The spirit of '77 is alive and well in Blackburn with punk popsters Boredom turning back the years as JOHN ANSON discovered. . .

IT has taken them nine years but pop punksters Boredom have finally got round to doing what their fans have long hoped they would do -- and released a debut album.

Menthols and Cider available on the Noize Anoize label will be launched tonight at a special party at the Charles Napier in Blackburn, the band's hometown.

One member of the band can't be there -- but he has a pretty good excuse -- he's currently serving with the army in Iraq!

For lead guitarist Andy (known as Pee Wee to his mates) who is a medic in the Territorial Army received his call up papers just before the album was recorded and has spent the last six months in Iraq leaving the band to carry on without him.

Boredom UK was originally formed in the summer of 1995 by a group of mates who were disillusioned with the current music scene and started rehearsing cover versions of classic punk songs including the Buzzcocks' Boredom from where the band took their name..

All of the members had played in punk bands around East Lancashire for a number of years both separately and together. Over the next six years the band had several changes in line up and played numerous well received local gigs before splitting up with original members Ian and Dani forming a Ramones' tribute band, Pinhead.

Encouraged by Blackburn-based promoters Noize Anoize Boredom re-formed dropping the UK bit of their name. A debut EP was released in April and the band has supported the UK Subs and Menace plus plating at Arts in the Park this summer.

For the recording of the album original member Stevie returned on bass and the band are continuing as a four piece, until the return of Pee Wee from the Gulf, when Boredom will be back in full force.

At tonight's launch party Boredom will play tracks from their new album and their will also be sets from Hope and Slash Monkeys.

Noize Anoize is also promoting two gigs in Preston with transport available. Tomorrow night The Bobby Dazzlers, Hope, Free Fallin Camels, Riot to Us and Flannel will play The Mitre Tavern on Moor Lane. Then next Saturday the same venue will host Boredom, The Exorsisters, The Slash Monkeys and Plegm Fatales. For details contact Julie on 07791 901621.