EXTREME NOISE TERROR
Grindcore pioneers Extreme Noise Terror formed in Britain in early 1985, originally comprising vocalists Phil Vane and Dean Jones, guitarist Pete Hurley, bassist Mark Bailey, and drummer Pig Killer; after just one live appearance, the group was signed to Manic Ears Records, soon releasing a split LP with Chaos UK titled Radioactive. Pig Killer then left the group, with Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris coming aboard as his replacement. Winning the admiration of Radio One DJ John Peel, Extreme Noise Terror recorded a notorious session for Peel's show in 1987, their first of many appearances on the program. Drummer Tony "Stick" Dickens replaced Harris to record the band's first full-length effort, A Holocaust in My Head; in the wake of their sophomore record, Phonophobia, ENT collaborated with the KLF on a cover of the latter's "3am Eternal" which earned "Single of the Week" honors in NME. Extreme Noise Terror's appearance at the 1992 Brit Awards triggered a national furor after the band aimed a machine gun at the audience, firing off a round of blanks. Over the next two years, the group toured relentlessly, adding guitarist Ali Firouzbakht and substituting bassist Lee Barrett for the exiting Bailey. Original drummer Pig Killer also returned to fold for 1995's Retro-bution, but left again after only a few months; his replacement was former Cradle of Filth member Was. More serious was the defection of Vane, who joined Napalm Death; ironically, ex-Napalm Death frontman Mark "Barney" Greenaway then joined ENT, making his debut on 1997's Damage 381. In It for Life followed two years later. -- Jason Ankeny