Riot City Records - Punk Rock Bands.

1982 would see some fifteen singles released from nine different bands, and also Riot City's first two albums, the compilation Riotous Assembly and the Abrasive Wheels's When the Punks go Marching In. There was also continuing output from hardcore band Disorder via their own Disorder Record label through Heartbeat.

Vice Squad tour schedules still beckoned, making the year a testing time for both co-ordination and stamina - not to mention personal sanity!

The first three singles of the year all featured bands from the Bristol area, that had evolved with the new punk movement over the previous year, Court Martial, Chaos UK and Undead.

Chaos UK discuss hair styles before
entering their local salon.

Chaos UK would go on to becoming the longest surviving Riot City band, still working around the world today, though with only one original member - Chaos, remaining. Their live performances easily matching their name, often ending in complete anarchy - not a place for the faint hearted.

All releases so far had featured strongly in the alternative charts, which at the time actually did mean something to all the small labels, as there was a feeling of true independence attached to them, unlike today, with corporate "fake" indies being the order of the day.

Riot City making a dent in the
charts March 20th 1982

The next couple of singles were from two of Vice Squads' selected support bands, namely The Expelled and Abrasive Wheels, both hailing from the city of Leeds in Northern England - an area where many gigs were played during tours and as one off dates.

The Expelled were often touted with the title of "the Vice Squad of the North" - they did have a similar line up with female vocals courtesy of Jo!, and Dave & Shane (Vice Squad) did provide the production on their singles - no surprises there then! The band did releases two cracking 45's, though sadly never reaching album status, with the departure of Jo! and subsequent falling apart, unable to find a suitable lasting replacement.