The Bunker Group 35

The Bunker Group 35 The Bunker Group 35 is a group of original members who are interested in documenting the History of the Sunderland Musicians Collective and the Bunker

Happy 44th Birthday to Green Terrace Bunker. 3rd September 1982, Patrick and Side Effects played the first gig at the Bu...
03/09/2026

Happy 44th Birthday to Green Terrace Bunker.
3rd September 1982, Patrick and Side Effects played the first gig at the Bunker.

28th August 1984, Flux of Pink Indians, D&V and KUKL (featuring Bjork) played a Miners Benefit gig at Stockton Road Bunk...
28/08/2026

28th August 1984, Flux of Pink Indians, D&V and KUKL (featuring Bjork) played a Miners Benefit gig at Stockton Road Bunker.
Thanks to Mark Teasdale for the Flux of Pink Indians photos and Craig Hetherington for the KUKL photo.

31st July 1987 Culture Shock and Dan played Stockton Road Bunker.This would be the last gig at Stockton Road Bunker from...
28/08/2026

31st July 1987 Culture Shock and Dan played Stockton Road Bunker.
This would be the last gig at Stockton Road Bunker from our era. The Bunker committee had the entertainment licence revoked by Sunderland council for putting on the Conflict gig earlier that year.
Thanks to Duncan K for the photos.

25th July 1987,Punk's picnic at Stockton Road Bunker, thanks to Jake Lagnado for the great poster.
28/08/2026

25th July 1987,Punk's picnic at Stockton Road Bunker, thanks to Jake Lagnado for the great poster.

7th July 1984, Gigs that never happened. Amebix and Anti-Sect were supposed to play Stockton Road Bunker, cancelled at t...
28/08/2026

7th July 1984, Gigs that never happened. Amebix and Anti-Sect were supposed to play Stockton Road Bunker, cancelled at the last minute.

6th July 1984, Instigators played a benefit gig for Persons Unknown, Sunderland's Pirate Radio Station at Stockton Road ...
28/08/2026

6th July 1984, Instigators played a benefit gig for Persons Unknown, Sunderland's Pirate Radio Station at Stockton Road Bunker.
Persons Unknown started broadcasting in the late Summer of 1983, it was one of the many side projects suggested by Andy Gibson and Mick Catmull.
We broadcasted at 6.30pm every Sunday on 89 mhtz and set the frequency of the Pirate Radio station to a click off Radio One, just as they were broadcasting the top 30 charts. This made us public enemy number one, but gave us a large audience of listeners, we didn't care the charts were rubbish.
The programme was pre recorded on a cassette tape, and lasted both sides of a C 90. We would select a location, trying not to broadcast from the same place twice in a row, the programme was transmitted from locations on both sides of the river to reach as many people as we could.
Persons Unknown had a mix of interviews with local bands, fanzine reviews, demo tapes and guest slots from others who frequented the Bunker.

Andy Gibson passed away on this day in 2011 aged 55.Andy started work at the Ford and Pennywell youth project in 1979, t...
08/07/2026

Andy Gibson passed away on this day in 2011 aged 55.
Andy started work at the Ford and Pennywell youth project in 1979, then became a pivotal part of the founding of the Sunderland Musicians Collective . It was Andy who set up the first meeting at the East End Community centre in September 1980. He created opportunities for the dispossessed young people of Sunderland when they were sorely needed.
Without Andy Gibson, Mick Catmull and a host of other youth workers and their unique approach to youth work practice there would of been no Bunker.
Andy worked in both Sunderland and Newcastle, he helped establish the KeyFund Federation providing grants to youth groups, he then went on to work for the Scotswood Strategy.
Missed by all.
Photo by Paul Maven.

19th June 1981, High Speed Heros, I Breathe First, 4 More and the Dub Warriors played a Sunderland Musicians Collective ...
20/06/2026

19th June 1981, High Speed Heros, I Breathe First, 4 More and the Dub Warriors played a Sunderland Musicians Collective showcase gig at Sunderland Art College.
This was before the Bunker, we had the practice room at 60 Borough Road which wasn't suitable for gigs, so we used various venues that would have us.
No tickets for this gig. just the badge to prove entry, It was the first time we used this. The badges were made by the newly set up Co op badge collective.
The gig was a great success for us, no trouble, a rare event for gigs in the early 80's, just everyone enjoying themselves, I think you can tell from the photos.
Black and White photos by Micky Stewart, Colour by Jill Christie.
The badges are mine and Jill's from the gig.

13th June 1987, Conflict featuring Steve Ignorant, City Indians and Hex played Stockton Road Bunker.After problems at Co...
19/06/2026

13th June 1987, Conflict featuring Steve Ignorant, City Indians and Hex played Stockton Road Bunker.
After problems at Conflicts Gathering of the 5000 gig in Brixton most councils banned dates on this tour. Sunderland Council were no different, this didn't put the Bunker off.
Conflict were great supporters of the Bunker, one of the few bands to play both Bunkers. Colin would give us mentions in the press, and always had kind words for what we were doing.
The gig went ahead thinking that the Council wouldn't act on it's threat of removing the S and D licence from the Bunker, so it came with a shock when they announced that there'd be no more gigs at Stockton Road Bunker.
From the first gig on16th April 1983 to the last official gig 31st July1987, it brought an end of that run of Anarcho Punk gigs, I'm sure all the people who ran the Bunker in the early days will agree it was all worth it.
Fortunately the story doesn't end there, thanks to Kenny Sanger and the Bunker CIC's volunteers for keeping the ethos of the Bunker going for the future. There's more gigs than ever now, and the place is buzzing with young bands. Voluntary projects like the Bunker will always need support from the wider community to keep it going. We would love to think the Bunker will still be there for it's 100th anniversary, anything is possible if you believe.
RIP Colin
All photos by Duncan K.

16th June 1984, Chumbawamba and Passion Killers played Stockton Road Bunker.Thanks to Duncan K for the photos.
16/06/2026

16th June 1984, Chumbawamba and Passion Killers played Stockton Road Bunker.
Thanks to Duncan K for the photos.

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