Mad Crowd Disease is a punk band. By Brian

The bottom line; Mad Crowd Disease is a punk band. They don't claim to be anything else. Don't want to be anything else. Off stage, Cal, Danny and Gaz are pleasant enough young men, on stage however, they seem to transform, Hyde-like, into aggressive noise merchants, peddling their own brand of punk. They're not subtle; they're loud, brash and seemingly very, very angry.

And they aren't prepared to compromise. They play short, fast punk songs, slowing down infrequently only to inject some nasty ska beats into the mix, possibly to allow the audience time to catch their breath. Danny and Gaz had known each other since infants and had met Callum on moving up to secondary school. They felt a little alienated from the rest of the students - at that time it wasn't cool listening to punk music.

Their options were limited - either change to fit in with the crowd or do something completely different. And so Mad Crowd Disease was formed in December 2000. (Although the name didn't come until a while later - original band names are almost too embarrassing to recall).

Having virtually having never before picked up an instrument, they started learning the rudiments of music by playing covers of NOFX, The Misfits and the Ramones, also quoting Rancid, Pennywise and early Offspring amongst the major influences on their music. By the time they came to play their first official gig they were writing their own songs and beginning to define their own style. Their songs are usually written about personal experiences - so you won't find many love songs in MCD's set as they proclaim themselves to be the ugliest band in Lincoln.

What you will find however is vitriolic lyrics, angry guitars and a pounding, galloping bass and drum groove.

Their history already reads like some unoriginal punk novel; they were the youngest band ever to make it to the finals of the Scunthorpe Rock Open Battle of the Bands in 2002 (when they were 14), they've had all of their gear nicked, they played a gig at a place similar to Bob's Country Bunker (from the Blues Brothers) where their brand of raucous punk didn't go down too well with the aging country music fans that made up the audience, played to an audience of six and been told to leave the stage during a gig to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee due to the frequent use of bad language.

And perhaps most annoying of all is being told to leave the venue in which they have just played because they were under age!! Three and a half years on, and with an average age of only 16, they have over 60 gigs under their collective belts and have played with a number of top underground bands (The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Phinius Gage, Sandiest (from Japan)), as well as some excellent local bands from Lincoln, Hull and Sheffield. So what's next for Mad Crowd Disease? More gigs and, when they can get enough money together, a studio recorded EP.

They are currently preparing a live CD - Punk Loonies Live, which was recorded at the Bivouac in Lincoln during their fiftieth gig. The recording has been mixed (although not over dubbed - they felt it was right to include any screw ups made on the night) and the band is now waiting for the CD and covers to be copied. After that, it's a drive to get gigs in other towns. Hull is one of the towns they'd like to crack - it seems to have such a vibrant live scene.

And with help from DumpValve and Sue Watson they have already played a couple of gigs at the Adelphi (and they're beginning to think of it as home away from home) and audience reactions have so far been good. Next it'll be Sheffield and Nottingham and then who knows. As long as they keep playing, meeting new people, seeing new bands they couldn't be happier. Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Mo thisisull.com

Music Reviews- The Levellers, The Mutts & 59 Violets at Hull City Hall - 29th March 04 By Steve Rudd
	The Levellers have to be applauded for consistently inviting some brilliant bands to support them on tour. Back in December 2003, Brighton rockabilly outfit She Said did the honours brilliantly, and this time around - for their 14-date, Anti-Apathy UK Spring 2004 tour Read more...

Music Reviews-York 21st April 04 Million Dead, X is Loaded, yourcodenameis:milo at Fibbers By Steve Rudd
	As the April rains raged outside, so did Newcastle quintet yourcodenameis:milo on the inside. Strange name, you might think.. and they're an even stranger band, proudly presenting the sound of sheer carnage as three guitarists manhandle all manner of destructive and Read more...

Music Reviews - Brave, Blind Frog Ernie, Silence In The Streets, Dumpvalve The Welly - Tue 20th April KERRANG Show! By Felix Green
	Downstairs in the main ballroom of the Welly Club is always a difficult room to fill, since it is far larger in comparison to the other rock venues in Hull. Yet with four weeks of Kerrang promotion and some wide spread flyering it was as full as I've ever seen it. Also, praises to the sound guys who Read more...

Music Reviews - The Displacements By Steve
	Displacements are a remarkable new band based in Hull. Chris (Gowie), Simon (Burner) and Nick are only just turned 18 yet their unique brand of music is rapidly attracting a loyal following. Remarkable because guitarists and vocalists Simon and Nick are self taught through spending hours in front of a PC logged on to the web whilst Gowie has been playing Read more...

Music Reviews - 4Ft Fingers / Tiny Elvis / Flatline / Displacements The Adelphi, Wed 21st April By Dick Spring
	Having seen countless posters around, and, with a very eager, expectant, and sizeable queue, for this Smash it Up show featuring one of the big hitters of the current UK punk scene 4 Ft Fingers. Opening act Displacements, made an excellent job of getting proceedings into gear. They appeared to have a large fan base there to support them with Read more...

Music Reviews- Electric Eel Shock & Antiproduct at The Kazbah, Scarborough 25th March 04 By Steve Rudd
	Antiproduct is the coolest and most exhilarating punk band since The Sex Pistols. Stopping at nothing to put on the most entertaining show possible at every gig they play, this wacky quintet might be based in London, but they make it known loud-and-clear that they prefer Read more...

Music Reviews - Adelphi, Hull, 18th April Jaws drop in Hull and appreciation for local bands rise. By Mike Rofone
	Crowbar Smile, DUMPVALVE, Mad Crowd Disease, Multiple Injuries, Planet 10 It's cold, it's wet and it's miserable. Now there are two things I could do on this gloomy Sunday afternoon in April. Number one; I could stay at home in a lovely quiet village, pondering how I've become so overdrawn and kick myself when I figure out the reason. Or, Read more...

Music Reviews- Multiple Injuries at The Ringside, Hull - Wednesday 14th April 2004 By Dick Spring
	This venue is a new addition to the Hull circuit, and I was informed that the booking is in the very capable hands of Determination Inc (who were the driving force behind, the late, lamented, Moriarty's ) and are bringing the magic touch to this venue, with a newly installed 2k PA system. The new Wednesday night Read more...