Zhain
Out of all the bands on the Raw Deal compilation, Zhain seemed to stand out. Firstly they only had one track whereas the other bands had two, and secondly their track was a Motown cover expertly delivered complete with guitar solos with phasing effects and some over-exaggerated punky vocals.
The key to the band was John Milner. Milner was an ex-BBC engineer and had played in a variety of bands through the seventies, not least with Jeff Parsons in Leeds-based band Bone (rock/progressive) who became Dead Fingers Talk. Zhain (who were basically Bone renamed but more bluesy) were formed in 1974, split and became another band before Milner regrouped Zhain in 1977. Got that?!
Quite why they decided to submit a demo to Raw Records and the song they did, would need one of the band to explain. They recorded Get Ready at Spaceward Studio in Cambridge in 1977.
Milner left and Rocky right – it’s Bone no Zhain no Bone no Zhain
Lee Wood The demo tape that I received from Zhain was different to the finished track. I don’t think that was produced by me if I recall correctly.
The thing about 1977 was that there were more record labels trying to sign bands than there were genuine punk bands. It was difficult to find bands who had been influenced by the same music as The Pistols or The Damned, Clash, Buzzcocks, etc. Most had been rock bands jumping on the bandwagon. So, It was a matter of recording a lot of bands to find the few that stood out. Punk77 Email December 2024
It was short-lived. By 1978 they were no more and John was in a new band called The Hots which featured Martin Atkins on drums who left to join PIL.
Later John would work with Andy Linklater post Zhain from Dead Fingers Talk after they too had split.
TalkPunk
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