Laws was a former exponent of
experimental music, and was a founding member of the
post-punk band
The The. Laws is credited by fellow founder
Matt Johnson as being the originator of the band name. Laws answered an advertisement placed by Johnson in
NME in 1978, seeking musicians to form a band. as a duo, recorded the 7"
45rpm single for 4AD, "Controversial Subject"/"Black and White". Produced by
Bruce Gilbert and
Graham Lewis of
Wire, Laws played synthesiser and sang, and Matt Johnson played guitar and also contributed vocals. The record sleeve mentions both Tom Johnston and Triash (
Peter Ashworth) as having contributed, although the recordings featured only Laws and Johnson. Laws and Johnson played as at gigs with
Wire,
Cabaret Voltaire,
DAF,
This Heat,
the Birthday Party and
Scritti Politti. In early 1981, also contributed the composition "Untitled" for
The Some Bizzare Album. In September of that year, the duo of Johnson and Laws signed a deal with
Some Bizzare Records, and released the 7-inch single "Cold Spell Ahead". Following final demo recordings for
Phonogram – "Three Orange Kisses for Kazan", "Waiting for the Upturn" – Laws left to pursue his studies, leaving Johnson as a solo artist using a group moniker. == Bibliography ==