record, single, 7 inch

A 45 rpm vinyl single of 'Protect and Survive' written by the London based punk band 'CryShark' in 1981 in response to the information materials produced by the Government in 1980 to advise the public on what to do in the face of nuclear war.

Vinyl record with central label on both sides (one being white with black text around the edge and a representative of the nuclear hazard symbol around the central hole, the other being black with white text around the edge) Contained in a paper sleave. The front and back of the sleeve features original artwork on the theme of nuclear weapons. The front image is an original hand drawn artwork of a stylised Japanese figure and lantern bearing the CND symbol. The rear image is a collage of diagrams from civil defence instructions, including how to build or purchase a fallout shelter and the CND symbol.

'Protect and Survive' was made in a spirit of protest against nuclear armament, the Margaret Thatcher government of the day, Ronald Reagan's US nuclear policy, and in support of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). According to Wayne Minter (guitarist and vocalist on the track) "the lyrics reflect the political, social and cultural factors affecting us as young adults in London in 1981. Most specifically they refer to the nuclear threat and the government's enthusiastic participation in an escalating arms race during a period of Cold War. It's not a happy record. Using a simple story of a family's daily routine of school, work, etc. being interrupted by the announcement of a nuclear attack; the song tries to convey the chill, helplessly depressive feeling that the contemplation of possible nuclear attack brought about at that time. In addition it attempts to highlight the widely ridiculed and practically inadequate 'Civil Defence' advice given by the government in its 'Protect and Survive' information materials, which had been published the year before. With emotive music and understated dark humour the single tries to express the reality that in, in the event of a nuclear attack virtually all but the rich and powerful would perish. For those unable to pay for their own shelter the Government's civil defence plans included do‐it‐yourself instructions on how to survive a nuclear attack in your own home. These amounted to little more than wrapping your children in newspaper and huddling together under the kitchen table. Meanwhile it was well known that a network of underground bunkers had been built, not as public air‐raid shelters but as safe refuges for selected politicians and civil servants." The song was recorded in 'Recession Recordings', an 8‐track recording studio built by the band in the basement of a squat in Queensgate, Kensington, London SW7. The sound recording features some of the earliest audio sampling on a UK single. In this case, of air raid sirens, government 'Protect and Survive' announcements, and US missile launch recordings. These were recorded off FM radio onto compact audio cassette. It was released on the 'Radical Wallpaper' record label, an independent socialist enterprise, which also produced material by, 'The International Pen Pals', and radical poets Benjamin Zephaniah, Seething Wells, Attila The Stockbroker and Little Brother. The label was started by Red Saunders, photographer, activist and a founder of 'Rock Against Racism' . The BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel played the single on his radio show but seemed to prefer the B side 'One Phone Call' which he played twice. Despite this, and mostly favorable reviews, the single failed to generate much interest.