Phil Trotsky was drummer in The What, the first South Humberside Punk-Rock band to form, play gigs, release a record.



Formed in July 1977 as ‘Exit’, their first gig, in November 1978, ended in a riot with the band attacked by the audience and their equipment smashed up. Their final gig was in Oct 1979. Still appearing onstage billed as Exit they were, at the same time, promoting their ‘East Coast Kids’ EP under the name-change The What. Armed with such a career-killing strategy, it comes as no surprise therefore, that shortly afterwards, Exit/The What collapsed in disarray...



Trotsky is also known as sticksman with anarcho-punk band The Subhumans (formed in the Trowbridge area of Wiltshire, UK in 1980) and their following versions, Culture Shock and Citizen Fish.



Drumming since the age of 14, Trotsky can lay claim to 26 years of playing in the punk scene.



In 1981 he joined punk band the Subhumans playing on tours all over Europe, Scandinavia, USA and Canada supporting and headlining over U.S punk legends Dead Kennedys, TSOL, Scream and Bad Religion to name a few. The band produced 5 albums and 5 singles.



After the Subhumans split in `86 Trotsky found himself playing with up to 12 bands exploring varied musical styles such as blues, soul and funk.



In 1989 he teamed back up with Subhumans and Culture Shock singer Dick Lucas and Culture Shock bass player Jasper to form Citizen Fish, a band that toured relentlessly worldwide for the next few years. Following a couple of `reformation `gigs the Subhumans reformed as a working band in 1998 touring the United States and Europe.