When it comes to how a band got it’s name, every musician has a story to tell. And Local punk-edged rockers, World War 24 are no exception. Lead singer Mark “Bird” Nowane, of Newport, recalls the night back in 1981 when the band played it’s first gig. “We spent hours trying to think up a name and we couldn’t agree on anything” he said “By 11 o’clock the promoters were demanding a name and said we could always change the name later.” Nowane spat out “World War XXIV” in frustration and, like many things spontaneous, the name stuck. “I guess we liked it because it rhymed” he said “and it’s a bit over the top because the world would never get that far.” World War XXIV was essentially a punk-based band with it’s members listening to material from England and America and eventually adapting their own faster style to write original tracks. The band’s first single in late 1981 was a controversial track called Azaria and Why Bother? and this was followed up by the album Strike One and two songs on the compilation album Flowers From the Dustbin. With a degree of pride, Nowane says every release World War XXIV did reached number one on the independent charts. On the live scene, the band performed in city venues and also gained residencies at the Mosman Hotel and Avalon RSL Club. They also supported The Dead Kennedies. Despite the success, by 1986 World War XXIV members went their seperate ways. But with little success. Eventually die-hard World War XXIV fans, including the band’s four other members, talked Nowane into reforming ther band. “People were telling me that we had to do it for years,” he said “They were also talking to bands like the Hard-ons and the Meanies and I thought we could do it too. Plus the scene is a bit different to what it used to be. There used to be friction with the way people used to dress, but now everyone is mixing and that’s better.
(Article stolen from “TIMEOUT” written by MICHAEL BRUNING)

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