Disorder

ByLets Go Punk
Disorder are a Bristol street punk band formed in 1980

Disorder are an English street punk band from Bristol, England, formed in 1980. Known for their abrasive sound, politically charged lyrics, and chaotic live shows, they became one of the leading bands of the early 1980s Bristol punk movement. With constant lineup changes but an unwavering commitment to raw protest punk, Disorder carved out a reputation across Europe, the United States, and Japan as pioneers of noisy, uncompromising hardcore punk.

Origins in Bristol

The band formed in 1980 with Steve Curtis on vocals, Steve Allen on guitar, Nick Peters on bass, and Virus on drums. Not long after, Steve Robinson replaced Peters on bass, and this lineup recorded the group’s first two EPs. After being turned down by Riot City Records, Disorder co-founded their own Disorder Records label with support from Heartbeat Records and Riot City boss Simon Edwards, ensuring they had a platform to release their chaotic brand of punk.

Lineup Chaos

Disorder’s early years were defined as much by instability as by noise. Robinson left after personal struggles, Virus ran into legal trouble, and new faces cycled through regularly. Chris “Boobs” Neill took over on vocals, and Phil “Taf” Lovering, formerly of The X-Certs, joined on bass, eventually becoming the only permanent member of the band. Richard “Potsy” Potts of Chaos UK stepped in on drums, and from that point on, Disorder became a constantly shifting lineup surrounding Taf.

First Albums

In 1984, Disorder released their debut full-length, Under the Scalpel Blade, a furious blast of distorted punk that cemented their reputation. The following year they relocated to Norway and recorded a split with Kafka Prosess. By the late 1980s, Disorder had become an international touring band, finding audiences across Europe, Japan, and the United States. Their live album Gi Faen I Nasjonaliteten Din (Live in Oslo) highlighted their growing popularity abroad.

Later Years

Despite countless lineup changes, Disorder remained active. The 1990s brought new releases such as Masters of the Glueniverse and Senile Punks, while reissues of their back catalogue kept fans engaged. In 2005, they released Kamikaze, an album praised by critics as raw and vital as their early work. Disorder continued to release splits into the 2010s, including Dawn of the Miserables and UK V’s Japan Noizecore Wars, keeping their sound alive for new generations of punks.

Struggles and Loss

Disorder’s story is marked by both resilience and hardship. Steve Robinson, their early bassist, died in Berlin in 2021 just before his 58th birthday. Vocalist Chris “Boobs” Neill battled addiction for years before moving to Spain, where he became a psychologist and started a new band, The Self-Saboteurs. Meanwhile, Taf has kept Disorder active, recruiting musicians as needed to tour and record.

Singles and EPs

  • Complete Disorder EP (1981) – No. 29 UK Indie
  • Distortion to Deafness EP (1981) – No. 9 UK Indie
  • Perdition 12″ (1982) – No. 25 UK Indie
  • Mental Disorder EP (1983) – No. 16 UK Indie
  • More Noize EP (1988)
  • Pain, Headache, Depression EP (1994)
  • We’re Still Here (2002)
  • Kamikaze (2005)
  • Dawn of the Miserables (split with Vivere Merda, 2014)
  • UK V’s Japan Noizecore Wars (split with Stagnation, 2015)
  • Joint (split with The Babes, 2021)

Albums

  • Under the Scalpel Blade (1984) – No. 7 UK Indie
  • Gi Faen I Nasjonaliteten Din (Live in Oslo, 1985) – No. 18 UK Indie
  • One Day Son, All This Will Be Yours (split with Kafka Prosess, 1986)
  • Violent World (1989)
  • Masters of the Glueniverse (split with Mushroom Attack, 1991)
  • Senile Punks.. (1991)
  • Sliced Punx on Meathooks (1997)
  • Dawn of the Miserables (split with Vivere Merda, 2014)
  • UK V’s Japan Noizecore Wars 2 (split with Stagnation, 2015)
  • Human Cargo (2016)
  • Live in Sneek (2016)
  • Viva El Squato (2018)

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