Sons of Selina

Psychedelic punk group from Colwyn Bay, North Wales

The Sons of Selina were a psychedelic punk group formed in Colwyn Bay, North Wales in 1990. During their nine year existence they signed to Delerium Records and released two albums and appeared live on BBC Radio 1.

Original members Neil Crud, and Robin Hemuss formed the band after discussing the merits of Hawkwind, both respected the psyche sounds but felt they would be a better band if they had a harder edge. This became the basis of the Sons of Selina sound, although that was as far as the Hawkwind comparison went as Crud's punk influence complimented Hemuss' classical training. Both were previously in the notorious North Wales punk band 4Q. The band/project released a number of 'cassette albums' on the underground tape label 'Music & Elsewhere' in the early 1990s, proving to be the label's best selling act.

The Sons of Selina released their debut 7" single "Anxiety" on Crud's label Secrets of Sound on 1 May 1992,. It earned regular national airplay on BBC Radio One by DJs Mark Radcliffe, John Peel, Mark Goodier and Annie Nightingale. They were subsequently signed to the underground label Delerium Records and released a further two singles and the albums "Nour d'Oui" (in 1994) and "Fire in the Hole" (in 1998). Electropunk band Psycho Sexual Sex Terrestrials recorded an early Sons of Selina song "Creatures of The Night" in 2004 and invited Neil Crud to write and record new lyrics for the song. The release became a minor nightclub classic. This version was subsequently remixed by Head in the Shed in 2008, and the 2004 version was issued on 12" vinyl in 2020. A 'mash up' version with Snoop Dogg featuring on "Of The First Water" was available on line in the late 1990s, but has since disappeared. The same song resurfaced in 2009 being mashed up with Eminem. The track "The Last Ditch" was used as a signature tune to advertise a Ski ing show on Sky Sports TV in 2001. Cherry Red Records acquired the rights to Delerium's back catalogue and on 28 February 2011 released a triple CD Last Daze of The Underground, which features Sons of Selina's second single "Life is But". Record Collector magazine described the song as 'gruff, strident and almost a hit single.'

BBC DJ Mark Radcliffe invited the band to perform a live session on his Radio One show. At the time being only a two piece studio project Neil and Robin had to recruit a live band and did so, adding Steve 'Sync' Robins, Martin Wilding, Steve 'Bonehead' Jones, Ken Mainardis and Alan Matthews (AKA Cumi Pants). This line up began playing live, making their debut appearance at a festival near Llannefydd in rural North Wales. Bassist Ken left after three gigs to work for Reuters in London and the band became a six piece. Robin took over and he too was eventually replaced by ex Pocket Venus bassist Chris Bainbridge. With Robin gone, Neil and Steve Sync became the working nucleus of the band and put together the second and final album "Fire in the Hole" but family constraints and line up issues began taking their toll the band and things fizzled out by 1999.