Well, the penultimate song as we approach a mini- milestone here on the Little Indie Train That Could website could only be from one band couldn’t it…?

Many of you have heard me wax on as recently as January 20, 2025 about the life-altering SPECIALS 🇬🇧 in 1980 by THE SPECIALS I attended that sentenced me to a lifetime of indie.

However, the second punk- indie gig I ever attended was also at the Premier Center.

The band was comprised of 4 lads from London, UK 🇬🇧

999 was their name.* High energy punk was their claim to fame.

[*Ed. Note- 999 is the British Emergency phone number like 911 in North America.]

The set started with original bassist JON WATSON alone on stage under a single light strumming an intoxicating bass line for what seemed like forever. I didn’t want it to stop. Then the other 3 band members walked on stage and began bringing the house down with a loud but somewhat more tuneful punk blast. Singer NICK CASH was careening around the stage, while his brother Guy Days played pure punk guitar over the drumming of Pablo LaBritain.

This is what it sort of sounded and looked like…

I was gobsmacked by the power, energy and abandon of the music.

Although formed in 1976, and through some fits and restarts, the core of the band is essentially still around and touring quite extensively.

Here is both a studio and a live version of their most well known track – “Homicide’ for your listening pleasure as we celebrate this milestone posting.

And live they were beyond sensational

(SONG 999!)

PLAY LOUD OR PERISH

Feb. 27, 2025