While they were a short-lived and unassuming member of the British Punk Explosion, The Adverts left an undeniable legacy. Throughout two albums released in the late ’70s, the band led by T.V. Smith and Gaye Advert aimed for punk domination as they combined tropes from the era with witty and absurd songwriting. The Adverts were early punk provocateurs in the British scene, taking advantage of every opportunity. They were one of the first bands to play at The Roxy, London’s first live punk venue, opened for legends like The Damned and Generation X, and even had a contract with the legendary punk label Stiff Records.
The Adverts ultimately called it quits by 1979, and while tunes like “Bored Teenager” and “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” landed the band on the charts, it’s their live show that bolstered the band into the public eye. For this Golden Age Thursday, we have an electric live performance from The Adverts as they tear down London’s Marquee Club with a performance of “One Chord Wonder.” The opening track to the band’s seminal album, Crossing the Red Sea, “One Chord Wonder,” was the first single The Adverts released with Stiff Records and was used to promote their tour opening for The Damned. This performance is from September of 1977 and captures the raw energy of The Adverts. You can watch the wall of silhouettes that make up the crowd explode as the band launches into their single below.
