{{Short description|British band}} {{Infobox musical artist | origin = London, Paris | genre = Punk rock | current_members = Nina Courson, Phil Honey-Jones, Joe Gaskell, David James | past_members = Tjay Tarantino, Steve Nightmare, Dave Renegade, Steve Grainger,Tony Alda, Pumpy, Dany Fury, Dave Whitmore. | label = Banana Castle Records / Cargo Records | associated_acts = Hiroshamour, Nurotica, Altercation, T23 and the Psychedelic Circus, Neon Animal, MK Ultra, The 4 Tits | name = Healthy Junkies | image = Healthy Junkies 2019.2 by Andras Paul.jpg | website = www.healthyjunkies.co.uk | caption = Healthy Junkies }} '''Healthy Junkies''' are a punk rock / grunge band based in London, UK. The current line-up consists of French-born singer Nina Courson (vocals), Phil Honey-Jones (guitar/vocals), Joe Gaskell (bass) and David James (drums). The band have achieved press coverage in the music magazines ''Vive Le Rock''<ref name=viveclaim /> and ''Black Velvet'',<ref name="blackvelvet" /> as well as website Louder Than War.<ref name="louderclaim" />

==History== Courson met guitarist Honey-Jones at a Soho nightclub called PUNK in 2009, after relocating from Paris to pursue her musical career.<ref name="Chaligne">{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/interview-and-album-review-healthy-junkies/|title=Interview and album review: Healthy Junkies|last=Chaligne|first=Craig|date=2016-02-19|website=Louder Than War|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> They named their band as "a reflection of the mental health epidemic currently spreading like wildfire through the very core of western society",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wipeoutmusic.com/wpcproduct/healthy-junkies/|title=Healthy Junkies - female fronted London punk band - wipeoutmusic.com|website=Wipe Out Music :: Independent Music Publishers :: WipeoutOutMusic.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

The group played their live debut in Brighton at the end of 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://maytherockbewithyou.com/mtrbwy/2018/08/healthy-junkies-reverbnation-interview/|title=Healthy Junkies|date=2018-08-01|website=maytherockbewithyou.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> supporting Goldblade and Viv Albertine. They have since released four studio albums and toured extensively across Europe, the United Kingdom and United States, gaining a loyal following for their highly energized and theatrical performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mindnoisenetwork.com/2018/06/24/festival-review-camden-rocks-2018/|title=Mind Noise Network - Festival Review: Camden Rocks 2018|date=2018-06-24|website=Mind Noise Network|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

The band have supported the likes of The Rezillos, Sham 69, UK Subs, The Professionals, GBH, Vice Squad, The Buzzcocks and Theatre of Hate, and regularly play at festivals such as Rebellion and Camden Rocks. Enthusiastic supporters of the underground punk scene,<ref name="Chaligne"/> Courson and Honey-Jones also promote the 'Punk and Roll Rendezvous' club night in Camden, which has become internationally renowned<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/31-november-cd/20894-healthy-junkies-delirious-dream-banana-castle-records.html|title=Healthy Junkies – 'Delirious Dream' (Banana Castle Records)|last=Ashby|first=Mark|website=Über Röck-Kick Ass Rock N Roll|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> and spawned a yearly festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://camden-live.com/band-interview/healthy-junkies-bring-back-punk/|title=Healthy Junkies Bring Back Punk|date=2020-03-09|website=Camden Live Music Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

==Musical style== Lauded for their "blistering, trashy, punky glam rock sound",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/28-august-cd/2920-healthy-junkies-sick-note-self-released.html|title=Healthy Junkies - 'Sick Note' (Self Released)|last=E|first=Gaz|website=Über Röck-Kick Ass Rock N Roll|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the band has been described as "a homage to psychedelic rock/punk rock and grunge of days gone by but ...with a fresh, modern twist."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maximumvolumemusic.com/band-of-the-day-healthy-junkies/|title=BAND OF THE DAY: HEALTHY JUNKIES|last=Andy Thorley|date=2018-07-09|website=Maximum Volume Music|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> Black Velvet Magazine praised their "addictive songs with bounce and energy" <ref name="blackvelvet">{{Cite journal|last=Huckett|first=Clare|date=4 November 2011|title=Album review|journal=Black Velvet Magazine}}</ref> and Artrocker wrote "the band excel at peripherally gothic action rock."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Suzuki|first=Cindy|date=3 July 2011|title=Sick Note Review|journal=Artrocker Magazine}}</ref> Nina's "sultry melodic"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://massmovement.co.uk/healthy-junkies-box-of-chaos-cd-stp/|title=Healthy Junkies - Box Of Chaos CD (STP)|date=2016-02-03|website=Mass Movement|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> vocals have drawn favourable comparisons to Chrissie Hynde, Siouxsie Sioux and Patti Smith<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jasons-jukebox.com/2019/02/20/healthy-junkies-delirious-dream/|title=Healthy Junkies – Delirious Dream|last=Jukebox|first=Jason's|date=2019-02-21|website=Jason's Jukebox|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> whilst Louder Than War commented that Honey-Jones' guitars "provide an energetic binding agent that helps meld together goth, glam, grunge, punk and psychedelic sensibilities."<ref name="louderclaim">{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/healthy-junkies-delirious-dream-album-review/|title=Healthy Junkies: Delirious Dream - album review|last=LinkUpAndy|date=2018-10-15|website=Louder Than War|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Vive Le Rock'' described ''Delirious Dream'' as "gorgeous yet nightmarish",<ref name=viveclaim>{{Cite journal|last=Bruce|first=Turnbull|date=March 2019|title=Healthy Junkies|journal=Vive Le Rock}}</ref> and ''Devolution'' magazine noted that "To be able to take a sound that is recognisable from the 60s ...and DeLorean it into something fit to please and thrill people well into the 2020s and beyond is astonishing in itself. To do so with such panache and flamboyance is truly amazing."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://devolutionmagazine.co.uk/2018/09/20/review-healthy-junkies-delirious-dream/|title=Review: Healthy Junkies – Delirious Dream|website=devolutionmagazine.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

==Discography==

'''Albums'''

* ''Sick Note'' (2011 Banana Castle Records) * ''The Lost Refuge'' (2014 STP Records) * ''Box of Chaos'' (2016 STP Records) * ''Delirious Dream'' (2018 Banana Castle Records) * ''Forever on the Road'' (2020 Banana Castle Records) * ''Listen to the Mad'' (2024 Banana Castle Records)

'''EPs'''

* ''Hair of the Dog'' (2015 Banana Castle Records) * ''The Absynth Sessions'' (2017 Banana Castle Records) * ''No Control'' (2018 Banana Castle Records / Cargo Records) * ''Lion in a circus'' (2022 Banana Castle Records)

'''Collaborations'''

* ''Vive Le Rock!'' - with Neon Animal (Gods Own Bastards EP, 2019) * ''Kill The Hate'' – with MK Ultra (2019)

==References== <references />

==External links== * [http://www.healthyjunkies.co.uk/ Official website]

Category:English punk rock groups Category:English alternative rock groups Category:2009 establishments in England Category:Musical groups established in 2009 Category:Musical groups from London