PROLES- Proletariat- relating to the common people

The proles were formed in early 1977 by four bored teenagers from the north east of England.  All four were friends from school and hailed from the mining village of Fence Houses, situated between the cities of Durham and Sunderland. They played their first gig at Gatsby's in late 1977 and continued to play the pub/small halls scene of the area.

In 1978 The Proles released their first vinyl offering in conjunction with 'Rock Against Racism,' an Organization set up to counteract the views and rise of The National Front.  It was a self-financed double A side EP with fellow gigers The Condemned and it contained two tracks, 'Stereo Love' and 'Thought Crime.'  Only 1000 copies of the disc were pressed and it sold out immediately. Live dates continued through to 1979 where The Bridge Hotel in Newcastle became almost a residency for The Proles. Their second single was also released in 1979 by the London based Small Wonder label.  The single featured 'Softground,' a quirky, catchy 'pop' song and the instrumental 'SMK.'

By now however 2-Tone was becoming fashionable and the audiences for original New Wave bands in Newcastle declined rapidly, as did the group's enthusiasm. Ironically The Proles were now at an artistic peak, but due to a lack of venues and having run out of a reason to go on, the band split up in 1980.

During their career, The Proles played with Siouxsie And The Banshees, Angelic Upstarts, Punishment Of Luxury, and were supported by The Abrasive Wheels.