With recordings taped from the legendary John Peel shows, both himself and Kappa went on to firstly convince "normals", "stiffs" at their school that they were playing in a band with their bogus demo. The ethos of stink rock was truly born! For many living in suburban Southeast London from late 1978 to 1983 the name Anabollic Steroids or the Stink symbol was commonplace sight plastered on buildings, bridges, over posters, inside trains, buses and bus stops.

During 1978-1980 not one gig was ever played, contrary to belief. .... In the very beginning there was a temporary third associate known as Albert Tatlock, although short-lived in the scheme of things a few raw and basic recordings were made of which a couple of tracks later developed into the first Steroids set in 1981.

During this period in the late 70's fabricated dates and venues were submitted regularly to keep the myth going to Sounds or Melody Maker and on occasions actually got listed. As opposed to the "Keep Music Live" that was the music union cry, The Steroids ethos was to "Keep Music Dead" as most chart and mainstream music was dreadful, boring and crap. However not being able to play any instrument let alone afford one was certainly the catalyst for this thinking!! In late 1979 Gerard, Kappa and a fellow cohort to the cause Bertie Bum Bandit were arrested at Charring Cross Station and charged at Cannon Row Police station in Westminster for misdemeanours already described previously. It was the proper start for what was to become The Anabollic Steroids in reality.

From late 1980 the "Ability Stinks" fanzine was conceived and written by Gerard and issue 1 came out in 1981, followed by issues 2 and 3 fairly quickly. There were now various people attending arranged "graveyard shift" (Midnight-8am) rehearsals (to either have a go at playing or having an all night piss ups) at a studio in Streatham (London) during late 1980 & most of 1981 and eventually the line-up was complete with the additions of Steve Steroid and Bryan to the original duo for the first gig (999 Si replaced Bryan after the debut gig). The first authentic recording used was a Steve Steroid 4 track demo from his band "Local Resistance", which included 2.2 and Burn the Flag that Steve and Mike Myers (lyrics only) wrote jointly and was adopted immediately into the set. The debut gig was organised by us as an Animal aid Benefit gig at St Paul's Church in Orpington with "The Chapters" and "The Subverts". The line-up changed with "Hepatitis Risk" headlining on the night, with the "Anabollic Steroids", "Subverts" and Mike Squire in September 1981. In a gig review from "Alternative One Fanzine" supplied by Des Slow (thanks) its starts of stating "The audience on this Saturday night was made up by junior school Anarchists and an assortment of other people who should have known better than come to this gig (including us). The "Anabollic Steroids" who had decided that the only way to get the audience dancing was to shout abuse at them. This was done subtly by their singer "James Bondage" - "We may be the biggest wankers you have ever seen but you lot are the biggest cunts we have seen". Somehow the Steroids were better than The Subverts, but this was because they had a bass guitarist and original material. Their last song "Tell that band to fuck off" just about summed them up.

The Anabollic Steroids were never opposed to crashing gigs or jumping on stage with their guitars and drumsticks to the annoyance or anger of some so called anarcho punks who were generally more concerned that their possessive expensive equipment was being used without permission. Even during one gig in Dulwich after storming the stage to the shock of many attending (mostly ex or 5th year students form nearby public or private schools) and with the mainly working class mates which came with the band in full flow the electrics were cut to the stage after only 3 songs by the headline scheduled band (the singer is now an extremely successful musician and DJ). That was the side of punk rock people don't want to mention now. Working class values being infiltrated and abused by the spoilt offspring's of the privileged rich, who used their intellectual schooling and parental investment in them to reject their system they created by poncing money from the state on the dole and squatting large unused Victorian buildings in the name of Anarchy or punk... whilst always having mummy and daddy's legacy on reserve for the future!! - Inverted snobberry ...too bloody right!!

Whilst onstage a band trait was to swap instruments and vocalist during different songs and Steve's E string only bass was always a topic of conversation. He simply thought you could play any note on 1 string so why waste money on another 3. Gigs at the Wapping Anarchist Centre, Iberico, Skunx, Croydon Warehouse, Lee Centre, Red Lion Gravesend to name a few, plus rural village church halls in Kent were booked by with the purpose of causing chaos for mainly Tory voting local strong holds.

Finally there was not one but two farewell gigs on the 21/11 in 1982 at the Old Queens Head in Stockwell, London and the Moonlight club on the 25/4 in 1983 which Jason Glen was added on guitar and included a disturbing joint vocal from "The Beard". The last gig was solely memorable for Gerards drunken antics.... After consuming an immense amount of other peoples alcohol through a very large chain of straws before the gig with cries of "watch out watch out there's a Humphrey about", which was comical... it later became very sinister with a torrent of abuse being hurled at a packed venue throughout the set and ended with Gerard falling off the stage whilst playing bass and knocking himself unconscious for a few minutes on landing. The set list included many new songs including a cover of Patti Smiths Gloria, which was a great song but not the Anabollic Steroids.

In just under 2 years and 17 actual gigs played the following recordings were made: "I always cry at funerals" was released on the ultra rare "Hundred and Thousands" compilation Lp (vinyl only) and also the "Stink" Ep, a tape consisting of 7 songs distributed at gigs with tracks from the first demo. One further demo of 3 tracks was recorded in Surbiton in 1982 funded by Funkie Fergie. Both farewell gigs are on tape also, but the Moonlight club tape is not one any of the band have now (get in touch if you have it). The inability to play properly, the close association to our mates that came religiously to the gigs and the banter and good-hearted abuse (don't be a stiff!!) at live gigs was what The Steroids were about. However, as the members developed musically, politically and socially the limitation were becoming apparent and it was a clear indication that this time it was obviously for everyone to simply move and start new bands - Ability simply did not stink anymore.!!

In 1983 Gerard went on to form properly "Flowers in the Dustbin" (was prior a project between the 2 farewell gigs) with Chas Loft, Kappa was the very brief original drummer before joining Dev's "Toms Midnight Garden" after he was kicked out of Flowers. Si with Bill Mahoney played for "Fear", before also joining "Flowers in the Dustbin". Steve Steroid went on to be lead vocalist in "Union of Fear", which Jason was also guitarist in. Other bands created or a steroid had played for, but not yet mentioned included: Lance Hahn's "Cringer", First of May", "Hooligann", "Hyperactive", "Law of the West", "Local Resistance", "Mind the Gap", "Noize", "Seventh Wave", "While Angels Watch", "Zero Beat". .... Gerard aka "George Berger" is the author of both the official "CRASS" and "LEVELLERS" official biographies, Si is on the law bench and both Kappa and Steve run their own business. fuck work, normals on the rampage...WAS IT ALWAYS A TOTAL SWINDLE??

Finally, the last ever recording came many years later in 1992, when a drunken version of 2.2 kids after an extremely heavy session on what was immediately named the "Steroids special cocktail Mix". Gerard had gone to Kappa's studio at his home in Plumstead to record several new demo songs he had with a female vocalist; this lead to the usual drinking session that went on into the night and to celebrate the nostalgic banter the track was recorded (originally only drum and bass) to celebrate the legendary alcoholic drink Cheech and Chong style piss take style. It culminated fond memories of the past!

After nearly 30 years 3 original members, Kap, Si, Steve plus number one fan Bill agreed to perform on the 22nd September 2012 in aid of old pal Dev's celebration to Tom's Midnight Garden. It was named Stink 2012 and was a great gathering of old friends and a welcoming to new people that had not see the bands at the time. The Stink continued with a further date at the Bar 12 on the 29th of December 2012 called "Stinkmas", with Dev replacing Si on guitar. 2013 saw a private gig for Wattie to celebrate his 50th and a Stink by the sea supporting Broken Bones which was unfortunately cancelled with short notice. Nex gig will be with TV Smith, 16 Guns, The Crows and Rage DC at the 12 Bar on the 6th of December which we have called "Stink & Smith".

What we were about:

No one really got the point on what we were about at the time. Yeah we were into punk and dressed like punks with certainly a punk attitude, but we were not there to preach anarchy, chaos or trying to convert anyone to beat the system. We just simply wanted a laugh with our mates and cause a stink wherever we went, get drunk and play some tunes, no matter how badly or with whoever's instruments.

The many pow faced Anarcho's (many being ex public or private school kids.. you know the stiff intellectual types at school) despised us as we did not take things seriously and we were even banned from Wapping anarchist centre. Fucking banned.. how ridiculous is that. Hats off and a lot of respect to those that are still preaching those messages now. It's farcical that many succumbed or embraced even the system they said they hated. I suppose growing up was something to do with it as well as many other factors which may sound political so we will refrain.

Well with that clarified, the spirit of stink still lives and we will consider gig offers ... hooray!!