Fractured

Fractured were a British neo-rockabilly band that popped up during the mid-1980s, right in the middle of the UK rockabilly and psychobilly revival. They weren’t a mainstream name, but they were very much part of that underground scene where punk energy collided with old-school rock ’n’ roll. Their sound leaned hard on fast tempos, gritty attitude, and that classic slap-bass drive that defined neo-rockabilly at the time.

 
The band are mainly known for their 1987 release 'No Peace For The Wicked', an eight-track mini-album that ended up being their main recorded legacy. It captured exactly what they were about: raw, high-energy rockabilly with a rough edge. Tracks like “Chauffeur Driven Limousine,” “Gamblin’ Man,” and “Sold My Secret” stood out and helped them gain recognition among fans of the scene, even if they never broke into the wider music press. 

Fractured were also a live band first and foremost. They played regularly on the UK circuit and appeared at places like London’s Klub Foot, which was one of the most important venues for psychobilly and alternative rockabilly in the 1980s. Playing there put them alongside a lot of other cult bands from the era and helped cement their reputation with dedicated fans rather than casual listeners. 

Musically, they sat somewhere between straight neo-rockabilly and psychobilly. You could hear strong 1950s rockabilly influences in the guitar and bass, but everything was pushed faster and harder, with a punk-ish edge that matched the attitude of the mid-80s scene. That mix made them fit perfectly into the revival movement without sounding like a pure retro act.

 
Today, Fractured are mostly remembered by collectors and longtime fans of British rockabilly. They’re one of those bands that didn’t last long or release much music, but still get name-checked when people dig deep into the UK neo-rockabilly and psychobilly underground of the 1980s.