I just found out that Ed Banger (real name Eddie Garrity) had passed away. The name might not mean anything to anyone, but I know that he, or she (as Edweena Banger), was the singer of the Manchester punk group The Nosebleeds. Most fans will know Eddie as the singer who replaced Wayne Barrett in Slaughter and the Dogs, but I only know Eddie as the singer to The Nosebleeds.

No one outside of Morrissey fans will know who the Nosebleeds are. I first learned that Moz joined the Nosebleeds, with a crazy punk Morrissey photo, courtesy of Johnny Rogan’s brilliant book Morrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance. This book is a must-read for any dedicated Morrissey fan. Anyway, Morrissey in the Nosebleeds didn’t last very long, as he would go on to form The Smiths with Johnny Marr. Trivia, Billy Duffy who was also in the Nosebleeds, would later go on to form The Cult. Vini Reilly would join the Durutti Column, and Toby Toman would join Primal Scream… basically this group paved the road to major stars in the music world!!!

The Nosebleeds didn’t last long, just two years (1976–1978) before breaking up. Banger tried to revive the group as Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds in 2013 with drummer Brian “Mad Muffet” Grantham, bassist Steve Wilson, and guitarist Al Crosby on lead guitar.

So, yeah, sad to hear of Edweena Banger passing… Rest in peace.