The Moshville Times - UK punk legends Instigators return

In the latter half of the Eighties you’d have struggled to find a harder working group than Instigators. Tirelessly gigging up and down the UK, around mainland Europe, and even across the USA, on self-booked zero-budget tours, they inspired a new generation of young British bands to go blaze their own trails, often to great effect.

Now in 2025, the band are set to return for the first time in thirty years and are confirmed to play the legendary Rebellion Festival in Blackpool on August 8th, alongside further gigs and the much-anticipated coloured vinyl reissues of the 1986 Phoenix album and Shockgun from ‘88, both ready for release on August 1st on the Boss Tuneage Retro Series imprint.

Phoenix was originally released in 1986 on legendary punk label Bluurg and was the first release from the classic second line up of the band, which featured original guitarist Simon Mooney teamed up with Andy Turner (ex XPOZEZ) on vocals, and the rhythm section of Andy Turnbull on bass and Steve Curran on Drums. It is this line up that started touring extensively throughout Europe, UK and the US. This is the first time in over a decade the album has been available on vinyl.

Shockgun saw Bob Gorlik replace Turnbull on bass, and the band extensively tour in promotion of the album on its release on three labels across UK, Germany and the US in 1988. The album has been commercially out of print for three decades, and this release represents the first time ever on coloured vinyl outside of the initial German release back in the late 80s.

Restored and enhanced by Andy Pearce, the reissues are complemented with artwork true to the original UK pressings, both with 24 x 12 card inserts, heavyweight board sleeves, and are the must own versions not only for existing fans of the band whose old copies are at breaking point, but also for those curious to seek out one of the most important bands to emerge from the late 80s UK underground punk scene, who paved the way for countless bands that forged a similar path in later years.

Pre-order both albums now

The band also have a handful of live shows coming up: