The Epileptics

The Epileptics formed in mid 1978 with a lineup of Colin Latter (vocals), Clive Griffiths (guitar), Derek Birkett (bass) and Richard Coveney (drums), although Griffiths was soon replaced by Kev Hunter (ex-Darlex). Throughout 1978 they played in and around Bishop's Stortford forming a strong relationship with visiting anarchos Crass and Poison Girls.
The British Epilepsy Association decided that by calling themselves The Epileptics they were guilty of "ill-conceived jocularity".
In 1981 Colin said: When we chose the name we weren't out to shock. We thought it was an appropriate and serious name and anyway my mum thought of it. I bet carpenters don't mind The Carpenters having their name.
The group signed with Harlow label Stortbeat who released the band's debut EP in late 1979, but talked them into issuing it as The Licks. The title track was much played by John Peel. The group split in early 1980, with the nucleus forming Flux Of Pink Indians.
The single was re-released in 1980 by Spiderleg as Nineteen Seventies E.P. credited to The Epileptics. A year later a third pressing came out in a terrible cartoon sleeve, after Flux Of Pink Indians had released Neu Smell and as was re-released opportunistically by Stortbeat.
The Epileptics decided to reform and re-record the whole EP again to stifle the Stortbeat single. This version which featured Penny Rimbaud of Crass on drums - was titled 1970's E.P .
In 1981 a posthumous live EP, Last Bus To Debden (1981) was issued.