The Objeks

email from Dawn:

Found your site really late the other night because I am 50 next year and have started to look people up. I remember seeing so many bands and sometimes mixing the bands up and doing gigs like one night when some of us (the Objeks) and Nicky and the Dots got together at the Alhambra. It was also a great time to see visiting bands and sometimes supporting them - bands like the Raincoats, the Au Pairs, Poison Girls and Crass. I was in the Objeks, and the New Objeks.

The Objeks were originally called Vulva Vegan and her Objeks (to cover a lot of our political interests at the time) which consited of Dave (bass) Paul (lead guitar) Heather (drums) Stella (vocals and guitar) me (Dawn) and Kate (vocals). The attached shots are of a gig we did in the basement of the art school (Grand Parade) one night. Kate's not in these shots. Everyone wrote stuff - lyrics, music.

A lot of political actions as well - Troops Out Now, Anti-Corrie bill march, anti-Prevention of Terrorism Act march, Reclaim The Night stuff and arranging benefit gigs for whole days at places like the Resources Centre where a lot of bands used to practice down in the Vault sharing arches and sometimes amps and mikes.

I'm really sorry to hear about Russ, he was a great drummer and good mate in the Brighton days. Jay Derrick is that you? We became the New Objeks later on with Sue from the Reward System playing violin. We recorded Two Boys Talking with her and Piers on guitar - Paul had left Brighton by then. Piers did a lot of cool artwork for Concorde gigs. Attached is the artwork for the Objeks first recording which we did on cassette and used photocopied covers and stamped labels.

It was called 6 Minutes and was about the idea of impending nuclear catastrophe - Reagan had nearly pushed the button - hence the title 6 Minutes. It had a memorable bass line - thanks Dave - and scratchy guitar riffs from Paul aka Gang of Four stylee. I had two secondhand mens' macs. One had 'anti-artist on holiday' sprayed on the back and the other "Public Image you got what you wanted'.

I screen printed extra leopard spots on my flourescent pink sleeveless t-shirt that I wore with my straight lime green trousers from Nasty and black Dr Marten boots. Bren used to cut my hair so it stood up brushlike at the front and I dyed it a reddy orange. I remember a great jumper that I got given as a present from this cool woman who made crochet work with metal chains built in. I kept it for years.

Bren hope you are still recovering - where are you now? Colin you always were late...really late...would love to see you both. I shared a house in the middle of a car park in Lewes Road at the time, it was surreal - a house in the middle of a secondhand car dealers, that repeated bass line, 4 people, a crazy cat, one orange marigold (when it flowered) and every morning a house filling with carbon monoxide because the dealer tested the engines in turn and the front door didn't fit.

My room was covered in Rough Trade posters and had a double leather Mercedes Benz seat inherited from the guy who lived in it before I moved from Brighton to London with two black bin bags - one for dirty clothes and one clean and a few books and cassettes. I've been living here ever since. Rick and Julie were great people - Attrix was a hub - it was amazing to be in Brighton during that time and just be a part of all that energy and life. Love Dawn objek. Coming soon: Objeks np3'a

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Featured on Vaultage 80

Sue Bradley | New Objeks | August 2009
Hi punk daddy.I played the violin on the ‘2boys talking’ track which you have credited on the jukebox to ‘The Objeks’ but I think we were the‘New Objeks’ by then. An important distinction! Sue Bradley

David Roughton | Objeks/New Objeks | April 2008
Hi, I was the bass player in the Objeks and New Objeks - and we did a recording of 2 songs when we turned into the New Objeks – I came across a cassette of these songs and have converted to mp3. The quality is a bit naff as it was not a master tape but a copy on cassette tape (seems like years ago – jeez it was years ago!) Please add them to your excellent web site: ‘Two boys talking’ and ‘Watch Television’. I also have the artwork for the cassette which I will scan and send later. One day I will find the time to send some of the photos I took when doing the Brighton bands calendar – if I can find the negatives…. 
Dawn: I have the wavs as well if you want them – I’m sure they can be improved. Best wishes, David