The Table

About

The Table were a punk rock band from Cardiff, Wales, best known for their 1977 single "Do The Standing Still (Classics Illustrated)". The band consisted of Russell Young (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass), Tony Barnes (guitars, bass), Len Lewis (drums) and Mickey O'Connor (guitars). Young and Barnes had been performing together since 1971 in the band John Stabber, and formed Do You Want This Table (later shortened to The Table) in 1972. However, they did not own any musical instruments, refused to tour, and stated that they were not a "real" band and had no future in the music industry. Despite this, they were signed to Virgin Records and released "Do The Standing Still (Classics Illustrated)", first recorded as a demo in 1975. The single was an NME 'Single Of The Week', rapidly becoming a cult favourite, and subsequently appearing on several punk compilation albums. Record label pressure saw them reluctantly become a well-received live act. Their uncompromising stance led to disagreements with Virgin, however, and they left, signing to Chiswick Records in 1978 and releasing a second single, "Sex Cells". The band ceased to exist after several line-up changes and a policy of playing increasingly uncommercial and distasteful material. Young's later band, Flying Colours, released a single, "Abstract Art", on the No Records label in 1981. Cardiff band Boy Azooga recorded a cover version of Do The Standing Still in 2018.