En 1974, en las calles de Filadelfia, se formó una banda como pocas veces se habia visto. Se hacían llamar Pretty Poison. Las grandes compañías no estaban preparadas aún para el sonido del grupo, un estilo que copiaba lo mejor de punk New York, con influencias de un Jimi Hendrix fagocitado por el heavy metal de los setenta. Esta gran mezcla fue el resultado de las influencias de sus 4 componentes, 4 personajes orgullosos de su condicion de ser negros. Los primeros punks negros de la historia. En 1975 se cambian el nombre a Pure Hell y se mueven a New York donde tocan con todas las emergentes bandas del momento: New York Dolls, Sid Vicious, Richard Hell, Wayne County, Dead Boys, The Stimulators, The Germs, The Cramps y decenas más. Ya en 1978, Pure Hell se embarcan en una gira por Inglaterra donde bandas como Uk Subs, Wilko Johnson o Vermilion & The Aces abrieron para ellos. Al mismo tiempo, su manager edita un 7″ en el sello Sphinx con dos temas. El 7″ llegó a las lista de los 40 singles más vendidos. Este mismo año graban su debut LP que no vio la luz hasta 26 años después. Reedicion en vinilo de 180 gramos
Beat Generation presents a reissue of Pure Hell sole full-length album, recorded in 1978 but not released until 2006. In 1974, on the streets of Philadelphia, a band unlike any other was formed. They called themselves Pretty Poison. They had a sound so ahead of its time that the music industry was not yet ready for it. They coupled the punk sound of the New York bands of the time with a harder, faster heavy metal edge unheard before. Their unique sound was a result of Kenny Gordon‘s berserk choreography and Preston Morris‘s needling guitar riffs, while Steel and Spider added synchronized barrage with no nonsense execution to the arsenal. Inspired by the famous fuel-altered dragster, they changed their name to Pure Hell in 1975. Soon after, they moved to New York City where they played with bands like the New York Dolls, Sid Vicious, Wayne County and the Electric Chairs, The Dead Boys, The Stimulators, Richard Hell, The Germs, The Nuns, The Cramps and more. In 1978 Pure Hell headlined a tour of the UK, with bands like the UK Subs, Wilko Johnson, Vermilion & the Aces and more opening for them. While in the UK, their only original record was released. It was a single released by their manager Curtis Knight on his label, Golden Sphinx Records. The songs on the single were “These Boots Were Made for Walking” and “No Rules.” The single charted in the top 40 charts in the UK. During the same year, a full length album was recorded but was never released. It did not surface again for 28 years. Limited edition of 500 copies.