Fatal Microbes
Fatal Microbes was an English punk rock band formed in 1978. The core lineup featured Honey Bane on vocals, Gem Stone on drums, Pete Fender on guitar, and Scotty Barker on bass. Short run, sharp edge, and a title track that still jumps out of speakers.
How The Band Got Started
The name played with ideas of disgust and toxicity that many late 1970s punk outfits explored. The group set up in 1978 and moved quickly toward their key 1979 releases.
1979: Violence Grows And A Split EP
Small Wonder and XNTRIX Records co released a split 12 inch EP titled Violence Grows with Poison Girls in 1979. That same year, Fatal Microbes issued a 7 inch single, “Violence Grows,” on Small Wonder. John Peel supported the single on air, which helped the track reach more ears.
Connections And What Came Next
Poison Girls’ vocalist Vi Subversa was the mother of Gem Stone and Pete Fender, a detail that underlined how closely knit the scene could be. Honey Bane later pursued solo work in music, film, and modeling. Pete Fender and Gem Stone formed Rubella Ballet with Sid Ation, and Fender also released the Four Formulas EP on XNTRIX. Fender and It had previously started Punktuation in 1977. Scott Barker later co founded the Old Reenies and continued performing.
Compilation Appearance
Fatal Microbes’ songs appeared on the V2 Records compilation tied to Rip It Up and Start Again in 2006.
Members
- Honey Bane, vocals
- Gem Stone (Gemma Sansom), drums
- Pete Fender (Dan Sansom), guitar
- Scotty Boy Barker (Scott Barker), bass
Other Former Members
- It (Quentin North), bass
Discography
- 1979, Violence Grows, split 12 inch EP with Poison Girls, Small Wonder and XNTRIX
- 1979, “Violence Grows” b/w “Beautiful Pictures” + “Cry Baby”, 7 inch single, Small Wonder Records
