Chron Gen initially comprised former members of The Condemned and Optional Xtras. Band members included Glynn Barber, Jon 'JJ' Johnson, Adam Warwicker, and Jon Thurlow, with Pete Dimmock replacing Warwicker after the band recorded their first demo. The band released their debut EPPuppets of War in 1981 on their own Gargoyle label; It spent almost ten months in the UK Independent Chart, peaking at number 4. With the success of the EP, Chron Gen were invited to join The Exploited, Discharge, Anti-Pasti, and The Anti-Nowhere League on the now infamous Apocalypse tour in the UKin the summer of 1981. They released a single on the Step Forward label before moving to Secret Records, who issued the band's debut album, Chronic Generation, in March 1982. It reached number 53 on the UK Albums Chart, and was the last release to feature Thurlow, who was replaced by Mark 'Floyd' Alison. The band toured with Anti-Nowhere League on their 'So What' tour and toured the United States in support of the album. After a further single, Dimmock left to join Chelsea, and was replaced by Roy Horner. The band's final release was the 1984 mini-albumNowhere to Run, which was recorded before Horner joined and featured session musician Nigel Ross-Scott on bass. It did not match their earlier success and the band split up in October 1984. The band have played occasional reunion shows since. Floyd later joined The Occasional Tables. He died on 31 October 1999. Pete Dimmock died on 12 August 2011. Glynn Barber obtained his nickname 'Baxter' following his own surname being misspelt. He tours local pubs and clubs regularly as a solo artist using that name. He is also part of a glam rocktribute band, Rebel Rebel. The surviving members of Chron Gen reformed for the Rebellion Festival 2013. As of 2016, Chron Gen continue to tour and have released an album entitled This is the Age.
Discography
Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart, except where indicated.
Singles and EPs
Puppets of War EP, Gargoyle -
"Reality", Step Forward -
"Jet Boy, Jet Girl", Secret -
"Outlaw", Secret
"Nowhere to Run", Picasso -
Albums
Chronic Generation, Secret -,, initial copies came with a free Live 7-inch EP