Described by Disc as “a bunch of musical yobs with a mildly camp image”, these five Edinburgh glam bruisers signed to Deram – the psychedelia offshoot of Decca – in 1973 and unleashed their piss-off-yer-grandad belter Rebels Rule in 1974.
Drummer John Lovatt was turfed out the band just as they were about to record Rebels Rule. Fortunately, guitarist Gordon Nicol’s twin brother George substituted on the single.
Despite the efforts of the label publicity department to get them noticed – Nicol remembers, “they were going to supply us with budgies, and they wanted us to go to Trafalgar Square and bite their heads off” – the closest Iron Virgin got to fame was Kenny Everett getting them to record a jingle version of Rebels Rule (“Stand up! For Kenny Ever-Ett”).
Stuart Harper
Vocals
Gordon Nicol
Guitar
Laurie Riva
Guitar
Marshall Bain
Bass
John Lovatt
Drums
