Anti-Nowhere League

Anti-Nowhere League is an English punk rock band that formed in 1979. The band was initially composed of Nick “Animal” Culmer (vocals), Chris “Magoo” Exall (guitar), Tony “Bones” Shaw (drums), and Chris Elvy (bass). Known for their aggressive sound and rebellious attitude, the band made a name for themselves with their provocative lyrics and controversial performances. Anti-Nowhere League is famous for their hit song “So What” and their debut album We Are…The League, both of which are considered classics in the punk genre.

History

Early Years (1979–1983)

The Anti-Nowhere League first performed at the 1980 Chaos Show at St. Mark’s Hall in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Shortly after, they signed to WXYZ Records. Their first single, a cover of Ralph McTell’s “Streets of London,” was released in November 1981 and peaked at No. 48 on the UK Singles Chart. However, it was the controversial B-side, “So What,” that gained the most attention. This profanity-laden track became the band’s unofficial anthem and was later covered by Metallica. Despite police intervention due to obscenity charges, the song helped solidify their presence in the punk world.

Debut Album and Early Success (1982–1987)

In 1982, the band released their debut album We Are…The League, which reached No. 24 on the UK Albums Chart and spent eleven weeks in the charts. The band’s raw sound and aggressive lyrics earned them a loyal following. That same year, they recorded the live album Live In Yugoslavia, capturing their high-energy performances on tour. However, by 1984, the band had started to see changes in their lineup, and drummer PJ left the band, marking the start of a decline in their activity.

Hiatus and Comeback (1987–1992)

The Anti-Nowhere League disbanded in 1987 but came back for a ‘farewell’ show in 1989 at Victoria Hall, Tunbridge Wells, which was recorded for the live album Live Animals. In 1992, they were invited by Metallica to perform “So What” at Wembley Arena, an event that marked their return to the stage. With renewed energy, they started playing gigs again in smaller venues, eventually leading to more consistent performances and recordings throughout the 1990s.

Return to Recording and Touring (1996–2008)

In 1996, the band signed with Impact Records and released the EP Pig Iron. They followed this up with the album Scum in 1997, and in 1999, they released Out of Control. The band underwent several lineup changes throughout this period, but continued touring and recording new material. After founding their own independent record label, Nowhere Records, in 2006, they re-released the Pig Iron album along with previously omitted tracks like “The Day The World Turned Gay” and “The Adventures of Peter Vile.”

Recent Years (2009–Present)

The band continued to tour and record in the 2010s, with notable appearances at events like the 2012 Download Festival and tours supporting bands like Motörhead. In 2016, they released The Cage, their first full studio album since 2007’s The Road to Rampton. The band further expanded their sound with the 2017 release of League Style, a collection of reggae covers.

Band Members

Current Members

• Nick “Animal” Culmer – Vocals (1980–present)
• Tom “Tommy-H” Hunt – Guitars (2012–present)
• Matt “Biff” Lucas – Bass (2024–present)
• Sammy “Carnage” Carne – Drums (2015–present)

Former Members

• Chris “Magoo” Exall – Guitars (1980–2001)
• Tony “Bones” Shaw – Drums (1980–1981)
• Chris “Baggy” Elvey – Bass (1980–1981)
• Clive “Winston” Blake – Bass (1981–1997)
• Djahanshah “P.J.” Aghssa – Drums (1981–1983, 2002–2006)
• Dave ‘Nato’ Hazlewood – Drums (2006–2015, one-off show in 2023)

Discography

• We Are…The League (1982)
• The Perfect Crime (1987)
• Scum (1997)
• Kings and Queens (2005)
• The Road to Rampton (2007)
• We Are…The League…Un-cut (2014)
• The Cage (2016)
• League Style (2017)