Raw, rowdy and intensely proletarian, G.B.H. have become the grand old band of street punk. The group formed in Birmingham in 1978, and depending on whom you ask, their name stands for either “grievous bodily harm” or “girls, booze and hash”. The explosive power of singer Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin Blyth and bassist Ross Lomas has carried their unvarnished rock ’n’ roll agenda down through the decades. The band released their first album, 1981’s Leather, Bristles, Studs and Acne, as Charged G.B.H. Like such peers as The Exploited and Discharge, G.B.H.’s members came from a distinctly working-class POV, and from the start, their speedy, streamlined sound had more in common with American hardcore than with the first batch of British punks. Through the decades, they’ve maintained a faithful grassroots following, especially through their explosive live shows. And they’ve been hailed as an influence by generations of thrash bands as well as punks.