Alternative TV

  250 users and punk fans came along to the Union Chapel in Highbury on Saturday the 11th September 1999, to see a line-up of performers organised by MAD PRIDE, and headlined by original 1977 punk legends Alternative TV.
  There was a great vibe running through the evening and the atmosphere was excitable and good-natured. The show, kicked off with a performance by singer, Jim MacDougall and his hand Aural Guerrilla, who gave a wild display of semi- improvised punk informed by the psychiatric experience. Following this, folk singer- songwriter and veteran of many a Survivors' Poet event Pauline Bradley took the stage with her guitar, and treated the audience to a set of gentle folk ballads about topics including womens' issues, childhood trauma and Ronnie Laing. These were extremely well-received by the audience.
  Cross-dressing Blackpool-based survivor punk band Ceramic Hobs came next, with their first ever London show. Using a variety of weird sound effects and visual gimmicks, they gave a colourful display which included songs from their newest album "Psychiatric Underground." Their noisy and avant-garde approach was particularly welcomed by the many art and music critics in the audience.
  Poet laureate of the user movement Frank Bangay then took the stage and recited a selection of his compositions, receiving very enthusiastic applause from the appreciative crowd, which included pop stars such as Steve Treatment and Jona Lewie, famous authors like Ben Watson and Stewart Home. and ballet dancer Michael Clark.
  Finally Alternative TV came on, led by their charismatic sinqer Mark Perry. They performed a highly entertaining set which mixed hit singles like 'Action Time Vision' and 'Love Lies Limp' with material from their new album 'Apollo.' There was a strong rapport between the band and the audience, and dozens of people were pogoing along. Frank Bangay and Jim MacDougall took over lead vocals for guest appearances in ATV's show, which built up in intensity over 45 minutes or so culminating in the encore cover version of 'The Clash's 'White Riot ' Eventually the show, stopped and everyone left, exhausted but exhilarated.
  The importance of this event was that it drew survivor activity away from the psychiatric ghettos in which it is often marginalised, and placed it in the context of wider media culture. It showed that mental health issues affect famous people as well as the rest of us, and it gained sympathetic coverage in the mainstream music press. It was a giant step towards getting mental health civil liberties issues acknowledged by the wider public.

Pauline Bradley - soft music with tough political themes

The outrageously weird Ceramic Hobs

Alternative TV give a performance worthy of 1977


ATV really get the Mad Pridesters going		Frank Bangay - Songs of Rhythm and Hope


Jim MacDougall introduced by Pete Shaughnessy		Mad Pride's Robert Dellar wondering what to organise next.