Category: News

Si Martin 22nd Jan 67 – 1st Nov 24

JANUS STARK BAND STATEMENT

It is with deep sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of our best friend, brother and fellow band mate Si Martin on Friday morning. He was a kind caring gentle soul who always put himself out for others and was an integral part of the reformed Janus Stark and The Dizzy Miss Lizzys.

Our thoughts are with his Wife Julie and his Family at this tragic time. We’ve always been very close to Julie and along with his Daughter Charlotte and Grandson Jesse. Julie and Si’s Sons Ed and Robbie and their partners, they meant the absolute world to Simon, he cherished them deeply.

Si had been courageously battling cancer for the past 18 months. We stayed close to him throughout and were fully aware of his treatment and the procedures that he was undergoing. There was always hope during this time. Simon’s last appearance as the Janus Stark bassist was at The Ostrich, Peterborough Sept 9th which was a cancer benefit gig.

Simon and Gizz were particularly close, first meeting in 1982, they were friends at Peterborough Regional College and Simon and his close friends Daren, Splodge , Howard and Taff would follow The Destructors , the band Gizz was then guitar player for.

Simon began guitar lessons with Gizz right back then, something which he kept up until May 2023 when all his efforts needed to concentrate on beating the dreadful cancer and Julie was at his side all the way.

It is difficult to describe what an incredible man Simon was. Kind, generous, always hilarious, he had a sense of humour that made everybody he came across love him. He always had time for everybody, a shoulder to cry on and a warm heart to dote on. An irresistible bubble of joy and laughter with a knowledge of Elvis Presley, Beatles, 60’s psychedelia , 70’s glam rock and punk rock that was as vast as his record collection. Above all he was an absolutely fantastic musician and vocalist .

This world has lost one of the very best!!!

RIP Si , We will always love you XXXX

Gizz, David, Phil, Scott, James, Chris Y, Shop, Richard, Fozzy.

Scott Joins Janus Stark

 

Scott Bickers is announced as the new Janus Stark drummer and will make his debut with the band on Sat 9th March in Cambridge at the The Six Six Bar on the Desperate Measures Sublime Destruction tour! Check out the Tour Dates section for dates & ticket links!!

Scott has been rehearsing with the band since Jan & also working on songs for the new album, which is planned for release towards the end of the year on Time & Matter Recordings.

Janus Stark Digital Archive – Volume 7

LIVE AT WESSEX STUDIOS 1998 (T&M 062)

Gizz Butt – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Shop – Bass & Backing Vocals
Pinch – Drums & Backing Vocals

Recorded live on the evening of 23 February, 1998
Wessex Studios, 106a Highbury New Park, London.

Gizz “I suppose this latest collection of Janus Stark songs from my archive could be described as “…the one’s that nearly slipped away!”

They were recorded live on the evening of 23rd February 1998 at the world famous Wessex Sound Studios, sadly now no longer there at 106a Highbury New Park, London. Just over twenty years before our session, the Pistols had been within those walls to record their debut single Anarchy in the UK, as well as returning to record one of the most influential albums ever: Never Mind The Bollocks – Here’s the Sex Pistols. The Clash, PiL, The Pretenders and The Damned had all recorded there as well so the place certainly had a rich history.

You can download all 6 tracks plus comprehensive liner notes and rare photos from my archive collection. All for £5 just CLICK HERE

Fozzy to Leave Janus Stark!

Our fine friend and most amazing drummer, Fozzy, has sadly decided it’s time to pass on the baton.
Fozzy Dixon, ace drummer for Janus Stark, played on “Angel In The Flames” and “Face Your Biggest Fear”, has decided he wants to spend more time with his good lady.
He’s going to fulfil gigs in the diary and help us out while we look for a new drummer.
SO, with Fozzys consent; JANUS STARK ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW DRUMMER.
If you are interested, here are the essential requirements:
1. Must be able to play “The Great Adventure Cigar” album.
2. Must live nearby (50 miles/1 hour away maximum)
3. Must be into Punk Rock.

The drummer who joins us will be writing towards, playing on and recording the next Janus Stark album with us which is imminent and of course be coming out on the road, all future shows and tours, once we have that drummer.
If you’re interested, send us a personal message.
We will be sorry to see Fozzy but he will always be close to us. 

Janus Stark Digital Archive – Volume 6

***NEW RELEASE DAY***

The Janus Stark Digital Archive – Volume 6

OK CHICANE, HERE I COME

Gizz Butt: This particular set of recordings for the Janus Stark digital archive series has certainly been the most difficult to compile and write notes for. The six original songs here (there is a seventh song – a cover) were written and recorded directly after I received that phone call from one of The Prodigy’s managers, John Fairs, on the 18th of May 1999, informing me that “I was no longer needed in The Prodigy.”

DOWNLOAD INCLUDES FULL COLOUR HI-RES FRONT AND BACK COVER ARTWORK, PLUS A 10 PAGE PDF DOCUMENT OF GIZZ BUTT’S LINER NOTES, INCLUDING RARE PHOTOS AND CUTTINGS FROM HIS OWN PERSONAL ARCHIVE AND MUCH MORE…

Grab a listen and/or a download at:

https://janusstark.bandcamp.com/music

Punks Against Cancer Gig

Message from Gizz

Thank you to all the bands and the lovely people that came to our Charity “Punks Against Cancer” gig last night at The Ostrich.

What a great night! Thank you Zener Diodes, MFI, Matty G & Lil Winter, Destructors ’82, The Dole, Kiosk 2 and of course JANUS STARK!

Thank you to Chris York, Sue Minto, Graham Finding and Sally Mills. A special thank you to Dave Allen for helping me by sorting the Just Giving page for Joe Maccoll. Thank you James Garrod for the poster design, Chris for doing the sound. The biggest thanks goes out to everyone that donated.
In the words of my mate Chris “It’s all about working together”.