Perhaps one of the longest-lasting and most significant fixtures in U.K. punk, and a landmark for women in punk worldwide, Vice Squad is a band whose legacy speaks for itself. Centered around the charismatic and influential frontwoman, songwriter, and vocalist Beki Bondage, Vice Squad has risen to the top of the punk scene, disbanded, reunited, shifted sounds, and yet, never lost touch with their punk roots. Throughout their storied career, which continues to shine in new generations of punk thanks to releases like 2014’s Cardboard Country and 2020’s holiday album Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Vice Squad has maintained an undeniable presence in the punk pantheon, and today, we celebrate where this longevity all started.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we have an electrifying performance from Vice Squad that should put to rest any questions as to why their career has outlasted most of their peers. This footage comes from 1982, one year after Vice Squad released their seminal debut, No Cause for Concern. This week, we experience a raw, chugging performance of “Last Rockers,” a highlight from the LP that explodes with the singularity and passion that earned Vice Squad its timelessness.
