Demented Are Go

Demented Are Go are a legendary psychobilly band from Wales who’ve been causing chaos since the early 1980s. They formed in 1982 in Penarth, near Cardiff, and quickly became one of the key bands in the second wave of psychobilly. Their sound mixes fast, aggressive punk energy with rockabilly rhythms and a heavy dose of horror, dark humor, and B-movie madness. They’re loud, messy in the best way, and completely unapologetic about it. 

The band is best known for their wild live shows and their larger-than-life frontman, Mark “Sparky” Phillips. Sparky’s intense, unhinged stage presence became a huge part of the band’s identity and helped build their cult reputation. Demented Are Go gigs were never just concerts -they were unpredictable events where anything could happen, which only added to their appeal in underground punk and psychobilly scenes across Europe and beyond. 

They made a strong impact in the mid-to-late ’80s with albums like 'In Sickness & In Health' and 'Kicked Out of Hell', which helped define what psychobilly would become after the genre’s early pioneers. Their music kept evolving but always stayed raw and frantic, driven by slapped upright bass lines, fast drums, and gritty guitars. Lyrically, they leaned into horror themes, insanity, violence, and dark comedy, often sounding both creepy and tongue-in-cheek at the same time. 

Over the years, the band went through plenty of lineup changes, personal issues, and general rock-and-roll chaos, but they never really disappeared. They kept touring, especially in Europe, and continued putting out records through the ’90s, 2000s, and 2010s. Albums like 'Orgasmic Nightmare', 'Tangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of Hell', 'Hellucifernation', and 'Welcome Back to Insanity Hall' showed that they could age without losing their edge. 

Demented Are Go are now seen as one of the most influential and respected names in psychobilly. Tons of bands that came after them took inspiration from their sound, attitude, and complete disregard for playing it safe. Even decades later, they’re still remembered -and loved- for being loud, twisted, and totally demented in exactly the way their fans want. If you’re into psychobilly, punk, or anything with a darker, crazier vibe, they’re pretty much essential listening.