The Astronauts - In Defence of Compassion

Originally released by Acid Stings Records in January 1990,
and available on compact disc for the first time. Remastered
from the original master tapes 2020. CD/DL includes 10 bonus
lo-fi tracks, most of which have never been released before.

Inspired by the UK punk explosion Mark Astronaut formed the band with a few friends
in 1977 and began playing local gigs in their hometown of Welwyn Garden City. By
1979 The Astronauts were regularly appearing at free festivals and gigs in London
organised by a hippy collective known as Fuck Off Records and from these began a
close friendship with punk bands the Mob and Zounds. The first Astronauts EP was
released on local label Bugle Records & an EP was released under the assumed name
of Restricted Hours on the Stevenage Rock Against Racism label.
By 1980 gigs throughout England with Zounds had won them many fans and their 2nd
‘Pranksters In Revolt’ EP sold all its copies within weeks. Like many great bands
from the post-punk era The Astronauts were completely ignored by the UK music press
which then as now was only interested in anything fashionable or middle class.

The debut album ‘Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs’ was released by Bugle / Genius Records in 1981 to widespread acclaim. Incredibly it received great reviews in virtually all the UK music press. Full of heartfelt folk ballads and acid-punk freak-outs featuring Nik Turner, on later LPs joined by legendary jazz saxophonist Lol Coxhill. Throughout 1982-1985 there were hundreds of gigs with the many anarcho punk bands of the era, the contradiction of heavy chaotic punk performances and structured melodic alternative folk-punk songs continues to this day.

The Nurse
Flashpoint
Suburbs
Subversion
Cold Climate / Problems
Smelborp
Secret File part 1
Behind the Mirrors
Secret File part 2
Sudden Pause

Vocals: Mark Astronaut
Guitar: Chris Bland
Bass: Terry Cain
Drums: Martin Meadows
Additional guitar: Jason Gray
Additional synthesiser: Alex Cable