About Destructors

The Destructors (aka The Blanks, Destructors V) are a punk rock band from Peterborough, England, formed in 1977 and active with a varying lie-up until 1984. They re-formed as Destructors 666 in 2006. The band was formed by former 6ck 6ck 6ck members Allen Adams (vocals), Phil Atterson (guitar), and Dip (Paul Wicks) (bass), along with a varying line-up including Andy Butler (drums). They changed their name to The Blanks before their controversial debut 1979 single, "The Northern Ripper" (released at the time that The Yorkshire Ripper was on the loose). The Destructors name was resurrected by Adams and Jackson with a new line-up of Neil Singleton (vocals), Andy McDonald (drums), and 'Dave' (lead guitar), with Jackson and Dave replaced by Dave Ithermee (rhythm guitar) and Graham "Gizz" Butt (lead guitar, formerly of The System, among other bands) before their next release, 1982's Senseless Violence EP. Butt took on the job of writing about half of the band's music, with Adams writing the lyrics. Singleton remembered the songs: "They could be very complicated and a right bastard to remember. He also seemed to have a fixation with serial killers!". A series of EPs and two albums followed before 1984's final album Bomb Hanoi, Bomb Saigon, Bomb Disneyland. The band split shortly after Bomb Hanoi, their records never living up to their live shows, and the band members falling out. According to Singleton: "I don't think we ever made a really good record! They never ever lived up to our live shows; We were so much better on stage". Of the frictions within the band, Butt said: "Neil couldn't get on with Alan, and me and Dave didn't want Andy on drums any more. We weren't happy with Alan organising everything and neglecting his bass-playing role". Adams immediately formed a new band, Five Go Mad In Europe, and resurrected the band name as Destructors V in 1984. Singleton went on to front Trench Fever. Butt went on to form The Desecrators, joined English Dogs, and later formed Janus Stark, also playing guitar with The Prodigy. The band name was resurrected again in 2006 as Destructors 666, with former members Adams, Dave Colton, and Steve Rolls joined by a (largely) new group of musicians. They released a series of EPs from 2006 onwards and continue to perform live.