In early 1977, David Littler saw The Heartbreakers playing
at Eric's in Liverpool and finding they needed a support band for an upcoming
gig suggested to them about a band he had, but really didn't exist. The Heartbreakers
gave him a place to support them alongside Slaughter and the Dogs and Buzzcocks
at Warrington Parr Hall, Cheshire in May. The band originally called The
Blackmailers was formed shortly afterwards by Littler as guitarist, alongside
his friends, bassist Peter Griffiths and lead vocalist Michael Rigby, with
Steve Platt on drums. A short time later, while preparing for the gig, the band
changed their name to The Spitfire Boys after a suggestion by Wayne County (of
The Electric Chairs). For their first gig at Warrington Parr Hall they played,
quite obviously, Ramones covers.
After their debut gig, the band dropped their first
drummer in favour of Peter Clarke, then an art student and member of Albert
Dock (later to be known as The Chuddy Nuddies and then The Yachts). With the
new line-up the band played their second gig at Eric's in Liverpool. After that
the group sacked Michael Rigby, who was replaced by Paul Rutherford as
suggested by Peter Clarke.
Part of the Liverpool scene based around Eric's night
club, along with bands like Big In Japan, The Mutants and Berlin; The Spitfire
Boys were without doubt one of Liverpool's finest punk bands and produced one
of the finest slices of punk vinyl; British Refugee/Mein Kampf.
The classic ‘Boys line up was; Maggot – Vocals, Blister –
Drums, Jones – Guitar, Zero – Bass, complete with obligatory 'false' names.
During the brief year of that line-up, the Spitfire Boys
toured the UK. They supported The Prefects and The Slits and also played a gig
with Holly Johnson. Playing London venues like The Vortex, supporting their
friends The Slits and the release of “British Refugee” would ultimately mean
nothing without strong management and sadly by 22nd December ‘77 the
band had folded.
However fame was to come at a later date albeit in a
different form for some members of the band. We know Blister now as Budgie and
Maggot as Paul Rutherford who both had spells in other bands. For David Littler a spell with The Photons
would see him co-write with Steve Strange such songs as Mind Of A Toy and Tar
which Mr Strange would eventually use with Visage.
The Spitfire Boys influence perhaps goes a lot further
than that. Friends of the band at the time included Pete Burns, Julian Cope,
Ian Broudie and Pete Wylie all of whom were to play an important part in the
Liverpool scene of the early eighties.