Josef K

The Profile

Josef K were a Scottish post‑punk band from Edinburgh, formed in 1979 and associated with Postcard Records. Led by Paul Haig, they released a string of taut, influential singles and the 1981 LP The Only Fun in Town before disbanding in the early 1980s.

Formed in Edinburgh in 1979 (initially as TV Art); core lineup included Paul Haig (vocals, guitar), Malcolm Ross (guitar/keyboards), David Weddell (bass) and Ronnie Torrance (drums). Part of the Sound of Young Scotland and closely linked to Postcard Records; some releases also appeared on Les Disques du Crépuscule. Influences cited in reviews include Television, Talking Heads, Velvet Underground, and literary figures like Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Active primarily 1979–1982; notable releases include The Only Fun in Town, Entomology, It’s Kinda Funny, Young and Stupid, and the material associated with Sorry for Laughing.

Four DeBaser reviews trace Josef K’s sharp, fast, and literate post‑punk: from the lone LP The Only Fun in Town to compilations like Entomology and It’s Kinda Funny. Edinburgh’s finest are framed within the Sound of Young Scotland and Postcard Records. Reviewers highlight angular guitars, funk inflections, and a lasting influence on later bands. Overall tone: admiring, with emphasis on their brief, potent run.