Billy Karloff Band - The Maniac (1978)

After playing in several unsigned rock bands
since 1974 – among them Slippery Sam, The
Punks, Scum Of The Earth and The Streamliners
– in mid-’77 Billy Karloff, whose real
name was John 'Billy' Osborn (his pseudonym
was inspired by horror film star Boris
Karloff), started to front South London based
Punk combo Billy Karloff and The
Goats, whose line-up featured Karloff (v),
Chris Pye (gtr), Ed Duane (b) and Pedro
Ortiz (d/v). After performing for a few
months on London’s pub/club circuit, The
Goats contributed a decent self-penned
Punk track entitled RELICS FROM THE
PAST to the FAREWELL TO THE ROXY live
compilation, an altogether patchy album
recorded just before the end of 1977 and
pressed in April 1978 on the Lightning
imprint. In the new year of 1978, The Goats
metamorphosed into the Billy Karloff Band
and expanded to a quintet with the recruitment
of second guitarist Ivan Julian. The
same line-up recorded this 45 in February at
London’s Marquee Studios: the 7” was issued
on March 31 and was licensed for release in
Germany, Spain and Holland: these editions
only slightly alter the UK artwork (but
German copies reverse sides and have 'Punk'
printed on the sleeve). Both songs are played
with remarkable craftsmanship but are not
bona-fide Punk classic, although BACK
STREET BILLY, later covered by The
Business, is arguably more instantly appealing
than CRAZY PAVING.





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