Definitive, career-spanning five-CD box set from influential Geordie post-punk band who still play shows to this day. Formed by fusing the energy of punk with the artistic values of musical theatre, Punishment Of Luxury were born in Gateshead, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne at the end of 1976. Their acclaimed debut single, Puppet Life, was issued on leading indie label Small Wonder in 1978, prompting a deal with United Artists for debut album The Laughing Academy (1979) and several singles.
After being dropped by UA, Punishment Of Luxury (sometimes known as Punilux) continued to tour, selling copies of their aborted second album Revolution By Numbers (sold as Gigantic Days in 1981 by mail-order). In due course, the band signed to independent label Red Rhino, recording a mini-album 7 and spin-off single Hold Me (Never Mould Me) in 1983. Thereafter, singer / guitarist Neville Atkinson (as Nevilluxury) issued a solo album for Red Rhino entitled Feels Like Dancing Wartime (1984).
The band occasionally reconvened to make records (namely, 1989’s Hi Alien and 2011’s mini-LP 5) and have played intermittent live shows. Meanwhile, their influence was obvious – just compare their debut single Puppet Life with Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand for evidence or even Excess Bleeding Heart from Laughing Academy with Babylon’s Burning by The Ruts.
Coordinated with help from Neville Atkinson, Puppet Life offers the complete recorded output of Punilux down the years. All their tracks for Small Wonder, United Artists and Red Rhino are joined by a previously unissued John Peel session from 1978, a whole disc’s worth of hitherto unheard live material – including excerpts from a planned live album at the Nashville, a previously unissued Red Rhino track slated as a single and more. Neville has also contributed unique sleeve-notes and visuals for the booklet.