Genres Punk Origin Sussex, United Kingdom | Years active ~1996–2012 Genre Punk rock | |
Members Simon Barker
Jimmy Nichols
Paul Richards
Michael White
Mick Williams | ||
Heavy Load were a British punk rock band, described by The Sunday Times as "possibly the most genuinely punk band touring today".
Its members met at Southdown Housing, a non-profit assisted-living community for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities, and were a mix of service users and staff.
The band composed the theme for the BAFTA-nominated film Cast Offs and is itself documented in the film Heavy Load.
The band were also the founders of the charity Stay Up Late, a campaign seeking to improve the social lives of people with learning difficulties by calling for more flexible staff hours. Stay Up Late is a national charity promoting full and active social lives for people with learning disabilities.
Heavy Load split in September 2012 with a final gig in London's Trafalgar Square as part of the Paralympic festivities.