"The Medium Was Tedium" b/w "Don't Back the Front" The Desperate Bicycles (1978)

 Simon Reynolds, in his book Rip It Up, argues the Desperate Bicycles were more important to the developing DIY ethos than the arty moves made by '77 punk rock bellwether record labels like Fast Product or Factory. The DB's were from London, and didactic as the Gang of Four but not as collegiate or sarcastic or ironic. The drummer on this single was 14. Their direct DIY message: "It was easy, it was cheap-- go and do it!" In other words, start a band and make a record. If we can do it, they said, you can too.  

This is the 'A'-side of the DB's second single, "The Medium Was Tedium" followed by the 'B'-side, from 1978.  

"Don't Back the Front" 

Punk Rock Tuesday