Delta 5

Delta 5 was an English post-punk band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Not to be confused with Delta-S or Delta-v.
Delta 5
OriginLeeds, West Yorkshire, England
GenresPost-punk, new wave
Years active1979–1981
LabelsRough Trade
Pre
Charisma
Past membersJulz Sale
Ros Allen
Bethan Peters
Kelvin Knight
Alan Riggs
Graeme High

Career

The original members of Delta 5, Julz Sale (vocals/guitar), Ros Allen (bass) and Bethan Peters (bass), formed the band "on a lark",[1] but soon became a part of the thriving Leeds post-punk scene, and later added Kelvin Knight on drums and Alan Riggs on guitar. Combining feminist politics with a two-bass funk-punk sound (much in the style of another, more famous Leeds band, Gang of Four), they released their debut single in 1979, "Mind Your Own Business". This song was later covered by Chicks on Speed, Le Shok, R. Stevie Moore, Pigface and Dum Dum Girls. Bethan Peters went on to play on Fun Boy Three's second album, Waiting.

The members of Delta 5 were also important figures in the Rock Against Racism movement, and were the subject of a highly publicized assault at the hands of a right-wing group affiliated with rival movement Rock Against Communism.[2]

After the release of second single "You", the band went on a successful tour of the US, and soon thereafter left Rough Trade for Charisma Records imprint Pre.[3] They recorded their debut album, See the Whirl, which suffered from overly clean production, and received low marks both critically and commercially. Due to the failure of the album, the group disbanded. A cover of "You" (with Japanese lyrics, and renamed "Saboten" (Cactus)) was recorded by Shonen Knife and released on the band's 1982 debut Minna Tanoshiku.

In 2006, Kill Rock Stars released a compilation of early Delta 5 material called Singles & Sessions 1979-1981, capitalizing on the re-emerging popularity of post-punk bands such as Gang of Four and Wire. The set included unreleased material, along with BBC radio sessions and live cuts.

Their former drummer, Kelvin Knight, died on 2 December 2015 from liver and kidney failure, at the age of 56.[4]

"Mind Your Own Business" was featured in episode 5 of the Netflix series Sex Education in January 2019,[5] and an episode of the BBC TV series The A Word in May 2020.

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles
  • "Mind Your Own Business" / "Now That You're Gone" (1979, Rough Trade Records)
  • "Anticipation" / "You" (1980, Rough Trade Records)
  • "Try" / "Colour" (1980, Rough Trade Records)
  • "Shadow" / "Leaving" (1981)
  • 6 (12" EP, first three singles) (1981, Base Records)
  • "Powerlines" / "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" (1982)

References
  1. Jason Ankeny. "Delta 5 | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  2. "Delta 5 Biography". Aol.com. 2011-02-12. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-02-12. the group's role as political leaders increased in the wake of a notorious street attack on its members by right-wing thugs, culminating in the rise of the Rock Against Communism groundswell.
  3. "Delta 5". www.furious.com. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  4. Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2015 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  5. Midkiff, Sarah. "Every '80s Song & The Originals That Make Up "Sex Education's" Soundtrack". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
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