Guitarist Alan Lee Shaw has always been in the thick of things starting in the early '70s, when he watched fellow Cambridge native Syd Barrett's post-Floyd band Stars go through its paces. Thus inspired, Shaw and drummer Rod Latter formed the Rings in 1975 with John Twink Alder, who'd played with Barrett. They made one single and played numerous gigs on the eve of punk -- until personality conflicts scuttled the band.

Unruffled, Shaw and Latter hatched the Maniacs with bassist Robert Crash, a German who'd moved to join London's punk scene. The Maniacs issued one classic single, Chelsea '77, a withering swipe at the fashion influences overtaking the scene. Two tracks also appeared on the Live at the Vortex compilation before Shaw folded the band in January 1978.

Shaw's next band, the Physicals, drew on glam and proto-punk roots for its All Sexed Up EP (1978) and Be Like Me/Pain in Love single (1980), which featured former Sex Pistol Paul Cook's sturdy drumming and production. All Sexed Up sold 5,000 copies, and Be Like Me got airplay, "but it didn't take off big-time," Shaw said. "It's a case of having a hit." (Overground has since reissued the Maniacs' and Physicals' output on separate CDs.)

Casting for direction, Shaw joined Damned guitarist Brian James in the Brains, who released one EP during a blink-and-miss-it lifespan (March to June 1979). Sadly, "lots of demos were made, but nothing was released," Shaw said. The pair's next band, the Hellions, lasted longer (July 1979 to September 1980), but made no records, and no headway. A disenchanted Shaw worked briefly with Kirsty MacColl before quitting music.

He resurfaced in 1987 with Heaven the Angels; in keeping with his previous lucky streak, the band released only one EP. He hooked up again with James for a 1990-1991 album and tour as the Brian James Gang, and a film soundtrack as the Dripping Lips. In 1993, Shaw joined a reconstituted Damned with founders Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, and Captain Sensible. Shaw also played a major co-writing role on the resulting I'm Alright (Jack the Beanstalk) album (1995).

Shaw remained in the lineup until 1995, when the Damned's ever-fractious internecine politics left him the odd man out. He then formed the power trio Mischief with bassist Paul Gray (Damned, Eddie the Hot Rods, UFO) and drummer Jim Simpson (UFO). The band didn't play out, but its 12-track album later saw release as Hubble Bubble (2003).

Shaw spent the summer of 2003 gearing up for a new Maniacs album (with Crash, but not Latter). "I've also been in touch with Brian, and might do a project with him," Shaw said. "I might sit down and jam with him, and something might come out of that." But Shaw wouldn't have it any other way. ~ Ralph Heibutzki, Rovi