A to Z of N. Ireland Punk Bands

RHESUS NEGATIVE

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Bangor band Rhesus Negative made their live debut supporting Victim at the Harp Bar on 2nd June 1978. They only played six songs, however four of those were original compositions, including ‘Police Surveillance’. One of the more popular punk bands around the city, the band line up consisted of Pat Rafferty (vocals), Steven Lewis (guitar), Gary McDonagh (guitar), Gordon Hughes (bass) and Jim Johnston (drums). Regulars on both the pages of Alternative Ulster fanzine and the stage at the Harp Bar, earned them the tag, ‘The New Roxy Rockers’. Sadly their sole recorded output (until now) amounts to one live recording of “Love In Vein” filmed at the Harp Bar on 23/11/78. This footage was subsequently used in the John T Davis punk movie Shell Shock Rock (view below).

The band had a lively stage act which consisted of original material with titles such as ‘No Reason’, ‘My Baby Left Me’, ‘Now and Then’, ‘Contact Radiation’ and ‘Careless Talk’. They also included the Heartbreakers ‘Born To Lose’ in their live set. They also played some high profile support slots, like XTC when they played the Pound in early October 1978.

Four tracks,’Bodywork’, ‘Play School’, ‘Struggle’ and ‘Unbroken Barriers’ were recorded at the Legendary Wizard Studios in Belfast back in 1979 and Spit Records released these as a limited run 7-inch single on Friday 10th December 2021, Unbroken Barriers can be heard below. Another track, entitled ‘Lost Touch’, also recorded at Wizard Studios, remains unreleased.