This Bristol punk band formed in late 1978 and was fronted by blonde vocalist Beki Bondage (real name Rebecca Louise Bond), who became for a while rock’s leading pin-up in the music press (especially Sounds).
The rest of the band were Dave Bateman (guitar), Mark Hambley (bass) and Shane Baldwin (drums).
Their first single, Last Rockers, was released on their own Riot City Records in 1980, and follow-up EPs Resurrection and Out Of Reach were distinctively melodic.
The debut album was disappointing, however.
After signing a deal licensing the Riot City label to EMI (for which they received a lot of flak from other punk artists) Vice Squad were rushed into the studio to record their first album. Taking only three days, the finished product was barely listenable.
Much more polish and time went into the superior Stand Strong Stand Proud only six months later.
Despite Beki’s increasingly high profile and naive exploitation of her gender (she was voted ‘Punk’s Prime Minister’ in an absurd competition in Punk Lives magazine), EMI wanted their success to transfer from the independent to the national charts.
Beki Bondage quit the band in February 1983 amid some degree of acrimony. She formed a new band called Ligotage.
Vice Squad continued with a singer named Lia, but EMI dropped the band, and they called it a day in 1985.
Bondage formed a new version of Vice Squad in 1997 with new musicians. The new line-up recorded several albums and toured Europe and the United States. In 2006, they released the album Defiant.
Guitarist Dave Bateman died on 11 December 2007 in Fuengirola, Spain. He fell and sustained a head injury and was rushed to hospital, but died the next day.
Drummer Shane Baldwin died on 30 January 2024, aged 61.
Beki Bondage (Rebecca Bond)
Vocals
Dave Bateman
Guitar
Mark Hambley
Bass
Shane Baldwin
Drums
Video
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The rest of the band were Dave Bateman (guitar), Mark Hambley (bass) and Shane Baldwin (drums).
Vice Squad continued with a singer named Lia, but EMI dropped the band, and they called it a day in 1985.
