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Be My Guest

Steve ‘Wispa’ Cundall is the original bassist and, more recently, vocalist of The Drones. Recognised as one of Manchester punk’s most highly rated foundational bassists, his playing style and stage presence are cited in many retrospectives on the city’s punk history.

Gus ‘Gangrene’ Callender was the lead guitarist in The Drones during their classic 1970s line-up. He played on key early recordings, including Temptations of a White Collar Worker — EP, 1977 — Further Temptations — album, 1977 — and ‘Bone Idol’ — single, 1977.

These releases are now regarded as classics of the era’s punk catalogue. Gus also played with Martin and Glenn in Bitch, Jon the Postman’s Psychedelic Rock ’N’ Roll 5 Skinners and, briefly, in a 1978 Skrewdriver line-up.

Mark Philips was the lead guitarist for punk rock band The Killjoys, formed in Birmingham in 1976. Philips was a founding member alongside vocalist Kevin Rowland — who later formed Dexys Midnight Runners — and drummer Lee Burton.

He was key to the band’s early sound and played on the band’s most notable release on Raw Records, the 1977 single ‘Johnny Won’t Get to Heaven’.

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How It Came Together

“Our good friend and Drones punk legend, ‘Wispa’ Cundall, joined us for vocals and bass on this track, alongside ex-Killjoys guitarist Mark Philips.

‘All for Nothing’ has an interesting pedigree.

It was written in late 1978, with lyrics by Martin Jackson, who had recently left Magazine to form a new band called 8.5. Glenn, Wispa and the late Gus Gangrene were also in the 8.5 line-up, which burned brightly but very briefly.

Stan had already started planning the album when Gus passed, and we were gutted we couldn’t have him on it somewhere.

But thanks to the miracles of modern technology, Ed managed to sample Gus from an original radio show recording of the track from 1979 and have him join us in 2026.

Stan — and no doubt Gus — would be buzzing to know Ed found a way!”

Martin Smith