The Cigarettes came from Lincoln and dressed like mods but played like punks. Well, it worked for The Jam. It didn’t bring as much success for The Cigarettes but they didn’t have the songwriting skills of a Weller. Then again, not many did.

They were teenagers when they got together in the late 1970s, inspired by The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Jam, joining other local groups like The Bodygards, Sinking Ships and Stig & The Lacerators.

Rob Smith (guitar/vocals/piano) was on the dole, his schoolfriend Steve Taylor (bass/vocals) was at art school and Adam Palmer (drums) was still at school.

A properly DIY band, they had no manager, no agent and no record contract, putting their two singles out themselves.

This was the first, in 1979 – They’re Back Again, Here They Come was about the resurgence of right-wing movements in Britain at the time.

The band broke up when Adam left school and Steve moved to London to set up an independent record label and distribution company, which released Tainted Love by Soft Cell.

He also managed bands including the Screaming Blue Messiahs and for the last 20 years has been tour manager for Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.