THE high-speed noise overload of Discharge’s Fight Back EP paved the way for Bolt Thrower and Extreme Noise Terror, grind-core favourites of the late John Peel.

A buzz-saw guitar, grunting, shouted vocals, and fierce lyrics on anarchist and pacifist themes, Discharge were considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk music.

“I’ve dedicated my life to the sound, and at times it has taken me to some scary and dark places,” said Tezz Roberts, who formed Discharge with his brother Anthony in Stoke-on-Trent.

Their 1980 gig at The Warehouse in Preston, and later released as a limited edition record, brought them to Peel’s attention.

“I don’t know anything else – punk is my life,” he added. I’ve had my issues with drugs and I was in a coma after falling from a building.

“I can’t remember anything at all from those early days with Discharge, but I have been married eight times – and I do remember some of that!”

When he quit Discharge a headline in a music magazine – Broken Bones – gave his new band their name.

Skull-crushing tracks, Decapitated, Point Of Agony and Kick Down The Doors, are louder than a factory of pneumatic drills.

“There’s an early Discharge force in there,” said Tezz. “Broken Bones’ albums – Without Conscience and Time For Anger, Not Justice – were really hardcore and that’s what people know us for.”

Tezz had a roller-coaster stint with American industrial band Ministry and played drums with British punk legends, UK Subs.

He said: “I had all the memorabilia from Discharge and the Clay Records stuff – tour passes, scrapbooks, photographs, vinyl – it all went up in smoke.

“I was living in Chicago during one of my many marriages and the garage caught fire. I lost everything, so I haven’t even got the material memories to look back on.

“But when I hear Discharge’s music from then it is pretty clear we were the only ones doing that type of stuff and if bands used our music as an influence then I’m proud. It was very uncompromising, but that’s how we felt at the time and I still do.”

And the ear-splitting blunderbuss sound of Broken Bones takes no prisoners either. After their Blackburn show this weekend there is a new album on the way and a world tour.

“I’m 51 now and I’ll play until I can’t play,” added Tezz. “Look at Charlie Harper in the UK Subs. Charlie’s 68 and still jumping about, making new music. We should celebrate that because he has dedicated his life to punk.”

  • Broken Bones, King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Saturday. Support from Vile. Call 0844 847 1664.