Past Seven Days

4AD-era post-punk outfit The Past Seven Days emerged from Sheffield’s vibrant early-1980s underground music scene. Formed around 1979, the band blended jittery guitar lines, brooding atmospheres and art-rock influences in a style comparable to fellow Sheffield experimental acts of the period.

The group’s line-up included John Hanlon (guitar), Michael “Max” Wall (bass and vocals), Colin Gaynor (drums) and Trevor Dooley (synths, saxophone and backing vocals).  Dooley moved on to They Must Be Russians, the others seem to have faded away.

Although short-lived, they left behind one highly regarded single: “Raindance” / “So Many Others…”, released in 1981 on 4AD. The record became a cult favourite among collectors of Sheffield post-punk and early 4AD releases, noted for its angular guitars and dark, melodic mood.

The Past Seven Days played alongside notable post-punk acts including Cabaret Voltaire, The Monochrome Set and Comsat Angels during 1980–82, appearing at venues such as The Leadmill and London’s ICA. (

Despite releasing only a single record, the band remains remembered as part of Sheffield’s influential independent music movement that also produced acts like The Human League, Clock DVA and In The Nursery. Their track “Raindance” later appeared on retrospectives documenting Sheffield’s post-punk era.