Actifed

Actifed, formed in Hounslow, London, never made a great impact outside of the early 80s UK punk scene. The band, which comprised David Rogers (vocals, lead guitar), John Bristow (bass), Clinton Grace (guitar) and Stuart Hemphill (drums), were acclaimed on the London club scene of 1981, and such was their following that they appeared on the front cover of Sounds magazine the following year before they had even released any records. In retrospect, it did them few favours. By the end of the year, the same magazine had crowned them with the ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ award, as no records had been released following protracted contractual problems with the promoter John Curd. Further complications arose with the concern of the pharmaceuticals company Actifed about the use of their name by four young men with antisocial haircuts. The upshot was a crucial delay in the beginning of the band’s recording career. They finally plucked up the courage to ask original singer Weazel to leave on 1 March 1983, prior to 'Dawn Of Legion', a sprightly four-track 12-inch released on Jungle Records, which was produced by former Generation X member Tony James. They then embarked on a major UK tour and a second single, ‘Crucifixion’, followed in June 1984. However, the planned debut album was dropped from the schedules when the group collapsed later that year. This left Actifed to be remembered as a classic case of squandered talent. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]