After a year or so we broke up, violently, whilst being watched by a BBC producer, scouting punk bands for a documentary. So punk, it was unreal, and a story recounted for years afterwards in the BBC canteen. The documentary was later made and featured Ruefrex".

After Control Zone Split in 1982 Keith Barry and Stephen Craig went on to form The Scream with Declan Wells, and later formed Paradise Lost with Colin Woods and Stephen McKenna. Maurice McKeown was only a brief band member but he would later turn up on bass with Music For The Deaf.

In 2008, Control Zone reunited for a one-off gig at Stephen Craig's daughter Caitlin's 18th birthday party. As Stephen Stewart was now living in Sydney Australia, Sam Craig, Stephen's brother, was roped in to play rhythm guitar and vocals. The lads enjoyed the gig so much that they stuck together for another year or so going through numerous lead guitarists along the way. Keith Barry was only able to do the initial gig. They played a few gigs in and around Belfast before that incarnation of the band split in January 2011.

Drummer Alan Clarke recruited  Johnnie Grattan (vocals / guitars) and Gary Castles (bass / vocals), who continue to play as Control Zone to this day and released the excellent self financed album “The Killing Fields” in 2011. A second album, Drowning In Myself Again followed in September 2013 before the band finally split for good.

Stephen and Sam Craig went on to form a new punk band, The Organ Grinders, with Brian Beattie (briefly one of the many lead guitarists in Control Zone during 2009/10) and Roy Crooks. The Organ Grinders played live in Belfast and surrounding areas for a number of years before splitting. Johnnie Grattan went on to play in Angle Park, a Big Country tribute band.

Stephen Craig “Gus" passed away on Saturday 4th June 2022.