Description

Summer 78 Mick halliwell and Karl Morris met while working in Bolton, they both had been bitten by the punk rock phenomenon and started to plan.

The band was formed in '79 in Bolton, UK. The plan was hatched when Mick Halliwell & Karl Morris met while working at "The Bolton Gate Co."

This was summer 78 they talked about starting a punk band so they set about buying guitars and learn how to play!

Early 79 Mick teamed up with drummer Eddie “Kip” Fisher they then approached Karl they then recruited Graham Cockram (guitar) and John “Greenie” Green on vocals. The band lasted about a month before it started to fall apart.

About a month or so later, Mick & Eddie and Karl regrouped along with Ste Oxtoby they started to write songs.

After a couple of months it became apparent that Ste Ox was more into football than being in a band and they parted company, it was a random chat with a drummer who was playing with an older Bolton punk band called Nervous Disorder they finally found the right frontman Dave “Harvi” Howarth!

The lads started to write better songs with much better lyrics the only thing left to do was come up with a name and after weeks of trying with no success Kip just blurted out Xtract which seemed a reasonable name so that was that Xtract it was!

Xtract found a home at Jamm Studios which was Bolton’s only rehearsal studio.. they recorded their first demo at Jamm sometime in 1981 Songs recorded were "Insanity living", "Aftermath", "Land of hope & glory" & "Troops of fear".

A second demo was recorded during the summer of 1982 at the famous “Cargo Studios” in Rochdale.
Songs recorded were "War heroes", "Aftermath" & "Waiting for the genocide". Kip sent the demo to PAX RECORDS who promptly used “War heroes” & “Aftermath” for the “Punk dead - Nah mate, the smell is just summink in yer underpants innit” (PAX 7, released in 1982) compilation L.P. before signing the band.

With new bass player Rod (ex-RELEASE THE BATS), They went into Manchester’s "Revolution Studios" to record three tracks (A side "Blame it on the youth", "War heroes"/ B side "Iron lady", "Boys in blue") released as the four track 7' E.P. “Blame it on the youth” (PAX 10) at number thirteen in the independent chart.

Quickly after the release of the record & a bunch of gigs to promote the single, Karl Morris left in March of 1983 to join THE EXPLOITED, the lads brought in another guitarist but it didnt last it was Kip that called it a day saying it was just not the same vibe without karl.

Harvi decided to pick up the pieces and brought in three new guys Jon Kitson (bass), Phil Burns (guitar) and Dylan Jones (drums) they played a few shows in the Bolton area in '85 Karl had left the Exploited and returned home to Bolton he called harvi and this led to karl rejoining the band things were getting better but it crashed to a halt due to Broken Bones drafting Karl into the band, the band split in 86..for good or so we thought..

The original band reformed for a couple of shows in 85 but Kip could not commit due to his business so another drummer (Andy Dawson) came in and played a couple more shows,

Shoot forward to 2010 both Karl and harvi decided to give it another go unfortunately Mick works abroad and Kip has hung up his sticks!

So with long time fan Binky on bass and new boy Dan the man pounding the skins they are now back rehearsing and getting ready to actually tour

In 2015 Karl decided to concentrate all his time on Billyclub. So we have reinvented ourselves with a new rock n roll sound with Lee Johnson on guitar..Shell Johnson on bass, and Dave Ingledew on drums.

We are currently playing numerous gigs supporting a number of decent bands and recruiting new friends.

Description

This surprisingly large basement pub has been in The Good Beer Guide several times.

Live music is performed in a large back room on Friday and Saturday nights.

17 Wallgate,

Wigan,

Greater Manchester,

England,

WN1 1LD.

01942 497 165