Newtown Neurotics

The Newtown Neurotics (later just The Neurotics) were an English punk rock/post-punk group formed in 1979. They were noted for their openly political music. History As The Newtown Neurotics, the band began their career playing punk heavily indebted stylistically to The Clash and The Ramones. Over the course of the 1980s, the band dropped the "Newtown" from its name and simply became The Neurotics; along with the name change came a stylistic broadening, including slower tempos and horn arrangements. They released several albums on noted UK postpunk label Jungle Records. Lead singer and guitarist Steve Drewett took openly socialist stances in his lyrics throughout the course of the band's career. When the bassist, Colin Dredd, came down with pleurisy, he left the band; a friend was brought in to play bass for some farewell shows (at which the band's entire catalogue was played), and the band called it quits in October 1988. Drewett went on to form an Afro punk band called the Indestructible Beat. Although the Indie Beats were disbanded in 1995, Steve Drewett is known to do occasional solo gigs. More recently, the Newtown Neurotics reformed for a few reunion shows in London & Brighton leading up to Blackpool's 2006 Wasted and 2008 Rebellion punk festivals, their biggest British audiences to date.