Seventies punk outfit Sham 69 have had what might be called something of a falling out, with both sides of the argument claiming the other has now parted company with the band, who have been releasing new albums every few years since their initial reunion back in 1987 (and who had a chart hit last year with a reworked version of their song 'Hurry Up Harry' rewritten for the World Cup).
The argument is between band founder and frontman Jimmy Pursey, and guitarist Dave Parson, an early and current member of the group and guitarist during their late seventies hey day. As a result of the feud Pursey last week announced Parson had left the band, but Parson responded by announcing Pursey had been sacked and that he and the rest of the current band planned to continue as Sham 69. Needless to say, that makes it likely that there will now be two Sham 69s, and an almighty dispute over the rights to the name.
Speaking to reporters last week, Pursey said "He [Parsons] has walked out of the band. I don't know [why], you'll have to ask him. I can't know what's going through his mind when wanting to leave the band".
But Parsons, seemingly supported by the band's current drummer Ian Whitewood, said "Sham 69 have left Jimmy Pursey", adding that he had been forced to sack Pursey because he had showed little interest in playing live with the rest of the band.
Comparing Parsons' actions to "mutiny on the bounty", Pursey disputed his claims, and that his former bandmates could or would continue as Sham 69. He told reporters "I am Sham 69", adding: "I can turn down a nostalgia gig, which is like a Doctor Who convention, where it's just bringing a load of old punk rockers together to celebrate nostalgia. I don't want to do that and I've never wanted to do that. I play for today".
But reaffirming the other band members' side of the row, their spokesman, one Mike Harris, told reporters: "The reasons behind it [the split] are that Jimmy seems to show no great desire to play live and is constantly pulling out of gigs at the last moment. It was him personally that was causing a lot of the problems within the band and between the band and promoters and media. The rest of the band want to get out there and kick ass on stage. At the moment, they're just being held back all the time".
Harris added that Parsons and Whitewood would start auditioning new singers shortly before relaunching an all new Sham 69. Trademark injunction from Pursey pending, presumably.