A PIONEERING punk band plays Southampton's Talking Heads next Friday ( February 17).

Slaughter & the Dogs formed in Wythenshawe, Manchester, were one of the first punk rock bands in North West England. They exploded onto the British music scene in 1976 at the now legendary Manchester Free Trade Hall gig with The Sex Pistols - an event which was to change musical history forever.

They were also one of the first UK punk bands to sign with a major label, Decca Records. Their original line-up consisted of Wayne Barrett (vocals), Mick Rossi (guitar), Brian "Mad Muffet" Grantham (drums) and Howard "Zip" Bates (bass

The name "Slaughter & the Dogs" was created by singer Barrett in 1975 by combining the names of Diamond Dogs and Slaughter on 10th Avenue, two of his favourite albums.

They were the first band in Manchester to release an independent single “Cranked Up Really High” in 1977. Q Magazine voted this landmark release as one of the top 50 punk singles of all time.

Slaughter & The Dogs debut album “Do It Dog Style” is now hailed as a classic.

One of the founding forefathers of the British Punk Rock movement, Slaughter & The Dogs remain to this day a force to be reckoned with. Their live shows are legendary and incendiary and so they continue to tour and headline major festivals around the world.

The band’s influences can be felt near and far, from local Manchester boys -The Stone Roses to Johnny Marr and Oasis to name but three; to the American Super group Green Day.

Slaughter & The Dogs recently signed a world wide deal with Cleopatra Records and released their latest album “Vicious” last September on all digital formats, CD & Vinyl.