The March Violets on Post-Punk’s Origins

On Wednesday, November 6, the Urban Lounge welcomes Metropolis Records artists The March Violets. Ahead of the show, SLUG chatted with frontwoman Rosie Garland about the band’s history and what prompts their creativity.

The March Violets are one of the original post-punk bands to come out of Leeds in the early 1980s. It was a time where new technology presented blank soundscapes to be filled with many types of sounds. Garland describes the creative environment as “a scene that had no name but was bursting with ideas.”

“Hey, we were in our twenties, and your twenties are for flailing. We all did our fair share of flailing.”

The four “Violets” met in Leeds while attending college. Garland feels that college was crucial for music in the 1980s as the student funding allowed collaborations between diverse young people. If you combine that with the lack of parental control and a sense of adventure, the possibilities were limitless. 

The group is really proud of everything they achieved, though just like every other band in history, they had internal issues. Unfortunately, this eventually led to a band breakup. When it comes to reflections on those intentions, she says, “Hey, we were in our twenties, and your twenties are for flailing.” She adds, “We all did our fair share of flailing.”

The band distantly kept in touch with each other over the years and started becoming closer again in 2006. The creativity within them was at near bursting point and the band felt a reunion was crucial, as they realized they had songs to write and the urge to perform. They had overcome their differences and it was time to get back to the stage. The band reformed with original members Garland on female vocals, Tom Ashton on guitars and Simon Denbigh on male vocals. Their reunion show was in their hometown of Leeds in December 2007. The crowd’s incredible response to their performance sealed the deal. Garland says, “The audience made it clear they were delighted to see us back and wanted much more.” Bass player and vocalist Mat Thorpe was added to the lineup at a later date.

“Maybe that’s the key. We channeled our unruly, wild mess into the music.”

The band members also have other creative outlets and merging them together is one of the reasons the members work so well together—their talents appear to be limitless. Some of these talents include Garland’s award-winning poetry and novels. Her latest novel The Fates is a spin on the ancient Greek myth of the Fates. All of her novels start with the question of  “what if?” She asks, “What if there’s another side to the story?” “What happens when the Fates tell their own version of events for the very first time?”

Garland also survived a battle with throat cancer in 2010, so cancer research is an important cause for her. She is grateful for the hard work of the charity she supports and says it is filled with amazing people. It seems the Fates had a special plan for her. 

Ashton has his own recording studio, SubVon Studio and has worked with the likes of Vision Video, Tears for the Dying and Boston band GOSSIP COLLAR on new tracks. Thorpe’s current solo musical project is Spes Pvblica. In addition to music, he creates customized jewelry from exotic hardwoods and precious metals.

When the March Violets originally reunited, they didn’t sit down and plot a five-year plan complete with a mission statement. They were more chaotic than that, just following their creative process as it came. “Maybe that’s the key,” Garland says. “We channeled our unruly, wild mess into the music.” The music just poured out of them and they put it down on a tape recording. 

“It was a grim and difficult time of political and social upheaval and the Violets are still exploring that dark geography.”

When it comes to the band’s current creative process, there are similarities between today’s political and social issues and those in Leeds during the 1980s. She says, “It was a grim and difficult time of political and social upheaval and the Violets are still exploring that dark geography.” The world’s current state has prompted an urge to create and there is an abundance of issues to write about for the band. An example of the lyrical content of the album can be heard on the track “Crocodile Teeth.” This track explores lies, manipulation and gaslighting tactics that are common in today’s relationships. The track warns, “Don’t believe a crocodile, whatever it promises.”

The band is excited for the release of Crocodile Promises with Metropolis Records, as it is their first album in 11 years. They are looking forward to presenting the album to Salt Lake City in their customary purple color. Garland says, “We love playing the new songs live—in fact, our fans are already singing along to them.” 

There is no need for parlor tricks and dry ice effects at the Urban Lounge on November 6.  You can expect a show filled with music and talent that set the expectations of the post-punk genre. The night opens with Germany’s band Die So Fluid and Chicago-based group Wingtips. Get your tickets here!

Read more interviews by Mistress Nancy:
Reflections on the Future: Man-Made Men
Contaminated Intelligence: Unbroken Brotherly Bonds