Though Restricted Code’s story began in the post-punk era, all of the original members play in the current band. Their live set merges new music with the best of their back catalogue and 2025 sees the release of their long awaited album, Chasing Shadows, on vinyl and CD.
RESTRICTED CODE
The line-up:
Tom Cannavan, vocals
Frank Quadrelli, guitar
Kenny Blythe, bass
Robert McCormick, keys
Les Gaff, drums
It took more than three decades before Restricted Code got together again. Having rekindled their friendship via social media, there was no great ambition, just a desire to get the guitars out and see where it took them. Original drummer Robert now played keyboards, so they recruited old friend Les Gaff to join them on drums. The new Restricted Code became a five piece band.
Song-writing duo Tom and Frank hit a rich seam of renewed creativity, new material emerged and a support gig appeared on the horizon, then another, then another, and suddenly they were headlining their own gigs.
Recording new material became the focus from 2020, with the four track ‘I Got Lost E.P’. In 2023 and 2024 they released double A-side singles, and this is followed in 2025 with the release of their first album on the Last Night from Glasgow label, ‘Chasing Shadows‘.
The band continues to write and play regularly, renewed interest in Scotland’s post-punk music scene cementing a revival of interest, including playing to a sell-out crowd at Glasgow’s CCA in 2023.
The story goes on, and the band says, “The truth? It’s like we have never been apart.”
New Codes discography:
I Got Lost, 2020 (E.P.)
I Got Lost, 2021 (Lockdown Version)
All Better Now, 2021 (Lockdown Release)
One Nation/Run to Me, 2023 (Double A-Side Single)
A Little Wiser/Such a Fool, 2024 (Double A-Side Single)
Chasing Shadows, 2025 (Album, released aurumn 2025)
OLD CODES 1978 – 1981
Tom Cannavan, vocal/guitar
Frank Quadrelli, guitar/vocal
Kenny Blythe, bass/vocal
Robert McCormick, drums
replaced by Steve Lironi, drums
Friends Tom and Frank grew up together in Easterhouse, Glasgow. They wrote songs together and played in school bands before creating Restricted Code in 1978. Influences were eclectic, from punk, to funk, to soul.
In 1979 they got together with fellow Glaswegian bands Positive Noise and The Alleged to release an EP called Second City Statik, arguably the first glimpse of ‘The Sound of Young Scotland’. In 1980 they got a call from Bob Last, manager of The Human League and the man whose Fast Product label released seminal records by The Gang of Four and The Mekons. Last loved their demos and signed them to his new record label, Pop:aural.
Restricted Code released two further records on Pop:aural and toured extensively, including supporting The Human League in the UK and Europe and a nationwide tour with the Fire Engines, label-mates at Pop:aural. They recorded sessions for John Peel and Richard Skinner at the BBC. Those session are available under the Music tab.
Aged just 17 at the time, the increasing touring committments led to Robert’s decision to quit the band. Steve Lironi was recruited on drums.
Restricted Code enjoyed fantastic critical success and something of a ‘cult’ following. Sounds music paper claimed they delivered the “best gig of 1981” and there were rave reviews and features in magazines including NME, The Face and Melody Maker. As one of the hottest up-and-coming bands around one memorable gig in London saw a who’s who of musical faces in the audience including Debbie Harry, John Peel, Julian Cope and the Sex Pistols.
The band split up late in 1981, perhaps down to the pressures of not achieving breakthrough success despite such critical acclaim.
Old Codes discography:
Second City Statik EP, 1980
First Night On/From the Top, 1980
Love to Meet You/Monkey Monkey Monkey 1981
BBC Radio:
John Peel session, 1981
Richard Skinner session, 1981
Where does the band’s name come from? Read all about it.