Nipple Erectors

One of the most chaotic and uncompromising bands on the British punk scene, The Nipple Erectors released four singles and one album in their lifetime, none of which were heard much beyond the scene itself. They're remembered today not for their music, but for their singer, future Pogues' frontman Shane Macgowan.



It was an unusual conglomerate that came together in 1977. Macgowan, himself, was already famous, if only for getting himself onto the cover of the music paper Sounds. "The Face of '76," as the cover was titled, appeared with blood streaming down his face, as the epitome of punkdom, in an infamous photo taken at The Clash's ICA show in London. A regular scenester and tear-about, Macgowan, better-known as O'Hooligan back then, was renowned for his out-of-control behavior and the blood came courtesy of an ear bite.