The Desperate Bicycles were an English punk band from London that started in 1977. They made and released several recordings on their own label, Refill Records, during the late 1970s. These recordings inspired many other bands to create and share their own music independently. The Desperate Bicycles helped start the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach in punk music, showing others that making music could be simple and affordable. They encouraged others with the message: "It was easy, it was cheap – go and do it!" The group is often called "DIY's most fervent evangelists" for their strong support of the DIY movement.

History

The Desperate Bicycles formed in March 1977 "specifically for the purpose of recording and releasing a single on their own label." The band originally included Nicky Stephens (keyboards), Roger Stephens (bass), Danny Wigley (vocals), Mel Oxer (drums), and Paul LeClerc (guitar). The band's name comes from a part of J. B. Priestley’s 1930 novel Angel Pavement.

In October 1978, vocalist Danny Wigley explained the band’s independent approach: "The biggest hurdle is just believing you’ve still got some control over your life, that you can go out and do it."

In March 1977, the Desperate Bicycles booked a studio in Dalston, East London, to record their first single. The band had only an amp and a bass guitar; the studio provided the other instruments. With courage and some practice, they recorded two songs: "Smokescreen" and "Handlebars." The first record was released in August 1977 as a limited edition of 500 copies on the band’s own label, Refill Records. It cost £153 to make, including three hours of studio time, pressing, and sleeves. The record was unusual because it had the same songs on both sides and was a mono recording. The song "Handlebars" ends with the band’s message: "It was easy, it was cheap—go and do it!" Roger Stephens and Danny Wigley sold the "Smokescreen" single to small record shops and distributors like Virgin and Rough Trade. The first pressing sold out in four months, making the band a profit of £210. They used this money to make a second pressing of 1,000 copies, which sold out in two weeks. The profit from this was used to fund their second single.

Soon after recording "Smokescreen," the drummer and guitarist left the band. The drummer was replaced by Dave Papworth, who was 14 years old. The new lineup recorded two more songs, "The Medium was Tedium" and "Don't Back the Front," in June 1977. The second single was released in February 1978 in a pressing of 1,000 copies and sold out in one week. "The Medium was Tedium" includes the line "It was easy, it was cheap—go and do it!" as a repeated message. "Don't Back the Front" has the lines: "Cut it, press it, distribute it / Xerox music's here at last." For the Desperate Bicycles, "do-it-yourself" meant rejecting the traditional music industry and creating their own music to share with others. The profit from their second single was used to print 2,500 more copies of their singles and buy new equipment.

In the second half of 1977, after releasing their single, the band was invited to perform at Eric’s Club in Liverpool. They were not ready for live shows, as their main goal was to make and sell records. However, they practiced the songs they had recorded and wrote new ones. They rented a rehearsal space in South London, which was in a basement and soundproofed with cardboard boxes. On New Year’s Eve 1977, the band traveled to Liverpool for their first gig. In May 1978, an EP called New Cross was released, containing six of the new songs they had written.

In 1978, the band performed occasionally, including a Rock Against Racism benefit with Sham 69. In July of that year, they released another single.

By October 1979, Roger Stephens and Dave Papworth were replaced by Dan "Electro"/Driscoll (guitar) and Geoff Titley (drums), with Nicky Stephens taking over bass guitar. Their album Remorse Code was released in February 1980 and reached number 10 on the UK Indie Chart. The Desperate Bicycles disbanded in 1981.

In 1981, Danny Wigley and Geoff Titley, along with Dennis Burns and Cameron Allan, formed a new band called Lusty Ghosts. They released a cassette on the Refill label.

The music of the Desperate Bicycles has been described as having "spindly, fuzzy, guttural guitars through puny amplifiers, reedy, wheezy organs, out-of-tune electric pianos, cardboard box drums, and monotonous yet reasonable-sounding vocals." Another reviewer called them "a shambling wreck of a psychedelic post-punk band." Simon Reynolds noted that their music was "almost puritan in its unadorned simplicity, its guitar sound frugal to the point of emaciation."

The Desperate Bicycles were a group of amateur musicians who stayed independent. Their recordings show their love for the creative and technical process of making music. Their example, energy, and message of "go and do it!" inspired many punk and post-punk bands in the UK and beyond. After the band ended, the members stayed true to their principles by refusing interviews and allowing their music to be reissued.

Discography

• Smokescreen 7-inch single (Refill Records RR-1; August 1977) – "Smokescreen" / "Handlebars".
• The Medium was Tedium 7-inch single (Refill Records RR-2; February 1978) – "The Medium was Tedium" / "Don't Back the Front".
• New Cross, New Cross 7-inch EP (Refill Records RR-3; May 1978) – "(I Make the) Product" / "Paradise Lost" / "Advice on Arrest" / "Holidays" / "The Housewife Song" / "Cars".
• Occupied Territory 7-inch single (Refill Records RR-4; July 1978) – "Occupied Territory" / "Skill".
• John Peel session (July 1978) – "Smokescreen" / "Skill" / "Sarcasm" / "Teacher's Prayer".
• Remorse Code LP (Refill Records RR-6; February 1980) – "I Am Nine" / "Walking the Talking Channel" / "A Can of Lemonade" / "Pretty Little Analyse" / "Acting" / "It’s Somebody’s Birthday Today" / "Sarcasm" / "Trendy Feelings" / "Natural History" / "Blasting Radio".
• Grief is Very Private EP (Refill Records RR-7; 1980) – "Grief is Very Private" / "Obstructive" / "Conundrum".