The Kronstadt Uprising were a Punk band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, that existed between 1981-1987. The roots of the band lay in an outfit called 'The Bleeding Pyles', a band formed by drummer Steve Pegrum in 1980. In early 1981 Steve linked up with fellow local punks Spencer Blake (Vocals) and Paul Lawson (Guitar). A Bassist, Mick Grant, was drafted in and the band played their first gig together at Thorpedean Community Centre on the 19th of August 1981. Mick left the band after this to pursue his religious aspirations, and in September 1981, a new Bassist, Andy Fisher was recruited. The then stable line up played a series of gigs and local concerts at the Focus Centre and the Cliffs Pavillion Maritime Room. The four piece were now developing some very potent material, and decided upon a name change for the band in late 1981, The Kronstadt Uprising was born.

Also, on the 29th November a demo was recorded at the Elephant Studios, Wapping, London, and a track from this, 'Receiver Deceiver' was sent to the band Crass, who chose it to go their compilation album of various punk artists, 'Bullshit Detector Two', which was released the following year. After more concerts, in May 1982 the Kronstadt Vocalist Spencer Blake left the band and it was then decided that guitarist Paul Lawson would take over the vocal duties, in addition to playing the guitar. This line up played many concerts in and around London and the South-East and in September 1982 recorded a four-track ep called 'The Unknown Revolution' for the Spiderleg label. After some delay, the record was released in 1983 and the band gigged extensively to promote the release. In January 1983 a further member - Nick 'Filf'' Robinson joined the band on second guitar until August 1983 when he departed.

Late 1983/early 1984 saw the trio of Steve Paul and Andy rehearsing and developing a new sound, much influenced by the Dead Boys, Hanoi Rocks, Johnny Thunders, but with the Kronstadt's own unique perspective. Further recordings were made at Pet Sounds Studios in Kennington, London, but after three years together the various members wanted to move on, the inevitable musical differences occurred, and in March 1984 the first incarnation of the Kronstadt Uprising came to an end.

Drummer Steve Pegrum, having written much of the bands material, decided to continue the band and set about recruiting new members. Murray Blake joined on Guitar, Stuart Emmerton on Bass, ex-singer Spencer Blake briefly stood in the vocal limelight until Gary Smith (ex-The Get) joined permanently on vocals. After formulating a set in 1984, the band recorded a demo of new material in April 1985 at Diploma Studios, Wickford, and subsequently released two of the tracks - 'Part of the Game' and 'The Horsemen' on Dog Rock Records. About a month after the release, in June 1985, Kevin de Groot joined the band on Lead Guitar and an intense period of gigging and recording was embarked upon.

In 1986, the Kronstadt Uprising played a triumphant concert at the Southend-on-Sea College of Technology on the 16th of May. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the final concert of the bands career. The reasons for the bands dissolution were many, but it essentially revolved around irreconcilable musical differences. Murray left the band in July 1986 and later that year Gary Smith left. The remaining trio of Steve Pegrum, Kevin de Groot and Stuart Emmerton soldiered on for about a year, developing new material and continually auditioning potential vocalists, but no-one suitable was found, and so in November 1987 the Kronstadt banner was finally put away and the Kronstadt Uprising, after six years existence was no more.

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