Alphabet Beats #091: N is for....999 (Nine Nine Nine)

N is for....

999 are an English punk rock band, formed in London in December, 1976. From the period of 1976 to 1985, the lineup of 999 consisted of Nick Cash (vocals, guitar), Guy Days (lead guitar), Jon Watson (bass) and Pablo LaBrittain (drums). (As a result of injuries sustained in a motor accident, LaBrittain was temporarily replaced by drummer Ed Case aka Paul Edwards in 1980.) Jon Watson left the band in 1985; being replaced by Danny Palmer, who remained with the band until 1991. Palmer was replaced by Arturo Bassick, who remains the bass player with 999 to this date.

Between 1978 and 2007, 999 released fourteen singles and twelve studio albums. Five of the singles released by 999 between 1978 and 1981 charted within the Top 75 in the UK Singles Chart, with one further single released by 999 in 1978, Homicide, charting within the Top 40. In addition, as a result of extensive touring in the United States in the early 1980s, the band's third and fourth studio albums: The Biggest Prize in Sport and Concrete, each charted on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Despite having formed in 1976, 999 have only experienced two permanent changes to their original lineup and has continued to record and play live to the present day.

Click on THE LINKS to enjoy the music of 999.

 The Albums (*just a track from album rather than full album)
    999 (March 1978, United Artists Records, UAG 30199) # 53 UK Albums Chart.
    Separates (September 1978, United Artists, UAG 30209)
    High Energy Plan (U.S./Canada Release only: 1979, PVC / Radar / Passport)* Based upon Separates, it replaced various album tracks with various singles
    The Biggest Prize in Sport (January 1980, Polydor Records, POLS 1013) # 177 U.S. Billboard Album Chart
    Concrete (April 1981, Albion, ITS 999)* # 192 U.S. Billboard
    13th Floor Madness (November 1983, Albion, AS 8502)*
    Face to Face (March 1985, LaBritain, LABLP 1000)*

The Cellblock Tapes (1990)

Live In L.A. (1991)
    You Us It! (November 1993, Anagram).

Lust, Power and Money (1997).

Live at The Nashville 1979 (1997).
    Takeover (March 1998, Get Back)*
    Outburst (2003).
    Death in Soho (2007)* 

The Singles
    "I'm Alive" / "Quite Disappointing" (July 1977, LaBritain) Re-released on United Artists in 1979
    "Nasty Nasty" / "No Pity" (October 1977, United Artists) Also released as a 78 rpm promo disc
    "Emergency" / "My Street Stinks" (January 1978, United Artists) # 75
    "Me And My Desire" / "Crazy" (April 1978, United Artists)
    "Feeling Alright With The Crew" / "Titantic (My Over) Reaction" (August 1978, United Artists)
    "Homicide" / "Soldier" (October 1978, United Artists) # 40 UK Singles Chart[32]
    "Found Out Too Late" / "Lie Lie Lie" (September 1979, Radar Records) # 69
    "Trouble" / "Make A Fool Of You" (January 1980, Polydor)
    "Hollywood" / "Boiler" (April 1980, Polydor)
    "Obsessed" / "Change" / "Lie Lie Lie" (April 1981, Albion) # 71
    "Li'l Red Riding Hood" / "Waiting For Your Number To Be Called" / "I Ain't Gonna Tell Ya" (live) (June 1981, Albion) # 59
    "Indian Reservation" / "So Greedy" (remix) / "Taboo" (remix) (November 1981, Albion) # 51
    "Wild Sun" / "Scandal In The City" / "Bongos On The Nile" (June 1982, Albion) Also released as a 12" single with "Don't You Know I Need You"
    "13th Floor Madness" / "Nightshift" / "Arabesque" (October 1983, Albion) Also released as a 12" single. 

The S4L 999 Top Ten

10. Out of Reach.

09. Quite Disappointing (Live).

08. Crazy Crazy Crazy.

07. Nasty Nasty.

06. Feelin' Alright With The Crew.

05. I'm Alive.

04. Emergency.

03. Found Out Too Late.

02. Action.

01. Let's Face It.