999

A veteran act on the London punk scene, 999 have outlived most of their peers from punk's first major splash in 1977. 999 didn't often employ the speedy tempos that others embraced; instead, they played tough, straightforward rock, while the disciplined shout of Nick Cash, an effective instrument for their confrontational lyrics, gave their music a rebellious edge that pushed the songs forward. Their second album, 1978's Separates, showed off their stripped-down original sound, while 1980's The Biggest Prize in Sport traded a bit of punk snarl for catchier melodies and a more anthemic rock & roll sound. After breaking up for several years, 999 returned in the '90s with You Us It! (1993) and Takeover (1998) demonstrating that their take on punk stood the test of time. They continued to tour and record into the new millennium; in 2020, Bish! Bash! Bosh! delivered punky pop tunes with a political slant.