Blitz
History
Blitz formed in 1980 in the small Derbyshire town of New Mills—far from the London punk epicenter. The original lineup brought together both punks and skinheads with Carl Fisher on vocals, Alan “Nidge” Miller on guitar, Neil “Mackie” McLennan on bass, Charlie Howe on drums. This mix of subcultures shaped a sound that was raw, melodic, and unmistakably working‑class. Although often labeled an Oi! band, Blitz themselves insisted they were simply punk.
Blitz quickly caught the attention of Sounds magazine writer Garry Bushell, a major supporter of the emerging Oi! scene. After hearing their demo in 1981, Bushell featured “Nation on Fire” and “Youth” on the influential Carry On Oi! compilation, giving the band national exposure. Despite this early support, guitarist Nidge Miller later distanced himself from Bushell.
Their debut EP, All Out Attack (1981/82), became a landmark release. Selling out quickly—over 20,000 copies independently—it established Blitz as the flagship band of No Future Records and helped bridge punk and skinhead audiences with its aggressive but tuneful style.
In 1982, Blitz released their first full‑length album, Voice of a Generation, now considered a classic of Oi! and street punk. It charted on the UK indie listings and captured the social tension of early‑1980s Britain with tracks like “Someone’s Gonna Die” and “Warriors.” This era cemented Blitz as one of the defining bands of the movement.
In 1983, Blitz made a dramatic stylistic shift with Second Empire Justice, moving away from Oi! toward a darker, post‑punk/new‑wave sound reminiscent of Joy Division or Killing Joke. While musically ambitious, the change alienated many fans and the album was a commercial disappointment. Internal tensions grew, and by the early 1990s the original band had split due to musical differences.
Nidge Miller revived the Blitz name in the early 1990s, releasing a couple of albums as The Killing Dream (1990) and New Breed EP (1992). On these recordings, Miller played nearly all instruments himself, with vocals by Gary Basnett of Attak. Blitz continued in various touring lineups through the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2007, Miller reformed Blitz once again with new members and toured under the band’s name. Tragically, on February 10, 2007, he was struck by a car in Austin, Texas, and died from his injuries—bringing Blitz’s long, turbulent history to an end.
Blitz’s influence is enormous. Their early work helped define Oi! and street punk, inspiring countless punk, hardcore, and even metal bands. Their willingness to experiment—especially on Second Empire Justice—earned them a cult following among post‑punk fans. Even though the band often insisted they were simply punk, Blitz remains one of the most important and enduring names associated with the Oi! movement.
Discography
Official Productions
1981 – All Out Attack – EP
1982 – Never Surrender / Razors in the Night 7″
1982 – Warriors 7″
1982 – Voice of a Generation – LP
1983 – New Age / Fatigue 7″
1983 – Solar / Husk 7″
1983 – Second Empire Justice – LP
1983 – Telecommunications / Teletron 7″
1988 – Blitzed – An All Out Attack – LP
1989 – The Killing Dream – LP
1993 – Best of Blitz – CD
1994 – Blitz Hits – CD
1999 – The Complete Blitz Singles Collection
2000 – Voice of a Generation: The No Future Years
2001 – Punk Singles & Rarities 1980-83
2005 – Never Surrender (Best Of)
Samplers
1981 – Carry on Oi
1982 – Punk And Disorderly (Someone’s Gonna Die)
1987 – Seeds IV Punk
1996 – The Crazy World of Punk
???? – Oi! Chartbusters Vol 1-2-3-4