Wah Wah 45s present a unique moment from 1982 where New Wave and Post Punk collided with Afrobeat in the shape of Norwich DIY outfit Vital Disorders and their subversive yet instantly memorable version of the Fela Kuti classic, Zombie.
Band member Suzy Cox explains more:
“The song came to the band through our vocalist Lenneka Van Gilst who was in the group between January 1980 and December 1981. Lenneka grew up in Nigeria and had the original track on vinyl. When she moved to Trowse House, Norwich, the flat under Chris, the VD’s bass player, he heard the vibes floating through the floorboards. One thing led to another and it was in our set for ages. Lenneka had left the band to travel to Mexico by the time we recorded the track. We did well to choose it as the song has really stood the test of time. Lenneka had a lot of African Beat which was a big influence on us.”
The track came to label boss Dom Servini’s attention having been unearthed by BBC 6 Music DJ Gilles Peterson in late 2024, and a vinyl reissue of this rare and one-off gem was the obvious choice. Rather than pairing it with its original punky B-side though, Dom enlisted new signings to the label – young Afro-dub outfit Kotoa – to record their take on the Kuti classic. The quintet delivered what is a three minute, intense take on the Afrobeat genre, complete with youthful voices of protest echoing those of over 40 years ago.
The 7-inch vinyl only release of Zombie comes with re-worked art courtesy of our award winning designer Animisiewasz, taking the home-made look of the original cover and updating it respectfully for 2025.
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio play from Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), Deb Grant (BBC 6 Music), Kev Beadle (Totally Wired Radio), Alan McKinnon (Totally Wired Radio), Andrew Jervis (Worldwide FM), Jez Nelson (One Jazz)
“Great release! A beautiful 7-inch that I recommend!” Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music)
“Special.” Lefto (Worldwide)
“So good, what a gem!” The Reflex (UK)
“Fab… gorgeously pressed on to vinyl.” Deb Grant (BBC 6 Music)
“Superb.” Laurent Garnier (PBB / Worldwide)
“Dope!” Delfonic (BBE / GAMM, Germany)
“Killer track played at Pikes to great acclaim…delighted to have this gem ..well done all.” For Mankind (Pikes, Ibiza)
“Yes! Wonderful!” DJ Soulist (Souleance, France)
“Excellent! Will defo be playing this a lot!” Dom Ore (Miles Away Records, UK)
“This is very cool.” Emanative (Brownswood, UK)
“Cool interpretations of this classic!” DJ Angola (Wonderwheel, USA)
“Beautiful reimagining.” NGAIO (UK)
“Incredible release. Lovely tunes and wonderful story outlining this inspired journey.” Kid Hops (KEXP 90.3FM, USA)
“Love it.” Richard Epps (Totally Wired Radio, UK)
“According to the press release, this new Wah Wah 45s reissue was a Gilles Peterson find. Originally released in 1982 by Norwich-based, 8-piece collective Vital Disorders, it’s an impassioned post-punk reading of Fela Kuti’s classic Zombie. A direct shot at the Nigerian Government and its army, the song, when recorded in 76, put Kuti in incredible danger, and resulted in the destruction of his commune, The Kalakuta Republic, and the his mother’s murder. The Vital Disorders take is suitably spiky and angry, powered by cornet and trombone solos, and group call-and-response vocals, in a style similar to Rip, Rig & Panic.
The reissue is backed by a brand new cover from Kotoa, who deliver a jaunty, jazzy fidget, with all the horns and classy keys, that’s far more faithful to Fela’s original.” Rob Harris (Ban Ban Ton Ton, UK)
“Belle reprise!!!! La relève.” Jean-Marc Baehler (Couleur 3 FM, Switzerland)
“1982! Norwich!!!!!? Outstanding work.” DJ Osric (RTR FM, Australia)
“Impressive contemporary version of the classic! Great energy I assume by Vital Disorders and the new version by Kotoa which is stunning and my favourite as an old timer Afrobeater!” John Warr (Afrobase, Totally Radio, UK)
“Kotoa dans la playlist Diggers Radio.” Diggers Radio (France)
“Love the new version of an old classic..bought to the 2025 dancefloor!” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“Rare 80’s postpunk with an irresistible groove, what a headturner!” DJ6 (Various, USA)
“Yes all day long love this vibe.” DJ Abbo (Stomp Radio, UK)
“This is pure dopeness.” Xander Roozen (Royal Groove, The Netherlands)
“It’s not the type of track you would envisage being created in Norwich. Great that it is released now on a 7, with the Kotoa version included!” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Will be adding and playing Kotoa.” Jason Pulaski (KUCI 88.9FM, USA)
“Extra!” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France)
“Killer!” Ben Smith (Echo Empire, UK)
“Power to the People!” Junior (Record Breakin’, USA)
“Very nice retro feel to this but proper dancefloor business, will be supporting, big thanks!!!” Allan O’Malley (RTE Pulse Dublin, Ireland)
“Great groove!!!!” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Vital Disorders: This has the wonderful bellicose energy of Cut-era Slits, with alternately incisive and spaced-out brass elements reminiscent of Maximum Joy’s Building Bridges or the man himself, Hugh Masekela. Whatever the analogy, that Norfolk Afro-beat sound can’t be beat! Kotoa: Loving the way Kotoa condense Fela’s famed 12-minute-plus original, folding it in half and then half again to make a fervent 3-minute punky version with its own unique power.” Joseph Von Hees (Blood, Wine or Honey, Hong Kong)
“Great release – love both versions!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z, Germany)
“Classic material! Full support.” Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“Tough to decide a fave between the two, gonna have to just playlist both!” Mark Ward (Sideways Through Sound, Australia)
“Both versions are fantastic but love the urgency of Kotoa’s version.” DJ Mr Lob (Melbourne, Australia)
“Good one!!!” Markus Milz (Radio Corax 95.9FM, Germany)
“Fantastic release – love it.” Jon Brent (Dusk Dubs, UK)
“New Wave is normally not my cup of tea, but I didn’t know this version before. I stood up from the computer when it started and was forced right back. Stunning piece of music. Sure, the Kotoa version is really good, too, but that Vital Disorders one is crazy good!” Rene Josquin (Format Analog, Germany)
“Oooof! brilliant, right in the bag for tonight’s gig at Lindie fest.” Chris Knight (Kelburn Garden Party, Scotland)
“Nice one!” Karsten John (Vinyl Vibes, Germany)
“YESSSSS!! Put me down for a copy please!! Wonderful.” Steve KIW (1BTN, UK)
“GREAT.” Chris Ex (Black Radio Berlin, Germany)
“Stupendous! Corker of a cover. Both sides fire!” DJ Expression (What’s Hot Radio, UK)
“Amazing.” Enrique Domenech (CKUT, Canada)
“2 great versions!” Cal Gibson (Secret Soul Society, UK)
“Prefer the original here, slo-mo beautifully shambolic it is too.” Pete Isaac (Jelly Jazz, UK)
“I love when gems get un-earthed – this is an essential version of the Fela classic that should be in your box!” Herma Puma (First Word, UK)
“We could live in the Kotoa groove all day, this is awesome!” Dr Phil D (The BocX.com)
“Vital Disorders – interesting bit of history – But Kotoa are the business – perfectly tightly funky.” DJ Nigel Wood (Dublin FM, Ireland)
“VERSIONS!” Jimster (1 Station FM, UK)
“If it’s Fela Kuti, it’s always worth repeating, ‘Zombie’ and Wah Wah 45s are on it in two distinct ways. It was only last week that Land Of Echo’s debut album, ‘Almost Music’ was released (see review HERE) and not long before that, Raz & ‘Remixes of Resistance’ (see review HERE) so it’s a bit of a surpise, even with their very close association with Afica 70 member Dele Sosimi, here are two versionos Fela’s classic track. Each shorter that the original but you’ve got Vital Disorders on a vocal version and Kotoa with a raw jazz-funk instrumental.
And if you think there’s echos of Bristol scene post-punk, you’d be right as back in 1982 when Vital Disorder’s Nigerian born vocalist Lenneka at the time was ‘discovered’ by the band’s bassist in Norwich (!) and it became a big tune in their set; only to be unearthed years later by Gilles Peterson and his Arsenal fan mate Dom Servini was inspired to grab it for re-issue and paired it with a cover by one of the groups on his Wah Wah 45s label (sounding close to Soothsayers/Youthsayers)
As a protest anthem, ‘Zombie’ as stood the test of time since its original release and these two versions – whether recorded 40 year ago or this year – are as equally powerful. Limited 7″ release so don’t miss this one.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
“Wow, from the mists of time and smoky bars. I do vaguely remember this gang, I think because I was playing the same circuit around the country so would see their name on flyers, programmes etc. Can’t recall if I ever heard this, even on Peel’s show, but it came about around the time I had first encountered Fela live (at Glastonbury). Heady times, this was indeed innovative back then, it’s a cracking version.
Superb turnout too for the contemporary Kotoa version of the tune, loving the dashing bass line, authentic rhythm guitar grind and that trademark horn arrangement. Great stuff.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
