TV spot for punk band

Newcastle Journal, 13 Aug 1979
Are The Kids Alright? - Brass Tacks, BBC2

PUNK band "The Rejected" have landed their own television spot - only weeks after they got together and bought their instruments.
   But the coveted television appearance by the four Sunderland 16-year-olds Mark, Michael, Sid and Geoff tomorrow night is not a run-of-the-mill rock show. The four are to star in a BBC-2 documentary high-lighting the misery of teenage unemployment.
   And the programme - in the discussion series Brass Tacks - will say some harsh things about civic amenities in the band's home town.
   "The Rejected" - who have only played together four times

- were spotted by producer Gerry Troyna and researcher Ian McNulty when they visited the Sunderland leisure centre to film the community theatre Wearabout.
   The BBC men decided to use the punks as the central focus of their documentary after hearing three of their songs.
   Michael Crawford, the bass guitarist, has bought a £300 guitar on hire purchase and the other three - Geoff Page, Anthony 'Sid' Sidney and Mark Whatnott - also borrowed money to get their instruments.
   Producer Gerry Troyna said last night: "In the film we ask 'Is a £7.5m leisure centre what the kids need?'"