“… arguably the greatest ‘lost’ London band of the post-punk years.” – Louder Than War
FFO: The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Joy Division
Having spent the eighties frequently populating the indie charts and making a name for themselves within the post-punk scene off the back of their 1981 album Wild and Wandering, Wasted Youth reformed in 2022. Joining original members Ken Scott and Rocco Barker (Flesh For Lulu), new recruits Josef Rosam, Sabrina Amade and Alan Temple now make up the full line-up.
With their debut often referenced as an “overlooked classic” and having worked with legends such as Martin Hannett (Joy Division) and Peter Perrett (The Only Ones) over the years, Wasted Youth are no strangers to the colourful allure of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. But, now, with their youthful vigour and enthusiasm very much intact, they are excited about where their new releases will take them.
Following their long awaited second album Neo Noir which came out April 2025, their latest release Wild and…Raw is the original Wild and Wandering album before studio trickery, audio edits, most of the overdubs and a few special FX were added. The mix is more guitar heavy than the original album and the vocals are clearer and more natural sounding. There are longer versions of the songs and extra verses here and there.
Wild and…Raw is longer in length than the original Wild and Wandering despite not including Wish I Was A Girl which was recorded later at a different studio. It also has a different running order. While it’s great to have finished studio versions, these raw versions sound more like the live Wasted Youth we all loved in 1981. Kind of like the Peel sessions we all hoped for.
Recently, Wasted Youth have been touring the UK, including dates with the Psychedelic Furs, Pop Will Eat Itself and festivals such as Wide Awake and Rebellion. Their first show back after forty years sold out within minutes of going on sale. Now, keen to continue building on this success and the acclaim that their ‘80s debut received (selling an excess of 25,000 copies), they are excited to share the innovative sonic creations of Neo Noir and Wild and…Raw. Never ones to fit into a mould, this genre-bending band continue to merge elements of post-punk, art-rock and psychedelia to create a sound that’s truly their own; a beautifully timeless controlled chaos built on pulsating rhythms and a heartfelt introspection.
Wild and…Raw is now available as a strictly limited edition 12” album on bandcamp, in Rough Trade and most independent record stores across the UK through HX Records. Listen to the leading track ‘Games’ on all streaming platforms now.
