Ian Smith  (Vocals)
Billy Cowie  (Keyboards)
Simon Lewis (Drums)
Rob Hayes  (Guitar)
Ian Porter  (Bass)

Birds With Ears

Formed in 1980 when the five members were all students at the Art College and Sussex Uni, they developed a post-punk funk sound around a tight rhythm section: Smith’s sneering, theatrical vocals and music teacher Billy Cowie’s imaginative keyboard arrangements. 

With influences from afar as Viv Stanshall, 60’s west coast r & b and poltico-dance bands like The Gang Of Four and Pigbag, Birds With Ears originally had two vocalists, one of them a female. She was Laurie Morris, who left the band in late 1980.

Around the time their bizarre ‘Head In My Bag’ was included on the final Attrix compilation album Vaultage 80

When the Chefs hot-footed it up to the big smoke in the new year of 1981, Attrix Records saw Birds With Ears as their salvation and risked all by funding an entire album, which was full of songs about cannibalism, grave-robbing, decapitation and, er, Danny Kaye.

Popular live, the band played to packed houses in Brighton and London with an outrageous show featuring Ian Smith decked out in a bird-shit spattered tux, strobe lights and amazing sound effects.  

But sadly John Peel didn’t dig the album, and although an unreleased single was recorded, Attrix couldn’t afford to issue it. The album, ‘Youthinasia’, didn’t sell – although it has now become a cult item.

• NEW! Read a 1980 interview with
the band in Voltage fanzine as downloadable pdf. Voltage was formerly known as Situation Butane, compiled by the Atrrix shop team of Stuart and Shaun Jones and Robin Banks. Interview conducted by Trish Franklyn.

• NEW! These are the first six tracks from the BWE album Youthinasia on Attrix records.

In the coming months we will be making further tracks available (two per month) until the whole album is uploaded, followed by a surprise bonus to round it off. Blimey we're good to you lot!

Ian Smith writes:

March 2007
Just a note to say how chuffed I am to be included on the new improved website - I was wondering why I had been getting a few very nice e-mails from giggers who remember Birds With Ears and are now investigating the nonsense done since then - must be something to do with your site.

Also - you've got a downloadable track of ours (Fit to Burst) that I haven't even got myself, so I'm well happy. God knows where you lifted the portrait painting from, I don't remember that being 'out there' - someone's done their research!

Anyway, the site is fantastic, absolutely brilliant, and please send regards to Stuart, whose memoirs are a great read. What with the Zap Club shortly producing a memoir book of 25 years, I hope my contribution saluting the Tuesday Night Veterans gets in, because the punky spirit was certainly upheld by the likes of Captain Stupid (sic) and Gary Hawke through their regular raving platform spots during the eighties.

We're all history, baby! Warmest regards to all the survivors. Anyone wanting to check out current nonsense can explore www.mischieflabas.co.uk which apart from anything else, might encourage 'youngsters' to have faith in the fact you don't have to get 'a proper job' - or fall for the audition pop idol crap system - just form a band, dance company, circus whatever and get on with it. Make mischief. Ian Smith

Birds With Ears album Youth In Asia