White Noise were a Punk band that hailed from Newtownabbey on the outskirts of Belfast.  When initially formed they went by the name Spare Units although this was quickly changed to White Noise. The band were Jim Roche (vocals), Paul Harrison  (guitar), Victor Anderson (lead guitar), Clifford 'Togsy' Colvin (bass) and Nigel Gilroy (drums).

The band were heavily involved in the Newtownabbey Musicians Collective. White Noise demo recorded a four track demo in November 1980 at Cuecomber Studios (Comber, Co Down). The tracks received some airplay on local radio and also on the highly respected and influential Dave Fanning Show on RTE Radio in the Irish Republic. These recordings have remained unreleased and gathering dust until Spit Records issued them as part of the Shellshock Rockers compilation CD in 2012. The four tracks featured on the compilation CD were 'BBC/UTV' 'Conscious' 'College Boy' & 'Spiermen'. Unfortunately this title is now sold out.

Shortly after the demos were recorded there was a change in band personnel and as a consequence they changed their name to Electro–Motive Force although some White Noise tracks remained in their set.