The Basics were formed in Belfast in early 1978. They were John Stevenson (aka John Perfect) (vocals), Paul 'Dill' Delaney (bass), Helen Caves (guitar) and Alan 'Bruce' Brown (drums). John Stevenson, the band’s front man was formerly in The Batteries.
They made their live debut at the 1978 May Day punk festival in the Harp Bar. Due to some confusion the only band to turn up on the night to play was Pretty Boy Floyd and the Gems. After playing for an hour or so The Gems wanted to take a break so they invited audience members to get up and have a go. Up stepped Perfect, Dill, Helen and Bruce for an impromptu set and another Belfast band was formed.

The Basics continued to gig regularly around Belfast at venues such as the Harp Bar and the Pound playing all original material written by Helen (music) and Paul (lyrics).  A big crowd favourite at the time was 'Temporary Insanity'. Sadly no recordings of the band are known to exist.

The Basics split up quite amicably in 1979. However, not before John Perfect staged quite a publicity stunt by pretending to die. He even went to the extent of having death notices published in the Belfast Telegraph! John lay low for a number of weeks only to reappear at his own tribute gig in the Harp. He nearly got lynched!

Helen Caves sums up here her time in the band thus “Too many ice cold practice sessions and too much beer, bloody good fun tho, when you’re 17”.

Helen Caves sadly passed away on the 27th July 2023.

If you have any further information or photographs of this band, then please DO get in contact via spit77to82@aol.com