the history of rock | 1977

I, a
A monthly
MONTHLY trip
TRIP through
THROUGH.1.MUSIC'S
GOLDEN years
YEARS
music’s golden
THIS
ISSUE:1977
this issue:
1977

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THE ClasH“We"We ain’t
ain'tashamedashamed to fight”
fight"

sTarring...

from the makers of

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1977m o n t h by mon th

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AFTERTHEWIDELYpublicised
stirrings of thethe Sex
SexPistols
atfter the widely publicised stirrings
Pistols at
the close of 1976,
1976,punk
punkrockrockhashasnow
nowbecomebecomemore
more than
than athemedia sensation. It isis aa widespreadwidespread discussion,
discussion, talked
talkedabout in political –- andand increasingly
increasingly even in musical -–terms. Bands
terms.
Bands such
suchasas TheThe Clash,
Clash, Stranglers
Stranglersand
andSexSex Pistols
Pistols
albums.
are actually releasing albums.
Jaggerhas
haschecked
checked out
out thethe bands
bands in
NewYork
and listened
listened to thethe singles
singles
Mick Jagger
in New
York and("Chelsea, 'Right
Work'–- thatthat one’s
one's awful”).
awful"). Keith Moon makes
makes a riotous
riotous trip(“Chelsea,‘Right To Work’trip
the Vortex
Vortexclub,
club,totoconfront
confrontpunk
punk rockrock head
head on.
on. Robert
Robert Plant,
Plant, who
whohashas seen
seen
to theThe Damned
Damned at the Roxy,is unconcerned.
unconcerned. “The"The dinosaurs,”
dinosaurs," he memorably
The
Roxy, is"arestill
stilldancing…”
dancing..."says, “areStill,they
theyareareaalittle
littleon
onthe
thedefensive
defensiveside.
side.Plant
Plantseems
seemsanxious
anxiousto
todownplay
downplay
Still,
punk's youth, claiming Rat Scabies
Scabies andand Johnny
Johnny Rotten
Rotten areare olderolder than
than theypunk’slook. They’re
They're notnot –- indeed Plant
look.
Plant himself
himself isis only
only 28
28 -– butbutgenerationallygenerationally
speaking,
he may as well
speaking, hewellbebeaacabinet
cabinetminister.
minister. He
Heisisprofessionally
professionallyexpert
expertandandenormously wealthy,
wealthy,but
but inin this changed
enormously
changed musicalmusical economy,
economy, this only
only
contributes to his irrelevance.
irrelevance.
contributes
discomfort is not
not soothedsoothed bybythe
His discomfort
thepress.
press. Punk
Punkdoesn't
doesn’tonly
onlypoliticise
politiciseyouth
youth
revolutionise therecords arechange inand revolutionise
thewayway in which records
are made,made, it also effects change
music papers,
papers, which
which becomemusic
become bolder
bolder in layout,layout, more
more irreverent
irreverent inin tone.
tone.
staff writers
writers such
such asas Tony
TonyParsons
Parsonscontaincontain important
important interviews
Features by staff
interviews
with bands
support the
bands like
like our cover stars The Clash –- but these only support
the mainmain
thrustthrust of his
his communiqué.
communiqué.
This is thethe world ofofThe
TheHistory
HistoryOf
OfRock,monthlymagazine
magazinethatthat follows
follows each
each
This
Rock, a amonthly
turn of the rock revolution. Whether
Whether in sleazy dive or hugehuge arena,
arena, passionate
passionate
turn
stylish contemporary
contemporary reporters wereand increasingly
increasingly stylishwere there toto chronicle
chronicle
events. This
This publication
publication reaps
reaps thethe benefits
benefits ofof theirtheir understanding for the
events.
can find out how toreader decades
decades later,
later, one
one yearyear at
at aa time.
time.Missed
Missedone?
one? YouYou canrectify thatthat onrectifyon pagepage 144.
In thethe pages of this
this 13th edition,
edition, dedicatedwill find
find verbatim
verbatimIn
dedicatedto
to1977,
1977, you will
frontline staffers,
the action, wherever it
articles from frontline
staffers, filed from the thick of themaybe.
the Westwaywith
may
be. InIn court
courtwith
withKeith
Keith Richards.
Richards. Looking
Looking at theWestway withThe
The Clash.
Clash.
called a wanker
wanker with
with Keith Moon.
Moon.
Being called
It is
is Moon,
Moon,ininfact,fact,who
whobestbestarticulates
articulates thethe anxieties ofof hishis generation ofofIt
when hehe reveals
reveals to a young punk in themusicians in 1977
1977 when
the Vortex
Vortex a simple
biographical fact.
biographical"I'm 30,”
30," hehe says.
says.
“I’m

HISTORY OF
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |133

1977

m o n t h by mon th

6 News1?.)1011 FETTI

Contents
Contents

6News
Abad
the year for
forKeith
A bad start
start toto theKeith
Richards –-andRichards
andforforthetheRolling
Stones. Pink
Pink Floyd have
have problems,
problems,
Stones.
andSara Dylan
Dylanfiles
files for divorce.
and Sara
divorce.
Pistolsare
are dropped
dropped byEMI.
Sex Pistols
by EMI.

2g Albums
Albums
u
26

Anew
and
A new one
one fromfrom Bowie, andsome strong
strong stuff
some
stuff fromfrom both
bothBillBill
Withers
Withers andandEarth,
Earth,Wind
Wind&Fire.
& Fire.

Peter Gabriel
28
28
Peter GabrielDavid Bowie
is incognito.
incognito. In
his
Bowie isIn hisstead, TonyViscontiand Brianstead,
Tony Visconti and
Brian Enotalk
Low.
talk Low.

The former Genesis
releases his debut
debut solo
singer releases
album andalbum
anddeclares
declareshis
hislovelove of
Springsteen -– evensneaking
Springsteen
even a sneaking
interest
in punk
interest in
punk rock.

Ramones
16
1g

telephone conversation
conversation
322 Atelephone
3

David Bowie
1212

Ramones

VAAtrip
triptoto thethe record company
and toSpector's house
house in theandto Phil Spector’s
company ofthe band.
band. "I'mcompanyof the“I’mneurotic,”
saysDee
DeeDee.
Dee."You“You
neurotic," says
knowwhatshould knowwhat thatthat means."means.”

20u

That'sn9 Roll

2n SexSexPistols
Pistols

lurid headlines,
headlines,
Fleeing lurid
the bandband play ininAm
sterdam.
theAmsterdam.
While thethe bandband areare shellshockedshellshocked
their recent
recent dramas,
dramas, Malcolm
by their
grants an
an audienceaudience to
McLaren grants
toexplain their
their position.
position.
explain

Iggy Pop
Pop
Iggy

with
with thethe performer
performer suggests
suggestssomeone-perhaps
that someone– perhaps thereclusive David– is pullingDavid Bowie?
Bowie?-isstrings.AA wild
goose chasechase tohis strings.
wild goosetoensues.
Berlin ensues.

& THE rKINTAKEKS
Q4 -J itNews
40
40 News

The Sex Pistols
PistolsThecelebrate thecelebrate
the Queen's
Queen’s Silver
Jubilee. Wilko Johnson
JohnsonleavesFeelgood. The
leaves Dr Feelgood.
The
BeatlestheBeatles get
get backback toto the01010 VS Irr-FPFUP
days–-whether
early days
whether
SW -mime .11141110011 1111P *flUtif.111T FRAMS LAPPS,
they likeitit oror not.
theylike
not.

Mounties bust Keef Int Anita

The Clash
44
44

The Clash
the tube,tube,
On theinthe caff andandin thetheoverlooking theWestwaywith
Westway with theLondonand. AntiLondonbband.
Antipunkviolence,punk violence,reggae
reggaerevolution are all
and revolution
the tabletable foron thediscussion.

welcOrries
Pop

/1
1

1

Fleetwood Mac5050

36 AC/DC
AC/DC
36
Angus Young opines
Angus
opines angrily
angrily
what-– andnot-–about what
and what does notconstitute "realconstitute“realrock'n'roll".
rock’n’roll”. On
ensues.
stage, chaos reliably ensues.

Blondie,
page 54

Fleetwood Mac
The former
blues
revivalists enjoy
blues revivalists
their
their newnew status
statusasas
MORchampions-their
MOR champions– their
relationshiprelationship upheavals
upheavals
notwithstanding.
notwithstanding.

Live
54
54 Live

Blondie catch
catch
the
the NME
theeyeeye of thereportersupporting
reporter supporting
Television,andTelevision, while
while Tom Waits andTheappear.
The Jacksons also appear.

And NME/celebrates
its very own-.
-Silv

1 ..Subi star,/56u

g Muddy
MuddyWaters
WatersThe Chess Records
Records star
star
doesn't so much
much recountrecount his
doesn’tlife story
story asas thethe entire
entire history
history
the blues,
blues, fromfrom Charley
Charley Patton
Pattonof thetothe Rolling
Stones.
to theRolling Stones.

The Jam
64
64

TheJamThe self-proclaimed
self-proclaimed"black sheep
sheep ofofthe
thenew
newwave"“blackwave”
status.
explain their outsider status.
HMQueenQueen andand voting
Suits, HM
Conservative all feature.
feature.
Conservative

Albums68
68Albums
The first
first offeringofferingfrom
fromTheThe
and The Stranglers.
Stranglers. Bob
Clash and1..

Marley's Rastaman
Rastaman Vibration
Marley’s
Vibration isbelatedly assessed.

70u Elvis Costello
7n Elvis Costello

bespectacled firebrandfirebrand
The bespectacledappears inappears
inaa furious
furiousburst
burstofofselfselfconfidence. Don't
confidence.
Don’tknow
knowhow
how good
good
he is? Here,
Here, letlethimhim telltellyou.
heyou.

Tom Petty
74
74

Tom Pettylaid-backSouthernerSoutherner
The laid-backdebuts inEngland withdebutsin Englandwith hisand agreeably
spiky androck'n'roll.
Anglophile rock’n’roll.

78u Led Zeppelin

711 Led Zeppelin
RobertRobert Plant
Plant gives
gives hisverdict on
the newwave.
verdicton thenew wave.All
Allround, itit seems,
seems, he's
round,
he’s not too
worried-they're
worried– they’renot
notas
as young
you'd think,
think, these
these punks.
punks.
as you’d84 Television
8A Television'V An
Anin-depth
in-depthinterview
with each
each member
member of thethewithhallucinatory NewYork
hallucinatory
New York rockers.
Features: ego,and Hell.
Features:ego, Eno
Eno andLetters
91
91
Letters

Clash write. A
Atelegramtelegram
The Clashfrom thefrom
the Sex Pistols.

4 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

F AogrSex pistols
Pistols –sex
10,20,
pages 10,20,40,
98 and 124
40,98and124

if
DAVID BOWIEBe My Wife
Speed Of bie

i

I WHO

MOS

News
92
92

98u Sex Pistols

911 Sex Pistols
Outraging Scandinavia,
andintroducing new member
memberand introducing
Sid Vicious.
Vicious. Topics
Topics include:
include:0O-levels,-levels, Catholic
Catholic schools, hippies
hippiesand leopard
leopard-print
shoes.
and-print shoes.

106u Albums

108
NSofof Lynyrd
108 Three
Three

Albums
1 24 AlbUMS
NeverMind
Never
Mind The

Skynyrd perish.
me eting with
with
Skynyrd
perish.A
A meetingIntroducing
Donna Summer. Introducing
The Fall
Fallandandtheirtheiropinionatedopinionatedspokesperson, Una
spokesperson,
Una Baines.
Baines.

Bollocks...
Bollocks…Here's
Here’s The
The Sex
Pistols arrives,
arrives, as does
does
Sad Cafe’s
Cafe's Fanx
Fanx Ta-Ra.

News

News
Presley. RIP
RIP Elvis Presley.
RIP
Marc
po sthumous
Marc Bolan.
Bolan. A
A posthumous
Bowie/Bolan broadcast.
broadcast.

10g Albums
Newreleases
New releases
fromsinger -songwriterfrom singer-songwriter
Joan Armatrading,Armatrading, thethe feisty
BoomtownRats
Rats andandBillyJoel.
Billy Joel.
Boomtown

124lolling Stones
Stones12chaos onthe
126
Benign chaoson the6 Benign
114
MickJagger
stays
abreast road
114Rolling
Mick
Jagger stays
abreastroad with
with Ian
Ian Dury,
Dury, Costello

StiffTour
Stiff Tourthetimes
timesand
andaddresses
Keith andand Nick Lowe.
Lowe.Sex,
Sex,drugs…
drugs...
of theaddresses
Keith
Richards’
and record
Richards' future prospects.
prospects.
record collecting!

118u The Clash

11Q The Clashthe bandband meet
In Belfast, the
new enemy:
enemy: reality.
reality. Young punks
punks
a new
remonstrate asremonstrate
asthe
theband's
band’sgig
gig isblown
blown for thethe want
want ofofinsurance.
insurance.

132 David Bowie

130 David Bowie
Bowie gets inside
inside"Heroes"andthe pleasurespleasures of“Heroes”
and theworkingtheworking with
with Brian
Brian Eno and the“hilarious”
Robert Fripp.
"hilarious" Robert

Buzzcocks
136
136

Buzzcocks
Pizza
and wry chat
chat with
with
Pizza and
Shelleyinpost-Devoto band.
band.
Pete Shelleyin a post-Devoto

140u Keith Moon
14n Keith Moon

to
A triptrip inin a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce topunk club, andand down
down memory
memorya punklane with the Who
Whodrummer.
drummer.
lane

Letters
145
145
Letters

allkinds.
kinds.
Elvises of allAwrites.s.Those
AHawk
H awkwrite
Those old
oldBeatles.
Beatles.

Time
Inc. (UK)Ltd, 3rd
EDITOR John
John Mulvey,
Time Inc.
(UK) Ltd,
3rd Floor,
Floor, Blue
Blue Fin
Fin Building,
Building, no110Southwark
SouthwarkSt,
St,London
LondonSE1
SE1OSU
0SU | Editor
Mulvey, whose
whose favourite
favourite song
song
from
ART EDITOR
Lora Findlay
from 1977
1977 is Marquee
Marquee Moon
Moon byby Television
Television DEPUTY
dEputy EDITOR
Editor John Robinson
Robinson Damnation
Damnation Alley
Alley by
byHawkwind
Hawkwind art
Editor Lora
Findlay
Rip
PRODUCTION EDITORART DIRECTOR
Rip Her To
To Shreds
Shreds by
by Blondie
Blondie production
Editor Mike
Mike Johnson
Johnson DistantDistant Smile
Smile byby Ultravox
Ultravox art
dirEctor Marc
Marc Jones Sound
Sound And
And
Vision by
by David
DESIGNER Becky
Becky Redman
Redman ThreePICTURE EDITOR
George Jacobs
VisionDavid Bowie
Bowie dEsignEr
Three Little
Little Birds
Birds by Bob
Bob Marley
Marley && The
The Wailers
Wailers picturE
Editor George
Jacobs
Easy
COVER PHOTO
Adrian Boot
THANKS TO
Helen Spivak,
MARKETING
Easy byby The
TheCommodores
Commodores covEr
photo Adrian
Boot //Urbanimage.TV
Urbanimage.TV thanks
to Helen
Spivak, James
James Hanman
Hanman MarkEting
Charlotte
SUBSCRIPTIONS Letitia
GROUP MANAGINGPaul ChealCharlotte Treadaway
Treadaway suBscriptions
Letitia Barry
Barry GENERAL
gEnEraL MANAGER
ManagEr Jo Smalley group
Managing DIRECTOR
dirEctor Paul
Cheal
COVERS and
AND TEXT
WWW.UNCUT.CO.UK
covErstExt PRINTED
printEd BY
By Wyndeham
WyndehamGroup
GroupI| www.uncut.co.uk

lime Inc.

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cam,,..
HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
HISTORY
1977 |15
5

REx FEATURES, WARInG ABBoTT / GETTy

I

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Yost`-`","

1977 lAk
1977
JJANum-on
A NUA R Y – M A R CH

IGGY pop,
POP, SEx
SEX piStoLS,
PISTOLS,
iggy
PETER gAbRiEL,GABRIEL, Ac/Dc,
AC/DC,pEtER
RAMONES AND
RAMoNESAND MOREMoRE

N o t guilty“Not
guilty”
STONESNEWS
NEwS

SpEciAL- SPECIAL

1.6411 CON

Dg

1977
1977

NME JANJAN 15
15 Keith
Keil Richards
unmui ua in courtwetNMEcharged withchargedwithpossession
possessionofofLSDLSD andandtracestraces ofof cocaine
cocaine on
on aa silver
silver chain.
chain.

O0

Januaryn,1977:
January 11, 1977:
Keith Richards
KeitharrivesatAylesbury
arrivesat Aylesbury
CrownCourt
Crown
Court

6
6 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977

chalkie davies / getty

Ma ,1.

0N
MONDAYMorning,
MORNING,aagold
goldRolls-Royce
Rolls-Roycen Mondaydrew up outside
outside Aylesbury Crown
Crown Court
Court
and Keith Richards
Richards stepped
stepped out
andout toto facetwo -countindictment
indictment alleging
alleging possession
possession
aa two-countofof LSD
LSDandandcocaine.
cocaine.
waswhite-faced
white-faced andand sombre
sombre asas heheenteredenteredKeith wasthesmall courtroom,
courtroom, dressed
plain black
the small
dressedinin aa plain
scarf,and
andstack
stack-velvet suit,
suit, a white
white silk shirt
shirt andand scarf,heeledand bothbothheeled boots.
boots. Charges
Charges were read out andtimes
timesKeith
Keith answered
answeredquietly,
quietly,"Not“Notguilty."
guilty.”The prosecution
describedhow,
how, just
just before
prosecution described
4am
19,1976,
the police
police received
received an
4am onon May 19,
1976, theanemergency call totoinvestigate
investigate anan accident
accident on
on thetheemergency
southboundsection of thesouthbound section
the M1
Ml motorway
motorwaynear
near
NewportRichards' seriously damaged
damagedNewport Pagnell. Richards’
Bentleyhad
Bentley hadrun
runoffoffthethemotorway
motorwayand
andintointoaafield,
field,
ploughingthroughthroughaahedge
hedgeandandfence.
fence.
ploughing
the carcar were
were people:
people: Keith Richards,
Richards, his
By thehisson Marlon,
Marlon, aged
agedseven,seven,ananAmericanson
American called
Mr Sessler andand two
two unidentified
unidentified girls.
girls. Taken topoliceinterview
interviewroom,
room,Richards
Richardswas
wassearched.
searched.
aa policeIn
an inside
inside jacket
In anjacket pocket,
pocket, it was alleged, wasfound a folded piece
found
piece ofofpaper,paper,andand inside
inside thatthat
another piece
anotherpiece of paper.
believed thethe stain
stain on thethe second
second piece
Police believed
piece ofpapertoto be
be LSD
paper
LSDandandarrested
arrested Richards
Richards on a charge
chargeofpossessing
possessing aacontrolledcontrolled drug.
of
was thenthen taken
taken to thethe Newport
Newport Pagnell
Pagnell
Keith waspolice station,
policestation, while officers searchedsearched his car and
and
found
chain, on which
which were
were attachedattached
found a silver chain,several objects,
objects, including
including a vinaigrette
vinaigrette (aseveral(a scent
scent orsmelling-salt
1870 andworth£150),£150),
smelling -salt holder
holder dated
dated 1870
and worthminiature silver
tube,
aa miniaturesilverflick
flick knife,
knife,aa hollow
hollow silver tube,
and a carcar key.
and
When
When Keith was
was shownshown thethe chainchain he denieddenied it
washis, thethe court
said,
was his,courtwaswastold.
told.Keith,
Keith, itit was said,
informeders ofinformedpolice
policethat
thatmany
manymembmembersof thethe Stones
Stonesandand their entourage
entourage used
used thethe car and that thesilver chain
chain could
could belong
belong to anyone.
anyone. Of thethe jacket
silverin which the stained
stained paper
paperwaswas discovered
discovered hehesaid,
said, “We"Weallallwearweareacheachother’sother's stagestage clothes.
clothes.
I don’t
don't know
knowwhat
whatititis."is.”court heard
heard thattests showed
showedThe courtthat forensic
forensic tests
thetube on thethe chainchain to containcontain traces
tracesthe silver tube
(130milligrams)
milligrams) of anan off-white powder,powder,(130
includingmilligrams of pure
pure cocaine.
cocaine.
including39 milligrams
The jury
were shown two photographs
jurywerephotographs fromthetheStones'
Stones’Leicester
Leicesterconcert
concertofofMay
May15,
15,1976,
1976, ininwhich,
alleged, thethe chainchain thatwhich, it was alleged,
thatKeith
Keithwaswaswearingwas
was thethe samesameasas thethe oneone foundfound inin hishis car. »»wearingvt

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 7

1977
1977

a r chJJANUARYa n u a r y – M-1°H

the defence,
defence, Siron,
For theSir Peter
Peter Rawlins
Rawlinson,
questioned thethe policequestioned
theright
rightofof thepolice tosearch a man
man involved in aa carcar accident
accident
searchhe was, in thefor drugs,
drugs, when
when hethe opinion
opinion oftheunder thethe
the police themselves, underinfluenceneither drink
influenceofof neither
drinknornor drugs.
drugs.
In evidence,
his
evidence, PC Sibbet
Sibbet said
said his
suspicions were first
first aroused
aroused when hesuspicions
found
found some
some pills
pills inKeith’s bag.
Keith'sbag. “However,”"However,"said, “the"the pills
Sibbet said,
werelater found
found towere later
to besalt tablets,
tablets, but on thethestrength ofthat westrengthof thatsearched him.”
him."
searched
Det
Det Sgt Bull of thetheThamesThamesValley
Valley Drugdescribed how
tubes like thethe
Squad described
how hollow tubes
one onon thethe chainchain are “used"used to sniff
sniff cocaine
cocaineand amphetamines”.
amphetamines". HeandHealsoalsosaidsaidLSD
LSD onpaper
sucked.
papercould
couldbebe swallowed
swallowedor
or sucked.
A
Aforensic
forensicscientist
scientisttold
toldthethecourt
court that
that
there
the paper
paper fortherewaswas enoughenoughLSD
LSD on thedose, while
while thethe antiques
antiques officer of
one dose,thethe Thames
ThamesValley
Valley police
policewas
wassaid
saidtotohave measured
measured the distances
distances between
thethe chainchain inthe car andand thethethe objects
objects onon thein theobjects on thethe chainchain in thethe Leicester
photographs.
concert photographs.

After aa recess,recess, thethe defence
defence told the jurythat they should have nonopreconceived
preconceived
that
ideas of what
what a rockrock star
star isislike,like,andandshould
shouldideas
also bear in mind
mind thatthat fans
fans shower bands
bands
with
withgifts
gifts before,
before, during
duringandandafterafteraagig.
gig.
MickJagger
public gallery
gallery
Mick Jagger was
was sat in the public
as Keith
Keithtook
tookthethewitness
witness stand
stand and,
and,
when
the defence
defence about
about playing
when asked
asked by theleadguitar, replied,
lead guitar,
replied,"Itmeans II make
“It meansmakeaa lot
lot
of noise.”noise."
then
Richards thendescribedhow
how fans
fans
described
alwaysthrow gifts
always throwgifts atthe band –-"autograph“autographbooks, jewellery andbooks,
andfood".
Hemaintained
maintained
food”. He
chain in thethe photos
photos was different
different fromthe chain
thein thethe car:car: "I'd“I’d never seen
the oneone foundfound inseen itbefore thethe police
police showedme..." Hebeforeshoweditit to me…”
thing of thethe stained
stained paper.
paper.
said the same thing
voiced its doubts
The prosecution
prosecution voiced
doubtsconcerning Richards'
assertion thatconcerning
Richards’ assertion
that thethehave aanumber
number ofofjackets
the samesame
Stones havejackets thesize “made"made up
up for all
all thethe groupgroup before
before atour".And
that was thethe conclusion
conclusion of both
bothtour”.
And that
Keith's stay
stay ininthe
the witness
witness box andand day
day oneone
Keith’sof hisAs NME
went to press,
his trial.
trial.As
NMEwent
press, thethe case
was
continuing. TonyParsons
was continuing.
Tony Parsons“I’dnever seen
seen it"I'd neverbeforethe police
policebefore theshowed itit to
showedto me”me"

An ominous shadow

GLOBE PHOTOS / REX

R

0
0
0

MM MARMAR 1919Indiscreet
muiscreet liaisons.
liaisons. A
new
MM
A new
label. Threat
Threat ofof imprisonment.
imprisonment. Can
thelabel.
Can theStonessurvive
survivetheir
their latest
latest dramas?
StonesT

TH
PASTfew
FEWweeks
weeks have
have been
been just
just like
heEpastoldtimes for theRolling
RollingStones,
Stones,whose
whose
oldtimesforthe
enduring newsemphasised
enduring
news value
value has been emphasised
once again by
by talestales ofof drugs
drugs and scandal.
scandal.
once
It
all started
startedat
atthetheendend ofof February
February when
when Keith
!tall
Keith
Richardsand
andgirlfriend
girlfriend Anita Pallenberg wereRichardsarrestedarrestedinin Toronto,
Toronto, charged
charged withwithpossession
possession ofofheroinheroin forfor thethe purpose
purpose ofof trafficking.
trafficking. The offence,
offence,under Canadian
Canadian law, carries
carries aamaximum
maximumsentence
sentence
underof lifelife imprisonment.
imprisonment. The following
following week, whenofRichards
Richards appeared
appeared inin court,
court, hehe waswasfurther
furthercharged with
with possessionof cocaine.
chargedpossession of
Meanwhile, in downtown
downtown Toronto,
Meanwhile,
Toronto, thethe Rolling
Rolling
Stones played
twoshows
shows at
at thesmall El Mocambo
Stonesplayed two
the smallhi ocambo
club on March
March 4 and 5. The
The gigs
gigs were
were not,not, as some
some
club
newspaperreports
reports suggest,suggest,"unpublicised".The
newspaper“unpublicised”. The
band’sband's US
USpresspressagentsagents had
hadinvitedinvited at least
least two
twomajor American
American magazines andandamong
amongthetheother
other
major
visitors
Margaret Trudeau,-year -old
visitorswas
was Margaret
Trudeau,thethe29
29-year-old
wife ofof thewife
the Canadian prime minister.
columns, atat thethe beginning
beginning of
The gossip columns,of lastlast
NME MAR
MAR55Keith
Keith onon heroinheroin NME
week,gleefully ran-the -show stories
stories about
about
week, gleefully
ranafterafter-the-show
how
Jaggerhad
had supposedly
supposedlysmokedsmoked a
how Mick
MickJagger
trafficking
traffickingrap
rapininCanada.
Canada.
"marijuana cigarette”
cigarette" in“marijuana
infront
frontofofMs
MsTrudeau
Trudeauand
and
ROLLINGSTONEKeith
KEITH Richards
Pallenberg have been
been
her security
security men.
said,
her
men.AndAndsheshehadhadalso,also, so it was said,
olling Stone
Richards andand hishis girlfriend
girlfriend Anita
Anita Pallenberg
gonecase thethecharge
chargeisis thethe veryverybusted in Toronto on
on heroinheroin charges.
charges. In Richards’
Richards' casegone toto thethe gigs
gigsininpreference
preference toto celebratingcelebrating her
serious"possessing heroin
heroin for thethe purpose
purpose of trafficking”,
trafficking", anan indictment
indictment
sixth
wedding anniversary
sixth wedding
anniversary with
with husband Pierre,
serious one
one of “possessing
whichcarries a maximum
maximum life sentence.
sentence.
who remained ininOttawa
Ottawa with
with their
their three
three children.
children.
which carries
Such gossip,
Allof
ofthe
theStones
StoneshadhadgonegonetotoCanada
Canadato
tocomplete
complete their
their new live
livealbum.
album. On thethe arrival
arrival ofgossip, however,
however, waswasmeremeresmallsmallfry
fry
and Pallenberg,
Pallenberg, Anita
Anitawaswasarrested
arrestedat
atToronto
TorontoInternational
InternationalAirport
compared with
with thecomparedthe bizarre
bizarre events
events which
which madeRichards andAirport andcharged withgrams of hashhash were found,found,
headline news aafew
fewdays
dayslater.
later.Margaret
Margaret Trudeau
Trudeauheadlinechargedwith possession
possessionofof hashishhashishandandheroin.
heroin.Police
Policesaid
said1010 grams
left
Canada forforNew
NewYork
Yorkatatthe
thesamesame time
timeasasalong withwas said
with aa spoon
spoon which,which, after
after laboratorylaboratory analysis,
analysis, wassaid to show traces
traces of heroin.
heroin.
left Canada
It waswas asasaaresult
resultofofthe
theensuing
ensuingweek-longweek-longinvestigation
investigationthatthat RoyalRoyalCanadian
Canadian Mounted
MountedJagger
Wood. Despite
Despite denials
round,
Jaggerand
and Ron Wood.
denials all
all round,and provincial
provincial officers from Ontario
Ontario on Sunday
Sunday raided
raided Keith Richards’
Richards' hotel
speculation
speculationwas
was rife
rifethatshethat shehad,
had,ininfact,
fact,run
runaway
away
Police andhotelwith Jagger.
Jagger.
room and, allegedly, discovered
discovered anan ounce
ounce ofofheroinheroinworth
worth approximately
approximately £600 at
atstreetstreetwithprices. Keith was
was arrested
arrested and
The Peace.
Peace. He
HeFurther intrigue
NewYork
Further
intriguecamecame when
when a New
Yorkprices.
andtakentakentotothe
thehomehomeofofaa Toronto
Toronto JusticeJustice Of The
wasreleased on
bailtotoappearappear inin court
court onon Monday
Mondaynext
columnist claimed
claimedthat
thatititwas
Wood–-notJagger
columnist
was Wood
not Jagger –was released
on $1,000bail
next week.Anita
week. Anitawas
was duedue totoaffections. “Heappearin court
today (Thursday).
appear incourt today(Thursday).
who waswasthetheobject
objectof
ofMs
MsTrudeau’s
Trudeau'saffections."HeThe Stones had
had gonegone to Toronto planningplanning towhich to record
recordcanprobably
probablytell
moreabout
aboutwhere
Margaretcantell you more
where Margaret
tohirehireaa local
local club
club in whichmaterial for their
their upcoming
upcoming double
double live
livealbum.
album.The
TheNME
NMEunderstands
that three
three sides
isstayingstaying than
than maybe
maybeeven
eventhetheprime
prime minister,”minister,"ismaterial
understands thatreported“Suzy”ofofthe
theNew
NewYork
YorkDaily
DailyNews.
material are alreadyalready in thethe can, comprising
comprising cuts
USandandEuropean
Europeanreported "Suzy"of material
cutsfromfrom their
their1976
1976 USextraordinary consequence
One extraordinaryconsequenceof
ofall
all these
tours (including Knebworth).
The double
double live
livealbum
album-– due later
later spring/early
spring/earlyrumours was
rumours
was thethe drop
dropininvaluevalue inin thetheCanadiandollar,which
whichfell
fellbybyone
one-andsummer– willbe
be thethe Stones'
Stones’ last undersummer -willunder their
Canadian dollar,-and deal with
with WEA, priorprior to thethe switch
switch of Rollinga -halfcents
centsagainst
againstthe
the pound.
pound.Thea-halfThe
deal
Stones Records’
Records' toin thethe UK.
Stones/ Margaret
Stones/MargaretTrudeau
Trudeau affair
affairwas
wasStonestoEMI
EMI inheld,
by many commentators,
tobe
beaa
Atpresspresstime,
time, representatives
representatives of thethe Stones
held, bycommentators, towere insisting thatthat thethe group would remain
remain incontributory factor
contributory
factorininthis
thisdecline.
decline.Positive
Positive
Canada to complete
complete thethe live album
album project.
project.
proof of
I.
proof
ofthe
thepower
powerofofrock'n'rol
rock’n’roll.
CanadaOn topof all this, Fleet Street
had
Richards’ bust
bust is by
far theRichards'
byfar
the most
most potentiallypotentially
top ofStreet had
experienced by thethe group,group, andandstarted tofuture ofstartedto speculate
speculate on the futureof thetheserious ever experienced
onlyweeks
drugs conviction
conviction
report even suggestingsuggesting
band, with one report
comes only
weeks after
afterhis
his UK drugs
that thefact, thethethat
the Toronto
Torontoshows
shows were, in fact,
in Aylesbury.
The two events
events together
together-–ififthe
Stones' last-everlast -everlive
liveperformances.
performances. The
Stones’theoneoneis
isappeal on the other
other istruth, however,rather moretruth,
however, is rather
more mundane,mundane,proved and the appeal
though theeven though
the sensational
sensational headlines of
unsuccessful
mustnow
now cast an
unsuccessful –-must
an ominous
ominousshadow over thethe Stones’
Stones' future
future ability
enter
the past three
three weeks have tended
tended totheshadowability to enterthe United
United States
tour.
overshadow theovershadow
theband's
band’s reason
reason forfor being
beinginintheStates (with(with Keith) to tour.
they arearesimply
simplyfulfilling
fulfilling the terms
Canada; they
their recording
recording contract.
of theircontract.
March 7,1977iMarch
7, 1977:
In1971,
theStones
Stonessigned
signedwith
with Kinney
KinneyIn
1971, theKeith arrives
arrives
Keith
Records –- now
now called
called WEA
WEA –- after
after leaving
Records
at Oldhall
at
Old City
City Hall

An ominous shadow

0

Further
intrigue
intrigue

KEEF & ANITAHEROIN' HINT
8 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

in torontoinTorontoNEwS
SpECIAlONESSTONESST
Signingwith
signing withEMI,eMI,
not
not Polydor:
polydor: thetheRolling stones
Stonesin
Rollingin
NewYork,
YorkognNew
1977

the Decca label. The band’s
band's contract
contract had
All this, however, had toto bebe scrapped
scrapped at
at
All
the
moment because, according
according to
the last moment
been one ofof thethe most
most highly
highly prized
prized ducats
history ofreports, thethe Stones had become
becomesome reports,in the history
ofthe
themusic
musicbusinessbusinessand,and,although 21
companiesmade
madeoffers
offersfor
fortheirtheirdisenchanted withresultdisenchanted
withthethecompany
companyas
as a result
although
21 companies
leaks.Other
Other rumours
rumours suggestof the press leaks.
signatures,
signatures, thethe Stones eventually
eventually decided
decidedbecause ofof theirtheir relationshiprelationshipincreased their
their demands, andthe band increasedon Kinney becausewith Ahmet
Ahmet Ertegun,
Ertegun, founderfounder ofthemeet thethe new
the company refused to meetwithof therequirements. Whatever
requirements.
Whateverthe
thereason,
reason,Atlantic
Atlantic label.
been, initially,
initially, brave
brave talk
talk about
about
the Stones did
did not
not sign withwithhowever, theThere had been,
forming aa label which
which would
would bebedistributed
distributed
but instead surprised
surprised thethe whole
whole
Polydor, but
forming
industry by announcing, on February
February
music industry
by aanew,
new,“alternative”"alternative" system,
system,thus
thuscutting
cuttingout the-businessmiddlemen
middlemen ofof thethe major
major
16,aadeal
dealwithwith EMI.
EMI.
16,
out
the big
big-businessrecord companies.
negotiations with
Serious negotiations
withEMI
EMIhadhad
recordcompanies. Practicality
Practicalitywon
wonthetheday,day,
started atstartedat thethe beginning
beginningof
ofthe
theyear,year, athowever, andand Ertegun
Ertegun persuaded
persuaded thethe band towith Kinney.
about thethe same time
time as Polydor
Polydor were
were
about
sign with
Although thedetails of the Stones’
Stones'confidently expecting
the band.
confidently
expectingto
tosignsign theAlthoughthe actual
actual details
first time
time mostpeople at
The first
most people
at EMI knew
deal were never officiallyrevealed, itit isofficially revealed,believed they
million dollars
dollars
about thethe deal,
whenJagger
Jaggerabout
deal, however, was when
believed
they were
were paid
paid one million
aninitial
initial advance.
advance. Certainly,
Certainly, itit was
taken aroundaround all thethe company’s
company's
was taken
as an
onFebruary
Februaryll.
departments on
11.
neitherthe highest
highest nor the lowest offer
neither theoffer
the band received.
received. In return,
return, theAgain, details
closely
Again,
detailsof
ofthe
thedealdealareareas
as closely
thethe Stones
guaranteed toalbums, starting
starting
guarded as thethe Kremlin’s
Kremlin's defence
defence budget,
budget,guardedguaranteed
tomakemake six albums,
withwith none
none of thewithFingers.
with Sticky
StickyFingers.
Album
company's
representatives
company’s representatives
Album number
number five,
five,BlackAndBlue,preparedprepared to commit
Black
And Blue,was
was
Before the drug
themselves
precisethemselves toto a precise
released
released in thethe summer
summerof last year. At
At about
about thebusts, it is believed figure.
contract,
figure. The contract,oftime, thethe bandhowever,for six
however, is for
six albums
albumssame time,band
that RSO were-– and there
there is no time
time limit.
limit.
began to shop aroundaround forfor
new recording
recording deal.
Oneestimate putstheOne estimate
puts thea new
TheStones'contract
millioncontractat
at £2£2 million
The Stones’
againstroyalty rate
rate ofagainst a royalty
representatives,
theband'scontract
particularly their21
per cent,
cent, butbut this
21 perthis has
has
particularly
theirbusinessbusiness
Rupertnot
not been confirmed.
manager Prince Rupert
the Stones –- onon theirtheir own
The deal means theown
Lowenstein,
had talks
talks with
with a numberofLowenstein, had
number ofcompanies, including
I. They, however,everywhere inlabel –-will
willbebe released
released byby EMI everywhereincompanies,
includingEMEMI.
dropped out
running while theapartfromthe world, apartfromthetheUnited
UnitedStates
States anddroppedout ofof thethe running
Theband’s
band'sfuture
future ininNorthNorth America
Canada. The
German-owned
German -owned Polydor
Polydor became favourites
favourites
for thesignatures.
obviously, thethe most
most lucrative
lucrative market
market in the–- obviously,
forthe band's
band’s signatures.
January,Polydor
Polydor were
weresosoconfident
confident
world -has
world
– has yet
yetto
tobe
be decided,
decided,and
andthisthisisis whyBy January,
the events
events ofcome
theof thethe past
past few
fewweeks
weeks have
have comeofdetails ofof thetheof signingsigning thethe band thatthat details
proposed dealout tothe press.
such aacrucial
crucialtime
time forfor thethe Stones.
at suchproposeddeal leaked
leaked out
to thewere toto be
be paid
paid ininthe
the region
regionbestway
The best
way ofof promoting
promotingaanew
new album
album
The Stones were
bytouring,
touring, as
asthe
the Stones
Stonesproved
proved last
lastyear
is by
year
of $850,000(£400,000)forforeacheachalbum
album$850,000 (£400,000)
among theof
they played inin Britain
Britain at thethe timetime ofwhen they
and amongtheagreed
agreedplans
planswas
wasan
an LP
LP of
re-recorded '60s
BlackAndBlue,Black
And Blue,their
theirmostmostsuccessful
successfulLP
LPininre-recorded’60s material.
But, ifif Keith
Keith Richards
Richards isisconvictedconvicted andyears. But,It
was no secret that
Polydor were
were onItwasthat Polydor
the verge
verge ofgetting theDEM,
imprisoned -– or
imprisoned
or simply
simply bannedbanned fromfrom thetheUSAUSA
theof getting
theStones.
Stones.At
AtMI
MIDEM,–- itit will
the international
international music
will obviously
obviously reduce thethethemusicbusinessbusiness fair
fair held
held
Stones' selling
selling potential.
potential.
Stones’in Cannes, France, duringlate-January,during late
-January,
the company plannedplanned toto announce theinconceivable that
that
It is inconceivablethethe band would
signing withconference andwould tour
tour
signingwithaa press conference
andreception inwithout Richards.
without
reception
in Sardinia.
Sardinia.

Before the drug
busts, it is believedthat RSO were
frontrunners forfrontrunners
the band’s contract

IrMargaret,wife
Margaret, wifeofCanadianPMof
Canadian pM
PierreTrudeau:pierretrudeau:
Jaggerfling?
Jagger fling?

Before theBeforethe Toronto
Toronto drug
drugbusts,
busts, itit isbelieved
thatRSO
RSO –- Robert
Stigwood’s label
label
believed that
Robert Stigwood's
frontrunners in thethe competitioncompetition forfor–- were frontrunners
the band’s
band's contract.
contract. One reportreport put
theputthethesumsum
involved
at astaggering
staggering$15$15 million,
million, which
which
involved ate
would have been
been thethe biggest
biggest recording
recording deal
would
deal
history. This would
would have included
included at leastin history.
one
film,asas wellwellasas 10 albums.
one film,
albums.
other companies seriously
Among the otherinterested in
Capitolinterested
in signingsigning thethe band were Capitol–- owned bytogether with
with CBS, MCA
byEMI
EMI–-together
MCA
Atlantic. The
and Atlantic.
The drugdrugcharges,
charges,however,
however, arearecertain tobrought fresh
fresh problems
problems totocertainto have broughtthenegotiationsand,and,sosofar,
far,nonodecision
decisionhas
has
the negotiations
been announced
announced by
the band.
been
by theband.
Stonesplan,
plan,nevertheless,nevertheless,totocontinue
continue
The Stones
using theirown label, no matter
their own
matter which
eventually signs them
them for thethecompany eventually
United States.
not yetyet clear
clear whether
whether
UnitedStates. But it is notany, oror all,all,ofofthe
the old
old materialmaterial on thethe labellabel(including the(including
theRolling
RollingStones'
Stones’ five
five albums)
will be available to the new company.
will
band's own songs, however,
however, have justThe band’s
been signed
signed toMusic, thethe company's
been
to EMIEMI Music,
company’s
publishing division.
publishingdivision.The
Thedeal,deal, which
whichisisworldwide, iseffective fromworldwide,is effective
fromApril
April11 andandincludes all thethe Stones’
Stones' compositions
compositions during
duringincludesthe past
five years.
thepast five
before they
But before
they release
release anything
anything else, theone moremore album
album forfor WEA.
WEA. And
Stones have onethat is the reason they are in Toronto.
Toronto. The
that
album, likely
album,
likelyto
tobe
beaa double
doubleLP,
LP, will
will bebe a live
recording takenfrom their
their concerts
recordingtaken fromconcerts over
over thepast two
two years.
past
years.
far fromfrom being
And the two club gigs, far
the band's-ever stagestage shows, were
were
theband’s last
last-everopportunity tosimply an opportunity
to cutcut moremore materialmaterial
for theforthealbum,
album, which
which should
should be
be released
released
before thebeforetheautumn.
autumn.The
The first
firstEMI
EMI album,
album,
not evenevenbeen
beententatively
tentatively
meanwhile, has notscheduled andspokesman forfor thethescheduled
and a spokesman
saidthey
theythought
thought it unlikely
unlikely totocompany said
released thisbe released
this year.
Anita Pal
lenberg waswasfined
fined £220
£220 inin Toronto
Toronto
Anita
Pallenberg
Monday foron Monday
forpossession
possession ofof cannabis
cannabis andheroin. RobertPartridge
heroin.
Robert Partridge

Dope, scandal,

GETTy (2)1977

contracts

and the Stones' fu

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 9

rrF

1977
1977

A R CHJJANUARYA N U A R Y – M-1°H

111=11-00:11' /7:--

March10,1977:theSex
March
10, 1977: the sex
Pistolsand
their manager
Pistols
and their
Malcolm Mclaren
McLarensign
Malcolm
signaanewcontractwithA&M
newcontract with a&M
outside Buckingham
laceoutsideBuckinghamPa
PalaceSEX PISTOLS"We shallshall have
have toto leaveleaveBritain”
Britain"“We

The
Pistols' main
The Pistols’
main_
problem now
problem
now issecuring venues where
where
be allowed
allowedto
toperform
perform in Britain.
Britain.
they would be
are hoping
hoping toto headline
headline aamajor
majorcharity
charity
They areThe
trials of
The trialsof tryingtryingtototour
tourororrecord
recordwhen
whenyou
youarearethetheSexSexPistols.
Pistols.
concertconcert at a London
London theatre
theatre next month, butbutMMsignatures on
the dottedthatisdependent
dependent upon
upon whether
whether the GLC
this issignatureson thedottedline.
line.As
Assoonsoon as that
MM JANJAN 2222
The Sex Pistols
Pistols have
havefinally
finallysplit
split fromfrom EMI,
done, we shall
shall bebe makingmaking an official
official
approval at
at aameeting
meetingbetween
between thethegives approval
is done,Councilthis week.
announcement
later this
this week.”
lesslessthanthanfourfour months
months after
after they signed
announcement laterweek."
Council and McLaren
McLaren later
later thisa recording
recording contract
contract with
Meanwhile, as reported
reported lastAtbanned fromfrom
At present,
present, thethe Pistols
Pistols are banned
Meanwhile,
lastweek,
week, Sid
withthethecompany
company on
October
Vicious has replaced
replaced Glen Matlock
Matlock on
appearing in virtually
virtually every
appearing
every major
major city
city inin
Viciouson bass.
October16.
16.
Britainowing toto local council rulings.
Said
Accordingto McLaren, Matlock left
Leslie Hill, managing director
ofEMI
EMI
director of
According toleft because
Britain owing
rulings.Said
Records, announced
announced this week: “In"In"his different
different tastes
other ambitions".
"We want
wanttomajor
McLaren: “We
todo
dodates
dates in majorof “histastesandand otherambitions”.
Records,
accordance with the previously statedstatedword fromfrom McLaren:
McLaren: “We"We shall bebuttheisstill
stillinineffecteffectalmost
cities, but
the ban isalmostFinal word
everywhere.
The only possible exceptions
signing our new contract
wishes ofof bothboth parties
parties and the verbal
contract in front
front ofeverywhere. The
exceptions
telephone
Buckingham Palace!”
Palace!"Liverpool and Newcastle,
Newcastle, andand they
theyareare Liverpool
areBuckingham
telephoneagreementagreementmade
madeononThursday,Thursday,January 6, thethedocument
documentterminating
terminating thenomeansmeansdefinite.”definite."by no
A series of European
contractbetween
betweenEMI
EMIandandthetheSexSex Pistols
contract
NME MAR
European
NME
MAR 1919
has now
now been
been agreed.”agreed."A8:1Y1
Recordshave
havesigned
signedare being
being lined
lined updates are
A&M
Records"If overseas tours for
Malcolm McLaren,
the Sex Pistols. The pact
pact
for thethe endend ofof April,
April,andand
Malcolm
McLaren, manager
manager ofof thethe band,band,
thethe Pistols
Pistols are due toon thiswas sealed,
was not
not available
available forfor commentcomment on
thissealed, as manager
managertheare successful,announcement,
long
their first A&M
AMA
record theirannouncement,which
whichbrings
bringstotoan
anendendaa long
Malcolm McLaren forecast
seriesof claims
counter -claims madeweek's NME,
NME, inalbum
If there
there isalbum in
in May.
May. Ifisseries ofclaims and counter-claims
in last week’s
maybe they will
still no relaxationa ceremonyby McLaren
McLaren and EMI over
over thethe termination
termination
ceremony outside
outsidestill
relaxation of theopen a few doorsofthe band’s
band's contract
contract –-asdetailed inMM
Buckingham Palace
British ban, the Pistols
Britishof theas detailedin MM
Buckingham
Palace last
last
last week.
week.No
Noinformation
information on financial
financial
Thursday-– thewould then tour
tourJapan,
Japan,
last
Thursdaythe significancesignificancehere at home"
Australia, thecompensationfor
forthethePistols
Pistolsonon thethe loss of
being
thatAMA
A&Marearerushrush-compensationofbeing that
Australia,
the United
Unitedtheirreleasing thethe group’sgroup's new
StatesCanada –States and Canada
their contract
contracthas
has been revealed.
releasingquestion of
the Pistols"God Save The
The Queen”
Queen" on March
March 25.
McLaren assured
the bandband
where, McLarenassured NME,
NME, theThe questionof whowho will
will sign
sign thesingle “Godwould be welcomed.
next remains
remains open.
open. Chrysalis
Chrysalis remain
remainamong
among
McLaren stressed that
next
that the two-year dealwelcomed.
thebut Polydor
Polydor are
guarantee ofof £150,000£150,000 –- not
He added:
added: “The"The rest
rest ofof thethe country
country will beHethe contenders,contenders,asas do
do CBS, but
carries a guaranteeoutthe£50,000 asreported inwatching ourour meeting
meeting withwatching
withthetheGLC.
GLC. IfIf wewe areout ofof thethe running.
running. A
A spokesman for the£50,000
aswas
was reported
in thethe national
national
allowed tocompany told
toldMM
MMlastlast week
week that
thatthey
theyhadhadpress. Hecompany
Hedoesdoesnot
notanticipate
anticipateany
anydifficultydifficulty
to performperform in London, we hope
hopethatthat
no interest
interest in
obtaining BBC
local radio
radio airplay
airplay forforother councils will reverse
reverse their
their decision.
decision. IfIf
otherin thethe Pistols.
Pistols.
in obtaining
BBC and local
the single. “It’s"It's notnoteapunk-rock version ofof thetheshallhave
havetotowaitwaituntil
untilafter
after our
ournot, we shallthepunk-rocktours –- because
because ifif they
they prove
prove toto be
beoverseas tours
National
Anthem,butbutthetheboys'boys’ own
own genuine
genuineNME
National Anthem,
NME MARMAR 12
12
Sex Pistols
Pistols areare onon thethe brink
brink ofof signingsigning a new
tribute toandwithout
without incident,
incident, thensuccessful andthen maybe
maybe
tributetothe
theQueen,"
Queen,”hehe added.
added.
recordingwill open
open a few
few doors
doors here
here at
at home.”home."
they willrecording contract.
contract.Manager
ManagerMalcolm
MalcolmAnd
the Pistols are notnot
And ifif all
all else fails and the
McLarenthisweek:
week: “TheMcLaren told NME
NMEthis"The
terms
permitted topermitted
toworkwork in Britain?
terms ofof thethe contract
contracthave
have been
been
agreed,aredelighted
delighted with
with ourour"We
to leaveleaveBritain
Britain forfor good,”
good,"“We shall have toagreed, and we are
McLaren.
said McLaren.
new deal. All
All thatthat remains is toto putput ourourGraham Wood/GETTY“If overseas tours
are successful,maybe they will
open a few doors
here at home”

Big record deal, but

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
10 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
10
A

SEX PISTOLSFACE EXILE
er.H110

J A N U A R Y – MA RCH

NME MARuykui s wife
WIW files
riles foriii' divorce.
NME
MAR 1212 ..oBob Dylan’s
divorce.

MAYBE
HISmatzos
MATZOS
madecrumbs
crumbsininthe
the bed.
bed.
aybe hismadeMaybe hehe played
played his
his guitar
guitar early inin thethe morning.
morning.
he justjust had
had tootoo many
many visions ofofJohanna.
Johanna.
Maybe he
Whatever,suit for divorce
divorce
Whatever, last
last week Sara
Sara Dylan
Dylan filed
filed suitfrom her
her husband
husband Robert Allen
AllenZimmerman
Zimmerman on thethegrounds of irreconcilable
irreconcilable differences.
grounds
differences.The
The couple
couple havebeen married
and have five children.
children.
beenmarriedfor
for11
11 years andThe
formidable Mrs
acquired a taste
taste
The formidable
Mrs Dylan has obviously acquired
the good
good life;
life;shesheisisdemanding
demanding not
not only
only custody
custody of thethefor thekids,butbutalsoalsohalf
halfBobby’s
Bobby'sentire
entirepossessions,possessions,including
including
five kids,thethe copyrights
copyrights to all his
hissongs
songsandandtheirtheirattendant
attendant royalties.
For the moment
moment she's
the
she’smaking
makingdo
dowithwithexclusive
exclusiveuse
useofof thefamily's new
Malibu home,million house
house built
built in a
family’s
new Malibu
home, a $2 million
highly unorthodox
style thatunorthodox stylethat was previewed in Thrills
Thrills somesomemonths back.
apparently largely
responsible formonthsback. Sara
Sara waswas apparently
largely responsible
the househouse being
reputed tothebeingbuilt,
built,while
whileDylan
Dylanisis reputed
toloatheloatheit.
it.
Of
eldest is from Sara's
Sara’sOfthethefive
fiveZimmerman
Zimmerman children,
children, eldest
previous marriage.
closer to his
previous
marriage.Jesse
JesseDylan
Dylanisis said
said toto be
be closer
father than
than toevidently closer totofatherto Sara,Sara, butbut thethe others
othersareare all
all evidently
theirma. Friends
Friends of thetheir ma.
the couple
couple have pointed
pointed to majordifferences in
ob andand Sara,differences
inthe
thecharacterscharactersofofBBob
Sara, who
who is aformer model.
the Rolling ThunderThunder Revue,
example,formermodel. On
On theRevue, for example,
Sara apparently
likedtotostaystay inin top-flight
top-flight hotels,
hotels, andapparentlyliked
andcarried aa large number
number oftrunks for
clothes. Dylan,
carriedof trunks
for herher clothes.
Dylan, on
the otherother hand,
hand, seemed
seemed as happy
happytothe trailer
trailertheto dossdoss down
down in thewithaa change
T-shirt.
withchange of jeans andand T-shirt.

M"Problems"“Problems”

P

Bob
Dylan: faces
Bob dylan:
handing
handing overhalfhisroyakies
half hisroyalties

isalsoalsosaid
said thatthat he two
two would
would go forforlong
longperiods
periods ofoftimetime
It iswithout speaking
each other, not sosomuchmuchthroughthrough hate,
hate,
without
speakingto
to eachbut
they hadlittle
littleto
to say. Others
but because
because theyhad
Others point
point totothe
thestrainstrainbeing married
married to Bob
BobDylan,
Dylan,and
andthethestrainstrain thatthat his
his public
publicof being
necessarilyimposes
the marriage,
marriage,withwithattendant
attendantlife necessarily
imposes on the
problems
about protecting
protectingthe
thechildren
childrenand
andso
soon.
on.
problems about
Accordingand Sara
According toto reports
reportsfrom
fromNewYork,New York, Bob andSara arearecurrentlymeetingcurrently
meetingwith
withlawyers
lawyersin
inananattempt
attemptto
toendendthetheacrimonysincesheshe filed
filed for theacrimony since
the divorce
divorce this
this past week.
Friends of thethe couple
couple have said thatthat oneher charges
charges
Friends
one of herthat Bob “beat”"beat" her; others
others say thatthat he claims
claims she waswas
was thathystericalandhe
he merely
merely slappedslappedher,
her, etc.
etc. Therehysterical and
There were also
rumours thatrumours
thatSara
Sarawaswasworking
workingas
asaawaitresswaitressM
in aGreenwich Village
called The Figaro, but
but this
this proved
provedGreenwichVillage cafe called
unfounded.
However, it is though
unfounded. However,though thatthat she wants
wants to resume
resumeher career
career as
an actress,
actress, for she has
has been
been taking
taking workshop
workshopher
as anclasses at
Strasb erg's Actor'sStudio inclasses
at LeeLee Strasberg’s
Actor’s Studioin Los Angeles.
News thatthat thethe Dylans
Dylans had
had split
splitasunderasunder was greeted
greeted with
withmalicious glee from certain
certain of thethe moremore cynicalcynical members
members
malicious
Dylan's NME
NMEfanclub, who
who recall
recall thatthat thethe last
last time
time Dylan
of Dylan’s
fan club,
Dylan
had
and was separated
from Sara,
Sara, he came
had woman
woman trouble
trouble andseparated fromup withTracks,widely
widelyreckoned
reckoned to be hisup
withBlood
Blood On The Tracks,
finest work inin years
years(and(andperhaps
perhaps aapersuasive
persuasive element
element ininfinestSara
JulieBurchill
Burchill
Sara andand Bob reuniting).
reuniting). Julie

mm JANJAN 22
22An
Aninflatableinflatable pig.
pig. AAfull
full year
year recording.
MM
Just whatalbum?
Just
what isis holding
holding up
up thethe new
new Pink
Pink Floyd
Floyd album?

pINK
FLOYD'S NEW
started with
ink Floyd’s
newYEARyear has started
withaatechnical
band's new
newalbum
album–-theirfirsttechnical hitch.
hitch. The band’s
their firstsince Wish
1975 –- has been
sinceWish You Were Here
Here in
in1975been hit
hit
problems overby problems
over thethe sleeve
sleeve design.
design. The album, called
Animals, was to have been
been released
released on January
January 14.
14.ButBut
Animals,this
this week Pink Floyd’s
Floyd's manager,
manager, Steve
SteveO’Rourke,
O'Rourke, told
told thethe
Melody Maker:
problems with
MelodyMaker: "There“Therehave
have been problems
with thetheartwork for
artwork
forthethesleeve.
sleeve. It's
It’s nothingnothingserious,
serious,butbutititmeans
means
we’ve
release date.
date.
we've not been able to keep to the original
original release"We still haven’t
haven'tfixed
definite date,although we“We
fixedaa definite
date, although
hope to decide
decide thatthoughhopethat over
over thethe weekend.
weekend. ItIt looks
looks as thoughthethe sleeve will be ready in time
time forfor us toto release
release thethe album
album
January 28."
on January
28.”
setback comes
comes atatthe
the beginning
beginning ofof a vital
vital three
threeThis setback
monthsforthetheFloyd,
Floyd,aa period
when they
theystep
stepbackback into
intomonths forperiod when
the limelight.
limelight. Althoughprovedthe
Althoughthey
theyhave
have long
long since proved
themselves one
themselves
one ofof Britain's
Britain’sbiggest
biggestbands,
bands,thetheFloyd
Floydhave
have
been
reclusesfor
forwellwelloveroveraa year. Theirbeen virtual
virtual recluses
Their last British
Britishconcert appearance
Knebworth Fair,
concertappearancewas
was atat the1975
the 1975 Knebworth
Fair, aspectacular open-air
featured a Spitfire
Spitfire
spectacularopen-airshow
show which
which even featured
flyingoverhead.That
That concert
concertwas
was followed,
followed,ininflying overhead.
September 1975,
the release ofof WishWish You Were
Were Here.
Here.
September
1975, by thethen, however,
however,nothingnothing has
hasbeenbeenheard
heardabout
aboutthetheSince then,band’sband's activities
activities –- apart,apart, thatthat is, fromfrom thethe 50-footso -foot flying
flyingpig which, last month,
month, waswasflown
flown over
over London’s
London's Battersea.
Battersea.
pig
Photographs of
Photographs
ofthe
thepigpigwill
willbebeusedusedononthe
theAnimals
Animalssleeve.
sleeve.

"The band spent the whole of last year
year recording
recording thethe“The
new album,”
album," claims O’Rourke.
O'Rourke."It“Itwaswas finishedfinishedandand readyready
for release
release by Christmas, althoughof course
course we wereforalthough ofthen
the sleeve problems.”
problems."
then held
held up
up by thealbum, which
which featuresfeatures just
just three
three tracks, called
calledThe album,“Dogs”, "Pigs"“Pigs”andand "Sheep",“Sheep”, comes
comes at
at a crucial"Dogs",
crucial time
time forforthe
Of Thethe band,band, who
who since
since Dark
Dark Side
Side OfThe Moon, havebecomebecome victims
victimsof
oftheir
theirown
ownsuccess.
success. Their
Theirlast
last album,
album, forforwell by most bands’
standards,
instance, sold extremely
extremely wellbands'standards,
althoughcommonly regarded
regarded as
something of
althoughititwas
was commonly
as somethingof
a flopflop forfor theWere Here,
Here, which
which received
received
the Floyd.
Floyd. Wish
Wish You Were
only lukewarm
reviews fromfromthethecritics
criticswhen
whenititwas
wasonly
lukewarm reviews
released,
Melody Maker
released, stayed
stayed in the Melody
Makerchart
chartforfor22
22weeks
weeks
and failed
failed toposition.
to makemake thethe NoNo 11 position.
It had been,
been, ofof course,
course,completely
completely overshadowed
overshadowed bythethe extraordinary
extraordinarysuccesssuccessof
ofDark
DarkSide
SideOf
OfThe
TheMoon,Moon,
which first
first enteredenteredthe
thechart
chartonon March
March 31,1973.Although
31, 1973. Althoughit, too,too, strangely
strangelyfailed
failedtotoreach
reachNo
No1,1, thethealbum
albumspent
spentaait,total
the chart,
chart, a featfeat rivalled
rivalled only
totalof128
of 128 weeks
weeks in the
only byby Mike
Mike
Oldfield's
Oldfield’sTubular
TubularBells.
Bells.
Even now,
now, Dark
Dark Side Of
Of The Moon
Moon makes occasional
occasional
appearances
the MM
MM chart.
establishedappearances inin thechart.The
The album
album also establishedthethe United
United States,
band'sthe Floyd
Floyd in theStates, where
where ititwas
was the band’s
firstchart
chart-topping
album.Such
Suchphenomenal
phenomenalsuccesssuccess is
first-topping album.
virtually
virtuallyimpossible
impossiblefor
forthethebandband toto repeat,
repeat, althoughalthoughall
allthe
Floyd's subsequent
subseguentalbums
inevitably
the Floyd’s
albums will
will be inevitablycompared to
Of The Moon.
Moon.
compared
to Dark
Dark Side
Side Ofpromote Animals, therefore,
therefore, theTo promotethebandbandhave
have
toreturn
return totothe
theBritish
Britishconcert
concertstage
chosen tostage thisspring,their firstfori8
spring, theirfirstshows
shows for18months.They
months. Theyplay
play
four
fourconcerts
concertsat
at London's
London’s Wembley
Wembley Empire
Empire Pool,fromin°to20,
atthe
from March 17
20,andandthenthenfourfourshows
shows atthe huge
Staffordley Hall,StaffordNew
NewBing
BingleyHall,from
fromMarch
March28
28toto31.
31.

*A➤ Atop-security
top-security
blanket has been
been
blanketthrownthrown aroundaroundEMI 'splans
planstoEMI’s
torelease a Beatles
Beatlesreleaselive album
album inlive
in midmid-spring.
forspring. Reason for
the
isn't
the secrecy
secrecy isn’t
clear,
it's known
known
clear, as it’sthat
that original
original Beetle
Beatleproducer George
Georgeproducer
Martin is remixing
remixing
Martinthetapesofthe tapesof their
1964-65 Hollywood
Hollywood
Bowl Concerts
Concerts aand
nd
Bowl
that
that The
The Beatles
themselves
themselveshave
have
given theirtheir
go-aheadfor thego-ahead for
project. Releaseproject.
Release isplanned forfor May,plannedbacked by massive
backedTVpromotion,
TV promotion,utilising film
utilisingfootagefootage fromfrom theBowl concerts.
concerts.
Bowl
NME MARMAR 26
NME
26➤ Generation
GenerationXX
lead guitarist
guitarist Bob
Bob
lead
Andrews
Andrewswas
washospitalised on
hospitalised
Friday night
night after
after
Fridaybeing hit
hit on the
the
being
head by aaflying
flyingheadbeer mug while
while
beer
playing thethe Easter
Easterplaying
Ball at
atLeicester
Leicester
Ball
University's Clare
Clare
University’sHall. Generation
Generation X
Hall.
and
The Boys, who
whoand Thewere
supporting,were supporting,had been
been receiving
receivinghada hailhailofofplastic
plasticcups
cups
and empty
empty beercans, but
but halfway
halfway
throughthrough thetheheadliners' set full
full
headliners’
cans
and glasses
glassescans andstartedflying.
started flying.
Andrews dropped
d ropped
Andrews
tothe floor,
floor, covered
coveredto thein blood
blood but
but stillinplaying, and later
later
playing,
had aacouple
coupleofofhadstitches
stitchesinin thethegash.
gash.
One observer
observerOne
termedtermed thetheaggressors"Ledaggressors “Led
Zeppelin
Zeppelinheavies",
heavies”,
while
another had
while another
had
them
asthe
them down
down astherugby club. The
rugby
Damned and The
DamnedStranglers
Stranglers recently
spentevening
spentanan evening
dodging
dodgingbeer
beercanscans
atUniversity.
at Essex University.
NME MARMAR 19NME
19
HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 11

ron GalElla / GETTY

Long periods
periods ofof timeLong
time
without speaking
speaking
without

1977

1977
1977

a r chJJANUARYa n u a r y – M-1°H

I

September 11,1977:
David
September
11, 1977: David
Bowie at Elstree
E Istree Studios
Studios
Bowie
London,where
near London,
where heonthe
theupcoming
upcoming
appears on
TVspecia
Crosby'sTVspecial!Bing
Bing Crosby’s
Merrie Olde0/de Christmas

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
12 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
12

“He’
"He'ss into
into
somethingsomething
new”
new"

DAVID BOWIEBe NAV Yaleri-.4,10 Cu i ife

r

D

-—
MELODYJANUARY
MELODYMAKER
MAKER JANUARY
2929—-DAVID
BOWIE'SlASt
LAST
image,asasa akind
kindofofwasp-waisted
wasp-waisted
AVID BOWIE’S
image,
performerin
in aa Weimar cabaret,one
performer
cabaret, would hardly
hardly prepare
prepare one
for reports
reports of thethe figure
figure he’s
he's currently
currently cutting
cuttinginin Berlin,
Berlin,where
seems thatthat thethe famous
famous red
where hehe now
now lives. It seems
red hair,
hair, now
returnedto
toits
its original
originalmousey
mouseycolour,
colour, has
has been
returned
been scalped
scalped toa crew cut,
cut, thatthat he’s
he's grown
grown thethe curving
curving moustache
moustache ofof aprosperous
prosperousburgermeister,bürgermeister,andandhaving
havingput
puton
onsomesomeweight,
weight, andandwearing
wearingaa cap
pulled down
down low,pulledlow,hehespends
spendshishistimetimefrequenting
frequenting both
both thethe cultural
culturalestablishments
establishmentsand
andworkingmen's
workingmen’shaunts
hauntsof
ofthatthatcity.
city.
Gunter Grass
Grass than
than Joel Grey,
Grey,heheobviously
obviouslycontinues
his fascinationfascination
More Günter
continues in his
with all things
earlylast
last
withthings German,
German, which reachedreached notorious
notorious proportions
proportions earlysummer-publicised speechspeech about
about fascism.
fascism.
summerininhis
his wellwell-publicisedofthisthiswill
willmuchmuchsurprisesurprise keen
keen Bowie
Bowiewatchers,
watchers,who
whohavehaveobserved
observed
None ofhis bewildering metamorphoses
metamorphoses fromperformer andand mime
mime
from anan acoustic performer
artistartistto
to an
an ambiguous
ambiguouscommentatorcommentatorupon
uponrockrockstardom
stardomwith
withZiggy,
Ziggy,aadoomdoommongerer
moon -age soulsoulsinger
singerwith
withYoung
YoungAmericans
mongererwith
withDiamondDiamondDogs,
Dogs,aa moon-age
Americansand Station
StationTo
To Station,
the starstarof Nicolas Roeg’s
andStation, andand theRoeg'sfuturistic
futuristic art
art film, The
The
Man
ToEarth.
Earth.
Man Who
Who Fell To
It's notnot difficult
difficult to seeseewhywhyBowie
themostmostinterpreted,interpreted, andand thethe most
most
It’s
Bowie isisthe
reviled, rockin thethe diversityof
diversity of his
hisreviled,rock star
star of this
this generation.
generation. He’s
He's consistentconsistent only
onlyinactions.
doesn't respondstars when
when each
each tour
tour
actions.He
He doesn’t
respondin
inthe
theways
ways expected
expectedofof rock stars
he presents
presents aadifferent
twoalbums
albums areare truly
trulyalike.
differentpublic
publicface and no two
alike.
Eclectic tohe hasto aafault,
fault,unlike
unlike all
allotherother major
major rockrock performers
performers he
has wilfully
wilfully
neglected
his ownownoeuvre,
oeuvre,beyond
beyondreflecting
reflectingaacertain
certainpreoccupation
preoccupationneglected to define his
as a lyricist
lyricist withwithaatechnological
technologicalfuture
future andand asas aamusician
musicianwith
withmutations
mutations ofmainstreamstyles.
styles.
mainstream
undeniablyaastylist,
borne out by
bythe
attractive pastiches
While undeniably
stylist,asas is borne
the attractive
pastichesof
of PinPin
Ups,hehehas
hastootoomuchmuchartistic
artisticsubstancesubstanceto
tojustify
justifythat
asaacondemnation.
Ups,
that ascondemnation.
Diamond
Diamond Dogs, forforexample,
example,despite
despiteits
itsmusicalmusicalroughness,roughness, seems
seems
nem increasingly
increasinglytotome
projection of aalostand rabid
rabid society, eveneven
meaa classic projection
lost andthough II was indifferent
indifferent toreleased.
thoughtoitit when
when it was released.
Similarly, althoughstill don't
don’tmuch
muchlikelikeaa lot of Young
Americans
although II still
YoungAmericans
and find ititrather
rather empty,
empty, IIcan
canneverthelessneverthelessappreciate
appreciate thethe different
differentandperspective hebrought towhite soul, which
which atatfirstfirstseemed
seemed merely
merelyperspective
he brought
to whiteparodic.
haveparodic. Perhaps,
Perhaps, therefore,
therefore, much
much critical distrust
distrust of him
him may
mayhaveorigins: in his
his refusal
refusal to stand
stand still andand be explained,
explained, andtwo origins:
and inin thethecoldness andand isolation,
isolation, thecoldnessthe cerebration
cerebrationevident
evidentat
atthetheheart
heartofofhis
his work,
which puts
puts off critics
critics andand record-buyers
record -buyers who
whohavehavebecome
becomeaccustomed
accustomed »rex features

Litigation and
Litigation
andsynthesizers.
synthesizers.
Dysentery
Dysentery andand Iggy
Iggy
Pop. Disguises,
Disguises, Eno
Pop.
Eno
and
and muzak.
muzak. From
From
these
these strange
strange
bedfellows
comes
bedfellows comes
DAVID BOWIE’s
BOWIE's
DAVID
mysterious
new album
mysterious new
album
Low
Low.. “He’s"He's soso fullfull ofofideas,
ideas, II have
have toto edit
edit
him," explainshim,”
explains
TonyVisconti.
Visconti.“It’s
"It's
Tony
too
intense toto be
be
too intense
aroundaround him.”
him."

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKHISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 | 13
13
I

1977

JJANUARY-MARCH
a n u a r y – M a r ch

"1don’t
don'tthink“I
thinkI'vehad
I’ve hadsuch
influenceon
asthe
an influenceon him asthehasmadeout":press hasmade out”: Brian
Brian
Eno,whoco -composed
Eno,
who co-composed"Warszawa" andand“Art"Art“Warszawa”
Decade" on
two ofof Low
Low
Decade”
on side two

RobeRta bayley / gettyto the warmth
warmth andand responsivenessrock'n'roll tradition,
tradition, a tradition
tradition
responsivenessof the rock’n’rollthathehehas
hasgonegoneout
outofof hishis way to usurp.
that
usurp.
allhishisrecords,
records, thethe new
new album,
album, Low,
Low,isisthethemostmostcontroversial,
controversial, andandOf allright
the target-line of this
this criticalcritical bias. It’s
It's radicallyradically different
different fromright inin thetarget-linefrom
Station To Station,
to havehave been
beenconceived
conceivedas
asaa "mood"“mood”
StationStation, because
because it appears
appears toalbum.
creation revolves aroundaround thealbum. Its
Its creation
the synthesizer;
synthesizer;thethevocals
vocalsonon thethefirst side areare brief,
brief,andand ononthe
the second,second, which
which consists
consists of four
fourelectronic
electronic
instrumentals,they
theyareareusedused only as textural
instrumentals,
textural aids.
aids. Furthermore,
Furthermore, thethe"mood",
as itsitsexpressed
expressed in whateverwhatever lyrics there
there are,utterly“mood”, even
even as far as
are, is utterly
bleak andand depressed,
depressed, as
as thethe album's
album’s title
title would
would suggest.
Yet
Yetforforseveral
severalreasonsreasonsLow
Lowstrikes
strikesmemeasasaaremarkableremarkablerecord,
record,andandcertainly
thoroughly
certainlythe
themostmostinteresting
interestingBowie
Bowie has
has made.
made. It's
It’s so thoroughly
contemporary,its pessimism,
pessimism, perhaps,
perhaps, thoughthough that’s
that's deeply
contemporary,lessless in its
relevant toto thesetimes,that
thatininits
its musicalmusicalconcept:
concept:thethelogic
logic of bringing
relevant
these times,
bringing
togethermainstream pop-and -drums andtogether mainstream
pop-in– inthethealbum's
album’sdisco
discobass
bass-and-drums
conventional
lyric-andindicates whatconventional lyric– andexperimental
experimentalmusic
musicperfectly
perfectly indicates
could be the popular
art of thesociety weare
are moving
moving into,
into, in
could
popular art
the advanced
advanced societywe
away
whose music
music
a way that
thatthetheRolling
RollingStones,
Stones,say,say, oror eveneven thethe Sex Pistols, whose
relies totally upon
upon its black-derived
black -derivedrhythms,
rhythms, could
could not hope
hope to express.
express.
The devices
devices ofofexperimental
experimentalmusic
musicarearescatteredscatteredthroughout
throughout the album
album-– for instanceinstance in his employment
employment of phoneticism
phoneticism (on"Warszawa" andand(on “Warszawa”"Subterraneans")“Subterraneans”)andandthethereduction
reductionand
andunspecificunspecificnature
natureofof language
language –but in themselves
they are not unusual;after all, the Germangroups likebutthemselves they
unusual; after
German groups
Kraftwerk andand Tangerine
Tangerine Dream
Dream have also devised
devised superior
superior muzak,
muzak, andandtheweapon even inin thethe vulgar
vulgar hands
hands ofofthe synthesizer
synthesizerhas
haslonglong been
been a staple weapon
ELP. But
ELP.
Butit’s
it'sinteresting
interestingnot
notonly
onlythatthat Bowie
Bowieisismoving
movingacrossacrossthethetracks
tracksfrom the lyric andand vocal
vocaltradition,
tradition, unlike
unlike these
these bands,
bands, but
but that
thathe's
he’s also
also
anextent has"fan" following, far more
more populist
populist
an artist
artistwho
whoto
to aa large extent
has a “fan”
thanTT Dream
DreamororELP.
ELP.
thansuccessful synthesis
synthesis ofofpopular
popularandandexperimental
experimentalmusic
music-–The successful
described
describedby
byBrianBrianEno,
Eno,whowhoplayed
playedaamajor
majorroleroleininthethemakingmakingofofLow,
Low, aswillmore
morelikely
likely be achieved
two parallel
parallel mainstreams
mainstreams willachieved by aapopular
popular artist
artistsuch
Bowiewho
whohashasaagreater
greaterunderstanding
understanding of,of,andandintimacy
intimacywith,such as Bowie
with, thethemassdaring venture
mass audience.
audience.In
Inthisthiscontext,
context,Low
Lowis
is quitequite aa daring
venturefor
foraa
performerwhose
whose modus
modusoperandioperandi –ie,ie,thethesizesizeofofhis
his tours
toursandandvenues,
venues,performer
thehisalbums,
albums, etc
etc–-isdetermined by
the charts.
charts.
the cost of his
is determinedby theAn artist
artist of the same
same magnitude,
example, may
magnitude,like
likeStevie
StevieWonder,
Wonder,forfor example,
mayhave a better
better appreciation
appreciation of synthesizers
synthesizers andand have
have moremoresatisfactorily
satisfactorily
assimilated
respected
assimilatedelectronics
electronicsinto
into(black)(black)pop
popmusic,
music, but
but he's
he’s always respected
theconservatism ofaudience and used this knowledge totoenhanceenhance his
the conservatismof his audienceabilities rather
thantransform
transformthe
thenature
natureof
ofhis
hismusic.
music.
abilities
rather than
HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
14 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
14

On the other
hand,LouLou Reed's
Reed’s Metal Machine Music,
other hand,Music,ananalbumalbum
which
bizarrewhich invites
invites some
some comparison
comparisonwith
withLow,
Low, seems
seems like
like a bizarre
aberration, or certainly
certainly an eccentricity, because
because our pastaberration,
experience
experience of him
him asasaadeadpan
deadpan lyricist,
lyricist,often
oftenworking
workingthe
thetheme
theme
ofdecadence,
decadence, doesn’t
doesn't prepare
prepare us
believe in
inthe
theexperiment;
experiment;of
us to believe
moreover,limited influence
didn't promotemoreover, it had limited
influencebecause
becauseRCA
RCA didn’t
promoteit.
it.
RCA,
byLow. The
RCA,ititappears,
appears, have
have also
also been
been dismayed
dismayed by
The album
album
should have been
been out
out forforChristmas
Christmas (the(the deadline
deadline for its
itsrecording
recordingshouldwasNovember 16), but
but RCA
RCAexecutives
executivesfreaked
freakedbecause
because they
was November
hadweren’t sure
sure how to market
weren'tmarket it.
it.SomeSomeofofthem
themthought
thoughtthey
theyhadanother Metal
Musiconontheir
theirhands.
hands.
another
Metal Machine Music
There is also
also aa story
storythatthat Tony
TonyDefries,
managed Bowie
There
Defries, who managed
Bowie
during his rise
rise totostardom,
stardom,andandhashasretained
retained his
his proprietary
proprietaryduringmanner,album stopped
stopped on the grounds
grounds thatthatmanner,tried
triedtoto have the album
there
thereweren't
weren’tenoughenoughvocals
vocalsandandititwould
woulddamage
damageBowie's
Bowie’scareer.
career.
Allofofwhichwhichhas
hasbeenbeendisproved
disproved by
byBowie’s
Bowie'sseemingly
seeminglyautomatic
automatic
entryinto
entry
into the charts.
According to Tony
TonyVisconti,
the American
American who-produced Low
According
Visconti, thewho coco-produced
Low
withBowie
Bowie andandwhowhohashasworke
workedwithhimhimsince
since1967,
1967,Bowie
Bowie waswaswithd withdetermined tofear,irrational
irrational
determined
tosurprisesurpriseeveryone
everyonewith
withLow
Lowoutoutof a fear,
thoughappear, of seeming
seeming predictable.
predictable.
thoughitit may appear,“To"Topromote
promote thethe last two
two albums
albums he must
must have done more than
than 200shows," says
says Visconti,
Visconti,whose
whosewife,
wife,thetheformer
formerMary
MaryHopkin,
Hopkin, sings
sings
shows,”
briefly"Hewaswasabsolutely
absolutely tired
tired of being
being
briefly on
on "Sound“SoundAnd
And Vision".
Vision”. “He
RCA’s sure
RCA'ssurething,
thing, andand he also felt hehe waswas losing
losing his
hispioneer
pioneer spirit.
spirit.
"David described
described the
because he“Davidthealbum
albumtotome
meas
asfar
farback
backasas July, becauseheasked me if
ifIIcould
couldproduce
produce Iggy’s
Iggy'salbum
album first
first andand thenthen hisasked
his own,own,
which hehe said
said waswas going to bewhich
be very
veryrevolutionary.
revolutionary.
"He waswas trying
trying toto produce
produce Jimmy’s
Jimmy's [Osterberg, Iggy’s
Iggy's real
real name]
name]
“He
album at the Chateau
Chateau d’Herouville,d'Herouville, but
the engineers
engineers werealbum
but he said theprovinghopeless.
hopeless.II told
told him
him it was impossible
for me,and
andjustjusttotodo
doproving
impossible forme,
hisbest." (The album,
album, incalled The Idiot,
Idiot,based
based upon
upon ahis best.”
in fact,
fact, is called
painting Bowie
man who Visconti says
says
painting
Bowiefound,found,dating
datingfrom
from1906,
1906,of a man
bears
resemblanceto
toIggyIggy Pop.)
bears a striking
striking resemblance
Visconti, however, waswas enthusiastic
enthusiastic about
abouthelping
helpingto
torecordrecordwhat
whatwaswasthen being
NightAnd
title designed
designed to express
expressthenbeingcalled
calledNew
NewMusic
Music NightAnd Day, aa title
the difference
difference between
and two, which inin thethe planningplanning stages
thebetweensides
sides one
one andstageseven more
more radical.
radical. Bowie intended
intended both
both sides
absolutely
was evensides to be absolutely
contrasting, but
contrasting,butthethefirst
firstwaswasmeant
meanttotobe
be"raw“raw rock'n'roll",
rock’n’roll”, not
not thethestrange rockmusakstrangerockmusakthat's
that’sresulted,
resulted,where
wheretwo
twoofof thethe cuts,
cuts, "Speed“Speed Of
Life" andand “A"ANew
NewCareer
Career In
InA
New Town”,
Town",even
even have
have nono vocal
vocal at all.
Life”
A New
What
happened, explainsthen laid down
down
What happened,
explainsVisconti,
Visconti,was
was thatthat Bowie then10tracks
tracksininthe
the stylestyleofofthe
thefirst
firstsidesideandandwaswasgoing
goingtotoabandon
abandon thethe idea
10
idea
twodifferent
different sides
sides but
but forforthetheevent
eventthatthathehedeveloped
developedsomething
something ofof twomental block about
about thethe lyrics.
a mental“Ever"Ever since
since The Man
Man Who
Who Sold
SoldThe
TheWorld
Worldhehehas
haswritten
written thethe lyrics
lyrics after
after
the music, but inin thisthis case
case hehecouldn’t
couldn't comecome up
up withwith more
morethanthan one
one verseverse
thesome things,
things, which
lot ofofthe
thetracks
tracks fade
fade out.
out.
for some
whichisis whywhy a lot
“His
"His mood
mood was
was farfarfrom
fromoptimistic
optimistic when we werewererecording
recording at
at thetheChateau. ItIt was absolutely
absolutely the
lotofofthings
thingswere
werehappening
happening to
Chateau.
the worst.
worst. A lot
him, andhad a lot ofofsetbacks.
setbacks. For
Foroneonething,
thing, wewefoundfoundthethe studiostudiohim,
andwe
we hadtotallyuseless.The
Thepeople
peoplewho
whonow
nowownownititdon't
don’tseem
seemtotocare.
care.We
Weall
alltotally useless.
came downcame
downwith
withdysentery.
dysentery.DavidDavidand
andIIwere
were inin bedbed for two days.
"Also,hehechosechosethethe Chateau
Chateau to get away
away fromfrom all
all those
those people
people in“Also,
in
America, butbuttheytheyall
all foundfoundout
outwhere
wherehehewas.
was. He reallyis tooAmerica,re allyis
too gregarious
gregarious
his own
own good,
good, he’s
he's too
tookind,kind, andand hehe justjust couldn’t
couldn't tell them
them tooff.
for histo fuck off.
we gotgot nono work
work done.”done."
So we
The album
was finished,finished,ininfact,fact,ininaaweek
week andandaa half
half at
at Hansa
HansaBy
By Thealbum wasstudio inin thethe old “West"WestEnd”
End"ofofBerlin.
Berlin.They
Theywerewatched by East
East
Wall, aastudiowere watched
German border
Germanborder guards
guards as
as they recorded.
More distressingly,
distressingly, Bowie waswassuingsuinghishisimmediately
immediately previous
previousmanager, Michael
several reasonsreasons for
manager,
Michael Lippman,
Lippman,ininParis.
Paris. There
There were
were several
forthe dissolution
dissolution of their
their association,
association, butmaintained for
one thatthatthe
but Bowie maintainedfor oneLippmanpledgedhehewould
wouldgetgetthetheright
righttotoscore
scoreThe
TheMan
ManWhoWhoFell
FellToTo
Lippman pledged
eventuallywent
Earth, which eventuallywenttotoJohnJohn Phillips.
Phillips.
"Subterraneans", thewas actuallyactually composedcomposed for the“Subterraneans”,
thelastlasttrack
trackon
onLow,
Low, wassoundtrack,
whichBowie
Bowie worked
worked on
on withsoundtrack, whichwith Paul Buckmaster.
Buckmaster.
"He waswas away
awayforforabout
aboutfour
fourdaysdaysininParis,
Paris,dealing
dealingwith
withthis
this deposition,”
deposition,"“He"and hehe was absolutely
absolutely down
ay I
says Visconti, “anddownforfor that
thatmonth.
month.I Imustmustssayhave great respect
what herespect for him
him for callingcalling ititLow,
Low,’cause'causethat’s
that'sexactly
exactlywhat
he
The reason
reason there
there areare not
not thatthat muchthat he had
had absolutely
was. The
muchlyrics
lyrics is that
nothing tothere was nothingnothing outside
think for thethe first
firstnothing
to say; there
outsidehimself.
himself.So
So I thinktimehimself.”
time in his lyrics he’s
he's really
reallysaying
sayingsomething
something about
about himself."

DAVIDBOWIEDAVID BOWIEThe decision
decision to persevere
persevere with
with thethe two-side
two -side concept
concept was
was further
furtherpromotedpromotedduring
duringBowie's
Bowie’sabsence
absencein
inParis,
Paris,when
whenEnoEnowrote
wrote"Warszawa",“Warszawa”,
thethat begins
Bowieapparently
apparently said
said ititremindedreminded himhim
the piece
piece thatbegins side two. Bowie
of aa Polish
Polish choir
choir hehe hadhad heard
heard asand a “Polish”"Polish" vocal
vo calwas
wasadded
added
as a child, and-inphonetic speechspeech slowed down
down andandthenthen speeded
speeded upup-–– inreality
reality some
some phonetic
so thatthat he-year -old Polish
Polish boy
boy
he sounds,
sounds,in
inhis
hisownownphrase,phrase,"like“likeaa1212-year-old
glorifying theSocialist state”.
glorifying
the Socialist
state".
Eno's involvement
involvement with
with Low
Lowwasimportant but
not crucial,crucial, as has
has beenbeen
Eno’s
was importantbut notsuggested.
suggested.He
Hewas
wasonly
only at
at thetheChateau
Chateauforforoneoneweek
weekininthe
thewhole
wholeofof thetheSeptemberthey
theyrecorded
recordedthere,
there,and
andisison
onjustjusttwotwoofof theSeptemberthe four tracks on thesecondNevertheless, his
German groups
second side.
side. Nevertheless,his records,
records,like
like those
those of the GermangroupsT Dream,Dream, Neu! andand Kraftwerk,
Kraftwerk, had
had a catalytic
catalytic effect.
Indeed, wheneffect. Indeed,
whenEnoEno
to findfind that
bothIggy
Iggy andgot toto thethe Chateau
Chateau he waswas astonishedastonished tothat bothand Bowie
could
Pussyfooting,thetheelectronic
electronicalbum
album hehe mademadecould hum,
hum, note
notefor note, No Pussyfooting,withwith Bob Fripp.
Several ofofEno’s
Eno'shypotheses
hypothesesand
andattitudeattitude towards
towards music, such as thetheartistic
artisticpotential
potentialofofmuzak,
muzak,areareshared
sharedbybyBowie,
Bowie,hehefeels.
feels.Eno,
Eno,forfor
instance,
approaching themarkets
instance,isis approaching
thePlanned
PlannedMusic
Music Company, which markets
muzakinin thisthis country,
country,withwithaa view to producing
recordsfor themthatareare
muzak
producing records
them that
not only environmental
environmental but
express thatthat tension
tension between
betweenbut whichwhich also express
doubt
and certainty
certainty that
"that
doubt andthat createscreates art-"ambientart – “ambientmusic,"
music,”hehecalls
callsit, “thatworks in thethe samesame way asasnicenicelighting:lighting:itittints
tintsthetheenvironment.”
environment."
He's been
been encouraged
encouraged in
the commercial
commercial successHe’s
in thisthisbelief
belief by the
successofof his
his
own
onthe
the Obscure
Obscure label;label; low-definition
low -definition music
own Discreet Music onmusic thatthatisisapparentlypopular
popularat
atdinnerdinnerparties,
parties,ititputs
putsthethe"fun"“fun” into
into functional.
functional.
apparently"I think
think this
this is something
something thatargues.
“I
thatBowie
Bowieisis interested
interestedininas
aswell,"well,” hehe argues.
"The
point ofusing phonetics,
the language
language“The pointof using
phonetics,IIbelieve,
believe,was
wasto
toget
get rid
rid of theelement.If you use
in aelement.
use language
language you cannot
cannot but
but help
help lead the mind
mind inparticularparticularway.As
way. Assoon
soonasas there's
there’slanguage
languageititcreatescreatesaafocus,
focus, andandit's
it’s very,
very difficult
difficult not to accept
accept thatthat as the central
central point
the piece, with thethepointofof theother instruments
ranked,ororarranged,
arranged,roundroundit,
it, supporting
supportingit.
it.
other
instruments ranked,"Now ififyou
want to have music that’s
that's got'drifting' aspect“Now
you want
got a ‘drifting’aspecttotoit,
it,it's
it’sveryvery
hardthink hehas just
become aware
hardtoto makemakelyrics
lyricsthat
thatwill
willfit.
fit. I think
he hasjust becomeawareofof thisthisproblemofof focusin a piece
problemfocus inpiece ofofmusic,
music, ofofhow
howmuchmuchyou
youwant
wantandand how
howmuchmuch
you don’t
don't want.
want. OneOne ofofthe
theinteresting
interestingquestions
questions thatthat allallthosethoseGerman
Germanbands
thatthey
theyproduced
that waswasvery
veryunfocal-it
bands brought
brought up was that
produced music that
unfocal – ithadaa lot of ‘drift’
in it, if you
had'drift' in
you like,
like,whereas
whereas rock
rock
music
traditionallyhad'anchorage'.
music has traditionallyhadaalot
lot of ‘anchorage’.
"Like myself, he waswas very impressed
impre ss ed by
by
“Like
the
tradition-thethe other tradition– thekindkindofofvocal
vocal rocktradition-so
tradition – sothetheproblem
problemofofthe
theage,age,as
asfar
faras
as
I'm
concerned, is to bring
bring those
those two
two things
thingsI’m concerned,
together comfortably.
comfortably. That's
That’s why the record
togetheris experimental.
experimental.
"When I did
didAnother
had a
“When
AnotherGreen
GreenWorld
World I had
problem because
becauseII hadof thisproblem
had some numbers
numbers of
this`drifting'nature, and‘drifting’ nature,and others
othersthat
thatwere
were songs.
I solved
solved thethe problem
problem by mixing
mixing them
them allall upup
together, so the dichotomy
isn’tsoso evident
evidentas
as if
together,dichotomyisn't
one
had put
put them
one hadthemonon separate
separatesides.
sides.II could
could have
have
done
one side as songs andand onedone itit one
one asas
instrumentalsand
andto
totelltell you the
instrumentals
the truth,
truth, thethereasondidn't was because
because I didn’t
didn't dare.
reason I didn’t"I thought,
thought, this
this is gonna
gonna be too
too bizarre
bizarre to“I
thatII
do. I thought
thought it would
would indicate
indicate thatthoughtbeunrelated
unrelatedthought these
these two things to be
to one another.
another. So
admire him
what
So I admire
himforfor what
he did. But IIdon’t
he
don'tthink
think I’ve
I've had
had suchsuch ananinfluencethe press
press has
has mademadeinfluenceon
on himhim asas theout,
assumed. ItIt is his album,
album, andout, or assumed.
andhe
he gotgot
hein touch
touch with
with meme because
because I think
think herecognised
similar position.
position.
recognisedthat
thatII was in aa similar"I know
know hehe liked
likedAnother“I
Another GreenWorld
Green World athere werelot, andand hehe must’ve
must've realised
realised thatthat there
these
parallel streams
these two
two parallel
streamsofof working
going on in what
what IIwas
wasdoing,
doing,andand whenwhen
you findfind someone
someone with the same problem
problem
you tend
tend totobecome
become friendly
friendlywith
them."
with them.”
fact, Eno
Enosuspects
suspects Bowie
Bowiestrongly
strongly
In fact,
influencedhis
his own
own approach
to music
influenced
approach toconcerning
disposable
concerningthe
themarketing
marketingof
of disposable
records,
corollary of his
his fascinationfascination
records, aa corollarywith muzak.

“He"He said
said when
when hehe first
first heard
heard Discreet Music,
Music,hehecould
couldimagine
imagine in
inthe
the
future thatsupermarkets andfuturethatyou
you would
would go into supermarkets
andthere
therewould
wouldbebeaarack
rackofof`ambience' records,
similar covers.
‘ambience’records,all
all inin very similar“And– thisisis my addition
they wouldjust
justhave
havetitles
titleslike ‘Sparkling’,"And-thisaddition –-theywould'Sparkling', or`Nostalgic', oror‘Melancholy’'Melancholy' or ‘Sombre’.
'Sombre'. They
Theywould
mood titles,‘Nostalgic’,
would all be moodand so cheap
cheap to buy
buyyouchuck them
them away
awaywhendidn't wantwant
andyou could chuckwhen you didn’t
themmore.”
them any
anymore."byall
allaccounts,
accounts, isissaidsaidtotoleadleadaarigorous
rigorousintellectual
intellectual life.
Bowie, by
Accordinghe literally
literally assaults
assaults himself
himselfwith
According toto Visconti, he
withideas.
ideas.In
InBerlin
Berlin hehehas
going inin artgalleries almost
almostevery
everyday;day; his
his knowledge
knowledgeofof arthas been
been goingart galleries
art
approaches that
connoisseur, Visconti claims.
approaches
thatofof a connoisseur,"Every time
time I gogotherethere he’s
he's into
into something
something new.
he's thethe only
only guy“Everynew.Also,
Also, he’s
who, when
when he’s
he's on tour,
tour, never stays inin hishis hotel
hotel room.
room. HeHe always
always puts
puts onon
disguise andand goes out onto the streets.
streets.
a disguise"The last time
time I was
was inin Berlin
Berlin wewewentwentout
outto
toaaworking-classworking-class place,place,“The
kind ofofHammersmith
Hammersmith Palais.
there arethe drag
drag clubs which
which
a kindPalais.And
And there
are all
all therespectable overthere. He really
reallywants
are quite respectable
over there.
wantstoto know what people
and thinking.
thinking.
are doing and“We"Wecancanwork
worktogether
togetherbecause
because he’s
he's aavery
verynon-technicalnon-te chnicalperson
person –probably couldn’t
couldn't change a plug
plug-andhe probably– andII can
can translatetranslatewhat
whathehe wants.
wants.
I'm a very,
very,very
veryfast
fastworker,
worker,sosohe’she'snot
notfrustrated
frustrated with
with me, andand I'm
I’m
I’m ananarrangerandaamusician
musicianasaswellwell[Visconti[Viscontiplays
playsbass].
bass].But
But he's
he’s so full of
arranger andofideas, if anything,anything, II have to edit
edit him.
him. In fact, it’s
it's tootoointense
intense to be
be aroundaroundideas,
him for any length
length of time.”
time."him
Eno also
also pays
paystributetribute totohishisintellectual
intellectual curiosity,
curiosity, pointing
pointing out
out thatthat
Bowiehas
hasresisted
resistedevery
everyencouragement
encouragement fromfromthethemusic
musicindustry
industry
Bowie
not to be interesting.
interesting. "Insense," Eno says, “I"Ithink
think thatthat most
most of hishisnot“In aa sense,”
albumsare quite
quite experimental
experimentalin
inthatthatthey
theystrikestrikememeas
asalwaysalways being
being
albums are
do withwith hybridisinghybridising things.
things. He'squite conscious
conscious of being eclectic.
to doHe’s quite
Lowis
transitional record,
record, you see,see,asasmostmostrecords
recordsare
areby
bypeoplewho
Low
is aatransitional
people whointeresting."
are interesting.”
Yet
Bowieimpresses
impressesevenevenhishisfriends
friendsasasbeing
beingfundamentally
fundamentallydetacheddetached
Yet Bowie
people. Certainly
Certainly he’s
he'scontemptuous
contemptuous of thethe music
musicindustry
industry andandfrom people.
press, but also none
none ofofhis
hispersonal
personalfriends,
friends,it’s
it'ssaid,said,arearemusicians,
musicians,apart
apart(whomhehenow
nowmanages)
manages) andand perhaps
perhaps his
guitarist, Carlos
from Iggy (whomhis guitarist,
CarlosAlomar,with whom
whom he has a very
verygood
goodworking
workingrelationship.
relationship. (Visconti(Visconti
Alomar, withsays
Alomar’s riff tosays thatthat “Fame”"Fame" grew out
out ofofAlomar's
toaaversion
versionof
of Springsteen's
Springsteen’s"It's“It’sHard
HardToToBeBeAASaint In The
The City”,
City",which
which Bowie
Bowiewaswasproducing
producingSaint– includingin Philadelphia forforaathree-piece
three-piece-including
Ava
Cherryandand Warren
Warren Peace
Peace –- called
called The
Ava Cherry
Astronettes.
business hassles,
Astronettes. Because
Because of businesstheappeared on
the groupgroup never
never appeared
onrecord.)record.)Visconti
hisoldest
oldest friends,
friends, andand heVisconti is one of his
maintains
maintainsthat
thatBowie
Bowie takes
takes pride
pride in being
emotionless.
“I’ve seen
emotionless. "I'veseen him
him at thethe edge ofofdespair, but
but as far
far asasmarriage
marriage andand love arearedespair,
concerned, heabove it. Everything
Everything
concerned,
he claims
claimstoto be
be abovegoes to his
his headhead andand not his
his heart.”
heart.""Be MyMyWife",therefore,whose
whoseemotionalemotional“Be
Wife”, therefore,
messagemessagecould
couldnotnotbe
bemoremoreexplicit,
explicit, would
would
appearappear to bebeananunusually
unusuallyunguarded
unguarded
moment inartist who has
momentin thethe career
careerof an artist
heeded thatthat dictum
dictum ofofArnold
generally heeded
ArnoldWesker:Wesker:that
thatananactionactiontaken
takenwithout
without
intellect is flabby
flabbyandandsentimental.
sentimental.
intellect
Whetheranother role
theWhetherLow
Low is yet anotherrole for thecrackedcracked actor
actor or, as
as IIthink,
think,ananinspired
inspired
attempt atcreating truly
truly modern
modern rockattempt
at creatingmusic-–or
possible, both
both ofmusic
oreven,even, asas is possible,
those options –-itit cannot
cannot by called
Atthe
thevery
veryleast,
though Bowie
flabby. At
least, thoughmaybe
his twists
twists andand turns
turns arearemay
be a snake, his
as extraordinary
to beholdbehold asas theextraordinary totheperiodic sheddings
she ddings ofofhis
hisappearance.
appearance.
periodic
In the meantime,
meantime, hehecontinues
continuesto
tolivelive
abroad,perhapsfor
for thethe next
next two
two years,
years,
abroad, perhaps
and perhaps
walled -inandperhapsstill
stillin
inBerlin,
Berlin, aa walled-inthat is stuffed
stuffed with
with all
all thethe benefits
benefits
city thatcivilised culture.
culture. Berlinof civilised
Berlin lacks only
attribute, but
major one: theone attribute,but thatthataa major
beauty of nature.
nature.And
beautyAnd where
where in David
Bowie will you find
find that?
that? Michael
Watts•
Michael Watts“Most"Most of hishisalbumsare toalbums are
do with
withhybridising
things”
things"HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 19771977|115
HISTORY
15

1977
1977

a r chJJANUARYa n u a r y – M-1°H“We"We ain’t
ain't
geniuses”
eniuses"
The RAMONESRAMONES makemakeThe
aa secondsecond album,
album, and
and
spend
spend aavery
very strange
strangeevening hanging
hanging out
out
evening
withPHILPHILSPECTOR.
SPECTOR.
with
Later,
Later, they
they ponder
ponder their
their
reputation. "Theyreputation.
“They callcall
us
us assholes,”assholes," says
says
stealthEric Clapton
Claptonstealth EricfanRamone.
fan Tommy
Tommy Ramone.
“I
guess we"I guess
we really
reallyget
get toto them.”them."N
kate simon

16
HISTORY OF
16 I| HISTORYOF ROCK 1977

- MELODYJANUARY1 —1—
MELODYMAKER
MAKER JANUARY-v- ew
EWYORK:
THEevening
eveningbegan,
began,somewhat
somewhat ominously,
ominously, with
York: The
with aa slow ridean antiquatedclose.
in an
antiquatedelevator
elevatorwhose
whosedoor
doordidn't
didn’tclose.Ten
Tenfloors
floorslater,
later,its
itspassengers emerged
rehearsal studiopassengers
emergedin
inRedfield
Redfield Sound,
Sound, a small rehearsal
studioon
onWestWest
20thwhere a buffet meal
with champagne.
champagne.Nuggets
Nuggetswas
was20th Street
Street wheremeal was served
served withplaying quietly
quietly throughthrough studioplayingstudiospeakers,
speakers,an
anapt
aptchoicechoicesince
sinceLenny
LennyKaye,
Kaye,these relatively obscureobscure tracks onto one
one album,
album, was
who compiled theseprominent
prominent among the throng.
The occasionoccasion was
the first public hearing
hearing of the Ramones’
Ramones' second
was thesecondalbum,
album,Ramones
RamonesLeave
Leave
Home,
which, after
after thethe invitedinvited listeners
listeners had
had been
been given
given anan opportunity
opportunity tosuitablywired
Home, which,to get suitably
wired
on alcohol
pungentsmoking
smokingmixture,
mixture,waswasplayed
playedvery
very loudly toalcohol and/or
and/or pungent
to thethe assembled
assembled guests.
Three
Ramones were
dressed inThree of the Ramones
were present,
present,Johnny,
Johnny,Dee
DeeDeeDee andandTommy,
Tommy, all
all dressed
inthe
the
obligatoryjeans,the singer, isiscurrently
currently ininhospital,
hospital,
obligatory
jeans,tennis
tennisshoes
shoesand
andleather
leatherjackets.
jackets.Joey,
Joey, thewhere he may havehis brother.
wherehave totohavehaveananoperation
operation on
onhis
hisankle;
ankle;hehewas
wasrepresented
representedby
byhis
brother.
Also onon handhand was John
John Camp,
Camp, thethe bass
bass player
player for
forRenaissance,
Renaissance, whose
whose music
music seems
seems at
at thetheabsolute opposite
opposite end
the music
music spectrum
spectrum tothat of thethe Ramones.
Ramones. Significantly,
Significantly, CampCamp
absolute
end of theto thatdeclined
Renaissance, of course,
declined to be
be photographedphotographed with
with the three
three Ramones
Ramones present.
present. Renaissance,
course, record
recordSireininthe
the US,
US,as
asdo
dothe
theRamones.
Ramones.
for Sire
While sophisticatedsophisticated would-floor effort
wouldnotnotbe
bequitequitethetheright
rightword,
word,thetheRamones'
Ramones’second
second-floor
effortisisgooddeal
dealless
lessrawrawthanthantheir
theirfirst.
first.Greater
Greaterattention
attentionhas
hasbeen
beenpaid
paidtotothe
theproduction,
production, which
which
a goodpicture a lot
lotlesslessamateurish
amateurish than
than before. They’ve
They've discovered
discovered echo, andand this
thismakes the overall picturethat rather
rather flat, droning
droning vocal soundsound andand adds
adds immensely
immens ely totothethenumerous
numerous guitar
guitartakes away thatriffs.
Once again
again there’rethere're 14 tracks
tracks thatthat makemake upup justjust over
over3030minutes,
minutes,andandconsequently
consequentlyeacheachjust over
over aacouple
coupleof
ofminutes.
minutes. There
There areare nono guitar
guitar solos, nono slowslowsongs
songsandandsong averages out at just
just
just one non-original,
non -original, “California"California Sun”.
Sun". The
Theurgency
urgency
still there
there andand on at
at least
least oneonetrack
trackyoucan hearhear Deeis still
you canRamone's frenzied
frenzied count-in whichwhich stands
stands out
Dee Ramone’s
count-inout sosomuchin theirtheirlive
live shows.
much inshows.
Couple dwith
withtheir
theirnew-foundnew-foundstudiostudio inventivenessinventiveness
Coupledthe useuse ofofvocalvocalharmony,harmony,hitherto
hitherto scorned
scorned inis theinfavourvocalunison.
unison. One
One track
tracksoundedsounded uncannily
uncannily liketheof vocallike theearly Who, inin thethe daysdays when
when Roger Daltrey
Daltreywas
early
was
experimenting
withaanot
not-quite-falsetto
vocal style,experimenting with-quite -falsetto vocal
another reminded
while anotherremindedme
meofof thethe Stones, circa
BetweenThe
TheButtons,
Buttons,probably
probablybecausetheBetweenbecause theinstrumentation
was sparser thaninstrumentation wasthan usual.
the majority
majority ofoftracks
tracksexude
exudethat
thatmanic,
manic,urgent
urgent
But theapproach tothat marked
marked theapproachto an
an instantinstantflash
flashofof song thatthefirst album.
Ideas areare never
never developed,
developed,just
just exposed
exposed»»album. Ideas

Joey
Ramone:knownas
Joey Ramone:known asJeffrey
JeffreyHyman.before
Hyman before
the alias
al m!Jeff
adopting the
JeffStarshiopasleadsmeerr
Starshipas lead singerinwith
withglamp -11k band
band Sniper inglam-punk9hen
co-foundingthe1972, then co-founding theR'Ones twoyears
later
Ramones
two years laterI"

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 19771977|117
HISTORY
17

1977
1977

JJANUARY-MARCH
a n u a r y – M a r chflat and brutal,
they've almost
almost begun
ccasionallybrutal,over
over before they’ve
begunandandonly
only ooccasionallymemorable.
manyinstanttobackbackmakememorable. So many
instanttracks
tracksplayed
playedso
so fast back to
makeit extraordinarily
extraordinarily harddifferentiate between
hard toto differentiate
betweenone
one andand another,another,
especially whenthe
themixmix favours
favours therather than
thanthethesinger.
singer.
especiallywhen
the guitarist
guitarist rather
didn't catch
catch one
I didn’t
one title,
title, apartapartfromfrom"California“CaliforniaSun",Sun”,yet
yet thethelyrics
lyricsseemedseemedto
to dealdeal with
with boy/girlboy/girl relationships
relationshipsrather
ratherthan
thanviolence
violenceororglue
gluesniffing, a gesture
withpeople
peoplewho
who makemakesniffing,
gesture thatthat will surely
surely findfindsympathy
sympathywithupradio playlists.
up radioplaylists.
"We spent
spent at
at least
least twice
twice asas long
longmaking
making this
this album
album ason thethe“We
as we did on
first,” guitarist
first,"
guitarist Johnny
Johnny Ramone
Ramone told me
me afterafter thethe album
album had been played.
He could
could not, though,though, rememberthat was:"Most ofofrememberjust
justhow
howlonglong thatwas: “Most
November,think."
November, I think.”
Despitethe punk
punkimage
imageofof thetheRamones,
Ramones,Johnny,
Johnny,like
likehishis colleagues,
colleagues,isis
Despite theannot tootoo bright.
bright. It’s
It's difficult
difficult to prise
prise
an amiableamiableenoughenoughfellow
felloweven
evenifif he
he is notmore
than aa couple
couple of sentences
sentences from his
his reluctant
reluctant mouth.
mouth.
more than“We"We like
like totoget
getthetheidea
idea ofofaasong
songacrossacrossquick,
quick, leave
leave out
out allallthethe slackslack andandplayfast,"
Johnnywhen
play fast,” said Johnny
whenII commented
commentedon
onthethelength
lengthofof thethe tracks.
tracks.
"We
try toto writewrite aasong
songaaday
daywhen
we're duedue to record.
record. We'll
up inin thethe“We try
when we’re
We’ll get up
morningand
andsay,say,'Let's‘Let’swrite
writeaa song
song today,’morning
today,' andand get on with it. Sometimes
Sometimes
it takes
takes 30 minutes
minutes andand sometimes
sometimesitittakes
takesthethewhole
wholeday.
day.Then
Thenwewerehearse
rehearseititto
togetgetitit right
rightuntil
untilwe
weplayplayitit on
on stage.
stage.
“We"We even
evenhadhad aafew
fewsongs
songsthatthatwewedidn’t
didn'tevenevenbotherbother toto record,
record, andand onethattracks."thatwewe recorded
recordedbut
butleft
leftoff
off thethealbum.
album.We
Wewantedwantedtotokeep
keepititto
to14
14 tracks.”
Johnnywas
particularlyvague
Johnnywas particularlyvagueabout
aboutthethecancelled
cancelledBritish
British tour
tour with
the
Pistols. He
Hehad
hadwanted
wanted to go
gooveroverbut
butmanager
manager Danny
Danny Fields
the Sex Pistols.
decidedand thelittle saysayinbusiness
decided against
againstitit andthe groupgroup seem
seem to have little
in businessmatters,
matters,probably
probablyaawise
wise state
state of affairs.
“I"I enjoyedenjoyed thethe last time
time we went
went toto England,”England," said
said Johnny.
Johnny. “I"Iremember
rememberplaying
Independence Day,and thatplaying thethe Roundhouse
Roundhouseon
onJulyJuly 4, Independence
Day, and
thatwaswas fun.
fun.
It seemed
seemed thatthat theDanny
the dates
datesonon thisthislast
last tour
tour weren't
weren’tso
so good,
good, so Dannycancelledit,
it, but
butwe're
we’re duedue backback inin February
Februaryor
orMarch."March.”
cancelled
Ramones willsome dates
overthetheChristmas
Christmas
The Ramones
will play
play somedatesininNew
New York
York overperiodthat Joey's
ankle has
has healed
healed up,
up,thenthenspend
spend early
earlyNew
period provided
provided that
Joey’s ankle
New
Year in
inCalifornia
California before
before coming
coming to England.
England.
At thethe endend ofofthe
theevening
eveningaayoung,young,dark-haired
dark-haired girl
girlopened
opened her
her blouse
blouseto reveal a perfectperfect figure.
figure. The gesture,gesture,was enough.
We spent
largely unnoticed,
unnotice d, wasenough. We
spent
the
evening prodding
prodding eachother withthe evening
each otherssafetyafety pins.
pins.Chris
ChrisCharlesworthCharlesworth- NME—
NME MAYMAY 2121—EY
MAN!" plEAds
PLEADS a panicpanic EY MAN!”
stricken Dee Dee Ramone.
Ramone.
stricken"If yayahit
hitme,
me,IIain’t
ain'tgonna
gonna hit
hit
“Ifforya!
ya!
ya back! I’ve
I've got
got tootoo muchmuch respect
respect for
Anyway, IIdon’t
don'tknow
knowhowhowmany
manyarmed
armed
bodyguards
hidden in thethe kitchen
kitchenbodyguardsya
ya got hidden
who’ll comethe door
who'llcome burstin’
burstin' throughthrough the
with
do!"
with their
their guns
gunsblazin'
blazin’ififII do!”Nevertheless, Dee Dee stands
stands his ground.
ground.
Nevertheless,the sides
sides oftheof thebody,body, fists
fists
Arms pressedpressed rigidly against
against the
clenched,
KOpunchpunch
clenched,eyes
eyes half-closed,
half-closed, bracing
bracinghimself
himselffor
for a KOthat
launched.
that is never launched.
“Just"Just leave meme alonealone will ya!!”ya!!"hehehollershollersdefiantly
defiantly at
at PhilPhil
Spector-who,
Spector – who,after
afterhanding
handingme
mehishisautomatic
automaticpistol
pistolfor
for safe
keeping,
shuffle inches
inches inhiskeeping,isis executing
executingaafast
fastAli
Ali shuffle
in front
frontofof hisdistraughthouse
house guest.
guest.
distraught
Joey,Johnny
Johnny andand Tommy
Tommy silently
silently anticipate
anticipate theJoey,thenext
nextmove.
move.If
there's
tobe
beaarumble,
rumble,they’re
they'reready
ready-ifsomewhat reluctant.
reluctant.
there’s got to– if somewhat“I"I camecame overoverhere
herethis
this evening
evening at
at your
yourinvitation,”
invitation," pleads
pleadsDee Dee, who’s
who's nonolongerlongertalking
talkingto
toSpector
Spectorbut
butscreaming
screaming at
at
him
the top
top of his
hispowerful
powerful lungs,
lungs, “to"toadmireadmire your house,house,
him atat thelisten toto your
your music
musicandandparty,
party,notnottotofight
fightwithwithya,ya,sosojustjustcut
cutititlistenout,
someone getsout, before someone
gets hurt!"
hurt!”
don't think
think Dee Dee’s
Dee's referringreferring toto himself.
himself. The
The blank
blank cutesy
cutesyI don’tmask thatusuallyusuallyadorns
adornsDee
DeeDee's
Dee’s fresh
fresh featuresmaskthatfeatures has
has inseconds
into an expression of
ofterminal
terminal angst.
angst.
seconds become
become screwed
screwed into
The kid’s
kid's confused.
confused.
“Dee
I meanthat's
that’syour
yourname?"name?”Spector"DeeDee
DeeR-A-M-O-N-E
RAM 0 NE I–meancontinues
continuestaunting,taunting,"I“Iwaswasalso
also brought
broughtup
up onon thethe streets
streets of
NewYork,solet’s
let'sseeseeififyou’ve
you'velearnt
learntanything…
anything... one
one ononone…
one...
New York, so
waitingfor!"
for!”
So whatcha
whatcha waiting

CC“H

HISTORY OF
18 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
18

The evening
quitefavourably.
favourably.As
As soonevening had commenced
commenced quite
soon as thetheRamones' scene-makerscene -makerRodney
RodneyBingenheimer
and yours
yourstruly
trulyhadRamones’Bingenheimer andhadarrived at
the heavilyfortified
arrivedat theheavily fortifiedChez
ChezSpector,
Spector,we
we hadhad been
beenmademadetoto feelmostSpector was on his
most welcome.
welcome. In fact,
fact, ititappeared
appeared thatthat Spector
his best
best behaviour.
behaviour.
the youngest
youngest of Spector’sSpector's three
three kids had
had dasheddashed up
JoeyandandFirst, theup to Joey
after taking
basketball player?"after
takingstock
stockofof hishis heightheighthadhadasked,
asked,"Are“Are youyou a basketball
player?”“No,”"No,"thetheembarrassed
embarrassed stick insect
insect had replied.
"Areyou
yousuresureyou’re
you'renot
notaabasketballbasketball player?”
player?"waswasthetherepeated
repeated enquiry.
enquiry.
“Are"Sure!" affirmed
affirmed Joey, precariously
precariously rocking“Sure!”
rockingfrom
fromside
side toto sideside on his long,spindlylegs.
spindly legs.
the moment
moment we enteredentered thethat Phil Spector
From thethe room,
room,itit was obvious thatfascinated bybyJoeyRamone's
quirky charisma,charisma, ininveryverymuchthesamesame
was fascinatedJoey Ramone’s quirkymuch theway asby Blondie’s
ashe
hehad
hadbeenbeen enamoured
enamoured by
Blondie's Debbie Harry,
Harry, aacouple
coupleofofweeks earlier.
"J
E YR
AM ON E... JJ-O-E-Y
E YR
AM ON E," Spector“J-O-E-Y
R-A-M-O-N-E…
R-A-M-O-N-E,”
Spectorwould
would trill
trill
admiration likeIfhehecould
couldtransmogrify
transmogrifyDebbie
in admiration
like a cracked record. If
Debbie into
into
'70s version
version ofofRonnie
RonnieSpector,
Spector,then
then Joey
JoeywasDion's heir
heir apparent.
apparent.
a ’70swas Dion’sSpector mademade nothe fact thatthat inhe sensed
sensed the kind
kind ofSpectorno secretsecretof thein Joey hedormant
potentialfrom
fromwhichwhich GreatGreat Phil Spector
dormant potential
SpectorProductions
Productions areare made.
made.
pussyfooting: Spector
produce aa Joey Ramone
RamoneNo pussyfooting:Spector expressed
expressedaa desire
desire toto produce
album.
solo album.
Flattery didn’t
didn't get Spector
Spector anywhere.
anywhere. After hours
hours ofofdiscussing
discussingthe
thematter, Joey politely
politely informed
informed his new-foundnew-found fanmatter,fan thatthat thetheRamones
Ramonesare
areaa
four -man democracy
democracy andand thatthat they’ve
they've mademade no contingency
contingency plans
four-manplansforfor
individual
individual projects.
tobe
bedeterred.
deterred. Spector
Spectorinsisted
insisted thatthat thethe Ramones
Ramones would
would never
never bebe
Not tothan they
Hesuggested
suggested aapossible
possible label
labelchange.
change.
bigger thanthey areare right
right now. He“I
you want
to be,”"I cancan makemake you
you into
into thethe stars
stars thatthat youwant tobe," hehe claimed.
claimed.
listened to what he had
had to say.
say.Seemingly,
Seemingly,money
moneywasobstacle.
They listened
was no obstacle.
quoted telephone-number
telephone -number guarantees.
guarantees. The
impressed.
He quoted
TheRamones
Ramoneswere
were impressed.
The Ramones
Ramones were
weredumbstruck.
dumbstruck. The
TheRamones
Ramonesbecame
becameconfused.
confused.
Communication breakdown
Communication
breakdownand
andaarapid
rapid deterioration
deteriorationin
indetente.
detente.
ofPhilPhilSpector’sSpector'shomehomeentertainment
entertainment often
often includes
includes thethe sort
sortPart ofbizarre black-comedy
black -comedyantics
anticsI’ve
I'vedescribed.
described.PushingPushingunsuspecting
unsuspectingof bizarre
beyond their
their limits
act. Onevisitors beyond
limits andandthenthenobserving
observinghow
howthey
theyrereact.
it'll backfire.
backfire. Dee
refuses to
day it’ll
Dee Dee
Dee refuses
to allow
allow Spector
Spectorto
toget
get thethebetter of him.
better
"I'm neurotic,”
neurotic," blurts
blurts the exasperated
exasperated Ramone.
of“I’m
Ramone."And,“And, ofpeople, youyoushould
should appreciate
appreciate what thatthat means!”means!"
all people,
That remark
remark stops
stops Spector
Spector deadThat
dead in his tracks.
tracks. Spector
Spectorapologises profusely-than apologises
profuselyfor
for hishis behaviour
behaviourand
andaalessless-thanmemorable soiree
reaches an
an anticlimax.
anticlimax.
memorablesoiree reachesramones

RAMONESAS
THETITlE
TITLEofoftheir
theirsecond
secondalbum
album
s THE
leftthethecomparative
comparative
implies, the Ramones left
their home
home in Queens,
Queens, clad only
safety of theirclothesthey
theystood
stoodup
up in,
in, toin the threadbare
threadbare clothes
discoverHere'sthethe crunch.
crunch.
discover Middle America. Here’s
Exceptbigcities,
cities, Middle
Middle America
America
Except for a few big
hadn’theard
heardofof thehadn'tthe Ramones.
Ramones. That’s
That's when thetrouble started.
started.
BigIn
InBritain,
Britain, AACult
CultOnOnThe
TheContinentContinent
Being Big
just didn’t
didn't cut it withwiththethehard-nosed
hard-nosed proprietors
proprietorsof singles
singles bars
bars where
where nobody
nob odywearing
leather,wearing leather,denim
admitted.
denim andand sneakers
sneakers was admitted.
To makeworse,$250$250 a gig doesn’t
make mattersmatters worse,
doesn'tcover $500-a-day$500-a-dayroad
expenses.
road expenses.
Things areare a bitbit better
better forforthetheRamones
Ramones out
out
Thingshere on the West
just…
here
WestCoast,
Coast,butbutonly
onlyjust...
Earlier in thethe day, I ran
ran thethe Ramones
Ramones to
EarliertogroundTropicanaMotel
Motelaninfamous
infamousgroundinin LA's
LA’s Tropicana– anrock’n’roll pit
pit-stop
have long since
rock'n'roll-stop which
which maymayhaveseenbetter days,
boasts the best andseen better
days, but still boasts
cheapest
cheapestcoffee
coffee shop
shopinin town.
town. Nobody
Nobody serves
servesgrease better
thanDuke's.
Duke’s.
greasebetter thanRamones seemed
seemed quite
quite at home
home in its
itsclaustrophobicclaustrophobic confines.
confines.
The Ramones
Apartfrom a pile
pile ofofold
oldcomics
comicsandandrock
rockpapers
papers onon thethe floor,
floor,thethe
Apart fromonly other
other signs
signs of occupation
occupation were
Dee's sweat-soaked
sweat -soakedsneakers
sneakers
were Dee Dee’s
dryingthe sunsun outside
outside thedrying inin thethe bathroom
bathroomwindow
windowandandaasmall
smallblack
black leather
leatherhand-grip stuffed
stuffed withhand-gripwith clean
clean T-shirts.
T-shirts.
When thethe Ramones
Ramones leave home,
home, they travel light.
the first weeks
weeks ofofthisthisyear,
year,thetheRamones
Ramonesreleased
releasedtheir
their second
secondWhen, in theLP,ourmanmanMurray
Murrayconfirmed
confirmed in his review
review what
what sosomanymany people
people have
have
LP, ouralready felt aboutthat unlike
already
about thethe Blank
Blank Generation’s
Generation's Mop
MopTopsTops–-that
unlike mostgroupsachieve immortality
immortalityvia
Saturday -morning television
televisiongroups who achieve
viaaa Saturday-morning
cartooncartoonseries,
series, thetheRamones
Ramonesbypassed
bypassedthe
theJacksonJacksonFive/Archies
Five/Archies route
route
by at
at least
least five
fiveyears
yearsandandmanifested
manifested themselves
themselves as-lifecartoon
cartoonas realreal-life
characters
onon
stage
atat
CBGB
charactersthe
themoment
momentthey
theystepped
steppedstage
CBGBaacouple
coupleof
ofyears
years
back andand realised they outnumberedoutnumbered their
theiraudience.
audience.The
TheRamones
Ramones have
have
confoundedthe
thesceptics
scepticsby
by demonstrating
thatthey
theyarearefarfar fromfrom being aa
confounded
demonstrating that
one-off ephemeral
ephemeral phenomenon.
phenomenon.
Dee plays
playsbass.
bass.Arehabilitated-doper, he confesses
confesses thatthat heDee DeeA rehabilitatedex
ex-doper,heusedinaagluegluebag.
bag.That’s
That'shim
himsquatting
squatting barefootbarefoot onon thethe floor
floor
used toto live inremarking
Joey'sdenims
denims get much
much bigger
biggerremarkingthat
thatifif thetherips
rips inin thethe knees
knees of Joey’s
he'll
wearing Bermuda
he’ll be wearing
Bermudashorts.
shorts.Joey's
Joey’s thethe talltall gangling
gangling one.
one. He wasneighbourhood outcast
the neighbourhood
until thethe rest of thethebandband
until
befriended him. No cartoonist
cartoonist
befriended
ever dreamt
dreamt up such an original
character. Joeysings. He’s
He's also
alsocharacter.
Joey sings.
very
very shy.
shy.
who just
just took the
The guy
guywhothephone off thethe hookphone
hook is Johnny.
talks very fast,
fast, plays
plays buzz
buzz
He talks
guitarthinksaa lot.
guitar andand thinks
Tommy plays drums.
drums. He
tough. Probably
Prob ablyfights
acts tough.
fights
He's reclining
reclining on thethe bedbed
dirty. He’s
tucking his dime-store
dime -store shades
shadestuckingtangled hair. They
into his tangled
remindmeof
ofthe
theBBowery
remind me
owery Boys!
Tommy speaks
speaks first.
first.
"Ya
know... a lotta
lotta people
people“Ya know…
didn’tdidn't even think
think we could put
put
first album.”
album."
out a firstHis tonetone was cynical.
cynical. “They"They
said, ‘These
guys areare great
greatlive,
live,'These guys
but cancan theyagain?' We
butthey dodo it again?’
But IIguess
guessthey’ll
they'llprobably
probably
have. But
always say thatus!
that about
about us!
Joeynods
Joey nods silently
silently inagreement. Tommy argues
arguesagreement.
that just because
because the Ramones’
Ramones'thathumorous,
there
music
is
humorous,
there
are
The
in1977:1977:
The Ramones
Ramones inthose who refuse
refuse to take the
those(I-r)DeeDee,Joey,(l–r)
Dee Dee, Joey,
TommyandJohnny
Tommy
and Johnnygroup
group seriously.

“We"We missed
missedthe spirit of
the '60s’60s –- thatthegood-time
feeling"feeling”

WITHOUTGOINGINTO
INTOboringboringdetail,detail,thethe roots
roots ofof thethe
ITHOUT GOING
Ramones areare to be foundRamones
found amongst
amongst thethe remnants
remnants ofinnumerable
bands, but
innumerableaborted
abortedhighhighschool
school garage
garage bands,
according to
the Ramones bandedbanded together
different
according
to Johnny, thetogetherfor
for a different
reasonwith.
reason from those
those groups they’dthey'd been
been associatedassociated with.
"We'd been
been friends
friends for about
about 10 years
years or so,
so,andand wewewerewerejust
justgetting
getting“We’dbored withcouldn't takeany longer.”longer."bored
with music.
music.We
We just couldn’t
takeitit any“We"Weallallseemed
seemed totomissmiss thethe spirit
spirit ofofthe
the’60s,”'60s,"interjects
interjects Tommy
Tommy fromfrom thethebed. “All"Allthatthat good-time
good-time feeling has
has gone. Rock got
gottootooprogressive,progressive,which
which
bed.
fine ififyou
youlikelikethatthatkinda
kindathing,
thing, but
but wewefeltfeltthere
therewaswasaadesperate
desperate needneed
is finefor therock fefeel
the great
great rockelof
ofbands
bands like
likeThe
TheKinks
Kinksandand thethe Stones.”
Stones."continues. "Where
there's a great
great guitarist
guitarist on
Tommy continues.
“Where we come from, there’songuessit’s
it'sthethesamesame ininevery
everyneighbourhood,neighbourhood, likeevery block. IIguess
like you'll
you’llalways find
find a good
good tenor
tenor sax
s axplayer
playerininevery
everybig
bigapartment
apartmentbuilding.
building. So
it's nono bigbigdealdealany
anymore.
it’s
more.
"When Eric Clapton
Clapton came
came along
great, but now there’s
there's a million
million“Whenalong it was great,kids playing Clapton guitar
quite asasguitar licks. Maybe
Maybe they’re
they're not playing them
them quite
they're playing
same. Everything
Everything became
good, but they’replaying 'em’em just the same.
becametootooslick.
slick.
excitement had
The excitement
hadgone.
gone.There
Therewere
were nono poppop songs."
songs.”“So"So wewewrotewrote some
some songs
songs we
we wanted
wanted to hear,”hear," says Johnny. “The"The only
reason thatthat thecame into existence was simply
simplybecause
reasonthe Ramones
Ramones came
becauseAmerican-energy. I'm
Americanradio
radiohas
hasbecomebecomeso
solow
low-energy.
I’m certain
certain'You‘You Really Got
Me’
Diddy’ wouldn’t
on thethe radio
radio if they
Me' oror ‘Do'DoWahWahDiddy
DiddyDiddy'
wouldn't stand
stand a chancechance on
had come
instead of-'60s.
hadcome out
out now
now insteadof thethe mid
mid-’60s.
"Atleast
leastEngland
Englandmanaged
managed to move into thethe ’70s'70s with singles
singles bands
bands like
“At
like
T Rex
in America."
America.”
RexandandSlade,
Slade,butbutmostmostofoftheir
theirrecords
records didn’t
didn't get airplay
airplay inhas been
been forthcoming,
forthcoming, theThough press coverage has
the Ramones
Ramones have
have
restricted airplay.
received restricted“We’re"We're working
working onon thatthat one,”
one," admits
admits Tommy.
that theena IsIsA
Punk Rocker”,
Rocker",Could be that
theRamones'
Ramones’new
newsurf
surfsingle,
single,"She“Sheena
A Punkresolve any imbalance.
imb alance. If ititdoesn’t
doesn't then
then wemight allpack upwill resolve
we might
all asas well packandbuzz-saw bband
plays at 78rpm
and go home.
home. Any
Anybuzz-saw
and thatthat persistently
persistently plays
78rpm must
musthead start
start over
the rest
the pack.
pack. That’s,
That's, of course,
course, unlessunless they
they
have a headover therest of therun out
energy.
run
outof energy.
“Wewear out
out audiences
beforewewe wearwear out"Weusuallyusuallywear
audiences beforeout ourselves,”
ourselves," insists
insists
Ramone Johnny.
RamoneJohnny.
"Andwe’re
we'regetting
getting fasterfaster every
every day.
day.WeWelistenlistentotoour
oursecondsecondalbum,
album,and
and“And
that’sfaster thanthanour
ourfirst,
first, andand eveneven thatsoundsreal
realslow. Our
that's fasterthat sounds
Our normal
normal set
consists of 17
17songs
songsandand takes
takes 30
30minutes
minutes to perform.
perform. A
month ago, thetheconsists
A monthsame setlasted 37 minutes.
minutes.
same
set lasted“Whenweek,” he reveals, “we"When we played
played Seattle
Seattle thethe otherother week,""we knocked
knocked upup
17songs,
songs,tooktookaafive-minutefive-minutebreak,break,came
came backback,, played another
another 1417
14 songs,
couple of encores,
encores, andand we still
still hadn’t
hadn't been
been onhour. The only
a coupleon stagestage for an hour.
troubleis, it tends
to makeus feel faint!”
trouble is,tends tomake usfaint!" RoyCanRoy Carr •W

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK19
HISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 | 19

roberta bayley / getty

A“We
Tommy, “but"Weain’t
ain't geniuses,”
geniuses," brags
brags Tommy,"but we sure
sure
ain't dumb.
dumb.AA dumb
dumb person
ain’t
person couldn't
couldn’twrite
write out
out lyrics.
We just tell it likelikeititis.
is.And,inaawaythat most
most kids
And, inway thatkids
can understand.”
understand."
Gabb a-Gabb a -Hey!
Gabba-Gabba-Hey!
Perhaps, II proffer,proffer, any
any schmucks chmuck smear
smear isPerhaps,justbacklash from those
those people
people whose
just a backlash
musicalsophisticated?
musical tastes
tastes have become too sophisticated?
The remark doesn’t
doesn't register
registerwith
withanyone
anyonein
in
the
room.
the room.
draw pictures.
pictures. I getgetaaminimal
minimal response.
response.
I draw"They callcallusads," says
"they
“They
usshitheshitheads,”
says Tommy, “theycallguesswe
we really
really get to them.”
call usus assholes…
assholes... II guessthem."
A cruelcruel smile
smile decorates
decorates themouth.
theedgeedgeof his mouth.
"Theyjust
don't understandunderstand what
“They
just don’t
whatrock'n'roll
rock’n’rollis
really all about!”
reallyabout!"A product
product ofoftrashtrash culture,
culture, the Ramones soakupinspiration fromup inspiration
frommovies,
movies,comic
comicbooks,
books,TVTV
andand every other
other form
form ofofinstantinstant mass
mass media,
media,
like bread
bread soaks up
up gravy.
gravy.This
Thisparticularparticularafternoon, theyinspired.
afternoon,
they get inspired.
To
by a news item on TV
Toaaman,man,they’re
they're intrigued
intrigued by
TVabout
aboutsomeone
someone20dogsdogsandandcats
catswhowhodieddiedininananapartment
apartmentand
andhashasbeenbeen
with over 20
devoured by his/her
his/her pets.
pathologist, says
the newscaster,
newscaster, hasdevoured
pets.The
The pathologist,says thehas yetthe skeleton.
skeleton.
to sex the"I think,”
think," jests
jests Johnny,
Johnny, “we’ll"we'll probably
probablywrite“Iwriteaasong
song about
aboutthat.
that.Anyway,
Anyway,rock'n'roll should
don't have
have to go out
out ononstagestageandandrock’n’roll
shouldbe
beaa funfunthing.
thing.You
You don’t
atthe
the crowd,
crowd, ‘Ya`Yawannawannaboogie!
boogie!Ya
Yawannarock'n'roll?Y'all
high?'"
yell atwanna rock’n’roll?
Y’all high?’”

1977
1977

h
Ja n u a-OH
r y – M ar c

JA NumThe
TheSEXSEXPISTOLSPISTOLSenter
enter,

Europe.
Europe.Behind
Behindthem:
them:BillBill

li

itt6

Grundy,tabloid
tabloidoutrage
outrageandandGrundy,disputewith
withtheir
theirlabel,label,a adispute
EMI.
EMI.Ahead:
Ahead:ananunimpressed
unimpressed
Dutchcrowd
crowdandandsomesomelonglong
Dutch
negotiations."We“Wejustjustacted
acted CC
negotiations.
ournatural
naturalselves,"
selves,”saysPaul
Paul
our
says
Cook."It“Itjust
justbeats
beatsme."
me.”
Cook.

.

-

“The
more
moremaddermadderthebetter"better”
the

116

DURK°

14

alamy

TheSexPistolsin
The Sex Pistols inearly1977:(I-r)Paul
early 1977: (l–r) Paul
Cook,G
Matlock,
Cook,len
Glen
Matlock,
SteveJonesand
Steve Jones andJohnnyRottenJohnnyRottenOF ROCK
19771977| HISTORY
OF ROCK20 20
I HISTORYt»HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 21

1977
1977

JJANUARY-MARCH
a n u a r y – M a r ch
"Right,youfuckers,“Right,you fuckers,
we're gonna
gonna do one
we’remore”:
more": Rotten,
Rotten, atthe behest
behestoftheofhis
manager, cues
cuesupmanager,up
anotherencore
another
encorePaul
Cook: Youdone
Club
Paul Cook:done thethe oneone atat thethe ’Undred'Undred Clubthat time,
that
time, didn't
didn’tya?
ya?
NME :Yeah,long time
time ago.
Nme:Yeah, aalong,
long, long
Glen matlock:
Matlock: Was you
you thethe bloke
blokethatthat waswas gonna
gonna"split down thethe middle”?
middle"?
“split
NME:No,No,thethemainmainthing
thing i’ve
I'vewritten
written about
about youNme:
was inin thethe stranglers
Stranglers piece, actually…
actually...
Luring ’em'em into
intosaying
sayingnaughty
naughty things.
things.
Cook: Luring[Hugh CornwellCornwell had
had called
called Rotten
Rotten “a"aparanoid
paranoid[Hughclown”.]
clown".]
NME:Peoplewere
Nme:
People weresaying
sayingat
atthe
thetimetimewhatwhataa badbaddeal it was
was forforthethePistols,
Pistols,runningrunning into all this
this
deal
trouble,anditit seemed
seemedto
to me
me if anythingtrouble, andanything it was
helping you, because
because you
youweregetting all these
these
helping
were getting
front pages.
pages. iI mean,
mean, you’re
you're aahouseholdhousehold name
name
front
now. But
But iImust
mustadmit
admit ititseems
seems totohavehavechanged
changedsomewhat since then.
then.
somewhat
Matlock: Backfired?
some ways, yeah.
yeah. It’s
It's allallmatlock:
Backfired? In
In somepart
isn’t it, allpart of it, though,though, isn't
all thethe madmad hassle.
hassle. The
madder thethe better.
better.
more madder
NME :I
don'tknow
knowhowhowyouyoustandstandthethepressurepressureNme:
i don’tof it,
it,though.
though.
Cook: We’re
We're used
used to it already.
already. I just
just think
think it’s
it's
Cook:
bollocks. I don’t
don't know
know why they
they alla load of bollocks.
write about
about it.
write
Matlock: You
don't believe
believe it till
till you’ve
you've been
been thethematlock:
You don’t
other side
really.
othersideofof itit really.
Cook: Like that
I’m notthat thing
thing at thethe airport.
airport. I'm
notkidding, straight
couldn't believewhenkidding,
straightup,
up,we
we couldn’t
believeitit when
gotover
overhere.
here.Someone
Someonephoned
phoned up,
up, said
said this
this
we gotthatand the– wejust
justcouldn't
couldn’tbelieve
believe it.
that andthe otherother-weThere was a press
press bloke waiting,waiting, I suppose;
suppose; justTherewaiting at
the airport
airport foren.
waiting
at thefor something
somethingto
to'app’appen.
We justselves. It just beatsjustacted
acted our
our natural
natural selves.
beats me.
NME:Wasn’t
Wasn'tthere
thereanything
anything at all?
Nme:
Cook: Nothing.
Cook:
Nothing.Really.
Really.The
TheblokeblokefromfromEMIEMI waswaswith
us all the time.
with ustime. He would have said if
iftherethere
but hehe didn’t.
didn't.
was, but
NME :i’ve
I'veheard
heardyou’re
you'regonna
gonna refuse
refuse to let
let them
them
Nme:
[emi]
[EMI]break
breakthethecontract.
contract.
Cook:
Come on, we’re
we're notnot just
just gonna
gonna let ’em'em
Cook: Comemarsay, “Get"Get off
offthethe label,label, dodo this,this, dodo that.”that."In ThtNme: Youjust goNME:
Youwouldn’t
wouldn'trather
rather just
111A
somewhere
somewhereelse?
else?
1.7
Cook: That’s
That's thethe point,
point, innit?
innit? We're
We’rejust letting
Malcolm sort
sort it out.
just
letting Malcolm
out.
Matlock:A
contract's a contract.
contract.
matlock: A contract’s
Ifyou
contract,right,
andIf you sign aacontract,right,
andUga recanu
MEM LE.
six months
months later
ayyou
later they
they ssay
you gotta
tear
up...
tear it up…
Cook:they do it with
with us, what
what
Cook: If they
chancehave
have other
other bands
bandsgot?
got?
chanceNME:
ButiIwould
wouldhave
havethought
thoughtthat
that
Nme: But
workingwith a company
companythat
working withthatwaswasso
soagainstyou,
you, you'd
you’d rather
justgetget out.
out.
againstrather just
Cook: Yeah, but
but it’s
it'sthethe people
people at
at thethe top
top who
who areare against
against us.
people in
Cook:us. TheThe people
inthe record
record company,guys who
who work
workononthetheshopshopfloor,
floor,they’re
they'rethecompany,like
like theA&R
the A&R guys
behindtheband,band,andandthey've
they’vegot
gotabsolutely
absolutelyno
nossayJohn Reads
behind theay in it. It’s
It'syer
yerJohn
Reads
EMI,not
notjustjustthetherecord
recordcompany.
company.
–-he'she’sthetheguyguythat's
that’sinincharge
chargeofofall
all of EMI,
Matlock: He doesn’t
doesn't normallynormally interfere.
interfere.
matlock:Nme:interview? it
NME:What
Whathappened
happenedbefore
beforethetheGrundy
Grundyinterview?
It seemed
seemed at
at thethetime like you
youwerewerejust
justsitting
sittingthere
thereright,here’s
here'sour
ouropportunity,
opportunity,time– right,
we're gonna
gonna get onon thethe boxboxand…
and...
we’rematlock:
Matlock: Swear!
NME:Create
Create havoc.
havoc.
Nme:
Matlock: No,
just went
went there
there andbit andand hadhad a beer
matlock:
No, we justandsatsatin
inaa room
roomforfor a biteach, andwe justand he asked
asked usus aafew
fewquestions
questions–-wejustanswered
answered them.
them. That
That waswas
Wenevernever even
even spoke
spoke toto thethe guy before
b eforeit.
it.He
Hewas
wasjust,just,like,
like,sitting
sittingthere,
there,
it. Wey'know-hekinda pissed.
pissed.
y’know– helooked
lookedaabit
bit kinda
Cook: IIthink– Johnsaid
said"Shit"“Shit”
think hehe incited
incited (obscured),(obscured), butbutheheaskedaskedJohn
John-John
under his
hehe
said,
"WHAT
He said,
said, “Nothing,"Nothing,
underhisbreathbreath –and
and
said,
“WHATWAS
WASTHAT?"
THAT?” Henothing." Hesaid, “Come"Come on, come on, IIwanna
wanna hear
hear it",y'know. What
Whatno, nothing.”
He said,it”, y’know.
does
does he expect?
_

-—
NME
15—
_
NMEJANUARYJANUARY 15
AMSTERDAM'S
PARADISOisISmuch
muchbigger
biggerthanthanmsterdam’s Paradiso
I'd imagined
imagined itit to be –- at least twice
twice thethe sizetheI’dsize of theMarquee, for instance,
instance, with
Marquee,with thethe ambienceambienceofof a muchfriendlier
Roundhouse,aa balcony,
balcony, two quirky bars,
friendlier Roundhouse,and pinball,stage withwithpool andpinball,aa highhigh (five-foot) stage
stained-glass windows
stained-glass
windows behind,behind,andandhardly
hardlyany
anysignsignscene forfor whichit’s famous.
of thethe public
public dope
dope scene
which it's
famous.
Twoblack
blackguys
guysmorosely
moroselyattemptattempt totosellsellcocaine
cocaineoutside
outside as
asGuardian
GuardianTworockwriterens elow andand I shuffle
shuffle in just
just inin timetime for The
The Vibrators’
Vibrators'
rock writerRobin
RobinDDenselow
opening number.
opening
number.
most of thethe audience,
audience, "No
their first
EnglishFor most“No Fun"Fun” is theirfirst taste
tasteofof live English
punk
and there
there could
start: tongue-intongue-inpunk rock, andcould hardlybe
hardly beaabetter
betterway
way to start:
guitars andand grotesquegrotesque flash. They’recheek nihilism,
nihilism, stampeding
stampeding guitars
They'reamused,quite aagood
goodreception.
reception. The Vibrators’
Vibrators'
amused,seem
seemtotoenjoy
enjoyit,
it, give it quite
set
reviewed in
The Town.
set is reviewed
in fullfull inin On
On TheBackstage, The Heartbreakers
andSexSex Pistols wander
in as The
Heartbreakers andwander in
The
Vibrators wander
wander out. After
Afteraawhile
there's aacompletely
completelydifferent
different
while there’s
population-box dressing
and setpopulationin
inthe
theconcrete
concrete-box
dressingroom,
room,and
andIIsidle
sidle over andup
the tapetape machinemachine next
drummer Paul
up thenexttoto Pistols drummer
PaulCook.
Cook.

Michael Ochs archives / gettya

HISTORY OF
22 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
22

sex
SEX pistols
PISTOLS

Nme: there’s
rumour going
NME:
There'salso
alsoatatthe
themoment
momenta rather
arathernasty
nastyrumour
goingaroundaroundthat
didn't play on thethe record.
record.
thatyou
you didn’t

Cook:'eard thatthat too.
goton
onto
tothemthem straightstraight away
letterCook: We ’eard
too. We got
away andandgotgot a letterof written
written apology.
'eard ititon
onthetheradio,radio,couldn’t
couldn't believe thatthat one
apology. We ’eardoneeither.
seems totally
totallywrong
either. It seems
wrongtotogo...
go…(obscured)(obscured)
NME:
Oneof
ofthe
therumours
rumours isisthatthat spedding
Spedding was on thethe record.
record.
Nme: onecan’tplay
play as good as
Cook: Spedding
Spedding can't
as thatthat (laughs).
(laughs).
NME:
Youdiddidsomesomework
workwithwithspedding,
Spedding,though,though, didn’t
didn't you?
Nme: Youyou?
Cook:
Three tracks.A
d in,
Cook: Three
tracks. Along
longtimetimeago,ago,though.
though.We
Wereally
reallyrushe
rushedin,butbutwe
wecome out
out of it all
on 'em.
’em. It was all
come
all right.
right. He
Heproduced
produced on
all right.
right.
NME:
Butthethesingle
singleisiscategorically
categoricallyyou
Nme: But
you lot?
Cook:
Cook: Sorry?
Nme: theyou lot?
NME:
Thesingle’s
single'sdefinitely
definitelyyou
Cook:yeah, yeah.
yeah. Whatquestion! (Laughs)
Cook: Oh yeah,
What aa question!
(Laughs)HowHow cancanyouyou believe
believeit?
it?
NME:
don't believe.
believe. iIgotta
gotta ask
ask it,it, haven’t
haven't i?
I?
Nme: iIdon’t
Cook: Yeah, OK.
Cook:
OK.We
We’eard'eardititon
onCapital
CapitalRadio;
Radio;wewejustjustcouldn’t
couldn't believe
believe it.
NME:
How'sthetheaudienceaudience here
here taking
taking you?
Nme: How’s
you?
Cook:
all right.
right. They
Theywasgetting goingnight.
Cook: Oh all
was getting
going last
last night.
Nme: they
seemed toto like the
NME:
Theyseemed
The Vibrators.
Vibrators.
Cook:Allthe bands
bands went
allywellnight.
Cook: All thewent down
downrereallywell last night.
NME:
Whatareareyour
yourfavourite
favouritebands
bands out
out ofofthetheotherotherbands
bands that
that
Nme: What
are around?
Cook:
These boys.
Cook: These
NME:
TheHeartbreakers?
Heartbreakers? Whatreckon to
Vibrators?
Nme: theWhatdodo youyou reckon
to Thethe Vibrators?
Cook: Ah,Ah,you’re
you'retrying
trying to
toput
putme
mein
inthatthattrap
trapagain
again what
what thethe Stranglers
Stranglers
fell
fell for.
NME:
Theydidn't
for anything.
anything. They'ddecided to give that
that
Nme: they
didn’t fall for
they’d decided
interview beforeIi walked
walked in theinterviewbefore
the room.
room.
Cook: How other
other bands
bands cancan just
out andand saysayjust go out
thingsthink anyb
and that’s
that's about atthings about...
about…II think
any bandthe moment,
moment,trying
tryingto
to do
do something
new, givethesomething new,'em
whether you'em or not.
’em credit
creditfor
for it whether
you like
like ’em
Don'tout andand slag'em off, whether
whether you
Don’t just
just go out
slag ’em
youlike ’em'em oror not.
not. IIthink
think it’s
it'sgood
goodthatthat they’re
they're just
doingthat it’s
it's something
something new.
doing it, that
new.
Jones:
Who's this?
this?
Jones: (From(From across room) Who’s
Cook: He's
He’s fromfrom thetheNME.
NME.
Cook:
Jones:
What's your name?
name?
Jones: What’s
NME:
Phil mcNeill.
McNeill.
Nme: Phil
Jones:(Aggressively)(Aggressively) Oh, areyou?
Jones:
are you?
Cook:they've been
Cook: No, they’ve
beengood
goodtotous
us lately.
lately.
NME:
We'vebeen
been good
good totoyou
youallallalong.
along. What’s
What'sNme: We’ve
all this about spitting at thethe audience?
audience?
Cook:
don't. You
Youbeenbeen reading
reading
Cook: We don’t.
too
too much
muchDaily
DailyMirror.
Mirror.
Nme: Well,
NME:
Well,ininthe
thewakewakeofofreports
reportsof John
John spitting
spitting at
at thethe audience,
audience,somebands have started
started doingsome bands
doing it.
Cook: We readpress too,
too,
Cook:
read thatthat inin thethe pressandand suddenlywe
suddenly wewere
were playing andeveryonestarted spitting
everyone started
spittingat
atus.
us.
That’s what
That'swhat they thought
thought wewanted,wanted,y'know.
y’know.Gobbing
Gobbingat
at us.
us.
In Manchester
Manchester or somewhere.
somewhere.
Nme: What’s
NME:
What'syour
yourreaction
reaction toseeingpeople withsafety pins
pins
seeing people
with safety
thoughthough their
their cheeks?
Cook: I’ve
too, yeah.
Cook:I've seen
seen thatthat too,
yeah.
NME:
It seems
seems like it’s
it's aNme: itdevelopment
wearingdevelopmentof John wearing
safetypins
through his shirt.
shirt.
safety pins throughCook: Let
Let’em'emdo
dowhatwhatthey
theywannawanna
do, that’s
that's what
Who cares?
cares?
whatII say. Who
Nme: and what about
NME:Andwhat
about the great
Nazi thing
thing that’s
that's going aroundaroundnow? You
Yougotgotaalottakids
cominglotta kids coming
to your gigs these
these days
dayswearing
wearingNazi emblems
emblems andand safety
safetypins
pins
throughthroughtheir
theirfaces
facesand
andGodGod knows
knows
March2,1977:PaulMarch
2, 1977: Paul
CookandSteveJones
Cook
and Steve Jones
what else.
whatintheaudienceforinthe audience for
Cook:take it too seriously, they
they
Cook: They take
TheHeartbreakersat
The
Heartbreakers at
really do. If
Iftheytheywanna
theRoxyin
7
wannawear
wear aa Nazithe
Roxy in London's
London’s
CoventGardenarmband,letlet'em.
’em. I don’tarmband,
don't think
think kidsarepolitical,rereallymeanwhat
whatthey
theydo.
do.They
Theylike
likethetheshape
shapeofofit.
it.
are thatthat political,
allymeanIt's aa good
good shape.
shape.
It’s
NME:What
Whatabout
about thethe Pistols?
Pistols? What’s
What's your
your politics?
politics?
Nme:
Cook: Do what
what youyouwannawanna do.
do.That’s
That's what
what we’re
we'redoing,
doing,andand getting
getting
turned downturneddownforfordoing
doingit.
it.Do
Doyou
you wanna
wannatalktalktotoJohn
Johnforforaa while?
while? (Rotten(Rottenstanding nearby,
tugshishisarm)arm) John.
John. John!
John! Here,
Here, this
thisis standing
nearby, backback to us; Cook tugs
Phil...
is Phil…
Rotten: No
rotten:
Noway.
way.
He's from…
from...
Cook: He’srotten:(Obscured, shruggingCook
shrugging Cook off)
off )Rotten: (Obscured,
Cook: (Slightly put
put out)out) All
Allright.
right.He
Hedon’t
don't wanna
wanna doCook:
do it.

THE
HEARTBREAKERS'set
SETflashes
flashesby.
by.It’sIt'sbeen
beensaid
said here
here
He HeartBreakers’
already-–thethough -– thealready
theDolls,
Dolls,aa heaviedheavied Ramones,
Ramones,notnot soso fast, thoughthereception's comparatively quiet but thethe friendly
friendlyatmosphere
atmospherereception’s
combined
withthetheblazing
blazingrockrock onstage...
onstage…it's
it’saa helluva
helluva gig.
combined withinterview The
The Vibrators
Vibratorsin
inthe
theParadiso
Paradiso office.
office.They’re
They'reeuphoric
euphoric
I interview
because theAmsterdam's other
other main
the Melkweg, who
whobecausethe guy from Amsterdam’s
mainclub,club, theblew out
out thethe gigs
gigshe’dhe'dbooked
bookedfor
forTheTheVibrators
Vibratorswhen
whenthetheGrundy/Pistols
Grundy/Pistols
thing erupted,
thing
erupted,came
camedown
downlast
lastnightnightandandhashasbooked
bookedthem
themininfor
for twodays' time.
days’
roomasas "Anarchy“Anarchy In
In TheThe UK"UK” lams
A charge
charge shivers
shivers thethe roomlams out in thethebackground; Malcolm
arrives andand huddles
huddles heatedly
heatedlywith
background;
Malcolm McLaren arrives
with The
Vibrators'
Vibrators’ manager.
manager.Bread.
Bread.
will
A few
fewsongs
songsinto
intothethe Pistols’
Pistols' set
set wewewindwind down
down thethe interview;interview; itit willappear here
ck the naughty
naughty bboys…
oys...
appearheresometime
sometimesoon.
soon.But
Butlet's
let’sgogoche
checkJohnny Rotten Show isiswellwellunder
underway.
Longtimetime nonosee.
see.Not
Notmuchmuch
The Johnnyway. Long
sign ofsound’softhe
thevastvastimprovements
improvements in playing we’ve
we've heard
heard about:
about: thethe sound's
much
but thethemuch clearer
clearer than
thanthetheearly
early days,
days, butmusicstill primitive.
primitive. Without
Without Rotten they’re
they'remusic is still
good,hefty
heftydrummer,
drummer, anan ordinary
ordinarybbassist
as sistaa good,
and a mediocre
mediocre guitarist.
guitarist.
and"Substitute" and“Substitute”
andothers
othersgo
goby.
by.The
The crowd
crowd areareup for thebutup
the first
firsttime,
time,standing
standing fascinatedfascinated but
diffident. Rotten
Rotten goes throughthrough his
diffident.
his ostrich
ostrich-poses,
the chinchin jutting,jutting, the mouth
mouth leering, theposes, the
eyes
to be
eyes rolling.
rolling. They’re
They're playing
playing what
what seems
seems to"No Future”.
Future". ItItboasts
boasts thethe title
title line
line fromfrom thethe“No
NationalAnthem.
National Anthem.
There’s
There's a long break,break, with
with a lot ofofauralaural and
andvisual aggro between
between the punterspunters andand thetheRotten/Matlock
then they
resume theRotten/Matlock duo,
duo, thenthey resume
the
song,
song, very loud.
loud. It’s
It's sloppy,
sloppy,andand ititreaps
reaps silence.
silence.
A green-haired
gre en -hairedlady
ladyisissitting
sittingunder
underChristmas tree
a Christmas
treestuck
stuckonon thethe wallwallbehindthedrums,
drums,and
andas
astheytheygogo intointo
behind the"(We're sosopretty,
pretty,ohohso)so)Pretty
PrettyVacant"“(We’reVacant”
occurs tovacantly, thatit occurs
to me, vacantly,
thatitit looks
looks
like she’s
she's wearing
wearing some
some gigantic
gigantic hat.
The
are playing
playing tighter,
The Pistols
Pistols aretighter,but it’s
it's still
still mighty
mightybasic.
but
basic.Jones
Jones
compensatesfor hishis limitedcompensates forlimited skill
with a fair line in one-noteone -note breaks.
breaks.
withJohnnyperplexing
Johnny Rotten
Rotten is a perplexing
performer. He has
hasan
anextraordinary
extraordinary
enrage his
his audience.
audience.
ability to enrage
At thethe most
most basic
basic level it’s
it's his
his insults
insultsandand his bad behaviour,
behaviour, but
but Rotten has
something deeper.
something
deeper.ItItgoes
goes deeper,
deeper, too,
too,than histhan
his contempt
contemptfor
for societysociety in songs
like
LazySoSod”.
itlike “I’m"I'mAALazyd". AndAnd surely
surely it
beyond his looks, his
hisfleabitten,
fleabitten,
goes beyond
hunchbacked cadaver.
hunchbacked
Somehow this
this guy
guy repels
repelsvirtually
virtually
power
everybody, and somehow his power
through thetaunts to thereaches throughthe taunts
sensibilities
sensibilities of thousands,
thousands, maybe
maybe
even millions,millions, of people
people who
have
even
who have
everheard
heard his
his namename andand seen
seen
only ever
picture.
his picture.
Yetheheisismesmerising.
mesmerising. He can’t
can't bebeignored. He's
some hooligan
hooliganignored.
He’s not just somewho
who swore
swore onon TV,
TV,hehedrags
dragsthethemostmost »ÈT

HISTORY OF
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 | 23
23

erica echenberg / getty“We’re"We're not just
gonna
’em
gonna let 'em
say, ‘Get'Get offthe label,label, dothethis, do that’”
that"

1977
1977

J a n u a r y – M a r ch

JANUARY-MARCH

point
these
false
encores
eludesme,
unlessSex Pistols
casualobserverinto,
usually,a love-hate relationship;
probably
thethemost
TheThepoint
of ofallallthese
false
encores
eludesme,
unlessthetheSexPistols
arearecasualobserverinto,
usually,a love-hate
relationship;
probably
mostcharismatic
rockrockstarstarto emerge
sinceBowie.
actuallyunliberate d enoughto getan anegoego-boost-boost outout
of of
such
conventional
actuallyunliberated
enoughto getsuch
conventional
charismatic
to emerge
sinceBowie.
Suddenlya couple
of of
kids
at at
thethe
front
who
have
been
hitting
Rottentrappings
of success.
trappings
of success.
Suddenlya couple
kids
front
who
have
been
hitting
RottenTheirmusic
is lumpen,
spectacle
is marvellous.
That
with
woollenscarvesstart
throwing
beer.
Notglasses,justbeer-but
Their
music
is lumpen,
butbutthethespectacle
is marvellous.
Thatlastlast
withwoollenscarvesstart
throwing
beer.
Notglasses,justbeer – but
forforthislaid-backmob
it'sit’sthetheequivalent.
While
Rottenstandsthere,
sentence
could
easilybecoincidently,
to shows
I'veI’veseen
in in
thethesentence
could
easily applied,
be applied,coincidently,
to showsseen
thislaid-backmob
equivalent.
While
Rottenstandsthere,
Cook
eruptsfromhishisstool
andandhe heandandthethegirlgirl
chuck
beer
back,
Matlock
past
years
byby
Queen
and
thetheStoneslikelike
those
bands
today,
thethe
past
years
Queen
and
Stonesand
– and
those
bands
today,
Cook
erupts
from
stool
chuck
beer
back,
Matlock
Pistols’
main
success
is showin showbusiness.
kicks
mic
stand
very
nastily
stage,
andrhythmsectionkicks
hishis
mic
stand
very
nastily
offoffthethestage,
andthetherhythmsectionPistols'main
success
is inbusiness.
stormsoff,off,
Jones
still
rifling,
andandRottensends
thethegirlgirl
to getthetheothersstormsJones
stillrifling,
Rottensends
to getothersback.
They
eventually
returnfor forthetheonly
reallyfurious
piece
of of
music
ALCOLM
HAS
AGREEDeak totoRobin
Denselow
and
meme
back.
They
eventually
returnonly
reallyfuriouspiece
music
alcolmhas
agreedtotospspeak
Robin
Denselow
and
they
play
night.
at hishotel.
How
they
play
allallnight.
at hishotel.
How
thethehellhell
do dowewe
findfind
it? it?
Meanwhile
Malcolm
McLarenstandsimpassive
upon
thethemixingdesk
WeWe
wanderoffoffin inpursuitof ofthethebeleagueredmadscientist.
Meanwhile
Malcolm
McLarenstandsimpassiveupon
mixingdesk
wanderpursuitbeleagueredmadscientist.
riser,
hishisthree-piece -suited solicitor
behindhim
It sIt’s
freezing
andandI haven't
eaten
all day.
WeWe
walkforformiles.
AsAs
wewe
near
ourourriser,
three-piece-suited
solicitor
behindhim
freezing
I haven’t
eaten
all day.
walkmiles.
near
The
show
reallybegins
about
now.
got
nothingwithmusic,
destination,
Steve
Jones
runs
past,
bums
guilders
virtuallyThe
show
reallyb eginsabout
now.
It'sIt’s
gotnothing
to to
dodo
with
music,
butbut destination,
Steve
Jones
runs
past,
bums
fivefiveguilders
offoffmeme
virtually
in in
so so
what?
It'sIt’s
Entertainment.
TheTheband
haveleftleftthethestageall– but
Rotten,forforshowing
usus
where
he's
staying,muchtotomybemusement...
what?
Entertainment.
band
have
stage
all but
Rotten, return
returnshowing
where
he’s
staying,much
my bemusement…
whosneers,"If “If
youyouwant
moreyouyoucancanclap
forforit."it.”Feebleapplause.
TheTheFinallywe're
there.
whosneers,
want
more
clap
Feebleapplause.
Finally we’re
there.
disco
starts,start
shufflingAndbehold,McLarenappears.
some
reasoncan’t
go in,
so we
disco
starts,andandfeetfeetstart
shufflingout.out.
Andbehold,McLarenappears.
ForForsome
reasonwe wecan't
go in,
so we
ButButa chant
is generating.
Yes...
yes...
thethePistols
arearecomingback.
conduct
thetheinterview
standing
on aonhotel
step
by by
a canal
at at
three
in in
a chant
is generating.
Yes…
yes…
Pistolscomingback.
conduct
interview
standing
a hotelstep
a canalthree"Whatcha
Gonna
DoDo
'Bout
It",It”,
nihilismincarnate.
thethemorning.
McLaren
looks
even
more
wastedthanI feel,talking“Whatcha
Gonna
’Bout
nihilismincarnate.
morning.
McLaren
looks
even
more
wastedthanI feel,talking
They
don’t“You’reboring,”dronesRotten.
This
weird
unstoppably likea manpossessed,
staring
space.
There
could
They
endendbutbutdon'tgo.go.
"You'reboring,"dronesRotten.
This
weird
unstoppablylike
a manpossessed,
staring
intointo
space.
There
could
be be
challenge
to theaudience
to respond.
I lookround
at atMcLarenseesee
2,000
of of
usus
listening.
challenge
to theaudience
to respond.
I lookround
McLarenand
– and
2,000
listening.
thatthathe hehishisstanding
there
gesticulatingto Rotten,
thetheupsweptarms
of of"We've
had
word
that
most
of of
thethemajors
won't
touch
us us
with
bargepoles."standing
there
gesticulatingto Rotten,
upsweptarms“We’ve
had
word
that
most
majors
won’t
touch
with
bargepoles.”“Get
Up”
movement
andhands
clapping
overhead…
RottenYouhaven’toffersfrompeoplePolydor,UA?
thethe"Get
Up"movement
andthethehands
clapping
overhead...
andandRottenis is You
haven'thadhadoffersfrompeoplelikelike
Polydor,UA?
mimicking
McLaren.
This
show
ends
when
Malcolmsays
so.so.
"No,
that'sallallguff,
spreading
those
kinda
rumours?
mimicking
McLaren.
This
show
ends
when
Malcolmsays“No,that’sguff,man-who's
man – who’s
spreading
those
kinda
rumours?
The
crowd
raise
a half-hearted
chant,
Rotten's
response:"Right,you
There's
nobodyafter
us. us.
We've
had,
I supposeyouyoucallcallit, votes
of of
The
crowd
raise
a half-hearted
chant,
Rotten’s
response:“Right,you
There’s
nobody
after
We’ve
had,
I supposeit, votes
fuckers,
we’re
gonna
do onemore,
so moveor elseforgetabout
confidence
from
shop
floorsvariousrecordcompanies,youfuckers,
we're
gonna
do onemore,
so moveor elseforgetaboutit." it.”confidence
fromthetheshop
floorsof ofvariousrecordcompanies,
butbutyou
It'sIt’sa verygoodversionof of"Anarchy",
lots
of of
echo
onon
thethevoice.
End
ofAct.
to realise
thatthatthose
sortsortof people
don't
have
anyanycontrol
overthethea verygoodversion“Anarchy”,
lots
echo
voice.
Endof Act. begin
begin
to realise
thoseof people
don’t
have
control
over
End
of of
act?
NoNo
way,
isissignalling
Rottenagain,
andpuppet-like,
situation,
justjust
as it'shappenedin EMI.
End
act?
way,McLaren
McLarensignalling
Rottenagain,
andpuppet-like,situation,
as it’shappenedin EMI.
Rottencopieshim.
Whetheraudiencewants
or not,there’s
going“We’vehad
peoplefromEMI
Publishing,
Terry
Slater;Rottencopieshim.
Whetherthetheaudience
wants
oneoneor not,there'sgoing"We'vehad
peoplelikelike
thetheguyguyfromEMI
Publishing,
Terry
Slater;he he
to be
another
encore.
Thereis, is,andandthisthistime
Rottenstompsoffoffbefore
rang
meme
upup
today
andandhe hefeels
totallypissed
offoffthat
he'she’s
beentotally
to beanother
encore.
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time
Rottenstompsbefore
rang
today
feels
totally pissed
that
been
totally
Malcolm
startssignalling.
overruled.
He'sthetheheadof EMI
Publishing;he hesigned
us us
four
weeks
agoagoMalcolm
startssignalling.
overruled.
He’s
head
of EMI
Publishing;signed
four
weeks

0

r jones / getty

M

December 11, 1976: the Pistols
Decembern,m6ithePistols
andandmanager
Malcolm
McLarenmanager
Malcolm
McLaren(left)
at EatMI's
Manchester(left)
EMI’s
Manchester
Squarestudios,wherethey
Square studios, where theyrecorddemosof"Problems",
record demos of “Problems”,"GodSayeTheQueen","Liar"“God Save The Queen”, “Liar”
and “No
Feelings”
and"NoFeelings"

24 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

sex pistols

SEX PISTOLS£10,000
and
now
he’s
been
told
that’squashed.
He’s
been
“But
I spokeLeslieHill,themanaging
directorof EMI
Records,
prior
forfor£10,000
and
now
he's
been
told
that'sallallgotgottoto
bebe
quashed.
He's
been
"But
I spoketo toLeslieHill,themanaging
directorof EMI
Records,prior
madeto lookstupid.
to to
us us
signing.
It It
was
him
that
was
exhilarated
bythe
band
andandthrilled
at at
madeto lookstupid.
signing.
was
him
that
was
exhilarated
by theband
thrilled
"The
same
goes
forforNickMobbs,
whothreatened
to resign.
He's
now
thetheidea
of ofsigningthetheact.act.
HeHe
was
fully
aware
ofof
their
publicimage,
and
“The
same
goes
Nick Mobbs,
whothreatened
to resign.
He’s
now
idea
signing
was
fully
aware
their
publicimage,
and
been
that
would
very
unhealthy
him,
they
can
produce
will
deny
that.
been
toldtold
that
would
be be
very
unhealthy
forfor
him,
soso
they
can
producehe hewill
notnotdeny
that.
a wonderfulstatementsayingon EMIno nooneonehashasresigned.
"EMI
hadallall
the
tapes
toto
allallthe
Pistols'
songs.
They
them,
they
“EMI
had
the
tapes
the
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heard
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they
a wonderfulstatementsayingon EMI
resigned.
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bands
with
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wereexcitedat theprospectof ofsigning
thisthis
actactwereexcitedat theprospectsigning“Theredifferent
bands
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different
commerciallygaining
throughit. Wepointsof view.
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of directors
at EMI
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butbutI wentoffersfromothercompanies,
I wentboard
of directors
at EMIagree
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EMIEMI
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EMI,
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make
EMI,
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"Nick
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to thateffectthey willsack,
they'llhave
to resign.
side,
David
Munns
onon
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Munns
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"Thosetruths
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Mark
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thethelabel
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Mark
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label
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appears
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of opinion.”consensus
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they
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EMI
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publicity,
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"What
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appeareda little
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bands
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in England."Tina
Charles,
allall
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and
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round
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to toallallTina
Charles,
these
other
Top
acts,
and
sent
round
this
petitionin England.”If you
dodo
split
with
them,
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thetherecordcompanies
sayingthatthatthey
do donotnotsupportthisthiskindof music."recordcompanies
sayingthey
supportkindof music.”
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split
with
them,
what
(NME talked
to Mud’s
manager,Barry
Dunning,
Monday.
deniedhappens
to anytapes
happens
to anytapes
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to Mud's
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Dunning,on on
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nornorwould
theythey
evereverdo doso.)so.)Mudsignedpetition,
would
can?
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beenraised.
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with
John
Read
or or
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with
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Read
rest
“Thosequestionshave
beenraised.
money.’
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give
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the
money
than
have
a meeting.
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Theywould
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takethethemoney.'
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us us
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of of
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it. It's
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John
Read
speakson onbehalfof allthetheshareholders,
he controls
EMI
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Read
speaksbehalfof allshareholders,
he controls
EMI
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away with
it. It’sbeen
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signs
a a
which
coversfarfarmore
thanjustjust
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meet
us.us.
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coversmore
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meeteasy forthem.
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Hill
instead;every
time
to speakto Hill.
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contract
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thatis ancontract
forfortwoyears:
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is an
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sent
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timeyouyoujustjust
getgetto speakto Hill.
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betweentwotwoparties.
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he he
can't
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from
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orders
can’t
move
from
point.”
agreement
betweenparties.
youyoucancantear
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contract
up up
in two
How
much
money
have
youyouhadhadof the£40,000?
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money
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of the£40,000?
tear
that
contractin two“Half.
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first
year.
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that
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monthsbecausethey
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onon
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I meanEMI
boardof directors-it –makesa farceof theRotterdam
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ajoke."
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of directors
it makes
a farceof theWhat’s
next,
a big
legal
battle?
whole
situation.
wholesituation.
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next,
a big
legal
battle?
"What
aboutallall
these
other
bands
that
"I “I
don't
know.
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if ifthey
theirsituation,
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don’t
know.
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theycancanreconsider
reconsider
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“What
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Records,
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Capitol
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a contract
in America?
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Capitol
Records
decided
to go
along
with
some
at thesome
A&R
andandsome
guyguyat thetop,top,notnotsome
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guyguy in America?
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Capitol
Records
decided
to go
along
with
who's
responsible
forforsigning,says,'I don't
Square.'
They
don't
want
anyanypartpartof it.
Manchester
Square.’
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don’t
want
of it.
who’s
responsible
signing,says,‘I don’t Manchester
likelike
what
I'mI’mhearing
about
this
band,
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if we'reonon
anotherlabel
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want
them
onon
thethecompany
anyanythrough
EMI?AreEMI
gonna
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can'treallyI don’twant
them
company
more.'
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they
go go
outoutthethewindow."
answerthat.
It's It’sverydifficult,it reallyis. Iis.feel
prettybadbadabout
it. it.
answerthat.
verydifficult,it really
I feelprettyabout
more.’
theywindow.”
Who
arearethetheguys
who've
come
over
here?
now
saying,'Can'tyouyougo go
to toVirginRecords,
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saying,‘Can’tVirginRecords,
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who’vecome
overhere? "Hill's
interesting
company.’
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man –went
we went
to Virgin
Records
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directorof EMI
and"The
managing
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EMI
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head
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"Ifwe
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anotherrecordcompany,
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us us
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punks-as-martyrs
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behindourourback
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inadequate,
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an EMI
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publicUHISTORY
OF OF
ROCK
1977
125| 25
HISTORY
ROCK
1977

1977

J a n u a r y – M a r ch
memorable
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accompanimentshave
have
becomebecome much
much lusher,lusher,his arrangements
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Bill Withers
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his next
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Geoff Brown, MM Jan 22

Earth,
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Wind && Fire
Fire
SpiritSpiritCBS
CBS

Touring
Touring here
here in1975
in 1975
as support
support band to
Santana, EWF
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ALBUMSAl Green (left) andWillie Mitchell in thelatter’s Royal Studios in
Memphis, Tennessee

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Bill Withers
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Hi studio
studiosession
session team
team
with
and producer
producer Willie
Willie Mitchell;
Mitchell;
which
like
whichisis finefineifif(as(as I do) you like
HowardHoward Grimes’
Grimes' drumming
drumming andthethe work
work ofof Teenie,
Teenie, Leroy
Leroy andandCharlesCharles Hodges,
Hodges, but
but itit does
does seta ratherrather too
too well-definedwell-defined
perimeter
perimeterof
ofappeal.
appeal.
Withers, because
Withers,
becausehehe hasworked more
more readily
withworkedreadily witha varietyvariety ofof musicians,
musicians, hasbroughtbroughtfresher
fresheraspects
aspectsto
tohis
hismusic but, essentially, its
its heart
heart
remainsremains thethe same.
same.
Green's album
goodGreen’salbumisis a good
showcase forfor his voice,voice, but
but tootoomany of
ofthe
theGreen/Mitchell
Green/Mitchellsongs arearemerely
merelycompetentcompetent
efforts.The
Theoneone outside
outside song,
song,
efforts.
"Nothing
Of“NothingTakes
Takes The
The Place Of
You",ballad, draws
You”, a ballad,drawsaa

KPA / ZumA / REX

magnificently hurt
magnificently
hurt performance
performancefromfrom thethe singer.
singer. Elsewhere
Elsewhere
there'sfine fuzz-toned
fuzz -toned guitar
guitarthere’s a fineintro lifted
liftedfrom
fromElmore
ElmoreJames
James tointro
"The
“The Truth
TruthMarches
MarchesOn"On”andandhishisgospelly introduction
introduction to the title
title
track is convincingly
track
convincingly authentic.
authentic.
26 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
26

arranged,modernarranged, modern
funk andand a bravura
funkbravura live
live
show which included
includedsuch ludicrous
ludicrous effects
effects
as aarotatingrotating
rostrum,rostrum, its
incumbentsoloing whilesoloing
he looped
loopedthethe loop.
loop. All
All
this fol-defol-derol,rol, one
one
concluded,
concluded,

REVIE
W
1977

was used toto"Happy"“Happy”finds
finds Green
Green at
at
his free-ranging
free -ranging best, while"Hold On“Hold
On Forever"Forever” is genuine
exultation. Of
or R&B
exultation.
Ofall
all soulsoul orsingers working
workingtoday,
today, Green
Greenisissingers
simply the most flexible
flexible within
withinown style.
style. It
It is
isthe
the confines
confines of
his ownthat style
style thatthathave
have stunted
thatstuntedwider
wider peculiarity
peculiarity inin Britain.
Subjectively,
Subjectively,II could
could listen
listen to
to Al
Al
Green
Green all day andand often
often do, butbut
objectively II do
could
objectively
do not
not think
think II could
watertight casehonestly build a watertightto convince
convinceaa nonnon-believer.
to-believer.
Foraa man who used to installinstallFor
toilets
until farfar
toiletsin
in jetjet planes until
later
into life
lifethanthanhehe carescares tolater intotoBill Withers
Withers hasn’t
hasn'tremember, Billdone too
too badly.
voice is notnotdonebadly. His
His voicethethe reliable
reliableandand expressive
expressive
instrument that
Green's, but
but
instrument
thatisis Green’s,
Withers
Withershas
has hishis own, very
frompersonal style which comes fromvocallimitations
limitations yetyetknowing his vocal
accepting them.
them. Like
Like
not always accepting
after a spell
spell ofofpopularity
popularity
Green, after
Britain his star
star has dimmed
dimmedin Britain
somewhat,somewhat, but
but thethe quality
qualityof
ofhis
hisalbums hasn’t.
hasn't. Neither
Neither artist
artisttours
tourshere,
here, andand thus
thus they
they areareignored byradio and record
recordignoredby radioalike.Withers’
Withers' initial
initialbuyers alike.
success
good songs
success came via goodsongs andanda fresh-sounding
fresh -sounding nasally voice
which
which createdcreatedaa warm
warm musicalmusicalambience.
ambience. Naked&
Naked &Warm
Warmisisfirmlyfirmlyinin thatthatmould,
mould, thoughthoughhis
hissongs
immediately
songs are less immediately

camouflage their
theirmaterial'smaterial’s lack of
substance. Spirit
Spiritfurther
furtherconfirms that
confirms
that impression.
impression. The
big single, “Getaway”,"Getaway", isbig
isattractively
danceable, thetheattractively danceable,
cleanly produced
produced (byalbum is cleanly
Maurice White
EWF leader Maurice
WhiteandandCharlesCharles Stepney) and thethe group
group
precision one
play with the sharp precision
expects of
top American
American funkfunk
expectsof a top
band and sing
sing highhigh harmony
harmony
pleasantly. But
But their
their
vocals pleasantly.
pretensions towards
pretensions
towards cosmic
relevance do not
not ring
ring true
true
ultimately seem, like theand ultimately
aforementioned twirling
twirling drum
aforementioned
drum
rostrum,just anothergimmick totorostrum, justanother gimmickthat they’re
they're more than the
kid us thatmerely listenable,
listenable, well-recorded
well -recorded
merelypurveyorsof light
lightlove
love songs
songs
purveyors of
they seem. Geoff
GeoffBrown,MMJan
they
Brown, MM Jan22
Billy Connolly
Connolly
Billy
Atlantic Bridge
Atlantic
BridgePOLYDORPOLYDOR

Connolly's previous
Billy Connolly’s
previous albums
albumsfor
Polydor(Cop(CopYerYer Whackfor Polydor
Whack ForThis and
andGetGet Right
Right Intae
Intae Him),
Him),
This
despite thedespitethe enormous
enormous
commercial
commercialLthey havesuccess they
enjoyed, have notenjoyed,reflected
hisreflected his
genuine comic
genuinetalent. Thosetalent.
familiar withthe earlier
earlier SolotheConcert double
Concertdouble set
set
on Transatlantic
Transatlantic

Records will
will know
know that
that
Records
Connollyis
is capable
Connollycapable ofof thethemostbizarre and hilarious
hilarious
most bizarre
flights
flights ofof thethe imagination,with a commendablewithcommendable ability
abilitytoconstant flow
flow ofto sustain a constant
comic
and observations
observations
comic ideas andand buildaroundone
onejokejokeananandbuild aroundelaborateelaboratefantasy.
fantasy. Those
who
who know only the
aforementioned Polydor
aforementioned
albums, editededited clumsily
clumsily fromfrom live
live
performances,
performances,will
willhavehaveanan image
imageof Connolly
Connollyonly
onlyasas a popularof
popularcomic infatuatedinfatuated withwithmild
mild
vulgarity,
overlook pieces
vulgarity, andand overlook
like
like “Sergeant"Sergeant Where’s
Where's Mine?”
Mine?"(still(still one
one ofof thethemostmostacidacidandandpertinent
pertinentcommentscommentson
on Ulster)
Ulster)and the later
later “Join"Join The Army”.
Army".
This new album,
album, taken
taken fromfromrecordings
recordingsof
of concerts
concertsat
at thetheCarnegie Halls
Halls in Dunfermline
Carnegie
Dunfermline
and New York, isisfortunately
fortunately aa far
far
more accurate representation
representation ofofand occasionally
his talent,talent, andoccasionallycatches Connolly
Connolly atat thisthis most
most
inspired.
Dunfermline
inspired. The Dunfermline
concertpresents
presentsus
us withwith aaconcertfamiliar
Connolly performance
performancefamiliar Connolly
beforepredictably partisan
before a predictably
partisanaudience well
well acquainted
withhishis
audienceacquainted withwork,
Connolly responds
work, and Connolly
enthusiastically to their
theirappreciation.There
There areare few
appreciation.
few
surprises
but “Rodney"Rodney And
surprises here, but
And
Cynthia"
Cynthia”isis one
one ofof his mosthilarious routines, delivereddelivered with
with
infectious
attackinfectiousrelish,
relish,andand his attack
on Stars On
On Sunday
Sundayandand its
principles
delightfully
principles is delightfully
vindictive.
vindictive.ItItis,is, however, theside recorded
recorded inthat
in New
New York thatmostimmediately engages
most immediately
engages
one's
attention. The
one’s attention.
The audienceaudience
is surprisingly
surprisingly familiar
familiar with
with
Connolly's
Connolly’swork,
work,which
whichisisjust
justasas
well
well because
becausehehe makes
makes nonoconcession.
"Play ‘The
'The Welly
Welly
concession. “Play
Boot Song’”,
Song'", shouts
Boot
shouts a woman at
one point.
point."No,"“No,” Connolly
Connolly
responds"Make me."
responds viciously.
viciously. “Makeme.”
The side opens
opens with
with two
two ofofConnolly's
tolerable
Connolly’s more tolerable
country
country&& western
western parodies,parodies,"The“The Shitkicker's
Shitkicker’s Waltz"
Waltz”andand"Half-Stoned Cowboy”,
Cowboy", both“Half-Stoned
amusing forfor thethe vigour
vigourof
ofhis
his
performance,
performance, but
but whichwhich fadecompletely
completelyin
in comparison
comparison withwiththethe centrepiece
centrepieceof
ofthisthis album,
album,"Death".
Connolly's funniest
funniest“Death”. It's
It’s Connolly’s
and most inspired
inspired routine
routine since
since
the
"The Crucifixion”.
Crucifixion".
the classic “The

LY.CONNOLLY

a stoater.
stoater. AllanJones,MMJan75
Allan Jones, MM Jan 15

David
Bowie Low
ow RCADavid Bowie
RCA

Any understanding
understanding ofof thisthis album
ought
ought toto be
be prefaced
prefacedby
by Bowie's
Bowie’scommentsin
in lastlast year’scomments
year's Playboy
interviewfavourite groupinterviewthat
thathishis favourite
groupof
the moment
moment was Kraftwerk,
Kraftwerk,of thehe was excitedbyand thatthat heexcited by"soundtexture" rather“sound as texture”
ratherthan
thanasasmusic; “producing"producing noise records
logicalto
tome".
me”.
seems pretty
pretty logicalthat thethe fact
fact that
Add to thatthat Bowie
Bowie
is currently
currently living
livinginin Berlin,
Berlin, andandthathe's
he’s said to be a friend
of T
that
friend ofDream's Edgar Froese, and you
youDream’s
have thethe roughrough backgroundbackground totoonce again
again
Low, a record
record which
which once
exemplifies
withexemplifies his fascination withideas rather
rather thanemotions, andthan emotions,andtherebyemphasises
emphasises his position
therebypositionin the vanguard ofof “modern”"modern"rock
rock music.
music.
For Low, while
anwhile not precisely
precisely an
albumof "white
more
album of“whitenoise",noise”,isis moreexperimental,
experimental, rather
ratherthan
than just
just
differentfrom
fromany
anyotherotherofofhis
his
different
records.
records. Unlike
Unlikehis
his albums
albums up to
and including
including Young
YoungAmericans,
Americans,there is no readily
therereadily apparent
apparent lyric
lyric
context
contextbecause
because thethemachines
machines ofofthelargely taken
taken
the studiostudio have largely
precedenceover
overhishis singing;precedence
singing; if
ifLow
any theme
theme atit has toto
Low has any
at all,all, itbegleaned frombe gleaned
fromsuchsuchtracks
tracksasas“Be My Wife”,
In The"Be
Wife", “What"What InWorld"
World”andand "Sound“Sound And
And Vision"
Vision”
where
singing about
where he's
he’s singing
aboutself
self-isolation (thus “low”
isolation"low" equals

Hawkwind on thethe
Hawkwind
MarcTV
Marc TVshow:
show:(I-r)Adrian(l–r) AdrianShaw,
Shaw,
Simon House,
Simon
House,

RobertCalvertRobertCalvert
andSimon KingKing
and Simon

SINGLESSINGLESSINGLESW
REVIE
Rose Royce
1977

Stranglers(Get A)
Grip (On(Get
A) Grip(On
Yourself)/London Lady
Yourself)/London
Lady
UNITED ARTISTS
UNiteD
ARtiStS

McNeill Fan
The Phil McNeill
Fan Club
Clubmakemaketheirrecordingdebut
debutwithwithaatheir recording
stunning double-sided single
stunning
double-sided
intelligent,of distinctive, intelligent,contemporary
rock’n’rollI that
contemporary rock'n'rol
that
would
sounds like Roxy Music wouldthat old capped-tooth
capped -toothhave ifif thatsmoothie
Ferryhad
had beenbeensmoothie Ferry
influenced byinfluenced
byThe
TheDoors
Doors(as(as
Humphrey Bogart
Bogartopposed to Humphrey
at the startof hishis malestart ofmenopause).The
menopause).
The B-side,
B-side,"London Lady",“LondonLady”, is perhaps
morelike thenoise you would
more likethe noise
expected fromhave expected
fromaa squadelder punkstersof elderpunksters -– Hugh
Hugh
Cornwell’sslashed-out
Cornwell's slashed-outriffing
riffing
more upfront
more
upfronton
onthisthistwo
two-minute -25 song than on thethe A,
minute-25
A,
where
where thethe main featurefeature isGreenfield's swirling
swirling
Dave Greenfield’s
keyboards backing
backing up the
keyboards
hooklinechorus(which(whichis
is maybe
hookline chorus
strong enoughto getget them
themstrongenough tosome "chart
NME,
some
“chartaction").
action”).
NME,Feb5
Feb 5
Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Back On
Streets CHARISMABackOn TheThe Streets
ChARiSmA

butwhatseems
seemsright.
right.
butwhat
MichaelMichaelWatts,
Watts,

Unlike thethe majority
majority of
Unlikeofdandruff
dandruff-encrusted hippies,
encrustedhippies, this
this lot
lot havenever been
been averse to knocking
knocking
neverout
singleonce
onceininaa
out a decent
decent single"Silver Machine”
Machine" was OK
while. “Silver
the sunk-without-trace
sunk -without -trace
and the“KingsOfSpeed"Speed”was
was great.
"Kings Of
great.
more like
like thetheThis single sounds more
stuff youfrom thestuff
you hear coming fromstageof thethe Roxy
Roxy than
than does
does The
The
stage of
Stranglers, which
Stranglers’,
whichjust
just goes
goes totoprove once
more howprove
once morehowmeaningless labellinglabelling anything
anything
punk rockrock is. Here
Here you getgetpunkcranked -out basic chords
chordscranked-out
designed
to makemake you eardrums
designed toeardrums
bleed, lyrics
lyrics thatthat arebleed,
areunintelligible apartunintelligible
apart fromfrom thethechantedtitle-chorus,
chanted title-chorus,
the rhythm
rhythmand thesection playing
sectionlike they
they enjoy
enjoy
feeling thosefeeling
those
blisterssquishagainsttheiragainsttheir
instruments.

MMJan22
MM Jan 22

Feb55
NME, Feb

Rose Royce

Car Wash
Car
Wash MCA
mCA

theme from
The theme
the American
American box
theofficesmash movie
office smash
movie
starring Richard
starring
Richard Pryor
Pryorandand ThePointer Sisters (remember(remember The
Pointer
The
Pointer
Sisters?).This
This isis a cute
Pointer Sisters?).
cutesidestepping two-beat number
sidestepping
two-beatreminiscent ofElbert inreminiscentof Donnie
Donnie Elbertina roughrough mood,
mood, with
with strings
strings sodirty they
dirty
theyalmost
almost ooze onto thereleased owing
owing totovinyl. Rush released
publicdemand, and alreadypublic demand,high in thethe soul and disco charts,
charts,high
it's about
about theit’s
the agony
agony andand ecstasyof hosing down
down Volkswagens:
Volkswagens:"You maymaynotnotever
evergetgetrich/But“Yourich/But
tell you it’s
it's better
better than
than
let me telldiggingdigging aa ditch…”
ditch..." Sure it sounds
lot moremore funfun to winda lot
working in
up working
in a carwash than
than in Frank
Zappa's gas
Zappa’sbut
station, buthave they
they really
reallyconstructeddouble album
a doublearound thesong? NME,
song?
NME, Jan8Jan 8Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Alice CUBE
Alice
CUBe
sadlittle
little song
A sad
about
about a chick with
with anear -perfect facenear-perfectface andandderanged mind
mind –-ah,
nothinga deranged
ah, nothingchanges. An
An inoffensive
inoffensive
pussyfooter, and not thepussyfooter,ice -and -fireArmatrading
Armatrading
sharp ice-and-fire
we all wish
wish we
we knew
knew andand loved.
loved.
soundsmore
morecomfortablecomfortable
Joan soundswith love than death anyhow:
with
“It’s
to live than to"It's harderharder todie," she warbles
warbles uncertainly.
uncertainly.
die,”the1972
albumWhatever
WhateverFrom the1972 album
For Us, aacasecaseofof cashingcashing in
the part
part ofof CubeCube maybe,on thethey're wasting their
their time.
but they’re
If there’s
there's one
one thing
thing thatthat doesn’t
doesn'twell with
with the GreatGreat
go down well
British Public,
BritishPublic, it's
it’s girls
girls singing
singingabout
girls, which
which isabout girls,
the greatest
greatest
why therock'n'roll
rock’n’roll
singleof allall
single oftime, Patti
Smith's
Smith’s“Gloria”,"Gloria",got
nowhere.
NME, JanNME,
Jan 88Uri Al GRIP cos vouRsE t.F,

T1

ORY OF
27
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |I 27

ITV / REX

There is an old
old Scots
Scots proverb,
proverb,
There
he reminds the audience, thatthat
says there
there ismore funis morefunat
ataa
Glasgow funeral
funeralthan
thananan
Glasgow
Edinburgh wedding.
wedding. He then
Edinburghproceeds
offer his
proceeds toto offer
his considered
consideredopinions on
on deathdeath inin generalgeneralandandopinions
funerals
funerals specifically.
specifically.He
He is notenamouredinterment -–enamoured of interment“what a terrible
thing toto do with"what
terrible thingpeople"altogether
people” -and
– and is not altogether
fond
fond ofof cremation.
cremation. They
They should,
he suggests,
suggests,try
try toto brighten
brighten that
that
process aalittle
little to attract
attract more
more
customers:
few banners,banners, hecustomers: fly
flyaa fewsays, tosays,
to advertiseadvertise its advantages.
Things"Come andThings like, “Comeand watchwatch
Elizabeth Fry...
watch
Elizabeth
Fry… come and watch
RobertBrowning… comecome andRobert Browning...
see Captain
Captain Cook…..
Cook see how
Robbie Burns…”
Burns..."
RobbieYou know,
know, tastelesstasteless things
thingslike that.
that. I love
love it.
it. InIn fact,
fact, to use
likea favourite
favourite phrase
Mrphrase of Mr
Connolly’s, thethe entire
entirealbum
albumisis
Connolly's,"depression",“depression”,II suppose).
True to his suggestions
insuggestions in
Playboy,
Playboy, Bowie
Bowiehas
has mademadeanan
album
texturesalbum of moods and texturesthat spring
spring fromfromaa generalthat
employment
employment ofof thethesynthesizer, wielded
wielded both by
Bowie
Bowie and,
and,more
moreparticularly,
particularly,
by Eno. It’s
It's going
going toto be
be said,
ifif itit hasn't
hasn’t already,already, that
thatEnoEnohashasbeenbeenthetheinspiration
inspiration here.
Certainly, side
Certainly,side two,
two, where
where heuses,with
with Bowie,
Bowie, aavariety
variety ofofuses,
synthesizers on
on "Warszawa"“Warszawa”andandsynthesizers"Art Decade",wholly electronic
electronic“Art
Decade”, is wholly
and instrumental,
instrumental, whatever
vocals there
are having
having been
been
vocalsthere areeffect. RCA,
doctored for effect.
therefore,
therefore,probably
probablyregard
regard Eno
as something
something ofofan
an evilevil genius,
genius,the nature
nature of thesebecause thetracksrather at odds withtracks seems ratherthe-club leaflet
leaflet they
the official
officialfan
fan-clubthey
included with
with the album.
have included
wouldn't go
far in my
II wouldn’t
go nearly
nearlyas
as farmistrust. Though
mistrust.
Though there
thereareare somesomequite interesting
interesting moments,
quite
moments,suchsuch
as Bowie’s
Bowie's playing
playing ofof thethe Gravel
GravelSax onon “Subterraneans”,"Subterraneans", this
this side
side
inflicts onboredominflicts
on me the same boredom
induced by all portentous
portentous spaceinducedIt doesn’t
doesn't seemmusic. It
seem asinteresting orinterestingor experimental
experimentalasasof thethe works
most ofworks onon Eno's
Eno’s own
Obscure label,
let alone
Obscurelabel, letmeasuring up to Reich, Berio,
Berio,
measuring
Stockhausen
Stockhausen andand all the rest,
althoughalthoughititmight
mightgogodowndownwellwellininthe
Floyd/T Dreammarket.
the Pink Floyd/TDream market.
Most Bowie
Bowie fans
will
Most
fans anyway willinvariably play
only side one,invariably
play only
which
which inin thethe Bowie
Bowiecanon
canonisismusicalbridge
bridge between
betweenreally a musicalthethesecondsecondsidesideandand thetheheavyheavymetal soul of Station
Station To Station.
Station.
metal
Theoverall impression
The overall
impressionis
is ofofrhythmsfilteredfiltered throughthroughdisco rhythms
a Germanic
Germanic consciousness,
consciousness,aa
practice that
Hunnish practicethatI've
I’ve comecometoto findfindquite
quitepleasing.
pleasing.Some
Some ofof ititsounds like backing tracks just
waiting
waiting fora
for avocal.
vocal."A“A New
New
Career In
Town", for
for
CareerIn A New Town”,
and “Speed"Speed Of
Of Life”,
Life",
instance, andwhich
dominated bywhich is dominatedtremendous
tremendousbassbassandandsledgehammer
sledgehammer drums.
drums. But
Butelsewhere Bowie
achieved
elsewhere
Bowie has achieved
what
think is a rather
rather uniqueuniquewhat II think
songform
songformby
by successfully
marrying pop
withmarrying
pop music withelectronic concepts.
electronic
concepts. Much too
powerful for
powerful
forMuzak,
Muzak, it's
it’s music
that'sthat’s highly
highly appropriate
appropriateforforan
anage which despises articulacy
articulacy
and subtler
subtler feeling,feeling, which
whichfrom thetheincreasingly turns fromspokenword tobook,spoken word
to thethe comic
comic book,
the
other
the television,
television, and all othertechnologicalapparatus.
apparatus. It's
It’s
technologicalmusicofofNow
Now–-notoddly the musicnotiscurrently
currently popular,
exactly what is

1977

1977

JANUARY

J a n u a r y – M a r ch

-1°H

“

March 19, 1977:
Peter Gabrielon stage at the
Palladium in
New York City

28 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

“The
right
The right
intensity”
intensitThe
charming'he charming
PETER GABRIEL opens
PETER GABRIEL opens
up about Genesis,uN anout Genesis,
Bowie, thethe SexSex Pistols
Bowie,
Pistols(“I
enjoyedRotten…”),("I enjoyed Rotten..."),
Bruce Springsteen
and
Bruce
Springsteen andtaking on
on thetakingthe industry
industry
with
his
new
solo
with his new solo
career.
fact
career. “The"The fact
that
I’m anan ex-publicthat I'm
ex -publicschoolboy
putschool boy put aalot
lotofofmusicians
offworkingmusicians off working
withwith me,”me," hehe says.
says.

-

MARCH1212—— NME
NME MARCHSo
So IIwent
wentfromfrom day
day toto daydayOh,Oh, mymy lifelifewaswas ininaarutrut
Tillwhat I'd
I’d say
TillII thought
thought ofofwhatsay
Which
Which connection
connection I should
should cut
cut
IIwas
was feelingpartoftheof the scenery
scenery
feelingpart
IIwalked
walked right
right out
out ofofthethemachinery
machinery

T

Peter
PeterGabriel
Gabriel(“Solsbury("SolsbinyHill”)

gus stewart / gettY

Rock Machine
Machine isn’t
isn't always
turn THE
LATE’70s'70sareareherehereandand The
The Rock
HE LATE
always aa turnit'sindistinctly
indistinctlyrepugnant,repugnant, as
asreadersreadersonany
anymore.
tosomesomeit’sonmore. In fact, totheyhave
havebeen
beenpaying
payingany
any
ofofthisthispaper
papershould
should have
havenoticed
noticed ififthey
supporters' war
cry ofof"Backtoattention
war cry“Back toattention totothe
thepunks’punks'andandtheirtheirsupporters’
the latter,latter, IIwonder
wonder how
howmuchmuch ofof
thestreets”
streets"(though,(though, in
inthe
thecasecaseofofthe
thejusthowhowmany
manyofthemwouldn’t
wouldn'tititisisbeingof thembeinganti
antiforforanti’s
anti'ssake,
sake,andandjustoldpoppopstarsstarsthey
theysupposedly
supposedlydespise?).
despise?).
relishrelishthetheprospect
prospect ofofbeing
beingthetherichricholdRocktheall-powerful
all-powerfuland
andutterly
utterlyseductive
But
to comeseductive Rock
Butactuallyactuallyto
comeout
outagainst
againstthe
beast
itselfswelling
your
ego
and
bank
Machinewhen
you’re
part
of
it
–
the
beast
itselfswelling
your
ego
and
bank
Machine when you're part of it -theentirelyadmirable
oneat
atthatthatandandperhaps
perhapsaccount
admirable one
accountalike
alike– is-isanother
anotherthing,
thing,ananentirely
hequitquitGenesis
Genesis
is
just
what
Peter
Gabriel
did
when
even
art
for
art’s
sake.
Which
is
just
what
Peter
Gabrieldidwhenheeven art for art's sake. Which
theBritish
Britishtheirfinal
finalthrustthrusttowards
towardsthe
thetop
topofofthe
twoprior tototheir
twoyears
yearsago,
ago,immediately
immediatelypriorrockhierarchy.
rock hierarchy.
havingmet
metegoforforego’s
ego'ssake,
sake,butbuthavingAllright,
you couldsaysuch a movewas egoAllright,I know
I knowyou
could
saysuchamovewashis
recentlyreleased
first
solo
album,
Gabrielacoupleoftimes
andlistenedtohis
recently
released
first
solo
album,
Gabriel a couple of times and listened tothere’sthanthere'smore
moretotoit itthanthat.
that.
formerGenesis
Genesisairofofrelievedsatisfaction,thetheformer
As
Gabriel’spublicist
relievedsatisfaction,As
Gabriel'spublicistnotes
noteswithwithananair
figureheadeasierforforananinterviewer
figureheadisisa lot
a loteasierinterviewertotoworld'sdeal
with these
hardlythe world’s
dealwiththesedays.
days.While
While
hardlytheerstwhile
most– likeerstwhilemostlanguid
languidsubject,subject,hehe-likehis
hisandcolleagues
Banks, Mike
Rutherford
colleaguesTony
TonyBanks,
Mike
Rutherfordandconsiderably
Steve
Hackett– hasmellowedout
considerably
Steve
Hackett-has
mellowed
out
inin
the
fast
few
years.
thefast
fewyears.
this
It stilltakes
a goodhalf-hour
beforethis
It still
takes
agood
half-hour
beforeactually
extremely
articulate
humanactually
extremely
articulate
humanbeing
being
relaxesandbeginsto assemble
hishisutterances
relaxesandbeginsto assemble
utterances
notintoanything
like
lucidity,
butbutthere’s
not
soso
into
anything
like
lucidity,
there's
Gabriel's
mouth
much
asas
a hintofofa stutterfrom
Gabriel’s
mouth
much
ahint
a stutter
from
these
days.
these
days.
Gabrielactually
feels more
comfortable
in in
Gabrielactuallyfeels
more
comfortable
where
front
of aofcamera– or-oranywhere
else
where
hehe
front
a camera
anywhere
else
ratherthan
averbalcanproject
a visual
image
ratherthana verbalcanproject
avisual
image
one.
OnOn
thethe
other
hand,
hehe
certainly
isn’t a vain
certainlyisn't
avain
one.
other
hand,
fashiontoday
man,
couldn’t
give
a tossforforfashionandand
today
» »
man,
couldn't
give
atoss

PETER GABRIEL
made it big.
It got to him.
He pulled out.
Now he's back.
What's his excuse?
STEVE CLARKEasks.
HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 291977

J a n u a r y – M a r ch

looks
all thethe worldworld likelikeaa’60s'60sprovincial
provincial rocker
rocker who hasn’t
hasn't got
looks for all
got
it quitequite right.
right.
biker's jacket
jacket isisfine
fine-insame oneto
The biker’s– infact
fact it's
it’s the same
one he wore to
depict Rael (theYork punk
Lamb…waswasdepict(the New
NewYork
punkaroundaround whom The
TheLamb...
built)
his last tour
tour with
with Genesis.
the black rollneckrollneckbuilt) on
on hisGenesis. And thesweater-necked white
but thethesweater beneathbeneaththetheopenopen-necked
whiteshirt
shirtisisOK,OK, but
jeans areare on the sloppy side,jeansside,notnotto
tomention
mentionthe
thesneakers…
sneakers...

GABRIEL
HASdriven
DRIVENdown
downfrom
fromhishisapparently
apparently
abriel has
immodest
homeononthetheoutskirts
outskirtsofofBath
Bathforforthisthisday
day ofimmodest homeinterviews-which
thisinterviews– whichmeans
meanshe
hewas
wasup
upat
at seven
seven thismorning.
morning.Favourite
Favouritelistening
listeningfor
forGabriel
Gabrielininhis
hiscarcarof
oflatelateisisnone other
otherthan
thanBowie's
Bowie’sLow.
Low.
none
"I think
think it’s
it's aavery
veryinteresting
interesting album,”
album," hehe opines.
opines. “There’s"There's anan“Iedge he gets
getstotosidesideoneonethatthatpunks
punksdon’t
don'tgetgetnearnear-themenace in– the menace
the guitar,theguitar, bass and drums.”
drums."
rarely sits
sits down
down inin front
front ofofhis
hisstereo
stereoto
tolistenlistento
tomusic,
music,andand
He rarelyon thethe few occasions
occasions he buys
buys aarecord
record it’s
it'susuallyusuallysomething
something heand his daughter
can danceanddaughter candance to.
These days Gabriel is almost
almost exclusively into
into songwriters.
songwriters. He
These
He
lists among
among his favourites Bruce Springsteen,
Springsteen, Randy
Randy Newman,
Newman,Paul McCartney,
Joni Mitchell, Becker-Fagen.
Paul
McCartney, Joni
Be cker-Fagen.Springsteen’s
Springsteen'smuch-maligned autumn
autumn '75
Hammersmith gigs,
whichmuch-maligned’75 Hammersmithgigs, of which
Gabriel saw thethe second
second concert,concert, wasthe most
most exciting
thing he's
was theexciting thing
he’s
seenononstagestageininaa long
long time.
time.("I(“I didn't
didn’tthink
thinkI'd
I’dlikelikeititat
atall,
all,but
butititseen
moved
because hesomething himself.")
moved meme simply because
he was feeling somethinghimself.”)
Gabriel's partiality
partiality to Springsteen
Springsteen is evident
evident on thethe refrain
refrain ofof
Gabriel’sthe first
first partthesongsong thatthatcloses
closes side
side one
one of thethepart of “Humdrum”,"Humdrum", thethesolo
album. And
One", thethe second
second ofsolo album.
And"Waiting“WaitingFor
ForThe
TheBigBig One”,of sideside
two's
quartet of songs dealing
dealing with
with thethe apocalypse
apocalypse (Bowie andandtwo’s quartet
down),
there’s
no lyric
lyric-sheet),Jackson Browne aren’t
aren't thethe only ones who’ve
who've seen the end coming
coming down),
there's no-sheet), itit wasn’t
wasn't always
always easy.
easy.OriginallyOriginally “Solsbury"Solsbury Hill”
Hill"lies somewhere
somewhere between
between Newman’s
Newman's compassionate
compassionate cynicism
had sevenseven sections,sections, but
Canadian producer
cynicismandandTomTom
hadbut withwith thethe help
help of CanadianproducerBob
BobEzrin,
Ezrin,
Waits'
booze -drenched pathos.
pathos.
veteran of
everal Alice
AliceCooper
Cooperandand Lou
LouReedReedalbums,
albums, Gabriel was able toWaits’ booze-drenchedveteranof sseveral
But that’s
halfthethestory,
story, since
since Gabriel also employs a highly
prune
to two.
that's only
onlyhalf
highlyprune itit down
down tounpredictable
blues,
so,there
thereareareparts
parts ofofthe
thealbum
album thatthat do resemble
resemble Genesis
unpredictablearrangement
arrangementfor
forwhatwhatisisbasicallybasicallyaasleazy
sleazy slow blues,
Even so,characterised
the perfectly
perfectly absurd
absurd piano
Chirowski andandespecially "Humdrum"
characterisedatatfirst
firstbyby thepianoofJozef
of Jozef Chirowski
musically, especially“Humdrum”andandthetheclosing
closingepic,
epic,"Before“Before The
The
later by thepowerchords
chordsofof thethe great
greatSteve
Steve Hunter,
Hunter,Flood”,
later
the devilishly
devilishly precise
precise power
Flood", musicallymusically aaromanticromantic statement,
statement, high on melody
melody andand withwith masses
massesheavy-metal
Mellotron. AAsublimely
sublimelywell-constructedheavy-metalsupremo
supremototoLou
LouReedReedandandAlice
Alice Cooper
Cooperinin thethepast.
past.Just
Justtotoof Mellotron.
well-constructedsolo
solofromfrom Dick Wagner
keepguessing, a choir
choir sings
sings thethe final
final choruses.
choruses.
(Hunter's partner
partner inkeep you guessing,(Hunter’s
in crime)
crime) adds
adds another
anotherside
sidetoto it.
More thanelse, Gabriel now
wantstoto forge anthan anything
anything else,
nowwants
an identity
identity forfor
As farfaras
asGabriel
Gabrielisisconcerned,
concerned,thetheonly
onlylyrical
lyricalresemblance
resemblance between
betweenhimself
songwriter. He
this inwhat he’s
he's doing
doing now andand whatdown withsense ofhimselfas
as a songwriter.
He thinks
thinksit'll
it’llbebeeasier
easierfor
for himhimto
to do
do thisin
what
what hehe laidlaid downwith Genesis
Genesisis
is his sense
America, where he’s
he's currently
currently touring,
touring, than
than inconsidershumour, something
missing fromin Britain
Britain where
where he considers
humour,somethingwhich
whichhehefeels
feelsisis now
now missing
from thethe band.
band.WithWith
himself thought
thoughtof
of as primarilysomehe says, “I
now gethimself
primarily a performer.
performer. And because
because Genesis
Genesis seem
seem
some reticence
reticence he"I don’t
don't likeliketheir
theirlyrics.
lyrics.IIdon’t
don'tthink
thinkthey
theynowgetto soundsound theactual pleasureseeing words
words down
down on paper.
paper. I don’t
don't think
think it’s
it's sothesamesamenownowas
aswhenwhenhehewas
was inin thethe band,band,hehereasonsreasonsititwill
willbebe
any actualpleasureout
outof
of seeingmore
be accepted
accepted as a songwriter
songwriter here.
important tothem-but
more difficult
difficult for him to beimportantto them– butthere's
there’sstill
stillsome
some reallynicereally nice melodies there.
Says Gabriel:“I
Gabriel: “When"When IIwas
wasfirst
firstwithwiththethebandband IIgot
gotcredited
creditedwith
with writing
writing"I don’t
don't reckon
reckon I’m
I'm aagreat
great lyricist,
lyricist, but
but IIthink
think there’s
there's as much
much a craft
craft
everything.
getcredited
credited withwithwriting
writingnothing,nothing,
writing lyrics asas there
there isisin
inwritingwritingmusic.
music.IIdon’t
don'tthink
thinkthetheeverything.That
Thatwasn't
wasn’ttrue.
true.Now
Now I getinvolved in writing
but
you ask
ask Tony
TonyandandMike,Mike,thethegroup’sgroup's two
two mainmain music
music writers,
band atthe momentthat much
much priority."band
at themomentgive
give it thatpriority.”
but if you
writers,
Since quitting
the groupgroupover
over two
they'lltell
used toend up doing all thethequitting thetwo years
they’ll tellyou
youII used
to endvocal melodies.”
melodies."
ago, he’s
he's seen
seen them
them performperform three
three times
times -– atcourse, waswas also
also thethe group’sgroup's major
majorHammersmith
Gabriel, of course,
Hammersmithlast
lastsummer
summer(for(formy money oneof last year's
year’s finest
finest gigs) and twice on theirlyricist, responsible
responsible for thethe often
often impenetrable,
impenetrable,oflastnotmention precious,
glimpses into
recentthe Rainbow,
Rainbow, where
where thethe
not to mention
precious, meshmesh of glimpses
recent British
British tour
tour (at(at themundanecosmic buffoonery
buffoonery andandtour
mundaneBritish
Britishlife, cosmic
tour opened,
opened,and
andatatthe
thelastlastgig,
gig,inin Bristol).
Alice In Wonderland fantasy
fantasy thatmade upup“I
AliceInWonderlandthat made"I enjoyedenjoyedthe
thebandbandatatHammersmith,Hammersmith, butbutmuch
the group's
isdifficult
difficultI waswasdisappointed
disappointed at the
the Rainbow wheremuchofof thegroup’slyrics.
lyrics.Even
Even so, it isnotthe combined
combined effects
theChester (Thompson(Thompson-–thenot to be moved by theeffectsofof thethegroup'sgroup’s new second
words andand music
musicto,to, say, “Supper’s
drummer)looked
lookedlike
likeaafish
fishout
outof
ofwater.
water.The
The
words"Supper's Ready”
Ready" –drummer)andsaving grace
grace was always thethefeel wasn’t
wasn't coming
coming throughthroughatatall.
all.Bristol
Bristolwas
wasand Gabriel's
Gabriel’s saving
quirkyense ofofhumourhumour he
he injected
injected into
into thethemuchmuch better."better.”quirky ssense
So whatgroup’s material.
group'swhat does
does hehe think
think of Genesis
Genesis these
these days?
These days Gabriel’s
Gabriel's songs
songs areare muchmuch more
more"When I waswaswith
withthetheband,band, thethe emphasis
emphasis was
“When
These
down
earth lyricallyand feature
moresongs than
than musicianship,
musicianship, butthemore on songs
but now
now thedown toto earthlyrically andfeaturerelatively
relatively
modest arrangements.
arrangements."SolsburyHill"“Solsbury Hill”isis themodesttheplaying andand the execution
execution has come up
up totomatchmatch
petergabrielmostovertlypersonaland maybe
ahead of thethe writing
writing interms of whatandmaybego aheadin terms
most overtly
personalsong
songonon thethe album.As
album. Aswell
as dealing
dealing withhis situation
situation in Genesis,
they choose
choose tofeature. Because
listen back tothey
to feature.
Becausewhen
whenII listenwith how
how he saw hissome
the songsong is aajoyous
joyous celebrationof thethecelebration of
the life-force. With
some of thethe otherother Genesis records
records I cancan hearhear what
what weits simple
simple andand infectious
infectious melody
melodyandandarrangement,
arrangement,
forandand how
how wewefailedfailedononoccasions
occasions toto getgetwere going foryou get thethe feelingfeeling Gabriel’s
Gabriel'squitting
quitting thethe bandband wasthe right
right feel ororthe
the right
right intensity
intensity or enoughenough space.
space.
thewas like“I
nervously filling
filling holes
having thethe proverbial
proverbial weightweight liftedhavinglifted from his shoulders.
shoulders.
"Iremember
remember quite
quite often
often nervously
Althoughwanted to get away
awayfrom
which should
should havebeen left empty, andand I think
think
which
have been
Although Gabriel wanted
from theGenesis song-format
song -format-– quasi-orchestral
quasi -orchestral
they're betterthey’rebetterat
atthatthatnow.
now.InInsomesomeways
ways Phil
Phil isarrangements,etcetc –andandmakemakeaasimple
simple album
album (hence(hencearrangements,
better singer thatthat I am
am fromfrom aatechnicaltechnical point
point ofa betterG"I think
think my“I
leaving, infact, kickedsome fresh
fresh air
Genesis"into Genesis”

30 | HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
30
I

PETERGABRIELPETER GABRIEL

tendencies
tendencies in their situation
situation which will encourage
encourage them
them totooldpoppopstarsstars–-toabsorb those
those kinds
kinds of
ofattitudes.
attitudes.
become rich old
to absorb"It'svery hard
hard forforme,'cos they’re
they're friends.
friends. If ininthreethree years’
years'“It’s veryme, ’costime
still going on, IIthinktime they’re
they're still
think they
they could
could well
wellbebeboredboredwithwithwhat
think they
theymaybe
what they're
they’redoing.
doing. I think
may bebored
boredininaayear's
year’stime.
time.
"As
farasasthe
thepunks’punks'attitudeattitude totobands
bands becoming
becoming dinosaurs,
dinosaurs,“As farthere
inthe
theway that
there is aacertain
certain amountamount of hypocrisy
hypocrisyinthat they
they areand whether
whether they
can control
not.
being exploited andthey cancontrol it or not.
"I
feltififI Ihadn’t
hadn'tleft
leftGenesis
Genesisititwould
wouldhave
havebecome
become obsolete,obsolete, or“I felt
ratherobsoleteifwe'd
if we’dgone
goneononas
aswe
we
rather it would
would have become
become obsolete
were. We
Wecould
couldhave
haverehashedrehashedcertain
certain ideas andand maybe
maybe
produced someproducedsome innovation,
innovation,butbutwithin
withinaafixed,
fixed, stablestableframework
thatwouldn't
wouldn’thave
haveput
putus
usto
to thethe test."
test.”
framework that
Surely aa lot
lotofofbands
bandsreach
reachthat
thatpoint
point andand carry
carry onon regardless?
regardless?
"Yes,thinkthat’s
that'strue,”
true,"hehereplies
replies-but
laughing“Yes, I Ithink– but laughing
uproariously, refuses toto namename names.
names.

GABRIEL'S
ATTITUDEtowards
TOWARDSthe
thepunks
punks isis ananabriel’s attitude
ambivalent one.
one. On the one handambivalent
hand he thinks
thinks ananamountneeds now
amountofof rebelliousness
rebelliousnessis
is justjust what
what rock needsstars now having
having thethe samesame status
status–- what with rock stars
pre-warpre-war movie stars
stars experienced,
experienced, a situation
situation
can certainly
certainly kill
killthethecommunication
communication link
which canbetween performer
betweenperformer andand audience.
audience.
Gabriel: “I"Iwentwent totosee
seePaulPaul Simon
Simon inin New
NewYork
Says Gabriel:York–-areala realstar-studded
star-studdedaffair.
affair.George
George Harrison
Harrison was
there. Itvery smug.
smug. It’s
It'sthethe samesame withwiththere.
It was all very
professional
footballers.Once
Onceyou
you get into
professional footballers.
into thethe multimedia boys
it's anan elite
elite thing
thing andand you move
move aroundaroundmedia
boys it’sanywhere-but
anywhere– butatatthe
theexpense
expenseofoflosing
losingsome
someofof thethecontactwith thethe people
people who actually
view.Apart
anything else
control
contact withactually listen to thetheview. Apart from anythingelse he has more control
over his voice. Phil
Philapproaches
approaches it as aamusician
musician andandmusic. That's
think themusic.
That’swhy
why I thinktheclub
clubscene
sceneisisso
sogets it toto soundsound better.
better.
important, becausethat intimacy.”
intimacy."
important,becauseyou
youreally
reallydo
do get that
But then“I
writtenin
in thethe songs
songs"I think
think thethe actual
actual things
things written
then again,
again, hehe feels
feelsthethepunk
punkphenomenon
phenomenon was
SiOLUbul )1
probablymean
think I sangseized on too quickly
quicklyby
byaacopy-hungry
copy-hungrymedia
andseizedmedia andprobably meanmore
moretotome
meand
andII tend
tend toto think
themmuch as possible with…
with... I don’t
don't know…
know... withrecord industry
industryabout
them asas mucha record
abouttotobreak
breakits
itsneck
neckininits
itsfearfear ofemotion inin thethe sense
sense theymean
they meanmore
moretotome.
me.So
So withReady’,
missing
the next
next boatboat –andandnotnotcleaningcleaningup
upon
onit.it.IfIf thethe scene
scenehad
hadbeenbeenleftleft
emotionwith ‘Supper’s'Supper's Ready',
missing the
I missmiss that.”that."
blossom untainted
untainted by such
such commercial
commercial pressures,pressures, thethe groups
alone to blossom
Gabriel's pleased
pleased Genesis
Genesis have enjoyed greater
greater successdeveloped more
more as players and writers.
writers. Gabriel checked
checked out
would have developed
Gabriel’s
success since
since his
histhewere infamous.
splitting,however
howeveranxious
anxioushe
heis
is to carve
splitting,carve his own niche
niche all over
over again
again andandthe Sex
SexPistols
Pistolsbefore
beforethey
theywereinfamous.
with different implements.
implements.
"Ididn’t
didn't much
much like their
their attitudeattitude tomuch“Ito thethe support
supportband.
band.ItItwas
was veryvery much"If they
theyhadn't
bad`We'rethe
thestars’.
stars'.Genesis
Genesisusedused totoget
getthethesamesamekindkindofoftreatment
treatment when
when
‘We’re“If
hadn’tbeen
beenableabletotoget
getgoing
goingwhen
whenI Ileft
leftII would
would have
have felt badtheywereaa support
supportband.
band.IIdidn't
didn’tgo
gofor
for themusic much,
much, but
but I enjoyedaboutit.
it. At theleaving they said I’dthingsfor
for them
them
about
the timetime ofofmy
myleaving
I'd destroyed
destroyed things
theywere
the music
enjoyedandonly gradually
gradually thatthat they
their own
Rotten. I waswasinterested
interested at thatthat point
point because
withRotten.
becauseother
otherpeople
peoplewho
whoII was
was with
and waswas being
being selfish.
selfish. It was only
theygot
got backback theirown
self-confidence.
having damaged
think(not musicians,
musicians, but
but personal
personal friends)
friends) hated
hated them
venom I hadn’t
hadn't(notthemwith
withaa venom
self-confidence.Now
Now there's
there’sno
no question
questionofof me
me havingdamagedit.
it.I thinkseen
my leaving,inin fact,
fact, kicked some fresh air into the band.
While in somemyleaving,band. Whileseen for aalong
longtime.
time.I Ithought
thoughtanyone
anyonewho
whocancanproduce
producethat
thatreaction
reactionways they
they resented
resented me
front, they
they also
also shelteredsheltered behindmust be interesting.”
interesting."
must
me being
being up
up front,
behindme.
me.AndAnd
they
had a responsibility
responsibilitywhen
come up
up withwithsomething
something strong.
ismoremoreenamoured
enamoured of thetheNew
NewYork
Yorkpunk
punkscene
scene-whichhashadhad
Gabriel is– which has
they had
whenII left to cometime
and audiencesaudiencesare
areolder.
older. In“Thereresentmentbecause
becauseI Igot
gotallall thethe"There was considerable
considerable emotionalemotional resentment
time to develop andand where
where both
both performers
performers andpress.
feltGenesis
Genesis were
weretaking
taking lesslessrisks.
risks.Maybe
MaybemymyleavingchangedGabrielisispretty
prettyenamoured
enamoured bybyAmericaperse
se-– particularly
particularly New
fact, Gabriel
America perpress. I felt
leaving changed
that.
stayed, things
things looked
lookedveryrosy.
seemed just
just about
about totobreakbreakYork.Not
Notonly
onlycancanheheavoid
avoidany
anyprejudicesprejudicesfrom
fromananaudienceaudience inin America,
America,York.
that. Had
Had I stayed,
very rosy. We seemed
he can also avoid themtoo, one
one of thehemind,asasfar
far asas ego andwent I was always
America, andand in mymymind,and ambition
ambition went
alwaysthem from musiciansmusicians too,
the mainmain reasonsreasons hea year ahead
ahead anyway.
wanted tochose to record his first solo
soloalbum
album there.
there.
chose
anyway.So
SoII thought
thoughtwewewerewereasasbig
bigas
asII wanted
togo.
go. AndAnd
somethe fire seemed
seemed tothe music.”
music.""The fact
fact thatthat I’m
I'm anan ex-public
ex -publicschool
schoolboy
and come
come fromfrom thethe school“Theboy andschool ofsome of the
to be
be going
going out
out of the
progressiverock wouldhave
haveput
putaalot
lotof
of musicians
off working
working withwithmeme
Does he regard
regard his former
former colleagues
colleagues as richrich old
oldpoppopstars,stars, then?
then?
progressive rockwould
musicians off"No,"hehereplies
replieswithout
without any
anyof
ofhis
hischaracteristic
characteristic hesitation.
hesitation. "Iregardhere. AtAtthe
the veryveryleast
leastthey’dthey'd have
havehad
had totolikelikememedespite
despitethose
those things.”
things."
here.
“No,”
“I regardthempeople I spent
spent two
two years
yearswithwithandandam
amstill
stillfriendly
friendlywith.
think
As things
things turned
turned out,
d without,thetheAmerican
Americanmusiciansmusicianswho
whoworke
workedwith Gabriel
them asas people
with. IIthink
there areare factors
factors built
there
built into their
their
on his album,
album, Bob Ezrin’s
Ezrin's house
house band,
band,
situation-whichwere so impressed
impressed withand hiswith Gabriel
Gabriel andhissituation – whicharearebuilt
built into
into anysituation
successfulas
asthatthat-whichmaterialmaterialthat
thatthey
theyexpressed
expressedaa desire
desire totosituation as successful– whichon thetheroad.
road.And
Andso
so it
are conservative,
whichhave
havetotoareconservative, which
work with
with him
him onconsider businessbusiness interests.
interests.
will be.
be.As
yet there
there areare no plans
plans forAs yet"Which isn’t
isn't to say
s ayI don’t
I don't-but
justGabrielin Britain.
Britain. He'dGabriel toto work
work inHe’dlike
like to,to,“Which– but justbut it all depends
on how
how well thethe very scale
thes caleof
ofthings,
things,thethenumbernumberbut
depends on
theof people
people involved,
involved,means
means thatthat thetheAmericanit's going
Americantour
tourgoes.
goes."If“IfII feel it’smachinebulky thatthat if you
you punchpunch
well, then
then I'll
he says.
says.
I’lldodoit,"
it,” hemachineisis so
so bulky
Now ififthat
it thethe punch
punch gets absorbed
absorbed in thethatremark
remark came
came fromfrom anyany
flab, rather
rather than
than actually changing
otherwith a pinch
pinch
otherrockrockstar,star,I'd
I’d taketake it with
its course.
course.
of salt
salt-but– butseeing
seeingasashow
how Gabriel had“Basically,
the integrity
integrity andand guts
guts toto step"Basically, I felt
feltwe’dwe'dbuilt
built our
our househousethestep right out
andrenting itit out.
of thethe machinemachine which
which had mademade himhim
andwe
we werewere renting
out. AndAnd forme the building is more
moreinteresting
interesting
famousbelievefamousinin thethefirst
firstplace,place,I'll
I’ll believe
him.Stevethanthethe renting.
renting.I thinkarethanthink there
there arehim.
Clarke•Steve Clarke

G

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK31
HISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 | 31

graham wood / getty

March 1977:
Gabriel inin
March
1977: Gabriel
New York,
York, ininthe
the biker’s
biker'sNewjacketheworeon
jacket he wore onstage
stage
with
withGenesiswhen
Genesis whenportraying Rael,theportraying
Rael, theprotagonist of
protagonistofThe
The Lamb
LiesDown
DownOnBroadway
Lies
On Broadway

1977
1977

a r chJJANUARYa n u a r y – M-1°H“Something"Something
more thanmoreblatancy”
atancyIGGYPOP
POPisisoffoff
IGGY
drugs,
changeddrugs, aa changedman.
man. AA new
newalbum
album–recorded
hisrecorded with
with hisclose
close pal,pal, thethe nownow
lesser-spotted
lesser -spottedDavid Bowie
Bowie –David
- isis ananattempt
to pursue
pursue aa
attempt todifferent linehis
different
line inin hiswork.
work. Intrigued,
Intrigued,
MM travels
travels totoMMBerlinBerlin to
to attemptattempt
to findfind thethe pair.
to
pair.

N
ian dickson / getty

IGGY POP32 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

- MELODYMARCH
5—MELODY MAKER
MAKER MARCH
5—

T EXText
TO to
MICK
Jagger's
adroitsigningto
Mick
Jagger’s
adroitsigningofofthe
theRolling
Rolling Stones toEMI,
after months
months spenteMi, after
spent hooking
hookingsuch
suchdifferent
differentfish
fishasasVirgin,
Virgin,
RSo and
RSO
and Polydor
PolydorRecords,
Records,there
therehas
hasbeenbeennonomoremoreinteresting
interesting
subject
speculation in music
music gossip
gossipthan
than thethe whereabouts
whereabouts andandsubject of speculationplans
plansofof DavidDavid Bowie.
Bowie.
Rumours ofstudies in
Hitlerian cult
cult and
andRumours
of fascist studies
in Berlin, of aaHitlerian
Howard Hughes-style
Hughes -styleintrigues,
intrigues, ofofheartheart illness
illness andand severe
severedepressions,depressions, maymayhave
Howardhave
been on thethe level
levelofofPhotoplay
Photoplayand
SilverScreen,
Screen,butbutthenthen"stars"
whocheerfully
cheerfullyadmit
been
and Silver“stars” who
admit
their
of thethe media
when thetheir own manipulation
manipulation ofmedia should
should hardly
hardly complain
complain whenthe media
media start
start
making theirinferences. "Musicians",
after all,all,usuallyusuallylike
to increase
increase public
publicmakingtheir own
own inferences.
“Musicians”, after
like totheir relationshiprelationship totheir work.
knowledge of theirto theirthe stories were amplified
The
amplified when ititwas
wasrecently
recentlyannounced
announced thatthat Bowie had
had
produced, arranged-written all
Idiot,thethefirst
firstalbum
album forfor
produced,arrangedandandco
co-written
allthethesongs
songs on The Idiot,
almost four
almostfouryears
yearsbyhis
by hisprotege
protégé(if(ifthat's
that’sthetheword)word)IggyPop,
iggy Pop,once
onceofofthe
theStooges.
Stooges.Not
Not
only
that,butbutititwas
was said
said that
thatBowie was managing,or atiggy’sonlythat,managing, orat least “directing”"directing" Iggy's
career. Suddenly
Hurok!
career.
Suddenlyhehewas
was Sol Hurok!
Haraldthe telephone
telephone fromtown about
about 200
HaraldInhiilsen
inhülsenwas
wassoonsoon onon thefrom Braunschweig,
Braunschweig,aa town
kilometres
outsideWest
West Berlin.
A youngkilometres outside
Berlin.A
youngfilmmaker,
filmmaker, Harald
Harald is better
better known
known asas thethepresident of
Iggy's european
European fan
presidentof iggy’s
fan club –-atatleast,least,toto British
British music
music papers.
papers.He
He sends
sends
photographs ofgirlfriend, Mechthild,
Mechthild, the"Iggy'sout nude photographsof his girlfriend,
the self-styled “iggy’s
only
truefan".
fan”.Thethe latest
latest show
show heron large
onlytrue
her lying akimbo
akimbo onlarge posters
posters of thetheformer Stooge.
formerHarald had this story
storyabout
Hewould
Haraldabouttheir
theirassignations
assignationswith
withIggy.
iggy. He
would
them up, andand they
theywould
some specified
specified place inin Berlin.
Berlin.
call themwould meet
meet him
him atat someBowiewaswithhim,
him,thoughthoughthey
theyhadn't
him forforthreethree
Sometimes Bowie
was with
hadn’t seen him
months. Yet
Iggywould
never reveal
reveal his
his phone
phone number,number, normonths.
Yet iggy
would nevernor where
where heheliving. Harald
Harald said
said iggy
Iggywasfrightened of upsetting
upsetting Bowie,
was living.
was frightened
Bowie, withlivedandandwhowasnear-paranoidnear -paranoid about
about people locating
locating him.
him.
whom he lived
who wasThe German
German press,
press, ititseemed,
seemed,werewerestalking
stalkinghim
himaroundaroundcheckpoint
Checkpoint
thecharliewith notebooks,
notebooks, tape
tape recorders
recorders andand telephoto
telephoto lenses, evenCharliewith
though Bowie's
popularityisisnot
though
Bowie’s popularity
notgreatgreatininGermany.
Germany.All
Allthetheworld
world loves
recluse, though.
though.
a recluse,“iggy
is underBowie’s control,
in his best english.
"Iggyisunder Bowie's
control, iI think,”
think," said Harald
Harald inEnglish.
"He would
would likeliketotobreakbreakaway.
Gethishisownownapartment.”
apartment."“He
away. Get
This waswasveryveryinteresting,
Iggyhasalwaysbeen
beenpresented
presented before
beforethisinteresting, since iggy
has always
as the– thatthe Wild
WildManManofofPop
Popthatsort
sortofofthing,
thing,aaperformer
performerwhose
whoseterrifying
terrifying »»The Idiotband nameMarch 5, 1977: Iggy
Pop at the Rainbow
Theatre in North
London for two
dates before The
Idiot Tour heads to
Canada and the US

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 33

1977

rex features

J a n u a r y – M a r ch

self-abuse
an intriguing
made hisself-abuse has,
has, in
in an
intriguingway,
way, madehisaudience
audiencevoyeurs.
voyeurs.When
Whenhehe first
first came
came toto England
Englandinspring 1972,
with Tony Defries,
D efries,then
then Bowie’s
Bowie'sin spring
1972, withmanager,hehe told
told meme how he
manager,he bashedbashed his front teeth
teeth
with
the microphone,microphone, brokewith thebroke bottles
bottlesonon hishis chest,
chest,
andmic standstand into
into
and once
once jabbed
jabbed thethe splintered
splinteredend
endof
of a mic
girl’s head.
He alsoalsoliked
likedtoto play
play golf. It wasa young
young girl'shead. He
was aalittle
little confusing.
confusing.
Such a nice,
nice, open
open chap,
chap, despite
despite thehat, pulled
thebigbig hat,pulleddown
downlow
low andandshady,
shady,
andtooth.
and those
thosemissing
missingbits
bitsofof tooth.
Later, Bowie mixed
his CBS album,
date,
mixed hisalbum, Raw Power, his
his best
best toto thatthat date,but
Iggyreturned
where hehe slipped
slipped backback into
into
but Iggy
returnedtotoAmerica,
America,totoLos
Los Angeles, where
old drug
drug habits
habits andand gradual
gradual anonymitybeyond
anonymity beyondthe
thesmallsmallcircle
circleofofhis
hiscult.
cult.
with RayManzarek
Ray Manzarekof
ofThe
TheDoors
Doorsandandtried
triedto
tobe
beJim
Jim
For aa time
time hehe bunked
bunked with
Morrison;about David
Morrison;and
andhe
hehad
hadfew
few good
good things
thingsto
tosay
say aboutDavid Bowie.
abruptly, theThen, abruptly,
the friendshipfriendshipwas
wasrestored
restoredwhen
whenBowie
Bowieleft
left Defries
DefriesandinLA.
LA.Iggy
Iggywaswithhimhimon
ona atrain
trainthat
thatpassed
passedthroughthroughand went
went to live inwas with
Russia; he was also
also onon Bowie’s
Bowie'stour
tourofofEurope
Europelast
lastspring
springandand summer.
summer.
b eganmaking
making The
TheIdiot
Idiotatatthe
theChâteau
Châteaud’Hérouvilled'Herouvillein
inFrance
Francethat
that
They begansame summer,
summer,and
andfinishedfinishedititat
at MusiclandMusicland inin MunichHansa, thethesameMunich andand Hansa,
studiostudionear
nearthetheBerlin
BerlinWall.
Wall.
All done,done, presumably,
presumably, including(his own
own
includingthe
thenew
newrecord
recorddeal
dealforforRCA
RCA (his
influence.Indeed
IndeedThe
TheIdiot
Idiothas
hasBowie's
Bowie’slabel), with
with Bowie’s
Bowie's money
money andand influence.
own unmistakeable
unmistakeable handwriting.
handwriting.
"Remember the“Rememberthehat?"hat?”Iggy
Iggy laughedlaughedwhen
whenhehecalled
calledlast
lastweek
weekfrom
fromBerlin. IIsaid
saidIIhoped
hopedhis
histeeth
teethwerewereininbetter
bettershape
shape(and(andremembering
remembering thethefervent
dental care
care of Mainman
Mainman employees,
fervent belief in dental
employees,I'm
I’m sure
sure they
they are).
are).
I'd better
better explain.
explain.
I’dThis telephone
callwaswasA
A Promotionalistelephone call
Promotional DDevice.
evice. When
When a rock artist
artist is
about
especiallywhen
it'sabout toto tour, especiallywhenhehehasn't
hasn’tperformed
performedininaalong
long while, it’s
good to whip
whip up
up aalittle
littlepress
pressinterest
interest with
with anan interview.
interview.
Iggy started
started this
this week in Britain
Britain aaseries
seriesof
ofcomeback
comebackconcerts
concerts thatthat will
will
take
Canada andtake him
him toto Canada
andAmerica,
America, andandpossiblyback
possibly backto
toEurope.
Europe.As
As ofwriting,hear theone music
music paper
paper were hiring
hiring a coachcoach towriting,I hear
the whole
whole staff
staff of one
go toto thethe first gig at
atFriars,
Friars, Aylesbury,
Aylesbury,sosomaybemaybehehedidn’t
didn't need
need thetheinterviewinterview after
afterall.
all.
wasvery
verygood
ofhim
himto
tosparesparethethetime,time, anyways,
anyways, inin thethe eventual
eventual
It wasgood ofcircumstances.He
Hebeganbeganbybysaying
sayingititwas
wasaa beautiful
dayin
in Berlin.
Berlin. The sky
circumstances.
beautiful day
was brightbright blue.
blue.Astatement ofofsomesomemoment
moment-he
A statement– hehadhadhardly
hardlyseen
seenit forsometime because
because hebeensome time
he had beenrehearsingall
all night
rehearsingnight andand sleeping
mostthe dayday (it was
was 3pm
3pm hishis time).
time).
mostof theActually, he soundedsounded inin really fine
shape."I“I amheshape.
am very straight,”
straight," heinsisted.
laughed again.
again.
insisted. Then
Then he laughed"Well,
inrelationshiprelationship todrugs."“Well, into drugs.”
We gotgotto
tomoremoreserious
serioustalk,talk,about
about
the
the new
new album.
album.Not
Notso
so much,much,like
like
the
said.
the others,
others,aaslap
slapininthe
theface,face,I said.
“More like a pinchhe"Morepinch on thethe bum,”
bum," hedrilyreplied.
drily replied.
A reflection
refle ction of life in Berlin?
Berlin?
Not exactly. He
He lived
livedmost
mostof thethe timetime inin Paris.
Paris."I“I havehavea girlfriend
girlfriend there.”
there."
Oh. That
That Harald.
Harald.
"It might
might have more
more to do
do withwith the
the
“It
fact
that before
didn'tfact that
beforeII went
wentininto
to do
do itit I didn’t
give aa shit
shit about
about what
what was going
going down
down
in the music industry.
industry. I hadn’t
hadn't listened
listened
to anything
anything formonths. I didn’t
didn't givefor six months.
a flying
flying …”
..."
Fuck?
"Yeah, forforthethe last
lasttwotwoyears
years I’ve
I'vebeen
been“Yeah,
living a life
livinglife ofofmore…
more... It
It waswashard,hard, very
very
hard,
and try
hard,toto get along andtry andand dodo whatwhat I
wantedfeltIIhad
hadsomething
something morewantedto
todo.
do. I felt
feltitit was
was tooto do than
than thethe blatancy
blatancy-I– Ifelt
blatant-anddrugs
blatant – andjust
justtotosay
saythere
thereareare nono drugs
involved.
matter of fact, I’d
I'd like
like toto putput
involved.As
As a matterout maybe‘ChinaGirl'
Girl’ as a single
outmaybe 'China
single because
becauseI wasn’t
wasn't twisted
twisted up andand paranoid.”paranoid."
broke off.
He broke“Hey,
go.”"Hey, I’ve
I've really
really gotta
gotta go."HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
34 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
34

It felt
feltasasthoughthough someone
someone were signalling
signalling to him
him inabout Bowie,
Bowie,I Ipersisted
persisted-his
the same room. What about– hisinfluence on
influenceon thethe album,
album,I meant?
“This"This was
was mademade before
before thethe Bowie
Bowiealbum.
album. There’s
There's aagreat deal
deal of his
his influence
influence on
it's only
only asas strongstronggreat
on it, but it’sin thethe past.
past. I’ve
I've always
always worked
worked with
with oneone
as guys inpersonas thethe keynote,
keynote, kicking
kicking ideas
ideas backback andforth withme,
me,likelikeRonRonperson as
and forthwith
Asheton,Williamson. It waswasdonedoneveryverymuch
the mannermanner that
Asheton, James
James Williamson.
much in the
thatI've
I’ve
Wesat
satin
inthe
thebasement,
basement, me
me onondrums
drums andand himalways worked. We
him onon piano.
piano.
The lyrics werebut I've
I’ve never been
thatclosed
closedabout
aboutit.
it.He
He
were basicallybasically mine,
mine, butbeen thatwrote a lot of
ofthe
themusic,
music,andand IIwrote
wrotethethelyrics,
lyrics,butbutthethemelodies
melodies areare mine.”mine."
wrote
Whycall it The
The Idiot?
Idiot?Afterthe book?
Why callAfter theNo, hehesaid,said,thatthatwaswasalways
alwaysthethetitle
titlehehewanted.
wanted.He
Hehadn’t
hadn'tread
read
until later, andand thenthen heconvinced. He
had also
seen, in a
Dostoyevski until
he was convinced.
He hadalso seen,
museum, aa picture
Berlin museum,
picturecalled
calledRoquairol,
Roquairol,ofofaa guywho
guy wholooked
lookedjust
justlikelikehim.
him. He had
had felt good
good about
about thethe title.
he hadhad toto go.
go.(Thinking(Thinking quickly) I asked
asked him
him if thethe new
new stagestage act
But hewould be at all
all different.
different.
would“I
not quite"Ithink
think it’s
it'sexactly
exactlythe
thesame…
same... It’s
It'shopefully
hopefullynot
quite as nasty
nasty as thethedirection ititstarted
direction
startedtototake.
take.But
Butit's
it’sstraightstraightalong
alongthethelineslinesofofMetallic
MetallicKOKO[acurrent
current bootleg]."[abootleg].”Everybody
would expect
expect him
him toto be outrageous,
Everybodywould
outrageous, of course.
course.
(Apregnant
pregnant pause.
pause. His mood
mood seemed
seemedto
totighten.)tighten.)“I’ve"I'venever
neverhad
hadthethesortsort(Arespect for these
these particularparticular currentsof respectcurrentsofofthought
thoughttotogive
giveaashit.
shit.And
AndII
don’t
quite think
thinkthat,
that,actually,
actually,IIknowwhat
know whatpeople
peoplecome
cometotosee
seeme
mefor,
for,
don't quite
and I know
knowwhatand they are two
two different
different things.
things.
andwhat papers
papers write
write about
about it, and"They comecome because
because theylike
course,“They
they likethe
thestylestyleofofmusic
musicandandshow.
show.OfOf course,
there
are going
going to be some who see ititotherwise.
there areotherwise. It’s
It's fine with
with me ififthey
they
don't come."
don’tcome.”
Punk rock? “Anarchy"AnarchyIn
Punk
InThe
TheUK"?
UK”?
“I
likeme.
me.II heard‘NewRos
Rose’,"I thought
thought it soundedsounded likeheard 'Newe',whichwhich IIquite
quite liked.
liked.
And
I've heard
heard of The
The Clash.
Clash. But
Butotherwise
otherwise I don’t
don't know
know much
much about
about it."And I’veit.”flashing. This
(Signals flashing.
Thistime
timehehewould
wouldreally
reallyhave
havetotogo.
go. Desperate.
Desperate.Try
Trytotobe crafty.)
crafty.)apartment ininBerlin,
This apartment
Berlin,isisthis
thiswhere
wherehehelivedlived with
withBowie?
(Aburstincredulous laughter.)laughter.) "Comeknow I can’t
can't say.
(A
burst of incredulous“Comeon,on,man!
man!You
You know
It’s
It's for DavidDavid toto say. You’ll
You'll have
have toto askask him.”him."
would ififIIknew
knewwhere
he was.
was.
I would
where heAh.
Ah.
Iggy finally
finally rang
rang off, andand thethe next day I flew
flewout
outto
toBerlin,
Berlin,doubtless
doubtlessattracted byweather they
theywere
attracted
by all that fine weather
were having.
DON'T
ASKme
MEhow
howI found
I foundout
outabout
aboutthetheSchlosshotel
Schlosshotel Gerhus.
Gerhus.
ON’T ASK
Inside knowledge.
down a quiet
quiet road in thethe grand
grand
Insideknowledge.Tucked
Tucked away down
residential district
became aa 40-room
residential
districtof
of Grunewald,
Grunewald,before
beforeitit became
40-room
hotelearly years
years of thiscenturyby
byDrDr
hotel it was a palace,palace, built
built in thethe early
this century

D

Popwith
Bowie,
Popwith David Bowie,
Kisco-composer andhis co-composer
andkeyboards
keyboardsplayer
playerininthethestudio
studioandandon
onstageduring
Idiot
stage duringThe Idiot
Tour,spring
Tour, spring1977
1977

C.
tii

iggy pop

IGGY POP

about his privacy; which
which isisto
tosay
saythataboutthat heto Kaiser Wilhelm
Wilhelm II.
often likes to
tobe
berecognised
recognised when
when he entersentersoften
It's great
great andand gloomy andand baroque.
baroque. To
onepublic place.
place.
It’s
To enter, one
aa public
has to swing
wroughtThis
hasswing against
against hugehuge andand heavy
heavywroughtThis fear
fear of his
his discovery
discovery is strongly
stronglyironcavernous hall is decorated
decorated in thethecommunicated toandiron gates. The cavernous
communicatedto his friends and
rich
ofthe
theItalian
ItalianRenaissance.
Renaissance.
acquaintances. A
confidant such as Tangerine
Tangerinerich style ofacquaintances.
A confidant
Footsteps
echo hollowly on tile
Dream’s Edgar
Edgar Froese,
Froese, whose
be seenFootsteps echo
tile andand marble.
marble.
Dream'swhose ideas
ideas cancan beseenYoufeelquite
quitealone.
alone. Indeed,
Indeed, there
there isonly thethetohave influence
influence Bowie
him
You feelis only
to have
Bowieon
onLow,
Low, has to ring him
immaculatelywhite-jacketedup
immaculately white-jacketedfigure
figureofof theup andand inform
informhim
himof
ofwho
who thethecompany
companyisisifif hehemaîtred',d’, sitting
wishes toto invite
invite him
him toto hishis flat.
maitresitting silently at thethe starchedstarched tables
tables ofwishesflat.
a restaurant
restaurant whereiswellwellknown
knowntotothe
themusicalmusical
wherenonoone
oneever
ever seems
seemstoto eat.
eat.
Bowie isisstraightstraight out
out ofofVisconti's
Damnedcommunity. In fact,
fact, Froese
Froeseactuallyactuallywent
to thethe
It isVisconti’s The Damned
community.
went to
Chateaurecordingof
ofLow, but(Irefer,refer,ofofcourse,
course,totoLuchino,
Luchino,not
notTony
Tony-nor
Chateau for thethe original
original recording
but
(I
– nor
somethingel).
hecouldn't getandhe couldn’t
get to grips with the music; andsomethingon
onthe
theStifflab
Stiff label).
Yetthere
there was a clue
clue onon thethe wallwall of thethe lobby,
Hansa
Wall,where
whereLow
Lowwascompleted,
HansaBy
By The Wall,was completed,Yetof Robert
where, amongst
amongst photographs
photographs of
was used
used early on inin theirtheir career
career by Tangerine
Tangerine
Kennedy and good German
German burghers
burghers gatheredgatheredDream,
Dream, althoughalthoughit's
it’s mainly
mainlyemployedemployedfor
forin thethe great
great hall,
picture ofrecords
recordsofof light music.
hall, stood
stoodout
out aa pictureof Mick
114\7_7iILEFU20--11;Zr
When she performed
quite recently
recently at the
get-up. Is there
Jagger inin hishis Midnight
Midnight Rambler
Rambler get-up.
there
performed quitetheanythese days, I wondered,wondered, thatthat refuses
refuses
Kino Kant, aa small,small, 400-seater
400 -seatercinema
cinema thatthat
any hotel theserock'n'rollers?
hosts
kind of music
music from punk
punk rockhosts allall kindrock torock’n’rollers?
d
Then
me.
Then thethe lift-boy
lift -boyfurther
further enlightened
enlightened me.
thein touchtouchthe experimental,
experimental,Nico
Nico tried
triedtoto get in"AnyEnglish
here?"
withto produce
produce the album
album shenow
“Any
English here?”with Bowie to
she is now"Ja. Fifteen.
Fifteen. Musicians.”
Musicians."
makingParis; but Bowie
Bowieandand Iggy
Iggywouldn't“Ja.
making inin Paris;wouldn’t“Oh"Oh really.”
really."Feigning
Feigningdisinterest.
disinterest.
see her, apparently.
apparently.
"Ja. DavidDavid Bowie.”
Bowie."HeHepointed
pointed down
down aa long,ofindifferent
indifferent healthhealth“Ja.
long,
Despite stories ofdarkcorridor. I handed
handed him
him a Deutschmark.
Deutschmark. It(he smokes
smokes too
toomuch)much)andandhighly
highlyvariabledark corridor.
(hevariablemuch these
thesedays.
days.
really isn’t
isn't worth
worth very
verymuchmoods,
quite happy
happywithmoods, he seems quitewith Berlin
Bymidnight
wrong
and
culture thatthat boasts
By
midnightII found
found out
out that
thathehe waswas wrong
and a culture
boasts both
both fine
fine-roog.
anyway,perhaps his
English wasn’t
wasn't good
museums
most extrovert
extrovert
anyway, or perhaps
his English
good
museumsand
andsomesomeof the mostenough(what(whatarrogancearrogancefor
forus
usto
toexpect
expectit!).
it!).
enoughdrag
Europe.
drag clubs
clubs inin Europe.
After careful
careful snooping
snooping from the picture
pictureAs one of his
his new
new songs
songs would
wouldhave
haveit,it,gallery, IIobserved
observedvarious
variousbohemianbohemianit'salmost aa new career
career in
town.
it’s almost
in a new town.
charactersbriskly
brisklycoming
comingandandgoing
going likecharacters
There are even suggestions
suggestions thatthat his interest
interest
characters-a -clef. Thesein German
German history
alpolitikwill
charactersfrom
fromaaDumas
Dumasromanroman-à-clef.
These
history andand rerealpolitik
will lead
were thethe musicians.
musicians.
himyoung Goebb
els ininhimto
to taketakethetheroleroleofof aa young
Goebbels
But nono Bowie
Bowie oror Iggy,
Iggy,andandaarigorous
rigorous thirdthirda movie project.
project.
degreethe hotel
hotel clerk
clerkascertained
ascertained that
that
Yetoneonestill
stillkeeps
keepssensing
sensingaarather
rather isolated
isolateddegree of the
Yet/IAA& /gram. tart". GA.1.
Res 11,0s
Ivry
althoughfigure, protected
protected from
althoughboth
bothhadhadoccasionallyoccasionallystayed
stayed there,
there,
from thethe outside
outside world by
t4mgmilal. 0.16 Oragglam.
they now
now lived elsewhere.
in my
my
they
elsewhere. I sat
sat pondering
pondering ina diligent secretary
se cretaryinin Corinne
CorinneSchwab,
Schwab,one
one
711 Grasiy.
s.2 Runk firm
twiktrilt.n."
;St
iroge
It
large, overcast room,
room, aalittle
littleintimidated
intimidated by thethe
who wants
wants to tie
tie hishisfriends
friendsjealously
jealouslyto
tohim
him-–
indefinably
polishedlikePop.
indefinably German
Germanquality
qualityofof its old, polishedlike Iggy Pop.
walnut andand thethe reverent
reverent hush,– James
walnuthush, stinking
stinking of money
money thatthat glided
glidedininthroughthrough
Jimmy, asas he’s
he'sreferredreferredto
toby
byeveryone
everyonewho
whoknows
knowshim
him-James
thecastellated windows.
Osterberg is hishisrealrealname
name-hasthe castellated
windows.
Osterberg– hascause
causetotobe
begratefulgratefuland
andgo
go along
along with
withdisgusted eventually
eventuallywith
Akid
kidwhowhogrew
grewupupin
inaacaravan
caravan inin AnnAnn Arbor,
Arb or,Michigan,
Michigan,andand
But disgusted
withthethestandard
standardofof variety
variety shows on
Bowie. A
whose
anoftenoftensickly
sickly switchb
switchbackride, hehe is growing
Germanand disappointed
disappointed toatwhose life has
has been
been anack ride,
growing elderly
elderly
German television,
television, andtofindfind thatthat Harald
Harald was not athomealmost 30 years
years ofofage
ageininthe
therolerolethat’s
that'ssuddenly
suddenlybeen
b eenthrustthrustupon
uponhimhim
at almosthome snapping
snappingnaughty
naughtyshots
shotsofofMechthild,
Mechthild,IIabsorbed
absorbedmyself
myselfininaa
fascinating
Burroughs, inin whose
whosedescriptions
descriptions
Godfather Of Punk.
Punk.
of Godfather
fascinating interview
interview with
with William Burroughs,
But whetherof cut-ups,
cut -ups,fold-ins,
fold -ins,word
wordandandmindmindgames
gamesit’s
it'snot
notdifficult
difficultto
torecognise
recognise
whether or not it’s
it's Bowie
Bowiewho
whohashasadvised
advised him
him toto capitalise
capitalise now,a modelmodel forwhen punk
punk rocksohot,
hot,ononrenewed
renewed interest
interest in his
his name,
name, the advice iswhenrock is sofor David
David Bowie.
Bowie.
"I think
think that-the -world, ox-cart waydoing
sound. London's
Rainbow Theatre,
Theatre, where
where he will
willplay
playthiswassound.
London’s Rainbow
this Saturday, was“I
thatwords
wordsarearean
anaroundaround-the-world,
ox-cartway of doing
practicallysold out
out withinthings, awkward
awkward instruments,
instruments,andandtheywill
they willbe
belaidlaidaside
asideeventually,
eventually,
things,practically soldwithin 24 hours.
hours.
probably
oonerthan
than wewethink.
think. This
Thisisissomething
something thatthat will
willhappen
happen inin thetheAccordingFroese, who
who is not
not thethe most
most physicalphysical of performers
performers
According toto Froese,probably ssooner
space
serious writers
writers refuse to makemake themselves
themselves available
himself, Iggy has
has a very
verygoodquite disciplined,
himself,
good act, quite
disciplined,with
withScot
ScotRickRickspace age. Most serious
available totoGardineron guitar
guitarand
andHunt
HuntandandTony
Tony Sales, theAmericanTVTV
the things
that technologyis
technology isdoing."
doing.”
thethings that
Gardiner on
the sons
sons ofofAmerican
And this: “Like"Likethetheadvertising
advertising people,
people, I’m
I'mconcerned
concerned with
with thethe precise
precisepers onality Soupy
S oupySales,
Sales,on
ondrums
drumsandand bass
bass respectively.
respectively.
personality
manipulation
rehearsals took place inin another
another converted
converted cinema,
The rehearsals
cinema,at
at 21
manipulationofwordof wordand
andimage
imagetotocreate
create anan action."action.”Viktoriastrasse,
in whatwhat were
were once
once thethe Ufa Studios.
of
But Bowie’s
to be
Bowie'sown
ownopinion
opinion ofofthisthiscomparison
comparison did not appear
appear to
Viktoriastras
se, inStudios. Here, members
members offorthcoming.
injudicious phonehand. There
the Nazi cabinet,cabinet, notablyebb els,viewed
viewedGerman
Germannewsreel
newsreelduring
during thetheforthcoming.An
An injudicious
phonecall
call tipped
tippedmy
my hand.
There werethenotably Go
Goebbels,reports
indeed, loathing
camp.
second world
reportsofof fear and, indeed,loathingin
inthe
theBowie
Bowie camp.
secondworld war.
war.
Iggy
was especially disgruntled,ashe
he hadhad just
just granted
me 15 minutes
Shortlytobe
be pulled
pulleddown,
down,ititis
is being
currentlyleased
leasedby
bythe
theTangs
Tangsforfor
Iggywasdisgruntled, as
granted me
minutes
Shortlytobeing currently
on thethe phone.
phone. I was
was sighted
sighted everywhere,
everywhere, like thethe Scarlet
Scarlet Pimpernel.
Pimpernel.
small rent.
rent. PeterPeter Baumann,
Baumann, one
the three
three members
a small
one of themembersofof thethe group,group, calls
calls
Consternation"the Victoria”
Victoria" andand regards
regards it with
with evident
evident awe.
Consternationgrew.
grew.Having
Havingcome
comenot
notto
to bury
buryCaesar
Caesarbut
butto
to praisepraisehim,him,
it “theLate Friday
I couldn’t
couldn't findFridayafternoon,
afternoon, when
when IIarrived
arrivedthere,
there,thethefinal
finalrehearsals
rehearsals had
had just
justfind aa single body.
Apartfinished androadies werewereloading
loadingthe
theequipment
equipment ready
readyforfinished
and teams
teams of roadies
for
Apart fromfrom spells
spells inin Paris
Paris andandSwitzerland,
Switzerland,where
wherehishiswifewifeAngela
Angela lives
lives(they areare said
said totosee
seeeacheachotherotherabout
about every
everytwo
twomonths),
months), Bowie
Bowiehas
hasbeenbeentransportation thetransportation
thefollowing
followingday
daytotoEngland.
England.There
Therewaswasno
nosignsignofof Bowie(theyor Iggyhadbeenbeentipped
tippedoff.
off. But on the
in Berlin
Berlin since
since last July inwith aaliving continuously
continuously ininan
anapartment
apartment with
Iggy-– they
theyhadthe dressing-room
dressing -roomdoor
doorthere
there
girlfriend
crudely letteredlettered sign:
was a crudely
sign:"Iggy's“Iggy’s Idiot
Idiot Lounge".
Lounge”.
girlfriend andand somesome other
other people,
people, including
includingIggywhen
Iggy whenhe's
he’s inin Berlin.
bythe
German, "WieSprechen?" (“Who’s("Who'sanother piece
paper awaiting
theThere was anotherpieceofof paperawaitingme
mewhenwhenIIgot
got backback to the
Right bythe telephone
telephoneisisaa sign
sign inin German,“Wie Sprechen?”Hotel Gerhus
The desk clerk handed
Speaking?”, which
the voice
Speaking?",
which he refers toto wheneverwhenever hehe doesn’t
doesn't recognise
recognise theGerhus much
much later thatthat night.
night. The
handed me ananof thethe caller.
caller.
envelope. Inside
Inside was a note
note thatthat read, “See"See you
youin
inLondon.
London.Enjoy
Enjoytheenvelope.
thefact, althoughalthough he's
adopted at
disguise of jeans
jeans andand shortshows. Regards,
shows.
Regards,Iggy."
Iggy.”
In fact,
he’s adopted
at least
least one
one disguise
shortBastard.
hair tuckedtucked under
underaa cloth
cloth cap, he has
hair
has aastar’s
star'stypical
typicalambivalence
ambivalence
Bastard. Michael
Watts•
Michael Watts

Walthur von Pannwitz,
Pannwitz, once
once personal
personal attorney
attorney“We"We satsat inthe basement,
drums
me on drums
andand Bowie
on piano”
piano"MIMS ME
Vann

P=Err. 111 Aid. S

CARL

"

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
19 77| 135
HISTORY
35

1977
1977

a r chJJANUARYa n u a r y – M-1°H“W
e’re as"We'reassubtlesubtle as
as
they
are”
they are"
AC/DC return
mission.
AC/DC
return toto thethe UK,UK, ononaarock’n’roll
rock'n'roll mission.
“Weof balls,"We just
just getget onon andand play
play with
with plenty
plenty ofballs,
plentyofmeat,"meat,”sayssaysANGUS
ANGUSYOUNG.
YOUNG. “Likeplenty of"Like
SecondWarsongs,"
songs,”adds
addsBON
BONSCOTT.
SCOTT.
Second World
World War
“Chaps"Chaps singing
singingas
astheytheywent
wenttotobattle…”
battle..."“H"H
Michael Ochs archives / getty- MELODYMARCH5 5—MELODY MAKER
MAKER MARCH—-DIDN'Tdo
DOIT!
IT!He
Hedidn’t
didn'tdo
doit!”
IT!"the
Theoutburst
outburstfrom
fromE didn’tbeer -bellied Welshman
Welshman totally
totally puzzles
puzzles his
his mate,mate,
the beer-bellied
who
has also
also taken
taken aa vantage
table towho hasvantagepoint
pointonontop
topof
of a table"Huh?" comes the reply eventually.
eventually.
get aabetter
better view. “Huh?”"Didn't do what?”
what?" “He"He didn’t
didn't do
IT!" theTheother’sother's voice
voice“didn’t
do it!”
desperate disappointment.
disappointment. “He"He didn’t
didn'tadopts aatone
tone of desperate
stripoff.
off.HeHedidn't
didn’tflash
flashhis
his
ass
ALWAYS does
doesIT."
it.”
strip
ass
atat
us.us.
HeHe
ALWAYS
whytheRank Suite
Suite attracted
attracted suchformidable crowd
Just why
the Cardiff
Cardiff Top
top Rank
such a formidable
crowd onon awindswept,
DC areare thethe bandband who
windswept,wet
wetTuesday
tuesdaynight
nightisisaamattermatterofofsome
somedebate.
debate.AC/
AC/dC
who
provide thethe music
music forfor theprovidethe evening.
evening. their
Their 17-year-old
17 -year -oldleprechaunish
leprechaunishguitarist,
guitarist, Angus
Young, isisthethegent
gentwhowhodidn’t
didn'toblige
obligethe
thepunterspuntersby
bydropping
hispants
pants andand revealing
revealing
dropping his
anotherstartling personality.
that why
whytheyall
anotherside
side to his startlingpersonality.Was thatthey all turned
turnedout?
out?
Whetheror notnot it was, though,thefans
fanswent
went home
homehappy.
happy.AC/DC,
AC/dC, aaweird
Whether orthough, theweirdconcoction
Scottish andandAustralianthem hard,
hard, hard
They'dconcoction of Scottish
Australianrockers,
rockers,gave
gave themhardrock.
rock. they’dprobablyseen
the rounds
rounds before
thisprobably seenall
allthethemoves
movesbefore,
before, heard
heardthetheriffs
riffs dodo thebefore thisparticularband
banddecided
decided to claim them,were attracted
the raw
energyparticularthem, butbutthey
theywere
attracted bybytherawenergy
that
into packaging
packaging andthathadhadgonegone intoand presenting
presentingthe
theshow.
show.
If thisthis set
set wasn’t
wasn't notable
notable fororiginality, it sure
sure was impressive
impressive fortheif
for its originality,
for theenthusiasm.Ititwas
wasthethefourthfourthgig
gigof theAC/dC British
enthusiasm.
the current
current AC/DC
British tour,
tour, andand thethe bandband isfeeling the pinch
pinch of thetheSexSexPistols’
Pistols'tV
TVextravaganza
withBill
BillGrundy
Grundythat
occurred
extravaganza withthat occurred
when they
theywerehome ininAustralia.
were home
Australia.
have closed theirdoors toto rock’n’roll.
Glasgow City Hallwas
wasVenues, they’ve
they've found,found, havetheir doors
rock'n'roll. GlasgowCityHall
one.
wereprevented
prevented fromfrom playing
playing thatthat gig on this
this tour
tour because
because of
the damage
one. AC/DC
AC/dC wereof thedamageover-zealousfans
fanscaused
causedonontheir
theirlast
lastappearance
appearance there.
there.
over-zealous
direct result
And Liverpool Stadium
Stadium isisoutoutthisthistime,time,too,
too,aadirect
result ofofthe
thederogatory
derogatory
publicityrock
the Pistols/Grundy
Pistols/Grundyaffair.
publicity rockhad
had received
received since theaffair.
"Never mind,”mind," Young
YoungAngus
optimisticallystates,"they'll open again when they’re
they're“neverAngus optimisticallystates, “they’lllosing money.”money." »»»36 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
36

I

"I've“I’vegoneon
gone oninin gorilla
gorillasuits,
suits,as Tarzan, as Superman…”:
asTarzan,asSuperman...":
AC/DC'sAngusYoung
AC/DC’s Angus Youngon
on
stage
Hollywood,stage in Hollywood,

California,977
California, 1977

HISTORY OF ROCK 1976 | 37

1976

J a n u a r y – M a r ch

After only two years in Britain, AC/DC have already carved their own
identity with rock supporters here, although their popularity goes
nowhere near challenging their appeal down under.
They’ve just returned from an Australian tour, playing regularly as
headline act in front of 10,000 fans, but they don’t mind doing an aboutturn when Britain calls. Tonight in Cardiff, for instance, I doubt verymuch if the audience figure approaches the 1,000 mark. So what, they say.
“We don’t care how many people we play to,” Angus says, through anaccent that is a curious mixture of his early Scottish upbringing, his later
Australian emigration period and a slight slur in his speech. “We’ll play infront of two people if we have to. Nah-matta how many people’s there, youplay for them ’cos they pay. It’s the obligation. We coulda existed inAustralia, but eventually we would have to change, and we don’t wannachange. Middle-of-the-road is the big thing there. We would have to getmellower and mellower and we’d end up like Tommy Steele.”
Three of the band were born in Scotland. Apart from Angus, there’s his
brother, Malcolm, five years his senior, and the rhythm guitarist, andsinger Bon Scott, the volatile frontman whose vocal and moody stage
persona aren’t a million miles away from Alex Harvey’s. The band iscompleted by Australian-born duo of bass player and drummer, MarkEvans and Phil Rudd.
Three AC/DC albums have been released in Australia and two in
Britain, High Voltage and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, and the music onthem is typical of the no-nonsense rock’n’roll that epitomises their stage
set. Again, exciting if unoriginal. When they were in Australia, the band
recorded another album with their producers, former Merseybeats
George Young (Angus and Malcolm’s brother) and Harry Vanda.
Angus is loath to use the word “mature” as a description of the newmaterial. That’s a little too pretentious, he thinks. Let’s just say “classier”.

A

ND so we find AC/DC in the congenial surroundings of the
Cardiff Top Rank, with more focal interest on the stage thana band of this nature usually merits. The cause for this oglingis, undoubtedly, the presence of Angus. His schoolboyish looks andrough baby-face features make him something of a freak offstage, but hefully exploits those assets for the band’s live set, wearing a schoolboy
outfit, short pants, blazer, shirt and tie, and cap. It certainly develops amanic personality on stage, racing round like a madman beating the life
out of his axe, dashing occasionally into the audience.
The dance area at Cardiff is ideal for this gimmick, and Angus took fulladvantage of that situation. The audience reaction to the “star” of the show
coming down from his pedestal to join them is fascinating. At Cardiff,when Young went into the midst of the bopping throng, it was like somescene from Rock Around The Clock, with fans forming a circle around him,
clapping hands, tapping feet, encouraging him to batter away.
But, as the two lads earlier bemoaned, there was no flash of Angus’s
posterior at this gig. Ever since Young decided to turn his back on theaudience and expose his bare ass to the Reading Festival campers lastAugust, it’s become almost expected that he should give every audience
this, er, joy.
This history of Angus and his schoolboy reargoes back two years.
“Ah’ve always seen guys like Berry duckwalking and Jerry Lee Lewis stripping off, so
I decided that I would wear that for a bit of fun.
If I went on stage like this [jeans and T-shirt], I’dlook dumb. That suit does me justice. For a start,
I can pull the hat over me head and hide me face.
“I can do that and show off me knees. Flash mearse. Me bum’s about the best side of me.”Oh yes, his bum. I informed him about thedisappointed fans.
“’Cos I didn’t take off me pants? I only do thatwhen I feel like puttin’ shit on the audience.
Some audiences you get are really rowdy, and to shut them up you just go,‘Take that, ya poof.’“It’s just to shut them up, to quell them. I’ve been on stage, especiallyin Australia, and there would be guys there all night ribbin’ me to dosomethin’ and they’d be shoutin’, ‘Angus has no balls,’ until I eventuallytake off me pants and show ’em, because they’re goin’ to keep it up allnight, so ya gotta shut them up pretty quick.”
How long, I wondered, could he sustain the gimmick?

“As long as I want to. I’ve gone on in gorilla suits. I’ve gone on as Tarzan.
I’ve gone on as Superman. I like wearin’ those clothes. I like to go on
lookin’ the part so that straightaway it’s something to look at. My thing isthat I like to see somethin’ to get people away from drinkin’ to see what
you’re doin’. It’s different when you look larger than life.
“It’s to keep people interested, not bored. To keep them always lookin’.
They pay to see somethin’. That’s the way we look at it. Nah, I never getembarrassed, I’ll do anythin’. The only time I get embarrassed is when
you get a crowd that’s stone-cold silent, but that only makes us work
harder anyway. We get them in the end. We always have.”T

he CarDiff auDieNCe enjoys Angus’s antics. They smile andlaugh as he gets carried away. They’re amused at the outrage.
Just as they are amused at the outrage of the lyrics.
AC/DC make no bones about what they’re singing: sex and violence.
From “The Jack” to “Jailbreak” Bon Scott’s lyrics leave little to theimagination. Their new maxi-single shows that. The three cuts are “Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “The Jack” and “Big Balls”.
It isn’t filthy, Angus maintains. It’s intended to be funny. Try telling thatto the BBC. Scott has another outlook: “Rugby clubs have been doing it for
years. Songs like that. The songs that fought the Second World War werelike that, with the chaps singing them as they marched into battle.”
Angus: “There’s not much seriousness in it. It’s just rock’n’roll. Chew itup and spit it out. If you look at it this way, most of the kids in the street talklike that. In Australia, you see, we started in small clubs and bars, andwhen we came here we stuck by the same, places like the Marquee.
“Kids would be swearin’ their heads off. They don’t say ‘turn it up’, theysay ‘fucking turn it up’ – we’re as subtle as what they are. As far as radio
stations go, you can turn on the radio and you wouldn’t like to hear yoursongs on the radio anyhow, ’cos it’s in there with Barry White playing his
Love Unlimited. That’s sorta like a bit degradin’.
“I suppose the radio plays are important in some ways. It gets you acrossto more people. But as far as changing what you are, that’s wrong. We
don’t believe in that. You should let them come to you rather than go tothem. It would be easy to sit down and churn out about 200 love songs,
and you could guarantee one of them getting played sometimes, but
you’d be selling yourself short.”
Cardiff is a good one, it transpires, for the band. Although the sound is
by no means perfect in the ballroom, it’s loud enough and riffy enough forthe fans. Unpretentious rock’n’roll. It never fails.
“A lotta people get us wrong,” Angus complains. “A lotta people say that
we can’t play. I’m not sayin’ that we’re special. People say that we get on
and play rock’n’roll and it’s nothin’ new, but we get on and play thatrock’n’roll because we like playin’ it. It’s what we do best.
“We just get on and play rock’n’roll with plenty of balls, plenty of meat,
plenty of spontaneity. That’s our main thing.
“What makes ours different is that ours are good songs and we playthem well. A lotta bands can play the basics but they can’t play withquality. We can build a song at 100 miles an hour and play it right at thatspeed. It’s got the right feel, the right everything, whereas you get a lotta
bands who just play fast and don’t give a fuck if they’re outta tune.
“Good songs are essential. In the old days you
had rhythm and blues songs like ‘I’m A Man’,
Chuck Berry’s ‘Schooldays’. You put songs fromnowadays up against them and they’re nuffing.”“Yer punk,that’s just a
hip little thing. T
It’s nuffin’”38 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

he sCeNe ChaNges to a room at theCardiff Post House, where Angus
Young is plotting to revolutioniserock’n’roll, and Bon Scott, suffering a headacheand jet lag, lies in a heap in the corner and isn’t
remotely interested in his plans.
I suggest to Angus that there’s nothing at allserious about AC/DC. They’re just a good-time
band, with lyrics that mean nothing and musicthat is just a rehash of what has been done before – like a rock version ofBarry McKenzie. He bites.
“Well, we take it seriously to a point, but if everyone took it too seriously,
we’d all be walking around with down faces and we’d all be living in thegutter. Bands who take themselves too seriously are fools, because
they’ve taken it so seriously that they’re not allowing themselves toenjoy it, whereas if they went on and played it as they should play it, it
would be better.

1)11N

Whole
Lotta
Rosie
Lkve...t awa
p.

"The bawdinessbawdiness balances“The
balancesout
outwith
withotherotherthings
thingsininour
ourset,set,but
butyou've
you’vegot
got
upthe
themonotony.
monotony.It's
It’slike
likeLib
Liberace.
to breakbreakuperace. He can’t
can't get up andand play
BeethovenyouputputBeethoven
BeethovenandandBeethovenall
all night,night,soso hehe bends
bendsaa little.
little. It's
It’s like ififyou
Bach and brought
brought all
those classicalall thoseclassical people
peoplebackback fromfrom thethe deaddead for aconcertonon TV oneyou hadconcertonenight
night andand onon thethe otherother channel
channel you
had thethe Lone
Ranger, it’s
it's guaranteedguaranteed therating,theLone
LoneRanger
Ranger would
would pull
pull thethe biggest
biggest rating,becauseentertainment rather
because it's
it’s entertainment
ratherthan
thanpure
pureboredomboredomall
allnight.
night.
“I
who’sgone
gone toto see any of"I don’t
don't know
know anybody
anybodywho'softhesethese serious
serious bands
bands
who'vemay saysayit
was great,
great, thatthat thethe music
who’ve enjoyedenjoyed it. They may
it wasmusic waswas good,
good,
but
somewhere during
during thattheywerescared totobut somewherethat set
set they
were bored
bored andand were too scaredadmitit.
it.
admit"If IIwent
wenttotosee
seesomebody
somebody thatthat was ‘musical’,'musical', I'd
I'd“If
I’d yawn
yawn mymy headheadoff.
off. I’d
end
end upup walking
walkingout
out toto thethe bar."bar.”“Musical”,
inthe
thesense
senseofofbbands
likeYes?
Yes?
"Musical", II suggest,suggest, inand s like
"Yeah. To
Tome,me,bands
bands like Yes
Yeswould
wouldbebeaaboreboretotosee,
see,not
notunlessunless they
they had
had“Yeah.
some
strippin' on
eventhen,then, Hawkwind
Hawkwind done that.
that.
some Sheila strippin’
on stage.
stage. Well, evenThat shows
That
shows ya what
what they
they gotta
gotta resort
resort to,to, andand yetyetpeople
peopletake
take them
them
seriously.
would probably
probably comecome onwith a fantastic
fantastic light
seriously. Yes
Yes would
on withlightshow.
show.
"I've never
never seen
seen them,
ably use aa light“I’vethem,butbutthey
theyprobprobablyuselight show
show toto covercover upupthat they're
they’re bored
bored andand that
thattheir
theirmusic
music is borin’
notthatborin' andand thatthat they’re
they're notmakin'
makin’people
people jump."
jump.”
was saying
saying thatthat too many
many bands
b and stake
takethemselves
themselves too
too seriously,
seriously, they
they
He waswere self-indulgent.
Peoplelike
like John
John McLaughlin.
McLaughlin.But,
But, I reply, surely
were
self-indulgent. People
surelyeverybodyin
act thatthat
everybody inrock
rockmusic
musicisis self-indulgent.
self-indulgent.Certainly,
Certainly,AC/DC's
AC/DC’s live actvery night
night was rather
rather self-indulgent.
self-indulgent. Bon,the sleeping
sleeping beauty,
Bon, thebeauty, emerges
emergesfrom his slumber
to defendfromslumber todefend Angus.
"With rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll self-indulgence,“With
self-indulgence,thetheaudienceaudiencegets
getsoff
offon
onit,"
it,”heheexplains
stupor. "With
Yesself-indulgence,
self-indulgence, thetheexplainsas
as hehe shakes
shakesoff
off his stupor.
“With a Yes
audienceis
is sittin’
out therebaffled. They don’t
whatthethefuck
fuck isaudience
sittin' out
there baffled.
don't know
knowwhat
happenin'.
you're being
being self-indulgent
self-indulgent
happenin’.When
Whenyou're
you’replayin'playin’cleverclever stuff, you’re
androck'n'roll,and expectin'
expectin’thetheaudienceaudienceto
tocop
copwhatwhatyou're
you’re playin'.
playin’. In rock’n’roll,which is what we play,which
play,you’re
you'regivin’givin'thetheaudienceaudience what
what you’re
you're doin’.”
doin'."
that Bon collapsed,
collapsed, while IItell
tellAngusthat from what
what hehe hadhad been
beenWith that
Angus thatsaying,lotof
ofmodern
modernbands
bands thatthat he doesn’t
doesn't like.
saying, there
theremust
mustbebeaa hell
hell of aalot
like.
“I
sortamusic,"
music,”hehe answers.
answers."I“I get"I waswasneverneverinterested
interested in modern-day
modern-day sorta
off onon all thethe old stuff,
stuff, Elvis, Chuck
Chuck Berry,Little
LittleRichard,
Richard, Jerry Lee, swing
swing
Berry,
records,
Armstrong andthat.
records, LouisLouis Armstrong
andstuff
stuff like
like that.
“All
You"Allthetheotherotherstuff
stuffseems
seemspoor
poorinincomparison,comparison, even the production.
production. You
put
Richard's ‘Tutti`TuttiFrutti’
Frutti' onon andand put
put thethe wildest thing
thing fromtoday
put Little Richard’s
from today
nextand ititsounds
sounds timid
timid in comparison.”comparison."next to it andThat’sAngus.
That's what
what they
they call progression,
progression, Angus.
"Well,they
they musta
musta progressed
progressed theyou whenwhen ititstopped
stopped“Well,
thewrong
wrongway.
way. I'll
I’ll tell you
getting'
Stonesputputoutout‘Jumpin’
lumpin' Jack
Flash' andandgetting’good,
good, when
when thethe Rolling Stones
Jack Flash’‘Street Fightin'
Fightin’ Man'.
Man’.
'Street"Past that,
that, there’s
there's been
been nothin'.
Zeppelin andthat have just been
been
“Past
nothin’.Led
Led Zeppelin
and all thatpoor
and bands
bands like that.
that. That’s
That's when
reckon itit
poor imitators
imitatorsofof The Who andwhen I reckon
stopped.The
The rest
rest I wouldn’t
even call progression.
stopped.
wouldn't evenprogression.

"Guys like Jeff
JeffBeck
BeckandandMcLaughlin
McLaughlin , all
all
“Guys
those
guys should
wouldn’tevenevengetgetaa good
good runinthose guys
should be playin’
playin' jazz, andand they
theywouldn't
run inthose bands
bands because
years andand
those
becausethere's
there’sguys
guyswho've
who’ve been
been playin'playin’ that
that50 years
would blow them
them off. People
People like
likeBeck
Beckshouldn’t
shouldn't evenevenbebethinkin’
thinkin' of playin’
playin'would
andthemselvesrock'n'roll.
rock’n’roll.They've
They’ve intoand callin’
callin' themselves
into a different
different thing
thing altogether.
altogether.
"The same
same with the Harveys andand thoseanother self“Thethose people.
people.He's
He’s anotherselfindulgent. Get
Put them
them allYougetgetaaguy
guynowadays
tocomecome
indulgent.
Gethimhimoff.
off. Put
all away. You
nowadays tooutfuck
out on a piano
piano like Jerry Lee
Lee Lewis,
Lewis,writin’
writin' songs
songs like his
his andand kickin’
kickin' fuckoutta theand I guarantee
guarantee thatoutta
the piano
piano andandrippin'
rippin’his
hisshirt
shirtoff,
off, and
thatwithin
withinaafew
years thethe guywould
could play
playthetheyears
guy wouldbe
beone
oneof
of thethe biggest
biggest things
thingsgoin'.
goin’.If I could
piano,
I’d be doin’
it.”piano, I'ddoin' it."washorrified
horrified to think
think that-year -oldmusician
musician was
I wasthataatendertender17
17-year-old
advocating thatshould do nothingnothing but
advocating
thatwewe should
but repeat
repeatwhat
what has
has gonegone before.
"It's notnot repeating.
repeating. It's
just playin’
playin' what
“It’s
It’s justwhathashasalways
alwaysbeen
beenthere.
there.AA good
good
song is what
what it’s
it's all
all about,
about, whether
whether it's
good song,
song, wellsong
it’srock'n'roll
rock’n’rollor
ornot.
not.A
A goodarranged andpresented, wild
played, well arranged
and well presented,
wild andandexcitin'
excitin’forfor a rockband, whichare. The
Therestrestaren’t
aren't rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll andand they’re
they're wrong
band,
which is what we are.
wrong
call themselves
themselves rock’n’roll.
rock'n'roll. They'reto call
They’re just
just bleedin'
bleedin’hiphiplittle
littlethings.
things.Yer
Yerpunk thing.
thing. It's
nuffin'."punk
thing.That's
That’sjust
justaa hip
hip thing.
It’s nuffin’.”
first time
time hehe heard
heard Led
Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin playing
playing real
real rock’n’roll,
rock'n'roll, said
said
The first
wason
ontheir
their fourth
fourth album,
album, on
Young, wason thethe track
track"RockAnd“Rock AndRoll".
Roll”.
"I've seen
seen thatthat band
band live andand theywere“I’vethey wereon
onfor
forthreethreehours,
hours,and
andforfortwotwoand -a -halfhours
hours they
they boredb ore dthe
thepeople,
people,and
andthenthenatatthe
theendendthey
theypull
and-a-halfpull out
rock'n'roll numbers
numbers to
the crowd
movin'. That’s
That's sick.
old rock’n’roll
toget
get thecrowd movin’.
"They should
should have went
went on there
there and“They
anddonedoneananhourhourofof good
good up
up stuff,
stuff,
what they’re
they're supposed
supposed to be, thethe most
most excitin’
excitin' rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll band
band
which is whatthem andand thethe Stones, andand they’re
they're notin the world, themnot playin'playin’it.
it.
"The Rolling Stones
Stones get
get upup andand play soul
soul music.
music. And this
this is supposed
supposed to“Thetobe rock’n’roll.
to thepeoplewho
who dodo it best,
rock'n'roll. Leave thatthat tothe people
best, thethe black people,
people,and get on andand play
playwhatest,andwhatthey
theyare.
are.IfIf theyplayed
they playedwhat
whatthey
theyplay
playbbest,
they'd behell ofofaalot
lotbetterbetterand
andthey’dthey'dprobably
probablyfindthemselves at
ease."
they’dbe a hellfind themselvesat ease.”But IIwas
AC/DC attachedwasanxious
anxiousto
tolearn
learnhow
howAC/DC
attached themselves
themselves to thatthatrock'n'roll generation.
generation.
earlier rock’n’roll"Ifwe
weplayed
played‘Schooldays’'Schooldays' tonight,
tonight, you’d
you'd ’a'a seenseen what
what I mean,
mean, rockin’rockin'“If
andexcitin’.Obviously,
Obviously, you
you can't
can’tgogo on
on andanddo
do itit like aa revivaland excitin'.
revival band.
band.
We're getting’getting' on andand playin’
playin' it as ititshould
should be
beplayed
playednow.
now.SoSomanymanythings
We’rethingsinvolved. That’s
That's not
not rock’n’roll.
rock'n'roll. Bands shouldn’t
shouldn't leave
now are involved.
leave what
what they
they
play
best.
playbest.
"Like,people
people gogoout
outnow
nowandandbuybuyalbums
albums just
just because
because of thethe name.
name.
“Like,
Stewart has
has aanew
newalbum
album out.
out. Out
Outthey
theygoand buy
buyit.
don't give
Rod Stewart
go andit. They don’t
fuck what
what it'sa fuckit’s like.
"The same
same with
with theheard their
their last
last album
album and“The
the Rolling Stones. I heard
anditit waswas
piece ofofshit.
shit.OneOnesong
songthatthat soundedsounded remotely
the Rolling Stones.
a pieceremotely like
like theThe rest a cheapof a poor soul band.
People should
shouldbe
begivengiven
cheap imitation
imitation of
band. People
money,andand they’re
they're not.”not."value for money,
IfAngusand AC/DC
AC/DChave
havetheir
theirway,
appears, there
there will bebechanges.
changes.
If
Angus andway, ititappears,
Mind
your backs.
backs. HanyDoherty
Mindyour
Harry Doherty •HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 139
HISTORY
39

Hulton ArcHive / Getty

AC/DC inig77:-r) PhilAC/DC
in 1977:(I(l–r)
AngusYoung,
Rudd, Angus
Young,Mark Evans,
Evans, Malcolm
MalcolmMark
and BonBonScott
Scott
Young and

YMar cr

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1977

a P r il – june

toMPETTY,
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40 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

imitevAgAillaofthedaytheSilverJubileeof the day the Silver Jubilee
iscelebratedwithstreet
is celebrated with street
parties
upanddowntheUK,
parties
up and down the UK,
VirginRecordsmarkthetheVirginRecords
markreleaseoftheSexPistols'
release of the Sex Pistols’"GodSaveTheQueen"with“God Save The Queen” witha boattripdowntheThames.
a boat trip down the Thames.
Seenherebeforetheband's
Seen here before the band’s
performance
belowdecks
performance
below decks
are Johnny
Rottenchatting
areJohnny
Rottenchatting
withfilmmakerJulienTemple
with filmmaker Julien Temple(backtocamera)
asartistand(back to camera)
as artist anddesignerJamie
Reid
looks
on on
designer Jamie
Reid
looks

if
It

re11141-40
411.0111111'"ma/-+ffini

Aim

Insulting
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behaviour
MM
JUNE
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followthetheSexfollow
SexPistols'
Pistols’JubileeJubileeboat
boatparty.
party.

M

MALCOLMMcLAREN,
alcolmmclaren,managerthe
Sex
Pistols,
MANAGER
ofof
the
Sex
Pistols,
appearedat BowStreetappearedat BowStreetMagistrates
Court
onon
Wednesday
Magistrates
Court
Wednesdaymorning,
chargedwithinsultingmorning,
chargedwithinsultingbehaviour,
followinga Virginbehaviour,
followinga Virgin
Records
party
aboardthetheThamesRecords
party
aboardThamescruiser
Queen
Elizabethcruiser
Queen
Elizabeth
thetheprevious
evening.
HeHe
pleadedprevious
evening.
pleadednotnotguiltyandwasremandedonon
guiltyandwasremanded
£100
bail
until
August
£100
bail
until
August30.30.
HeHe
was
one
of of
1111people
arrestedwasonepeoplearrestedwhen
river
policeboardedthethewhenriver
policeboardedcruiserafter
Pistolshadbegun
cruiser
after
thethePistols
had
begun
to to
play.
None
of of
thethe
band
was
play.
None
band
was
charged,butbutthethebrotherof Pistols
charged,brotherof Pistols
leadsingerJohnnyRotten,James
leadsingerJohnnyRotten,James
Lydon,
was
fined
£3£3
after
hehe
Lydon,
was
fined
after
admitted
shouting
andandswearing
admitted
shouting
swearing
Victoria
Embankment.
onon
Victoria
Embankment.

brian cooke / getty

102111111

June7,1977:intheevening
June 7, 1977: in the evening

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 41

1977
1977

J U NEaAPR
p r il – 04
Jordan,born
Jordan,bornPamela
PamelaRookeonJune23,1955:
rooke
on June 23, 1955:"If Ii ever
everseeFreddie“if
see Freddie
Mercury,I'Iltip
Mercury,
i’ll tip
somethingsomething over him”
him"

clothes. Vivienne [Westwood,[Westwood, McLaren’s
McLaren's
girlfriend]
girlfriend]andandMalcolm
Malcolmare
are the two mostcreative
people around.”around."creative people
Jordan was one
one ofof thethe first
first people
people toto
Jordanever
on thethe Pistols.
Pistols. “I"I remember
rememberever clap
clap eyes onwatching
Hammersmith
watching them
them rehearse
rehearse in Hammersmith
beforebeforeJohn
Johnwaswasin
inthe
theband.
band.HeHewas
was just
just
a customer
customer then."close associateassociate ofthen.”AsAsaa closeofRotten's, can she tell
tell when
when hehe isisputtingputting
Mr Rotten’s,onact? ItIt has
hasbeenbeensuggested
suggested thatthat MrMr
on an act?
Rotten deliberately
deliberately does
Rottendoessoso wheneverwheneveraa
memberpresent. “He"He nevermemberof
ofthe
thepresspress is present.
never
puts
act-– he won’t
won't compromise.
puts on an act
compromise.IfIfhehe“I have faith
in the clothes”
NME
punk
NME APR 16 A
A meetingmeeting with
with Jordan,
Jordan, punkfaceclose friend
friend offace andand closeof Johnny
Johnny Rotten.
Rotten.

feels
spitting, he’ll
he'll spit.”
spit."
feels like spitting,Jordan sees Seditionaries’
Seditionaries' as “the"the hubJordanhubofof thethe situation
situationthat
thatyoungyoungpeople
peopleare
arein".
in”.
And"We get other
other bands
the
And she adds: “Webands inin theshop
to getget theshop tothe clothes
clothesthe
thePistols
Pistolswear.
wear.
came ininto
tobuy
buyvinyl
vinyltrousers.”
trousers."
Mr Big even cameobscure reason Jordan
Jordan does
For some obscurenotQueen."Iflever
not like Queen.
“If I eversee
seeFreddie
Freddie
Mercury in public, no doubt
doubt I’ll
I'll tip
Mercurysomethingsomethingover
over him,"
him,” she confides.
What, I wondered,wondered, has Freddie
Freddie done
done to
to
What,
incur
wrath? “Actually,"Actually, I've
incur such wrath?
I’ve never
never met
methim; only thethe drummer.
drummer. It’s
It's just
justthatthat they
they
cater
certain kindcater forforaa certain
kind ofof people
people -– hippy
hippy
collegepeople –-andviolent towards
college people
and I feel violent
him. I don’t
don't likewhat he’s
he's doing.”
doing."
like what
Jordan is not
not exactly
exactly modest when
Jordantalking
visitedtalkingof
ofher
hersuccesssuccess when she visited
Americaknockout," sheAmerica recently.
recently."I“Iwas
was knockout,”says. “There"There were
were pictures
picturesof
ofme
mein
in
Woman's Wear
WearDailyand
Woman’s
Daily andII even
even madeChannelthe time
Channel33 news.
news. That
That was thetimeII was
wearing
wearing rubber..."rubber…” Rubber
Rubber what,
precisely? “Stockings,
precisely?
"Stockings, skirt…”
skirt..."
Notsurprisingly,
Not
surprisingly, boyfriends
boyfriendsneverseem
never seemtoto featurefeaturein
inJordan's
Jordan’slife.
life.Nor
Norhavehave they
they

donesoso inin thepast."I“Iwas
was veryverymuchmuchanandone
the past.
UNDERNEATHTHETHICKblacknderneath the thick blacklines andand heavily
heavily rougedrouged cheeks there
there
lines
might
well be a stunningmight wellstunning female
tryingtryingto
togetout.
get out.It's
It’ssosohardhardtototell,tell,mymy dears,forJordan
good jobof covering
covering
for Jordandoes
doessuchsuchaa goodjob ofup any good
featuresshe
shemaymaypossess.
possess. Even
Evenupgood featuresher(brown at the roots, white
white at the tips)
her hair (brownis engulfed
engulfed inthick layer of lacquer.
in a thickJordan(real namename Pamela) is
Jordan (realissomething
somethingof
Although she'sof a star. Although
she’saa shop
shop assistantassistant(in(inSeditionaries,theSeditionaries, theshop
shopowned
ownedbybySex
Sex Pistolsthatmanager Malcolm McLaren) there’s
there's little
little thatis meremere routine
routine inin herher life.
life. Because
Because ofof herher looks
looks
andassociations withand associations
withthethenew
newwave,wave,when
whensheshewent toto America
Americarecently
recentlyshe
shewaswas givenwent
given thethestar
star treatment
treatmentand
andevenevengot
gotaaspot
spotononTV.
TV.
Johnny Rotten
friend (yes, heJohnnyRottenisis a close friend
does have some), andor
does
and ifif he’s
he's bored,bored, down
down orjust
justplainplainfed
fedup,
up, invariably
invariablyititisis Jordan
Jordanhehephonesflagging spirits.
phones to cheer his flagging
spirits.
IImetJordan
met Jordanatthe
at theshop,
shop,situated,situated, ironicallyironicallyenough,next door
Conservative club,enough, nextdoor toto a Conservative
club, butbut
there
little conversation
therewas
was little
conversationabout
abouther
heras
asshe
she
strode purposefully
purposefullyacrossacross thethe road, seeming
strodeoblivious
the open-mouthed
open-mouthed stare
oblivious toto thestareofof JoeJoe
Public. Her
Her obsession isisfashion.
fashion.So
every
Public.
So everyincidentin
inher
herlifelife(she(she is 20) is
to viaincident
isreferredreferred toassociations
with clothes
associations withclothesworn
wornandand makeup
makeupapplied.
her pink
pink period
period ("Iapplied. School
School was her(“I hadhad
bright-pink
hair.”). Harrods
Harrods(yes,(yes, Harrods)
Harrods)waswas
bright-pink hair.").
hergreen period.
her green
period. America?
America? Well,
Well, thatthatwaswaswhen
into rubber.
rubber. Spring
Spring '77
finds herwhen she was into
’77 findsherclad mostly
mostly in black. A black
black jacket
jacket resembling
resembling

rex features

U

42 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
42

outcastatschool.
they'doutcast at school.IfIfitwas
it waskiss
kisschase,chase, they’dstraitjacket, all
black
run away
awayfrom
boywould
run
fromme.
me. No boy
wouldtouch
touchme.
me. Still,
Still,
a straitjacket,
all zips and bits), and black
IIdidn’t
theirattention.
attention.But
ButIIwasvivid pink
pink
didn't really
really want
wanttheirsuede boots. The only break is vivid
very hard up forfor people
people on my wavelength.”
wavelength."very
rouge and brightly
brightly coloured lipstick.
strange fashion-conscious ladyof course,
course, there
there are many
many others
others who
who
Now, ofThis strange
fashion-conscious
ladyshare theoriginated frombackwater
the outlook,
outlook, althoughalthough it’s
it's still
stilldifficult
difficult totooriginated
fromSeaford,
Seaford, a quiet backwater
down thethestreetstreet without
without getting
getting rude
walk down
rudenear Brighton.
Brighton. Her
Her parents
parents weren’t
weren't into
into
theatre, but
remarks or gaping
gaping stares. “I"I remember
remember once
remarks
fashion or theatre,
butby
by thetheageage ofof seven it
gettingonaa train
opposite awasobvious
obvioustheir
theiroffspring
offspring was…
was...“My"Myfather,”father,"getting on
train and sitting
sitting oppositewaswith her
her youngyoung son. FirstFirstshestaredwoman withshe stared
says
saysJordan
Jordan inin aawell-educatedwell-educated voice,voice, “was"wasclerk. My
My mothermother was aabarmaid
barmaid[both[both arearethen she`Isthatthat woman
woman
and thenshe asked the boy: ‘Isa clerk.
opposite
upsettingyou?'you?’ He
He nodded.
Thenretired]. They'll
get used toto thethe fact
fact
opposite upsetting
nodded.Then
now retired].
They’ll never
never getasked ifif IIwould
wouldkindly
kindly leave
leave thethe carriage.
carriage.
she asked
thatturn out
out thethe way theythat I didn’t
didn't turnthey wanted.”wanted."And her
didn't!
Well, of course II didn’t!
And
her mode
mode ofof dressdress
Next
thingshesheasked
asked meme
alsopresented
presented
Next thing
has also
was aastripper.
stripper. So
was if I was
So II
numerous
with, er,
numerous problems
problems with,"I was very hardsex."I've
turned roundturnedroundandand asked
the opposite sex.
“I’ve been
up for people on my her, ‘Do
outwith`Doyouyouthink
thinkstrippers
strippers
walking out
with people,
totally ordinary
ordinary people,
look like
look
like me?'me?’ And
AndII also
also said
said
totallypeople, andwavelength"
they've freaked
freakedout
outjustthat ifif II had a sonsonlikelike thatthat I’d
I'd
that
they’vejust
throw
down thethestreetstreetwith
throw him out the door.”
door."
going downwithme." Even thethe police
police have shown
shown ananinterest
interest inon thethe subject
subject ofof Rotten,
Rotten, Jordan
JordanBack onme.”"They once tried
tried to arrest
arrest meme forfor being
being
claims,"He'sinterested inclaims,“He’s notnot really
really interested
in
Jordan. “Theypermanent
girlfriends.But
Buthe
hedoesdoesneedneed
indecently dressed
public." Andpermanent girlfriends.
indecently
dressedinin public.”
And whatwhat wassweetgirl
girlwearing
wearingatatthetime?"Stilettos,
pour his
histhoughts
thoughts out
out to.
to. He’ll
He'll ringsomeone to pourthe sweet
the time? “Stilettos,
holes,see-throughsee-throughup andand say, ‘Please'Please comecome over
over andup
and keep
keep memestockings with huge holes,
sane.' He
He said
saidtotome
mehehelikedlikedmemebetterbetter thansane.’
knickers andsee-through bra."knickers
and see-throughbra.”Ah,
Ah,IIsee.
see.
Prior toto Seditionaries,
Seditionaries,Jordan
worked forforanyone because
because he liked
liked my clothes
clothes andfelt
anyoneand he felt
Prior
Jordan worked
time ininEastbourne
Eastbourne–-"Where
hadthethepotential
potential towhat I wanted.”wanted."IIhad
to say what
a time“Where II dressed the
And on these
these evenings,Andevenings,howhow(dare(dareII ask?) dosame." She
Shelaterlater worked
worked at Way In at
at Harrods,
Harrods,
same.”"they were
they spend
their time?
awful
they
spend theirtime? "We“Welistenlistento
toan
an awful
where “theywere very
very good
good andand never said
anything about
green lipstick
lipstick or
lot of reggae. John really
really likes reggae. It’s
It's thethelot
anything
about mymy greenor makeup."
makeup.”only thing
only
thingweweevereverdance
danceto."to.”SoSo now
now we know,
She adores
adores working
working forfor Malcolm.
Malcolm. “I’m
"I'm very
very
involved in the shop and have
havegreat
great faith
faith in thetheangels. Velda Daquiri
my angels.
involved“I was very hard
up for people on mywavelength”

Wilko Johnson (left),(left),Wilko
who
Dr Feelgood
Feelgood
who leaves
leaves drduring the recording
recording ofduringthird studio
third
studio album
Sneakin'Suspicion
Sneakin’ Suspicion"In exchange“Infor beer”
beer"
MM APRIL
11111111aUrg
MM
APRIl1616DMI.LICb
Beatles
Hamburg
recordings arerecordings
are legallylegally contested.
contested.

TWO
for
WOLIVE
LiVeBEATLESBeatLesalbums
albumsareare setset forrelease within
threeweeks
weeks ofof eacheach
within threeother –-thanks
band's failure
failure totootherthanks toto thethe band’s
court injunction
injunction preventing
preventing the
win a court
therelease
releaseofHamburgTapes
Tapes album.
of thethe “unofficial”"unofficial" Hamburg
BeatlesandandApple
Appleattempted
attempted toto getget
The Beatles
the High Court
Court totheto preventtheprevent therelease
releaseofof TheBeatles
Live At The Star
Beatles -– LiveStar Club.
Club. The album
album
from a tape
tape made by
by ’60s'6os Liverpool
Liverpoolcomes fromrock singer"Kingsize" Taylor.
rocksinger Ted “Kingsize”
Taylor.
But High
High Court
Court vice-chancellor
vice-chancellor Sir Robert
RobertT"Calledhisbluff" MM APRIL 9 MM
Wilko
leavesAPRIlJohnson
9 Wilko Johnson
leavesDrDr
Feelgood,citing
citing“musical"musical differences”.
differences".
Feelgood,

GUITARIST
has left Dr Feelgood
Feelgood-–on
major British tour
tour by
UITARIST WILKO
WIlkoJOHNSONJohnSon has
onthe
theeveeve of a major
theband. Johnson,
Johnson,who
who waswas a foundercompanywith
withthetheFeelgoods
Feelgoodsoverover
the band.
founder member,member, parted
parted company
musical differences.
the band'sthat thethe split came
came
musicaldifferences. Fred
Fred Munt,
Munt, theband’s tour
tourmanager,
manager,told
toldthetheMM
MM thatwhen
the band
when thetherestrestofof theband"called“calledWilko's
Wilko’s bluff".
bluff”.
"Wilko gave
gaveanan ultimatum
ultimatum thatd aa track
track called
called 'Lucky
Seven', hehe would
would leave
leavethethe“Wilkothatififthey
theyrecorderecorded‘Lucky Seven’,
band.
Feelgoods' type
music. But thethe rest ofofthe
the bandband andand thethe record
band.HeHe didn't
didn’tfeel
feel it was the Feelgoods’
typeof music.
recordcompany loved thethe song andand insisted
insisted thatthe album,”
album," he said.
company
thatitit stay on the
The tour,opensat
atExeter
ExeterUniversity
Universityon
onMay
May 12, will betour, which
which opens
be thethe debut
debut of aa new
new guitarist,
guitarist,
unnamedSouthend.
unnamedbut
butalreadyalreadyrehearsing
rehearsingwith
withthetherestrestofofthe
theband.
band.He
Heis
is fromfrom Southend.
leaving thethe band,band, Johnson
Johnson recorded
recorded aa new album
album with
Before leavingwith thetheFeelgoods
Feelgoods at
at RockfieldStudios
Studios in Wales.
Wales.ItItisisscheduledscheduledfor
forrelease
releaseininmid-May.
mid -May.Johnson
Johnsonhas
hasnotnotyetyetannounced
announced what
what his
his
futurefuture plans
plans are.
are.
Feelgoods' tour
tour isisdesigned
designed totocovercoverthetheareas
areasnotnotregularly
regularlyplayed
playedby
bytheband,including,including,
The Feelgoods’
the band,to lettersletters fromfrom fans,
fans, two
two West Country
plan toto touragain inin
in response
response toCountry dates.
dates. The band
band plan
tour Britain
Britain again
September, following their
their return
return from
September,fromthetheUSA.
USA.
tour schedule
schedule is:Bracknell Sports
Sports Centre
The full tour
is:Exeter
Exeter University
University(May(May 12), Bracknell
Centre(13),(13), Crawley
Sports
Civic Hall
Hall (15), Norwich
AndrewsHall
Hall(17), Ispwich
Sports Centre
Centre (14), Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Civic
Norwich St
StAndrews
IspwichGaumont (18), London
London Hammersmith
Hammersmith Odeon
Malvern WinterWinter Gardens
Gardens (20), Salford
SalfordGaumont
Odeon(19),(19), Malvern
University
and Coventry
Coventry Theatre
University(21)(21) and
Theatre(22).
(22).Support
Supporton
onthe
thetour
tourisisthe
theLew
LewLewis
LewisBand.
Band.

An
unspecified fi
figureAn unspecified
AFTER
WEEKSOF
OFspeculation,
speculation, it
itwas
Fter Weeks
wasA

confirmedthisweekthattheSex
confirmed this week that the Sex
Pistols have
havesigned
signedwith
with Virgin
VirginPistols
Records
Records –- forfor anan“unspecified"unspecified figure”.
figure".
And-delayed new
singleAnd their
theirmuch
much-delayed
new single"God Save The
TheQueen”
Queen" isisthethefirst
first“God
releaserelease under
under thethe new deal –- it
it comescomesout next
next Friday,
out
Friday, May
May27.
27.
Pistols have also nearly
nearlyThe Pistols
completedworkonon anan album, andcompleted work
a Virgin
Virgin spokesman described
described theadvanceorders foradvance orders
forbothbothLP
LPandand single
singleas “massive”.
"massive". A
Ahuge
huge marketing
marketing

THE BEATLE

Live!

at the Star-Clu

in Hamburg,
Germany;

Oki 1962,

NME MAY21
MAY21The
TheSexSexPistols
Pistolssign
signtoto Virgin.
Virgin. A
NME
A new
new
single, “God"God Save
TheQueen”,
Queen",isis imminent.
imminent.
single,Save The

campaign isisbeing
being mounted
mounted by
by Virgin
Virgin toannounce
the new contract
contract andannounce theand upcoming
upcoming
single,but plans
to advertiseadvertise ititon
single, butplans toon ITVITV last
lastweekend were thwarted
when both
bothThames
Thamesthwarted when
London Weekend
Weekend rejected
rejected theand London
commercial, even thoughthough ititwas
described ascommercial,
was describedas“not"not offensive or controversial”.
controversial".
Pistols have
havebeen
beenwithout
without
The Pistolsa recordrecord deal since
since their
their dramatic
dramatic
departuresfrom EMI
EMI and A&M.
departures from
A&M.
they arebusiness again,
Now they
are backback inin businessagain,
they
return toto thethe gig circuit
circuitthey plan to returnin thethe near
nearfuture
future –- provided
provided theyobtain bookings.
bookings. Existing
Existing bans
can obtain
the groupgroup are, apparently,
apparently, stillon thestill inin
operation
at many
many venues.
operation at
HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 143
HISTORY
43

gus stewart / getty“Called his bluff”
G

Megarry turned down thethe application
application after
after
Megarry
hearing Taylor
thatThehearing
Taylor say that
TheBeatles
Beatleshad
hadoriginallyagreed toto thethe tapetape provided
providedheheoriginally agreed
bought themboughtthem beer.
beer.
decision was badbad news
news forfor EMI,
EMI, who
who
The decision
are planning
toreleasereleaseaa live
live album
whichplanning toalbum whichfrom aatapetapeofofthe
theband’s
band'sconcert
concertat
comes fromatthe Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
the
Bowl in1964.
in 1964.
That
albumisis expected
tobe
be released
released ononThatalbum
expected toMayi,1, butfrom EMI
EMI would
would commentcommentMay
but no one fromthis week on aadefinite
definite release
release date. They
thisalso remained
remained silent
silent about
about thethe High
High Court
Court
the “Hamburg”"Hamburg" album.
decision on thealbum.
"Hamburg"album
The “Hamburg”
albumshould
shouldhave
have been
available
last week, but
releaseavailable in Britain
Britain last
but thethe releaseheldupupby
bythe
theairport
airportworkers'
industrial
was held
workers’ industrial
action. There are 100,000
100,000 copies
theaction.
copies ofof thealbum
werealbum in Germany, where they
they were
manufactured, waiting
manufactured,waitingto
tobe
be flown
flown toto Britain
Britaintime.
at press time.
The albums are on
on PaulPaulMurphy’s
Murphy's
Lingasong
Lingasonglabel andlabel
will retail
retail
at £4
.99.
at
£4.99.
None will beNonepressedinpressed in
Britain.
Britain.
Murphy, who
Murphy,boughtthebought thefromtapes from
Taylor, wasTaylor,unavailable
for comment
for
time.
at press time.

1977
1977

J U NEaAPRILp r il – JNNE

On
Onthe
the tube,
tube, inin thethe caffcall andand overlooking
overlooki theWestway
spokesme fororWestwaywith
withTHETHECLASH,
CLASH, spokesmen
disaffected
youth. However
However raw,
messagedisaffected youth.
raw, their
their message
will find
find its
audience. “It’snot forforthemthem ifif they
they
will
its audience.
"It's notcan’t
understandit,"
it,”says
saysJOE
JOESTRUMMER.
STRUMMER.
can't understand

Fs it

“W
e ain’t"AiVe
ain't MT:SIN
ashamedto fight"
fight”-NMEAPRIL2—
NME APRIL 2 —T ain’t
AIN'Tpunk,
PUNK,ititain’t
ain'tnewnewwave,it'sthethenext
nextstepstepandand thethetwave, it’s
logical progression
progression forwhat youlogicalforgroups
groupsto
tomovemovein.
in.Call
Call itit whatwant –-all
all thethe terms
terms stink.
stink.Just
Just call ititrock’n’roll…”
rock'n'roll..."You don’t
don't know
know what
what total
total commitmentcommitment isis until
untilyou've
you’ve met
met
MickJones
TheClash.
Clash.He’s
He'sintense,
intense,emotional,
emotional, manicmanicMick
Jones of thedepressive
and plays lead guitar
depressive andguitar with the kind ofofsuicidal
suicidalenergythat
energy thatsome
somemusiciansmusicianslose
loseand
andmostmostmusiciansmusiciansnever
neverhave.
have. His
relationship
Strummer andthe love/hatelove/hate intensity
intensity
relationshipwith
withJoe
Joe Strummer
andPaulpaulSimonon
Simonon is thethatyouyouonly
only get with
thatwith family.
"Myparents“My parentsnever...
never…thethepeople
peopleinvolved
involvedwith
withThetheClashare mymyfamily..."Clash arefamily…”
the Clash andTheand meme areare sitting
sitting aroundaround aa British
British Railtable
those railway-station
railway -station cafes
wheretableinin oneone of thosecafes wherethe-coloured paint
peeling andandthe pucepuce-coloured
paintononthe
thewallwall is peelinglethargicnon-white
non-whiteslave
slavelabour
labourserves
servesyou
you tealethargic
tea thatthattastesurine.
tasteslike
like cat urine.
Joe Strummer
Strummer isan ex-101er
ex-101erand
andthethemutantmutant offspring
offspringis anof Bruce
Bruce Lee’s
Lee'slegacy
legacy-– aano-bullshit
no -bullshitsense
senseofoftoughtoughthatthat »

Erica EchEnbErg / gEtty

“I

IP
tr

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
44 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
44

.4

iv

May 9, 1977: (l–r) Joe Strummer,
Paul Simonon and Mick Jones
backstage at North London’s
Rainbow on the White Riot TourHISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 45

1977
1977

J U NEaAPR
p r il – SO

means
thrashing hemeanshehe cancan talk
talk about
about a thrashinghetooktook awhilea whilebackback fromfrom somegiant,
Teddyboywithout
giant, psychotic Teddy
boy withoutthe
theslightest
slightestpretension,pretension,self-pity
self-pity or
sensemartyrdom.
sense of martyrdom.
“I
to dealwithitit and
andhe
hegot
got meme inin thethetoilets
toiletsfor
foraa while,"
while,”"I waswas too
too pissed
pissed todeal with
Joe says.
says. “I
"Ihad
hadaaknife
knifewithwithmemeand
and IIshoulda
shoulda stuck
stuck it inin him,him, right?
right? But
But
whencame to ititIIremember
remember vaguely
vaguelythinking
thinking thatthat it wasn’t
wasn't reallywhen it cameworth'cos althoughalthough hebattering me
tooworth it, ’cos
he was battering
me about
aboutthethefloor
floorI was too
drunkhurt thatstuck a knife
knife inin himhim I’dI'd probably
probably
drunkforfor itit to hurt
thatmuchmuchandandififII stuck
have
years..."
have toto do
do a few years…”
When The Clash
Clash put
put paint-slashedpaint -slashed slogans
slogans on their
their family-createdfamily -createdurban
ate And War”
War"it’s
it'snot
notaacute
cuteturnaroundturnaroundurbanbattle
battlefatigues
fatiguessuch
suchasas"H“Hateof aaflowery
floweryspiel
spielfromfrom1010years
yearsago
ago-it's
brutallyhonesthonestcommentcomment on thethe– it’s aabrutallyenvironmentthey're
they’reliving
living in.
in.
environment
They've had
had aggravation
aggravation withstudents to
They’ve
witheveryone
everyonefrom
fromTeds
Teds to students
toAnglo-rednecks,
them frightened
frightened pigs attacking
attacking what they
they can’t
can't
Anglo-rednecks, all of themunderstand.But
Butthisthisain't
ain’tthethesummer
summerof
oflovelove andand The Clash would
understand.
would rather
ratherbe kicked into
into hospital
hospital than
than flash
peace sign
sign andand turn
turn the other
other cheek.
flash a peace"We ain’t
ain't ashamedashamed to“We
tofight,"
fight,”Mick
Mick says.
says.
“We
"Weshould
should carry
carry spray
spray cans
cans about
about with
with us,”us," PaulPaul Simonon
Simonon suggests.
suggests.
He's
the spike-haired
spike -haired bass
bass player
player with
with considerable
considerable pulling
He’s thepullingpower.
power.
Even my kid
kid sister
sister fancies
fancies him.
him. He'sfrom a SouthSouth London
London ex-skinhead
He’s fromex-skinhead
background;white
whiteSta-Prest
Sta-PrestLevi's
Levi’s strides,
strides,highly
highly polishedpolishedDM
DM boots,background;boots,
button-down-of -an -inch cropped
croppedbutton-downBen
BenSherman
Shermanshirt,
shirt,thinthinbraces,
braces,eighth
eighth-of-an-inch
hair
on aaSaturday
Saturdayrunningrunning with
with The Shed
Shed because
becausehair andand over the football on
for thethe first
first time
time inin your
your life
lifethethesocietysocietythat
thatproduced
produced you waswasterrified
terrified ofofyou. And ititmade
made you
you feelfeelgood…
good...
came out of that,
that, getting
getting into rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll at the start
start oflast
Paul cameof last year
year andandone of the
bandsheheevereversaw
sawwaswasthetheSexSexPistols.
Pistols.Pure
Purelate
late-’70s
rock,one
the first
first bands-'70s rock,
Paul Simonon. In Patti
Patti Smith’s
Smith's estimation
estimation he
rates
and Rimbaud.
Rimbaud. He knew
knew
rates alongsidealongside Keef andexactly whathe
he waswas doing when he named
theexactlywhat
named theband
Clash...
band The Clash…
"The hostilities,”
hostilities," Mick
MickJones“The
Jones calls the violent
reactionsthey
they often
often provoke.
provoke.
reactions"Or maybe
maybe those
those Lemon Squeezers,”
Squeezers," Paul“Or
says, seeking
seeking thethe perfectperfect weapon
weapon for protection
protection
when trouble starts
starts andand you’re
you'reoutnumberedoutnumbered
10totoone.
one.
10
rodent-like features
The rodent-likefeaturesofof theirtheirshavenshaven-headedex
ex-jailbird
headed-jailbirdroadie
roadieknown,
known, among
among otherotherthings,cynical smirk.
smirk.
things,asas Rodent
Rodent break
break into
into a cynical"Don'tontheir
their drapes
drapes otherwise
otherwise they“Don’t get itit on
they getgetreally mad,"
mad,” hehe quips.
quips.He
He went
went along
alongtoto seesee TheThe
reallyClash soon
soon after
after his release
release fromprison.At
the timetime he waswas carrying
carrying
prison. At thea copy ofofMeinMeinKampf
Kampfaroundwitharound withhim.
him. Prison
Prison can
can messmess up
up your head.
Strummer, in his
his usual
usual mannermannerStrummer,of abusive
abusivehonesty,
honesty,straightened
straightenedhim
en withwith themthem
him out.
out. Rodent's
Rodent’s bebeenever since
since andand sleeps
sleeps onon thethe floor
floor oftheir studio.
studio.
their
Clashdemand
demand total
total dedication
dedication
The Clashfromeveryone involved
with thethefrom everyone
involved withband, a sense
band,
sense of responsibility
responsibility that
that
must
betrayed nono mattermattermust never be betrayedwhatinternal feuds,
what internalfeuds, ego clashes or
personalitycrisis
crisismay
maygo
go down.
personality
down.
Anyone who
who doesn’t
doesn't have
have that
that
attituderemain withattitudewill
will notnot remain
withTheThe
Clash for very
Clashvery long,
long,andandthat’s
that's thereasonband's biggest
reason for the band’s
problemdrummer.
problem –theytheyain't
ain’tgot a drummer.
The emotive
emotive Mick explodes
explodes at thethementionthementionofof thisthis yawning
yawninggap
gap inin thelineuplineup andandlaunches
launchesinto
intoaa stream
stream-of-consciousnessof-consciousness expletive-deleted
expletive -deleted
soliloquywith
drummers
soliloquy with talk
talk of drummers
who bottled
bottled out
broken glassout of broken
confrontations, drummers
drummerswhose
whose
confrontations,egos outweighed
outweighed their
their creative
creativetalent,talent, drummers
drummerswho
whoarearegoing
goingtotoget their
their legs broken.
broken.

“Forgetjust aa few words"Forget it, it’s
it's inin thethe past
past now,”
now," Joe tells
tells him
him quietly,
quietly, with
with justwords
cooling out Mick’s
Mick's anger
anger andand replacing
replacing it with
with something
something positive.
any
cooling
positive. "If“If any
drummer thinks
drummerthinkshehecancanmakemakeit,it,thenthenwewewannawannaknow."
know.”“We’re"We're going
goingtotothe
thePistols
Pistolsgig
gigtonight
tonightto
tofindfindaanew
newdrummer!”drummer!" Mick
Mick
"Butthey
theygotta
gotta prove
prove themselves,”
themselves," he adds
adds passionately.
passionately.
says excitedly. “But
"Theygotta
what's happening.
happening. And
the truth…”
truth..."“They
gottabelieve
believe in what’s
And they
they gotta tell the

HE band
BANDand
ANDRodent
Rodenthave
havetheir
theirpassport
passportphotos
photos taken
taken in ahebooth on-and -white shots
pence.
boothon thethestation.
station.Four
Fourblackblack-and-whiteshots forfor 20 pence.
They pool
pool their
their changechange and after one ofof themthem has
has had
had thethenecessary twonecessary
two pictures
picturestaken
takenthethenext
nextoneonedives
divesinin quickly
quickly to replace
him before thethe white flash explodes.
himWhenquid aa week, thethe stories
stories of one quarter
quarter ofmillionWhenyou're
you’reonon25
25 quidof aa million
dollars for the cocaine
cocaine billtax -exilerock-establishment
rock -establishment band
band seemdollars
bill of aa tax-exile
sickjoke...
like aa sickjoke…
The Human
Human Freight ofofthe
theLondon
LondonUnderground
Underground rush
rush hour
hour regard
regard The
culture -shock synthesis
synthesis of hate,
hate, fear,
fear,andand suspicion.
suspicion. The
The
Clash with a culture-shock
Human Freightescaped theand are pouring
pouring out
Human
Freight have
have escaped
the offices andout to thesuburbs
until tomorrow.
tomorrow. Stacked haunch
suburbs until
haunch to paunchpaunch in an atmosphere
atmosphere ofstale sweat, badbad breath
breath andthe only thing
thing thatthat jolts
them out
stale
andcitycity air,
air, thejolts themout oftheir usual
usual moodapathetic surrendertheirmood of apathetic
surrenderisisthe
thepresence
presenceofof The Clash.
Because something’s
happeninghere
herebut
butTheThe HumanFreight don’t
something's happening
Human Freight
don't knowwhat it is…
is...
what
"Everybody'sdoing
doing just
just what
what they’re
they're told
told to/Nobody
to/Nobody wants
jail/“Everybody’s
wantstotogo
go to jail/White riot/I
riot/Whiteriot
riot/Ariotofmeof meown!'
own!/Are
you taking
takingover
over oror
riot' I wanna
wanna riot/WhiteIA riot
Are youtaking orders?/Areorders?' Areyou
goingbackwards
forwards?"
are you taking
you going
backwardsor
orare
areyouyou going forwards?”"White Riot”
Riot" andand The Sound
Sound Of The
TheWestway,
Westway,thethegiant
giantinner-city
inner-city“Whiteflyover andfirst major
and futuristic
futuristic backdrop
backdrop for this
this country’s
country's firstmajor race riot
since 1959.
1959.Played
Playedwith
with thethe speed
speed of the
the
since
Westway, a GBH
GBHtreble
treblethatthat isisas
asimpossible
impossible
to ignore as thethe police siren
siren thatthat opens
opens thetheor thethe alarm
alarm bell thatthat closes
single orcloses it.
Rock'n'roll for thethe late 1970s
1970supdating
updating their
theirRock’n’rollvariousinfluences
influences(Jones(Jones-the
– the
New
YorkDDolls,
various
New
York
olls,
MC5, Stooges,
Stooges,vintage
vintageStones;
Stones;Simonon
Simonon-–Pistols, Ramones,
Ramones, Heartbreakers;
Heartbreakers; andandStrummer
totally eclectic) and
Strummer-–totallyand thenthen adding
addingsomething of
theirvery
flash
somethingof theirveryown.
own.TheThe sense
senseofof flashofbeach-fighting
beach -fightingmods
modsspeeding
speedingthroughthroughthree
three
ofweekend nights
coupled with
with anweekendnights non-stop,
non-stop, coupled
to writewrite songs
songs ofofcontemporary
contemporary urban
urb anability toimagery
imagery that
thatareareaa perfectperfectreflection
reflectionofof thethe life
any kid
kidwhowho camecame of age
age ininthe
the ’70s.
'70s.
of anyformer makes
makes The Clash
Clash
The former
raw -nerve electric,
electric, aa level
live raw-nerve
level ofexcitementthat cancan only
excitement generated
generated that
equalled bybyone
oneotherotherband
band-–
be equalled
Thunders' Heartbreakers.
Heartbreakers.
Johnny Thunders’The latter
The Clash, or
latter makes
makes The
specificallyJones
andmaybe specifically
Jones and
Strummer (asStrummer(as Simonon has only
recently
writing),, therecently started
started writing)thefulfilment of
the original
original aim
fulfilmentof theaim of thepunk rock,rock, whatever;whatever; thatthat
new wave, punkis, tolate-’70s
to writewrite songs
songs about
about late-'70s
youth culture
culture with thethe
British youth
perception andandaccuracy, honesty, perception
genuineangerthat
thatElvis,
Elvis, Beatles or
genuine anger
Stones or any
any others
others inin
The Rolling Stones
the Rock Establishment
E stablishment could
could never
never
the
do now thatcloser tothat they’re
they're closer
members ofmembersof thethe Royal Family orlard -arse movie
movie stars
stars than
thanfacelift lard-arse
they
are toto youyou or me.
they areme.
somanymany bands
b andscoming
comingBut sothrough now are churning
churning out
throughcliched platitudes
and politicalpolitical
platitudes andnursery rhymes.
nursery
rhymes. The
The Blank
Generation is thethe antithesis
antithesis ofGeneration
Clash areareabout…
about...
what The Clash
Strummer andStrummerand Jones disagree on
the best
best environment
environment forandtheforaa new
new b
band
St
an
17,
to develop andkeep growing.
growing. Joeand keepT"We're going“We’reto the Pistols
tonight to
gig tonightfind a new
drummer!”drummer!"

a.1.910."- a"b1°HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
46 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
46

"They'll“They’lltake
taketoto us,butus, but
it'll
it’lltaketaketime":time”:The
The

thinksit's
it’sall
all tootoothinkseasy
easy right
rightnow,
now,
Clash roadie
roadieandand having
havingto
toRodent,who
Rodent, who
every
inch
fight
inch
sleepsthesleeps on theof thethe way
waywhen
when
floor
their
floor ofof theirrehearsal
studiorehearsal studiothethe bandband wasformed aa year
formedlimmimMINOw
agothe
ago is thehealthiest
Mickhealthiestsituation-whereas
situation – whereas
Mickbelieves
believesiningiving
givingevery
every help andencouragementpossible
possiblewhile
while being
being totally honest with bands
encouragement
bands who areare
justdelivering thethe goods.
goods.
just not delivering"I'm as honesthonest as
can be,”be," hehe shouts
shouts over thethe roarroar of thethe tubetube train.
“I’m
as I cantrain."All“All
the new
new groups
groupssoundsoundlike
likedrones
dronesandandIIain't
ain’tseen
seenaagood
goodnew
newgroupgroupforforsixsix
themonths.
years..."
months.Their
Their soundsoundjust
just ain't
ain’texciting,exciting, they
they need
need two
two years…”
sound of The
TheClashClashhas
hasevolved,
evolved,withwiththeir
theirexperience
experience this
this year
year inin
The sound
the recording
recordingstudiostudiofirst
first with
with Polydor, when
were dangling
thewhen they
theyweredangling aa
contract,
contract,and
andmoremorerecently
recentlyrecording
recordingtheir
theirfirst
firstalbum
albumafter
afterCBSCBS
snappedchange inin thethe soundsound first
first struck
strucksnappedthem
themupupat
atthe
the11th
11th hour. The change
me as aaregulation
regulation ofofenergy,
energy,exerting
exertingaarazor-sharp
razor-sharpadrenalin
adrenalin control
control
over their
their primal
primal amphetaminedamphetamined rush.
rush.ItItcreatedcreatedaanew
newairairof
of tension
tensionadded
the ever-present
ever-present manic
theiradded toto themanicdrive
drive thatthathashasalways
always existed
existed in theirmusic, The
The Sound
SoundOfOf The Westway…
music,
Westway...
And,course, the subtle-yet-indefinite
subtle -yet -indefinite shift
shift in emphasis
emphasis isperfect forAnd, of course,
is perfectthethe feelingfeeling that's
that’sininthetheairairin
inthe
theUnited
UnitedKingdom,
Kingdom,one
onequarter
quarterofof1977
1977
alreadygone:
gone:"In“In1977
1977you're
you’reon
onthethenever-never
never-never/You
thinkititcan't
can’tgogoononalready
I You thinkforever/But
I I don’t
don't care/’Cos
care/ 'CosI’m
I'mnotnotallallthere/No
there/No
forever/Butthe
thepapers
paperssay
sayit's
it’sbetter
better/I
Elvis, Beatles or The
The Rolling
Rolling Stones/In
Stones/In 1977."
1977.”“1977”,"1977",thetheotherotherside
sideofofthe
thesingle,
single,ends
endswith
withthethethree-pronged
three -pronged attack
attackshouting
shoutingin
in harmonies
harmoniesderived
derivedfrom
fromfootballfootballterraces:
terraces:"1984!"“1984!”

rrHE
PRESSURE.ThaT’s
THAT'Swhat
whatthey
theycallcall thethe
he pressure.
heavy atmosphere
atmosphere ininJamaica,
Jamaica,thethefeelingfeeling ininthethat very soon, something
something has
the air
air that
has got tochange…TheThe Jamaican
Jamaicanculture
cultureisis highly
highly revered
revered bychange...
The Clash. They hang
hang out
out in black clubs, pick up
up
reggae importimport singles
ain't really
reallysingles in shops where it ain’t
wise for them
them toto tread,tread, andand express
express their
their disgust
disgust atthethe undeniable
undeniablefact
fact thatthatinin thethe poor
poor working-classareas
London whereareasofof London
where they
theygrew
grew up
up andandstill
stilllive
live
the blacks are treatedthetreated even worse
worse than
than the whites.

Tultimately, they know thatthat White
needs its own sense
sense ofBut, ultimately,
White Youth needs
identity, cultureofidentity,
cultureandandheritage
heritageififthey're
they’regoing
goingtotofight
fightforfor change.
change.A
A riot ofown...
their own…
But cantake toto thethe incisive
incisive reality
realityof what
can thethe masses
masses takewhat The Clash areabout and-ahead rock bands
b ands who
whopushpush
about
and whythey
why theylap
lap upup thethe straightstraight-ahead
nothing morenothing
more thanthanhaving
havingaa good
good time?
time?
“Maybebandsareareso
so big is because"Maybe thethe reason
reason those
those bands
because they don’t
don't sayanything," Mick
"Butweweain’t
ain'tgonna
gonnapreachpreach andand soundsound likeanything,”
Mick says. “Butsome evangelist.”evangelist."some
I mention
whenhehewalked
walkedononstagestageat
atLeeds
Leeds Poly
mention to Joe what
what happened
happened when
the first
first gig
gigthatthatactuallyactually happened
happened onHefor theon thethe Pistols'
Pistols’ Anarchy
Anarchy Tour. He
fewwords
wordsbefore
beforethethebandbandwent
wentinto
intothethesetsetthatthatthey’dthey'd been
been
said a few
burning
toplayplay for weeks, about
how thegutter-press
local-burning toabout how
the gutter-press hysteria,
hysteria, local
council butcherycouncilbutchery andandMary
Mary Whitehouse
Whitehousementality
mentalityofof TheThe Great British
waspreventing
preventing certain
certain young
young rockrockbands
bandsgetting
gettingonstage
onstageandandPeople wasplayingsayingplaying for thethe people
people who
who wanted
wanted to see
see them.
them. I remember
remember him
him sayingthat 1984 seemed
seemed to have
have arrived
arrived early as
as thethe Leeds
LeedsPoly
Polystudents
students bawled
bawledthat
abuse at him. With thethe minds
minds and manners
manners ofbarnyard pigs,
abuseof barnyard
pigs, thethe overgrownconveyedthe
themessage
messagethat
thatthey
theydidn't
didn’tgive
giveaa shit.
grown schoolchildren
schoolchildren conveyed"I think
think they
theywill
don't want
want“I
willtaketaketotous,
us,butbutit'll
it’lltaketaketime,"time,”Joe
Joesays.
says."But“But I don’t
gotowards
towards them
them at
at all,all,IIdon’t
don'twanna
wannastart
startgetting
gettingsoft
softaroundaround the
the
to go
edges. IIdon’t
in time,
don'twant
wanttotocompromise…
compromise... I think
think they’ll
they'll come roundround intime,
but if they
they don’t
don't it’s
it's too bad.”
bad."
but
"Weain’t
ain't never
nevergonna
gonna getgetcommercial
commercial respectability,”
respectability," Mick says,
says, both
both
“We
anger
despairin
inhis
his voice.
anger andand despair
Simonon takes
takes ititall
allin
inand
andthenthenponders
pondersthe
thenearest
nearest station
station that
that
Paul Simononhas a barbar onon thethe platform.
platform.
has
That’sbetweentheir
theirattitudes
attitudesto,
to,howhowyouyousay,say, Making
Making It.
That's thethe difference
difference between
Strummer is confident,
confident, determined,
determined, arrogant
Strummerarrogant andand sometimes
sometimesviolent in
the face of ignorantignorant opposition
opposition (amonths bbackack in aa club
clubcarcarparkpark
the(acouple
coupleofof months
he faced
American redneck rock bandwith
with justfacedananAmericanredneckrockband
support).
his blade for support).
MickJones
rockequivalentequivalent to aakamikaze
kamikaze
Mick Jones is a rockAllorornothing.
nothing. The
The Clash
Clashgives
giveshim
himbothboth thethepilot. All
chance topour out
emotional turmoil
chanceto pourout his emotionalturmoiland
andofferoffer
an escapeescape routeassembly -line
anroute fromfrom thethe life the assembly-line
education
the country
countrygave
gave him had primed
education theprimed him
him
When aacareers
careers officer
officer atatschoolschool spends
spends fivefor. Whenminutes withyou're gonna
gonna
minutes
withyou
you andandtells
tells you what you’re
do withwith your
your life forfor thethe next
next 50
50years.
years.More
Morefodder
fodder »HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
77|147
HISTORY
ROCK 191977
47

ray stevenson / elisa leonelli / rex features

Clash ononstagestageinny77
Clashin 1977

1977
1977

chalkie davies / getty

J U NEaAPR
p r il – SO

for thethe big
bigcorporations
corporations andisbeatingbeating them
them at their
their own
and thethedole.
dole. Mick is
game
ignoring all thethe rules.
rules.
game by ignoring"Someone locked me out, so IIkicked
kickedmemeway
waybackbackin,”in,"hehedeclares
declares inin “Hate"Hate“Someone
And War”.
AndWar".
uncanny resemblance
Richard allowed
allowed him
him toto
His uncanny
resemblanceto
toaayoungyoungKeef Richard
relieve an early
early identity
identity problem
problem by adopting
adopting the lookalike con
con tricktrick
which fools no one
who told him
which
one but
but yourself.
yourself. Then
Then hehe metmet Strummer,
Strummer, who
him hewas wearing
wearing a Keith Richard
Richard identikit
identikit as thoughthough heshop.
he hadhad boughtboughtitit inin a shop.
"I gotgotmy
myself-respect
self-respect inin thisthis group,”group," Mick says,
says, “I
"Idon’t
don't believe
believe inin guitar
guitar“I
heroes."If“If I walkheroes.
walkout
outto
tothe
thefront
frontofofthe
thestagestageit’s
it'sbecause
becauseIIwanna
wannareach
reach thetheaudience,communicate withaudience,I want to communicate
withthem.
them.II don't
don’t want
want them
themtoto suck
my guitar
guitar off..."
off…”
His fondest
fondest memories
memoriesofof thethe
And Paul Simonon: total
total hedonist.
hedonist. His
Anarchy Tour are
arehotel-room
hotel -roomparties
partiesandandbroken
brokenchairs,
chairs,things
things trod
trod
into
the carpet
carpet andyouworried
worriedbecause
because you
youthought
thought they
they
into theandgirls
girls who got you
were gonna
die like Jimi Hendrix
were
gonna dieHendrix if they
they didn’t
didn't wake up. He’s
He's aamember
memberof The
TheClashClashbecause
because they’re
they're thethe best
best band
band inin thethe country
countryand
andititgets
gets him
him
laid
lot.
laid aa lot.
So whatbutchered
what did
did they
theylearn
learn fromfrom thethe Anarchy
Anarchy Tour,
Tour,sosoeffectively
effectivelybutcheredby thethe self-righteous
self-righteous Tin Gods who
who pullpull thethe strings?
strings?
"I learned
learned that
don't wantplaythey“I
thatif they don’t
want you
you to playtheycancanstopstopyou,"you,”Joe says
seriously. “Andseriously.
"And nono one’s
one's gonna
gonna raise
raise any fuss…”
fuss..."aro e Grove
rove..
LadbrokehabituesMick
habitués
Mick
JonesandJoe
Jones and Joe
Strummer onStrummertheCircleLine
theCircle Line
inApri11977
inApril 1977..1111111k“For
theNews"For thethe first
first four
four days
dayswewewerewereconfined
confined toto ourour rooms
rooms because
because theOfThe
was next
next door,”
door,"Mick
Mickcontinues.
continues. “We"We thought,
thought, 'ShallOf
The World was‘Shallwe
we go
there withandout therewith syringes
syringesstuck
stuckininour
ourarms
armsjust
justtotoget
get'em’emgoing?'
going?’Yeah,
Yeah, andfurniture
seemedto
tohavehavelabels
labels saying,saying, 'Please‘Please smash
me’ or ‘Out
furniture seemedsmash me''Out theplease'."window, please’.”And when they finally got totoplay,play,thetheminds
mindsin
inthe
theInstitutes
Institutes Of
OfFurther
Further
Education
were as narrowas those
in Fleet Street. So Strummer
Education were
narrow as
those in
Strummer gavethem something
something-–even
it...
them
eventhoughthoughtheywere
they weretoo
tooblindblindtoto see it…
"This one’s
one's for all
allyouyoustudents,”
students," hehe sneeredsneered before
before The Clash tore into
into
“This
the
they wroteabout
aboutJoe
Joebeing
beingononthe
thedoledole for so longthe song thatthat theywrote
longthatthat thetheDepartment Of
Employment (sic) wanted
wanted totosendsendhimhimto
torehabilitation
rehabilitation
Department
Of Employment
givehimhimback
backthetheconfidence
confidencethatthat they
they assumed
assumed the dole must
must have
have
to give
destroyed,
togetherwith
withMick's
Mick’s experience
experienceworking
workingfor
for thethe Social
Socialdestroyed, together
Security office inin WestWestLondon,
London,and,
and,asasthe
themostmostjunior
junioremployee,
employee,being
being
Security
told to open
open all-b omb s.
told
all thethemail
mailduring
duringthe
thetimetimeofofthe
theIRA
IRAletter
letter-bombs.
The songsong isiscalled
called “Career"CareerOpportunities”:
Opportunities":“Career"Careeropportunities/The
opportunities/The
that neverEvery job
I Is tokeep ya out thethe dock/dock I
ones thatneverknock'knock/Everyjobthey
theyofferyou
offer you/Is
to keep
Career opportunities
1 They offered
I They offered
I
Careeropportunities/They
offeredme
methe
theofficeoffice/They
offered meme thetheshop
shop/
They
GOT/‘Do
They said
said I’d
I'dbetterbetter taketake ANYTHINGANYTHINGTHEY
THEYGOTI'Doyouyouwannawannamakemake tea
tea
for
BBC?I Doyou
youwannawannabe,
be,do
doyou
youwannawannabecop?'I Ihate
hate thethe army
army
for the BBC?/Do
be a cop?’/I
and/ Ihate'You won’t
won't get me
mefighting
fightingin
tropical heatl
hate theandhatethetheRAF
RAF/Youin the tropicalheat/II hate
theCivil Serviceyou!”Servicerules/And
rules 'AndIIain’t
ain'tgonna
gonna open
open letter
letter bombs
bombs forforyou!""Most bands
bands andand writers“Most
writers who
who talk
talk about
about thethedoledole
DUNNO WHAT THE
THE DOLE
DOLEIS!”
IS!"Mick
Mickshouts.
shouts.“They’ve"They've
DUNNO
never
beenononthe
thedoledoleinintheir
theirlife.
life.But
But thethe dole
dole is only
never been
hard if you’ve
you'vebeen
beenconditioned
conditioned totothink
thinkyou've
hard
you’ve gotta
then it's
sheer degradation.
degradation.
have aajob...
job… thenit’s sheer“The
made me open
"The Social
SocialSecurity
Securitymade
open thethe lettersletters during
duringthe lettertheletter bomb
bombtime
timebecause
becauseIIlooked
looked subversive.
subversive. Most
Most
the lettersletters thethe Social Security
Security get are from people
people whoof thewholive next
next door
doorsaying
sayingtheir
theirneighbours
neighbours don’t
don't need
need themoney. The whole thing
thing works
an Irish
Irish
money.
works on spite. One day anthat they
they had
had treatedtreated likeguy thatlike shit
shit andand kept
kept waiting
waiting for
threehours picked
picked up a wooden
three hours
wooden bench
bench andand put
put ititthroughthrough
the windowthewindow into
into Praed
PraedStreet."
Street.”shakes his
his headhead inin disgust
disgust at
at thethe memory
memory of thetheMick shakes
way ourour great
great Welfare State
State treats
treats its subjects.
subjects.
"Everytime
wasdown
down there
there –“Every
timeII didn't
didn’thave
haveaa job
job I waswaiting. And they
they degradedegrade thethe blackblackyouth
waiting.
youth even
even more.
They
They have
have to wait even longer. No one
one cancan tell meme there
there
ain't any prejudice…”
prejudice..."
ain’t

W

WE
MAKEfor
FORRehearsal
RehearsalRehearsals,
Rehearsals,
e makethe North
North London
theLondon studiostudioofof The Clash.
An enormous
enormous buildingbuilding once
used by thetheonce used
BritishOnly part
partofof it is in
British Rail for aa warehouse.
warehouse. Only
in useuse atthe moment,
expanse of property
property ruledthemoment,aa large expanse
ruled by nolighting, rats
and water.
lighting,
rats andUpstairs, Joe,and PaulPaul looklookgladgladtotohavehaveguitars
guitars
Upstairs,
Joe, Mick andtheir hands
hands again.
with posters
posters
in theiragain.The
Thewalls
walls areare covere
coveredd with
Bruce Lee,
Lee,Patti
Patti Smith,
Smith, thethe Pistols andand Theof Bruce
The ClashClashthemselves.
A large mapthemselves. A
map of thethe United
United Kingdom
Kingdom faces
the olds etwhere
whereHughie
Hughie Green
Green isisbeing
being sincere
sinceretheold TV set
with the speechspeech turned
turned down.
graffiti stains
stains thethewithdown. Biro graffiti
screen.
The television
televisionis
is not
not treatedtreatedlike
likethetheHoly
Holy Grail
screen. The
place...
in this place…
watch Joe
Joeplaying
playingaabatteredbatteredoldoldguitar
guitarwith
I watchwith all but twoof itsitsstrings
stringsmissing
missing andand IIthink
thinkabout
about hishiscommentscomments
when I wanted
wanted to know how
how hehewould
wouldcopecopewith
withfinancial
financialwhen
success when/if
when/if it came…
came...
success“I"I ain’t
ain't gonna
gonna fuck myself up
up likelike IIseen
seenallallthosethoseotherotherguys fuck themselves
themselves up,"said. “Keeping"Keeping all their
their
guys
up,” hehe said.
money for themselves
themselves andand getting
getting into their
their head
head andandmoney
thinking
they’rethe
thegreatest.
greatest.I've
I’veplanne
plannedwhat I'm
I’m
thinking they'red whatgonna domoneyifhappens. Secret plans…”
plans..."
gonna
do with my money
if itithappens.
could bebe wrong,
wrong, but
but atat aaguess
guessthethedevelopment
development of
I could
Rehearsal
from a recording
Rehearsal Rehearsals
Rehearsals into anything
anything fromrecordingstudio to
rockvenue
TV station
station seem
seem likestudioto aa rockvenuetotoaa radio/
radio/TV
possible Strummerthepossible
Strummervisions
visionsfor
for when
whenThe
The Clash
Clash get the
massthey deserve.
mass acceptanceacceptance they
As wewetalktalkabout
about how
how The
TheClashClashhave
havereacted
reacted toto putting
putting
their musictellthem
themthatthat thethe major
major
their
music down
downonon vinyl, I tellcriticism
people not
not cognisant
withtheir
theirsongs
songshave
have
criticism people
cognisant with48 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

1

1

11.

-.

".

expressed is that
vocal
expressedthat the uniqueunique Strummer
Strummer vocal
makes
understanding theirmakes understanding
theirbrilliant
brilliantlyrics
lyricsalmostthe uninitiated.
uninitiated.
almost impossible
impossible for the“The"The first time
time we went
went into
into aa studiostudio witha famous
famous producer
producer hebetterhe said,
said, 'You
‘You better
pronounce
remembers
pronouncethe
thewords,
words, right?"'right?’” Joe rememberswith his
his amusedamusedsneer.
sneer."So“SoII did it andwithand itsoundedthought I’m
I'm neverneversoundedlike
like Matt
Matt Monroe.
Monroe. So I thought
doingthat again...
likeJamaican
Jamaican stuff
stuff-–
doing thatagain…totome
me ourour music
music is like
if they
they can’t
can't hear
hear it, they’re
they're not
not supposed
supposedto
tohearhearit.
it.It's
It’snot
notforfor
them
they can’t
can't understandunderstand it."them if theyit.”that being
being signed
has had
had noThe Clash say thatsignedwith
withCBSCBS hasnointerferencewith
with thethe preservation
preservationofof theirinterference
their integrity
integrity and,even
with thethe band’s
band's attitude
even withattitudeofofNo
No Compromise,
Compromise,aatermination
seems
terminationofof contract
contractinin thethe mannermannerofof thethe Pistols seems
most unlikely.
unlikely.
mostb elievethe
thesoundsoundononthe
thealbum
album toto be
be infinitely
infinitely
They believe
superior
because thethe latterlatter was cut during
duringsuperiorto
to thatthat of the single because
one of theirafter thethe decision
decisionto
tolet
let
one
their first
first sessions
sessions in thethe studiostudio after
theirsoundman Mickyproduce thethe band,band, even
even thoughthoughtheir soundman
Micky Foote produce
he had no previous
previous experience
experience in production.
production.
“Weones,” Joe grins.
were all
all too"We tried
tried thethe famous
famous ones,"
grins. “They"Theyweretoopissedpissedto
to work."
work.”"Outside, there
there ain’t
ain't no young producers
producers in tune
tune with“Outside,withwhat’sgoing
goingon,"on,” Mick says. “Theway todo
doitit is
is to learn
what's"The only
onlywayto
learn"I'veplannedwhat“I’ve planned what
I'mgonna
gonnadowithmy
I’m
do with mymoneyifithappens":
money if it happens”:
JoeStrummer
Joe Strummerinin1977
1977"Bernie waswas“Berniealwaysalwayshelping longhelping
before hebeforehe waswasour manager”
manager"II

Thas
HASbeen
BEENoverovera ayear
yearsince
sinceMick
MickJones,
Jones,PaulPaulSimonon
Simononand
and theirtheirtfriend Glenn Matlock
Matlock first
firstmet
metJoeJoeStrummer
Strummerdown
down thethe Portobello
Portobello
and told
told him
him thatthat he was great
great but his band
band was shit. Later Joe
Joe
Road andtalkedBernard Rhodes,
hours after thatthat he showed up on thethetalked toto Bernard
Rhodes, andand 24 hours
doorstepofof thethe squat
squatwhere
whereMick
Mick andPaul were living anddoorstepand Pauland told themthem
he wanted
wanted in
the bandband thatin on thethatwould
would bebe known
known asas The Clash.
And from thethe top
top ofofthe
themonolithmonolith tower
towerblock
blockwhere
theywrote
where theywrote their
theircelebrationofof thecelebration
the Westway, you
youcancangazegazedown
downthroughthrough thethe window
window of-asputs itit-one
and– asMick
Mick Jones puts
– oneofof thethe cages
cages andsee thatthat London
London isisstill
stillburning…
burning...
see

“All
across theacross the"Allacrossthe town/All
town I Allacrossthe night/night!
Everybody's
drivingwith
withfourfourheadlightsIEverybody’s driving
headlights/
Blackturn itit on,
religion!
Black or white, turnon, face the new religion/
Everybody’s drowninginaaseaseaofof television
television/Up
Everybody's
drowning in
I Up
andI In andand out
anddown
downtheWestway
the Westway/Inoutthethelights!
lights/What aagreat
I It's so bright/I
bright I Ican’t
can't
What
greattraffic
trafficsystemsystem/It’s
thinkbetter way
way to spend
think of aabetter
spend the night/Thannight I Than
speedingaround
speeding aroundunderneathunderneaththetheyellow
yellow lights!
lights/Butnow
flat! This
But nowI'm
I’min
inthe
the subway
subwaylooking
lookingfor
for the flat/Thisone
one leads
leads toto thisthis block
blockandand this
this oneoneleads
leads totothat/that!
The windwind howls throughthrough theempty blocks looking
Thethe empty
forfor ahome/Butta
home/But Irun
runthroughthroughthe
theempty
emptystone
stone
becauseI’mallallalonealone/London’sbecausam
I London's burning,burning, baby…”
baby...""Each ofofthesethesehigh-risehigh-rise estates
estates has got those
those places where kids wear
wear
“Each
soldiers' uniforms
uniforms andMicksays
saysquietly.
quietly.“Indoctrination"Indoctrination
soldiers’
andgetget army
army drill,"
drill,” Mick
to keep
keep them
them off
offthethestreets…
streets... andand they got anan artist
artist toto paint
paint pictures
pictures ofhappyworkers
the Westway. Labour
Labour liberates
liberates andand don’t
don't
happy
workerson
onthe
thesidesideofof theplace."
forget your place.”
He looks
looks down
down athundreds
the fire hundreds
feet below.
below.
of feet“Can"Can youunderstand how
understandmuch I hate
hate thisthismuchplace?”
place?" he asks me.
isthe
the yearyear
1977 isThe Clash.
Clash.
of Theian dickson / rex features

howyourself."
how toto do
do it yourself.”"Youdodoitityourself
yours elfbecause
becausenobody
nobodyelse
elsecares
cares thatthat much,”much,"“You
Micky Foote, Boy
Wonder Producer
MickyFoote,
BoyWonder
Producer tells me,
me,hishissentiments
sentiments
totallykeeping with
with thethe clanclan spirit
spirit in The Clash
Clash camp.
camp.
totally in keeping
band talk ofoftheir
theirrespect
respect forfortheirtheirmanager
manager Bernard
Bernard
The band
Rhodes, who
who hashas been
beenaa major
major influence
influenceon
onall
allof
of them,them,
Rhodes,andmade enemies
enemies because
because ofofhis
and who has madehis obsessivecommitment
and Paul arecommitmenttotoThe
TheClash.
Clash.But
ButJoe,Joe, Mick andfree spirits, unlike
unlike a lot
lotof
ofbands
bandswithwithheavy
heavypersonality
personality
management.
"He really
really pushes
pushes us,"“He
us,” PaulPaul says.
says.
“We
"We dodorespectrespect him,”
him," Mick adds.
adds.
"He waswas always
alwayshelping
helpingand
and giving
givingconstructive
constructive“He
criticism
our manager,”manager," Mick then
thencriticismlong
long before
before hehe waswas ourpointsthe otherother members
the bandband andpoints at
at themembersofof theand himself.
himself.
"But
the heart
heart is there.”
there."“But theaskthemthemabout
about their
their politicalpolitical leanings.
leanings. Do they
theybelieve
I ask
believein left andand right or isistherethere just
just up
up andand down?
down?
They reply
replybytelling me about
about a leftish
leftishby telling
workshopfrequent because
because theyworkshop they used to frequent
andalsoalsobecause
becauseit
enjoyed thethe atmosphere
atmosphere-–andgave them
them anan opportunity
opportunityto
paintstonicknick the paints
theyneeded for their artwork.
artwork.
they needed“It
Mick says
says.
"It waswasreally
reallyexhilarating
exhilarating there,”
there "Mick"Theyused to play
playChinese
Chineserevolutionary
revolutionary“They usedrecords
the National
National Front
records andand thenthenoneone day
day theFrontthrew bricks
bricks throughthewindow.
window. The
The placethrew
through the
didn'tburne d thethedidn’tshut,
shut,though.
though.So
Soone
one day
day they
they burned
whole joint down andand they
they had
had to close down…”
down..."“In
knivesin
inWestWest 111Ain't
11/Ain’t so"In 1977 there’s
there's knives
lucky toto beberich/Stenrich I Stenguns
gunsininKnightsbridge/
Knightsbridge!
luckyDangerbetter paintNo
Danger stranger,
stranger,you
you better
paintyour
your face/
face/No
1977/Sod
Elvis, Beatles or thethe Rolling
Rolling Stones/In
Stones/In 19771
Sod
the Jubilee!”Jubilee!"the"I always
always thought
thought interms of survival,”
survival," Mick says.
says.“And"Andthese
thesepeople
peopleareare“Iin terms
the opposition
oppositionofof free speechliberty. And they’rethespeech and personal
personal liberty.
they're trying tomanipulate
medium."manipulatethe
therockrock medium.”
repeats something
something he said
said earlier,earlier,reiteratingreiterating thethe importanceimportance ofThen he repeats
The Clash: “And
"AndIIain’t
ain'tashamedashamed to fight…”
fight..."

rSten-gunsin Knights-

TonyParsons
Parsons•Tonybridge??

1977
1977

– J U NEAPR
a p r ilSO

“Like being
"Like
being
in group
groupintherapy!” fiK
therapy!
Break-ups,
Break-ups,reconciliations,reconciliations,great
greatmusic...
music…

FLEETWOOD MAC’s
FLEETWOOD
MAC's Rumours
Rumours provides
providesone
one

Pr'

themostmostcompellingcompellingstories
stories
1977."Now“Now
ofofthe
of of
1977.
wecan
canmakemakejokes,"
jokes,”sayssaysMick
MickFleetwood,
Fleetwood,
we“butit itwasn't
wasn’tvery
veryfunny
funnyatatthe
thetime."time.”
"but

S

- NME
APRIL
— NME
APRIL22 -—sOME
NEWSPAPERSEMPLOY
whose
solefunction
is is
OME
NEWSPAPERS
EMPlOyscribes
scribeswhose
solefunctionto toregularly
updatethetheunpublishedobituaries
of ofprominent
regularly
updateunpublishedobituaries
prominent
personalities
soto
asbe
to in
beat
inthe
at thetheirdemise.
personalities-so–askillkillonon
theirdemise.
Somethingof aofdead-end
job,job,
as itaswere.
However,
it would
Somethinga dead-end
it were.
However,
it wouldtakescoresof offull-time
researchers
to keep
abreastof thetakescoresfull-time
researchers
to keep
abreastof thefluctuating
fortunesof Fleetwood
Macthe
– the
band
that
fluctuating
fortunesof Fleetwood
Macbandthat
continues
to exist
despiteitself.
continues
to exist
despiteitself.

In In
thethe
1010
years
since
theydebutedat theNational
Blues& JazzFestival
in in
years
since
they debutedat theNational
Blues& JazzFestival
Windsor,
Fleetwood
Machavehavetransmogrified
transmogrifiedfrom
fromastar-crosseda star-crossed
guitarWindsor,
FleetwoodMacguitarhero-dominated cultcult
blues
band
intointo
WarnerBrothers
Records'
biggestever
hero-dominated
blues
band
WarnerBrothers
Records’
biggestever
album-selling attraction.
album-selling
attraction.
Buthasbeena acareer
careercontinuallyfraughtwith
continually fraught withimpendingdisaster.
But
it it
has
been
impendingdisaster.
Guitarists
have
quit
under
harrowingbannerheadlines,
bogus
lineupshave
Guitarists
have
quit
under
harrowingbannerheadlines,
bogus
lineups
have
laid
claim
to to
thethe
name,
and
those
original
members
who'vestuck
it out
have
laid
claim
name,
and
those
original
members
who’vestuck
it outhave
enactedmore
melodramas
than
a wholeslew soapof soap-opera
scriptwriters
enactedmore
melodramas
than
a wholeslewof-opera scriptwriters
could
have
conceivedin ina lifetime.
InIn
truth,
allallaspects
ofofhumanemotionarearecould
have
conceiveda lifetime.
truth,
aspectshumanemotionsam emerson / polaris / eyevine_.....,.,
to to
bebe
found
in in
Fleetwood
Mac.
found
Fleetwood
Mac.
Bands
have
broken
much
less,
but
Macstubbornlyrefuses
stubbornly refusesroll over
Bands
have
brokenupup
forfor
much
less,
but
Mac
to to
rolloverandandexpire.
Call
it masochistic,
butbutthetheband
appears
to thriveon oneBigBigHurt
expire.
Call
it masochistic,
band
appears
to thriveon oneHurt
after
another.
after
another.
Until
middlelast
year,
FleetwoodMac
hadresignedthemselves
Until
thethemiddle
of of
last
year,
FleetwoodMac
hadresignedthemselves
to tothethefactfact
that
theyworked
to live,
lived
to work,
andandweren'tin ainposition
to restup up
thatthey worked
to live,
lived
to work,
weren’ta position
to restforfor
ayear
or or
more
to to
rethinkor orrecord.
Theiralbumsalwaysgotgotreviewed,a yearmore
rethink
record.
Theiralbumsalwaysreviewed,madea brief,
notauspicious
appearance
best-sellers
andreceivedmadea brief,
if if
notauspicious
appearance
in in
thethebest-sellers
andreceivedmoreairairtime
thanthatthatusuallyafforded
albumsenjoying
much
more
more
time
than
usuallyafforded
albumsenjoyingmuch
morecommercial
successon onthethecharts.
It maynot
have
been
Lala
DolceVitabut
it itcommercial
success
charts.
It may not
have
been
Dolce Vita but
wasa fairlycomfortable
existence.
» »wasa fairly comfortable
existence.

OF ROCK
19771977| HISTORY
OF ROCK
50 50
I HISTORY

Mgr

Fleetwoodin LosFleetwood
MacMacin LosAngeles,g77:(I-r)
Angeles,
1977: (l–r)
Lindsey
Buckingham,
Lindsey
Buckingham,
StevieNicks,John
Stevie Nicks, John
McVie,ChristineMcVie
McVie, Christine McVie
andandMick
Fleetwood
Mick
Fleetwood

HISTORY
OF OF
ROCK
1977
151| 51
HISTORY
ROCK
1977

1977
1977

Birmingham
OdeOn

J U NEa p r il –SO
APR

Craft
and precision
precision
Craft andLIVE!
aPriL 2

MM aPr
APR99The.de latest-lineup
latest -lineup Mac
mm
mac scorescore anan,ssivevictory
at
their
first
UK
concert.
impressive victory at their first UK concert.

inL,

T

playing together.
together.
decade of playing
Fleetwood, looking
withFleetwood,
lookingmanic
manic withmouth leering
leering open forfor most
his mouthof thethe night,night, playedofplayed one of thedrum solos I’ve
I've heard
heard forfornicest drum
long time
time onon “World"World Turning”.
Turning".
a longleft hiskit, strappedstrapped on
He left
his kit,onananAfrican talking
took
Africantalking drum,
drum, and took
in theaisles.
inthe aisles.
itself was something
something ofofcentre tostage centre
to beatbeat out
out aThat in itself
a triumph
triumph since Birmingham
Birmingham
delightfully novel
delightfully
novel rhythm.
rhythm.
Christine McVie
Christine
McVie kept her
audiences have
have neverbeen
audiences
never beennoted
keyboard work
keyboard
work pure
pure and simple
noted forforenthusiasm
enthusiasm onon thisthis
scale. For
For Christine
Christine McVie
McVie ititmost ofof thethe time,
her bestbest
mosttime, andand her
moments came
moments
came when
whensheshe gavemust have been
must
been aaparticularly
particularly
emotional
full reign to that excellent
full
emotional experience;experience;itit marked
markedher first
first performance
mellow voice"Oh Daddy".
mellow
voice on “Oh
Daddy”. By
performancein
in hercomparison Stevie
comparison
Stevie Nicks
Nicks washometownfor
forseven
sevenyears.
years.
hometown
Fleetwood Mac
much more
more raucous,much
raucous, butbutsheshe
Fleetwood
Mac played foraroundgo minutes, dovetailing
dovetailingdisplayed a tremendous
tremendous vocal
displayed
vocal
around 90
range andenthusiasm which
which
range
and an enthusiasm
old andand new songs withold
withcraftsman-like precision. Only
Only
rarely sees on stagestage at thethe
one rarely
craftsman-likeat one stagestage did
did they
they allow
allow their
their
moment. II was less enamoured
enamoured
moment.
of herher stagestage movements:
movements: sheoffaultless pacing
pacingto
toslip,slip, when
when
faultlesstheyto think
seems tothinkshesheisis ananthey encoredencoredwith
withthetheslowslow-moving “Hypnotised”;"Hypnotised"; but
exponent ofexponentof modernmodern dance, but
but bybyposturing belonged
belonged more to
her posturing
then most
most ofthenof thethe audienceaudience would
would
probably
content toHammer horror
horror rising-from a Hammer
rising-fromprobably have been content
listen to Stevie Nicks read
read thethe
the grave sequence than toto thethethelistentheatre of Harlem.
dance theatre
footballresults.
results.The
The band's
band’sfootballperformance
However, her raunchy antics
performancewas
was a pleasantsurprisefor me because neither
neitherstir among
among the malecaused a stirsurprise forsection ofofsectionof thethe audience,
audience, some ofof their
two recent
recenthithitalbums,
albums,oftheir two
Fleetwoodwhom seemed
seemed toto enjoy
enjoy herher
whom
FleetwoodMac
Macandand Rumours,
Rumours,
offeredcostume changes
more thancostumechanges morethan thetheoffered thethe excitement ofmusic. The
earlier work
work
earlierfromwarmestfrom previous
lineups ofoflineups
Fleetwood left his responses ofthe evening
the band.
theOn stage,reserved
were reservedOnkit, strapped onforhowever, they
theyfor “Go"Go Youran African talking Own
Own Way”,
Way",were ananwereentirely"Over My“Over
entirely
drum and tookHead”
and anandifferent
Head" andexceptional
proposition.
proposition.
centre stage
Lindseyturn byturn
Lindsey
Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham
the old
old favourite
favourite “Oh"Oh Well".
on theWell”.
vocally and,and,was excellent,
excellent, both
both vocallymoreparticularly, on
guitar;havejust
justtwo
tworeservations
reservations
I havemore particularly,
on guitar;
about
there
notable solo
theabout thethe new Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac.
therewaswas a notablesolo at
at theFirstly, they'reFirstly,they’renot
notnearly
nearlyasas
end ofChain”, whileon
endof “The"The Chain",while onacoustic guitar he performed
performed
adventurous as
they might
might be.
adventurous
as theybe.
I reiteratea particularly
particularly engaging
reiterate thatthat they belong toengaging version
versionof"Never Going
the Peter Frampton
Frampton progressive
progressive
theof “NeverGoingBack
Back Again".
Again”.
On thethe latterlatter he-M OR school,
school, which
which isiscurrently
currently–MOR
On
he was joined bylucrative
butscarcely
scarcely stands
standsJohn
lucrative but
John McVie,
McVie,playing
playingaagiant
giant-sized acoustic
acoustic bass guitar.
guitar. McVie
McVie
exposure forlength of
exposure
for any lengthof time.
time.
was calmly
calmlynone ofof theirtheir work
work
Secondly, none
sticks in thethe mindmind forfor longer
longer thanimpressive
throughout,about15
after hearingabout
15 minutes after
throughout,assuredthat indicatesit; that
indicates shallowness.
his assured
However,
work
withHowever, if they
they can maintain
maintainwork withthe sort
sort ofof technicaltechnical standard
thestandard indrummer
concert thatconcertthat they
they attained
attained inMick
Birmingham,
theirsuccesssuccess inin
Fleetwood
Birmingham, theirFleetwoodborn of
Britain isisassured.
Britainassured.Brian
born
of a
BrianHarrigan
Harrigan

THEIR
TECHNICALLY
heir technicallyimpeccable
IMPECCABLE performance
performance
was rewarded
rewarded withwithaa series
seriesofof standing
standingovations,ovations,andand bybythe endend of the set half thethethe
audienceout ofof theirtheir seats,
audience were out
crowding
dancing
crowdingthe
thestagestage andand dancing

Michael Ochs archives/getty

Fleetwood left his
kit, strapped on
an african talking
drum and took
centre stage

Mac
crack
back

Nicks andandbuckingham
Buckingham –nicks
previouslybothapreviously
both amusicalandromanticpairingand
romantic pairing –perform on
onstagewith
perform
stage with
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwoodmacinin1977
1977

STARTin
IN1975:
1975:after
afteraafour-year
four-yearresidency,
residency,American
AmericanET’S START
guitarist Bob Welch
Welchbecame
became yetyetanother
another Mac
Mac statistic,
statistic, being
being
guitarist
unceremoniously
replacedby
by theboy/girl
unceremoniously replaced
the highly attractive
attractive boy/girlteam of
Lindsey Buckingham
teamof Lindsey
Buckinghamand
andStevie
StevieNicks.
Nicks.After
Afterjust
just10
10 daysdays ofofroutining newroutiningnew material,material,thetherefurbishedrefurbishedlineup
lineupofofMick
Mick Fleetwood,
Fleetwood,
Christine
andJohn
JohnMcVie
McVie andandNicks
Nicks were
were in theChristine andand Buckingham
Buckingham andthestudio recording
recording a bunch
bunch of originals
originals subsequently
subsequently released
released understudiounder
unadventurous title
the unadventurous
titleFleetwood
Fleetwood Mac.
At first,
first,nothingnothingmuch
muchhappened
happened and a six-monthsix-month roadroad tour
tourensued
ensued(professionally) their
their fortunes
turn for thethe better.
better. It
before (professionally)
fortuneswere
weretoto taketake aa turn
during this
this period
period thatthat deep cracks began
began to
toappearappear inintheir
theirpersonal
personal
was duringstability,
almostononcue
cueFleetwood
FleetwoodMac
Macwent
wentinto
intoyetyetanother
anotherall
all-toostability, andand almost-too familiar nosedive.
nosedive.
familiar
Christine andseparated mid-tour, adding
adding thethe cost
cost of ananChristine
andJohn
JohnMcVie separated
mid-tour,extra
travel budget;and after
aftersixyears
six yearsofof being
being
extra hotel
hotel room
room to the band’s
band's travel
budget; andinseparable Buckingham
ceased cohabiting
cohabiting –-and
inseparable
Buckingham andand Nicks ceased
and Mick
Fleetwood, desperately-in -the -middle,realised
realisedthat
that
Fleetwood,desperatelytrying
tryingto
toplayplay piggy
piggy-in-the-middle,
his own marriage
hadhithit thethe skids.
skids. Bands
Bands have
have broken
up for much
marriage had
broken up
much less.
not Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac.
But not
Contraryto
success wasn’t
wasn't the
Fleetwood Mac
Contrary
tobelief,
belief, pressurepressureofof successthe cause.
cause. Fleetwood
had
had yet to take off likelikeanan epidemic,
epidemic, sell inin excessexcess ofoffourfourmillion
million albums
albumsStateside andand hatch
Head" andandStateside
hatchthree
threehithitsingles,
singles,"Rhiannon",“Rhiannon”,"Over“OverMyMy Head”"SayYou
LoveMe”.
Me".Everyone
Everyonejust
justfellfellout
outofoflove
lovewithwithoneoneanother
another at
at“Say
You Loveprecisely
the same moment.
preciselythe
So... three
three broken
John andand hishis collection
collection of
ofpenguin
penguinSo…
broken homes
homes for sale. John
statuettes moved-footstatuettes
movedout
outofofthe
theMcVie's
McVie’s Malibu
Malibuapartment
apartmentonontotoa a41
41-footschooner,while Christine
set upup a homeand bustle
bustleschooner, while
Christine set
home overlooking the hustle
hustle andSunset Strip.
Strip. Lindsey
Lindsey andand Stevie
Stevieestablishedestablished singles
and Mickof Sunset
singles lifestyles,
lifestyles, andand Jenny Fleetwood
Fle etwooddivorced,
divorced,thoughthough they
theywereremarry.
andwere later
later to remarry.
To
Toadd
addto
totheir
theirimmediate
immediate problems,
problems, Mac
Macwerewereattempting
attempting toto record
recordtracks for what would
would eventually
eventually evolve
tracksevolve into
into Rumours.
Rumours.
"Being inin Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac, isismoremorelike
likebeing
beinginingroupgrouptherapy!”
therapy!" Who
Who“Beingsaid that?
wasdrummer
drummer andmanager electFleetwood. He is
istrying
trying toto
It wasand Mac
Mac manager
electMick Fleetwood.
headcold
coldasaswe
wesit
sitjawing
jawingininthe
thepleasantpleasantrustic
rusticatmosphere
atmosphere offight off aahead
Seedy Management,
situatedby
bythe
thegatesgatesofof themovie lot inManagement, situated
the Columbia
Columbia movie
inthe veryveryheartIt'saatypical
typicalCalifornian
Californianspring
springtheheartofof Hollywood
Hollywood Babylon. It’s
morning. Warm,morning.
Warm,sunny,
sunny,light
lighttotovariable.
variable.Definitely
Definitelynot
notthethekindkindof
ofday
dayto
to
be feeling one
one degree
degree under.
under.
with typical
typical British
British reserve,
reserve, Mick
MickFleetwood
Fleetwoodhas
hasmastered
mastered
However, withthe artart of coping
coping with
with any
any andand every
every situation.
situation. And his
his resilience
resilience must
must
thecontagious because
because Lindsey Buckingham
Buckingham-–en
be contagious
enrouteroute toto having his
teeth yanked
yanked-–shows
wisdom teeth
showsnono apparent
apparentsigns
signsofof fear.
the last
last year
yearFleetwood
Fleetwood Mac
Machavehavesupplied
supplied America’s
America'sdirt-diggin’
dirt-diggin'
Over thegossip columnists
thanthetheBurton/Taylor
Burton/Taylordivorcedivorcecolumnists with more copy
copythanLFLEETWOOD MAC

FLEETWOOD MAC

reconciliation-divorce-marriagereconciliation-divorce -marriage go-round, to thethe extent
extent thatthat Mac's
go-round,Mac’smaritalmarital shenanigans
shenaniganshave
have been
likened toto everything
fromPeyton
Peytonlikenedeverything from
Placeto&Alice.
Place toBob
Bob&&Carol
Carol&& Ted &
Alice.
As itit transpires,transpires, itittook
tookaa whole
whole year
year totorecord Rumours, therecordthe projectproject being
being near
near
completedbegan to becompletedlong
long before
before Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac beganpressedinplatinum
platinum-the
pursuedpressed up in– thelatterlatteralbum
albumhaving
having pursued
an eccentric
pathway towardssuccess.
success.According
Accordingto
toMr
Mr
an
eccentric pathwaytowards
FleetwoodandFleetwooditit originallyoriginallyreachedreachedas
ashighhighasasNo
No 9 anddroppedregained its upward
upward curve.
droppedto
to40
40 before it regained
Fleetwood– the Californian
Californiansoundtrack
soundtrackof
of '76.
’76.
FleetwoodMac
Mac-theEven Mick Fleetwood
Fleetwood has long since
since given
given upup tryingtrying toevaluate
phenomenal successevaluate its phenomenal
successin
inthe
theAmericas
Americas andanditsits
apatheticreception
receptionin
inthe
theOldOld Country. It’s
apathetic
It'shappened
happenedandand he's
he’s thankful,
thankful,butbuthe's
he’snot
notabout
abouttotogo
go intointo deep
deep
analysisthe subject.
subject. Obviously, thethe introduction
introduction ofanalysis onon thetwo singer-songwriters
hadaa great
great deal
deal toto do
do withtwo
singer -songwriters had
with it, but
but
as Mick points
points out,
out, Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac has
has never
never conformed
conformed
to one specific, recognisable
recognisable style.
style.
“Nobody,”"Nobody," hehe suggests
suggests between
between sniffles,
sniffles, “who"who has everjoinedthis band
band hasbeen forced to
to structure
structure their
their musicjoined thishas been
toconform. You've
to flickflickthroughthrough ourto conform.
You’ve only got to
our messmessofalbumstotosee
see that."that.” He emphasises
thewordword"mess".
“mess”.
albumsemphasises the"I cancan remember
remember when
anny Kirwan
Kirwan joined,joined, PeterPeter“I
when D
Danny[Green] turned
turned roundround tohim andand casually'Right,[Green]to himcasually said,
said, ‘Right,
lad, you’ve
you've got half
half thethe album’,
album', andand Then Play On
Oncontains
contains
lot ofofnew
newthings
thingsthat
thatnobody
nobody had
had evereverheard
heard onon aaFleetwood
Fleetwood Mac
Macalbum
album
a lot
before. Lots
bands wouldn't
think
before.
Lots of bands
wouldn’ttake
takethatthatkindkindofofrisk.
risk.We
Wedo.
do. AndAnd I thinkit's
healthy."it’s healthy.”
As to
tothe
theband’s
band's resurgence
resurgence of popularity,
popularity, both
both
Fleetwoodand Buckingham
Buckingham agree
Fleetwood andagree with mytheory that primarily
thepresent
presentlineup
lineup istheoryprimarilythea singles
singles band
band utilising an album
album formula.
formula.
"There's a lot ofofflexibility
flexibilityand
andversatility
versatility“There’s
within thethe current
set-up,” Buckingham
withincurrent set-up,"
Buckingham
interjects
hisdental
dentalinterjectsbefore
before leaving
leaving for his
appointment.
appointment."Even“Even with
with three
three separate
separatelead
lead
vocalists there's
there’s still
still thisvocalists
this cohesive continuity,
continuity, so
it doesn’t
doesn't reallyre allymatter
either Christine,
Christine, Stevie
matter if either
Stevieor myself areare taking
taking thethe lead.
lead.
“As“I feel that
"Asaacontributor,”
contributor," hehe concludes,concludes, "I
that
much
Fleetwood Mac’s
Mac's strength
strength ismuch of Fleetwoodis in the factthatestmaterialmaterial makes
makes it on toto ananthatonly
only thethevery
very bbest
album.And,
And, as there
album.
therearethree main
makes
are threemainwriters,
writers,itit makes
competitioncompetitionthat
thatmuchmuchkeener".
keener”.
Mick Fleetwood“This way
Fleetwood agrees:
agrees: "Thisthere's
strain on any
anyparticularparticular
there’s no strain
writer. Nobody
Nob odyis
constantlyunderis constantly
under
extreme pressurepressureto
towritewrite all theextremematerial
album. So that’s
that'smaterialfor the next album.
noproblem".
no problem”.
Yet
the kind that
Yetproblems
problems–-thethat floor
you-havepart
you – havebecome
become anan integral partof Mac’s
M ac'svery
veryexistence.
existence.
Why have
have they
they always
always refusedrefused to
throw
throwinin thethetowel?
towel?
"Over thethe years,”
years," says
says Fleetwood,
Fleetwood,“Over“we’ve been
up inin our
"we'vebeen so wrappedwrapped up
ourdestiny
been
destiny that,
that, thoughthoughoffers
offers have
have been
forthcoming,
eing
forthcoming,thetheidea
ideaofofbbeing
somewhereelse,
else, playing
playing ininsomewhere
anotheranother band,
band, has
has neverreally appealed
appealed to either
eitheror myself.
John, Christine
Christine orIt'ssimple as that.”that."
It’s as simple
AccordingtheAccording to the– withdrummer, nobody
nobody-withtheanny
the exception
exceptionof
of D
Danny
Kirwan-has
Kirwan – hasever
ever quit
Fleetwood Mac because
Fleetwood
because oftheexcuseofof "difference“differenceofof musicalpolicy”. From
the overall
overall encompassing
encompassing excusemusical policy".
loftyvantage
manager -performer andand pillar
pillar of strength,
strength, he
his lofty
vantage point
pointof manager-performer
opines thatthat being
the bandband maywell
the weak points
points in aa
opinesbeing in the
may well bring
bring out
out theperson’s
character,butbutby theothers.He
He cites
person's character,the samesame token
token it strengthens
strengthens others.
the recording
recording of Rumours
Rumoursas
astestament.
testament.
the"When thethe shit
shit hit
hitthethefanfaneverybody
everybodyprobably
thought thatthat this really“Whenprobably thought
was theto work
the endend of Fleetwood
Fleetwood Mac, andand thatthat it would be impossible
impossible tounder such
helluva badbad timetime totoundersuch intense
intenseconditions.
conditions.Theoretically,
Theoretically,ititwas
was a helluva
and record
record a new album,
album, but
but in retrospect
retrospect itit proved
try andproved toto be the reverse.
BecauseBecause it all came
came out in thethe music.”
music."
As aaresult,result,Rumours
Rumoursisisananalbum
albumofofstrong
strongpersonal
personalemotions
emotions –persistent, soul-searchingsoul-searching-–andpersistent,
andcurrentlyAmerica's
currently America’sbest-seller.
best-seller.Still,
Still, it
can’tnine weeks
weeks incarcerated
inthe
theRecord
Recordcan't have been
been easy spending
spending nine
incarcerated in
Plant's Sausalito
Sausalito studiostudio withapart atthe seams
seams and
Plant’swith everyone
everyone falling apartat theandrecording desk thatthat all but
but destroyed
destroyed thethe original
original backing tracks?
a recording“Things"Things never got bitchy,”bitchy,"sayssaysFleetwood.
Fleetwood.“Sure,"Sure,thetheatmosphere
atmosphere waswas
confused-to
confused– tosaythe
say theleast
least-but– butititwasn't
wasn’tdestructive.
destructive.ItItmaybe
may bedifficult
difficultfor
forsomeone outside
the groupgroup toto understandunderstand what
but we’re
we're aasomeoneoutside of thewhatI'mI’m saying,saying, butbunchbunch of people
people before
before we’re
we'reaabunch
bunchofofmusicians.
musicians.What
Whathappened
happened waswasthat allofus
uswereweregoing
goingthroughthrough exactly
exactly thethe samesame problem
problem atthe verythat
all five ofat thesame time.
time. Only
Onlyinthat ever happen.
happen.
samein Fleetwood
FleetwoodMac could that“So
"So there
there we
we allallwere,were,trying
tryingto
toput
putdown
down thethe basic
basic backing
backing tracks
tracks andandfeeling so
sodesperately
desperatelyunhappywith
createdall feeling
unhappy withlife.
life.But
Butsomehow
somehowwe
we createdmutual bond.
could all
all relate
relate totoeacheachother’sother's desperation.
desperation. Despite
a mutualbond. We could
Despiteourselves, we didn’t
didn't lose
lose contact.
contact. ItItwasn’t
wasn'tas
asthoughthoughthere
there wasn’t
wasn't anyone
anyonewecould
could turn
turn to. Strange
Strange as
as ititmight
mightsound,sound, we
wehad
hadoneoneanother
another-–soelse wesowent throughthrough shit
point where
could still
still live andand
we went
shittoto getget to the point
where we could
communicate
as friends.
communicate as"Idon’t
don't think
think anyone
anyone ever turned
turned roundround and
don't need
need this,this, I’m
I'm
“I
andsaid,
said, 'I‘I don’t
splitting.' We
understood how
because we were all
all involved
involved
splitting.’
We all understoodhowwe
we allall felt because
in eachlives.
each other’sother's lives.
"Sure we laughlaugh at it now…
now... we even
even make
make
“Sure
jokes,"
Stonesports
sportsjokes,” –-aarecent
recentcover
coverofof Rolling Stonean Annie
Annie Leibovitz shot
shot of all five
five inin oneone bed:bed:
anLeibovitz
Christine cuddlingarm
Christine
cuddlingLindsey,
Lindsey,Mick with his arm
around Stevie andand John
inaacornercornerreading.
reading.
aroundJohn off in“But"But believe
believe me,
me,ititwasn’t
wasn'tfunny
funny atatthe
the time.”
time.""The thing
thing thatthat happened
happened between
between Lindsey“The
and Stevie andand Christine
Christine and John wasn’t
wasn't that
that
and
they suddenly
suddenlytook
took a dislike to one
they
one another;another; it
was just thatthat they
they realised
realised they
they could
couldnono longerlongerlive together,
together, andand so there
there was nono malice
malice when
when
they separated.
the otherother evening
eveningtheyseparated. For instance,
instance, theJohn
and I went
went roundround to Christine’s
Christine's place
John andplace totohave
drinkwithhave a drink
withherherandandherherboyfriend.
boyfriend.So,
So,ififanything,
anything, the weird circumstances
circumstances
which we
we decided
decided toto record
recordin whichhelped toto makemake that
that
Rumours helped
much stronger than
than before.
"From start
start tofinish it took one“From
to finishcomplete Rumours.
year to complete
Rumours. We'd
We’drecorded
the backing
recorded thebacking tracks
tracks in nine
nine
anxious weeks, but
but thethe emotions
emotions
anxiousthat we’d
we'd originallyoriginallyputonthat
put down on
thethe tapetape in Sausalito
Sausalito were sosostrong
strongthat we didn’t
didn't want
want toto bebeimmature
immaturethatand insensitive towards thosefeelings. That’s
we took such
That's why
whywe
the dubbing
dubbing andand thethe mixing.
mixing.
care in the"Wejustjustwent
wentthoughthough ourour“Wecollective traumas
head-on andand ittraumas head-on
then thatthat we all revealed
revealed ourourwas thentrue colours. In thethe past,
past, both
both
own true
John andand I have
havehadhadto
tohandle
handlereallyweird
situations...
some really
weird situations…
Green... Jeremy Spencer,
Peter Green…
but as far as
as Lindsey
Lindsey andand Stevie
butconcerned, they
didn't go
were concerned,
they didn’t
lambs toto thethe slaughter,slaughter, they
theylike lambs
just underwent
crash-course
justunderwent aa crash-coursematurity."
in maturity.”
I wonderwonder what
what these
these guys
guys dodo foran encore? Roy
RoyCarr
Carr•“Sure,"Sure, theatmospherewas confused,
wasbut it wasn’t
wasn'tdestructive”
destructive"

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
19 77| 153
HISTORY
53

s-

1977
1977

P ve rJ U NEaAPR
p r il – SO

for thethe Patti
Patti Smith-inspired
air forSmith-inspired
“Rip
HerTo
To Shreds".
Shreds”.
"Rip Her
Thedescendantof everyThe
descendant of
Mop Top Muppet
Muppet band
Her Mopband
from Monroe
Monroe totoenigma fromthrough “Get
"Get OffOff OfOf
ploughed throughRonnie spector:
Spector:
Piaf to ronnie
Debbie Harry
H arrywith
debbiewith Blondie
blondieMy
Cloud”
on
Saturdayand“LouieCloud" on"LouieHammersmith,' 1977
977
at Hammersmith,
Louie" the next night
night for the intro to
Louie”
track on their
their Private
the opening track
Stock album
album “X"X Offender”,
Offender", aa childchildto aaperverted
perverted cop
like paean to
cop who's
who’s
into rubber
rubber boots,
intoboots,ififyou
youseesee whatwhat II
mean. It’s
story ofofaa jailed
It's thethe tragic
tragic story
jailedand thethe girl
girl who
who waits
waits forfor him.
man and
notion that
The notionthat thethe bandband should
shouldstick tosmall clubs
clubs and avoid
tosmall
avoid thethelarger halls
thelargerhallsisis smashedsmashed as thedescendant ofof everyevery enigma
descendantfrom Monroe
fromMonroeto
toPiaf
Piaf toto Ronnie
RonnieSpector getsblue lucid
lucid
Spectorgets bathedbathed inin blue
spotlight forBlue"
spotlight
for "Look“LookGood
Good InIn Blue”
soft and sultry.
sultry. WestWestSide
done softSide
derivative finger-snapping
finger -snapping
Story derivative
choreography with
with Debbie torching
torching
choreographyfootlights with
it into the footlights
with Doomed
DoomedLover angst.
"For Iggy!"“For
Iggy!”Debbie
Debbiecries
cries andrip throughthrough their
their tributetribute totothey ripPop,“Detroit”.
"Detroit".
The Pop,"In The“In
The Flesh"
Flesh” was only
performed on
performed
onthe
theSunday,
Sunday, which
bad strategy
strategy as they
they should
shouldwas badevery night.
night. Not
do it every
Notaa dry
dryeyeeye ininasDebbie
Debbie purrs,
purrs,
the house as
murmurs andmurmurs
and sighs.
It's Blondie’s
Blondie's newest
newestsingle
It’ssingleandandwould meanlotto
it would
mean a lot
tome
meififyou
youallallout and buy it.
go outbite mytoenails in
I bitemy toenails
in anguish
anguishasas"Man Overboard”
Overboard" isfollowed by“Man
is followed"Rifle Range”,
Range",withwithDebbie
Debbiegetting
getting“Riflegunned down and dying
dying thethe Bogart,
Bogart,gunnedflat on her backbackandandtwitching
twitching with
with
flat
throes ofof Sudden Death.
the throes
But whenwhen she bounces
But
back forfor “I"I Didn’t
Didn't Have
Have The
Nerve ToSay(Dear)",Nerve
To Say No (Dear)”,hammersmithODEONHAMMERSMITH
odeon
a
sort
of
porno
"God
sort
of
porno
“God
london-LONDON
Only
know
OnlyKnows",
Knows”, I knowthateverything'sthat everything’s
gonna be alright.
alright.
the
The
band
leave thenme JUNJUn 44 nYC cool crosses the pond as Blondie support television.
maY 28- MAY
28// 2929 stagestage (sulky bastards,
herthe
her musicians; not thetype
Debbie shouldtype ofof boysboys Debbie
shouldBLONDIE'S
DEBBIE HarryHARRY franticallyfranticallyBoys,Spector,
Spector,Orlons,
Orlons,mix
with atthen getgetmix with
at all), thensynthesis of Beach Boys,
londie’s debbie
shimmies
theearly Motown,
Motown, thethe veryvery crème
creme debrought backbroughtback forfor two
two numbers
numbers thatthat display
display
Daytonas, earlyshimmiesandand shakes
shakes across the"Heatwave" byreal fire –-killer
killerversions
versions ofof “Heatwave”
la crème
stage limelight,
limelight, furiously
furiously rattlingrattling
creme ofof thethe most
most timelesstimeless American
Americana pairpair ofof shiny
shiny maracas,
Graffiti pop-pulp thatthat every poured out ofMartha Reeves & The Vandellas
Vandellas and The
TheMarthaGraffiti
pop-pulp
maracas, andand I sigh sadly,
wishing
cruising car’s
car's radio.
radio.
Daytonas'"Little
Daytonas’“Little GTO".
GTO”.
a cruisingwishing they
they were
were mine.
difference between
The difference
betweenBlondie
Blondieand
andIt’s
Amerikana, andand even
You look
fashion notes
look good
good ininblack
black–-fashion
It's exhilarating
exhilarating Amerikana,areoff -the -creamy -shoulder mini-dress,
mini -dress,
though thefurthest Westwasthethedifference
difference between
between
Television was
thoughthe furthest
WestI've
I’veeverever been
been
are an off-the-creamy-shouldernight-nurse tights
tights andandstiletto
stiletto leather
leather ankle
Ealing Broadway,
Broadway, IIcould
could almost
almost taste
taste thethehanging aroundamusement arcade
hangingaroundanan amusement
arcade andandis Ealingnight-nurse
going tothink thatthat thegoing
to church.
church. Honest,
Honest, I thinktheback-seat-drive-in
ketchup-boots fromfromwhichwhich projectprojectthethesilksilk-clad
boots
-clad
back -seat -drive-in love and thethe ketchup
sparrow-stop -dancing
cheeseburgers sizzling
Marquee Moon
great. But
But thethe two
MarqueeMoon album
album is great.
soaked cheeseburgers
sizzling on
on ansparrow legs
legs ofof thethe type
typeofofnon
non-stop-dancing
NO0 Yawk
City bud
Wolfe
grill...
weekend gigs
that Tom
weekendgigs that
open grill…
NOO
Yawk City
bud thatthat Tom Wolfe
Verlaine's Television
Verlaine’s
Debbielooks like
like aeulogised in the Peppermint
Loungeeulogised
Peppermint Lounge
Debbie looks
Revisited section
section of his Kandy-Kolored
Kandy-Koloredperoxided 16-year -old
Hammersmith
playedat Hammersmith
peroxided
16-year-old
Revisited
Television played
Odeon
Tangerine -Flake Streamline
Streamline Baby.
Odeon were like sitting
sitting
ponytailed cheerleader
Tangerine-Flake
the Maharishi’s
Maharishi's feet
feet oror
who got
The World’s
Mouthcries
cries"SURF'S“SURF’S
World's Greatest
Greatest Mouth
got aajob
jobturning
turning tricks
trickswith the technical at the
U Pratstart of
Blondie's celebration
celebration ofTimes Square
Square during
during therespectfully atgazing respectfullyat thetheon TimesUP!”
at thethe startof Blondie’s
perfection of aCrownsummer,"In
number that’s
that's theangelic
Crown Jewels –- or watching
watching
vacation. The angelicsummer, “InThe
TheSun",Sun”, a number
theFloyd if
if they
Pink Floyd
theyhadhad any
any
countenance,that
equal of the type of Golden Old’un
Old'un thatcountenance, absorbed
absorbed insophisticatedBrian Wilson
Wilson used
to knockspeeding -sideways
good songs.
good
songs.
her speeding-sideways
Brian
used toknock out
outon
on a lazy“Prove it,
it, Tommy boy!”afternoonturns vicious"Proveboy!"
dance steps, turns
afternoonwith
withhishispiano
pianoparked
parkedinin thethe sandcomputerirreverent prole
prole bawled,
an irreverent
as herbox. That song’s
song's typical
typical –-aa joyous, updated
updatedher painted
painted nails claw
claw thethe

Pop-pulp
Pop -pulp vsvs prayers
prayers

L
LIVE!
IVE!

gus stewart / gettyBtelevision playedwith the technicalperfection of a
sophisticatedcomputer

54 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
54

odeonHAMMERSMITH
hammersmithODEON

andassumed he waswastalking
talkingand I assumed

about thealbum
albumtrack
track ofof thetheaboutthesame name. But
But whenwhen thethe song
hadcome andgone andhad come
and goneand hehecontinued shouting,shouting, "Prove“Prove it,
continued- LONDON
londonIVE!
L- MAY'24
maY 24

Tommy
Tommy boy!"
boy!”II realised
realisedhe
hewas
was
challenging
tochallengingVerlaine
Verlaineto
tolivelive upup toacrossvisually impressive
impressive as
across as visuallyas ititisisRichard Lloyd
Lloyd
on vinyl, with
with guitarist
guitarist Richard
and Verlaine
Verlaine cutting
cutting jagged,
jagged, incisive
structures
structuresthroughthroughthe
theairairas
as TV'sTV’stransparent
reflected beams
transparent axe reflectedofcoloured lightof coloured
lightthatthatlooked
lookedlike
likethethe music
musicFELT.
FELT.
that occasion
On thatoccasion thethe music
music
touchedrest oftouchedme
me inside.
inside. The
The restof thethetimeimagine aaGrateful
Grateful
time itit was how II imagine
Dead concert
concert to be.
Dead"Knockin' On
Door"“Knockin’
On Heaven's
Heaven’s Door”
is dire,dire, andand it’s
it's notnot until
until the encore
encoreof"Satisfaction" thatof “Satisfaction”
thatthethe audienceaudience
standfrom theirstand up fromtheirchairs
chairsandandIdiot Dance.
Idiot"WALLY!" somebody
the“WALLY!”
somebodyhas
has theamusing andand appropriate
appropriate audacity
tothen thethe bouncers
to bellow, and thenstart
start playing
playing Gestapo
Gestapo Warriors
Warriorsand
anditit ain't
ain’t funny.
funny.
the fishbloods
fishbloods leave
the stage
stage
As theleave thereflect that
II reflect
thatTelevision
Televisionmay
mayhavehave 10times
talent ofbut theytimes the talentof Blondie,
Blondie, but
they
ain't
think I’m
I'm inain’thalf
halfasas much fun. I thinklove. Tonylove.
TonyParsons
Parsons

MichaelJackson(left)
MichaelJackson (left)
eclipsesbrothers
eclipsesbrothers Marlon(centre)andJackie(centre)and Jackie at
Hammersmith,
1977
Hammersmith0977

Pirouettes
shtickPirouettes vsvs outsider
outsider shtick
NME JUnJUN 4
4 the Jacksons
nme

MM MAY
Waits
mm
maY 77 tom Waits

T
HASbeen
BEENnearly
nearlyfive
fiveyears
years since
since TheTHE
OBVIOUS question
QUESTIONabout
about Tom Waits
Waits
t has
he obvious
Jacksons'
Britain, andand Michael-– is he, or isishehenot,
not,aaphoney?
phoney?–-was
neverJacksons’ last
last visit to Britain,
was neverJackson, 13 then,quite
Jackson,then, is 18
18 now.
now.Not
Notthatthat thatthat has
hasquite resolved
resolved for me
me at
at London’s
London's SoundSound
diminishedjot-– andtheSunday. The
The difficultydifficulty stems
stems fromfrom his
hisdiminishedhis
his appeal
appeal one jot
and indeed
indeed the
Circus on Sunday.
fact thatthat thesewhich seems
seems so much
much second
secondtheseboys
boys have
have comecome up
up withwith nono UK
self-made image, whichmaterial in thatnatureit’s becomematerialthat period
period doesn’t
doesn't seem to mattermatternature it's
become his whole artistic
artistic stance.
stance.
either.
pack out
out
Waits is thethe coolest cat on thethe block; in his
his beatbeat
either. They
They were still able not only to packthewithclothes, andthe Hammersmith
HammersmithOdeon,
Odeon,butbutalsoalsototofillfill itit withclothes,
and with
withhishisradical
radicalslur
slurofof aa voice, hefanaticalfollowers.
followers.
contrivesto look andfanatical
contrives both
both toand soundsound as thoughthough hechanges since
since last time.
time.
were
stew -bum halfway
halfway into
into a meths
meths trip.
were a stew-bum
trip.
There had been some changes
Jermaine,
It'sromantic idealisation
idealisation of “the"the outsider”
outsider"Jermaine, torn
torn between
betweenfamilyfamilyloyalties,
loyalties, opted
opted totoIt’s aa romantic
remainat
at Motown,
Motown, andhas been
been replaced
replacedby
by theremainand hasthethat hereinforces notthat
he reinforces
notjustjustbyby stagestage tricks,
tricks, likelargely anonymous
anonymous Gerald
thecigarette thatthat droops
droops perpetuallyperpetually about
about his
GeraldBrown.
Brown.Also, thethe cigarette
band'sinstrumentation-guitar,
person, but
the useuse of aalaconic
laconic threethreeband’s own instrumentation– guitar,drums,
drums,keys
keys person,
but eveneven by the– wasnow
now supplemented
supplementedby
by a small orchestra,piece group,-wasorchestra, nogroup, whose
whose finger-snapping
finger -snappingrhythms
rhythms
doubt
supported his
and formed the
doubt mademade necessaryby
necessary bythe
thenature
natureof
ofthethenew
new
supported
his piano
piano playing andmaterialbackground tomonologues, hismaterialon
onEpic.
Epic.Also,
Also, there
therewas
wasRandy,
Randy,now
now14,
14,
backgroundto his monologues,
hispoundingon
onthe
thebongos
bongoslike
like a veteran.
“metropolitan
doubletalk”,asas he calls them.
pounding
veteran.
"metropolitan doubletalk",them.
main change,change, though,though, wasprobably thetheIt'spatently shtick,great image,
image, a
The main
was probably
It’s all patently
shtick, but
but it's
it’s a greatmaterial.
invidious to suggest
suggestexistentialist image thatthat appeals
appeals to aacertain
certainmaterial.ItIt would
would now be invidiouship, existentialist
thatThe
The Jacksons
Jacksons areare simply
simply offeringoffering teenyb
teenybopaudience’sthat
opaudience's sense
sense of sophistication
sophistication andand implies
farethefamiliaritywith
fare when
when they
theyarearevying
vyingwith
withThe
TheO'Jays
O’Jays forfor thetheir familiarity
withthethe artistic
artisticSan
San Francisco
very best
b estthatthat Gamble-HuffGamble -Huff have
have totoofferoffer(not(notthatthatscene of thethe ’50s'50s fromfrom which
which Waits
Waitsdraws
draws some
some
scene
that’s currently
currently thatinspiration.
Yet despite
to be hadthat'sthat good…).
good...).
inspiration. Yet
despite thethe amusement
amusement toother important
important development
Waits' absurdist
absurdist visionhimself andand hisThe otherdevelopmentwas
was thatthat this
thisfrom Waits’
vision of himself
wasvirtually the
manyjokes-American
was virtually
theMichaelMichaelJacksonJacksonShow.
Show.BigBig
many
jokes-"It– “Itwaswasas
ascoldcoldasasaa Jewish
Jewish-AmericanbrothersTito,
Tito, Marlon
Marlon andand Jackie were mostly
princesson her honeymoon,”he quipped
at oneonebrothers
mostlyprincess onhoneymoon," hequipped atrelegatedback-up singers.
singers. This
point-theegin to pall, but
but
relegatedto
to thetherolesroles of back-up
This
point
– themannerisms
mannerismsnot
notonly
onlybbegin
didn'tobscure a very real
real songwriting
songwriting ability.
didn’t particularly
particularlydisappoint
disappointsince
sinceMichael's
Michael’s
they obscuremuch, andandin
in anyany casecase hehevoice has
has not
not changed
changed much,
He hashas a good
good feel forfor melody
melody andand for lyrics,
now has sufficient stage presence
presence to control
control
many ofofwhichgenuine force hishismanywhich explore with genuine
proceedings
self-portrait of thethe restless
restless loner,
loner, bummingbumming thetheproceedingshimself.
himself.Too
Toomuch,much,itit could
could bebeself-portrait
argued.His
His series of neatly
bars
pool halls.
halls. It's
It’s a quality
he evoked
argued.
neatlyexecuted
executed pirouettes
pirouettes
bars andand pool
quality heevoked intantalised"San Diego
Diego Serenade”,
Serenade",aawistful
wistfulsong,
song,performed
performed
tantalisedandandteasedteasedthe
thethrongthrongatatthe
thefront
frontofof“Santheno surprisesurprise that
theand at thethe piano,
piano, which
which revealed
revealed hishis
the stalls,
stalls, andand it was nothatfor thealone andsecondhalf
halfofof theessential
sentimentality.Too
Too many
many other
othersongs,
songs,
secondthe showshow MichaelMichael was enveloped
enveloped
essential sentimentality.
by kamikaze
kamikaze female
female fans storming
storming thewere marredmarred for me
me bybystraining
straining to hear
hear
the stage.
stage.
however, werematerial waswasreasonably
reasonablypredictablepredictable-–strain, thoughthough I'm
prepared tothat
The material
him strain,
I’m prepared
to believe thatmostly from the last album,
his voice reallymostlyalbum, with the obligatory
re allyisisthat
thatcracked
crackedandandmedleysformer glories(their Tamlasodden. The real question,question,
medleysofof former
glories (their
Tamla hits)hits) -– asassodden.
IF
was the assurance
assurance withdelivered.
which
requires a qualified
qualified
withwhichwhichitit was delivered.
which requiressd CirCUSOUND
CIRCUS
soUn
AlthoughI don’t
yes, should
be:Is
Is he
he good?
good?
Although
don't rate
rate thethe Epic materialmaterial tootoo
yes,should be:- LONDON
londonhighly,it's obvious
obvious thatthat Gamble-Huff haveto arrive
arrive at
at thisthishighly, it’sGamble-Huff
But tohelpedons' decline.
decline.And
conclusion one would
helped arrest
arrestthe
theJacks
Jacksons’And
conclusion
once theonce
the boys have
have found
found some
some materialmaterial
better to consult
consult his
do better
histhat's
begin
records, where the posethat’s actuallyactually hot, then things might begin
records,
to get very
veryinteresting
interesting indeed.
indeed. Meanwhile,
Meanwhile,
put into
into truer
truer
can be put
maY 1
don’tleave
leaveititsosolonglongnext
nexttime.
time.BobWoffinden
perspective.
don't
perspective. Michael
Bob Woffinden
MichaelWatts
Watts

I

T

E!
L- IV
LIVE!
MAY1 -HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 155
HISTORY
55

terry lott / getty

the hyperboleof his build-up.
thehyperbole of
the album, Verlaine’s
Verlaine's
On thefrighteningly
frighteninglyintense
intensemusic
music carriessome warmth,
warmth, passion and SOUL.
SOUL.
There
paucity of all those
those
There was a paucity
qualities
qualities during
duringthese
thesetwo
twogigs.
gigs.ItItwas
wascold, heartlessand joyless, and theycold,heartless andtheyplayed with
with thethe technicaltechnical perfection
perfectionofsophisticated computer.
computer. Whenof a sophisticatedWhen
they started
with thethe first
tracksthey
started with
first tracks
on thethe album,
album, "See
“See NoNo Evil"
Evil” and
and
"Venus",thought they
“Venus”, I thought
they were
were gonna
gonnathrough thethe album
run straightstraight throughbecause they didn’t
didn't havethe energy
energyhave thetotracklisting around.
to change the tracklistingaround.
When
When a man asastalented
talented as Verlaine
Verlaine
can write
write something
something like
like "Venus",“Venus”,
perhapsperhaps thethe finest
finestlove
lovesongsong since
sinceDylan’s
Dylan's “Love"Love Minus
Minus Zero”,
Zero", there’s
there's
justfor playing
justnono excuseexcuse forplayingwith
withasasmuch sexuality, love
love oror affection
affection
as aanecrophiliac.
necrophiliac.
Between numbers,
Betweennumbers, Verlaine
Verlainesavours thethe role
role ofof distant,distant, cool,
patronisingStar.
Star. Unsmiling,
Unsmiling,
patronising
unmoving throughout,throughout, heintroduces
he introduceseachsong in a short
short slur ofof words,
each songwords, allall
indistinguishable except for the title.
indistinguishable
title.
everybody's sitting
sitting
Meanwhile, everybody’sroundround watching
watchingTelevision.
Television. ItIt mademe think
think thatthat thethe Television/Blondie
Television/Blondie
tour
the Ramones/Talking
Ramones/Talking Heads
tour andand theHeads
tour
support acts forfortour should
should swap support
everyone’s benefit.
everyone's
benefit.
While not
While
notin
in thethesamesame league
league assongs onon thethe album
album likelike“Friction”"Friction" oror“Prove It”,
"ProveIt", the old Ork
Ork single
single “Little"LittleJohnnyJewel"
reception
Johnny Jewel”got
got thethe best
best reception
simply because it’s
it's certainly
certainly thethe most
mostesoteric number
numberthe
thebandbanddo.
do.
esoteric"Marquee Moon"“MarqueeMoon”alone
alone comes

0

1977

a p r i l – J U NE

“What thehell – you
can’t please
everybody”— NME APRIL 30 —For NME’s tape recorder,
MUDDY WATERS provides
a generous interview.
From Charley Patton to
Elvis and the Rolling
Stones, Muddy tells an
extraordinary storyof social and musicalchange. “A black man’smusic,” says Muddy,“is not a crime to bringin the house.”“T

JOE STEVENS

56 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

HE KIND OF BLUES I play there’s nomoney in it. You makes a good livin’ when
you gets established like I did, but you don’treach that kind of overnight-million-dollar
thing, man… no way.
“If you play nuthin’ but blues, it’s hard to
get big off of it. It takes years and years and years, and still kids come inand go, ‘Who he?’”…
The kid with the cancelled eyes and the bombsite face has his eyeon my bottle of beer. As we stand at the edge of the club watching
Johnny Winter leading Muddy Waters’ band through the first halfof the show, he sees I have my eye on his pipe. We come to a wordlessagreement and trade implements. As we swap back I ask him if Muddy
Waters has been on yet.
He turns those dented-hubcap orbs on me.
“Muddy who?”
In the end, I have to ask four people before I finally find one who says,“No, man, it’s just been Johnny and the band on so far.”Once that’s been established and I’m assured that I haven’t dragged
Joe Stevens, a lady from CBS Records, her two kid brothers and adriver all the way from New York City to Willimantic, Connecticut,
on a mere wild blues chase, it’s possible to relax and take stock of thesurroundings and the music.
We’re in a sprawling, low-ceilinged wooden building called the
Shaboo Inn. Kids from the neighbouring three or four states all
converge there – it seems like every under-age drunken driver withina hundred miles is there; damage cases lurching around afterwards
slurring, “Hey, whut city we in, man?”, the lot.
It’s crowded, smoky, sweatbox hot despite the noisy airconditioning
and there are two small exits – upfront and backstage – which meansthat if a fire started in there the audience and bands would have to besent home in canvas bags and the whole process would take maybe
10 or 15 minutes… Imagine all those blurred-round-the-edges »"Iwantedthe“Iwanted theworldtoknowalot
world
to know a lotme":Muddy
about me”:
Muddy
Watersinl977
Watersin 1977

HISTORY OF
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |I 57
57

1977

a p r i l – J U NE

teenageteenage casualties
casualtiesstomping
stompingeach
eachotherothertotoget
get atatthemess...
the exits.
exits. Jesus, what a mess…
As thisthis horrifichorrific fantasy
fantasy subsides,
subsides,focus
focusin,
in,ifif you
will, onon thethe band.
band.
Reading fromfrom left to right,
right, thethe first
first man
man we comecome
Reading
to is Pinetop
Pinetop Perkins,
Perkins, bornbornatat Belzoni,
Belzoni, Mississippi,
Mississippi,
in 1913.
in
1913.He’s
He'splayed
playedpiano
piano for
forMuddy
Muddysince
since thethedeath
Spann, Muddy’s
Muddy's half-brotherhalf-brother andand thethedeathof Otis Spann,finestfinest blues
bluespianist
pianistof
ofhis
histime,time,in
in1970.
1970.
Next to him
thedrums
drumsisisWillie
Willie"Big“Big Eyes"
Eyes”
him behindbehind theSmith-formerly
Smith – formerlyknown
knownasas"Little“LittleWillie
Willie Smith"
Smith”-born– born1936
1936 inin Helena,
Helena, Arkansas,
Arkansas, a former
harmonicaplayer
player who
who switchedharmonica
switched to drums
drums inthe'50s because
because theone ofofits
the late
late ’50s
the blues
blues was in one
its
periodic
periodic doldrums
doldrums"...and“…andharps
harpswent
wentout.
out.SoSo
I had
had to look forforotherother ways toto keep
keep aajob
job andandII
learnedlearneddrums."
drums.”He's
He’s played
played with
with Muddy sincethe'60 s,thrashingthrashing his
his kitkitwithwithperfectperfectthe early
early ’60s,
power andpower
and control.
control.
up is
isBob
BobMargolin,
Margolin,aayoung
youngbearded
beardedNext upwhite
guitarist who'srhythm forwhite guitarist
who’s played
played rhythm
for Muddy
for three
three or four years. He keeps
keeps his
his Stratocaster
Strato casterturne
d well down
down andand he looks
looksunbelievably
unbelievably
turnednervous,nervous,even
evenafter
afterallallthisthistime.
time.His
Hisplaying
playingisiswaiting for
oddly hesitant,hesitant, as ififhe’s
he'sperpetuallyperpetuallywaitingcues from thethe olderoldermen
menaroundaroundhim
him-like– likeJames Cotton on harp.
harp.
Cotton,bornininTunica,
Tunica,Mississippi,
Mississippi,in
in1935,1935, is one
the guest
Cotton, born
one of
ofthe
guest
stars
Sonny Boy
BoyWilliamsonand Muddy’s
Muddy'sstars onon thisthis tour.
tour. Taught
Taught by Sonny
Williamson II andharmonica
his own
own bandband forharmonicaplayer
playerfor
for12
12 years,
years, he's
he’s led
led hisfor somesome time,
time,
and
Cotton's band
band thatthat Muddy's
borrowed bassist
and it's
it’s from Cotton’s
Muddy’s borrowed
bassist Charles
Charles
Calmese,snake -eyed andand agile,
agile, pumping
pumping
Calmese, thethe youngest
youngest man
manon
on thethe stage,stage, snake-eyedout time-honoured
time-honoured lines
contemporary fillips
linesembellishedembellishedwith
withaafew
few contemporary
fillips ona fretless
fretless Fender.
Fender.
front taking
taking carebusiness in
man who
Up front
care of businessin thethe absence
absenceofofThe
The Man
Man is a man
could
or 90,
90,aalong
longthin
thinstreak
streak ofofTexas
Texaswhite
whitelightning
lightning perchedperched on
could bebe 19 orona highhigh stool
stool with
with a Gibson
Gibson Firebird
Firebird inclad in black
blackvelvet
in hishis lap,
lap, clad
velvetandandaa
floppy hat
hat of thethe samesame fabric,
fabric, milky
milky hair
hair pushed
pushed back andand falling to his
hisshoulders,sowhitewhitethatthatititpracticallypracticallyvanishesleans into
shoulders, aa face sovanishes when
when hehe leans
the lights...
lights…born
borninin 1944 inJohnny Winter.
thein Leland,
Leland,Mississippi,
Mississippi,Mr
MrJohnnyWinter.
Shorn of hishisrock-starrock -staraccoutrements
accoutrements andand 2,000-watt
2,000 -wattmonoliths,
monoliths,
Shorn
Winter's
ack into
Musical Knowledge
Knowledge for
Winter’sput
puthimself
himselfbback
into thetheCollege
College Of Musicala postgraduate
postgraduate PhD
man who personallypersonally
PhD course
courseinin thethe blues
blues from the man
tutoredJimmy Rogers,
Rogers,James
JamesCotton,
Cotton,Junior
Juniortutoredthe
thelikes
likesofof Little Walter, Jimmy
Wells, Buddy
BuddyGuy,
Guy,Mike
MikeBloomfield
Bloomfieldand
andPaul
PaulButterfield
Butterfieldininthe
theintricacies
intricacies– amongof theirtheir craft,craft, andand whose
whosehome-study
home -studycourse
coursehashasbenefited
benefitedamong
othersClapton, Brian
Brian Jones, PeterPeter
others-MickJagger,– Mick Jagger,Keith
KeithRichard,
Richard,Eric
Eric Clapton,
Green,Perkins, Bo Diddley,
Diddley, Eric Burdon,
Burdon, John
Green, Elvis
Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins,
John Mayall,
Mayall,Page, Robert
Stevie Winwood, Jack Bruce,
Bruce,Jimmy
JimmyPage,
Robert Plant,
Plant, Jimi Hendrix,
Hendrix,

John
Lee Hooker’s“ServeYou
You Right
John Lee
Hooker's "Serve
Right To Suffer”
Suffer" into
into
the mic andand playing
playing thethe sweetest,
sweetest,sharpest,
sharpest, saltiest
saltiest
theguitar you cancan imagine,
imagine, expanding
expanding thetheblues guitar
content
content of thethe genre
genre without
without ever breaking
breaking faithwith its form.
withaudience isgrooving on
but they
they seem
seem a bit
bit
The audienceis grooving
on it, but
puzzledas to why
Johnny isn’t
puzzled as
whyJohnny
isn't wearing
wearing his satins
satinsand jewellery andand playing
playing thethe ferocious
andferocious death
death-before -dishonour power-chord rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll that’s
that'sbefore-dishonour
power-chordbeen
his major
majorstock
stock-in-trade
been his-in -trade in thethe ’70s.
'70s.
A kid
kid who
who yells
yellsforfor“Rock’n’Roll"Rock'n'RollHoochie
HoochieKoo"
Koo”
gets
poised "Fuckya!" gouged
gouged into
into his
his face,gets a poised“Fuck ya!”followedby
by aa galloping,hell-for-leather
sword-followed
galloping, hell-for -leather sword
cane
Elmore James’
James' Robertcaneversion
versionof
of Elmore
Robert Johnson
Johnson-derived
derived"Dust“DustMyMyBroom".
Broom”.
his solo, his
As hehe kickstarts
kickstarts his
his leftleft hand
hand sneaks
sneaksto his volume
volume control
control andthe stoolstool
andhe's
he’supupoff
off theanddreamily andandand dancing
dancingwith
withititnow,
now, his face dreamily
serenely abstractedashe
he switches
switches his
his buttserenely
abstracted as
butt
acrossdoesn't do “guitar"guitar moves”;
moves";
across thethe stage.
stage. He doesn’t
init's like
likehe’s
he'sdancing
dancing to thethe music
music andand he’s
he's
in fact, it’sforgotten thatthat he's
he’s got aa guitar
forgotten
guitar ininhis
hishands
hands and
andthat
playing,oror-– indeed
indeed-– thatthat he doesn’t
doesn'tthat he's
he’s playing,realiserealisethat
thathe's
he’soff
off hishis stool.
He looked
looked like
like aaskeleton
skeletondancing
dancing inmoonlight,
unearthly
moonlight, answering some unearthly
summons. On
15 -minute break
break before
beforesummons.
Onthisthisup,up,hehe ends
endsthethesetset andandcalls
calls aa 15-minute
The Mainand even
MainEvent
Event–-and
eventhoughthoughsoundsoundcommercial
commercialreasoning
reasoningdictates
dictatesname is highest
highest and biggest on
on thethe posters,posters, there’s
there's nono question
question as
whose namewhose show
to whoseshowitit is.
is.
When things
things reassemble,
reassemble,Perkins,
Perkins,Smith,
Smith,Margolin,
Margolin, Calmese
Calmese andand
When
Cotton essay anan instrumental.
instrumental. Cotton
CottonCottonwails
wailshishisbrainsbrainsoutoutwithwithaasuccession of devastating
devastating solos, but
but thethe stiffness
stiffness andand nervousness
nervousness of
succession
Margolin’s
Margolin's playing
playing keeps
keepsthings
thingsfairly
fairlyearthboundearthbound until
until WinterWinterre-enters,
re-enters,
and starts
starts striking
striking sparks
guitar. The other
other musiciansmusicians ignite
plugs in andsparksoff
off his guitar.
igniteand things
things areandare burningburningprettygood
pretty goodwhen
whenCotton
Cottonbrings
bringsononMuddy
MuddyWaters.
Waters.

“Charley"Charley
Patton wassuch
such aa goodclown withthe guitar”
guitar"Theelgo ods, PaulThe Band,
Band,Rory
Rory Gallagher,
Gallagher,thetheFe
Feelgoods,
PaulRodgers,
Rodgers,Lew
LewLewis,
Lewis,Rod Stewart…
Stewart... let'sthat Muddy’s
Muddy's students
students have,the years,
let’s just
just say that
have, over thedone himdone
him proud.
proud.
justabout
about every
everySouthern
Southern kid, WinterWinterhad
had growngrown upup hearing
hearing theLike justseminalseminalrockrock andand country
countryrecords
recordsoverover thethe radio
radio and,
and, for him, Muddy
was always The Man.
Man.
He'd simultaneously
simultaneously paid
musical debt
self upup
He’dpaidoff
off a massive musicaldebt andand setset himhimself
for thethe treat
treat of a lifetime
lifetime by getting
getting Muddy
Muddy signed
records
signedup
upto
to Blue Sky records-hisPaul'slabel
labelandproducing/kibitzing/guitaring
producing/kibitzing/guitaring– hismanager
manager Steve Paul’s– and
HardAgain,
album which
Hard Again, the album
inaugurated
staywithinauguratedMuddy's
Muddy’s staywiththe company
thecompany by recapturing
recapturing thecolossalvitality
vitalityand
and crispness
crispnesscolossalof Muddy’s
Muddy's ’50s
'50s recordings.
recordings.
And now he’s
he's up
up front
front leading
leadinga stellar
stellar lineup
lineup of three
three
generations
bluesmen,
generationsof
of Chicago bluesmen,
warmingup
upthe
thecrowd
crowdforfor ThewarmingMan.
He's shouting
shouting
Man. He’snd they
bycallfid
rock:in roll58 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

A4UDDY
WATERSWAS
WAS
bornononApril
April4,4,1915,
1915,ininRolling
Rolling Fork,
Fork,
UDDY WATERS
born
Mississippi;
Morganfield, who
Mississippi; thethe second
secondsonsonofof farmer
farmer011ie
Ollie Morganfield,
namedhim
himMcKinley.
McKinley. In 1918
named
1918hishismothermother died,died, andand youngyoung
Morganfield was
was sent
sent toto live
livewith
withhishisgrandmothergrandmother in
McKinley Morganfieldin
Clarksdale, some
Clarksdale,some100
100 miles
milesaway.
away.
"Iwas
wasraised
raised ininthe
thecountry,
country, andand out
out there
there they didn’t
didn't haveconcrete,“I
have no concrete,know... just
justmuddy
muddycountry
countryroads,
used to clean
clean their
their feet
feet
ya know…
roads, andand people
people usedonour
ourfront
frontporch.
porch. I’d
I'dbe
beplayin’playin'aroundaround crawlin’
crawlin' in thethe mud, probably
probably
off oneatin’
it… andand my grandmotherstartedcallin'
callin’memeherherlittle
littlemuddy
muddybaby.
eatin' it...
grandmother started"I started
started to play thethe harp
harp whenseven. At
AtninenineIIwas
wasreally
reallytryin'“I
whenI was seven.
tryin’ toAt13
13Ithought I was
was good.
good. TheThe kids
kids IIused
used toto singsing totowould
would call
call out,
out,
play. AtI thought‘Hey,piece.’`Hey,Muddy
Muddy Waters,
Waters, play
play usus aapiece.'"I didn’t
didn't like thatthat ‘Muddy`Muddy Water’
Water' thing,
thing, ya know…
know... I didn’t
didn't mind
mind my“I
mygrandmother callingthing
grandmothercallingme
meMuddy,
Muddy, but
but that
thatwhole
whole Muddy Waters thing
didn't like,just growed
growed on
I didn’tlike, it juston me."me.”the latterlatter part
part of his teens,
teens, McKinley Morganfield
Morganfield saw the great
great Delta
Delta
In theblue sman Charley Patton.
Patton. Patton
Patton was
nearly 30 years
years Muddy’s
Muddy's seniorsenior andandbluesman
was nearly
impressed
himenormously-as
enormously – ashadalsoalsoimpressed
impressed
impressed him
hehehada a2121-year-old-year -old
Arkansawan
Arkansawannamed
namedChester
ChesterBurnett,
Burnett,himselflater
himself latertotobecome
becomeaablues
blues
legend aslegendas Howlin'
Howlin’Wolf.
Wolf.
“I
younger life
– himandandSon
SonHouse,
House,aa lot"Isaw
sawCharley
CharleyPatton
Pattonininmy
myyounger
lifedaysdays-him
the olderolder guys.
guys. What
What got
gotto
tome
meabout
aboutCharley
CharleyPatton
Patton was
was thatthat he waswasof thesuch a good
good clown
clown man
man withwith thethe guitar.
guitar. Pattin’
Pattin' itit andand beatin'suchbeatin’on
onitit andandputtin’behindhis
hisneck
neckandandturnin'
turnin’ititover...
over…I Iloved
lovedthat,
that,but
butII loved
loved Sonputtin' itit behindHouse because
because heHouse
he usedusedthethebottleneckbottleneckso
sobeautiful.
beautiful.He
Hewas
wasoneoneofof thethethings ofofthe
best Mississippi things
the time.
“I
got themost out
out of Son"I think
think me myself andand Robert Johnson
Johnson got
the most
Son House.
House.
course Robert
Robert he comecome upup so
so fast,fast,but
but IIhad
hadto
tostaystaywiththe SonSon HouseHouse
Of coursewith thesingle -string kindthing."
single-string
kind of thing.”
Muddy
hadformed
formedaaduo
duowithwithaa friend
Scott
Muddyhadfriend of his,his, aaguitarist
guitarist named
named Scott
Bohannon. Within
year,though,though, Muddy
Muddyhadtraded in his harps
harps forfor
Bohannon.
Within a year,
had tradedguitar, andand bythe
playing bottleneckbottleneck leadsa guitar,by thetime
timehehewas
was17
17 he was playing
leadstotoBohannon’s
rhythm.He'd
He’dalreadyknown
already knownfor
foraalong
long time
timethat
thathehe waswasBohannon's rhythm.
going to be
be aaprofessional
professional musician
musician forfor life.
"I left
leftthethe homehome with thatthat whenlittle kid, andand ever since
since“I
whenII was
was a little
I can
can remember,remember, this
this is what
what IIwanted
wantedto
tobe.
be.Something
Somethingoutstanding.
outstanding.

MIf IIcouldn’t
couldn't makemake it in music,
music, I’d
I'd bebe aabig
bigpreacher,preacher, aagreat
great ballballplayer.
player.
I didn’t
didn't want to growgrowupupwithwithnonoone
oneknowin’
knowin'me
mebut
butthetheneighbourhoodneighbourhood
people.
wanted theout me.
thank mypeople.II wanted
theworld
worldtotoknowknowaa/otab
lot aboutme.II thank
myGod
GodI gotit through…”
through..."Throughout his
teens andtwenties, Muddy mademade his living inin
Throughout
his late
late teensand hishis twenties,much
as many
many other
other unskilled
unskilled andand semi-educatedsemi -educated young
much thethe samesame way as
Southernblacks:
blacks: hehe went to work
Southern
workononneighbouringneighbouring cotton
cotton plantations,plantations,butbetter than
than mostnight's music
music
but he did bettermost thanks
thankstotohis
his musicalmusicalabilities.
abilities. A night’s
earnedearnedhim
him$2.50,$2.50,asasopposed
opposedtotothe
the$3.75$3.75paid
paidforforfive
fivedays'days’work.
work.
Plus aa small
small whiskywhisky still
still out
out ininthe
thebushes.
bushes.
House, thethe manman from whom he learned
learned theSon House,
the finer
finer points
pointsofofbottleneckbottleneckguitar
guitarand
andaacertain
certainamountamountofofhis
hisearly
early repertoire,
repertoire,waswasaa
brilliant guitarist
until tracked down andbrilliantguitarist who remained
remained inin obscurity
obscurityuntil
andrecorded
SonHouse
Housetaught
taught Muddy
Muddy some
some ofofthe
thesongs
songs-– andand therecordedinin 1966. Son
essentials
the stylestyle-ofundoubtedly the
essentials of the– of Robert
Robert Johnson, undoubtedly
the finest
finestcountry-blues
singerofof all.
all.
country-blues singer
TosaysaythatthatRobert
RobertJohnson
Johnson was
was aa“mystery”"mystery" andand an “enigma”"enigma" is toTo
understate.
where hehe waswasborn
bornororwhen,when,althoughalthoughunderstate.No
No oneone seems
seems toto know where
beenaroundaroundMuddy's
Muddy’sage.
age.Nobody
Nobodyknows
knowswhat
whathehelookedlooked likehe must’ve
must've been(though he isisfrequently
frequentlydescribed"small andand dark”),
dark"), because
because(though
described as being “small
there
known photographs
photographs ofthere areare nono knownof him.
him.
He wasyoung kid
wanted to emulate
wasaashyshyyoung
kidwhowhodesperately
desperatelywanted
emulate thethe older
bluesmen
bluesmen andand seemed
seemedpatentlyunablepatently unabletotodo
dososountil
untilhehe vanishedvanishedfor
for
about
months and then
then came
came backabout six months
the best
best andmost exciting singer/theand most
singer/
guitarist
guitarist andand composercomposer thatthat anyone
anyoneSri
hadheard.
had ever heard.
BetweenBetween 1936 andand 1938 hehe recorded
recorded
29 sidessides forforVocation
VocationRecords
Records-– all
all ofwhich
pair ofwhich areare now
now available
availableon
on a pair
indispensableCBS
CBS albums
indispensable
albums entitledentitled
RobertJohnson,
Delta
Robert Johnson,King
KingOf
Of The Delta
Blues
Singers (Vols II&&II)II)–-ablues
Blues Singers
a bluesmore
driving andand achingly
achingly
more supple, driving
immediate
immediate thanthananything
anythingexisting
existing at
the
time.
the time.
The blues
blues of Robert
Rob ertJohnson
Johnsonrepresent
artistic peak
represent thethe absoluteabsolute artisticof thethe pre-war
pre-war rural
rural blues: his
his guitar
guitarplaying foreshadowed
foreshadowed the future
future ofthemusic, withwithfunky
funkybbass-string
bitingslide
slide
the music,
as s -string riffing,riffing, vibrant,
vibrant, biting
counterpoints andcounterpoints
andpowerful,
powerful,choppy
choppychording
chordingthat
thatformed
formedthe
thebasis
basisofofthe way thetheelectric
electricblues
bluesbands
bands-blackthe– black andand white
white -of
– of thethe future
futurewould
would
balancebalance off lead,
lead,rhythm
rhythm andand bass
bass guitars.
guitars.
wassolidly
solidlyin
the tradition
tradition of the Mississippi Delta bluesmen
bluesmen who'dHe wasin thewho’dpreceded him,
hisspiritualspiritual descendants
descendants Charlie
and Jimi
Jimi
precededhim, but
but like hisCharlie Parker andHendrix,
Hendrix, he was just
justthatthat much
much further
further out.
washishissongs,
songs,and
andthethewaywayhe
sangthem,
them,that
thatmatteredmattered thethe most,most,
It washe sang
though. Hearing
though.
HearingRobert
RobertJohnson
Johnsonreally
reallydrives
driveshomehomewhywhyreligious
religiousfolks
folks
calledmusicians fromfrom religious
called thethe blues “devil"devil music”
music"andand why
whymanymanymusicians
backgrounds foundalmost Faustian
Faustian choice.
backgrounds
foundthethedecision
decisionto
to play blues an almost
choice.
Johnsoninto anan almostalmost apocalyptic
Johnsonopens
opensaa window
window into
apocalypticworld
world inin his blues,
a world
devil walk
walk side
side by sideworld where
where he andand thethe devilside (“Early("Earlythis
thismorning
morningwhen
whenyou
I said,it's time
time to go”),
go"),
you knocked
knocked upon
uponmymydoor'door/I
said,'Hello‘HelloSatan,
Satan,IIdodobelieve
believe it’s
where thethe blues
blues walks like aaman
man andand pours
pours down
down like hell
hell (“Hell("HellHound
Hound
where
On My
MyTrail”),
Trail"),where
wherehe’s
he'sout
outlatelateatatnight
nightafter
afterredneck
redneck curfew
curfew("Crossroads"), andand evenevenwhenwhenthethedevil/blues
devil/bluesmakes
makeshim
himimpotent
impotent(“Crossroads”),("Phonograph Blues",sway").
(“PhonographBlues”,"Stones“StonesIn
InMy
My PasPassway”).
He sings
singsininaavoicevoicethatthatsounds
soundslike
likebarebaretrees
treesclutchingclutchinghopelessly
hopelessly at
atgrey sky,
sky,asasififhehewas
wasrunningrunningdown
down thethe roadroad trying
trying notthem.
a greynotto
tolooklook at them.
Johnson was serving
serving life without
without parole
parole on Desolation
Desolation Row before
beforeRobert Johnson
Bob Dylan
Dylan waswas eveneven born.
born.
unnerving suddenness
suddenness withacquired his
The unnerving
withwhichwhich he'd
he’d acquired
his powers andthe subject
subject matterthematterofof hishis songs led
many
many to venture
venture thethe opinion
opinion that
that
JohnsonFaustian
Johnson had,
had, indeed,
indeed, mademade a Faustian
pact withpact
withthethedevil.
devil.HeHe dieddiedinin1938 –no one quite
quite knows
knows how.
say hehewas
wasstabbed,
stabbed, somesomeSome saypoisoned, but
but everybody agrees thatthat
poisoned,
was in a fight
fight over a girl.
it wasThe
reason for the mystery
mystery is that
that
The reason
was ananitinerant
itinerant musician
musician in
he wasstrange town,
a strange
town, withwithnonenoneofof hishis
friends with
with him
him either
either to prevent
prevent
friendsito record
record thethe mannermanner of his death.
death.
or to
And besides, who cares
cares what
what happens
happens
vagrant black inin somesome small
small
to a vagrantSouthern town
Southern
town where nobody
him...? »»knows him…?
HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
19 77| 159
HISTORY59

JOE STEVENS

Waters talking
talking with
with
Waters
NME’s
NME's Charles
Charles
Shaer Murray
Murrayathis
Shaar
at hishomeinChicagohome
in Chicago

197741977
J U NEa p r il – SO

APR

MuddyWaters
on principally
principally fromfrom his records
records andand from
Muddy
Waters knew
knew Johns
Johnsonfrom
whatHouse had
had taught
taught him,
him, but
but Johnson
Johnson influenced
influenced him
what Son Househim enormously.
enormously.
“I"I didn’t
didn't know Robert
Rob ertwell
wellatatall,all,because
becauseI Idon’t
don'tremember
remember meeting
meetinghim.
little town
town called
called Frye’s
Frye's Point,
Point, andand he waswas playing
playing onon thethehim. He
He was in aa little
corner
crowdin' roundround him,
stopped andcorner there.
there. People
People were crowdin’
him, and
andI stopped
and peeked
peekedover. IIgot
gotbackbackinto
intothethecarcarandandleft,
left,because
becausehehewas
wasaadangerous
dangerousman…
man...
andallywasusing thecrawled away
and pulled
and hehe rereallywas using
the git-tar,
git-tar, man.
man.II crawled
away andpulledout,
out,
becauseheavyforbecauseitit was too heavy
for me..."me…”
The echoes
echoes of Robert
RobertJohnson
Johnson inin Muddy’s
Muddy'sfirst
firstrecordings
recordings were
were
overwhelming.
overwhelming.FolkloristAlan
Folklorist AlanLomax
Lomaxrecorded
recordedhim
himforforthetheLibrary
LibraryOf
Of
Congress
and again
again inboth solo
and asmember ofCongressin
in1941 andin 1942, bothsolo andas a memberof thethe Sons
Sons
Sims Four, aa group
group hehe played
played with
with occasionally.
occasionally. In his mid-twenties
mid -twenties at thetime,isconsiderably
considerablylighterand younger than
than thetime, his voice islighter andthe classic
classic Muddy
Waters voice
voiceofofhis
his’50s'50srecordings,
recordings,andandthethephrasingphrasingand
andintonation
intonation areareunmistakablyderived
derivedfrom
fromJohnson,
Johnson,asasis
is thethe guitar
guitar style.
unmistakably
Muddy's playing andand singing
singing carried
carried a solidity
solidity andand weightweightthat
that
Muddy’s
Johnson's
perhaps lacked, but similarly
similarly thethe realms
realms ofofmetaphysicalmetaphysicalterror
terrorJohnson’s perhaps– perhaps
which were Johnson’s
Johnson's prowling
prowlinggrounds
grounds were
wereclosed
closedtotoMuddy
Muddy-perhaps
thankfully,
the flesh,flesh, whereas
whereasthankfully,because
becauseMuddyWaters
Muddy Watersisisstill
still with
with us in theJohnson's
eyond belief.
Johnson’spresence
presenceisisghostly
ghostlybbeyond
belief.
No merewas Muddy, though,mere Johnson
Johnson imitator
imitator was
though, notnot even then.
then. His sheer
warmth,warmth, strength
strengthandandauthority
authoritycompletely
completely polarised
polarised andand redefined
redefinedeven
the most
most obviouslyJohns
on -derived pieces,pieces, andand hedisplayseven theobviously Johnson-derived
he displays
thrilling, tantalisingtantalisinghints
hintsofof thethe power
power thatthrilling,that he would unleash
unleash on his
his
next
into recording.
recording.
next foray into
wasabsolutely
absolutelydetermined
determined thatthat hehe would
wouldrecord
recordagain
again-– and thisHe wastime see
see thethe records
recordsreleased
releasedandandpaid
paidfor.
for.(The(TheLibrary
LibraryOf
Of Congress,
Congress,timewhich treats
treats folk musiciansmusicians asaswildlife
wildlifespecimens
specimensrather
ratherthan
than artists,
artists,never
paid Muddy for thethe recordings
recordings until
until a quarter
quarter ofcentury later,
never paidof a century
when theywere
they werefinally
finallyreleas
releasedby Testament
TestamentRecords
Recordsas
asDownDownOn
On
when
ed by
Stovall's
Plantation).
Stovall’s Plantation).

HE
CENTREof
OFbluesbluesrecording
recordingwas
wasChicago,
Chicago,which
whichthen
then –HE CENTRE
as now
now-– boasted
boasted a substantial
substantial black
opulation. The industry
industryasblack ppopulation.
was undergoingundergoing a hiatus
hiatus at
the time,time, since due to aacombination
the
combinationof wartime
wartime raw-materials
raw -materials shortages
shortages
andunion dispute,
dispute,and a massive union
there were no recordings
there
recordings madefor several
several years.
years.
Muddy arrived
arrived in
Muddy
inChicago
Chicagoinin19431943-– thees sionwith
withthe yearyear after
afterhishisfinal
finalssession
LomaxstaywithanLomax – andand went to staywith anuncle
got aajob
paper
uncleof his. He got
job in aa paper
factory, but
but hehe soonsoonfoundfound himself
himself
making more money
moneyplaying
guitarplaying guitar
andparties andand singing
singing at parties
and bars.
bars. In
In
1944
1944hehefoundfoundthatthat hehe wasn’t
wasn't loudloudMichael Ochs archives/GeTTYTHISTORY OF
OF ROCK
60 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
60

enough and got himself
himself
hiselectric guitar.
guitar.
his first electric"It wasn’t
wasn't no“Itno namenamebrandelectric
electric guitar,
guitar, but
but
brand
it was aabuilt-in
built-in electric
electric
git-tar,pick-up just
just
git-tar, nono pick-up
stuck
on. It gave me sostuck on.
much
trouble thatthat that’s
that'smuch trouble
probablywhy
theprobably whyII forgot
forgot thename; everytime
every timeII looked
name;
round
roundII had
hadto
to havehave itit fixed.
"Finally it got stoledstoled fromfrom
“Finallyme inin oneme
one of them
them little
neighbourhoodneighbourhoodclubs, andtheme wasthenext
nextoneoneII got
got me
was a
Gretsch, andand that’s
that's thethe oneI usedused on all mymyearlyhits."
early hits.”
Januarr967,Tel
January 1967, TelMar
Studios,Chicago:ChessStudios, Chicago: Chess
1946,pianist
pianistAlbert
In 1946,
AlbertRecordsco-founderRecords co-founder
Luandrew –better
better known
LuandrewLeonardChess(left)
Leonard Chess (left)
superyisesas(I-r)Muddy
supervises as (l–r) Muddy
Sunnyland Slim
Slim-–as Sunnyland
Waters,Iter
Waters, Little
LittleWa
Walterneededa
guitaristforneededa
guitarist
andBoDiddleyrecordand Bo Diddley record
thealbumSuperBlues
the album Super Bluessession hehewas
wascutting
cuttinga session
forAristocrat
for AristocratRecords,
Records,
small label
label runrun asa smallas asideline by
byLeonard
Leonard andand
Chess (proprietors(proprietors ofofaabarbarcalledcalledthe
theMacambo)
Macambo)and
andaagentleman
gentleman
Phil Chess
named Sammy
named
Sammy Goldberg.
Slim knew
knew Muddy
Muddy fromfrom various
various jams andand gigs, andand so hehe brought
brought him
him
Goldbergand
and thethe Chess
Chessbrothers,brothers, andand they
they andand bassist
bassist Ernest
Ernestalong to Goldberg"Big" Crawford
Crawford cut
cut fourfour sides.
sides. Muddy
Muddy andand Slim each
each took
took two
two leadlead vocals,
vocals,“Big”
andthereforegot
gotaasingle
singleapiece
apieceout
outof
of it.
it.
and therefore
allfourfourofofthe
theselections,selections,Slim’s
Slim'spiano
pianoisisthe
thepredominantpredominant
On allinstrument -after
the veteran and Muddy thethenovicenovice-but
instrument– afterall,all,hehewas
was the– but
the guitar
guitar is taut
taut and inventive. Playing, surprisingly
surprisingly enough,enough, without
without
theslide, Muddy
Muddy reveals
reveals himself
himself as aa leadleadguitarist
guitarist who’d
who'd notnot only refinedrefineda slide,tricks inin thethe preceding
preceding five
fiveyears,
years,butbuthadhadalsoalsolearned
learnedananhis existing tricks
awful
awful lot ofofnew
newones.
ones.His
Hisvoice
voicehad
haddeveloped
developedconsiderably
considerably more
more power
power
and control, and the Johnson influences
influences had
been almost
almost fully absorbed
absorbedandhad beentranscended.
and transcended.
After one
one single
single asasaasideman,sideman, one
oneas
asaafeatured
featuredartist
artist andand a third
third where
and Slimshared billing,
ady to step
step out
out onon hishis own.
own. In 1948,
he andSlim sharedbilling,he
hewas
wasre
ready
Sunnyland Slim
was alreadyalreadyfar
Sunnyland
Slim quit
quit Aristocrat.
Aristocrat. Muddy,
Muddy, however, was
far moremorethanjust Sunnyland
SunnylandSlim's
Slim’sprotégé,
protégé,aa fact
fact whichthan justwhich he proved
proved with
withdevastating successdevastating
successwhen,
when,accompanied
accompaniedonlyby
only byBig
BigCrawford,
Crawford, hehe cutversion of aasong
song called
called “I"I Be’s
Be'sTroubled”,
Troubled",which
which he’d
he'd first cut forforAlana version
Alan
Lomax
back inMississippi
Mississippiin
in1942.
Lomaxbackin
time it waswas called
called “I"ICan’t
Can'tBe
BeSatisfied”.
Satisfied".By
Bybluesstandards, it waswas
This time
blues standards,
smash hit aroundaround Chicago
a smashChicagoandandin
in thetheSouth.
South.Almost
Almost certainly,
certainly,itit was
one of thethe records
records that,
Memphis, Tennessee,-year -oldone
that,way
way overover inin Memphis,
Tennessee,aa1313-year-old
po' white
white bboy
oynamednamed Elvis
ElvisAaron
AaronPresley
Presleymust
musthavehavelistened
listened to
to onon thethepo’radio station.
station. Big
BigCrawford’s
Crawford'spumping,pumping,punching
punching basslines
basslines presage
presageblack radio
thosewhichBill
Bill Blackwas to playyears later when Presley cut his
those which
Blackwasplay six
sixyears
interpretation ofofArthur
Crudup's "That'sMama",
interpretation
Arthur"Big“BigBoy"
Boy” Crudup’s“That’sAll
All Right Mama”,
interpretation which
pacing andand phrasingphrasing of
an interpretation
whichowes
owes much
much to the pacing
Muddy’s
Muddy's record.
record had
had two major
major effects.
effects. The
Thefirst
firstwaswasto
topersuade
persuadethe
the Chess
Chess
The record
brothers thatthenbrothers
thatthetheharsh,
harsh,electrified
electrifiedDelta
Deltablues
blueswas
was thethe sound.
sound.They
They thendroppedthe cocktail
cocktail pop
pop andand jazz thatdropped thethat they’dthey'd been recording
recording andand quickly
established themselves
establishedthemselvesas
asaa pre-eminentpre-eminentboss
bossblues
blueslabel.
label.The
The second
secondmake Muddy
MuddyWaters
thewas to makeWaters theundisputed
bossofof Chicago
Chicago blues.
undisputed boss
consolidated his success with
He consolidated
harder, heavier,heavier, more
more
a series of harder,
passionate
andmoremore electric
electric hits,
passionate andand beganmember byandbegan to assemble, member
member, the toughest and mostmember,exciting
in town.
town. Muddy
Muddy Waters’
exciting band
band inWaters'Band waswasto
tobecome
become notnotonly
onlytheBlues Bandtheinfluential band inbest and most influential
Chicago,what was,was, for all
Chicago, but
but whatall practicalpractical
purposes, theband.
purposes,thefirst
first electric
electric rock band.
first ally
allywasHis first
was Jimmy
Jimmy Rogers
Rogers(sometimes
known as “Chicago(sometimes known"Chicago Jimmy
Jimmy

MUDDY
WATERSMUDDY WATERS

Rogers” toRogers"todistinguishdistinguish him
him from the white country
country singer Jimmie
Rodgers), a fine
fine guitarist
guitarist andmany of Muddy’s
Muddy's sidemen,sidemen,andsinger
singerwho,
who, like
like manycut
recordings at
Muddy's sessions
sessions withcut solo recordings
at Muddy’s
with thethe leader
leader backing
backing them
themup.
up.
“He
git-tar -that– thatwas
waswhenwhenI Igot
gotmy
mygitgit"He waswas playing
playing harp,
harp, I was playing
playing git-tar
tar
d. Then
Then hehe switchedswitched over
over-wetar stole
stoled.
– wewent
wentwith
withaaguy
guycalledcalledBlue
Blue Smitty.
Smitty.
"He mademade a coupla
coupla records
records for Chess, but
but IIdon’t
don't know
know ififyou’d
you'dremember
remember“Hehim – heplayed
playedaahell
hellofofaa good
good guitar.
andhim-heguitar. Me and him
him played
played guitar,
guitar, andJimmy Rogers played
played harp:
harp: three
three of us.
us. This
Thislasted
lastedalmost
almost aayear,
year,andandthenthenBlue Smitty
Smitty left us
us andand Jimmy
Jimmygot
and thisgotaa job, andthisleftleft meme by myself.
“I"I gotgotaaguy
guynamed
named Baby
BabyFace
FaceLeroy
Leroy[Foster].
[Foster].He
Heplayed
playeddrums
drums and
andguitar,playing git-tars
git-tars together.
guitar, butbuthe
he andandII was playing
together.Then
ThenLittle
LittleWalter
Walter came
came
to play
playwith
Leroy,andandJimmy
Jimmywashangin' round.
round. He
withBaby Face Leroy,
was hangin’
He was agood musician,andIIwanted
wantedto
tocut
cuthimhimin
inwithwithususand
andmakemakefour.
four.So
SoII putgood
musician, andput
Leroy onon thethe drums,
drums, Jimmy on thethe guitar
guitar andand Little Walter onon thethe harp.”
harp."
Marion "Little
Walter" Jacobs was
was bornborn in Marksville,
Marksville, Lousiana,
Lousiana, in
Marion“Little Walter”
ineither 1930 oreitheror1931.
1931.He
Heplayed
playedboth
bothharmonica
harmonicaand
andguitar
guitarwhen,
when, barely
barely20, hehe joinedjoined up with
with Muddy’s
Muddy's band.
band.He
Hewas
wasaa
more than
than fair guitarist
guitarist-– as his performances
performances– but
on some ofofMuddy’s
Muddy'srecords
recordsamply
amplytestify
testify-but
his true
true turf
turfwasmouth harp.
was mouth
Walter isisthethemanman against
against whom all other
other
Little Waltermust bebe measured.
Rank him
him asasblues harpists
harpists mustmeasured. Rankof equalequal importanceimportance andandinfluence
influenceon
onhis
his
instrument
instrumentand
andininhis
hisfieldfieldasas Robert
Robert Johnson,
Johnson,Charlie Parker
were inin theirs.
theirs.
Charlie
Parker andand Jimi Hendrix
Hendrixwere"Before IIhad
had him
him asas aaharp
harp player he was used
used
“Beforeto playing
playing on his own. He didn’t
didn't have
have very good
good
time, but me andteached him
him that.
that. Plustime,
and Jimmy
Jimmyteached
we taught
taught him
settle down.
himhow
how toto settle
down.He
He waswas wild,he
had toHewas
wasalways
alwaysaajump
he hadto play fast! Hejump boy,
had thatthatupup-’n’-go
had-'n' -go power.
power. Lotta
Lotta energy!
energy!
"He could
could cool down
down andand play
playaa slow
“He
blues,
himself heblues, but
but whenwhenhehego
go for himself
he play

artists,
notably Sonny
Sonny Boy
Williamson. In contrast
to thethe rockabilly
artists, notably
BoyWilliamson.
contrast torecords thatthat Southern
Southern whites
to makemakeininaafew
fewyears'time–-inwhich
records
whites were toyears’ timein whichthe leadleadguitar
guitar andand thetheechoechochambers
chambers soundedsounded electric
electric-–theonly thetheWaters
Watersband
an almostalmost totally
totally electric
electric music.
music.
band was making
making an
itsmusic
musicwaswasan
anextension
extensionofofcountry
countryblues,
theyused
Since its
blues, theyused a small
number of instruments
instruments heavily
maximum cut-and -thrust
numberheavily amplified
amplifiedfor maximum
cut-and-thrust
power, inin direct
direct contrast
contrast to the big bands
bands which
which used
used aalarge
largenumber
number ofof
instruments inonlytheand thethe guitarists
guitarists
acoustic instruments
in whichwhich maybe only
the singer andused electricity to cut
cut throughthrough thethe horns.
horns.
used
The drummers
thrashedaway
awaymercile
mercilessly
drummers thrashedssly to competecompete with thecranked -up guitar
guitar amps
and Rogers (Rogers(Rogersalternatedalternatedcranked-up
ampsused
usedbybyWaters
Waters andand lead parts
parts against
against Muddy's
thosebass andMuddy’s rhythm
rhythmand
andslide,
slide,since
since inin those
pre -electric -bass days,
days, bass
bass was
was really
really only
onlypracticalpractical in thethe studio).
studio).
pre-electric-bass
Walter's
harp was closely
closelymiked
volume,sustain
sustain andWalter’s harp
miked andand gave him a volume,
richness of tone thatthat enabled
the air with thethe huge chording
chording
richness
enabledhim
himto
tofillfill thefour -piecehorn
horn section
section orsoar likealto sax,
sax, like a slide
slide
of aafour-pieceor else soar
like a single alto
guitar or
guitaror likelike a voice.
And overoverthethetoptoproderodeMuddy
Muddytriumphant,
triumphant,slashing
the air
air into
into thin
thinslices
slices with
with bare
bare-wire
slashing the-wire
and declaiming
declaiming his
observant andandslide andhis witty, observant
poignant songs
magisterial dignity
dignity andandpoignant
songs with magisterial
savage aplomb.
aplomb.
Rock'n'rollproper was
three years
Rock’n’roll proper
was still two or threebutboisterous,
boisterous, rampaging,
rampaging, remorselessremorseless
away, butelectric
music waswas developing
electric street
street music
developing by leaps
and bounds
music's still withwithandboundsininChicago.
Chicago. The
The music’s
Walter isn’t.
isn't. He
He sufferedsufferedus, but sadly, Little Walter
massive concussion
concussion in
ack-alley brawl
brawl
a massive
inaabback-alley
outside a Chicago
Chicago club
club where
where he’d
he'd worked
worked one
one
outsidenight in1967.He
Hecomplainedcomplained of aaheadache,headache,night
in 1967.
took a couple
couple ofofaspirins,
aspirins, went to sleep
sleep and
and
never
up.
never woke
woke up.
"I waswasherehere when
when rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll first came
came out“I
outwith Chuck
Chuck BBerry
witherryandand all
all ofofthem.
them. IIsentsenthimhim
to Chess, told him
him to tell
tell Leonard
Leonard Chess thatthat
it waswas meme sent
sent him
him over there.
there. He recorded
recordedwith thewith
the Chicago people: Otis Spann,
Spann, thethedrummerbelieve..."drummerOdie
OdiePayne,
Payne,II believe…”
has always been
been noted
Muddy has
notedforfor hishiswillingness to advancewillingness
advance other
other people’s
people's
careers.
and Little
careers.He
Henot
notonly
onlyletlet Rogers andLittleWalter record
record on
on his time,
time, but
but heplayed onon
he played
their records,
records,gave
gave themsolo spots
theirthem solo
spots on his
gigs andand gave them
them thethe benefits
benefits ofof all his
experience,and otherwise.
experience, musicalmusical andotherwise. Many
who now lead theirof hishis former
former sidemen
sidemen who
their
own bands
bands have benefitted
benefitted from both
both his
adviceand histhe tricky
trickyadvice andhis object
object lessons
lessons onon theart of leadingartleading a band.
band.
....i"Wasa lotof changesmade
madewhenwhen we
we waswas“Was a lotof changes
RonnieWoodjoins
Ronnie Wood joinsgoin'through the
mens
goin’ throughthething...
thing…I Ihad
hadaalotlotof mens
Watersbackstage
Waters backstageThat’swhyI
why Ifeels
feelsthat
thatII did
did a lotin thethe band.
band. That's
after
latter's
after thethe latter’sshow
the Roxy
Roxyinshow at theinmoreblues players
players than
than anybody
anybody else
more for blueselse
Los Angeles,
Angeles, 1977
77
I knowknow ever lived.
lived. I taught
taught aa lot
pe ople howhow
lot of people
band andto do it,
it, IItooktook’em'emintointomymybandand I made
made
good
blues stars
stars out'em..."
good blues
out of ’em…”“The"The Rolling
Stones created
a whole wide
open space
space forthe music"
music”
thesump’n uptempo.”
sump'nuptempo."

wasaarenowned
renownedhellraiser,
hellraiser, andandWalter waseven
after his work
workwitheven afterwith Muddy
Muddy andand hishis solo
records –-bothwhileboth whilehe
hewas
wasin
in thethe bandrecords
band and
andafter-hadafter – hadmade
madehimhimasasbig
bigaa star
star as Muddy
for aawhile,wildness andthewhile, his wildness
and taste
tasteforfor thebooze seriously damaged
his career.
career.
booze
damaged his"He was a great
great guy. He had
had kindkind ofbad“Heof a badtemper,great guy,
guy,man…
man... andand iftemper, but
but hehe was a great
he wanted
toloveloveyou,
you, hehe loved
loved you.A
you. A lot
lot ofhewanted topeoples
the wrongwrong thing,
thing, 'cause
peoples give him the’causehehejust didn’t
didn't wantfoolishness off
off
want to take no foolishness
nobody.A lot
nobody.
lotof
ofpeople
peopledon’t
don't want
want toto taketake nojive fromfrom peoples,
peoples, andand hehe waswasthatthat type.
type.
"But otherwise,otherwise, man,man, whatever“But
whateverhe
he did,did, hehe
did it todid
to himself.
himself. He didn’t
didn't go sticking
sticking up
up
nobodyfast
nobodyoror nonenoneofof thatthatjive,
jive, but
but hehe waswas a fastboy. People
People said
said hehe drank,
drank, but
but whatwhat thethe hell,hell,
everybody drinks.
drinks.II drink
drinktoo.
too.
everybody"I think
think heone of thethe swellest
swellest guys“Ihe was one
thatthe business.
business. And
thatwaswas everever in the
And hehe diddidlike me.
me. Awwwwww
Awwwwwwman,
man, hehewas
wasanother
another
RobertJohnson. It's
hard to find them
them kinds
Robert Johnson.
It’s hardkindsof peoples.”p eoples."Charlie
Parker, Jimi Hendrix,
Charlie Parker,
Hendrix, Billie Holiday,
Holiday,John
JohnColtrane…
Coltrane...
"Yeah man…
man... those
don't run
run intoorn“Yeah
thoseguys,
guys, you don’t
into them
themtoo
toooften.
often.They
They bborn
withthat. Walter was
was bornborn with
with what
what hehehad,
had,andandman,man, you
youcouldn’t
couldn't taketakewith that.
He could
coulddodoit.
it.
it from him.
him. He"His mind
mind wasfast, hehe could
could think
think twice
twice toonce; that’s
that's how“His
was so fast,
to your once;
how hehelearnedKidsarearestill
stilltrying
tryingto
toplayplaylike
him,butbutthey
theynotlearnedto
to harpharpsoso good. Kids
like him,not
yet upup toto thethe point…”
point..."
1950,thetheChess
Chessbrothersbrothersseparated
separated themselves
themselves from Sammy
Sammy
In 1950,
Goldbergand Aristocrat
order to set up
up aanew
newoperation:
operation: Chess
Chess
Goldberg andAristocrat inin order– among them
Records. They
Theyleased
leasedaafew
fewmasters
mastersfrom
fromthetheSouthSouth-among
them thetherecords
before hehe too moved
moved
recordsSam
SamPhillips
Phillipsat
atSun
Sun mademadewith
withHowlin'
Howlin’Wolf
Wolf before
to Chicago
Chicago-but
could handle
handle rightright– butmostly
mostlythey
theyfoundfoundall
all thethe blues they could
there inin Chicago.
Chicago.
there
Muddy Waters
WatersBlues
BluesBand
Bandruled
ruledthetheroost,
roost,notching
notching up
up best-sellers
best-sellers
The Muddy
notonlywithrecords from Jimmy
Jimmy
not only
withMuddy's
Muddy’s own
own records
records but
but withwith solo records
Rogers andand Little Walter.
Walter.Muddy
Muddyandandthethebandbandalso
alsobacked
backed up
upotherother

le*-viORE
THAN
ANY
other
singleevent,
event,ititwas
wasMuddy’s
Muddy's visit
visit totooRE THAN
ANy
othersingleEnglandthat laid thethe first foundation
foundation stone
England inin 1958 thatstoneforfor thetheGreatboom of thethe early
early ’60s.
'60s.
Great British
BritishR&B
R&B boom
Earthshakingly loudthe standards
standards ofSpann's
Earthshakingly
loudby theof thethe timetime (even(even Otis Spann’s
piano wasamplified), at
one major
major British
Britishjazz
time
piano
was amplified),
at least
least one
jazzcritic
criticof the timefreaked out by thethe volume
volume of thethe Waters
Watersband
band (he(he waswas moremore
was so freakedaccustomed
theacoustic
acoustic"folk"“folk”blues
bluesofofBig
Big Bill
accustomed totothe
BillBroonzy
Broonzyand
and Brownie
Browniethat he reviewed the show fromfrom thethe toilet.
toilet.
McGhee) thatwas thatthat visit thatthat inspired
inspire dAlexis
It wasAlexis Korner
Korner andandCyril
Cyril Davies
Davies toto form
form
Blues
BluesIncorporated
Incorporated andand provide
providethe
theenvironment
environment thatthat produced
produced thethe
Stones, The
TheYardbirds,
Yardbirds,Manfred
ManfredMann,
Mann, The
ThePretty
Pretty Things
Things andand thetheRolling Stones,
the Crawdaddy/Marquee
Crawdaddy/Marquee school
bands.
rest of theschoolofof young
young white
white Britblues
Britblues bands.
It waswasin
inthatthatsamesame year
yearthatthat Muddy
Muddy received
received thethe first
firstrealrealansweringanswering
shout fromwhen Elvis Presley
Presley mademade ashout
from acrossacrossthethecolour
colourline.
line."It“It waswas whenpicture withhad thatthat `Hoochie
Coochie Man’
Man' beat...
picturewithaa song had‘Hoochie Coochie
beat…ba
bada
dada
da da
da
dum…
andII thought,
thought,'I‘I better
betterwatch
watchout.
out. I believe
dum... andbelieve whitey’s
whitey's pickin’
pickin' upup »M

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK61
HISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 | 61

1977
1977

J U NEa p r il – SO

APR

on things
things thatquestion was ‘Trouble’'Trouble' fromfrom thethe
thatI'mI’m doin'.'"doin’.’” The song in question
movie
Creole.ItItwas
wasprobably
prob ablyPresley’s
Presley'slast
lastfling
flingasasaahardcore
hardcoremovie King Creole.
rock'n'roller,
hardcore rock'n'roll
fewyears.
rock’n’roller, andandalsoalsothethelastlast fling
fling of hardcore
rock’n’roll for a few
years.
When the bottom
droppedout
outofof hardbottom dropped
hard rock to
to coincide
coincide with
with Presley’s
Presley's
inductionmarket also
also contracted
contracted sharply.
inductioninto
into thethe army, the blues market
Muddy's
to taketakehishisbandband-thenMuddy’s coup was to– thenconsisting
consistingofofPat
PatHareHare(gtr),(gtr),
James Cotton (harp),(harp), Otis Spann
Spann (pno), Andrew Stephens
Stephens (bass)(bass) andandFrancis(drums) –-toFrancis Clay (drums)
tothe
theNewport
NewportJazz
Jazz Festival.
histriumphanttriumphant performance
performance there,
subdued thoughthough it
From histhere, slightly subdued
at theof thewas after his experience
experience at
the hands
hands ofthe British jazz critics,
critics, came
came thesuperb
AtNewport
Newportalbum,
album,which
whichintroduced
introduced him
him toto white
whitesuperbMuddy
Muddy Waters At
jazz fans.
fans. He also
also recorded
recorded thealbum
the acoustic
acousticMuddy
MuddyWaters,
Waters,Folk
Folk Singer album
and thethe Broonzy
Broonzy tributetributeMuddySingsBigBill,
Muddy Sings Big Bill, bothbothofof whichhim
andwhich gained
gained him
a foothold
foothold with
with white
fans.
white folk fans.
nevertheless, hisbeing eroded
eroded by thethe smoother,smoother,
But nevertheless,his black public was being
jazzier"urban“urbanblues"
blues”ofofBB
BB King
King and
AlbertKing,
King, andandby
by thethegospelgospel-jazzierand Albertinfluenced-soul coming
Motown in Detroit
Detroit andand Stax inininfluencedpop
pop-soulcomingout
outof
of Motown
Memphis.
these forms seemed
seemed "classier"the burgeoning
burgeoning black
Memphis. Both these“classier” to the
middle class,class, who
who were beginningto findfind thethe music
music of men
middlebeginning to
men like Muddy
Muddy
and
little too
tooroughrough andand dirty.
and Howlin'
Howlin’Wolf
Wolf aa little"I'm deaddead outta
outta Mississippi,
cotton -patch music,
music,“I’m
Mississippi, thethe country.
country.II play cotton-patch
cornfield,fishfry.
fishfry.BB
BB andstyle; a higher
class ofcornfield,
and Albert areare a different
different style;higher classpeople'dthem, more middle-classmiddle-class people
people-in
people’d see them,– inthose
thosedays,
days,anyway.
anyway.
"Now youyoutalkin’talkin' direct
direct tobecause white“Now
to black, because
whitepeople,
people,ifif they
they like
like you,they don’t
they
don't give aadamn.
damn. IIhave
havedoctors
doctorsand
andeverything
everything who
whocomecomearound:around:doctors,
slip inintherethere sometime.
sometime.
doctors, lawyers,
lawyers, maybe
maybe even
even a judge slip
"But inin thosethose days some
some clubs would rather
rather haveintherethere than
than me,me,“Buthave BBinbecauseaa more
more white-collar
white-collarguy
guycomescomesinin to
to see him.
becausehim. They’d
They'd want
want to besophisticated,sophisticated,they'dthey’dsay
saythey
theydon't
don’tdig
digthethedeep
deepblues
blueslikelikememe andandWolf
were playin’…
playin'... John
Hooker, maybe
maybe Lightnin’
Lightnin' Hopkins.
Hopkins.
John Lee Hooker,“What"What thethe hell, you
you can’t
can't pleaseplease everybody.
everybody.
"What docare? backback when
when I waswasplayin’
playin' for only
onlyblackalways had
had my“What
do I care?
black I always
house
couldn't evendidn't needin thethe necktie,
necktie,housefull,
full, you couldn’t
evengetget in.
in. I didn’t
neednono guyguy iny’know wh’mean?”y'knowwh'mean?"1964,Muddy
Muddywastobeginbegin totoreapreapthetheharvest
harvest of
ofthe
theseeds
seeds he’d
he'd
In 1964,
was toplanted"Then all at
at onceonce there
there was theplantedoveroverinin England
Englandback
backinin1958.
1958. “Then
Rollin’ Stones.
Rollin'Stones. When
When they
they did
did it, they
they createdcreated a whole wide open
open space
space forthesaid who
did it first
first andand how
how they
they came
came by knowin’
knowin' it.
the music.
music. They
They said
who did
They told
told thethe truth
truth about
about it, andand thatthat really
reallyput
shot in mymyarm
arm withwith thetheputaa shot
whites.I tip my hat
whites.
hat to ’em.
'em.
"They took
took a lot ofofwhatwhat IIwas
wasdoin’,
doin',butbutwhowho care?
care? TheThe Rolling
Rolling“They
Stones...
the people
people fromfrom England
England to
tohip
hipmy
mypeople
people–-mywhite
Stones…it took themy whitepeople – towhat
whatthey
theyhadhadin
intheir
theirown
ownbackyard.
backyard.That
That sounds
soundsfunny,
funny, butbutpeople-to
it's
the truth.
truth.
it’s the"It waswas thethe Beatles
Beatles andand thethe Rolling
Stones: The
Beatles didofChuck
Chuck“It
Rolling Stones:
The Beatles
did a lot ofBerry; thethe Rolling Stones
Stones did
did somesome of my stuff.
stuff. That’s
That's what
what it took to
to wakewakeup
the people
own country,
country, in
own stateborn, thatthatup thepeopleinin mymy ownin my
my ownstate where
whereI was born,a black
blackman's
crime to bring
bring in thethe house.
house.
man’smusic
musicisis notnot a crime“Therebring that
thatmusic
musicinto
intoaafather
father-"There was a time
time when
when a kid
kid couldn’t
couldn't bringand-mother's house.
and-mother’shouse.Don't
Don’tbring
bringthat
thatnigger
niggermusic
musicininhere.
here.That's
That’sright!
right!
"Those kids didn’t
didn't give aadamn
damn what your colour
colour is;is;they
theyjust
want to“Thosejust wanthear thethe records.
records. Then
Then thethe college kids
to see me inhear
kids started
started comin’
comin' toinplaceswas afraid
afraid for'em eveneven tothere, maybe
ofthemthem
places where
whereII wasfor ’emto be there,
maybe1212 or 14 ofa night.
night. I said,
said,‘Brother,'Brother,IIhope
hopethey
theycancanhandle
handle this,this, they
they don’t
don't know
knowwhere they at. IIhope
to ’em.
where
hopedon’t
don'tnothin’nothin' happen
happen to'em. I hope
hopeeverybody
everybodyleave ’em
'em alone!’alone!'"This waswas before
beforeMartin
Martin Luther
Luther King’s
King'sthing
thingwaswashappening,
happening, and
and
“This
even then
then theywas
places... They had
had moremore nerve
nerve
they wasgoing
going to the black places…
thanwoulda had,
thanII woulda
had, man...
man…IImean,
mean,I'm
I’mscared
scaredtotogo
go inin somesome black places
myself now.
myself“All
the kids
kids got
All thenerve these
these days;
nerve
days; me,
don't got nono nerve.
nerve. I’d
I'd
I don’t
just rather
just
rather staypeaceable, sit roundround
peaceable,
and watchandandwatchmymy TV andwatch mykids
my kids growwatch
beenthroughthroughup. IIbeen
whattheygoin'what they
goin’
through.
"I beenbeen inin somesome“Ibaaad places in mybaaadplaceslifetime,
but I went
lifetime, but
went
62 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

throughsoundandandsafe.
safe.IIdidn't
didn’tget
getnobonobodyanddidn't
didn’tnob
nobodygetme.
me. I
through sounddy andody getused to pack
pack thatthat thing
thing here…”–
here..."- hehip pocket
pocketmeaningfullyme aningfully-–used
he slaps his hip"but you don’t
don't need“but
needthat
thattotolive.
live.
“Ithat nono more.
more. I goes
"Idon’t
don't think
think about
about that
goes ononhavin’havin' aagood
goodtime,time,man…
man...
get ininmy
mycar
carandand gogoto
tothe
the store…
store... I'm
good time.”
time."I get
I’m Navin'havin’ a good

M

-viIJDDYWATERS
LIVES
today
a smallwhite
whitewooden
wooden househouse
uddy Waters lives
today
inin
a smallon
quiet street
street in
the last
last
on a quiet
in aa suburb
suburbofof Chicago.
Chicago. It's
It’s only in the
few years
years thatthat he finally
finally got
got enoughenough money together
together toto beable to move out ofof Chicago’s
Chicago's ghetto
ghetto SouthSouth Side, but
but whenwhen oneconsiders thatcolossus ofofmodern
modern popular
popular music
considers
thatMuddy
MuddyWaters
Waters is a colossus
music
and that
butt off as
as aastar
starperformer
performer andandandthat he's
he’s been
been working
working his butt
recordingartist for more thanrecording artist
than a quarter
quarter of aacentury,
century, thethe smallness
smallnessand modesty
home comes
despite theandmodestyofof his homecomes asas something
somethingof
of aa shock,shock, despite
thecomfortable furniture,
furniture, theelectronic kitchen and the small
expensive comfortablethe electronic
swimming
pool inin thethe yard.
yard.
swimming pool
Suddenlyyou
realise thatthat over those
those years
years Muddy
Muddyhasn't
seen
Suddenly
you realisehasn’t ever seenmuch of aafinancial
financial reward
reward for his
his work.
work.He
Hehas
haslittle
littlemore
morethanthanany
anyhardhardmuch
working man
age would have.
man coming
coming up
up to retirement
retirement age
the years,
years, he’s
he'smademade several
several stylistic
stylistic experiments
experiments inOver thein thethe hope
hope ofclicking with
with a wider
wider market
market in
the way thatthat BB
BBand
andAlbert
Alberthave
havedone,done,but
butclicking
in thehis reluctanceto move too far
reluctance tofarfrom
fromthethemusic
musicthatthatisishis
hisunquestioned
unquestioned
resulted in some less-than-enthusiastic
less -than -enthusiastic performances
performances onforte has resulted
on somesome
les s-than-worthyprojects.
less-than-worthy
projects.
There
There was Brass And
AndThe
TheBlues,
Blues,a alightly
lightlyswinging
swingingalbum
albumbacking
backing him
him
horns, andand aa pair
pair ofofhorrendous
horrendous “psychedelic”"psychedelic" albums,
albums,up with jazz horns,
MudandandAfter
TheRainRain(“Chess("Chessthought
thought they
they could
could makemake somesomeElectric Mud
After The
money
money off ofofthose,those, andand hell,hell, IIcould
coulduse
usesomesomemoney
money too”),
too"),neither
neither ofmade it either
either artisticallyartistically or commercially.
commercially.
which madeA pairpair ofof“team-up”"team -up"albums
albums –-Super
and Little
Super Blueswith
Blues withBo
Bo Diddley andWalter, andwith Bo and– wereand Super
SuperSuper
SuperBlues
BluesBand
BandwithBo
andHowlin’
Howlin'Wolf
Wolf-were
better andteamed up
Spann, Paulbetteranddiddid better,better,and
andin
in19691969 he teamed
up withwith Otis Spann,Paul
Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield,
Bloomfield, Duck
DuckDunn
Dunn andand Buddy
BuddyMiles
superb
Butterfield,
Miles for aasuperb
double album
appropriatelyenough-Fathers
enough – FathersAnd
AndSons.
Sons.
album entitledentitled-–appropriately
the ’70s,'70s, there
there was
Sessionsalbum
album with
with Rory Gallagher,
Gallagher,(In thewas a London Sessions
Winwood, Georgieand Mitch
Stevie Winwood,
Georgie Fame,
Fame, Rick Grech and
Mitch Mitchell.)Mitchell.)
It seemed
was it, except
seemed thatthat thatthat wasexcept thatthat the following year
year Muddy
Muddy
involved inin anan almostalmost fatal carcar accident
accident thatthat laid
him low forfor
was involved
laid him
manymonths.
ack good.
ack muchmuch better’nbetter'n II evermanymonths."I“Icame
camebbackgood.II came
camebbackthought
thinkI'd
I’d ever come back asthought II would.
would. The public
public didn’t
didn't think
as strongstrong asas
am now.
I am"Some thought
thought I'dnever play
play again,
again, because
because I couldn’t
couldn't even move mymy“Some
I’d neverfingers, man…
butII can't
can’tplayno
play nohour
hourandandaahalf
halforortwo
two hours
hoursnonomore,more,man... butman. My age is
istoo
toooldoldforforthat,that,I Iwouldn’t
wouldn'teven
eventhink
thinkabout
about doin’
doin' that.
that.
man.
"Forty-five to 50
50minutes,
minutes, man,-year -old man.
man.
“Forty-five
man,that's
that’senoughenoughforforaa6262-year-old
know thethe kids
kids would
would love for
forme
meto
tostaystayout
outthere
there more…
more... I could
could go onon
I know
fewminutes
minutes longer,longer,but
butI’mI'mtryingtrying totoprotectprotect this
this one
one body. The kids
kids
for aafew
hollerin' forcoupla weeks
be hollerin’formoremoreallallnight,
night,butbutififII did
didin
in aa coupla
weeksII be
be lyin'lyin’ onon mymyback inbed somewhere.
in aabed
somewhere.
"I'm trying
trying to-year -oldman
man outout“I’m
to protect
protectMuddy
MuddyWaters.
Waters.You
Youdon't
don’tgetgetaa6262-year-old
stage for
forno
notwo
twohours,
hours,man…
man... you kiddin’?
kiddin'?
on no stage“The
thenII do my 45,"The band
band go out
out there
there first
first andand then
45,50
50minutes…
minutes... yeah,cool... but
cool…
butme
mego
go outout there
thereforfor ananhourhourandandaahalf?
half?No
Noway."
way.”
year,Muddy
Muddysevered
severedhis
hisconnection
connection with Chess Records, thetheLast year,
company
whichhishissuccesssuccesshelped
helpedto
to build
build andcompanywhich
and with which his
his namename had
had
been virtually
virtually synonymous
been
synonymousfor
for moremore than
than2525 years.
departure coincidedwith-basedHis departure
coincided withthe
thesalesaleofofChess
Chesstotothe
theNew
NewJersey
Jersey-basedlabel.
All Platinum
Platinum label.
"That be thethe second“Thatsecondtime
timethey
theysoldsoldme,me,andandIIgot
gottiredtiredofofbeing
beingsold
soldtotoeverybody. The
time waswhen they
company called
calledeverybody.
The first time
was whenthey sold
sold me to aa company
GRT,
andII said,
said, 'This‘This
GRT,andandthenthen they
they sold
soldmemeto
toanotheranother record
record company,
company, andain't noquit."'
ain’t
nogoodgoodforfor me.
me. I quit.’”manager, Scott Cameron,
Cameron, went
CBSrecords,
records,who
whosuggested
suggestedthat
that
His manager,
went to CBS
he apply directly
to Steve
Steve Paul’s
directly toPaul's Blue Sky
SkyRecords,
Records,who
whoCBS
CBSdistributed.
distributed.
"They said
said thatthat this
this labelwas
wasthethedirect
direct one
one forforme,and it was
was thethe one
one
“They
label
me, andthat Johnny
connected up
thatJohnny Winters was connected
up with.
with.
“When
they said
said `Johnny‘Johnny Winter',
Winter’,thisthiswaswasit.
it. I was just thrilled
allover,over,"When they
thrilled all
because when
he didn’t
didn't have
have thethe big
becausewhenII met
met Johnny
Johnnyaa fewyears
few yearsago
agoin
in Texas, hecontract thenplayin' so muchmuch
contract
thenandandhehewasn't
wasn’taabig
big rock'n'roll
rock’n’rollstar.
star.He
He was playin’of theall theold blues
players like
like meJimmy Rogers andthe old
old stuff…
stuff... all
the old
blues players
me ’n’'n' Jimmy
and a lot
more, hewas playin’
playin' all
stuff.
more,
he wasall of our stuff.
"I figured
figured thatthat this
this wasthe greatest“I
was thegreatestchance,chance,man,
man,ofofall
allmy
mydays,days, toto getwithsomeonewho's
who’sstill
stillgot
gotit,
it, got
got that
early-’50s
with someonethat early-'50s sound.”sound."

Using Muddy’s own piano, drums andrhythm guitar plus James Cotton and his bass
player and Winter himself, they went ahead tomake the album that turned out to be the magnificent Hard Again.
“We tried to keep it down in the ’50s style, and I think this is one of thebest records I’ve made in a long time… with that really Muddy Waters
sound. I thought the Fathers And Sons was a heckuva good record, but I
think this is the top. I really do.
“We’re trying to get as close to the old sound as we can. We talked to
Jimmy Rogers, and he’s ready, and maybe on the next one we use Walter
Horton” – also known as “Shakey Horton” and “Big Walter”, another ofthe great ’50s Chicago harps – “he’s an old-timer, and he got some goodold sound in his body, plus I’m sure ol’ Sunnyland Slim got a coupla sides
in him. We’re just starting to think about it.”
But most of all, Muddy yields to no one in his admiration for Johnny
Winter, the only one of the young blues guitarists who has mastered theguitar styles which Waters and his contemporaries pioneered.
Most of the noted young white bluesmen of the ’60s, like Clapton, Greenand Bloomfield, took BB King as their model, but Winter is the only one
who can capture Muddy’s own style. It takes a very careful listen to Hard
Again to discern that it’s Winter playing those Waters-styled guitar lines
and not the old master himself. Waters will hear no criticisms of Winter,not even of his often rather strained blues singing.
“He got a good voice on him for a white boy. How the hell you expect him
to be able to sing like me?”U

p on stage at the Shaboo, Willie Smith sets up that twofisted Chicago bump and grind, and Winter and Cotton
power the band into “Hoochie Man”.
Seated centre-stage, plucking casually at a businesslike brown
Telecaster, clad in short-sleeved sports shirt and slacks, Muddy
declaims the classic braggadocio of Willie Dixon’s Chicago anthemwith the casual authority of a man who knows that he’s not going to becalled upon to prove what he sings but is still prepared to back it up every
inch of the way.
An all-encompassing boast of mystic, secular and sexual power, heslams home the last chorus with as much zest and vitality and utter

conviction that he must’ve put into his first performances half a century
ago back in Clarksdale, Mississippi:“I’m here, everybody knows I’m here/I’m that hoochie coochie man/Let thewhole damn world know I’m here.”
And they do. Lord God, they do.
And the one black kid in the club – tall, skinny, afro’ed – is looking at
Muddy almost in shock, as if he can’t believe that this old man who looks
like his grandfather is generating so much power.
When a drunken white boy behind him starts to babble and laughduring the next song, he turns on him savagely: “Shut yo’ white mouth,motherfucker. This is the blues.”
For Muddy, Winter must be the ideal sideman. Whenever the old masterneeds to take a breath, Winter can take over the vocal for awhile, be it“Mannish Boy (I’m A Man)”or Muddy’s time-honoured hard-charging
finale number “Got My Mojo Working”. And yet he never risks distracting
the audience from Muddy, he stays on his stool until Muddy gets up andthen he gets up too to groove around with him.
The programme includes Muddy standards like “Honey Bee” and “I’m
A Howlin’ Wolf” (an old song of Muddy’s that he now sings as a tribute tohis old friend, dead this past two years) plus “Way Down In Florida” fromthe new album.
It’s on this song that Muddy takes his only guitar solo of the night. The
kids at the Shaboo have by now heard guitar players pull out every trick inthe book, but the old man has a surprise or two left for ‘em yet.
Every time I see Muddy, I’m always taken aback at the sheer savagery of
his soloing. I’ve never heard anybody this side of Jeff Beck generate somuch attack, so much venom with a guitar.
Listening to Muddy soloing is like getting into a razor fight in the middle
of a cloud of enraged napalm wasps out for blood and marrowbone jelly.
He just kills, and for all his astonishing speed and flair and invention,
Winter just can’t hit as hard as Muddy.
And that’s why we need old masters, ’cuz if younger folks could do what
they could do just as well then they’d be superfluous, long overdue for
rock’n’roll euthanasia. The reason that Muddy Waters is still a great andnot just an honoured ancestor, a museum grandaddy, is that no one cando it like Muddy Waters.
And somehow I don’t think anyone ever will. Charles Shaar Murray •HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 63

JOE STEVENS“You don’t get a
62-year-old man
out on no stage
for no two hours,
man… Youkiddin’?”: Waters
at home in 1977

1977
1977

– J U NEa p r ilSO

APR

0

maw

.1

“We’re
"We'
e the
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black sheep
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of theoft,thenew
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TheythetheQueen.
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THEJAM?
JAM? Introducing
Introducingan
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newtriotrioandandtheirtheiropinionatedopinionatedTHE
leader,PaulPaulWeller.
Weller."We're“We’renot
nottotally
totallybrainwashedbrainwashed –yet,"
yet,”heheleader,says."We“Wewill
willbebeinintwo
twoyears
yearsif ifwewedon't
don’tdodosomething."
something.”
says.

-

64 64
I HISTORY
OF ROCK
19 771977| HISTORY
OF ROCKOctober'
gni1977:
TheJam-(I -r)October
The Jam– (l–r)Bruce
Foxton, Rick
Buckler
Bruce
Foxton,Rick
BucklerandandPauPaul
I Wellerin San
Francisco's
Weller– in San
Francisco’s
Chinatown
district.Although
Chinatown
district. Althoughscheduled
to plar
6 datesoyernscheduled
to play
16 datesover 12
daysonfirstfirst
US US
tour,Weller's
daystheiron their
tour, Weller’s
dad/managerJohn
cancelled
thethedad/manager Johncancelled
SF show
becauseof anearthing
SF show
becauseof anearthing
problemwiththemicrophones
problem with the microphones

B

When, bans
here

with
image
straight
of the
Scene
Club
1964
some
With
an an
image
straight
outoutof the
Scene
Club
1964
or or
some
similarmodMecca,
TheJamwouldn't
knowoneendendofasafetysimilarmodMecca,The Jam wouldn’tknow oneof a safetypinpin
from
another.
Unlikethe thenewnew-wave-wave elite(Damned,
Pistols,fromanother.
Unlikeelite(Damned,
Pistols,
Stranglers,
Clash),
they are,sartorially speaking,threevery sharp
Stranglers,
Clash),
theyare,sartoriallyspeaking,threeverysharpyoungmenthe– theproudowners(andI meanproud)
of ofcustomised
young menproud
owners(andI meanproud)
customisedmohairsuits
of ofthethekind(say)
TheYardbirdsworewhen
theyweremohair
suits
kind
(say)
The yardbirds wore when
they were
R&B
band. And,unlikeadherentsof thedogma,
The
an an
R&B
band.And,unlikeadherentsof thenewnew-wave-wave dogma,
The
Jam
don't
gogo
forforwholesalerejectionoftheir
predecessors.
Jam
don’t
wholesalerejectionof theirpredecessors.
One
Otis
Redding
is PaulWeller's
favourite
singer.
HeHe
even
one
otis
Redding
is Paulweller’s
favourite
singer.
even
attempted
to sing
at onepoint.
BassistBruce
Foxtonattempted
to sing
likelikehimhimat onepoint.
BassistBruce
Foxtonadmitsto copping
thetheoddoddearfulof of
Bad
Companyand
Thin
Lizzy
admitsto copping
earfulBad
Company and
Thin
lizzy
once
in ainwhile.
And,
to to
toptopit all,drummerRick
Bucklerhashasonce
a while.
And,
it all,drummerRick
Bucklerownedpossessing
a couple
Genesisalbumsandliking
owned
upup
to to
possessing
acoupleof of
Genesisalbumsandlikingthetheband
when
he sawthemat Guildford
in 1973.
band
when
he sawthemat Guildford
in 1973.
Suchviews
demonstratethethegroup's
open-mindedness
andSuch views
demonstrategroup’sopen-mindedness
andindividuality– somethingwhichwellerkeenemphasise»– »individualitysomethingwhich
Welleris iskeen
totoemphasise-

creditTom Petty TFre Clash . Beatles1- NME— NMEMAY7
MAY 7 -—Yy
NOW
nowONLYthe
only thestaunchest
staunchestreactionaries
reactionaries
amongstnation’srock
peopleamongstthethenation's
rock
peoplecancanbe beof ofthetheopinionthat
thethemuch-touted newwave,
despiteitsitsopinionthat
much-touted
new wave,despiteseveralless-than -endearing facets,
isn't
a goodseveralless-than-endearing
facets,isn’t
a goodthing.
case
you
still
had
any
doubts,thing.
ButButjustjust
in in
case
you
still
had
any
doubts,getgeta load
of of
The
Jam.
a loadThe
Jam.
You'll
doubt
nono
more.
ForFor
The
Jam,
while
eulogising
thethenation's
you’ll
doubt
more.
The
Jam,
while
eulogisingnation’syouth– and,
cometo that,nationitself– withtotal
commitment,
youth
-and,
come
to that,thethenationitself-with
totalcommitment,
remainthethescene'srenegades.
"We'rethetheblack
sheepof thenewremainscene’srenegades.
“we’reblack
sheepof thenewwave,"
says
lynchpinPaul
Weller.
wave,”
says
lynchpinPaulweller.
The
Jam
most
certainly do
Punk
Party line.
why,
The
Jam
most
certainlydo
notnottoetoethethePunk
PartyLine.
Why,
they've
even
been
known
to to
commitsuch
sacrilegious
acts
as as
they’ve
even
been
known
commitsuch
sacrilegious
actsburning
on on
stage
thetheBlankGeneration's
mouthpiece,
Sniffin'Glue,burning
stage
Blank Generation’s
mouthpiece,
Sniffin’
Glue,
after
said
journalcomplainedof TheJam’s
being“laidback”
after
said
journalhadhadcomplainedof TheJam's
being"laidback"andand"lacking
direction"-notto mention"spending
tootoomuch“lacking
direction”– not
to mention“spendingmuchtimetuningup onstage".
Aggro
!
time
tuningup onstage”.
Aggro!

come*
714E JAMHISTORY
OFOF
ROCK
1977
165
HISTORY
ROCK
1977
| 65

1977
1977

J U NEa p r il – SO

APR

and
their honesty.
hasn't been
been unknown
unknown for
Damned's
and also
also theirhonesty. (It hasn’t
for The Damned’s
whirlwind
Mitchell album
album from her
whirlwinddrummer
drummerRat
RatScabies
Scabiesto
toblagblagaa Joni Mitchellrecordrecord companycompany –but
butimagine
imaginehim
himlayinglayingthat
thatononan
aninterviewer.
interviewer.Or,
Or,
come to that,printingit...)
it…)
come
that, an interviewer
interviewer printing
The JamJamhavehavenonotimetimefor
forplaying
playingthe
theblank
blankmoron.
moron.Instead
Instead ofof
Moreover, Thetheamphetamine -blitzed expression
copyrighted
the amphetamine-blitzed
expressionofof vacantvacant aggression
aggression copyrighted
by new
new wavers,
wavers, The
The JamJamcomecomeononas
assharpsharp asas theirtheir creases.
creases. Wasted
Wasted they
they
are
they makemake
are not –-thoughthoughIIcan't
can’tbelieve
believethey're
they’requite
quiteasascleancleanliving
living as theyout. But perhaps
perhaps most important
important of
they areare thethe best
best rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll band
bandof all, theyI’ve seen
I'veseen in many
many aa year.
sweeping aastatement
statement begs
begs forforqualifications,
qualifications, andand not
not least
leastamong
among
So sweeping
theseflawless rock-starrock -star credential.
credential. Eachhas anantheseisis PaulPaul Weller's
Weller’s flawless
Eachofof TheThe Jam has
individualonstage
onstagepersona
personastrong
strongenoughenoughtotoattainattainstardom
stardomininthe
thenotnotindividual
too-distant future,
stands out
king among
among princes.
princes.
too-distantfuture,but
butWeller
Weller stands
out like a king
HESE
PASTyears,
YEARS,British
Britishrockrockhashasfailedfailedtotocome
comeupupwithwithanyanyhese pasttruly-calibre working-classworking-class rockwhich
truly highhigh-calibrerock stars,
stars, thethe likes
likes of whichwere typified
typified in
the '60s
Pete Townshend,
Townshend, Steve
Steve Marriott
Marriott andandin the’60s by PeteJohn Lennon.
This decade
decadeonly
onlyfolk
folk like
like Lee Brilleaux,John
Lennon. This
Brilleaux, Wilko
WilkoJohnson,
Johnson,Phil Lynott andand (I suppose)
suppose) Noddy Holder have
have comecome anywhere
anywhere nearnear
to continuing
continuing that
aspired to be
thattradition,
tradition,butbutnonenoneofof these
these has
has even aspired-– let alone
alone been
been taken
taken seriously
seriously as
as–-aa spokesman
spokesman for their
their generation.
generation.
What's more,
more, there’s
there'snothingnothing intrinsicallyintrinsicallyteenage
theWhat’steenage about
about either
either the
Feelgoods,
Slade–-whichtrue of The
The Jam,Jam, whose
whose PaulPaul
Feelgoods, Thin
Thin Lizzy or Sladewhich is not true
lightasas
Weller will
will ininyears
years totocome,come, ififnot
notsooner,sooner,beberegarded
regarded in thethe samesame lightthose
mentioned '60s
those previously mentioned’60s figures.
hasRock
RockStar
Starwritten
all overoverhimhim-– andand it's
the fact that
that
Weller has
written all
it’s not just thehis razor
cut andandclothes
clothesbring
bringbackbackmemorie
memoriesof themod era.
era. On
On stagehisrazor cuts ofthe modstage
andunlike some
some of his
his new-wave
new -wavepeers,
peers,isistauttautwith
withpositive
positive
andoff, Weller, unlike
vibrationsvibrations –almost
almostasasifif he's
he’s about toexplode. Only
Only ooccasionally
does hehe slow
explode.
ccasionally does
down
intensity... anddown with the intensity…
and thenthenyou
realiseafter allon thethe tip
realisethat
thatWeller
Welleris
is after
all a guy on
fromWoking
Woking inin Surrey,
Surrey,of hishis 19th
19th birthday
birthday fromon thethe far reaches
reaches of London’s
London's hinterland.
hinterland.

ian dickson / getty

11
T

Junet3,1977:Weller
June 13, 1977: Wellersummonsthespiritofsummons
the spirit of
PeteTownshendwith
Pete
Townshend with
redRickenbacker
Rickenbacker
his red330attheTop330
at the TopRank,
Rank,
Reading,
Berkshire
Reading,Berkshire

Remarkably unconfused,
his age doesn’t
unconfuse d, hisdoesn't strikestrike you, despite
despite thethe total
total
absence ofabsenceoflineslinesononhis
hisface.
face.In
Inone
onepublicity
publicityshot
shotofofThe
TheJam,Jam,Weller,
Weller,perhaps notifhe’she'strying
tryinghis
hisdarnedest
darnedest to
to comecomeperhapsnot coincidentally,
coincidentally,looks
looks as if
on like Pete
PeteTownshend,
Townshend,eyebrowseyebrowsarchedarchedto
toemphasiseemphasise hishisdeterminedly
determinedly
mean stare.
own way,
way,isisdoing
doingwhat
whatTownshend
Townshend did
did moremoremeanstare.Weller,
Weller, in his own
than a decade ago
ago-writing
and about
about kids
kidsandandperforming
performing
than– writingsongs
songs for andthemwith thethe exhilaration
exhilarationonly
onlyaa few can
And that’s
where age isthem withcan muster.
muster.And
that's wherean important,important, ifif not
crucial, factor.
annot crucial,Live,The
TheWhoWhostill
stillhave
havemoremoreenergy
energythan
other band
band inbut it’sit'sLive,than any otherin rock,
rock, but
calculated,
polishedenergy.
energy. When The Jam
calculated, polished
Jamhithitthethestagestagethethecommitmentcommitment
all but
but tangible,
tangible, Weller putting
putting his
and moremore besides,
is allhis all, andbesides,into
intoit.
it.
firststumbled
stumbled across thethe bandband at
I firstat Islington's
Islington’s Hope
Hope &Anchor,& Anchor, where,
incredibly
enough,The
The JamJam managed
tocomecomeoverover visuallyvisually despite
despite thetheincredibly enough,managed tolimitations imposed
The areaarea between
betweensevere limitations
imposedby
by thethe venue's
venue’s tiny stage. Theband andwith electric
electric energy, thethe pogoingpogoing kids
kidsandandband
and audienceaudiencewas
wasalive
alive withThe Jam’s
good-lookingguy,
guy, lessJam's frontline
frontline of Weller
Wellerand
and Foxton
Foxton (another(another good-looking
tough -looking than
than Weller,thoughthough still
still possessing
possessing a youthful
youthful tightness)tightness)
tough-looking
total empathy
empathywith
another-Weller
in totalwith one another– Weller thrusting
thrustinghimself
himself up
up anddown with youthful
youthful abandon,
abandon, occasionally pushingpushing himself
himself towards
towards
simultaneously launched himself
Foxton, who simultaneously
launched
himselfbackwards
backwardsin
inWeller's
Weller’s
direction socollided momentarily,
momentarily, aa double
double act with all thethe
direction
so thatthat thethe two
two collided
markings
of aa classic
markings ofclassic Rod-and-Ronnie
Rod -and -Ronnie ororBowie-and-Ronson
Bowie -and -Ronsonroutine.
routine.
more room,
room, Weller gets
gets into
into aa few
fewTownshendesque,Townshendesque, thighs
Given morethighstucked -beneath -the -abdomen leaps, the sense ofofcommitmentcommitment
tucked-beneath-the-abdomentranscending
mereplagiarism.
plagiarism.Rick
RickBuckler,
Buckler, complete
transcending merecomplete with
with shades,
shades,goodbehindbehind thethe drums,
drums, exuding
exuding nonchalantnonchalant cool.
looks good
TheJamJamreflectreflectWeller’s
Weller'stightness.
tightness.There
Thereisisnothingnothingremotely
remotelyMusically, The
sloppy about
andtheytheyexecute
executetheir
theirmaterialmaterialwith
withaatauttautknife
knifeabout them,
them, andedged intensity
intensity-while
edged– whilelosing
losingnothingnothingininthe
thewaywayof
ofwarmth.
warmth.As
As Chris
PolydorA&R
man who
who signed
signed them,
them, says, their
their
Parry, the Polydor
A&R manmusic is brutal,
brutal, but itit isisnot
notwithout
withoutcompassion.
compassion.
Individuallythey
andIndividually theyplay
playgreat
greattoo,
too, especially
especially Weller and
These two
two have
have plumped
plumped for Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker guitars,
guitars,
Foxton. These
whichgoes
goes some
some way to explaining
why The Jam’s
which
explaining why
Jam's soundsound iscomparable toand onoccasions tocomparable
toearly
early Who andon occasions
to The Beatles
themselves; those
those with ears will
willhave
havenoticed
noticedthe
thesimilarity
similarity
themselves;
betweenWeller’s lead runs
between Weller's
runs on the flipside of thethe group’sgroup's"In The
The City”
City" single,
single, “Takin’"Takin' My
MyLove”,
Love",and
andthethewaywayJohn“In
John
Lennon used
Lennonusedtoto embellish
embellishaarock'n'roll
rock’n’rollsong
songlike
like"Bad“Bad Boy"Boy”"Dizzy Miss
Miss Lizzy".
or “Dizzy
Lizzy”.
But like
likeLennon
LennonororTownshend
Townshend-– at least
least early
earlyTownshend
Townshend –Weller isisessentiallyessentiallyaarhythm
rhythm guitarist
guitarist andand quite a remarkableremarkable
one atat that,that, perfectly
perfectly capable
capable ofofplayingplayingfast,
fast,clippedclippedrhythm
rhythmWilkoJohnson,
Johnson,ororcoming
comingononwithwithtriumphantly
triumphantly
chords like Wilko
ruthless powershould hear
hear the way
ruthless
powerchords,
chords,justjustlike
like Townshend.
Townshend.You should
Williams’latelate-’50s
classic "Slow“Slow
Weller plays
plays onon Larry
LarryWilliams'-'50s rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll classic
Down". Go, Paul,
Paul, go.
Down”.
go.
Theown", live andand onoon-to-b e The Jam's
Jam’sversion
versionof
of"Slow“SlowD
Down”,
ontheir
theirssoon-to-bereleased
first album,
is almostas good as The
released firstalbum, isalmost as
The Beatles’,Beatles',though,though, as
asand withwith more
more urgency.
urgency. It’s
It's their
their overall
befits the genre, played faster andtheyhave-wavebands,
bands,
pace which they
have inin common
commonwith
withour
our otherothernew
new-wavetheir music
about playing'em
but theirmusic is not just aboutplaying fast.
fast. Their
Their songs
songs (all of ’em
Weller's)
are, with
with thethe exception
exception of The
TheStranglers’
Stranglers' (hardly(hardly a teenage
teenage
Weller’s) are,band anyway),band
anyway), easilythe
easily thebest,
best,musicallymusicallyand
andlyrically,
lyrically,totocomecomeout
outofof
all this
this punk
punk hoopla.
True, there are more than
than a few
fewresemblances
resemblances between
between thethe chord
chord
progressions Weller
and those
those Townshend
progressions
Weller uses andTownshendlaid
laid down
downinin thethe past,
past,
but there
to write aa song
there is nono denying
denying Weller’s
Weller'sability
abilityto
songwhichwhichrings
ringstrue.
true.
And one which has melody andand passion
passion behindbehindit.
it.
Ofthe
the10
10originals
originalswhich
whichgrace
gracetheir
theiralbum,
album, it’s
it'sthethe lengthy
lengthy (over(overthree
threeOfminutes),reflectivedolefulness
dolefulnessofof"Away“Away From
minutes), reflective
From The
TheNumbers”
Numbers" (great
Conjuring up all
all kinds
kinds ofofimages)
images)which
whichimpresses
impresses me most.
title, eh? Conjuring
everysong
songisismemorable,
memorable,whether
whetherit’s
it'sthethepurepureadrenalin
adrenalin rush
rush ofBut every“Art
Address”oror"ArtSchool”,
School",thetherecklessrecklessabandon
abandon of “I’ve"I've Changed
Changed My
MyAddress"
Weller's
paean tothe fact
that for thethe first time
time in ages
ages young
young bands
bands areare
Weller’s paean
to thefact thatplaying to young
young audiences,audiences, "Sounds
playing“SoundsFrom
FromThe
TheStreet".
Street”.
Apart fromfrom their
theirown
ownsongs
songs(and,(and,ofof late, Foxton has started
towrite),write),
Apart
started to
Jam include
include in their
their set blistering
blistering versions
those two-'60s
The Jamversionsofof those
two mid
mid-’60s
classics Wilson
WilsonPickett’s
Pickett's“Midnight"MidnightHour”
Hour"andandArthur
Conley'ssoul classics
Arthur Conley’s

The Sexi Big Deal la:

The-FIEFTOLS
The --17030114:n
66
66 | HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF HOCKROCK 1977
1977
I.. .THE JAM

1

THE
THE JAM
JAM

ALL

ARUM

“Sweet Soul Music”
aswellwell asas aaversion
versionof
of TheThe Who's
Who’s"SweetMusic" –-as"So
SadAbout“So SadAbout Us"...
Us”…
nutshell, The
The JamJamhavehavetaken
takenwhat
whattheythey
In aa nutshell,want'70s street
streetwant fromfrom thethe past
past andandfused
fuseditit with
with a ’70s
consciousness
consciousnesswhile
while totally eschewing the blindnegativitywhich
been de rigueur
rigueur
negativity whichhas,
has,until
untilnow,
now, beenamongtheir
theirfellow
fellowreb
rebels.
amongels.
As Weller once
once told
told Sniffin’
Sniffin' Glue: “I"I don’t
don't dighippies,
they achievedachieve dsomething
something inin thethehippies, but
but they’60s. They brought'60s.
brought about
about a little
little more
more liberalliberalthinking.
standing andthinking.We're
We’re all standing
and saying
saying how
bored
are andand allthis shit.
don't
boredwe
we areall thisshit. But why don’t
we go
goand
and start
start anan actionaction group,group, help thethecommunity?
community?HowHow many
manypeople
peoplecancanyouyouseesee
getting
their arses?
fucking many.”
many."
gettingoff theirarses? Not fucking

THE
140M.1)`All thisthis“Allchange-thechange -the world thing
thing isbecoming aa bit
becoming
too trendy”
trendy"WHEN
PAULWeller
WELLERwas
was aa kid
kid ininhen paulWoking,labourer (who,
Woking, thethe sonsonof
of a labourer(who,
incidentallyironically enough,incidentally andand ironicallyenough,gave up his job six
sixmonths
months ago toto manage
manage The
TheJam), he was absolutely
absolutely besottedbesotted by
had onethose
bythe
theFab
FabFour.
Four. HeHe hadone of those
guitars,thetheredred-and-whiteones replete
replete with
with
Beatles souvenir
souvenir guitars,-and -white plastic
plastic ones
mini
-portraits andused to mime
mime tomini-portraits
and"autographs"“autographs”ofofthe
theFabs.
Fabs. PaulPaul used"She Loves
Loves You”
You"ininfront
frontofofthe
the TV.
TV.Later
Laterononhe
hegot
gothimself
himself aaHofner
Hofner“She
violin bass
bass just like McCartney’s.
McCartney's.
"I've got
got aaRickenbacker
Rickenbacker now,
now, sosoI’m
I'mPetePeteTownshend,”
Townshend," he mocks
mocks
“I’ve
defensivelythere have been
been those
those who contend
contend thatjustdefensively –for
for there
thatThe
The Jam are justpale shadows
shadowsofof theearly Who.
palethe early
At thethe local
local comprehensive
comprehensive school
his hair
hair long
long andand smokedsmokedschool hehe grew his
dope,
the otherand Brucethedope, just
just like
like all theotherkids
kidsdid,
did,toto rebel.
rebel. Rick andBruce were
were at thesame school,
school, but
but because
becauseofof the(they’rebothboth21),21), the threesame
the age difference
difference (they're
threeof themthem didn't
well.
didn’tknow
knowoneoneanother
anotherthat
thatwell.From
Fromthetheageageofof14,
14,Weller
Weller was
wasconvinced
be aarockrockstar,star,thereby
therebygaining
gaining exemption
exemption fromconvincedhehewas
was going
going to be
the humdrum.
humdrum."I“Ididn't
didn’twant
wanttotowork,"
work,”hehe says.
says. “Ithe"I didn’t
didn't want
want to become
becomeMr Normal.”
Normal." He
Hehas
hasno
nodoubt
doubt he’ll
he'll succeed,
succeed, either.
either.
left schools choolwhen
whenhehewas
was16.
16.ForForatimeheheworked
worked as
as aawindow
window
Weller left
a timecleaner andandworked
worked"on“on thethe building"building”withwithhishisdad,dad,who'd
who’dalways
alwayscleaner
encouraged
though, heencouragedhim
himin
inhis
his musicalmusicalpursuits.
pursuits.Most
Mostofof the time, though,didn't(who'd stayed
stayed on
didn’twork,
work, finally
finally falling
falling inin withwith Buckler
Buckler (who’don at school inthe sixth
sixth form with the idea oftheofbecoming
becoming ananarchitect,architect, but
but quit
quit before
beforeA-levelscame
cameroundroundandand worked
worked forforaatime
timeasasananelectricalelectricalinspector)
inspector) andand
A-levels
Foxton (who had
had got
gothimself
himselfan
anapprenticeshipapprenticeship in the printing
printing trade).
trade).
Weller might
might have
havebeen
been aaBeatle
Beatlefreak,freak,butbutthethething
thingwhich
whichchanged
changed his
hislife was
was hearing
hearing The Who’s
Who's“My"MyGeneration”
Generation"on
onthe
theStardust
Stardustalbum
album acoupleyears ago. He
He fellfellininlovelovewith
withthethemodmodimage.
image.And,
he's
coupleof years
And, while he’s
unwillingto
to admiton Weller
unwilling
admit it, Townshend’s
Townshend's influence
influence on
Wellercan’t
can'tbebedismissed.
dismissed.
It'sapparent whenabout what
these
It’s apparent
whenhehevoicesvoicesoff
off aboutwhathehe thinks
thinksofof TheThe WhoWho thesedays-reacting to thethe point
point of scoffing
scoffing at Roger Daltrey’s
Daltrey's beer
beer gut.
gut.
days -– over
over-reacting“Yourock’n’rollwhen
whenyou've
you’vegot
got a beer
"Youcan’t
can't play
playrock'n'rollbeer gut.”
gut."
Wellerisisadamantadamant thatthat The
The Who
Whohaven’t
haven'tproduced
produced aaworthwhile
worthwhile lick
lick
Wellersince
and expresses
expresses nono interest
interest in seeing
seeing them,
them, despite
despite thesince Tommy
Tommy andthe fact
factthat he's
he’s never
never seen
seen themthemonon stage.
stage. Opines
Opines Weller, “Thethat
"Thesongs
songsTownshend
Townshend
writesself -martyr shit.
shit. He can’t
can't rest on his
his laurels
laurels for thethe rest
rest
writes now
now areare so self-martyrof hishis life.
life. Why
Whydoesn’t
doesn't he give way
way totosomesome ofofthe
the younger
younger bands?
bands? He's
He’sgotgot
a lot ofofmoneymoney andand soso havehave thethe Stones,
Stones, so why
whydoesn’t
doesn't he put
put it into
into some
some
clubs
build a…
a... I don’t
don't know…
know... anything.
anything. Just
something withclubs or build
Just dodo something
withit.
it.
Some rehearsal
rehearsal studios
record company.
company.
studiosor
or a record“I"I think
think they owe ititto
tothe
thebusiness,business, ififanything.
anything. They’ve
They've got
gotenoughenough out
outof thethe music
music business,business, so
so they
they should
shouldput
putsomesomeback.
back.Instead
Insteadof
ofKeithKeith
Moon going
goingroundround smashingsmashing up
up cars,cars, use
usethatthatmoney
moneyinstead
insteadofofwasting
wasting
really pisses
it. That’s
That's what
what reallypis
se s meme off.
off.This
Thisisisthetheoldoldorderorderandandthey’re
they're all
wasting
wasting their
theirbread.
bread.Paul
PaulMcCartney
McCartneybrings
bringshishiscats
catsupupon
onaa plane
planeand
andall
all
this
shit.
this sortsortofof shit.
“Lennonis thesold out.
out. He's
He’s theblokeI've
I’ve got"Lennon is
the only one who hasn’t
hasn't soldthe only
onlybloke
confidence
quietened down.
outspoken, but
confidencein
instill.
still. He's
He’s quietened
down.He's
He’snot
not soso outspoken,
butII likehim
himstill.
still.It's
It’s like
like usus doing
doing'In‘InThe
TheCity'City’whenwhenwe're
we’re27.
27. Maybe
Maybewe'll
we’llbebeexpectedto
tosingsing itit like The
expected
The WhoWho areare expected
expected to sing ‘My'MyGeneration’,
Generation', but
I don’t
don't think
thinkwe'd
we’ddodoit."
it.”Unsurprisingly, he
Unsurprisingly,
hehashaslittle
little sympathy
sympathyfor
for taxtax exiles.
“There’speople thatthatwork
work inin factories
factoriesthat
thatpay
payaa lot of tax"There's people
taxandand they
they can’t
can't
split
South of France,”
France," hehe sayssaysrather
rather naively. “Why"Whydon’t
don't these
these rich
split to the Southrock stars
stars open up some clothes
clothes shops?
shops? There’s
There'sno
nopersonalised
personalised clothes
these days,
days, which is onetheseoneminorminor thing,
thing, but…”
but..."

W

Buckler butts
in. "You“You walk
Bucklerbutts in.
walkupupthisthis roadroad here
here andandyou
the clothes
clothes shops
shops [Oxford Street] andandyou look in the
CARNABY
they're all the same.
same.Allthey’reAll the clothes shops are exactly
STREETthethe same.”same."
Wellerpoints
points out
outthatthat such
such mass
mass production
production is
Wellersign ofofthe
thetimes.
times.
aa sign“Really,”are"Really,"Buckler
Bucklercontinues,
continues, “people"people areforcedthat kind
kind of thing
thing because
becauseforced into buying that
they
this is thethe thing
they saysay thisthingtotowear."wear.”
Surprisingly
enough, all
all the
Surprisingly enough,the band,band,
particularly
patriotic. WhenparticularlyWeller,
Weller, areare fiercely patriotic.
WhenThe
perform, they
The Jam perform,
they drape
drapeaaUnion
UnionJackJack
behindthem
themandandit's
it’sunusual
unusualififone
one oror morebehindmore
garments
isn't decorated
decorated with thegarmentsofWeller'sof Weller’s isn’t
odd Union
Union Jack oror two.
two. They
Theyevenevenwent
went to
tothe
the
odd
trouble of having
troublehaving some
some badges
badges mademade with
with
Union
them. Weller believes
believes inin thetheUnion Jacks on them.
monarchymonarchy(and(andthisthisisis thethe samesame scene
scene which
which
sired
sired thethe Pistols) andand defends
defends thethe Queen
Queen so:"She's thethe best diplomat
diplomat we've
works“She’swe’vegot.
got. SheShe works
harder than
the rest
rest ofofthe
the country.”
country."
harderthanwhatwhatyou
youor
orII do, or the
Buckler echoes
echoes him:
him: “They’re"They're an example
example to the country.”
country."
much for “Anarchy"Anarchy In The
The UK”…
UK"... Moreover,Moreover, Weller says
says he’ll
he'll votevote
So muchConservative at
reckon it'sConservativeat thethe next
next election,
election, andandhehe andandBuckler
Buckler reckon
it’s theunionsunions who run
run thethe country.
country.
evenififfundamentally
fundamentally Weller supports
supports such
such pillars
pillars of thethe
But evenestablishment as
have
establishment
asthe
themonarchymonarchyand
andthetheTory
Toryparty,
party,his
his songs
songs do havestrongattitudes."Bricks“Bricks And Mortar”
councilsfor
strong reformist
reformist attitudes.
Mortar" numbers
numbers councils
getting theirgetting
theirpriorities
prioritieswrong
wrong("Woking's(“Woking’slike
likeaa fucking
fuckingbomb
bombsite,"site,”hehe
One ofofhis
hisnewer
newersongs
songsdescribes
describes his fear
fear thatthat Britain
Britain is heading
headingsays). One
policestate.
state.And
throughout his
hissongs
songsthethepredominantpredominant theme
theme
towards a police
And throughout
youth consciousness.
consciousness.
is youth"Wedon’t
don't love
loveparliament.
parliament. We’re
We're notnot inin love
lovewith
withJimmy
Callaghan. But“We
Jimmy Callaghan.
But
don't seeseeanyanypoint
against your own country.
country. If there’s
there's such
such aa
I don’t
point inin going against
thing indemocracy, thenWe'renotnottotally
totallybrainthing
in thethe worldworld as democracy,
thenwe've
we’ve got
got it. We’rebrainwashed-yet.
two years’
years' time
time ififwe
don'tdodosomething
something about
about it.
it.
washed– yet.We
Wewillwill be in two
we don’t“Everybody
goes onon about
aboutnewnew orders,
orders, but
but nono one"Everybodygoes
one seems
seems really clear what
they are.
not really
really a positive
positive thought,
thought, isisit? You
Youcan’t
can'trunrun aa country
country
they
are. Chaos
Chaos is notcoalition ororsomething
something with
with younger
younger partyers.
on chaos. Maybe aacoalition
partymemb
members.
All this
this change-the-worldchange -the -world thing
thing isisbecoming
becoming a bit
bit tootootrendy.
trendy. IIrealise
realisethat
that
we're not going toto changechange anything
anything unles
s it'son a nationwide
nationwide scale."
we’reunlessit’s onscale.”The JamJam think
think they’re
they're aa cut
cut above
above thethe other-wave
Quite rightly, The
othernew
new-wavebands,
surmisingthat
thattheir
theirsongs
songs areare better-structured
andmoremore subtle
subtlebands, surmisingbetter -structured and
Theyhavekind words for thethe Pistols,
Pistols,though.
though.
lyrically. They
have kind"They spurred
spurred thething off. Not
Not thatthat we’re
we're very
verymuchmuch“They
the whole
whole thing
associated withthe music.
music. They
Theybrought
brought
associatedwiththem,
them,butbutthey
theystill
stilldiddidaa lot for theabout a lot ofofchange.
change.They
Theyfrightened
frightened some
some ofofthe
theolderoldermusicians,
musicians,which
which
about
good thing.”
thing."
is aa good
So diddidthey
they influence
influence you at all
all musically?
musically?
"It wasn’t
wasn't thatthat II saw thethe Pistols,""It waswas thatthat for thethe first time
time
“It
Pistols,” says
says Weller. “Ityears IIrealised
realisedthere
there waswasaayounger
youngeraudienceaudiencethere,
there,young
youngbands
bands
in years
playing
we’d been
looking for inplaying to young
young people,
people, which
which was something
something we'dbeen looking
inlong time.”
time."
a longofthethenew-wave
new -wavebands
bandsarearevery
verymuchmuchinto
intospeed…
speed...
Most of“We’redrugs,”Weller
Weller replies
repliesvery
very quickly.
quickly."We“We don’t
needit.
it.We
We"We're not into
into drugs,"
don't need
don't need
don't need
need it toto getgetin
inthe
themoodmood ofof
don’t
needthat
thattotogo
go on
on stagestage with.
with. We don’t
playing. We might
might when
when we’re
we're 30
30ororsomething.
something. We
Wemight
might have
have to.
to.In
Inthatthatplaying.
case
we’ll give
give up."up.”case we'll
Jam have
have been
been together
together for two years.
years. OriginallyOriginally they
theywere
The Jamwereaafour
four-started off playing
playing thethe usual
usual stuff
stuff-–Chuck
Presley
piece. They started
ChuckBerry, Elvis Presley–-before
beforegoing
goingthroughthroughaaphase
phaseofofplayingplayingMerseyb
Merseybeateat (“Beatles("Beatles songs
too difficult”),
difficult"), for aatime
timewearing
wearing satin
satin suits
suits andand adopting
adopting aa
were toote enyb opimage.
image.And
Andbefore
beforehitting
hittingthe
the London
London circuit
circuit last year
year they’dthey'dteenybop
worked inin working
workingmen’s
men'sclubs
clubsand
andcabaret
cabaret aroundaround thethe Woking area.
area.
Three months
months ago
man
Three
agothey
theysigned
signedto
toPolydor,
Polydor, Chris
Chris Parry
Parry(the(theA&R
A&R man
who'd “almost”"almost" signed
and The Damned)
Damned) offering
who’dsigned thethe Pistols,
Pistols, The Clash andofferingthem
as fastfast as he could
them aa contract
contract as
could soso asasto
toensure
ensure aarival
rivalcompany
companydidn’t
didn'tstep in with a larger
larger advance.
advance.
step
Alreadythere's
genuineAlready there’saction
actiononontheir
theirfirst
firstsingle
single"In“InThe
TheCity",
City”, a genuine'70s teen
teen anthem,anthem, andthe samesame name’70s
and whenwhen their
theiralbum
albumofof thenamecomes
comesout
out
this month,
month, don't
and Thelater this
don’tbebesurprised
surprisedififthat
thatfollows
follows The
The Clash
Clash andDamned's albums
Jamalonealonejustify
justifythe
emergence
Damned’salbumsupup thethe charts,
charts,forfor The Jam
the emergenceof thethe new
new wave.
wave. SteveClarke
Steve Clarke •C/w

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK1977
1977| 167
HISTORY67

1977

a p r i l – J U NE
"Rastamanlast, “Rastaman
Vibration",ratherVibration”,waswas rather
more
cultish, this is moreaccessible, melodically
melodicallydelivered withwithricher, delivered
directness
more directness
thanLet's facethan ever. Let’safter an attemptattempt on
it, after
life, Marley
Marley has
his life,
a rightright to celebratecelebrate
existence, andhis existence,
that'sthat’s how
how thethe album
album
sounds:acelebration.
sounds: a celebration.
RayColeman,MMMay74
Ray Coleman, MM May 14

The
Clash
The Clash
TheThe Clash
ClashCBSCBS

anodd
oddquirk
quirk ofof fate,By an
thisthis debut
debutalbum
album byby
The Clash
Clash came into
The
into
the
office on
the MIA
MM officeon thesame
Thesame daydayas
as TheMay13,1977:13ob
MarleyMay
13, 1977: Bob Marleystagewithon stagewith the Wailers
at Houtrust
H outrust H
alien in The
Theat
HallenNetherlands
Hague, Netherlands

ALBUMSALBUMS
Bob
MarleyBob Marley

ExodusGijsbeRt HanekRoot / Getty

EXOUUS ISLANDISLAND

THE MOOD:
MOOD: IfIfsome
some gunmen
gunmenhad charged
charged into
into your
yourhousehouse andandshot you and your
shot
your manager into
into
a hospital
hospital bed, then
then perhaps
you, too, would
would go into
into a studiostudioand make aareligious
religiousalbum
album-– if
you were capable
capable ofof makingmakingmusic
music at
at all.
all.
The fact
this is a highly
fact is thatthat thishighlychargedcharged spiritualspiritual record
recordbyby thethereggaereggae musician
musician most capableof articulating
themoodmoodofofhis
hisofarticulating thepeople.
conceived bypeople. ItIt was conceived
byMarley shortly
shortly after
after his brush
Marleywith disasterdisaster at
at thethe hands ofwithgunmen,there'sgunmen, andand thus there’s
precious little
little joy
about it.
joy about
Even so, Marley
Marley sounds
sounds his
customarily"up" self –-andcustomarily “up”
and
there
fewer more
there areare fewermoreworthwhilesounds
sounds aroundaroundworthwhile
in contemporary
contemporary music.
music.
MUSIC:Only
THE MUSIC:
Only one
one song,“WaitingInInVain",Vain”, comes
comes across"Waiting
as aaplain
plain love
love theme.
theme. For thetherest, there’s
there's either
either thethe traditional
traditional
sensuality we've
we’ve come tosensuality
to expect
expectHISTORY OF
OF ROCK
68 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
68

Beatles’Beatles' Live At
Hamburg. Both foundtheir
theirway
way onon toto thetherecordplayer and therecord playersomewhatsurprisingsomewhat surprising
reaction was thatthat The
reactionThe
Beatles album induced
inducedderisory laughter, while
derisory
The Clash produced
producedrequests
requests forfor even
louder volume.
louderfrom that
that
The lesson fromis notMM is
not thatthat thethe MMfull-rockfull ofof punk
punk-rockfreaksfreaks -– notnotaa
safety-pin
safety-pin
among
among usus
ALBUMS(honest)nor(honest) -– northat we don’t
that
don't
like The
like
Beatles, but
but
Beatles,
that
in
the
’70s
from Marley,
Marley, oror the
from
the
that
in
the
'70s
1977
spirituality
punk
punk rockrockhashas
spiritualityofof the
the
first
"The
the
vitality which
the vitality
which
firstside.
side. “TheHeathen”,an
H eathen",“Exodus”"Exodus"-–anmany now esteemed
esteemed
unremittingly powerful
bands
they
bands had when they
unremittingly
powerful track,
the most
most potent
potent on thethefirst starting.
were firststarting.And
Andititsounds
soundsperhaps thea lot
LP –-andand the heavy insinuation
insinuation ofof
lot moremore fun, especially when
"Guiltiness"areyou're not listening
listening too
too closely,
you’re“Guiltiness”
areallall examples ofspiritual
triple -album concepts.
concepts.
than triple-album
spiritual conviction,
conviction, but
but theIt wouldof course,
course,endearing
aspect ofof themthem all
all isendearing aspect
would be ludicrous,
ludicrous, ofthethey'reto judge
judge Theto
The Beatles
Beatlesby
by whatwhatisisthe simplicity
simplicity with
with which
which they’redelivered. You don’t
don't get thelittle morebootleg;
littlemorethanthan a bootleg;delivered.
probably
feelingthat
thataasermon
sermonisis coming
comingfeelingprobably even more ludicrous toatthat Marleyexpect The
expect
The Clash
Clash toto achieve
achieveat you, or that
Marleyhashassuddenly
one -tenth ofeven more than one-tenthsuddenly found
found God.
God.
what
“OneLove",
Love”, thethe final
final song
song
"One
what thethe Fab Four did. But it at
the record,
record, is pure
pure gospel,that at one
one timetime they
least shows thaton theand delivereddelivered with–- and the Stones,
withanan
and The Who,andastonishing, insistentbeat,
astonishing,insistent beat,Who, anda deadly
deadly combination
combination of
the otherother
all theof oldoldfashioned
hollering andestablishment
fashioned blues hollering
andbands –-soundedsounded1977 reggae
1977
reggae wailing.
wailing.
"Jamming"
pretty rotten.
prettyrotten. They
“Jamming”would
wouldbebeananinstant disco
weren't adept
weren’t
adept atinstant
discosmash
smash ifif issued
issued as
as
their
Down
a single; “Turn"Turn Your Lights
Lights Down
their instruments
Low" is slow andand sexy;
sexy;“Natural"Naturalthe least;(to say the
Low”
Mystic" is light,
light, polite,
polite, yetought toto hearyou ought
Mystic”
George Harrison
HarrisonGeorgesystematicallyall
all-enveloping
systematically-enveloping
the Marley
Marley tradition.
tradition.
Hamburg), theyon Hamburg),
in theTHE
hit bumnotes,
hit
bum notes,
THE RESULT:RESULT: This
Thisisis amesmerising album. While
While histheir harmonies
their
mesmerising

REVIE
W

were
were flat;
flat;all
all thethe faults
faultswe
we laylay
at the punk rockers’
rockers' door.
energyYet they had an energy
that
that overrode
overrodeall
all thosethoseconsiderations,defiance ofconsiderations,andand a defiancetheattitude was:the status
status quo. The attitudeifif you want to hear note-perfectnote -perfectmusic,
to a classicalclassical concert.
concert.
music, go toapplies today,
today, except
exceptThe same applies
thatthatininmanymanycases
cases youyou cancansubstitutesubstitute "rock"“rock”forforclassical.
classical. It
all boils down, of course, to what
exactly
exactlyyou
you dodo want.
want. Personally,
Personally,
careneither
neither forfor thethe reverential
reverential
II careneo-classicalneo-classicalshows
shows ofof thethe Pink
Pink
Floyd, nor
nor forfor mymy turntable
turntable to
Floyd,
to bebefilledwith thethe extremely
extremely
filledall
all day withrestrictedperformed by
restrictedmusic
music performedby
The Clash andandtheirtheir cohorts.
cohorts.
Punk rockrock strikes
Punk
strikesme
meas
asan
an
experience
experienceto
tobe
be savoured
savoured ininsmall doses and, ifif onon record,
record,then
then ata
at a highhigh volume
volume andand
preferably
preferablywhile
while doing
doing
somethingsomethingelse.
else. A closer
examination,
examination,II find,
find,leads
leads totoheadaches,to thetheheadaches, thanks totuneless repetition
repetition ofof chords
chordsata
at a breakneck
breakneckpace.
pace.
can believe
believe it,
The Clash, if you canmanageto make the Stooges
manage tosoundsubtle. A
that thethesound subtle.
A shame that
instruments
upper
instrumentshave
have the upper
hand, because lurking
lurking beneathbeneaththeinteresting
the racket
racket are some interesting
lyrics, snatches ofof whichwhich it’s
it's
lyrics,possible
listenpossible toto hearhear ifif you
you listen
carefully
recommended).
carefully (not(not recommended).
It's here
here that
It’s
thatThe
TheClash,Clash, andandotherstheir ilk, justify
justify their
theirothers of their
existence.
existence.Just
Justasas in thepre-Beatles era lyrics
lyrics had
pre-Beatles
haddegenerated
degeneratedinto
into"moon“moonin
in
June"
the
June”romanticromanticslush,
slush,soso has thestandard
standard ofof today's
today’s pop
pop song lyricgonemoronic slump?
gone backback into
intoaa moronic
slump?
it's very
verydefinition,
definition, “popular”"popular"
By it’smusic should not
not just
just be forfor thethepeople, but
about them,
them, too.
people,but about
The Clash do
do exactly
exactly this,chronicling
chroniclingthe
theideas,
ideas,
frustrationsand
and problems
problems offrustrations
disaffecteddisaffectedyouth
youthininsongs
songslikelike"RemoteControl", "Cheat"“Remote Control”,“Cheat”andand“48Hours"Hours” –these
theseareare thethe kindkind
48
ofthemes that
theof themesthat ought
oughttotobe
be inin thechart
write
chart (if(if someone could writeof course).
course).
a tunetune forfor them,
them, of
Particularly impressive
Particularly
impressiveisis
thedenunciation of
the sneering denunciation

1301S PI4RIET IS Ulf NMI lin

business thatthat won’t
won't
give themthemaa break?
give
break?
Smells more
more like
like hype
hype
toto me.
me. The
The music
music ononthethe employment prospects
faced byby theyoung inin
faced
the young"Career
Opportunities".
“Career Opportunities”.
commentators will
Some commentators
will nodoubt find
find thethe most
most significancedoubt
in the only non-originalnon -original on thealbum,
cover ofof Junior
Junior Marvin’s
Marvin's
album, a cover
big reggae
reggae hithitof
oflastlast year,
year,
big
"Police“Police And
AndThieves"Thieves”(you(you know,
know,rebellious
rebellious white
white youth
youthlinks
links with
withangry blacks to create
angry
create a potent
potentpolitical
politicalforce,
force,blah,
blah,blah,
blah, blah),butleave thatthat forfor thethebut I shall leavesociologists, except
except to
to say thatsociologists,
that
it's
musically creditable
creditable version.
it’s a musicallyversion.
album, The Clash
Clash isAs an album,

prettymuch
much what
what you’dprettyyou'd expect:
expect:raucous,raucous, basic, and should go
down
treat with
with thedown a treat
the Blank
Generation.Thank
Thank GodGod I'm
I’m
Generation.
"too“tooold"
old”totohavehave toto enjoy
enjoy it.
it.
Michae101dfield,MMApri6
Michael Oldfield, MM Apr 16

TheStranglers
The Stranglers
Strangers(Rattus Norvegicus)
Strangers IV
IV (Rattus
Norvegicus)
UNITED ARTISTS
UNITEDArTISTS

Just about the only predictablepredictable
thing
thingabout
aboutrockrockisisthat
thatasassoonsoonasassomethingnew
new comes along,something
there'ssomeone willing
willing tothere’s always someone
jump
jumponon thethebandwagon.
bandwagon.Even
Even
more predictable
is thatthat punkpunk
more
predictable isrock/newgetrock/newwave
wave is going to get
more
more than
than its
its fairfair share
share ofof thesethesejerks,simply
simplybecause
becauseititisisaa genre
jerks,
genre
without
withoutrules
rules and regulations.
Stranglers strike
The Stranglers
strikememeas
as oneone
tocashcashin.
in.
such group
group attempting
attempting toOn
the face
they've got
On theface of it, they’ve
got allallthecredentials: thethe punk
punk credentials:
thename,name,the musical incompetence,even
theincompetence, evena gig
gig supporting
supporting Patti
Patti Smith. But
onelook atenoughone lookat thisthis album
album is enoughto letlet you
you know
The
toknow where
where The
Stranglers
at-– or, perhaps,
Stranglers are at
where their
their record
record company
would like
like them
them toto be
be at.
at.
would
There's aabeautifully
beautifully designed
designed
There’s
sleeveinner sleeve,
specialsleeve andand inner
sleeve,aa special
label
label with
with The Stranglers’
Stranglers' rat
logo and even
even–-trylogo
try and hide thegroansgroans –-aa free
freesingle.
single.ELP
ELP should
shouldbe so lucky!
belucky! As a special
special bonus
bonus
for
there'sfor us lucky reviewers, there’s
a bundle
bundle of press
press cuttings,
cuttings, fax,
pix andand info,
pix
info, a press
press release
release that’s
that'smagnificently
magnificentlymistyped
mistypedandand -–
here
the real killer
killer-–aa cardhere comes the
cardfromtheir
theirpress
press-and-publicfrom-and -public relations
consultant.
relations consultant.
isthe
themusic
musicofofdisaffecteddisaffected
This isyouth, struggling
strugglingagainst
againstaa hard
hard
youth,

new-wavelikenew-wave bands
bands like
The
Clash, The
TheThe Clash,
Damned andDamnedand thethePistols
Pistolshave
haveasastheirsavingsaving grace; they’re
their
they're about
about
as energetic
energetic asslug, andand their
their
as a slug,
far fromfrom providing
providing an
lyrics, faroutletoutlet forfor the frustrations oftoday's
today’syoung,young,arearethethesamesame
tripe usedmost ofof thetheold tripe
used by mostthe punks love
love toto hatehate –bands thewith a few
few naughty
naughty swear
but withwords
words thrown
thrownin.
in.
Here's ananexample
example ofof thethe witwit
Here’sand wisdom of The Stranglers
Stranglers
from"Strolling along,from "Peaches":“Peaches”: “Strolling
along,
mindingbusiness/Well
minding my own business/Wellthere goesgirl now, ‘hi’/She’s'hi7She's
there
goes a girlgot
going updown/She's
got meme going
up and down/She’s
got
and down/
down/
got me going up andWalking on the beaches looking
looking
WalkingatWell I’ve
I've got theat thethe peaches/
peaches/Well
notiongir/that
notion girl thatyou've
you’vegot
gotsomesomesuntan lotion in thatthat bottle
bottle ofof
yours/Spreadyours/Spreadititallallover
overmymypeelingthat feels
feels
peelingskin,skin, baby, that
rea/good/All
real good/Allthe
theskirts
skirts lapping
lapping
the sun/Lap
sun/Lap me up.”up."
up theAlldelivered in
All this
this is deliveredin thethe usualarrogant
though ititwere
arroganttone,
tone,asas thoughwere
somethingsomethingmomentous,
momentous, andand overa stunningly
stunningly boringboringkeyboard
keyboard-dominated riff.
dominated
riff.ItIthas
has beensuggested
Stranglers
suggested thatthat TheThe Stranglers
resemble The
Doors: an insult
insult if
resemble
The Doors:
ever heard
heard one.
one. It’s
It's true
true thatthat thethe
I everopening cut, “Sometimes”,"Sometimes",
openingsoundsthesounds like
like it's
it’s based
based onon the"Light My“LightMy Fire"Fire” organ
organ solo;
yet
yet they
theyareare moremore akin
akin totoa late-’60s
late -'60s Detroit
Detroit band,
band,SRC,
SRC,
throughthroughtheir
theiruse
useof
of keyboards,
keyboards,
without half
the Americans’Americans'
but without
half thestyle
exploiting doom-ladenstyle inin exploiting
doom-laden
anything as
chords, nor even anything
remotely cheekycombining
remotelycheeky as combining"Hall OfOf The Mountain
Mountain King”
King"
“Hall
with
with "Beck's“Beck’s Bolero".
Bolero”.
In truth,truth, The Stranglers
Stranglers areIn
are nono
cut-rate version
version ofof
more than aacut-rate'6os American
American punk bands, but
but
’60s
with
with none
none ofof thethe fizz
fizz thatthat mademadethat
enjoyable. About
About
thatmusic
music so enjoyable.
thethe only
only thing
thingthey
theydodowellwellisiswrite
writethethe titles
titlesto
totheir
theirsongs;
songs;"Grip","Down“Grip”,“DownInInThe
TheSewer"
Sewer” andand"Ugly" promise
something more
“Ugly”
promise somethinginteresting thanofinteresting
thanaa succession ofdeadening riffs
riffs andnoticeable
deadening
and a noticeableideas. The
The only
lack of ideas.
only sense
sense ininwhich The Stranglers
could bebewhich
Stranglers could
considered newthat noconsidered
newwavewave is thatnohadthethe gallgall toto palm
palm off
off
one has had

thisrubbish
rubbishbefore.
before.
thisMichae101dfield,
Michael Oldfield,
MMApr23
MM Apr 23

Quirks, nicenessnicenessand
Quirks,andcharm:(I-r)Johnny,
charm:(l–r) Johnny,
Tommy,
Joey andTommy,Joeyand
RamoneDee Dee Ramone

SINGLESSINGLESSex Pistols
PistolsSex
God Save
Save TheThe Queen
Queen
God

SINGLESW example to all
REVIE
of us. How many

VIRGIN
VIrgIN

Ramalamafa fa
Ramalamafa
fa fa!
fa! Just
Just inin
there was any danger
danger ofofcase there
forgettingthat thePistols
Pistols areforgetting thattherock band
band instead
instead ofofjusta rockjustaahoax/guaranteed talkmedia hoax/guaranteedtalk-show laff-getter/all-purpose
laff-getter/all-purpose
scapegoat or
scapegoator whatever,whatever,here's
here’s arecord which
actually managed
recordwhich actuallytoto squeak its way past
past thethe official
official
guardians oror our morality
morality andguardians
andyour shops
shops any
may well be in yourminutenow. ItIt may
may even stayminute now.
there long
there
long enoughenough forfor you
you tobuy it. It comes out on Saturday
and it’ll
probablybe
be bannedbanned by
it'll probably
Monday, so-s -t.
Monday,somovemovef -af-a-s-t.
"real" title
title ofThe “real”
ofthisthissongsong is“No
Future”, butbutit's
it’sreceived
receivedso
so"No Future",
notoriety asmuch notoriety
as "God“GodSave
Save
Queen" that
The Queen”
thatnow
now it's
it’s called
called“God
Save The Queen”"God Save
Queen" so thatthat
get whatwhat you ask forforyou can get
askforfor it.
it. And
And what
what
when you ask
you willwhen youyou ask forwill getget whenfor itit isremorseless, streamlined
streamlined
a remorseless,crusher ofsingle thatthatcrusherof a single
establishes thethe Pistols’
Pistols'
credentials as
credentials
asaa real
real live
live
rock'n'rol I band. Up
Up front,
front, star
rock’n’roll
starofof stagestage and screen Johnny
Rotten (theRotten(the singer)
singer) gets
gets toto grips
gripswith theoft -quoted lyric
lyric
with
the already oft-quoted
in thecharming
the inimitably
inimitably charming
manner thatmannerthathashas mademade him
him thethedarling of international
international cafe
darlingcafe
society. “We’re"We're thethefuture/
future/You'rethethefuture/NO
future/NO FUTURE!"
You’re
FUTURE!”
except thatthat there
he leers, except
thereisis afuture,you’re itit and if you don’t
future, you're
don't
then you’ve
you've only
take it, thenyerownass to
yerownass
to blame...
blame…
Anyway, buy
buy it.
it. Buy
Buyititwhether
whetherthe Sex Pistols
Pistols or not. If
you like thepeople try
peopletrythatthathard
hardtotostopstopyou
youfromfrom hearing something, thento yourself
yourself to find out
out
you owe itit to
Besides, since
why. Besides,
since1977
1977
marks the Queen’s
Queen's
ascent toascenttocultcult-figure status,
figuremaybe thethethat
reason thatpunx digdigpunx
her sohersomuch ismuch
isthat she's
that
she’saashiningshining

example to allof us. How many
1977
of you dole
dole
ofqueue cowboys
queue
cowboys
get thatthat muchcan getmuch
bread forbread
forposingposingallall
Gabba gabba
gabba hey!
hey! Which
Which
year? Gabba
reminds me...NME,
reminds
me… NME,May28
May 28
RamonesRamones
Sheena Is
SheenaIs AA Punk
Punk Rocker
RockerSIRE
SIrE

time being,
For the time
being, thisthisisisavailable as
12-incher with
withavailable
as a 12-incher
a cutecute picture
picture sleeve, T-shirt
T-shirtoffer, green
offer,
green stamps,
stamps, chance tothree-year subscription
subscription to
win aathree-year
New
Society andall
all mannermanner of
NewSocietyandofspecialised weirdness like that,but I’mI'm reviewing
reviewing thisbut
this off
offaa plain
old seven-incher
and itit still
stillseven-incher andsufficiently monstrous.
sounds sufficiently
Monstrously charming,
Monstrouslythatis. “Sheena
that is.
"Sheena Is A
Punk Rocker”
Rocker" isisaa
Punkheart-warming
heart-warming
love song with
withreferences tosurfboards andsurfboards
discothequesit's got
got
and it’s
harmonies andharmonies
andaa
chorusand…
chorus and...
and... Look,
Look, all thethe
and…
Ramones' songs
Ramones’sound like hit singles
then don’t
don't sell, but thisand thensoflat-out
flat-outdelightfuldelightful that
thatsong isissonotnot even thethe dull-as-bleedin’dull-as-bleedin'ditch-water Brit-public will
ditch-water
Brit-public
will becharm
able to resist it. The sheer charmand essential
essential niceness ofof Dolly
Dolly
Ramone's four
four horrible
horrible sonsRamone’ssons isgonna win out. And even if it
doesn’t,there’s always thedoesn't, there'sof “Commando”"Commando"
double B-side of(from the"I(from
the last
last album)
album) and “I
Don’tCare” (never previously
Don't Care"released) to cop the sympathy
like“I"IDon’t
Don't Care”
Care"vote. Me, IIlike
because ofofthethebeautifully
beautifully
soulful way in which
which Joey
Joey
soulfulvariousRamone lists all the various
things he doesn’t
doesn'tcare about.
"Heart-warming"“Heart-warming”
just isn't
isn’t thethejustword, thoughhaven't
I haven’t
the faintest
idea what
is. NME,
is.
NME,
May28
May
28

TORY OFOF ROCKROCK1977
1977| 169
HISTORY
69

RobeRta bayley/Getty

the album confirms
thethatthat The Stranglers
have little
little or nothingnothing
to offer.
They’retooffer. They're
singularly
singularly lacking
lacking inin
all ofof thethe virtues
virtues that
that

E

,:4

1977

a p r i l – J U NE

II I fl LI I 11
MarchnjThElvisCostello
March
1977: Elvis Costelloandnatural-finish
andhishisnatural-finish
FenderJazzmaster
FenderJazzmasterthephotoshootduring thephotoshootfortheof hishisdebutforthecover of
debut
MyAintls
Truealbum MyAim Is True

70I |HISTORYHISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977
70

“I’m not askin’
anybodyfor charity”
Introducing, on
Stiff Records,
ELVIS COSTELLO,
a sharp-eyedlaureate of the newwave. “I’m not an
arbitrator of public
taste or opinion,”
MAKER JUNE 25 —he says. “I don’t “Let’s talk about the future now, we’ll—putMELODY
the past away”
have a following of
LVIS COSTELLO waS emphatic: he would volunteer no information about his past.
“I don’t,” he said, adjusting his shades impatiently, “really think that the past – my past –people waiting foris all that interesting. I don’t see any point in talking about the past. I don’t want to get into
that. I mean, I haven’t just learned the guitar in the last 10 minutes, but I’m not going to get
my next word.”talking about what I’ve done in the past.
Elvis Costello, “Less Than Zero”“Nobody showed any interest in me then. If you weren’t there, you missed it and that’s it.
It’s gone. The people who were there then either appreciated it or they didn’t. The past would only be relevantto them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s pointless talking about the past. Fuck it. I’d just rather talk about the
future, you know.”
There. I told you he was emphatic, didn’t I?
Elvis Costello and I are bickering this sun-drenched Tuesday afternoon in an office above Stiff Records’
London HQ because I had, accidentally, seen and been enthralled by his performance a week earlier at the
Nashville Rooms.
Friday, May 27, it was: I’d tubed over to West Kensington to catch the Rumour that night. The presence, atthe bar of the Nashville, of Stiff executive Jake Riviera, accompanied by an assorted crew of Stiff hirelings andlackeys, seemed, initially, to be of no profound consequence.
There exist, after all, several connections between Stiff, Graham Parker and the Rumour; and anyway, Jake
ain’t the kind of cat who’d miss out on a decent lig should one appear on the horizon as it had that evening.
Jake’s appearance, however, was not on this occasion relegated to the pursuit of hedonistic adventures. He
announced casually that one Elvis Costello, a recent Stiff protégé, was to make a previously unscheduled
debut as supporting attraction for the Rumour. This information I received with considerable interest. Elvis
Costello, though not yet a name on the lips of the nation, had released two singles (“ Less Than Zero” and,more recently, “Alison”) of rare distinction. To see thisenigmatic charmer in action was,unquestionably, a proposition
not to be overlooked.
Well, I dragged myself awayfrom the bar as a brief whisperof applause signalled El’s
appearance. And there hestood, alone on thestage: black cropped
hair swept back, theinevitable shades
shielding his eyes,
slickly cut Harry Fenton
jacket, blue jeans andFender guitar. His
attitude and »keith morris / getty

E

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 71

1977

a p r i l – J U NE

performance
performancewere
werebothbothcharacterised
characterisedby
byan
anaggressive
aggressiveconviction
convictionand,
and,asastheapplause between
intensified, a clear
clear andand thrilling
thrilling confidence.
confidence.
the applause
between songs
songs intensified,
Costello, let meme telltell you,
you, bowled
bowled me out
out of mymy breechesbre eches thatthat night.
night.
Elvis Costello,Why, IIeven
evenswore
sworethatthatififa aplatterplattercontaining
containingsuch
suchCostello
Costellomeisterwerks
meisterwerks
as"(The Angels Wanna
Wanna Wear)
Red Shoes”,
Shoes", “Mystery"MysteryDance", “I’m
"I'm Not
as “(The
Wear) My Red
Dance”,
Angry"and "Waiting
The World”
World"waswasnotnotin
inthe
thevicinity
vicinity ofofAngry” and“WaitingFor
For The
The End
End Of The
by theI’d bemy DansetteDans ette turntable
turntable by
the endend of thethe month
month I'd
be aroundaround to Stiff
Stiff
looking
the headhead of Jake Riviera.
Riviera.
looking for thefact thatthat Jake’s
Jake'shead
headremains
remains unsevered
unsevered would suggest thatthat theThe fact
platter forwhich
for whichII yearned
yearnedhas
hasbeenbeendelivered;delivered;andandsosoitithas,has,toto myplatterimmenseout withwith Island,
Island, areareimmensedelight.
delight.Trouble
Troubleisis thatthatStiff,
Stiff, after falling out
without
distribution organisation.
organisation. El's
album has
hasbeenbeentemporarily
temporarily
without a distribution
El’s album
suspended – itwas
wasoriginallyoriginallydue
dueforforrelease
release this
this veryweek,
very week, actually.
suspended-it
Fearnot, however.
however. It will
willbebewithwithyou
yousoon.
soon.In
Inthethemeantime,
meantime, I thought
thought I'dFear not,I’dbringdespatch fromfrom thethe Elvis Costello
Costellofront…
front...
bring you a despatch
HERE
WEgo:
GO:Elvis
ElvisCostello
Costelloisis22.
22.He’sHe'sbeen
beenwriting
writing songs
songs forERE wE
hefirstfirstnegotiatednegotiated three
three juvenile
juvenile chords
chords ononeight years. Since hebattered guitar,
guitar, in fact. He reluctantly
reluctantly admits
admits tolistening toa battered
to listening
tothe
The Beatles,
Beatles,Cliff
CliffBennett
Bennettand
andGeorgie
GeorgieFame
Fameasasananadolescent:adolescent:the likes of The"Standard“Standardstuff.
stuff.Whatever
Whateverwas
was onon thethe radio."radio.”
Elvis, thoughthough he elsewhere
elsewhere proves to be
be refreshingly
refreshingly honesthonest andandforthright
expresses,remains
remains defiantly
defiantlyvague
about
forthright in the opinions he expresses,
vague about
thewas composing
composing during
during this
this early
earlyperiod"I've
the songs he wasperiodofof his career. “I’ve
writtenhundreds
hundredsofofsongs,"
songs,”hehesays.
says."I“Iwrite
writeatatleast
leastaasong
songaa week.
week. That
That
writtendoesn'tdoesn’t necessarilymean
necessarily meanI Ikeep
keepthemthemall.
all.
"They're notclassics. I mean,
mean, I’ve
I've discarded
discarded songs
wrote last
last
“They’renot all
all classics.
songsII wrote
monththought theywere
the bestmonthbecause
becauseII thought
they wereinept
ineptoror didn't
didn’tmatch
matchup
up toto theofwhatwritten. I wouldn’t
wouldn't talkof whatI've
I’ve written.
talk about
aboutthem,
them,let
letalonealonesongs
songs I wrote
eight
eight years
yearsago."
ago.”
I had
inthesetheseearlier
earliersongs,
songs,IIexplain,
explain,simply
simplybbecause
had been
been interested
interested inecaus eI wantedwanted to form some
some idea
idea ofofthe
thepatternpattern andand evolution
evolution of his
his writing.
writing.
The songs collectedcollected on
on hishis forthcoming
forthcomingalbum,
album,MyAim
My AimIsIs True,
True, forinstance,arearemarked
markedby
by aa precocious
maturity.Costello
Costello may
may deal
instance,
precocious maturity.
principallywith
principally withthemes
themesfamiliar
familiarin
inrock-therock – themajority,
majority,ininfact,fact, areconcerned
detaile daccounts
accountsof
ofromanticromanticencounters
encounters andandconcernedwith
with fiercely detailed
failures – buthe
heintroduces
introducesaa ruthless honesty
to these themes andfailures-but
honestytoandinvests his observations
observations andand scenarios
scenarios withperceptive insights
with perceptive
insights andandastonishinglyvivid
astonishingly vividimages.
images.
The insecurities
infidelities of relationships,
insecurities andand infidelities
relationships, adolescentadolescent attempts
attempts
to attain
attain a personal
personal identity
identity andand independence,
independence, are examinedexamined withsensitive
sensitive compassion
compassionand
andwitwitoften
oftenquite
quiteacerbic,
acerbic,but
butequallyequallyas
asoften,often,
as on the classic “Alison”,"Alison",withwithananexquisiteexquisite tenderness.
tenderness.
Always, Costello
Costello retains
retains his
his originality
originalityas
asaa lyricist:
lyricist: heheavoids conclusively
conclusivelythe
theobvious
obviousand
andtiresome
tiresometeendream
teendream
preoccupationsof
ofcomparative
comparativewriters
writerslike
likeNils
Nils Lofgren
preoccupations(the midget
midget Yank’s
Yank's recent
recent work, at
at least),
least),Elliott
ElliottMurphy
Murphy andand(theSpringsteen.
songs possess
possess the cutting
cutting clarity
Springsteen.No,
No, Elvis'
Elvis’ songs
clarity of theroberta bayley / gettyH

best
best of Graham
Graham Parker andand Van Morrison:
Morrison: indeed,
indeed, like this
this latterlatter pair,
Costello's music
music refers
refersconstantly
constantly toto thethe classic
classicpop/rock
pop/rock standards
standards of
Costello’sof thedecade, each
each song being sharply
sharply definedirresistible hooks
last decade,definedandandfullfullof irresistible
hooks
and
phrasing(for(forthetheverve
verve andand incisivenessincisiveness ofand delightfuldelightful instrumental
instrumental phrasing
the album’s
album's sound,sound, some considerable
considerable credit
credit must
must be attributed
attributed totheto NickElvis'producer).
producer).
Lowe, Elvis’“Thisstuff,” says
says Costello,
several of the"This influence
influence stuff,"
Costello, when
when several
theaforementioned musicians
aforementioned
musiciansare
arementioned,
mentioned,"is“isreally
really irritating,irritating,'cos’cospeople aretrying to pin you down
down toto sounding
sounding like somebody
somebody else.
peopleare always trying
I appreciatewith Graham
GrahamParker.
Parker. I suppose
appreciate thethe comparison
comparison you drew
drewwith
supposethat it’s
it's because
because he’s
he's currently
currentlymaybe
on that’s
that's doing
doing
that
maybethetheonly
only pers
personanything likeanything
like me.
“If"Ifthere’s
there's aageneralgeneralmusicalmusical area
area thatthat he’s
he's working
working in,
in, thenthen IIaccept
accept that
that
I'm working
working ininaasimilar
similararea
areaandandthethecomparison
comparison is validly
validlydrawn.
drawn.AndI'dI’m
And I’drather becompared to
Ifsomeone
someone came
came
ratherbe comparedto Graham
GrahamParker
Parkerthan
thanTom
Tom Jones. If
alongsaid that
thatII sounded
likeJohn
JohnDenver
Denverthen
thenI'dI’dfucking
fuckingworry.
worry.It's
It’s
along andand saidsounded likebetter to be compared
compared tosomebodygood;
doesn't meanbetterto somebody
good;butbutitit still
still doesn’tmeanthat
thatII sit
home trying
trying to
rewrite songs
songs fromfrom Heat
Heat Treatment.
Treatment.
at hometo think
thinkofof ways to rewrite“Anyway,"Anyway,ififI’d
I'dhadhadaarecord
recordout
outbefore
beforeGraham
Graham Parker,
Parker, ititwould
would allallbe
bereversed... 'cos,
people who’re
who're saying
saying thatthat I soundsound likereversed…
’cos,you
you know, the people
Graham Parker
the samesame people
that Graham
Graham Parker
GrahamParker are
are thepeople who said that
Parkersoundedlike Bruce Springsteen,sounded like
Springsteen, who areare thethe samesame people
people who
who said
said that
that
Springsteen soundedMorrison, who
the samesame people
Bruce Springsteensoundedlike
likeVanVan Morrison,
who are thepeoplesaid that
thatVanMorrison soundedsounded theor
who said
Van Morrison
thesamesameas
as Bobby Bland or
whoever.
listen to thewhoever. You
Youknow,
know,thethepeople
peoplewho
whoneverneverlisten
the fucking
fucking music.”
music."
prospect of being
beingcompared
compared to Springsteen,
Springsteen, whose panavisionpanavision
The prospect
scenarios -replete-mythology
scenarios– repletewith
withsoso muchmuch obvious
obvious romantic,
romantic, rockrock-mythology
imagery– fillsElvis
Elvis withimagery of aakind
kindquite
quiteantitheticalantithetical to Costello’s
Costello'swriting
writing-fills
anguish andand dread.
anguish"Springsteen is always
always romanticisingromanticising thethe fucking
street," he complains,complains,“Springsteen
fucking street,”with“I’m bboredwith no little justification.
justification. "I'more dwithwithpeople
peoplewho
whoromanticise
romanticise thethestreet. The street
street isn’t
isn't fucking
fucking attractive.
attractive. I mean,
mean, IIdon’t
don'tpretendpretendfucking street.
in thethe heart
heart of one
one ofofthe
the worst
worst areas
areas of thethe world,world, right.
right. IIlive
livenearnear
to live in
Hounslow.
It’s a very boring
Hounslow. It'sb oringarea.
area. It’s
It'saaterrible
terrible place.
place. Awful.
Awful.Nowhere.
Nowhere.
Nothing happens.
happens. There's
nothing exciting
glamorous ororromanticromantic
Nothing
There’s nothing
exciting or glamorous
about it.
about
it.
“There’s
glamorousor
or romantic
aboutthetheworld
world at
at the"There's nothingnothing glamorous
romantic about
themoment. Thereglamour or romance.
romance. Romance,
Romance, inthe old
moment.
Thereisis no place for glamourin thepop -song sense,
sense, has gone right out of thethe fucking
fucking window
window for thethe
pop-song
moment.
Nobody’sgot
got thethe timetimeoror thethe money.
money. It’s
moment. Nobody's
It's gone
gone beyond
beyond all
all that.
that.
please remember,remember, I don’t
don't sit
sit aroundaround wondering
wondering howeople seeseethetheBut, please
how ppeoplehow they
they feel
feelabout
aboutthings.
things.
world, or how“Ito express
expresstheir
theirfeelings.
feelings.II only
writeabout
aboutthethewaywayIIfeel.
feel.
"I don’t
don't attemptattempt to
onlywrite
mean, I’m
I'm not arbitrator
arbitrator of
I mean,of public
public taste
tasteoror opinion.
opinion.II don't
don’thave
haveaa following
followingpeople who
who areare waiting
waiting for my next
nextof people
word. I hopekind ofword.
hope I never
never have
have thatthat kindfollowing.
People should
should befollowing. People
be waiting
waitingfor
for
ELVIS
their
theirown
ownnext
nextword.
word.Not
Not mine."mine.”

COSTELLOLESS

LVISappRoachEd
APPROACHED StIff
STIFF
LVIS
lastAugust:arrived at
Records lastAugust: he arrived
theiroffice intheir officein West London
London withwithtape ofofhis
hissongs
songsandand thethe response
response ofa tapeJake Riviera andand Dave Robinson
Robinson (also(alsomanagerofof Graham
GrahamParker)
Parker) waswas
manager
immediate
immediate andand enthusiastic.
enthusiastic.
signed him
him tothe label,
They signed
to thelabel, in fact.
“Thereadvance,”"There was nono phenomenal
phenomenal advance,"
he"They've boughtbought me anan ampamp
he laughs. “They’vetape recorder.
recorder. I’m
I'm gladgladthat
thatthey’re
they'reand a tape
not subsidisingsubsidisingme
meto
to anyany greater
greater extent.
extent.I
not
don't want to be
be putput ononaaretainer
retainerandandspend
spend
don’t
my timetime ligging
liggingaroundaround record
record company
company
offices like aalot
lotof
ofotherothermusicians.
musicians.
"I don’t
don't want
want any“I
any charity.
charity.II want
wanttoto be
be outout
gigging, earning
earning money.
don't want
want anything
anythingmoney. I don’t
for nothing.
nothing. I’m
I'm not askin’
askin' anybody
anybody for their
theirfuckingrecordfuckingcharity.
charity.IIwent
wenttotoaalot
lot of record
companies before
recordcompanies
beforeII came
cametotoStiff. Major record
companies.
And I nevercompanies. And
never asked
asked them
them fordidn't go
goin
inwithwithany
anyservile
servileattitude.
attitude.
charity. I didn’t"I didn’t
didn't go
in andand say, ‘Look,'Look, I’ve
I've got
got these
these
“I
go in
songs and,
and, well, with
with aabit
bitof
ofpatching
patchingup
upand
and

THIN 1100

N ovemberig77iwith
producer
November
1977: with producer
Loweatatthecontrols(right),Nick Lowethe controls (right),
chatswith
Attractions
Costello chatswith Attractions
bassist Bruce
Bruce Thomas asassecondbassistsecondThisYearÕs
Year'sModel
Modeiisput
album Thisis puttogether at
Studiosin
togetheratEden StudiosinChiswick, West London
LondonChiswick,Eelvis costello

ELVIS COSTELLO

make aa gooda good producer
producer I might
might makegood record.’record.'I wentwent inin andand said,said, ‘I’ve'I've got
gotsomesomegreat
great fucking
fuckingsongs; record
themand
andrelease
releasethem.'
them.’Stiff
Stiffwere
were
songs;
record themthe only ones thatshowed thatthatkindkindofof faith
thethat showedfaith in me.
“They
I’ll only"They let me do it. I’m
I'm still
still working,working, right.
right. I'll
only
give upup thethe job when
when IIstart
start working
working with
with aa band.”band."
mischievously,that
thatnonenoneofofthe
theElvis mentions,
mentions, mischievously,musicians thatthat contributed
contributedtheir
theirservices
services to his album
musicians
album areare credited
creditedon theonthe sleeve (Nick Lowe
Lowegetsgetsaaproduction
production credit
credit on thethe label, though).
though).
It transpires
thatthisthiswaswasEl's
El’s idea of aacaustic
thetranspires thatcausticcommentcomment upon
upon thecontemporarystate
stateofofthe
themusic
music businessbusiness-–ananindustry
industryfor
forwhichwhich Elvis
contemporary
has very little
haslittle admiration
admiration or respect.
respect.
He hadfor thethe sleeve
sleeve of his
had a caption,
caption, in fact, preparedprepared for
his album,
album, which
which
would have read:would
read: “No
"Nothanks
thanks toto anybody.”
anybody."Unfortunately,
Unfortunately, The
TheDamned
Damnedon thethesleevesleeve of their
got there
there first when they had printed
printed on
their album:
album:“Thanksto
to nono one."one.” Eltheidea,idea,"Thanks
Eldidn’t
didn't want
want anyone
anyone to think
think he’d
he'd copped
copped theso it waswasabandoned.
abandoned.
“The"The people who were
were directly
directly involved
involved with
with thethe album
album know who they
theyare,” El explains,
not thethekindkindofof people
who’d bebe worried
worriedare,"explains, “and"and they’re
they're notpeople who'dabout credits
credits andand namechecks.
namechecks.Equally,
Equally, theaboutpeople who werein stopping
peoplewereinstrumental
instrumental in
stopping mefrom recording
before know who they
were,recording before
theywere,and I wanted
andwanted toto remind
remind them
them that I hadn’t
hadn'tforgotten them.
“Like,"Like, IIwent
wentaroundaround for nearly
nearly aa year
year withwithdemotapes
tapesbefore
beforeIIcame
cametotoStiff,
Stiff, anddemo
and itit wasalways the same
same response.
response. ‘We'We can’t
can't hear
hear thethewords.’ ‘It
words.'
It isn’t
isn't commercial
commercial enough.’enough.' ‘There
There
aren’tany
any singles.'singles.’ Idiots.
Idiots. Those tapes
aren'ttapes were justvoice-and-guitar
voice-and -guitardemos.
demos. IIdidn’t
didn'thave
haveenoughenoughmoney todo
do anything
anythingwith
withaaband.
band.ItIt was justmoneytojusta lack ofofimagination
imagination on thethe part
part of those
those people
peoplecompanies.I Ifelt
feltasasif I wasat thethe record
record companies.
wasbashingbashing
my headagainst
againstaa brickwall,
brick wall, thosemyheadthose people justweren’t preparedto listenlisten to the songs.
weren't
prepared to“It’s"It's aa terrible
terrible position
position to be in. You
Youstart
startthinking
thinking you’re
you're mad.
mad. Youlisten
listenandyouyou watchwatch thetheTV
TV andto thethe radio
radio andand you hear
hear a lot
lotof
offuckingfuckingrubbish.
rubbish.
You veryYouveryrarely
rarelyturn
turn ononthe
the radio
radio ororTV
TVand
andhearhearanything
anything exciting, right?
And, allallthethetime,time,youyouknowknowthat
thatyou’re
you'recapable
capableofofproducing
producingsomething
somethinginfinitelybbetter.
infinitely
etter.
“But
in my ownyeah.Like
Like I said,"But IInever
never lostlostfaith.
faith. I’m
I'mconvinced
convinced in
own talent,talent, yeah.
and saying,saying,'Look,‘Look, with
with your
your help
help
I wasn’t
wasn't going up
up toto these
these people
people meekly
meekly andandknowledgeofof theand a bitbit ofofpolishingpolishing up,
up,andand withwith allall your
your expertise
expertise andand knowledge
theworld of music,
music,wewemight
mighthave
haveaamoderatemoderatesuccesssuccessononour
ourhands.’
hands.'“I"I waswasgoing
goingininthinking,thinking, ‘You’re'You're aabunch
bunch ofoffuckingfucking idiots
idiots who
who don’t
don't
know whatyou're
you’redoing.
doing.I'm
I’mbringing
bringingyou
youaalotlotof
of good
knowwhatgood songs, why don’t
don't
you go ahead
ahead andand fucking well record
record them.’
them.' They didn’t
didn't seem
seem tounderstandthatkindkind of approach.
understand thatapproach.
“No,bitter. I knew
"No,ititdidn’t
didn'tmake
make meme bitter.
bitter. IIwas
wasalreadyalreadybitter.
knew what
what ititwould
would
bebe like.
like. IIhad
hadno
noillusions.
illusions. IIhave
havenonoillusions
illusions atatallallabout
about thethe music
music
business.
business. It was
was nonosuddensudden shock
shock toto bebeconfronted
confronted by these
these idiots. IIdidn’t
didn'tever
ever think
think thatthat I was going
going totowalkwalkinto
intoaarecord
recordcompany
company to meet
meet all these
these
fat
fat guys
guyssmoking
smoking big
bigcigars
cigarswho’d
who'dsaysaysomething
something like, ‘Stick'Stickwith
withmemeson.
son.
I’ll
youaa STAR.'
STAR.’
I'll makemake you“I’m
in thethe slightest.
slightest.You
You can"I'm notnot starry-eyedstarry-eyed in
can tell what
what all
all these
these people
peopleareare like instinctively.
instinctively. You just
just have
have totolooklookatatthem
them tototelltellthatthat they’re
they'refuckingfucking idiots. But IIdon’t
don'twant
want totocomecome off
offsounding
sounding like
like I’m
I'mobsessed
obsessedwith the music business.
withbusiness.
“I
just don’t"Icouldn’t
couldn't give
giveaashitshitabout
aboutthethemusic
musicbusiness.
business.They
Theyjust
don'tknow
know
anything.
That’s all you’ve
anything. That's
you've got
gotto
toremember.
remember.They’re
They'reirrelevant.
irrelevant. IIdon’t
don't
give
thoughtto
to anyany of thosegiveany
anythought
those people.
people. They’re
They're not worth
worth my time.”
time."

coming,True,incidentally,
incidentally, is thethe
coming,asasititwere.
were.(MyAim(My Aim Is
Is True,first
first album
albumI've
I’veheard
heardforforages
agesthatthatsounds
soundsasasififititisis
essentiallyessentiallyaacollection
collectionofofTop
Top10
10singles.)singles.)"I
just love
lovethethe soundsound of thethe album,”
album," Elvis
Elvisenthuses.
enthuses.
“I just"'Cos
lovethings
things thatthat soundsound great“’Cos I love
greatononthe
theradio.
radio.'Less
‘Less
Than
thought sounded
ThanZero',Zero’, I thoughtsoundedgreat
greatononthe
theradio.
radio.The
The
recordrecordisn't
isn’tforfor people
peoplewith
withfucking
fuckinggreat
greathi-fis.
hi-fis.I'm
I’mnotnotinterested
interestedin
inthosethosepeople,
people,ororthatthatkindkindofofmentality.
mentality.IIdon't
don’twant
wantmymyrecords
recordsto
tobe
be usedused toto demonstratedemonstratefucking
fuckingstereos
stereosininLaskys.
Laskys.II just
just want
want
peopleto
to listenlisten toto thefucking music.
music.
peoplethe fucking"I
don't wantmoney andand retire“I don’twanttoto be
be successful
successfulso
sothatthatIIcan
cangetgetaa lot
lot of money
retireto
tohouse in thethe fucking
fucking country.
country. I don’t
don't want
want any ofofthatthat rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll rubbish.
rubbish.
a houseI don’t
don't wantcruising in
Hollywood or
hang out
star parties.
parties.
want toto go cruisingin Hollywood
or hangout atat all the star
I'm
I’m not
not interested
interestedininany
anyof
ofthat.
that.It's
It’sthethearsearseendendof
of rock'n'roll.
rock’n’roll.I'm
I’mjustjustinterested
interestedin
inplaying.
playing.
"I
want to put a band
band together
together as“I want
as soonsoonasas possible
possibleandandgetget out
out onon thethefucking
auditioning people
fuckingroad.
road.We're
We’re auditioning
peoplethis
thisweek.
week.We're
We’re looking
looking foryoung
out andand play. Putting
Putting a band
band
young people.
people.People
People thatthatwant
wanttotoget
get out
togetherisis the most important
thingat
at thethe moment.
moment.
togetherimportant thing"I
think it might
might be difficult
difficult getting
getting thethe rightright“I thinkkind
and I can
can imagine
imagine us wading
wadingkind of people andthroughthroughaaright
rightbunch
bunchofofidiots.
idiots.The
The group
group
sound
lotsparser
sparserthan
than thesoundII want
want will be aa lot
album sound.
sound. I just
just want
wantbass,
bass,drum,
drum, guitar
guitar –album
myguitar -– andkeyboards we'll
probably go
my guitar
andfor keyboards
we’ll probably
foraVox
Farfis asound.
sound.
for a
Vox or Farfisa"Iwant to get
get away
awayfrom
fromthetheconventional
conventional“I wantgroup
ay thatgroupsound.
sound.I'd
I’dssay
thatIIwant
wantaakind
kindofofpop
popgroupgroup lineup,
lineup,but
but people
people might
mighttaketake that
thatasassomething lightweightsomethinglightweightor
ortrivial.
trivial.But
But it willbe
pop lineup
lineup in
be a pop
in thethe sense
sensethatthatititwon't
won’tbeberock band.
band.
a rock"I
hate hard-rockhard -rock bands.
band s.IIhate
hateanything
anything with
with
“I hatefuckingbands thatthat arefucking extended
extendedsolos
solos or bands
areconcerned withkind ofofinstrumental
instrumental
concerned
with any kindvirtuosity. I cancan listen
listen to maybe
maybe 15 seconds
seconds of someone
someone like The Crusaders,
Crusaders,
virtuosity.
before IIget
getvery
verybored.
b ored.I know
I knowhowhowgood
goodthey
theyarearebecause
becauseeverybody
everybodysay, before
keeps telling
telling me
fucking marvellous
marvellous theybored.
keeps
me how fucking
theyare.
are.But
ButII get bored.
"There areare going to be
be nono fucking
fucking soloists
soloists in
in my
myb
and. TheThe songs
songs areare
“Thereband.
the most important
important thing.
want the songs to
tomeanmean something
something to people.
people.
thething.II want
don't mean
mean bybythatwant them
them tosignificant. It’s
It's just
just thatthat tootoo
I don’tthatthat
thatII want
to be significant.
much rockhas cut
from people.
people. It’s
It'sbecome
become like balletballet oror
muchrock hascut itself off fromsomething. Balletsomething.
Balletisisonly
onlyforfor people
peoplewho
whocancanafford
affordto
togo
goand
andseeseeit.
it. It's
It’s notnotanybody else.
don't getget balletballet going
going onon inin your
your local
local pub.
pub.
for anybody
else. YouYou don’t"There's aa lot of rockro ckmusic
musicthat’s
that's become
become exclusive“There’s
exclusiveand
andit's
it’sofof nono useuse totoanyone. Least
has to get
get totopeople.
people. In
In thethe heart,
heart, inanyone.
Leastofof all me. Music hasin thethehead. I don’t
don't care
care where,
where, asas ititfucking
fuckinggets
getsthem.
them. So
Somuchmuchmusic
music
head.
as long as
thrown away.
fucking waste.
gets thrownaway. It's
It’s such a fucking"That's why IIlikelikeandandwritewriteshort
short songs.
songs. It’s
It'saadiscipline.
discipline. There’s
There's nono“That’s
disguise. You can’t
can't cover up
up songs
songs likelikethatthat bybydragging
dragging inin banks
banks ofdisguise.
fucking synthesizers
synthesizers andstand uptheir
fuckingandchoirs
choirsof
ofangels.
angels.They
They have
have to standup on theirown. With none
none of thatthat nonsense.
nonsense. Songs
own.
Songsarearejustjustsoso fucking
fucking effective.
effective.
have forgotten
forgotten that.
that.
People seem to have
"Like,people
people used
used to live
livetheir
their lives
livesbybysongs.
songs.They
Theywerelikecalendars
calendars“Like,
were likediaries. And they
theywereelaborate fucking
fucking pieces
or diaries.
were pop
pop songs.
songs. Not elaborate
pieces ofmusic. Youwouldn’t
wouldn't say, like,
like,‘Yeah,'Yeah,that’s
that's thethe timetime I went
went out with
with Janet,
Janet,
music.
went to see
see thethe LSO
LSOplaying
playingMozart.’
Mozart.' You’d
You'dremember
remember you went
went out
we went
because they
theywereradio."
with Janet because
wereplaying
playing'Summer‘SummerInInTheThe City'
City’ on the radio.”
Youwillwillhavehavegatheredgatheredby
bynow
nowthatthatElvis
Elvisisiscommittedcommittedto
tosuccess;success; he’s
he'sYou
altogether sure when thatthat successsuccess will bebeachieved.
achieved.
not, however, altogether"There areare lot of people,”
people," hehe says,says,“who"who should
should be successful.
successful. If
ability“ThereIf ability
anything towith
had anything
to do withsuccess, then
then there would bebesuccess,
wholelot
lotof
ofobscureobscurepeople
peopleaawholewho'd bebe famous
famous andand there
there
who’d
would bewhole lot of
would
be a whole
famous people
famouspeople who'd
who’d belingering in
obscurity."
lingeringin obscurity.”
there anyone,anyone, I
Was there
wondered, thatwondered,that hehe would
tosee
seebecoming
becoming famous?
famous?
like to"Yeah,"hehereplied.
replied. “Me.”"Me."“Yeah,”
AllanJones
Jones•Allan“I"I hatehate hardhard rock bands. I
hate anything
withwith fucking
extendedsolos”
extended solos"

LVIS,
this time
LVIS,who
WHOby
BYthistimeseems
seemstotobebemetamorphisingmetamorphisingbefore
beforemyguiseofof Captain
Verbals,
my very
veryeyeseyesinto
intothethesuperhumansuperhuman guise
Captain Verbals,isis telling
telling memeabout
about his
his album.
album. It was
was recorded,recorded, hehe says,says, on
onhis
his
days
in Acton),
Acton), over a verydays off
off fromfrom work
work(he(heisisaacomputer
computer analyst
analyst in
very
brief
brief period.
period.
Hewas
wasfortunate,fortunate, hehe readilyreadily admits,
admits, thatthat Nick Lowe
Lowewaswasso
sosympathetic
sympatheticHe
aa producer:
producer: their
their respective
respective ideas were entirely
entirely compatible
compatible and there
there
were
werefew
fewarguments
argumentsabout
aboutthethesoundsoundandandinstrumentation
instrumentation employed.
Allweeks of theAllthethesongs
songswere
werewritten
written within
within weeks
the first
first session;
session; “Less"Less Than
ThanZero”,
Zero",hishisfirst
firstsingle,
single,waswaswritten
writtenthree
three days before
before itit waswasrecorded,recorded, for
for
instance.
Elvis justinstance. Elvis
just says hehe felt
feltinspired
inspired andand excited.
excited. The hits
hits just kept on

FA
E

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 73

a p r i l – J U NE

APR

1977

1977

rex features

SO“I dig the wholeromantic aspect of
rock’n’roll”: Tom Petty
on stage with theHeartbreakers in 1977

74 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

“Theinsanity
hasn’tstopped”
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS storm
into the UK. A true pro and a wry critic, Petty
doesn’t think anything – politics, image – shouldinterfere with the business of rock’n’roll.

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 75

1977

a p r i l – J U NE-

- MELODY—MELODYMAKER
MAKERJUNE
JUNE 2525 —T didn’t
DIDN'T seem
SEEMright
right somehow,
somehow,tsandwiching
sandwiching Tom Petty between
betweenthe Muppets
theMuppetsand
andKenny
Kenny Rogers, but
stranger things
happened on
strangerthings have happened
on
the
setof
of TopTop Of
Of Thethe setThe Pops.
Pops.
pretty exhausted
exhausted by thethe time
time
Petty, pretty
112:I.1161P
thedress rehearsal
rehearsal is taking place andand withwiththe dressnosleep for two
two days,days, isisbemused
bemused by thethe wholewhole
no sleep
carry-on, but
but still
stillmaintains
maintains control.
control. I mean,
mean,
carry-on,
it isisexpected
expected thatthat he should
should be on his
his knees
knees"We'reprofessionals":“We’reprofessionals”:
thankingproducer
producerRobin
RobinNash
Nashforfor thethankingthe(I-r)Benmont(l–r)
BenmontTench,
Tench,
MikeCampbell,Tom
Mike
Campbell, Tom
exposure.
shouldn't be
exposure. He shouldn’t
be stopping
stopping inin thethe
Petty, Ron Blair
BlairandPetty,
andmiddlethe song,
song, complaining
complaining thatthat themiddle of thethe
Lynch backstage
backstage
Stan Lynch
LA,Augusti977
in LA,
August 1977
backing track
track isn't
isn’t loud
loud enough.
He does.
backing
enough. He
does.
Any respectable
respectable band,
band, according
accordingto
to Petty's
Petty’sIslandpress officer, isisembarrassed
embarrassed atIsland Records'
Records’ press
frustrating
menow.
now. I'm
I’m not able
participatingin
inthe
theTO
TOTP
participating
TPcharade,charade,thoughthough they
they
frustrating me
able totocontrol
controleverything
everything
won't
bluntly admit
seems a little
littlethat's happenin'
that’shappenin’aroundaroundme
mebecause
becausewe've
we’ve been
been sowon’t bluntly
admittoto it. Petty seems
frustrated
and onon returning
returning to theoverwhelmed since
overwhelmedsincecoming
comingtotoEngland.
England.Since
SinceI Igot
gotoff
off thethefrustratedabout
aboutitit all, andplane, the insanity
thoughII like insanity.
dressing room,
room, immediately
immediatelyheads
headsforfor thethe whiskyb
whisky bottle
dressing
ottle for consolation.
consolation.
insanity hasn’t
hasn't stopped…
stopped... thoughinsanity.
When the show isisfinally
finallyrecorded,
PettyandandthetheHeartbreakers
Heartbreakers actually"I mean,mean, I’m
I'm insane.
insane. This
like goin’
goin' totoDisneyland,
Disneyland, you know.
know. It’s
It'sanan“I
This is likerecorded, Petty
look asas ififthey’re
they'reenjoying
enjoyingititall.
all.Whisky
Whiskyrock'n'rollers.
E -coup onride.
ride.Mr
MrToad’s
Toad'sWild
WildRide.
Ride.That’s
That'swhat
whatIIthink
think ititis:
is:intointothethebus,bus,
rock’n’rollers.
E-coupon
The appearance
onTop
Top Of
Of Theintoroom,onto
ontothethestage,stage, backback to theappearance on
ThePops,Pops,important
important thoughthough itit is in
into thethe dressing
dressing room,
the studio.
studio.
determining
seems"Afterthe
the Rainbow,
Rainbow, we’re
we're just
just takin’
takin' aa week off,
off,totoget
getthings
things together
together how
determiningthe
thefatefateofofthe
thesingle,
single, "Anything“Anything That's
That’sRock'n'Roll",Rock’n’Roll”, seems“Aftertrivialwhen placed
placed alongsidealongside thethe catalogue
catalogue of events thatthat have whisked
whiskedwant to do ’em.
'em. We
Wewerewerejust
justaalittle
littleband,
band,youyouknow,
know,before
beforethis,this,just
justtrivial when
we want
American band
band
tryingto rock’n’rollandnow
nowit'sit’saa bit more pushy. We’re
Tom Petty
Petty &&The
TheHeartbreakers
Heartbreakersfrom
frombeing
beingananunknown
unknownAmerican
trying to
rock'n'roll-–andWe'regratefulgrateful andand allalla couple
couple of months
months ago
most people
people inthat, thatconcerned that
under control.
ago toto oneone thatthatisis onon thethelipslips of mostin thethethat,that people
people digit,
dig it, but
but I'mI’m just concernedthat it stays undermusic business and quickly
quicklywinning"Wejustjustwanna
wanna get on
on andand play.
play.IfIfyou
hire this
this band,
band, you’ll
you'll get aa
winning popularity
popularityamong
among thethe masses.
masses.
“We
you hire
Backed only byown
rock’n’rollshow. This
This is aareal
put off
byaadebut
debutalbum
album andand very little feedback
feedback fromfrom their
their own
rock'n'roll show.
realthing.
thing. IIget
getslightly
slightlyput
offby
bythe
thetheatre
theatrecountry,months ago
supportgroups, orwhateverofrockrockbands
bandstry
tryto
act like
liketheatre
theatrecountry,Petty
Petty andandhishis bandbanddallied
dalliedin
inaacouple
coupleofof months
ago toto a support
groups,or whateverthey
theyare.
are.A
A lot ofto actspot
the prestigious
prestigious Nils
tour. Lofgren’s
Lofgren's successsuccess patternpattern isgroups, andjust ain’t
ain't real
It's just
just aabig
bigstance.
stance.IIdon’t
don'tthink
think that
that
spot on the
Nils Lofgren tour.
groups,anditit justreal at
at all. It’s
similar to Petty’s
American recognition
you should
thatyou
youcan't
can’tbackbackup.
up. A stancebesimilarPetty's build-up,
build-up,withwithminimal
minimalAmerican
recognition andandshould do anything
anything thatstance shouldn’t
shouldn't bequitetaken unlessunless it's
determined by the music.
quite thethe opposite
opposite here.
here.
taken
it’s determinedhistory now has
has it,it,went
wentdown
downthetheproverbial
proverbial storm
storm onon thethe Lofgren
Lofgren"There's a lot
lotthatthat isis80
80percentpercentstancestance andand 20 percent
percent music.
canPetty, history“There’smusic. It's
It’s like, can
the
upon
onthe
thestance?
stance?I've
I’vethought
thoughtabout
aboutititaalot
lot andandit's
it’s notnot
tour, andand Island
Island Records sussed out thatthat they had a winner
winner on
on theirtheir
the music
music catch
catchuphands,
their optimism
optimism withright.
music should
should determine
determine the stance,
stance,hands, backing
backing up
up theirwith Petty's
Petty’sright. The musicown
headlining tourknow
are whatwhat youown headlining
tourasassoonsoonasashis
hisLofgren
Lofgrenknow what
whatII mean?
mean?YouYou areyou are.
are.
commitmenthad
hadended.
ended.ItItwas,
was,I think,an“I
be good.
commitment
think, an"I wannawanna begood. We’re
We're professionals.
professionals. I don’t
don't
unprecedented
unknown act
think
It'sjust
justguaranteeing
guaranteeing
unprecedentedmove,
move, a virtually unknown
thinkthat's
that’saa badbad word. It’s
turning
headline literally
peopleturningfromfrom support
support to headline
peopletheir
theirmoney's
money’sworth.
worth.You
Youcan't
can’tsay,say,overnight, but
but thethe optimism
optimismofof thethe record
recordovernight,`Well,I’ve
I'vebeen
beenout
outforfor14
14nights
nightsandandthisthis isisthe
the‘Well,
company
borne out, with anan
15th, soso fuck
fuck it.'company andand promoter
promoterwas
was borne
15th,
it.’
enthusiastic"You have
have to go out
out andand kick
It's a little
little bit
enthusiasticresponse
responsefrom
fromfans
fanswho
who recalled
recalled“You
kick it.
it. It’s
bit ofPetty’s performanceassupport
supportto
toNils.
Nils.
Petty's
performance as
trickstayin’
stayin' inin thatthat frame
frame of mind
mind where
where youyoua trick
and thethe Heartbreakers
Heartbreakers got together
togethercan kickat will.
will. Really,
Really,it’s
it'sjust
just aamattermatter of
Petty andcankick it ataboutmonths ago
hadstayin' aware
what's goin'about18
18 months
agoin
inLos
Los Angeles. He hadstayin’awareof what’s
goin’ on."on.”
known thethebandband(Stan(StanLynch,
Lynch, Mike Campbell,
Accepting, then,Petty wasaware
aware of the
known
Campbell,
Accepting,then, thatthat Pettywas
theRon Blair
Blair andand Benmont
Benmont Tench) from his days
dramatic incidents
incidents surrounding
dramatic
surroundinghim
himsince
since hishisback home
home in Florida, fromfrom which
which they
they had
had
Britishady toBritish arrival,
arrival,did
didhe
he think
thinkthatthathe
hewas
wasre
ready
all departed
departed tofortune ingo outout onon aaheadlining
headlining tour
tour so soon
soon after
to seek fame and fortuneingreener
supporting Lofgren?
The boyboyis
confident.
supporting
Lofgren? The
is confident.
greener fields.
fields.
to LA
LAwithbandcalled
calledMudcrutch
Mudcrutch andand whenwhen they
they"Yeah, IIdid,
did, IIknew
knewwewere. This
This is a good
good band.
band. We
“Yeah,
we were.
We knowknowit's
it’s aa good
good
Petty had come towith aaband
band.
Whenwewe camecameonon thetheNils
Nils tour,
broke up, his time
broke
time was spent
spent working inin thethe studio,
studio, fulfilling hisband. When
tour, we had
had a near
near riot goin’
goin' on at
at thetherecording
gigwithin
within 15
15minutes.
minutes. IIcould
couldtelltellwhat
whatwaswashappenin’
happenin' andand itfirst gig
recordingcontract
contractwith
withShelter.
Shelter.Pettyjust
Petty justhad
hadtotoget
getoutoutofof thethe South.
South.
The legendary
legendary “Southern"Southern boogie"
happened every night.
happenedboogie” wasn't
wasn’t quite
quite his
his bag.
“It“Nothin’’gainstit,"it,” Petty mutters
his sleepy
haze.
"Nothin"gainst
mutters from behindbehind his
sleepyhaze.
"It still
stillhasn’t
hasn't got artificial,
artificial, but
but I don’t
don't want
want to stay
stay onon thethe roadroad much
much"I
thought the
didn't dig
dig thethe imitations.
imitations. I mean,
mean,
without havin’
havin' a chancechance to stop andand think
think about
about all this, get somesomelonger without“I thought
the Allmans
Allmans were
were good, but I didn’t
I livedlived ininthe
the South
South forforyears
yearsandand not
not everybody
everybodyplayed
more songs, keep evolving andand keep
keep raisingraising thethe standards.
standards. II don't
themore
don’tlike
like theplayedthat
thatway.
way.II
music businessrememberseein'
seein’thetheAllmans
Allmans when
when they
were playin'playin’ Beatles songs andremembertheywereandbusiness andand I refuse
refusebecome
become aabusinessman,businessman, althoughalthough I know
know
wearin'you've got toto dealde alwithwithit.
it.I Ijust
justwant
wanttotoentertain.
entertain. If
Ifwe
all getgetto
tobe
begreatgreat
you’vewe allwearin’collarlesscollarlessjackets.
jackets.Theywere
They wereone
oneofofthe
thefirst
firstbands
bandsI Iever
eversaw.
saw.
"Then they got this
this newnewkinda
kindathing
thing andand everybody
everybodyjust
musicians, wehands, digmusicians,
we won't
won’tall
all just
just stand
standthere
thereandandsay,say,'Hey,‘Hey, digdig my hands,
dig
“Then
just jumped
jumpedover
over tomyfingers,oror dig my throat.’assumedthat
thatitithad
hadbeenbeengoin'goin’ onon
it, andand thenthen everybody
everybody else naturally
naturally assumed
myfingers,
throat.'for years.
years. ItItwas
waslike,like,‘Hey'Heyman,there's aarecord
record company
company opened
opened up"Weain’t
ain't thatthat way.
way.We’re
We'recruisers.
cruisers. I’d
I'dratherrather have
have aafew
fewdrinks
drinksandand dancedance“Weman, there’s
up in
in
Macon
playlikearound, but
the people
people IIalways
alwaysliked
likeddid
didthat.
that. They
Theyplayed.
around,butstill
stillplay.
play. All theplayed.
Macon [Capricorn][Capricorn]andandallallya
ya gotta
gottadodo is play
like this
this andandyouyou getget acontract.’But
But it just wasn’t
thingwe
we werecontract.'
wasn't thethe kinda
kinda thing
Ifyou
went to see thethe Rolling Stones,
Stones, you
youactuallyactually saw
saw
If
you went
into.
were more
more English-influenced.
English -influenced. II got my first
first
something. You
the bandband play. There was more
more
into. We weresomething.
You saw theguitaralwaysthan what
what your
your ears
ears got andand there
there wasguitarafter
afterII heard
heardThe
TheBeatles
Beatles andandStones.
Stones.II always
to it than
was moremore toto
dug thatthat stuff…”
stuff..."
than what
it thanwhat your
your eyes
eyes got.
offon
onaatangent,
tangent, as is his
his wont.
wont.
"I've seen
seeninstances
instances where the image takes
takes
He goes off“I’ve"I digdigrock
rockbands
bandsthatthat areare rockrockbands
bands thatthat areeverything. What
working“I
over everything.
Whatwewe areare is a working
complete entities.
entities.That's
That’sone
one of thecompletethe things
things that’s
that'srock'n'roll band.”band."
rock’n’roll

I1

VETT!
MUMS

Michael Ochs archives/getty“When"When I was
14,
14,me
me andandMike used
used toplay in those
topless bars”
bars"

HISTORY OF
76 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
76

TOm peTTy

TOM PETTYYork where
where it wasYorkwhere itit waswas coldcold oror in
in LA
LAwherewas warm.”)
warm.")
LA,he
hemet
metthetheHeartbreakers
Heartbreakers andand thethe ideas for thethe future
future seemed
seemed to
In LA,
be mutual.
mutual. Petty
recording with
with Denny
Denny
Pettyat
at thethe timetime had
hadbeenbeendoing
doingaa lot of recording
wantedto
todo
do somesome demos
demos Tom brought
Cordell, andand when Denny
Dennywanted
brought theHeartbreakers
Heartbreakersalong
alongand
andititworked
workedout
outfine.
fine.Petty,
Petty, though,though,had
hadto
tobe
be
persuadedwith thethe band,band, after
after being
being stung
stung
persuadedthat
thathehecould
couldmakemakeagoa goofof it withthrough his
his Mudcrutch
through
Mudcrutch experience.
experience.
summer, Petty andand the Heartbreakers
Heartbreakers set
Last summer,
set themselves
themselvesup
upas
asguineaStudios inguineapigs
pigs toto testtest thethe new
new Shelter
Shelter Studios
in Hollywood
Hollywood andandafterafter15
15
days came
came out with their
their first album.
album. The conditions
conditions weren’t
weren't thethe best,
best,
recording
100degrees
degreesheatheatandandPetty
Pettywriting
songsininthe
theafternoon
afternoonrecording inin 100writing songs
andnight, but everybody
everybodywas
and recording
recording them
them at
at night,
was satisfied
satisfied with theresult. Al
Al Kooper
result.
Kooperheard
heardthethealbum
albumandand insisted
insisted thatthat the band
band should
shouldsupportacross thethe States.
supporthim
himon
onaa tour
tour of bars across
was aaweird
weird tour,
tour, Petty
Petty recalled,
recalle d, in front
front of beatniks,
beatniks, old
It wasoldBlood,
Blood,
couples,butbutititwas
was inin lineline
Sweat &
&TearsTearsfreaks
freaksandandassorted
assorted married
married couples,withofhaving
having totoget
getoutoutandandforcibly
forciblywin
audiences over.
with a policy of
win audiences
over. Itreminded
when he worked
worked clubs
clubs
remindedPetty
Pettyofof earlier
earlier days
days backback in Florida, whenwith Mike Campbell.
withCampbell.
"Tenyears
14,me
meand
andMike
Mikeused
usedtotoplayplayinthose“Tenyearsago,
ago, when
when I was 14,
in those
topless
sets a night,night, seven
seven nightsnights aa week.
We'd getgettoplessbars,
bars,doing
doingfive
fiveoror six sets
week. We’da hundredhundred bucks
Togetgetsomebody’s
somebody's attention
attention away frombucksforfor this
this week. To
six pairs
p airs ofoftitstitsisisaareal
realgig,
gig,andandwe’d
we'ddodothatthat every
every night.
night. If I’ve
I've got totoleap
I'm goin’
goin' toto leap
leapout
outto
tothatthattabletableandand you’re
you'regonna
gonna watch
watch this.
this.
leap out, I’m
keepsitit so good.”
We still
still have
have toto do
do that.
that. It’s
It's what
what keeps
good." HarryDoherty
Harry Doherty •"They played
adequately"“They
played adequately”
MM JUNE
JUNE 25
25 An
An under-amplified
titmai -cmiplifiud Petty&Hu cocu aredl u
MMPetty andupuLagedby somesomehungry
hungry young
young Rats
Rats fromfrom Dublin.
upstaged by
Dublin.
Campbell's lead guitar
guitar keeping
keeping
Campbell’sstrictly tostrictly
to thethe record
record over
over therhythmsectionof
ofRon
RonBlair
Blairononrhythm sectionand Stan
Stan Lynch
Lynch on drums.
drums.
bass andCampbell's guitar
Campbell’s
guitarwas
was one oftheHe
the main points
points of interest.
interest. He
with control
control andmuchplays withandas
as muchsubtlety as thethe fairly
fairly limited
limitedsubtletystructure ofstructure
ofthe
themusic
music allows,
allows,tone andand feedback
feedback control
control
his tonecolouring his
colouringhis crisp
crisp solos.
Benmont
Keyboard player Benmont
careful player,
player, using
Tench is aacareful
synthesizer effectively
effectively tohis synthesizer
toatmosphere toto thethe gentler
gentler
add atmosphere
andthethe electric
electric piano tosongs andbeef up the rockers.
beef
al this,But allthis,plus
plus Tom's
Tom’sbounding rhythm
bounding
rhythmwork
workandandaforementioned vocals,
aforementioned
vocals, did
didlittle tothat thethelittletomaskmask the fact that
other halfmaterial
otherhalf ofof thethe band's
band’s material
bland andanduninspired,
uninspired,
was bland
lacking musical excitement
excitement orlackingorlyrical appeal.
lyricalappeal.
money, thethe evening
evening
For my money,
made byby support
support band
was madeband The
The
Boomtown Rats,
bunch ofof
Boomtown
Rats, a bunch
Dublin lads led
led byby Bob
BobGeldof
GeldofDublinwith a finely
finely honed
who play withcombination of
combination
ofattack,
attack,pace,
pace,energy and crisp musicality.
energyTheirderived,
Theirmusic
music is R&B derived,
reminiscent at
reminiscentat times
times ofof thetheearly Stones, Chuck Berry,
Berry, the
the
early
Feelgoods... you get
get theFeelgoods…
themessage.Twin
message.
Twin guitars
guitarscut
cutandandthrust, spitting
thrust,spittingchords
chords andsneaking out
out spikysneaking
spiky solos while
the rhythm
rhythm section
thesectionmoves
moves likelikeputting thesomeone is putting
the bootbootinin
ate
at a regular
regular four
fourtotothe
thebar.
Out in front,
front, Geldof,
Geldof,Outa tall,tall, strangely
strangely
RAiNbOw thEAtRE
animated figure,
LONDONattimes a deaddeadat times
ringerringerfor
foran
anarrogantarrogant Jagger,
kicks,
runs, dives
dives
kicks, runs,
andgenerally
generally
JUNE 19hurls himself
aroundaround thethe stage,stage,
cutting to
cutting
to the mic
withwith split-second
split-second
to deliverdeliverprecision to
vocalswith
with guts
guts
his vocals
andpower.
and power.
You may
have seen
seen it all
somewhere
somewhere"Nothing
togo“Nothing togobefore, but theberserk
about":
berserk about”:
Tom Petty
Pettyatat
precision
precision andthethe Rainbow
Rainbowenergy ofof thisthis band
energythem a whole
whole
make themnew experience.
experience.

LET'SSTART
withK, LeT’S
START with
Petty &
some facts. Tom Petty
The Heartbreakers
Heartbreakers hit
thewith athe music
music scene
scene withcreditably
debut
creditably impressive debut
album a few
back.
album
few months
months back.
Some say itit waswasthethebestbestdebut
debut
they
theyhadhad heard
heardininan
an age,age, andwhile I reckon
while
reckon thatthat is a trifle
trifleexpansive,certainly aa
expansive, itit is certainly
neatlyproduced album
withneatly produced
album witha handfulhandful of fine
fine songs.
band was packed
packed on
The bandboard
the recent
recent Nils Lofgren
Lofgrenboard thegravy train,
train, and took
gravy
took thethe laurels
fromfrom right
rightunder
under thethe jadedjaded
Lofgren's nose. Good
Good forfor them.
Lofgren’s
Then came this headline
Thenheadline tour,
tour,
endingtheendingup
upwith
withTom
TomPP and theboys at London’s
London's Rainbow
Rainbow ononSunday night.
night.
Given these
these facts,
facts, I just cannot
cannotGiven
understandtumultuous
understand thethe tumultuous
receptiongiven
giventoto thethe band.
band.
reception
They played adequately
adequately
enough,very fair
fair coverenough, doing
doing a very
jobof
ofthe
themainmain songs
songs on the
job
the
album
letting rip
album and letting
ripon
on someolder
older material,material,butbutititwas
wasnothingto
to go
go berserk
about.
nothing
berserk about.
Foraastart,
For
start,ititwas
wasunderunder-amplified
amplified -a– a rare event –-with
withTom’s soft
well
Tom's
soft voice often
often wellbelow
the level of thethe guitar
guitarbelow theline. Then
Then came thethe songs
line.
themselves. A good half of thethemselves.
show featured
featured thethe best tracks
fromfrom thethe debut
debutalbum,
album, withwithandsongs like
like “American"American Girl”
Girl" and"Strangered
Night"“Strangered In The Night”
showing
the band at their
their fullshowing thefullcommercial appeal.
appeal.
commercial
worked well
They worked
well
together,
together, Mike

O

1111111mmm-_

IVE!
LIVE!
L

l

John
Orme
John Orme

ISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 177
HISTORY
77

gus stewart/getty

Reading past interviews
interviews with
with Petty, IIlearned
learned thatthat hehehad
haddiscovered
discovered
thatand notthat chatting
chattingabout
abouthishisrelationshiprelationshipwith
withgirls
girlsmademadegood
goodcopy,
copy, andnotbeing one toto interfereinterfere withwiththat…
that...
“I
can you carryaroundwith
withyouyouin
in a hotel"I mean,mean, what other
other hobbies
hobbies can
carry aroundroom,
gonna do, build
build aeroplanes,
aeroplanes, bowl?
room, apartapartfromfromchicks?
chicks? What
What areare you gonna'Coursesome girls,”
girls,"Captain
Captain StudStudcontinues.
continues.
’Course not,not, you're
you’re gonna
gonnalook for some“I
it. I dig
aspectof
ofrock'n'roll.
rock’n’roll.It's
It’sfun.
fun.You're
You’re"I digdigit.
digthethewhole
whole romanticromantic aspecta fool, IIthink.
think. You’d
You'dhave
havetotobe
beaafoolfooltotodo
dothisthisandandnotnotenjoy
enjoyyours
elf.
yourself.
As muchmuch as IIcan
can bitch
bitch some
some days,
days, IIalways
always enjoy
enjoymys
elf... some
some days
days
myself…
I enjoy
enjoybitchin'."bitchin’.”wishing to hear
hear much
much more
Not wishing
moreabout
aboutthethefrivolity
frivolityofof being
being Tom Petty,
I dragdrag thethe subject
subject backbacktotothe
thepast,past,fromfromwhence
whencethetheconversation
conversation
stemmedininthethefirst
firstplace.
place.Most
Most of Petty’s
early on revolved
stemmedPetty's repertoire
repertoire earlyaroundnumbers. From
that, heencouragement,
aroundRolling
Rolling Stones numbers.
From that,
he took encouragement,
calculating
calculatingthat
thatifif agger
JaggerandandRichards
Richardscould
couldwrite
writesongs,
songs,there
therewas
was nonoreason why he couldn’t
reasoncouldn't do thethe same.
same.
first song
song hehewrotewrotewaswasprobably
probablyabout
about some
some girl
girlthat
thatditchedditched him,
him,
The first
headding that
he said, adding
thathehewas
wasveryfondvery fondof
of good
good old-fashioned
old-fashionedlove
lovesongs,
songs,
which set
set himhimoffoff onwhich
on a side-roadside -road again.
again.
"Atthisthispoint
point inintime,”time," hehereminisced,reminisced, "I
the good
good old boy/boy/ girl songs
songs
“At
“I miss the
becausethink thosemean,becauseII think
thoseareare thethe ones
ones that
thatthethekids
kids especially
especially relate
relate to. IImean,
I likelike allallthethe new
new bandsb andsandand IIlike
likethethefact
factthatthat there’s
there's a lotta
lotta new
new rock bands
b andsandand that
thatthey're
they’reyoung
youngandandthatthatthey've
they’vegot
gotenergy,
energy, because
becausethe
thelastlast few
years
boring. IIthink
think it’s
it'sgreat
greatthat
thatallallthese
thesebands
bandsarearearoundaroundyears have been so boring.
the air
air anddoin’ what
what rock'n'roll
rock’n’roll does.
does.
now, just
just leapin’
leapin' throughthrough theand doin'"But IIget
getaalittle
littledistressed
distressed when
when they
they getget all
allpoliticalpolitical andand there’s
there's no kind
kind
“But
of basic
basic feeling.
feeling. I mean,
mean, some
some people
people taketakemusic
musictoo
tooseriously.
seriously.For
ForGod's
God’s
word, ‘serious’,
sake, don’t
don't taketake it seriously.
seriously. That’s
That's aavery
veryfunny
funnyword,'serious', andand it’s
it's
come'Areyouyouserious
seriousabout
about this?’
this?'
come up
up aa lot lately. ‘Are
"I guessguess IIam
am in
inone
one sense
sense ofofthe
the word,
word, ininthatthat IIreally
reallywant“Iwanttoto do
do it. But ifif
week, you becomeclerk or whatever
andyou take it seriously
seriously every
everyweek,
become aa bankbank clerk
whatever andyou miss the redemption
redemption ofknow, andand ititmay
maybe
of rock'n'roll.
rock’n’roll.I'm
I’m crazy,
crazy, you know,bemy downfall,
downfall, but
can't takethat seriously.
but I can’ttake it that
seriously.
“Like,
says,`How‘How dodo you feel about"Like, every
every dayday somebody
somebodysays,
about all this
thissuccess?'
us areare just
justsitting
sitting around.
around. What can
can we saysaybut,success?’andandthethefive
five of us
but,`We
digit.'
haven'treally
reallythought
thought about
about it to any
any great
great extent.
extent. Nothin’s
Nothin's hit‘We dig
it.’ IIhaven’t
hit
me yet, andme
and IIhope
hope ititdon’t.
don't.IIhope
hopeI Ikeep
keepacceleratin’
acceleratin'rather
ratherthatthat tryin’
tryin' tofigurethis means
figure out
out whatwhat all
all thismeanstotome.
me.How
How boring.
boring.Who
Who thethe hellhell wants
wantstotoreadwhatread whatthis
thismeansmeanstoto me?
“All
want is records.
andthetheshows
showsarearewhatwhatit's
it’s"Allthey
theywant
records. The records
records andabout.
knocked out thatthat thousands
band. That's
about. I'm
I’m just
just so knocked
thousandsof
ofkidskidsdig
dig our
our band.
That’sa tremendous
tremendous rush,
this every day,
day,because
becauserush,enoughenoughto
tomakemakeyou
you dodo thisthousandsofofkids
kidsdig
digit.
it. It’sarethousands
It's great: I wrote
wrote this
this song
song andand the masses
masses aregoin'hear itit–-toomuch.Andbetter."goin’ to hear
too much.
Andthey
they like it –-even
even better.”once more
more to thethe original
original subject
Back once
subjectof
ofhis
hisearly
earlydays,
days,which
whichII have
have
been attempting
attemptingtotopin
pinPetty
Pettydown
downtotofor
for thethepastpasthour,hour,andandthisthistime
timewewebeenmakeheadway. After playing
playing aroundaround Florida
couple ofmake aa bit more headway.
Floridafor
for a couple
years,("Wehadhadto
tochoosechoose whether
whether tostarve inyears, Petty
Petty moved
movedtotoLA
LA (“Weto starvein New
New

1977
1977

– J U NEa p r ilSO

APR

“The
"The
dinosaurs
dino!aurs
are stillstill
aredancing”
dancing"S
LED
ROBERT
LEDZEPPELINZEPPELINcontinue
continueananepic
epicUSUStour.
tour.
ROBERT

PLANT,
PLANT,though,though,has
haspertinent
pertinentthoughts
thoughtsononhome,home,

recentinjury,fame,
evenpunk.
punk."I“Iwent
wenttotothetheRoxy
Roxyigecent
injury,
fame,
even
and
gotfrightened
frightened
death,”
saysthethe2828year
year-old,
Trid
got
toto
death,"
says
-old,
“but
thesamesametime,time,stood
stoodmymyground."ground.”
"but
atat
the

riCHArD E AArON / GETTYo.

»

OF ROCK
19771977
78 ISTORY| HISTORY
OF ROCK
orsJune
7-14,1977:Led
June
7–14, 1977: Led
Zeppelinplaysix
Zeppelinplaysoldsix soldoutshows
at Madisonout showsat Madison
SquareGarden,NYC
SquareGarden,NYC

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 79

1977
1977

J U NEaAPRILp r il – JNNE

- MELODY
JUNE2525—_—
MELODYMAKER
MAKER JUNETHE
ROBERTPlant
PLANTlounging
loungingininhis
hishotelhotelsuite
suiteafter
after
he RobeRta show,by Elmore
ElmoreJames,
James,isis aa farfar
show, playing
playing blues
blues albums
albums byfrom thethe preening,
preening, swaggeringcry from
swaggering stagestage figure
figure who,
who,
half
half anan hourhour previously,
previously, had
had been
beenthethefocal
focalpoint
pointforfor
20,000 pairs
pairs of eyes
eyes at
atMadison
Madison Square
Square Garden,
Garden, New
York. Now,
Now,with
withaabeer
beerininhis
hishandhand andand with his feet bare,
bare,
he's
call “a"aregular
regularguy”
guy"–-normal,
almosthe’s what the Americans would callnormal, almost
formal, relaxed,
formal,relaxed, reflective.
Zeppelin's public
28 -year -oldPlant
Planthashasaawry,
warmsense
sense ofof
Led Zeppelin’s
public face,
face, 28-year-old
wry, warm
humour,-night stinthumour,andandtonight,
tonight,ininthe
themidst
midstofofthe
theband's
band’ssix
six-night
stintinin NewYork,New York,
he’s eager to talkandfuture;
future;his
hisvery
veryreal
realfears
fears
he's
talk about
about their
their past,
past, present
present andthat
injurymight
career as
singer; thethethat his
his foot injury
mighthave
havespelledspelleddoom
doomtoto hishis career
as a singer;state
the punk
punk rock industry;
industry; his roleroleasasaavocalist
vocalistandandrelationshiprelationshipwith
withstate of thethe rest
rest of thein thethethe band;band; what
what can
can we expect
expect from Zeppelin
Zeppelin in
the years
years ahead.
ahead.
Twoyears
yearshave
haveelapsed
elapsedsince
sincemuch
much has
has been
been heard
heard of Zeppelin.
Zeppelin. There
There
Two
was thethe stultifying
stultifying boredomSame,but
but
boredomofofthe
thefilm
filmThe
TheSong
Song Remains The Same,apartfromfrom this
this -– silence.
silence. Now, they
reappearon
onaa long
Americantour
tourininaparttheyreappear
longAmerican
topand even Plant is forced
forcedto
tocommentcomment on
on thethe fact
fact thatthat he’s
he's smilingsmiling
top gear, andalmostin harness
harness andand finding
findingalmost permanently
permanentlyat
atthe
thetwinjoys
twin joysofof being
being back in
his foot, injured
hisinjured in a carcar accident
accident in Greece,
Greece, to
tobe
bein
indecent
decentshape
shape andand notnottoomuch of a handicap
handicap on
he hashas
too much
onstage.
stage.Despite
Despitethe
thelay-off,lay-off, hehe says, heexperienced
because they
theywent
experienced little
little initial
initial stage fright, because
went throughthroughaa
rigorous two
two-monthrehearsal.They
Theyhadhadto.
to. With no new album
rigorous-month rehearsal.
album from
from
which
theyhadused to playing together
together andwhich to draw, theyhadto
to first
first get used
and thenthenwork
work
out
applications ofmaterial fromand olderolder records.
records.
out new applicationsof material
fromPhysical Graffiti and“Sothing IIdidn’t"So IIwas
wasreally
reallyatathome
homewith
withthetheidea
ideaofofplaying.
playing.The
Theonly
onlything
didn'tknow
about wasable toto pacepace myself
myself out,
out,withwithknow about
was whether
whetherII was
was going
going to be able
my foot problem.
problem. For
the first
three gigs
was reallyre allymeasuring
measuring
For thefirst two
two or threegigs I was
every move
move I made,to findfind if I’devery
made, toI'd gonegone too
too far oror whatever.
whatever. The
The first
first gig in
in
Dallas,waspetrified.
petrified. Since
Since Earls
EarlsCourt
Court inin London,
London, allallthisthis
Dallas, Texas, IIwas
horrendous
minuteshorrendousphysicalphysicalhoo-ha
hoo-hahad
hadtakentakenplace
placeandandforforthethe10
10 minutes
before I walked
steps inin Dallas
Dallas I was
beforewalked up those
those steps
was coldcold with
with fright.
fright.
"Supposing I couldn’t
couldn't move aroundaround thethe stage properly, because
because mymyright“Supposing
rightfoot is permanently
permanently enlarged
enlargednow?
now?Well,Well,ititwas
waskillingkillingfor
for thethe first
first two
two gigs.
carriedback
backononone
onefoot.
foot.But
But once
onceII got ititused
I had
had to be
be virtually
virtually carried
used toto thetheconcussive
and now
paced myself
concussiveknocks
knocksofofstagestagework,
work,ititwas
wasOK
OK andnow I've
I’ve paced
myselfsoso
I can
can work
workwithout
without anyone,anyone, hopefully, realising
realising thatthat I have
have this
this thing
thing tolive with.
with. The thing
thing is, I don’t
don't really
really know
know what
what I’m
I'm doing
doing with
with my body
b ody
when
and I just
just throw
throw myself
myselfaroundaround the stage instinctively.
instinctively.
when I'm
I’m playing and"But Dallas
Dallas was
was thethe worry:
worry:IIthought
thought about
about what
what would
would happen
happen“Buttakeit.
it. Yet whento theif thethe foot wouldn’t
wouldn't takewhen IIwalked
walked up
up thethe steps
steps tothestage, all thethe premonitions
premonitions andand anxieties
and thetheanxieties washedwashedaway, andexhilaration
exhilarationtook
tookover.
over.IIthought,
thought,Ah,‘Ah,it's
it’sbeen
beensosolong',long’,and
andII just
just
up there– andI Iwas
wasloony
loonyagain!"
again!”
loved being
being backbackupthere-andgetty (2)T080 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

And thecrowdshadhadbeenbeengreat.
great.To
Toworkwork live
live was, in Zeppelin’s
planforforAnd
the crowds
Zeppelin's plan
BigReturn,
Return,aastimulus
stimulusfor
foranyanynew
newalbums
albumsthey
theyintended
intended after
after such
such aThe Big
ofinactivity.
inactivity. But
Butthey
theyhadhaddifficulties
difficulties with
with thatthat programme.
programme. No
spell ofNo new
newalbum
meanttheywere
they were"trading“tradingon
onpastpastglories",
glories”,asas Plant
Plant described
describedit.
it.
album meant
And using materialmaterial people were
werefamiliar
familiar with,
with,they
theyhadchallenge ofof
had the challenge
people something
something aboveand beyond
had alreadyalready seen,
seen,
giving people
above andbeyond what
what they
they hadbecausewhowanted
wantedaaZeppelin
Zeppelinstagestagerere-run
oftwo
two oror threeyearsago?
ago?
because who-run ofthree years
was achievedachieved bybybringing
the first time
time inThis wasbringingbackback thetheacoustic
acousticset
setforfor theAmericaabout seven years, andand introducing
introducing songs
America for about
songslike
like "The“The Battle
Battle Of
Evermore”
previously rejectedbecause
becauseSandy
SandyD
Denny
Evermore" –-previouslyrejectedenny featured
featured on thetheand sosotheytheycouldn’t
couldn'taccurately
accuratelyrecreate
recreateititon
onstagestage-andtakingrecord, and– and taking
the oddthe
odd risk.
risk.
“To"Tobegin
begin with,
with, people
people were aalittle
littlebit
bitrestless.
restless. They
Theydidn’t
didn't know
know what
what
the hell was going on.
on. Kept
Keptlooking
lookingat
atus,
us,presumably
presumably thinking,thinking, 'Are
they
the‘Are theythat old? But
Butbecause
because of thethe waywayin
inwhichwhichwe’ve
we'vetaken
takenthethe challenge
challenge
really thatof reworking
someunlikely
unlikelyaspects
aspectsof
ofititreworking ourour old
oldmaterialmaterial andand introducing
introducing some
into stagestage work, we’ve
we've gone
gone aastagestagefarther
farther again.”
again."
into
the first
firstfew
fewconcerts,
concerts,they
theywould
sheepishly at each
each other
other onFor thewould look sheepishly
stage. No one
one spoke,
spoke,butbutthethequestion
question each
each seemed
seemed to be asking
asking was: are
aregetting it right?
we getting"Suddenlyititburst“Suddenly
burstthroughthroughafter
aftersix
sixgigs,
gigs,sosothatthatbybythe
thetimetimewewegot
got totoplacesplaces like St
StLouis,Louis,itithad
hadtakentakenononanotheranother level ofofcontrol,
control,rather
rather thanthanmerely trotting
trotting out
merelyoutthetheoldoldfavourites.
favourites.For
Forexample,
example,John
JohnPaul
PaulJones
Jonesisisgetting far-of -the -match!"getting
far moremoreinvolved
involvednow,
now,he's
he’sthethesortsortofof manman-of-the-match!”
And so, says
saysPlant,
Plant,heheseemed
seemedto
tobe
befindingfindinghimself
himselfsmilingsmiling all
allthethetimetimenow-"like
TheTown”
Town"–-becausenow– “likesome
somegrinning
grinninggoon
goonatatthe
theTalk
Talk Of The
because theytriumphed withbecause he had
had triumphed
withtheir
theirprogramme,
programme,and
andmostmostofof all becausebeenable toto overcome
somethinghe
hewas
wasneverneversuresurehehewas
wasgoing
goingtotobe
bebeen able
overcome something
capable of doing.
capable"I've won
won thethe battle
battle up
great feeling,
can tell“I’ve
upto
tonow.
now.It's
It’s aa great
feeling,II cantell you."
you.”
Zeppelinwere
were well into the American
tour by now, andZeppelin
American tour
and ititseemed
seemedappropriate to
Plant about
about thethe long-termlong-term futureband,
appropriate
to ask
ask Plant
futureofof the band,particularly inthe noisy
noisy soundings
soundings by lesser breeds
breeds who wanted
wantedparticularly
inviewview of thethem
to move over andyouth. Since they
hadgonegone soso farthem toand makemake way forforyouth.
theyhadsince their
their formationand since he waswas talking
talking quite
sinceformationin
in1968,1968, andenthusiastically about
enthusiastically
abouttheir
theirfuture,
future,howhowdiddidthethesinger
singersee
see it shaping?
“Wewith soenergy inin '68,’68, andthenwewe"Wetook
tookoff
offwithsomuchmuch invigorating
invigorating energy
and thencurbed thatand would
curbedthatenergy
energysosothatthatthethewhole
wholedynamics
dynamicsof
ofthe
thebbandwould ebb
ebb
and flow sosothatthat we
wewouldn’t
wouldn'tburnburn ourselves
ourselves out
outmusicallymusicallyby
taking theandby takingopportunity
gohair-raisingly
hair-raisinglymad
madandandfadefadeaa whole-lotta-loving into
opportunitytotogo
the sunset!”sunset!" he said. “By"Bysitting
sittingdown
downandandtakingtakingup
upthe
thechallenge
challengeandandtherealisingrealisingthat
thatwewewere,were, are,are, andandwill
will be,be,capable of expanding,that cancanbebe thethecapableexpanding, that
only hope for thethefuture,
future, andand that’s
that'show we want
want totomakemake our
our impression
impression
and be remembered…
andremembered... for constantly
constantly
tryingride thethe winds
winds of change.
change.
trying to
to ride"And how
how good
good we were at it inin the
the
“And
end,
be up
up to thetheend, whenwhenit's
it’sallallover,over, will
will beindividual
personally think
think
individualto
to judge. I personally
we'vedone it all right.”
right."
we’ve done
did Robert
Robert see
see thethe band’s
band's fans
fans
How did
today?
they picking
picking up
up new
new ones
ones
today? Were they
all along thethe line, or gaining
gaining new
new onesones
andones –-whatand losing
losing old ones
whatwere
were his
his
own
observations of
the audiencesaudiences on
own observationsof theon
thislaughed andand replied:
replied:this tour?
tour? He laughed"I'd saysaywe
have a lot
lot ofofpeople
peoplethere
there
“I’d
we havesince
since thethe beginning
beginningor
orpeople
peoplewho
wholooklook
as if they
theywere!
Then again,
again, I looked
lookedwere! Thenbehindtonight, in the seats
seats
behindthe
the stagestage tonight,
that
ought after,
after, andandthat areare not
not readilyreadily ssought
found
new breed
breed coming
coming up.
found a whole new
Kids who’ve
who've got aapirate
pirate Zeppelin
Zeppelin T-shirt
that's muchthem. Andon that’s
muchtootoobigbig for them.
thensmile.And
our children,
children, andandthenII smile.
AndI see our
kids
steps behindbehind themkids a few steps
themdigging
diggingit,
it,and in thethe endend IIcome
comeroundroundtotothinking
thinkingandWith anacousticWith
an acoustic
thattime tothatit's
it’s funnyit
funny ittook
tooksuchsuchaa long
long time
section backbackinthesectionin theset,
bassist John
set,bassistJohn
bridgemanygaps,
bridge so many
gaps,musically,
musically, y'know.
y’know.
Paul Jones
Jones plays
plays
Paul
"Theremean, thatthat period
period when
“There was, I mean,
when
triple -neckeda triple-necked
there
alone, with
with so many
many other
other
therewaswas us,us, alone,
instrumentmade
instrument
madebyAlanby
Alan Manson
bands
goodquality
qualityand
andcalibre
calibre-thebands of good
– theled zeppelinIt’s only a musical level that we think of ourselves anyway. It’s
not who can pull the biggest crowds, ’cos we leave that to Elton,
God bless him!”
Talking of crowds, Plant continued, what really was the basisof the charge by the punk bands that the dinosaur bands played
to such gigantic crowds, the magic communication ’twixt starand fan has been erased? This was sheer nonsense, he argued.
“It was like playing in a living room tonight at Madison Square
Garden,” he declared. “You could easily walk to the side of thestage, just catch somebody’s eye and work to that person, like asin any club. OK, so there were 20,000 people there, but I’m
Robert Plant with“freaky but great”
willing to bet that nearly every one of them left that place happyrecord producer andat what they’d seen. It certainly sounded like it to me, anyway,
musician Kim Fowley
judging from the reception they gave us.
in Los Angeles, 1977
“Let’s face it, if Johnny multi-vocabulary Rotten gets his act
together he’d have to take it elsewhere, leave Nottingham BoatClub behind, because there’ll be too many people to get into
‘underground music’ thing. Now, it doesn’t mean a light, just an oldthat size of place and he’ll have more people being unhappy at his lack ofcliche. Now the whole scene’s wide open, and it’s a matter purely of how
foresight. He’ll just have to open it up bigger than that. He’ll also have togood you are, whatever your style.”change his act soon. It’s getting a bit tiring, all that, because the dinosaur
Take his own tastes, for example. He was currently studying Bulgarian
bands are still dancing.”
folk music, especially because it was all vocal and very different from
As a trend, though, he welcomed the new wave and had taken thewhat he had listened to before.
trouble to visit its London club, the Roxy, several weeks ago. There, he had“They use quarter-tones, but at the same time, in their harmonies,
experienced Johnny Rotten, “who frightened me to death”.
instead of firsts, thirds, fifths and sevenths and all the conventional
Plant said, “Kim Fowley’s the closest I’ve ever seen to him, but Kim
European styles of harmony, they use firsts and seconds. And I’ve neverFowley’s old enough to be Johnny’s dad, and Johnny’s as old as me. Kim
been trained to do anything in my life and I find it difficult to harmonise
Fowley’s great, one of the great innovators of all time, but he’s sowith myself on records. But I find it very inspiring to listen to stuff like that,permanently weirded out on such a nice level, freaky but great…
on the Nonesuch label from the Elektra catalogue. It comes straight out of“Anyway, I went to the Roxy and got frightened to death, but at thethe hills – it’s what you might call mass singing, like village singing whensame time stood my ground for all we dinosaurs, and I saw The Damned.
a village gets together at various times of the year when they hope for this,I found them very exciting, thrilling. Rat Scabies is a great drummer. He’s
that and the other to happen… all that we in Britain have almost lost.
no spring chicken either, and when I look at those eyes – well, I know that
“Otherwise, I’m never too far away from Robert Johnson. There’s no way
those leapers do terrible things to your eyes, but I can read the sands ofon this earth that I could ever find his work tiring. And then there aretime as well!
several things which have come up very nicely – Fleetwood Mac have
“But they’re good, The Damned. If they didn’t have the paint andtaken a nice turn. Obviously it’s not musicallyclothing or whatever and just came along andnew, but I do like that kick-in-the-air Californiadid it, they’d probably be twice as big as theysand music when it’s played really well. A lot of it
are now. But they’ve had to throw off the robes
went sour, but Fleetwood Mac have broughtof the punk thing, and in doing so it’s costsomething good out of it. You can never get too
them time. They did that T Rex tour, so they’ve
far away from Mick Fleetwood’s drums, which is
obviously broken out of that melee… but
just like it used to be, the way he uses tom-tom.
anyway, they were very good.
“Little Feat have always intrigued me. They’ve“Other bands? I saw the group – what’s thatnever really got their just desserts for what they
one with the 15-year-old drummer? Eater!
don’t play, rather than for what they do play. I’dWell, a lot of people need to go home and do
like to see which way Mike Heron goes next,
their homework. I mean, I play guitar on four
because that album was much better. He seemedtracks on our albums but I wouldn’t dare playa little rigid and I think he’ll loosen up a little bit.
on stage. When all the shouting’s over and it’s
“Lots of varying styles appeal to me. There’s
just down to music and pulling people in who
one track over here by a group called Kansas that hasn’t even come out inare going to sit through it, then I’ll be there to see it.
England, which is a big hit single here. If they have a good record company“As a basic movement… it’s good, but I wish the music was more original
in England you should be hearing it soon, and it’s a good ’un – I think
and was moving on a stage. The Stranglers, for example, sound like anthey’re probably a bit like bands like Boston, who have one good song on
English Doors pre-LA Woman. So that doesn’t do much for me or anyone
every album! And without blowing our own trumpet too much – Daveelse, really.
Edmunds is great [he is signed to Swan Song, Zeppelin’s management“The intensity and the excitement I do like, because I never forget thestable]. Bit of a loony, but really, really good.”
first time I saw the Small Faces and The Who, when I was at school. It wasthat very thing that made me go, ‘YEAH’ – and I rushed to the barber’s andgot a French crew or whatever they were called, the right mod haircut.
ecause he sees so much genuine talent around, Plant seems“So I know what all that’s about, rushing around getting a parka andto cast a weary, if not impatient, eye on the new wave-cumimmediately getting chrome side panels for your scooter, and belonging
punk movement which has gripped the nation for the past year.
again, ’cos I was just a bit too young for the drape jackets. I understand allFirst off, he said he did not feel competitive towards any of thethat. Everyone needs something to hang on to a little bit, on some level of
established names, no matter what was said. “In the early days, I guessmass-entertainment ‘when-the-work-is-done-what-are-we-gonna-do?’we were in competition a little, when Beck and Ronnie Wood and Rod
As long as everybody doesn’t go overdosing on leapers again, it’s fine.
Stewart and Mickey Waller and Nicky Hopkins were on the road,“But I go to a lot of soccer matches [Plant is a rabid Wolves supporter]
because Jeff Beck had come out of The Yardbirds and Jimmy had, andand I see another element of youth and that really frightens me. We havethere was that interplay. But Jimmy’s my mate, and I can tell you none
to make sure that the music doesn’t dance hand in hand with the shedof this competitiveness came from him, even though it seemed toboys, because if the two got together, that music could do just as much
make all the going-out-together-for-pleasure with other musicians andamage as Chelsea losing 3-1.
uncomfortable thing.
“So provided the music really has got some content so that the kids
“But once we started going off, musically, on our own, things settled
really get off on it, and they wait for certain numbers to come and they
down and we could mix easily with anyone because there’s noreally enjoy ’em – then it’s worked, and it’s the next step. Then it’ll becompetition. I don’t mean that to sound how it probably does, big-headed,
but with all good individual acts, like say the Stones, we are on our own.
only a matter of time before you’re asking them after a nine-year career »“I saw The
Damned andfound themthrilling”

B

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 81

1977
1977

J U NEaAPR
p r il – SO

Jimmy
the
JimmyPage
Page inin theUSin
1977,playing
USin 1977,
playing
Gibson EEDS-1275
DS -1275
a Gibsondouble-neckguitar
double-neckguitarwhat-rockwhat theythinkthey thinkofofthis
thisandandthat.
that.But
Butyou'll
you’llonly
onlybebe askingasking these
thesepunk
punk-rockbands
new -wavebands
bandsororwhateverwhateverififthey
theyvarywhat
they're doing,bandsoror new-wave
vary what they’re
becausethere's
there’sno
nostayingstaying power
power inin staying
becausestaying thethe same.”same."
WHATEVER
THEtaunts
TAUNTSofofZeppelin
Zeppelinas
asaatastelesstasteless machomacho hatever therock tank,tank, it’s
it's impossible
impossible toto talk
talk tototheir
theirsinger
singerwithout
without
forming a real appreciation
appreciation offorthethe music,
music, which
which
formingof hishis love forbalancesomy imagethe band.
band. On stage
stage
balancesthe
theslightly
slightly unacceptableunacceptabledo
doomy
image of the
he comes over with
with venomous
venomous bite andand little
little real
real heart,
heart, and in print
print
he's
perhaps, to soundsound glib. But ininperson,
person, with
with thethe barriers
barriers down,
he’s apt, perhaps,
he'swhat you andand I describe
describe aschap".
he’s whatas "a“a good chap”.
put ititto
tohim
him thatthat he did
did not
not sell sex on
on stagestage asas diddid somesome of his
his
I put
contemporaries-rock singing,music
contemporariesininhard
hard-rocksinging,butbutthatthathehereliedreliedlargely
largely on
on music
insteadposing-– surely the antithesis
antithesis ofwhat
required andinstead of posingof what was requiredand expected
expectedwhen I wear a Wolverhamptonof aatrue
true rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll vocalist? “I"Isuppose
suppose thatthat when
Wolverhampton
Wanderers
exual, but
read a lot ofofthings
thingssaying
sayingWanderersshirt,
shirt,that's
that’shardly
hardlyssexual,
butII still
still read
I'mdoing this
this andand sexuallysexuallylooking
that on the stage.
I’m sexually doing
looking that“If
just
"If any
anyof
ofmy
mymovements
movementsappear
appear sexual,sexual, then
then they
they areare really
reallyjust
accessories
quite heatedly
heatedly involved
accessoriesto
to thethe music
music at
at thatthat point
pointinin time.
time.II get quite
withwith what's
what’sgoing
going onon musically,
musically, andandinvariably
invariablyI'm
I’mright
rightininfront
frontofof JohnJohn
Paul’s equipment
or Jimmy's.
Jimmy’s. I’m
onwhatwhat I'm
I’m listening
Paul'sequipment or
I'm concentrating
concentrating onlistening
to andand I move
move accordingly.
accordingly. There
There areare movements
movements II do
the time,time,
do all theregularly,
was going
going totostartstart thinking
thinking about
regularly,butbutif
if I wasabouthow
howIIwaswasgoing
goingtotoappear,II might
appear,might taketake myself a little
little too
tooseriously
seriouslyin
inthe
thewrong
wrongdirection.”
direction."
hedid
didnotnotregard
regardhimself
himself asasaasolosoloattraction
attractionor
orpersonality
personality asset
asset toto
So he
Zeppelin?
I'm aamember
member ofofaaband.
band.IIremember
remember reading
reading once
once
Zeppelin? "Oh“Oh God, no. I’m
somethingJohn
JohnEntwistle
Entwistlesaid
said about,
about,'There‘Theregogo Zeppelin
something
Zeppelin again,
again, saying
how they’re
they're one big happy
happyfamily
and they’ll
they'll neverbreakup,family andnever break
up,andandwe've
we’ve
heard
those critics
heardall
all thisthisbefore.'
before.’But
But all thosecritics should
shouldrealise
realisethat
thatIIhave
havenonovocalvocal
accelerationsor
or movements.
movements.They
They arethe music
music aroundaroundmemeaccelerations
are all inspired
inspired by
bythe
and
farther.
and thetheknowledge
knowledgethat
thatIIcan
candodoitit anyway
anywayandandwant
wanttotopushpushititaa bit farther.
"And thatthat cancan only
only comecome by playing
playing with
with people
e you.
“And
peoplewho
whosurpris
surpriseyou.
Like Jimmy’s
Jimmy's solo
solotonight
tonight inin ‘No'No Quarter’
Quarter' -– it was
was just
just fantastic,
fantastic, very
verywellwellconstructed
constructedininsuch
suchaamanner,manner,different
differentfrom
frombefore,
before,so
sothatthatIIcan't
can’thelp
helpbut
but
respondprojecting myself
responddifferentlyto
differently tothat.
that.So
SothatthatIIcan
canneverneverseesee myself
myself projecting
myselfthe music."
music.”
as the one who does
does thethe vocals
vocals while
whilethetheotherother three
three play
playthegreatest stimulant
stimulant was thethe instrumental
instrumental work
the others.
others.
His greatest
work of the"I can’t
can't seesee ititchanging
changingdramatically,
dramatically, either.
either. I’m
I'm thethe guy
guywhoputs thethe“I
who puts
words in.
in. No partjob is towords
part of mymyjob
toovershadow
overshadow thethe music.
music. I’m
I'm not a symbol
symbolor anything.
anything. The
on that-wise, weTheonlyreas
only reason
thatcould
couldchangechangeititisisif,
if, charactercharacter-wise,
westartedstarteddrifting
driftingapart,apart,and
andthen,then,totokeep
keepthings
thingstogether,
together,I'd
I’dhavehavetoto lookelsewhere for stimulation.”elsewhere
stimulation."bob gruen

W

82 I| HISTORYHISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
82

And was thatthat imminent?
imminent? "Oh
Bonzo andand IIarearegetting
gettingon
onbetterbetter“Oh no, no. Bonzothan weWe've only
onlyhadthis tour!"now thanwe ever have done. We’ve
had oneone fight
fight onon thistour!”
Still, hehewished
wished hehe could
could sing
sing like
likeSteve
SteveMarriott.
Marriott.There
There were
weremany
many
moods to Zeppelin’s
Zeppelin's music, he insisted,insisted, andand he couldn’t
couldn't think
think of one
one
moods
was hishisinspiration
inspiration fromfrom thethe samesame level asas thethe heavier
heaviersingle singer who was
stuffto"Stairway“StairwayTo
To Heaven".
Heaven”.
stuff right
right throughthrough to"But IIcould
couldnever
neverbebecompared
compared with
with Steve
SteveMarriott,
Marriott, because
because he’s
he's too
too“But
unfortunately. He
the best
best white
forsheer
sheerbravado
bravadogood, unfortunately.
Hehas
hasgot
got thewhite voice, forandballs. How he applies
but hehe isand balls.
applies it toto hishis career
career isis neither
neither here nor there,
there, but
the mastermaster of white contemporary
contemporary blues.
ourtheblues.He
Hecamecamedown
downtotosomesomeofof ourrehearsals in
us singing
singingrehearsals
inLondonLondonbefore
beforethis
thistour,tour,and
andto
tome,
me, thethe two
two of us
Muddy Waters songs
as ourourfirst
first gig.
songs waswas almost
almost as hair-raisinghair-raising as"That's thethe dynamism
dynamism ofoccasionally.
“That’sof myvocalism,
my vocalism,which
whichII do
do touch
touch onon occasionally.
It's only
only one
one aspect,
aspect, althoughalthough Stevethe best
best at what
what he does. On thethe
It’s
Steve is themoremore mellow
mellow side, there
there areare a lot of
ofpeople
peoplewho
whocancancontrol
control their
their voices
voices ininsuch aaway
such
way that
thatmakes
makesititpleasurable
pleasurabletotothe
theear.
ear.AtAt oneone point,
point,Jesse
Jesse Colin
Colin
had thatthat ability,
ability, when
when TheThe Youngbloods
Youngbloods were
were atattheir
their best,
best, onon
Young had
‘Elephant
Mountain’andandthings
thingslike
likethat.
that.Lowell
LowellGeorge
GeorgeIIdo
dolike,like, andand`Elephant Mountain'
when he sings
sings ininaasubdued
subduedmannermanner he’s
he's very
verygood."
whengood.”
Plant's musicalmusical roots
the blues,
blues, I
Since Plant’s
rootsarearesteeped
steepedin
inhis
hislovelove of thewondered
wondered if he waswas especially
especially conscious
conscious of this
this debt
debt toto thethe American
Americanheritage, andresult, he thought
thought that
saw aadifferent
different
heritage,
and whether,whether,asas aa result,
thatthetheUSA
USA sawofZeppelin
performance fromcountries.
kind ofZeppelin performance
fromthat
thatenjoyedenjoyed by other countries.
“Right"Right now,
now,America
Americaisisgetting
gettingaarebirth
rebirth fromfrom us,us, like
likethethecapital
capital letter
letter ofof
new paragraph.”paragraph."
a newwhenthey
theyreturn
return toto England
England later
later this
this year
yearwith
concert, would
But whenwith a concert,they
be saying,‘Look, we've
we’ve been
away, butthisisis thebest we
we cando’?
they besaying, 'Look,
been away,
but thisthe best
can do'?
Court waswas aapeak,
peak,Alexandra
AlexandraPalace
Palaceaadisaster,
disaster,withwithshocking
shocking
Earls Courtsound, buttheywerehitting it again.
again. This is probably
probablysound,
but right
right now
now he felt they
were hitting
traceable
to thethe fact
fact that,when working
working away
away from home,
traceable tothat, whenhome, they
concentrated moreconcentrated
moreonon intense
intenseworking.
working.
"Nobody comes
comes up
“Nobody
up andand taps
tapsyou
you onon thethe shoulder
shoulderto
toinvolve
involveyou
you ininanything
thatisn't
isn’trelated
relatedto
toworkwork when you’re
America.
anything thatyou're onon thethe roadroad ininAmerica.
solelywork.
Nosidesideeffects.
effects.Whereas
Whereas ififyou're
travelling fromfrom home
homeThis is solely
work. No
you’re travellinggigin
inEngland,
England,you
youtendtendtotocomecomeout
outdifferently
differently on
onstage,stage,maybe
maybe
to a gig
you’re– butwhatever,whatever,you're
you’renot
notwoundwoundup
upfor
for work likeyou're more relaxed
relaxed-but
likeininAmerica,hotel andand there’s
there's all this
this security
se curityroundround usus andandAmerica, where
where you're
you’re in a hotel
can feel aa kind
kind ofoftension.
tension.
you can“So
the only
only release
releaseyou
you"So you
yougetgetoutouton
onthatthatstagestageknowing
knowing thatthat that’s
that's thecan possiblyhave,
Andafterafter thethecanpossibly have,'cos’cosyou're
you’rehere
heretotowork,work, and
andWHOOSH!
WHOOSH! Andno jingle
jinglejangles
jangles or
orgoing
goinganywhere,
anywhere, just
just backback totothe
the hotel,
hotel,put
put ononthe
thegig, noElmore James albums,
thatway.
way.
albums, andand unwind
unwind that

led
LED zeppelin
ZEPPELIN“Whereasin England,
England,working
workingfrom
fromaa set
set basebase andanddoing
doingaa gig, going"Whereas inhomedifferent. Of course,
course, if
ifwe
did just
just anan acoustic
acoustic set backback ininhome again,
again, it's
it’s different.
we didEnglandably beb eourourfinestfinest hour!
hour! Nice
Niceandand mellow
mellow andandEnglanditit would
wouldprob
probably
American audience
gentle. But there’s
there's aakind
kindofofananexcitement
excitementininan
anAmerican
audience that
that
belongs only to
toan
anAmericanand events during the concert
concertAmerican audience, andwhich
can pick
pickupmake your
your reactions
reactions toto them,them, throughthroughwhich you canup on tend to makethe music, that
thethat much
much moremoreadamant.
adamant.
"There's a lot
lotof
ofmishandlingmishandling ofofkids,kids,forforinstance,
instance,bybythe
theauthorities,
authorities,“There’sandofkidskidswithout
withoutmanners
manners who
whodon’t
don'tcontemplatecontemplate their
their
and there
there areare a lot ofneighbourat
at all-so
all – sothat
thatthere
thereisisall
all this
this interplaywhichinterplay whichyou're
you’reaware
awareof.
of.
neighbour
Whereasstarts off. The
The
Whereasat
at an
an English
English concert
concertititgoes
goes onon thethe way it starts
enthusiasm
retained inside
inside thatthat composure.”composure."
enthusiasmbuilds,
builds,butbutit's
it’s always retained
Yet
Yethe
hewas
wasangryangryatatthe
thestupid
stupidbehaviour
behaviour of many
many ofofthe
the fansfans at
atZeppelin
Zeppelin
concerts
mark ofconcertswho
who chucked
chucked dangerous
dangerousfireworks
fireworksabout
aboutasasaa markuncontrolled
other bizarre
bizarreuncontrolledzeal.
zeal.Rockets
Rockets andand sparklers
sparklersand
andall
all sorts
sorts of otherfireworks mightmake for a pretty
on totofireworks
might makepretty display, but
but whenwhen they’re
they're hurtling
hurtling onthecontrol panel
panel andand get dangerously
dangerously close
closetotothe
thestagestageandand-whothe control– who knows?
-presumably
cary sight,
sight,andand– presumablyhurt
hurtsomesomeinnocent
innocentfan
fansomewhere,
somewhere,it's
it’saasscary
thankfullymis
missing
fromBritish
Britishrockrock gigs.
thankfully
sing fromGranted thatofGrantedthat Zeppelin
Zeppelincan't
can’tbebeheldheld totally
totally responsible
responsiblefor the sort ofaudiencesthat these
these
audiencesthey
theyattract,
attract,ororfor
fortheirtheirbehaviour,
behaviour,IIput
putitit to Plant that
dodgy firecracker
dodgyfirecracker scenes,
scenes, combined
combined with thethe ever-present,
ever-present, depressing
depressing
sight ofofthousands
thousands of kids
kidscolliding
collidingwith
withwalls
wallsasastheytheywalked
aroundwalked around
duringshows–-theofcheap
cheapwine
wineandanddowners,
downers,maybe
maybe-wasduring Zep shows
the victims of– wasa high priceprice to pay
pay forforthethekindkind ofofexcitement
excitement heheenjoyed.
enjoyed. He
Heagreed,agreed, butbut
said
heavy-handed appeal
said a heavy-handed
appealtotopeople
peopletotocool
coolititwasn't
wasn’tadvisable.
advisable.Yes,
Yes, thethefirework scene
scene indoors
indoors wasworrying to him,
him, because,
because, eventually,
had
was worrying
eventually,itit hadgettinghurt.
hurt.But
Butthethebestbestway
wayhe
heknew
knewtoto dealdeal withwithto resultresult in someone
someone getting
thesituation was
lecture", but
but totosay
say“sshhhh”"sshhhh"andandhope…
hope...
the situationwas "not“not to lecture”,"In thethe end,end, it's
be aacase
case ofofreachingreaching out on a personal
personal level
the“In
it’s got to belevel toto theguy who’s sitting
sitting there,
there, about
about toto do something
silly, andguywho'ssomething silly,
andpersuading
persuading him
notand that
not to, andthatlistening
listeningto
tothe
themusic
musicisisthethebestbestway
wayof
of enjoying
enjoyingthe
theshow."
show.”
situation inarena ofAmerica
The firework situationin thethebigbig arenaof Americawas
wasnot
notso
sobad
badas
as it
basis andwas, hehe continued.
continued. It waswas essential
essential toto getgetthroughthrough on
on aafriendly
friendlybasis
andtry"get people
people aroundaround thedown thetry to “gettheidiots
idiotstotoslow
slow down
the fireworkfirework action".
action”.
This was his
his only
onlymethod.
method. ItItusuallyusuallyworked.
worked.
Difficult,urgingcool
coollogic
logic onon to
Difficult, I suggested,suggested, urging
kids
zonked out
their skulls
skulls on booze
booze andandkids zonked
out of theirdrugs.
but oneone of thethe responsibilities
responsibilities
drugs. "Difficult,“Difficult, but
we have.
have. All
Allthese
thesethings
things gogowithwiththetheexcitement
excitementof thethe moment,
moment, II guess,guess, but
but why
why people
peoplegogoaroundaroundarmed
armedwithwithfirecrackers
firecrackersisisbeyond
beyondme.
me.
I findfind ititdisturbing,
disturbing, because
because obviously
ssomebodyomeb ody isisgoing
goingtotocomecome off
offthethe worst.
worst.
"There are some towns
towns in thethe Midwest where“Therethey have what’s
they
what's called ‘festival'festival seating’,
seating', whichmeans-come -first -servedmeansnonoseating,seating,thethefirst
first-come-first-served
effect.
yougetgetpeople
peoplewho’ve
who'vebeen
been queuing
queuing
effect. So you
andthey're
they’rethe
thefirst
firstin.
in. Bythe
By theall afternoon
afternoon andthird
ay by thethe timetime we reachreachthirdnumber,number,ssay`Nobody's
Mine', there’s
there's this
this great
great‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’,
millingof
of people
andit'sit’saa bit
bit chaotic.
milling
people andchaotic. II have
have tospend
minutes trying
spend about
about30
30 minutes
tryingto
toconvince
convincethese
thesefolk
folkthatthatititwould
wouldbebemuch
and them
semblance oforder."
much better
betterfor
for usus andthemif they had some semblanceof order.”It usually
worked. It wasusuallyworked.
wasdifficult
difficultnot
notto
tosoundsoundtactless,tactless,because
becausethe
thebandband
was, after
after all, playing
playing for thousands
thousands ofpeople who
had bbeen
een waiting
waiting to seesee
of people
who hadthemlong time.
time. ItItcould
couldhave
haveananunsettling
unsettling effecton thethe music,
music, too.
themforfor a longeffect on“Worst"Worst ofofall
allisisthe
therealisation
realisationthat
thatififthe
themobmobscenes
scenescontinue,
continue, andandpeopleody is going totoget
gethurthurtandandpeople areare milling
milling aroundaroundininaacrush,
crush,someb
somebody
hit
the deck.
constant worry."
hit thedeck. It is aaconstantworry.”

audiencesbuildup
up fromfrom clubs to concertsaudiences build
concerts to gigantic
gigantic arenas
arenas andand you
wonder how
should go.
own feelingfeeling isisthatthat you
you should
should play itit
wonderhow farfar you shouldgo. My own
cool.AAlot
lothangs
hangsononthe
thebalancebalancestruck,
struck,thetherelationshiprelationship between
between thevery cool.
theguy atat thethe front
front ofofthatthatmicrophone
microphone andand 20,000 people,
people, andand I’ve
I'velearned
learned topedal very carefully.
carefully.
soft pedal"In thethe beginning
beginning you tend
tend tototry
trytotochannel
channeltheir
theirenthusiasm
enthusiasm andand buildbuild“Init thethe crowd
crowdaa little
little bit –-butbutit'sit’saathe right
right way,
way,you
youtendtendtotomanipulate
manipulate thepositive manipulation.
and fuckthepositive
manipulation.It's
It’snot
notaacasecaseof,of,'Let's‘Let’shave
haveaa riot,
riot, andfuck thecops.' You have
have to go
go thethe reverse,
reverse, gentle
cops.’
gentleway:
way:trytryto
totaketakeititthis
thisway,
way,folks,
folks,
becausethisisis thethe best
best way toit.
because thisto enjoy
enjoyit.
"No, thethe feelingfeeling of power
power is aabig
bigNO
NOininthe
therulebook.
rulebook. Anyway,
Anyway, on
on stagestage“No,
rely ononeacheach other
other so much
much andand if thatthat wascome outus,
we rely
was toto comeout of any one of us,
thethreewould
wouldjump
jumpononthetheoneoneandandsay,say, 'Come‘Come on, you might
the otherother threemight kid
but you
youain’t
ain't kidding
kidding three!’”three!"'
two people, but
didPlant
Plantconcede
concede thatthat as thethe singer
singer he
he held
held thethe balancebalance of power,
power,inin
But didthetradition,asasagainst,
against,say,say, JimmyPage,
Jimmy Page, who ironicallythe time-honoured
time-honoured tradition,ironically
had theLe dZeppelin
Zeppelin andand formed
formed thehadthe visionvisionof Led
the bandbandinin1968?
1968?
Well, said
said Robert
Robert diplomatically,
diplomatically, Zeppelin
Zeppelin wasband.
was not
not thatthatkindkindofof band.
“Mick"Mick might
might bebe thethe Stones’
Stones' leader, so
so youyoucould
couldask
askhimhimthatthat one,
one, but
but ours
ours
er... well,well,more
moreofofaaco-operative
co-operativeband.
band.Does
Doesthatthatanswer
answerthethequestion?”question?"is, er…
Not really.
“Well,"Well,that’s
that's all you’re
you're gonna
gonna get! (Smiles)(Smiles)What
What else
elseshallshall we
wediscuss?”
discuss?"
about thethe danger
danger thatthat Zeppelin
Zepp elinwere
werenow
nowsosopre-eminently
pre-eminently
How aboutsuccessful that
not needneed to work hungrily
hungrily any
anymore?
more?Albums
successfulthat they
they did
did not
Albumsselling by
the million
bythe
million andand concerts
concerts ofofunprecedented
unprecedented statistics
statistics surely
surelyblunted theirhard-inbluntedtheirneedneedtoto work so hard– inevery
everysense,
sense,crowds
crowdswould
wouldgobananas whateverbananaswhatever they
they sang.
“Iat all. On every"I don’t
don't accept
accept thatthat atevery level,
level,ourourfans
fansseduce
seduce ususto
tobring
bring
the best
best work we
wecan
canproduce,
produce, andand as forforgetting
gettingblasé
blasejust
justbecause
becauseout thewe've mademade money
money-like-rock people
becomewe’ve– likethe
thepunk
punk-rock
people saywe
say we have become
unreachable– thisisn't
isn’ttrue,
true,andandno
nogenuine
genuinemusician
musicianwho
who began in the
unreachable-thistheclubs could
could get like thatthat if his
hisorigins
origins were
were pure.
pure.
clubs
"Ifyou’d
you'dfelt
feltthethemagic
magicininmy
mymindfirst got back on thatthat stage“If
mind when
whenII firststage inin
Dallastherestrestofof us will
Dallas six weeks
weeks back,back, or thethe magic
magic I’m
I'm gonna
gonna feel, andand thewhen thethe next album
album comes
feel, whencomesout
outandandit's
it’sthethebestbestwewe cancando
do andandwe
weit... No, wewehaven’t
haven't got
gotlazy
lazyororanything.
anything.
like it…
“Like IIsaid,
way we could
have
"Like
said,thetheonly
onlywaywe
could haveproblems in this band
band is ififour
ourcharacterscharacters shape
shape
problems
differently over thethe next
next few years
years andand nonenone ofdifferently
us hashas total
total control
control over
overdirections
directions ourourindividual personalities
personalities will take.
individual"Butright from the time
time Jimmy
came“But right
Jimmy Page camesee meme ininthe
the Midlands
Midlands andand said
up to seesaid hehe wasgonna form
form this
this band,
band, wayback
he andandgonna
way backinin'67,’67, hehaveknown
known thatthat we’re
we're such
such different
different
I havecharactersthatwe're
we’re good
good for eachcharacters thateach other.
other.
We're
totally different
different individuals.
individuals. So
we're
We’re totally
So no, we’regonna taketake easyeasywaysout."
not ever gonna
ways out.”
to be thisDid hehe expect
expect thatthat band
band tothis big, rightright
the start? “I"Ididn’t
didn't know
knowwhatfrom thewhatthisthisbig
big was!
mean, thethe BandBand Of
OfJoywaslittlebaby
babyb
and
I mean,Joy was aa little
band
andback in theand it’s
it's way
wayback
the past, but thatthat wasenjoyable as
There areare soso many
many connotations
connotations toalways enjoyable
as well. Theretobeing
beingbig.
big.
"Idon’t
don't think
think I can
can yetyetproperly
properlyrelate
relateto
tothethemagnitude
magnitude of thethe band,band,“Ialthoughguessit's
it’snearly
nearlyas
asbig
big asas sliced
bread.”
although IIguesssliced bread."And in the beginning,
beginning, diddidheheyearn
yearntotobe
befamous,
famous,totofacefacemulti
multi-thousand audiences?
that these
these shows are events
events rather
ratherthousandaudiences?"It's“It’s been
been said thatthanconcerts,andandIIsuppose
supposethat
thatisistrue.
true.But
Butwhat's
what’sthetheoption?
option?II guess
guess wethan concerts,
must carrylegend with-try, ormust
carryaalittle
littlebit
bitofof a legend
withus,us,andandyouyoudon't
don’thave
havetotoover
over-try,orwillcome
come overoverclinical,
clinical, clear-cut
clear-cut andand jumpy.
jumpy.
it will“We"Wehavehave totobringbring out
out our
our veryvery best
be stallallthethetime,time,because
because kids
kids have
have aaright toexpect that,-upper -lip way
right
to expect
that,butbutwewedon't
don’thave
havetotoproduce
produceititininaastiff
stiff-upper-lip
comes out
out thethe wrongThat'sor it comeswrongkindkindofoftight.
tight.It's
It’sgot
got toto be
be Tight
Tight But Loose. That’s
probably
thetitle
titleofof thethe next
next album.”probablythe
album."
Whenthat appear?
haven't evenevenstarted
started thinking
thinking about
When would
would thatappear? "We“We haven’t
aboutitit
constructivelyyet.
summer show
constructively
yet.We're
We’rehoping
hopingto
todo
do aa summer
showandandmakemakeaa markmarkonon
England,and maybe
maybewe'll
we’ll bbeeworking
England, andworkingon
onthe
thealbum
albumininthe
theautumn.
autumn. Then
Then
again, after this marathon
marathonAmericanhomeagain,
Americantour
tourwewemight
mightallallwant
wanttotogo
go homeand lie horizontal
horizontal for
Coleman•andfor awhile,a while,oror leanleanagainst
againstthe
theappleappletree."tree.”RayRay Coleman"I mean,mean, when
when
“I
I wear a
WolvesWolves shirt
shirt–- that’s
that's hardly
sexual”
sexual"pLANTSEEMED aware,
AWARE,yetyetwary,wary,ofofthe
thespecial
specialpower
powerinvested
investedlant seemedrock singer
singer ofofhis
hisstature.
stature. He believedbelieved it would
would bebe dangerous
dangerous
in a rockandirresponsible toto useuse his personal
strengthas
as aa rallying
and irresponsible
personal strength
cry for whateverwhatever hehe wanted
wanted to be done.
done. Whether
Whether he was adopting
adopting
this
this attitudeattitudebecause
becauseof
ofhis
hispreviously
previously statedstatedbelief
belief thatthathehe waswas“merely"merely aamusician
musician doing the words”
words" was difficult
difficult to perceive,
perceive, but
but
anywayasked howhowhehereconciledreconciled not
not wanting
wanting to
to be
bethe
the frontman
frontmananyway I asked
with being the one who
who did
didthetheannouncing,announcing, andand whether
wishedwhether hehe wished
he washe
was bereft
bereft of power.
power.
"I gotgotover
overthat
thatpower
powerthing
thing about
about seven
seven years
years ago,"“I
ago,”
be answered
answered carefully.
through
carefully. "Everybody“Everybody goes throughthatstand in allallthis?’this?' scene
scene when
when their
theirthat 'Where‘Where do
do I standP

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 83

1977

a p r i l – J U NE

“The only
group”© godlis

TELEVISION arrive with a classic
album, Marquee Moon, whichmakes New York the backdrop
to a romantic/spiritual quest.
“Every performance shouldattempt to go beyond
yourself,” says leader
Tom Verlaine. “Toenter a new fieldof experience.”

84 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

Television in 1977:(l–r) Fred Smith,
Tom Verlaine,
Richard Lloyd
and Billy Ficca

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 85

1977
1977

J U NEaAPR
p r il – SO

- MELODY
JUNE1818—_—
MELODYMAKER
MAKER JUNETELEVISION,WHOSErEcENt
RECENTtour
tour ofofBritain
Britain
ELEVISION, whOSE
establishedthem asas one of theestablished themthe most
mostuniqueunique andandAmerican bands
bands of thethe ’70s,'70s,mademade their
their public
publicexciting American
debut in March
March 1974,
1974,atatthe
theTownhouse
TownhouseTheatre
Theatre –debuta smallinNew
New York
York that
small viewing
viewing theatre
theatre inthat had
had been
been
the event
event bybythe
thegroup’sgroup'smanager
manager andandengaged for thepatron,incidentally, Marquee
dedicated).
patron,Terry
Terry Ork (to whom, incidentally,
Marquee Moon is dedicated).
Richard Lloyd recalls
recalls thethe occasion:occasion: “It"It waswashilarious.
hilarious. We
WerentedrentedthetheRichardtheatrecome down
down to see
see thethetheatreandandwent
wentaroundaroundasking
askingpeople
peopleweweknew
knew toto comeband
quotes that
could put
put in the papers.
papers. The
place
bandandandgivegive us some quotes
thatwewe could
The placeseatedmaybe
maybe88
88people
peopleandandIIguess
guessititwas
wasfull.
full.I don’tknow how
how weweseateddon't know
managedmanagedit.
it.
"I couldn’t
couldn't describe
weresosowacky
wackyin“I
describethe
themusic.
music.ItItwas
was just
just crazy.
crazy. We wereinthosedays.
days.We
We usedto fall over aa lot
those
used toloton
onstage…
stage... and,
and, like, we
we didn’t
didn't have
have
anything.
anything.Literally."
Literally.”
Television's lineup
lineup at
Television’s
at thisthistime
timewaswasLloyd
Lloyd (electric(electricguitar),
guitar),Billy
BillyFicca
Ficca(drums),andRichard
RichardHell
Hell (bass).
(bass).
(drums), Tom Verlaine (electric(electric guitar)
guitar) and
Verlaine (née(née Miller)
Miller)andand HellHell(née(néeMyers)
Myers)had
hadattended
attended highhighFicca, Verlaine
schoolaccounts,
school together
togetherin
inDelaware.
Delaware.Verlaine
VerlaineandandHell
Hell were,
were, fromfrom all
all accounts,
particularlyclose
close (though
their relationshiprelationshipwas
was to end bitterly andparticularly(though theirandprecipitateshared anan interest
interest inin literature,
literature, art
art
precipitate anan extended
extendedfeud).
feud). They sharedandescape from the stifling
stifling
and modern
modernpoetry
poetryandandmusic,
music, andand craved
craved anan escapeparochialismofof theirtheirenvironment
environment(in(infact,
fact,legend
legendhas
hasit thatthey madeparochialismthat theymadeoneabortive run
freedom which ended
ended with
with their
their arrest).
arrest).
one abortive
run for freedom
Verlaine remains
remains elusive about
about his musicalmusical activities
activities in Delaware,
admittingonlythat
only thathe
heandandFicca
Ficca played
played together
with various individuals
admitting
together withindividuals
in a series
series ofofshort-lived,
short-lived,apparently
apparentlyexperimental
experimental bands.
bands.
Verlaine, having
having decided
decided thatbe thethe most
most conducive
conducive
thatNew
New Yorkwould
York would beenvironmentin
inwhichwhichtoto work andinenvironment
and live, finally
finallyarrived
arrivedin
inthatthatcity
cityinAugust 1968.
1968.For
Forthreethreeyears
yearshehemerelymerelyenjoyedenjoyedthe
theexperience
experienceandandatmospherethe city, working
working ininthe
the Strand
Strand bookstore
bookstore andandatmosphereof
ofliving
living inin thehanging out
out in fashionablehangingfashionable artistic
artistic circles.
the early
early'70s
began composing
composing songs, andand by thethe timetime hehe
In the’70s he began
embarkedcircuit heheembarkedupon
uponaatentative
tentativesolo
solocareer
careeron
onthe
theNewYork
New York folk circuit
hadalready composedthat have since
since been
been
had alreadycomposedseveral
severalofof the songs thatrecognised
Television'srepertoire,
repertoire, including
including thethe beautiful,
beautiful,recognisedas
as classics
classics in Television’s
hallucinatory
hallucinatory"Venus".
“Venus”.
Verlaine vividly remembers
his first
first public
New York:
Verlaineremembers his
public performance
performance ininNewYork:"I'dbeen thinking
thinking about“I’d been
aboutititfor
forsomesometime.
time.II had
had these
thesesongs
songsand
andIIhadhadaa
guitar.
thought, 'Fuck
I'll dodo it.’
it.'One
OneSunday
Sundayafternoon,
afternoon, I went
went
guitar.I just thought,‘Fuckit,
it, I’ll
down toto thisthis club
club andandplayed
playedfor
for 15 minutes.
to finddown
minutes. I just
just wanted
wanted tofind out
out whatwhat
it waswas really
reallylike,
like,andandsomething
something happened
happened tooccurred totome
me andanditit occurred
tome
me
that
thatthisthiswaswasthethedirection
directionI Ishould
shouldfollow."follow.”
Verlaine decided
thathishis songs
songs
Verlaine
decided that
could
best expressed
expressed in
could be bestin a groupcontext,
andcontext, andandwith
withRichard
RichardHell
Hell and
Neon Boys.
Billy Ficca
Ficca hehe formed
formed thethe Neon
As Billy
BillyFicca
Ficcaexplains
explains elsewhere,
elsewhere,thegroup's existence
existence was
the group’s
prematurely terminatedterminated throughthroughlack ofofworkand financial
financial support.
support.
work and
Nevertheless, Verlaine andand HellNevertheless,began collecting the material
beganmaterial that
thatwould form thethe basic
basic repertoire
repertoire ofthematerial,
the original
original Television: the material,in fact, thatthat waswaspremiered
premiered that
that
night
the Townhouse
Townhouse Theatre
Theatrenight at theandheard overthe next
next
and would
would bebe heard
over thetwo years, bybyfluctuating
fluctuating audiencesaudiencesat
CBGB,Max’s
Max'sKansas
Kansas City
Cityandand any
any otherotherat CBGB,NewYork
haunt where the group
group could
could
New York haunt
secureaagig.
gig.
secureAmong
Among these
thesesongs
songswere
were Verlaine's
Verlaine’s"Venus",ofcourse,
course, “Friction”,"Friction", anan early
early“Venus”, ofarrangementofof"Marquee“MarqueeMoon"
Moon” (which,(which,arrangementin
original version
in its original
versionran
ranto
tosomesome2020 verses)
verses)and-yet -unrecorded "Double
and thetheas
as-yet-unrecorded“DoubleExposure” andand"Hard“HardOn
On Love"
Love” (mentioned
Exposure"(mentioned
by Richard
Richard Williams
Williams inin hishis column
column last
January).
contributed aa brace
January). Hell contributed
braceof his
apparentlyoff-the-wall
off-the-wall ditties,
ditties, including
apparently
includingmichael putland / getty

T

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
86 | HISTORYI

his disappointing
single"Blank“BlankGeneration"
Generation”(a(aclassic,
classic, apparently,
apparently,in
inits
its
disappointing single
original form),
Comes In
Spurts" andoriginalform),"Love“Love Comes
In Spurts”
and"Fuck“FuckRock'n'Roll".
Rock’n’Roll”.
wasthisthis version
version ofofTelevision
Televisionthat
thatwaswasproduced
produced bybyEno
tape forfor
It wasEno for aatapeIslandheadofA&R
of A&R at
Island Records. That company’s
company's headatthe
thetimetime was
wasRichard
Richard
Williams, who'dbeen impressed
and wasWilliams,
who’d been
impressedby
bythe
thegroupgroupininNew
NewYork
York andinterested enoughrecommend theminterested
enoughinin theirtheir future
future toto recommend
themtotoBrianBrian Eno.
sessions, however,
however,werewereaborted
abortedafter
afterprotracted
protracteddisagreements
disagreements
The sessions,
between Verlaine
betweenVerlaine andand Eno.
"I think
think Eno was
was too
too individual,”
individual," Verlaine explains.
explains. "We
heard different
different“I“We heard
thingsin thethemusic.
music.Maybe
Maybewhat
whathehegot
got on
was a realistic
soundforforthings inon tapetape wasrealistic soundthe bandband atthe time,time, but his ideas
ideas werewereincompatible
incompatible with mine. He’d
He'd getgettheat thesomething down
'What's THAT?
shouldn't
something
downandandI'dI’dlistenlistentotoititand
andI'dI’dsay, ‘What’s
THAT? ItItshouldn’t
sound
likeTHAT.
THAT. Dosound like
Do THIS
THIStotoit.’
it.'AndAndhe’dhe'dtelltellmemethatthathe’dhe'dchangechange it. AndAnd
he'd go off, but
but hehe justjust wouldn’t
wouldn't changehe’dchangeit.
it.He'sHe’saareal
realclevercleverguy."
guy.”
IfVerlaine
Verlainewas
wasdissatisfied
dissatisfiedwith
withthetherecorded
recorded soundsound of Television
Television-– evenIfthoughhe suggests
suggests it wasthough hewasananaccurate
accurate reflection
reflection of thethe groupgroup asasititstood
stood-–
might possibly have recognised
recognised somemusical limitations
he might
some of the musicallimitationsofof thethegroup; particularly
particularly thebass playing.
group;
theshortcomings
shortcomingsof
ofRichard
RichardHell's
Hell’s bass
Lloyd
to Verlaine's
Verlaine’s suggestion
Lloydrecalls
recallsthatthat Hell
Hellresponded
responded reluctantly
reluctantly tosuggestionthat heas s inin Television
Television (it(it waswas Hell,Hell,incidentally,
incidentally, whothethatheplaybplay bass
who gavegave thegroup its name),name), andaccepted theafter displays
displays of great
great
group
and hehe accepted
theoffer
offer only
only after
enthusiasm
andencouragement.
encouragement.Whatever,Whatever,ititwas
was decided
enthusiasm anddecided thatthat he wasinadequate andrelatively inadequate
andhe
hewas
wasreplaced
replacedinin1975
1975byby former
formerBlondie
Blondiebassist Fred Smith.
bassistHell wentYork Dolls
went offoffto
tojoinjoinex-New
ex-NewYork
DollsJohnny
JohnnyThunders
Thunders andand Jerry
Jerry
the original
original Heartbreakers
Heartbreakers (nowNolan in the(now resident,
resident, with
with a different
frontline, inown bandfrontline,
inLondon).
London).He
He now
now leads
leads his
his ownbandthetheVoidoids.
Voidoids.
Television, with
with Verlaine
Verlainefirmly
firmlyinincommandcommand after
after Hell’s
Hell'sdeparture,
departure,continued topicking up
up criticalcritical accolades
thecontinued
toplayplay aroundaroundNewYork,New York, picking
accoladesfor themusic. Their
Their perseverance
perseverance wasmusic.
wasrewarded
rewardedinin1976
1976with
withthetheoffer
offerofof acontract
to Elektra/Asylum,
Elektra/Asylum,which
whichVerlaine,
Verlaine, who
who haddisplayedaa rare
contract tohad displayedrare
caution previously, accepted.
accepted.
cautionAndyJohns,
engineering stints
stints withthe
Andy Johns, whose previous credits include engineeringwith thelike of
ofthe
theStones
StonesandandZeppelin,
Zeppelin, co-produced
co -produced thethe group’sgroup's debut
debut album,
album,Marquee Moon,
with Tom
Verlaine.
MarqueeMoon, withTom Verlaine.
"Iwantedwanted someone
someone who has
has nono preconceptions
preconceptions about“I
aboutour
our music,
music, who
could
be reliedto get a good
could berelied upon
upon togood sound,”sound," says Verlaine.
Verlaine.“I"Iwouldn’t
wouldn't eveneven
s endAndy
AndyJohns
any tapes
tape sof
ofthe
theband.
band.He’d
He'dnever
neverheard
heard usus until
until we
wewentwent
send
Johns any
into thethe studio.
studio. I didn’t
didn't wantanything about
into
want him
him toto know
know anything
aboutus.
us.ThatThatway,way,
figured we
wecould
couldavoid
avoidarguments.
arguments. Since hehe didn’t
didn't know what exactly
I figured
were supposed
supposed toallyresponde d to what
what I wanted.”wanted."we weretosoundsoundlike,
like,hehere
reallyrespondedOM VErLaINE,
VERLAINE,thE
THEenigmatic
enigmaticleader
leaderofofTelevision,
Television,has
hasbeenbeen
Omdescribed as aa potential
potential rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll genius
genius andand thethevariously describedmost original
original andand guitarist
guitarist to
mostand exciting
exciting new writer andto havehaveemergedemerged in American music in this
this decade.
decade. Alternatively,
Alternatively,there
there arearesubscribe totothetheratherrather lesslesscomplimentarycomplimentaryopinion
opinion thatthat
those who subscribe
Verlaine isisananarrogant
arrogant andand conceitedconceited individual,
individual, a pretentious
pretentious and
and

T

"I
“I wouldn'tevenwouldn’t evensend
send[Marquee Moon
Moon
[Marquee
co-producer]AndyJohns
co-producer]Andy Johns
anytapes
any tapesof
ofthe
theband":band”:TomTom
Verlainelektra Records,
Verlaineat
atEElektra
Records,
NYC,
27, 1978
NYC,February
February270978

television
TELEVISION

nocturnal
underworldfilteredfiltered throughthroughaa romanticromantic visionnocturnal underworld
that's at once confused
confused by
bythe
the
that’sthe potential
potentialviolence
violence of theenvironment andcuriously seduced
seduced by thethe darkness.
darkness.
environment
andyetyet curiously
In someways, it seems
TelevisionIn
some ways,
seems to me, Verlaine andand Television
are direct
direct heirs
VelvetUnderground.
Underground. However,areheirsof The Velvet
where
portrayed New
graphic,
whereLouLou Reed portrayed
New Yorkwith
York with a graphic,
documentary
clarity,Verlaine
Verlaine deals
withdocumentary clarity,
deals more
more exclusively
exclusivelywith
May280977:
May
28, 1977:
atmosphere, evoking startling
startling images ofofmetropolitan
metropolitan
atmosphere,
Verlaineonstage
Verlaine on stage
anguish, lonelinesscharacteristic
anguish,loneliness andand despair
despair allied
allied to a characteristic
atHammersmith
at Hammersmith
romantic
yearningfor spiritualin theromantic yearning
spiritual perfection
perfection in
the face ofofOdeon,playingan
Odeon, playing an
Ampegguitarmade
Ampeg guitar madethis darkness.
ofclearof clearPlexiglas"That's very
verymuch“That’s
muchthethecase,"case,”sayssaysVerlaine.
Verlaine. "Living“Living in
NewYork younight-orientated.
NewYork
yousomehow
somehowbecome
becomevery
verynight-orientated.
the summers,
summers, when
hot andand thetheEspecially in thewhenitit gets so hot
111111.1.11k
facile talenttalent andand a paranoid
paranoid egomaniac
egomaniac who's
streets get
dirty... I've
Yorkasasan
aninspiration.
inspiration. It
streets
get so dirty…
I’ve always
always thought
thoughtof
ofNew
New York
who’s callous and vicious
isn’t
people,me. Obviously,
toward those
those with
with whom
whom hehe comescomes into
into contact.
contact.He's
He’s also said to havetowardhave
isn't for many
many people, but
but it is forforme.
Obviously, it was for Lou
LouReed,Reed,too.
too.
a megalomaniac
megalomaniac streak"I think
think we capture
capture different“Idifferentaspects
aspectsof
ofthe
thecity,city,butbutthere
thereisissome
somesort
sortofofstreakthat
thatwould
wouldreduce
reduceHitler
Hitlerto
tothe
thestatus
statusof
ofaa
shambling
introvert.
connection between
Underground. ItIt goesconnection
betweenTelevision
TelevisionandandThe
TheVelvet
Velvet Underground.
goesshambling introvert.
beyond any musicalwe share"If youyoubelieve
believeininyourself,
yourself,people
peopleusuallyusually attack
attackyou,"defendingmusicalconnection,connection, althoughalthough IIthink
thinkweshare thethe samesame sortsort“Ifyou,” hehe says, defending
himself
energy. New
NewYork
Yorkisisa reallya really
concentratedmicrocosm
microcosm of
ofemotions,emotions, you
youof energy.
concentrated
himself against
againstthese
thesecharges,
charges,most
mostofofwhichwhichhave
havebeen
beenmademadebybyhis
hisformerand atmosphere.
atmosphere. The
deal mostly
mostlywith
know, andThe songs do deal
with atmosphere,
atmosphere,yes;
yes;former associateassociateRichard
RichardHell.
Hell.
“ThoseRichardsaid
said about
aboutmemewhenwhenhehe quitquit thetheband,"band,”"Those are thethe things
things Richard
think that’s
that's what
what art
art is all
allabout…
about...
I think
headds wearily,
wasn't for"Like, on
on stage,stage, you
youdon’t
don't have
have ideas
ideas so much
much as feelings;
feelings; a sense
sense of
“Like,
he adds
wearily, obviously
obviouslytired
tiredofofthe
thefeud.
feud."It's“It’sspiteful.
spiteful.IfIf it wasn’t
me, Richard
Richard Hell would
would never
never have
havehadhad hishisnamename inin thethe papers.
papers. He wasn’t
wasn'twhat's happening
happening aroundthink that’s
that's an
an important
important part
part of thethewhat’saroundyou. I think
performance,
abouttoto go startgroup.HeHe justjust hadabout
start a rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll group.
had a friend
friend who
who played
playedperformance, responding
responding to thethe atmosphere…
atmosphere... andand every performance
performance
guitar.
couldn't possibly
other band.
band. We letlethimhim
should besome attemptattempt tobeyond yourself,
get inintouchtouchwithwithshouldbe sometogo beyond
yourself, or get
guitar. He couldn’t
possibly have
have played
played inin any otherplaywith
hoped thatthat he'd
improve musicallydeveloped.
something beyond
experience.
somethingbeyondyourself.
yourself.To
Toenterenteraatotally
totallynew
newfieldfield of experience.
play withus
us andand we hoped
he’d improvemusically as we developed.
“To
Eventually we decided
decided thatthat we needed
better.
Eventuallywe
needed someone
someone better.
"Tome,
me,that’s
that's what
what life
lifeisisall
allabout,
about,too.
too.AnAnopportunity
opportunity toto enjoy
enjoynewnew"I'm sure
sure thatthat there
there areexperiences. And
it's all tied
tied together…
together... music,
experiences.
And it’smusic, writing,writing,living...
living…It's
It’sallall“I’m
are otherotherpeople
peoplewho
whosharesharethatthatimage
imageofof me.
me. TheThekindpeople thatthat hang
People thatthat I've
never said
said a word
about experience,experience, learning,learning, growing.
about
growing.
kind of people
hangaroundaroundCBGB.
CBGB. People
I’ve never“I
we’re going
going to be restricted,
to. And because
because I don’t
don't gogooveroverandandtalk
talktotothem,
them,they
theystart
starttotothink
thinkthat
that"I knowknowthatthat asas we
webecome
become more
more successful
successful we'rerestricted,
you'rebeing aloof andand distant.
distant. But
I'm not the kind of person
person who
who enjoys
enjoyssomething so abstract
abstract that
can't really think
think about
about it ininbut success is somethingthat I can’t
you’re being
But I’mthatsocialising."
specific terms.
figure out
out aa way
wayof
ofcircumventing
circumventing thethespecific
terms.We'll
We’ll just have to figurethat kindkindof socialising.”
restrictions…
It’ssort
sortofofaa problem
already.”
It is,
is,ininfact,fact,notnotdifficult
difficulttotoimagine
imagineVerlaine’s
Verlaine'smannermannerantagonisingantagonising
restrictions... It's
problem already."
those
about him,
his polite
politethose who
who might
might test
test his
his tolerance.
tolerance.There
Thereisis about
him,for all his
calm,
impatient air;
CCTHEREWASNOTHING
beforeTelevision,"asserts
asserts thethecalm, anan impatient
air; talking
talkingabout
abouthishisadolescenceadolescencein
inDelaware,
Delaware,for
hErE waS
NOthINg
beforeTelevision,”
instance,hehe expresses
expresses anan intoleranceinmodest,quietly humorous
humorousRichard
RichardLloyd,
Lloyd, who forms, withinstance,
intolerance of thethe provincial
provincial atmosphere
atmosphere inmodest, quietly
with
which
up.He
Hemissedmissedininthatthatenvironment
environment thethe excitement
excitement andandVerlaine,one
one ofofthe
themostmostexciting
exciting electric
electric guitar
guitarwhich he grew up.
Tom Verlaine,
artistic
partnerships everalways had
had this
this feelingfeelingthat
thatthere
there
artisticactivities
activitiesthat
thatheheimagined
imaginedwould
wouldaboundaboundin,in,say,say,NewYork.
New York.
partnerships
evertoto hithit this
this planet.
planet. "I“I always
Indeed, such
such was his impatience
anddesiredesireto
to becomebecome part
partofof a more
was only going toIndeed,impatience and
more
to be
be oneone groupgroup thatthat I’d
I'd getget into
into andand thethe vibe would
would bebeexcitingthat he-tail itit out
Delawareright. Television was thethe only group. Is thethe only
only group.”group."
exciting world
world that
he decided
decidedthat
thathehewould
wouldhighhigh-tailout of Delaware
right.
andatthe
theearliest
earliestopportunity.
opportunity.
would ask
askus
usto
tobelieve
believethat
thathishismusicalmusical career
career began,
began, at thethe ageand into
into NewYork
New York at
Lloyd would
Richardwhen Verlaine, thenRichard Hell had
had been
been living aayear
yearininthe
thecity
citywhenVerlaine,
then 17
two, with
with thethe tentative
tentative exploration-key plastic
plasticof two,explorationofofthe
thesoundsoundofofaa24
24-keyyears
moved into
into his
his apartment.
apartment. "Itpiano, theyears old, moved“Itwaswasan
anexciting
excitingtime.
time.ItItwas
wasaa
piano,
the property
propertyof
ofhis
hisparents:
parents:"Then,“Then,one
oneday,day,oneoneofof thethekeys
keys broke.
broke.
great experience,experience, meeting
meeting people
had aacertain
certain atmosphere
atmosphere about
about
demolished it. My
Myparents
parents wouldn’t
wouldn't replace
people who had
So IIdemolishedreplaceit."it.”
themthat
thatyou
you just
just didn't
didn’tfind
findinin Delaware."
Delaware.”His interest
theminterest inin music,
music, thereafter,
thereafter, waned
waned considerably.
considerably. He makes
makes itit
had, at
at thethe time,time, vague
vague plans
plans forforforming
forming aaband,
band, althoughalthough he had noemphatically clearthat he was not
notparticularly
particularly enamoured
enamoured of
He had,emphatically
clear thatof the white
specific
about themusic hehe would
would pursue.
pursue. “That"That was
was thetheAmericanthe early ’60s
'60s thatthat daily infiltrated
infiltrated his
specific ideas
ideas about
thestylestyle of music
Americanpop
popmusic
musicofof thehis life,
first idea
idea I had,”“butwhen
whenIIgot
got totobouncingover
over thethe airwaves
airwaves inin his native
firsthad," hehe continues,
continues, "butbouncing
NewYork,
the placeplace just
just excited
excited memesosomuchmuchthatthat
Pittsburgh,
New York, thePittsburgh,and,
and,later,
later,NewJersey,
New Jersey,where
wherehishis
I didn’t
didn't think
think seriously about
about doing
doing anything.
anything.
parents
parentsmoved
movedwhenwhenhehewas
was17.
17.
“I
I was
was just
justtaking
taking inineverything;
everything; I didn’t
didn't startstart"I thought
thought it was all
all incredibly
incredibly dull. The radio
writing
couple ofyears after
there."
wasslush. It
Itwas,
was,atatleast,least,something
something to
was full of slush.
towritingfor
for aa coupleof years
afterII got there.”
Although,admits, hehe waswasinfatuatedinfatuatedlistenhated mostlistento,
to, but
butII hated
mostofofit."
it.”
Although, as he admits,
The American
releaseof thewith New
York, hewith
NewYork,
hewas
wasdiscriminating
discriminatingenoughenoughAmerican release
the early Beatles
to recognise
recognise thethe superficiality
superficiality of much
much that
that
andalbums excitedand Stones
Stones albums
excited him
him rather
rathermore,
more, hehesurroundeddifferent
recalls
inclination was toward
toward drums,
drums,
surroundedhim.
him."There“Therewere
werelotslotsofof different
recalls (his first inclinationcliques,” he remembers.
“Peopleseem
seemtotoformform
and he remembers
bashingaway in aabasementcliques,"remembers. "People
andremembers bashingbasement
schools
the poets
poets would
would
toMeet The
TheBeatles
BeatlesandandthetheStones’
Stones' 1212x5),
schools there
therevery
veryfast.
fast. Like all theto Meetx 5), but it
get together
together in various groups, andand develop
was the first albums
albums bybyHendrix,
andHendrix,thetheFloyd andsimilar styles and share
the Dead that
him to learn guitar.
similarshare thethe samesame ideas and thethethat inspired
inspired him
same"Those records
samegirlfriends.
girlfriends.IIdon't
don’tknow
knowifif incest
incestisis thethe“Thoserecordstookme
took mefor
foraaloop,"loop,”hehesays,
says,
right
tothe
the point
point where
where everyone
everyone
as if recallingrecalling some
some momentous
momentous event.
right word,
word, but
but it got toevent."It“It wason thethroughthose
thoserecords
recordsthat
thatII firstwas just patting
patting each
each other
other onthethroughback andand congratulating
congratulating eachotherdiscovered
each otherdiscoveredreal
realelectric
electricmusic."
music.”
all thethe time.”
time."
Simultaneously, hedrawn toSimultaneously,
he was drawn
He hasvision, he
blues guitarist
like Elmore
Elmore James,
James,
has still
stillaaromanticromanticvision,
blues
guitarist likeconfesses:
remains forhim a city
Buddy
JBHutton
Huttonandand Johnny
Johnnyconfesses: it remains
for himBuddy Guy, JB
of intrigue,
intrigue, mystery andand a strange
strange
ShinesShines (an(an associateassociateofof Robert
beauty. Indeed,much of theJohnson): “Whenup anbeauty.
Indeed, muchthe music
music
Johnson):"When you pick
pickupon
Marquee Moon
Moon betrays
betrays this
this
instrument,
start
on Marquee
instrument,you've
you’vegot
got to start
infatuation
there'ssomeplace,"
explains, “and"and blues
infatuationwith
withthethecity: there’s
someplace,” he explains,a romanticromantic evocation
licks are some of thethe easiest
easiest places
places »»evocationof the“T

HISTORY OF
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |I 87
87

gus stewart / getty"We let“We
RichardRichard Hellplay with
with usand hoped
he’d
he'd improve”
improve"

1977
1977

J U NEaAPRILp r il – JNNE

Michael Putland/getty

March2L1977iTelevisionMarch
21, 1977: Televisionperform atYork'sperformat New
New York’s
Bottom Line
Lineclub
Bottomclub-

to start
start from. But IIdidn’t
didn'treally
reallyconcentrateconcentrate on
on developing
developing thethe influence
influenceof thosethose people.”
people."Inevitably, hehe attempted
attempted to start
start a series ofofbands;
bands; every
everyattempt,
attempt,
however,an abortive
abortive failure,
just playing
playing my guitar
guitarhowever, was an
failure,heheclaims.
claims."I“I waswas just
andand s who’d
who'd play
andwaiting
waitingfor
forthetheright
rightgroup.
group.I'd
I’dputputtogether
togetheraafew
fewbbandsmaybe one
one gig and
But I hadmaybe
and disappear.
disappear. But
had nono plans
plans forforanyanyof
ofthem,them,because
becauseI knew
knew thatthat they
theyweren't
anywhere."
weren’t going
going anywhere.”
drifted to
to Boston,
Boston,jamming
jamminginfrequently
infrequentlywith
bands
He driftedwith various
various local bands-– he does
does notnotcarecaretotomention
mentiontheir
theirnames
names-before
returning forshort– before returning
for a short
time
YorkCity.
City.“One"Onedaydayl
wentout
outforfora
sandwich, came
came backtimetoto New
New York
I wenta sandwich,backtotowhere
was living
livingandandfoundfound thatthat mymyguitar
guitar had
had been
been stolen. The only
only
where I wasclothes I hadcase, soso I had
that,forforclothes
had were in thethe guitar
guitar case,
had nothing.
nothing. I figured
figured that,once
was unencumbered
unencumbered bybyanyp
oss es sions. So
once inin my
my life, I was
any possessions.
SoII went
wenttoto
California.
year.IIdidn’t
didn'thave
haveaaguitar
guitarfor
forsixsixmonths,
months,until
until
California.Just
Just split
split for aa year.
I raisedraised enoughenough moneytomoney tobuy
buyoneonein
inSan
San Francisco."
Francisco.”began to practise
practise on
guitar-–"all
There he beganon his guitar“allday
dayandandallall nightnightformonths"strategy formonths”-–perfecting
perfectingan
anindividual
individualstyle.
style.He
He hadhad nono specificspecific strategy
discovering compatible
compatiblemusiciansmusiciansand
andforming
formingaabandbandatatthis
thistime.
time.As
As he
discoveringsays, he waswas carefully
carefully biding
biding his
his time,time, waiting
waiting forforthetheright
rightcircumstances
circumstances
inwhichband possessedandin whichto
tocommit
commithimself
himselfto
toaa band
possessedofof thethe vision andoriginalityfor
for whichoriginality
which he was searching.
searching.
1974,Richard
Richardwas
wasbackbackininNew
NewYork,livingininChinatown
Chinatown with
with Terry
In 1974,
York, living
Ork (later(later totobecome
become patron
patron andwho oneone nightnight
and manager
managerofof Television), who
persuadedhim
himto
totrundle
trundledown
downtotoaaclub
clubcalled
calledReno
RenoSweeney's
Sweeney’sto
to seeseepersuadeda guitarist
guitarist called
whowaswasthenthen performing
performing as a solo
soloartist
artistcalledTom Verlaine, who
following the relative disintegration
disintegration of
ofthe
theNeon
Neon Boys.
Verlaine, Lloyd
Lloydremembers,
remembers, played
played three
three songs,
songs, including
including early
earlyversions"Venus"andand“Double"DoubleExposure”
Exposure" (the(the latterlatter has
has yetyetto
toappearappearversions of “Venus”
on record,
record, thoughthough aa demo
demo tape,tape,recorded
recordedwith
withBrian
BrianEno,
Eno, exists).
exists).
Lloyd wasVerlaine, andafter a brief conversation
wasenthralled
enthralled bybyVerlaine,
and after
conversation it was
clear to both
both thatthat they sharedshared similar
thought
similar ideas
ideas andand concepts:
concepts:"I“I just thought
thatthat there
therewaswas something
somethingabout
aboutwhat
whatTomTomwaswasdoing
doingthatthatwaswasright.
right.ItIt
struck a responsive
chord.We got
tostruckresponsive chord.
gottogether
together andand played, andand started
started toworkon ideas
ideas for Television.
Television.
work on"Atthatthat time
time we
we didn’t
didn't have
have a specificspecific idea
idea of what
what we’d
we'd soundsound like. It waswas“At
we’d play anda madhouse;madhouse; we'dand writhe
writhe on thethe floor
floorwithwithourourguitars,
guitars, stand
stand onon
ourheads andour heads
andlaughlaughhysterically."hysterically.”
recalls Television rehearsing
rehearsing forhours aa day, five days
days
Lloyd recalls
forat
at least
least six hours
a week, during
during this
this period:
realised that
period:"We“We all realised
thatwewe hadhad toto improve.
improve.If
you realise
realise thatthat youyouarearenotnottechnicallytechnicallyproficient
an instrument,
instrument,
proficient on anthat
thethatshouldn't
shouldn’tstop
stopyou
youfrom
fromplaying.
playing.But
Butyouyouhavehavetoto be
be awareawareof thelimitationsof
of not being proficient.
limitations
HISTORY OF
OF ROCK88 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
SS"Mg MalFAM.rw-"Youhave
havetotoneedneedtotoplayplaytotospend,spend,like,
like,four
fourororfivefiveyears
yearslearninglearningabout
about
“You
your instrument.
instrument. You
constantly. You
have to be
your
Youhavehavetotoworkworkatat itit constantly.
You havededicated.
Like, there
dedicated. Like,
there must
must be aa million
million guitarists
guitarists andand a million
million bands,
bands,and ifyou're
heard asand beand
if you’regoing
going toto be
be heard
as an
an individual
individualyou've
you’vegot
gotto
toworkwork andbeprepared tothing
preparedto spend
spendall
all thatthat time
time learning.
learning.II mean,
mean,it's
it’s not the kind of thing
you caninto casually."casually.”
can venture
venture into
extraordinary empathy
and himself,
himself,
The extraordinary
empathy that
thatexists
exists between
between Verlaine and
Lloydasserts,
asserts, cancan bebeattributed
attributed to this period
period of intensive
intensive rehearsal,
rehearsal,
Lloydthoughthatonon stage especially, theirthough he emphasises
emphasises that
their musicalmusical relationshiprelationship
bynow
nowan
anintuitive
intuitive affair.
affair.
is by
he says,says,somesomesongs
songsduring
during which
which hehewillwilltaketakethetheprincipal
principal
There are, hesolos aswhere Verlaine andas aamattermatter ofofexpediency;
expediency; then
then there
there are others
others whereandwillsimply
simplyrealise
realisethat
thatoneoneor
orthe
theotherotherhas
hasthethemomentum
momentum to
to carrycarry
he willthrough an
guitarist twill easethroughan unscheduledunscheduledsolo,
solo,in
in whichwhich case the other guitarist
back
role.
b acktotoaasecondary
secondaryrole.
"Ifwe
wehadn’t
hadn't spent
spent thatthat time
time together,”
together," he says, “we"wewouldn’t
wouldn't know
know
“Ifwhat we were
were playing.
playing.Of
Ofcourse
courseititwas
wasan
animportant
important time.
time. There’s
There's never
never
what
been
any ego problems;
been any
problems; we both
both have enoughenough to play totokeepkeepususbothbothhappy as guitarists.”
guitarists."
happy

FRED
SMITH,who
WHOcontributes
contributesthethesinuous
sinuousbasslines
basslinesthat
that
red Smith,underpinunderpinthe
theguitar
guitaradventures
adventuresofofTom
TomVerlaine
Verlaine andand Richard
Richard
Lloyd, admits
admits that60 sthatthatthatitit was
was thethe British
British bands
bandsofof thethemid-'mid-’60s
first inspired
him toto play rock’n’roll.
inspired him
rock'n'roll.

F

Lloyd,heheconfesses
confessesto
tofindingfindinglittle
littleabout
about which
which totoenthuse
enthuse in
Like Lloyd,
American
immediatelypriortransatlantic ascendancy
American music immediately
priortoto the transatlantic
ascendancyofof TheBeatles, Rolling
who heRollingStones,
Stones,Kinks
Kinksand
andTheTheZombies
Zombies–-who
heremembers
remembers withparticular affection-whose
profound influence
influence
particularaffection – whoseindividual
individualstyles
styleswere
wereaa profoundtheAmericanon theAmericanbands
bandsformed
formedinin thethe slipstream
slipstreamofof their success.
He recalls,
recalls, withwithamusement,
amusement, his early high-school
high-school bands
bands like thethe Poor
Poor
Boysandand thethe Auroras,
Auroras,whose
whoserespective
respectiverepertoires
repertoires consisted
consisted ofofversions,Boysversions,
ofcurrent
current chart
chart hits
hits (usually(usuallyBritish
invariably inept, of
British records, heremembers),
and later, psychedelic extravaganzas“and anything
weremembers), andextravaganzas "andanything we
could figure
used tocould
could
figureout
outhow
howto
toplay.
play. We just used
to copy
copy everybody.
everybody.IfIf wewe could
playit,played it no mattermatter what
play
it, wewe playedwhatitit was."
was.”
He played“rhythmguitar.
guitar.IInever
never played
played lead. I couldn’t
playedguitar
guitar thenthen-–"rhythm
couldn't
playfastars agoafter failing anplayfast enough"enough” -and
– andonly
onlyturned
turnedtotobass
basssixye
six years
ago after
audition for
as aaguitarist.
guitarist.
audition
foraa gig as“Ibeenininaa group
groupforfor awhile;a while;I'dI’dsortsortofof given
get thethe"I hadn’t
hadn't been
given up.
up. I couldn’t
couldn't get
guitarist's gig;
playing again,
again,
guitarist’s
gig; thethegroupgroupjustjustwanted
wantedaabass
bassplayer.
player.II felt like playing
gotaaleft-handed
left-handedJapaneseJapanese bass
bass andand turned
turned it upside
upside down
down andso IIgot
and I liked
it. ItItwas
waslikelikelearninglearningaawhole
wholenewnewinstrument.
instrument.

television
TELEVISION“It
Video. I playedwith themthemforforaa
as much.
"It waswas withwith aa group
group called
called Captain
Captain Video.
played withmuch. Nevertheless,
Nevertheless, hehe responds
responds politely,
politely,withwithcharm
charmandandhumour,humour,while;
was aroundaround 1971. Leon
LeonRussell
Russellwas
and wewehad
had anan organorgan
questions about
about his personal
personal andwhile; it was
was big andto questions
and musicalmusical history.
player,did aalot
lotof
ofhis
hisnumbers.
numbers. ItItwas
wasnothingnothing special,
special, but
didn'tA friend
friend ofofTom
TomVerlaine
Verlainesince
since1965
1965(they(theyattended
attendedthe
thesamesamehighhighschool
schoolplayer, so we did
but I didn’tcare. Wein Delaware),playing drums
drumsfromfromthetheageageofof12. Althoughcare.
Wecould’ve
could'veplayed
playedanything
anything andand it wouldn’t
wouldn't have
have botheredbothered me
Delaware), Ficca has been
been playing
Althoughbecausejust learninglearning how
Atthethetimetime IIdidn’t
didn't even
even think
think
the inevitable
inevitable series of high-school
high-school rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll bands,
bands, his
becauseII was
was just
howto
to play. At
he played in the
his
about
wanted tohear fromthe bass.
principal interest
music hehe foundfound weak
weakandandanaemic.
anaemic. He
He
about what
what I wanted
to hearfrom thebass.
principal
interestwas
was jazz.
jazz. Pop music“When
playingI wondered
listened
intentlyto
to hishis father'sfather’scollection
collectionofof GeneGene Krupa"When I first
first started
started playing
wondered ifif I should
should soundsound like thethe guy
listened intently
Krupa records.
records. His
fromorMcCartney.
McCartney.IIjust
justplayed
playedwhat
whatsoundedsoundednatural
natural andandbrother played trumpet
trumpet andfrom The Byrds orbrotherandwaswas anan admirer
admirerof Maynard Ferguson,
comfortable.
sounded rightplayed it.
it.IIdidn’t
didn'tsit
sitaroundaround andand study
study
drummer, Rufus Jones, heheremembers
remembers asasananadolescentadolescentinfluence.
influence.
comfortable.If
If it soundedright I played
whose drummer,
the styles
styles of any
to have theirstyles“Jazz“It was very strong.
the
any otherother bass
bass players.
players. I didn’t
didn't want
want totheir styles"Jazz wasn’t
wasn't a meek
meek music,”
music," he asserts.
asserts. "Itstrong. I got
gottiredtired ofofcrammedlot ofofrock’n’roll.
ro ck'n'roll.I Icould
couldnever
neverfindfindanything
anything to listen
listen to on
on thethe radio,
radio,
crammedinto
into me.
a lot"I'm not thethe kindkind of person
pers onwho
whoputs
putsononaarecord
recordand
and listens
listens toto thetheone Baltimore
Baltimore station
station thatthat playedofold
oldjazz“I’m
except for one
played a lot ofjazz –-Django
DjangoReinhardt,
KingOliver,
Oliver,some
someLeLeadbelly.
bass
listen totothethegroup.
group.I’m
I'mmoremoreinterested
interested inin songs
songs than
than
Reinhardt, Kingadbelly.
bass player. I listen
instrumentalists.
limitations.
"The first
first bands
bands I played
played in did
did mostly
mostly Stones
Stones numbers
numbers -–R&B,
that
“The
R&B, that
instrumentalists.The
Thebass
bassasasan
aninstrument,
instrument,IIfind,
find,has
hasitsits limitations.
The bass players I likelikearearesubtle
subtleandandplay
playthings
that fit the song.
kind of thing.
thing. Then
Then there
there was-out period,”
period," he laughs.
laughs.
things thatkind
was thethe freakfreak-out“I“Everybody
took LSD andplayed27
27-minutesongs inin
"I don’t
don't like
like totohearhear bass
bass players
players thatthat really stick out.
out. Like,
Like,someone
someone like
like"Everybody took
and got
got stoned
stoned andand played-minute songs
Bill Wyman
Wyman you
you don’t
don't notice
notice at first,
first, but
but ififyou
yousuddenly
suddenly catch
catch what
what he’s
he's
double time.
free then.
then. Everything
Everything was
doubletime.Music
Music waswas so freewasswept
sweptaway
away andandwe
weplayingspine because
because it's
started fromprettyweird.
playing it'll
it’ll send
send aa chill up your spine
it’ssoso right."
right.”
startedfrom scratch
scratchagain.
again.Everybody
Everybody got pretty
weird.People
People mellowed
mellowed
Before joiningout in thejoining Television in 1975
1975(when(when hehereplaced
replaced Richard
Richard Hell),the end, though.”though."Smithwith Blondie’s
Blondie's Deborah
Deborah Harry,
Harry, first
first in a band
band called
called The
wasduring
during this
this period
period that
had
Smith playe
playedd withThe
It wasthathehefirstfirstplayed
playedwith
withVerlaine.
Verlaine. They
They had
Stilettoes,
then inthe original
original Blondie. The
The Stilettoes
Stilettoes featured
featured three
three girlbeen introduced
introduced bymutual friend and discovered thatthat they sharedshared thethe
Stilettoes, thenin thebeen
by a mutual
singers andandFredFredfoundfoundthat
thatfun.
fun.ItItwas
wasatat thethetimetimethat
thatthetheNewYork
New YorkDolls,
Dolls,
same
tastes andandinfatuations:infatuations:"We“Wegot
got together,”singers
same musicalmusical tastes
together," he recalls,
recalls, “and
"and
those
Yorkscene,
scene,were
werebeing
beingrecognised
recognised
crazy stuff
stuffwithprettyfar
atthosetragic
tragicfigures
figuresofof thethe New
New York
played some crazywith different
different people.
people. It was pretty
far out.
out. Not atinternationally,
with glitter
glitter andand outrage
outrage combos
comboscommercial.
internationally,and
andNYC
NYC was alive withall commercial.
hoping to emulate
the Dolls'
Dolls’ success.
“We
work, youhopingemulate the"Wecouldn’t
couldn't get
get any
anywork,
you know.
know.There
Thereweren’t
weren'ttoo
toomany
manypeople
people"It waswasallallglitter
glitterbands,”
bands,"Smith
Smithrecalls,
recalls,“That’s"That's what
what waswashappening.
happening. It
Delaware interested
interested inthat kindcrazymusic.
justrehearsed,
rehearsed,“It
in Delawarein thatkind of crazymusic. We justwas
lot ofoffun.
fun.ItItwas
wasexciting.
exciting.There
Therewere
wereallallthese
thesegroups
groups forming
forming on
thematerial andourselves really. Then
Then thatthat
was a loton theworked out some material
andplayed
playedfor ourselves
Lower East side. There
was CBGB
CBGB andwasdisintegrated
andI Idid
didaacouple
coupleofof gigs with a kind
Lower
There wasand ClubClub 82
82opening.
opening. There
There wasdisintegrated andkind ofofbluesbluesgroup
group withwithsomethinghorns, yousomethinghappening.
happening.ItItwas
wasmoremorefunfunthatthatmusic.
music.TheThe Stilettoes,
Stilettoes, likehorns,
you know.
most
the otherother groups,
groups, were
wereprobably
prob ablymore
moreinto
intopresentation
presentationthan
than"Played with
with a couple
couple of bands
bands like that.
that. Soulmost of the“PlayedSoul bands,
bands,really.
really.II enjoyedenjoyedit.
it.
music,butbutthethegirls
girlswrote
wroteaafew
fewgoodgoodsongs.
songs.IIenjoyedenjoyedit."it.”
We played
Delaware…then
thenTomTominvitedinvitedme
metotoNew
NewYork.
York.
music,
played mostly
mostly aroundaround Delaware...
original Blondie lineup
lineup he describes
describes as
sketch ofofthe
thegroupgroupthat
that
and Richard
Richard Hellwere trying
trying to
The originalas a sketch
He andHell were
to form
formaa band.
band.Yeah,
Yeah, thethe Neon
NeonBoys. Just
touredworked a lot
the three
three of us. It
Itneverneverreally
reallyevolved
evolvedinto
intoanything.
anything.
touredhere
herewith
withTelevision.
Television."It“Itwaswasrougher,"rougher,”hehesays.
says."We“We worked
theand just
just hoped
hopedthatthatsomething
somethingwould
woulddevelop.
develop.ItItdid
dideventually,
eventually,but
butI'dI’d“We
Therewere
were nono realreal gigs. Nothing
wasand"Wespent
spent allallourour timetime rehearsing.
rehearsing. There
Nothing wasleft by thatthat time.
time.
happening, andhappening,
andaafriend
friendofof mineminefrom
fromDelaware
Delawareinvitedinvitedmemeto
to joinjoin thisthis"We were
wereaalittle
littleerratic,
erratic,youyouknow.
know.We
Wehad
hadthisthisdrummer
drummer who
who kept
kept
Theywerekind ofofpop/soul/blues/funkpop/soul/blues /funk group.
seemed that“We
group. They
were a kindgroup.It seemedthat itpassing out,
out, he'd
he’d just
just collapse.
A weakguy.
guy. Kept passing
might
befun,
fun,sosoII wentpassingcollapse.Aweak
passing out all thethe time.
time.
might bewent off for maybe
maybe a year. I played
played mymy final
final gig
gigwith
with"We used
used toopen forgigs, andand I liked
liked them
them aa lot
andthem in
was atatthe
the endend ofofthe
thesummer
summer andand we decided
decided totake“We
to openfor Television
Televisionat
ataa lot
lot of gigs,
lot andthemin Cape
Cape Cod.
Cod. It was
to take
I knew
knew allalltheirtheir songs,
songs,andand thenthen TomTomasked
askedmemeto
tojoinjointhem
thembecause
becausevacation. We just
just never
never got backback together
together again."a vacation.
again.”
By
Richard waswas onon hisRichardhis way out.
out. IIknew
knewthatthat IIhad
hadto
togo
goon
onand
anddo
dosomething
something
Bythisthistimetime Verlaine
Verlaineandand HellHellhadhadenlisted
enlisted thethe talenttalent of Richard
Richard Lloyd,
new, andand joining
joining Televisionsomething new,and onreturn to
Ficcacompletedcompleted thethe original
original Televisionandon hishis return
toNew
New York,
York, Ficca
Television was something
new,aa challenge.
challenge.II had
had toto join,you
know."
lineup: "Tomideas for thethe band.
band. I think
think I'dlineup:“Tom alreadyalreadyhad
hadaalot
lot of ideas
I’d have
have toto sayyou know.”thatwhat we're
we’re doing
to do
Television’sin America andTelevision'sescalation
escalationtotoprominence
prominenceand
andpopularity
popularityinAmerica
andthat what
doing now is similar
similar toto whatwhat we
wewereweretrying
tryingto
dothen.
then.
Europecasually by Smith;
Smith; having
having struggledNewand been
been refined.
course, we’re
we're all more
more
The ideas have evolved andrefined.And,
And, of course,
Europe is viewed casually
struggledfor
forso
so long in New
York,heisisnot
noteasily
easilyinfatuatedinfatuated by thethe group’sgroup's
proficient,proficient, individually,
individually,thanthanwewewerewerethen.
then.We
We
York, heunderstandeacheachotherotherand
andwe're
we’recloser
closernow.
now.
presentsuccess,success, andandthethepersonal
personalglory
glory thatthatwillwill
present
understandinevitably
than
Wecan
cananticipate
anticipate thethe direction
direction someone
someone might
might
inevitably attend
attendthat
thatsuccesssuccesshe
heisis less thanenamouredsuddenly follow andand we cancan go after
after him.
him.
suddenly
enamouredof.
of."I'm“I’mjust
just enjoying
enjoyingplaying,"
playing,” hehe“Butsame.WeWe neverThe wholesays simply. “I’m
"I'm enjoying
enjoying touring.
touring. The
whole"But thethe energy
energy is still thethe same.
neverthing.
it.ItIthasn’t
hasn't been
been asas hardhard as IIhad
hadbeen
been
wantthat energy.
all think
think it’s
it's
wanttoto loselose thatenergy. We allthing.II like it.
told
would be. It
It isn’t
isn't easy,
easy,but
but hotel
hotel rooms
rooms areessential to keep
keep that,
that, because
because it’s
it's something
somethingessential
told it would
the audienceaudiencecan
canrespond
respondto.
to.Like
Likewhenwhenyou
youfirst
first
better thanthanmymy ownown apartment,
apartment,youyouknow."know.”
bettertheismodestmodestabout
about hishisownowncontributions
contributions
hear
might sound,sound, you
know... aa little
littlehear usus it might
you know…
He is
to Television’s
Television's uniqueunique sound:
different, a little strange.
strange. II mean,
mean, II listen
listen tolot
different,
to a lotsound:"Jesus,"“Jesus,” hehe saysofmusic, so ititallwhen theis posed.
when
the question
question isposed. “I"I think,
think, moreofcrazy
crazymusic,
allsounds
soundsnatural
natural to me,
me,butbutthanthe
I think
think it might
might soundsound a little weird toto someone
someonethananything,anything,II contributecontributeto
tothe
thetimetimeof the
band.
time for thethe whole
whole band
band toto enable
enablehearing
the first
time. It's
obvioushearingus
usfor
for thefirst time.
It’s not obvious
band.I keep timemusic. It’s
RichardandandTomTomto
to go off on
Richardon solossoloswheneverwhenevermusic.
It's notnot straight-aheadstraight -ahead rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll boogie
andtheor whatever.
whatever. At
Atthe
thesamesame time
time it’s
it's still
still very
very
orand whereverwherever theywant
they wanttotogo.
go.II keep thebottoman
physical music.
can shift
physicalmusic.It
It canshift you.
you. Itbottomtogether.
together.Yeah,
Yeah, like an
TH& HT M 5 PRfUNT5
doesn’t
just aim
aimforfor theanchor. It’sanchor.
It's important.
important.
doesn't justthe head.
head.
"When I heard
heard thethe record
the"The music
music has
has everything,
everything, I hope:
“The
“When
recordfor
for thefirst time,
time, I could
could hear
hear how
how muchmuchhumour, anger,
eauty andandhumour,anger,love,
love, bbeauty
tears.
the bandbandhadhad`developed'."‘developed’.”thetears. It should
should combine
combine every
emotion.And
musicians,
emotion.
Andwe,
we, as musicians,
ILLYFicca,
FICCA,aAdrummer
drummershould be
express those
those
shouldbe able to express
illy
emotions.
whose individual
whose
individual styleemotions. II said thatthat I didn’t
didn't want
want usmarked by a rare
rare
the energy
energy of thethe
to lose any of theis marked
exuberance
original band,
band, but
but I think
think technique
techniqueoriginal
exuberanceand,and,occasionally,occasionally, byis very
intensity,is,
is, off stage,a ferocious
ferocious intensity,
stage,
veryimportant.
important. I mean,
mean, I cancan hearhear
surprisingly nervous, unassuming
unassuming
sounds andsoundsandtextures
texturesin
inmy
my head,head,
andand it requires
requires technique
technique andandand skilland more
morethanthanaalittle
littleshy.
shy.AnAn
to get themout.”Allan
initial encounter,encounter, at
at least, suggests
initialthem out."
Jones•
Allan Jones“When"When youfirst hear
hear us
us it
might
might sound,you know…
know... astrange"little strange”

13B

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HAMMERSMITH ODEONSATURDAYOWN, C4,101 INVI

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKHISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 |I 89
89

THE HISTORY OFK
TheThe History
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chronicle of thethe music
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THE CLASH'" We ain't ashamed to fight"

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Readers’
Readers' letters
MM JAN-JUN
JAN-JUN AAGenesis
Genesibfan
ION
laments,
McLarentelegramsand
andStrummer
Strummerexplains.
explains.
MMlaments,
McLarentelegrams
Etymology inEtymology
in thethe UK
UK

Itseems
seemsstrange
strange that,
that, with
with thetheIt
exception of aa brief
briefmention
mention by
exception
Michael Watts,
Watts,nonoone
onehashasactuallyactually
Michaelpaid much
much attention
attention toto thetheactual
actualpaid
meaning of thethe word
word “punk”.
"punk".
meaning
havealways
alwaysunderstoodunderstood it to
IIhavemean a young
young man
man who would,
meanwillingly or unwillingly,
unwillingly, submit
submitto analanal intercourse.
intercourse.
toword apparently
apparently had
The word
had itsits
origin inin prison,
prison, where
where thethe victim
victimoriginwas usually unwilling.
unwilling. Thereafter,
Thereafter,
owing totosociety’s
society'speculiar
peculiarowing
double -standard, thethe “punk”"punk"
double-standard,
was aadespised
despisedandandunwanted
unwanted
person,person, similar
similarin
in status
statustoto afemale"tramp". Because
Because no pride
female “tramp”.
ofany
anykindkindcould
couldobviously
obviouslybe
ofbeattached to the term,
term, “punk”"punk" isattached
one thatthat thethe gay
gaycommunity
community has
onenever wanted.
wanted. Interesting?
Interesting?
VALERIE WILMER,WILMER, Balham,
Balham,London (MM(MMJanLondonJan 1)
Genesis: it’s
it's noGenesis:no jokejoke

When it waswas
Whenannounced thatannounced
Peter Gabriel was
leaving Genesis, thethe question
question
uppermostmind
uppermostinin everybody's
everybody’s mind
was: “Can"Can they
they exist
exist without
withouthim?"
indeed, hethehim?” For, indeed,
he was theGenesis image with his
his strange
strangetales, macabre costumes
costumes andandeccentric
eccentric behaviour
behaviouron
on stage.
twoalbums
albums later,
later, they
they
Now, two
have shown
shown thatthat they
are capable
capablethey areof producing
producing excellent
music and
and
excellent musica stagestage act
act thatthat stands
stands up without
without
Peter
Gabriel. However, inin doing
doingPeter Gabriel.
so they
theyhavesomething thatthathave lost something
was veryveryimportant
important in creatingthethe first
the Genesis
Genesis "persona"“persona”ofof thefive albums.
albums. They’ve
They've lost their
their
sense
humour.
sense of humour.
Compare tracks"Harold The
Comparetrackslike
like “Harold
Barrel"Supper' s
Barrel” (Nurseiy(Nursery Cryme),"
Cryme), “Supper’s
Ready"and “The"The Battle
BattleReady” (Foxtrot) andOf Epping
Epping Forest”
Forest" (Selling England
EnglandBy
ThePound)Pound)withwithanything
anything fromfrom
By TheTrickOf
OfThe
TheTail
Tailand
andWind
WindAndTrick
And
Wuthering.
use thethe
Wuthering. They
They still use
techniqueputting whimsicaltechniqueof putting
littlestories into
into song, withlittle stories
beautiful,
beautiful, haunting
hauntingmusic,
music, but
therenothing on either
either album
album
there is nothing
to give anyanyrelieftherelief from theseriousness,
times
seriousness,which
which at
at times
becomesagonising.
becomes positively
positively agonising.
I agree that,
that, with
with thethe departure
departureof Gabriel
Gabriel andand their
their reachingreaching thethetop
the “first"first division”,
division", they
they are
top of the
are
bound
more
boundtoto changechange andandgrow
grow moresophisticated.
thissophisticated.However,
However, with thisincreasing
increasingsophistication
sophisticationthey
theyareare
goingstart losing many
manyyounger
going to start
younger

Beatles: oldies
but goldies?
Beatles:oldies but
goldies?

EMIareareto
tocontinue
continue
If EMI
repackaging Beatles material,material,
repackaging
then why don’t
don't they
some
then
they ususee some
initiativeand release
releaseananEP
initiative andconsisting of thetheonly
onlytracks
consisting
tracksotherwise unavailable
unavailable from thetheotherwise
Yellow– “HeyYellowSubmarine
SubmarineLP
LP-"Hey
Bulldog", “Altogether"Altogether Now”,
Now", “Only"Only
Bulldog”,
A Northern
Northern Song"Song”andand"It's“It’sAll
All TooMuch”,
Much", which
which Steve Hillage
Hillagerecently revived?
recordrecently
revived? Such a record
wouldmore useful
useful to thethe fansfanswould bebe morethancollections suchthan haphazard
haphazard collections
Music.
as Rock And Roll Music.
STEVEPARTRIDGE,
PARTRIDGE,ChorltonChorltonSTEVE
Jan 1)
cum-Hardy, Manchester
Manchester (MM(MMJanThe Clash
Clashwrite,
write, right?
right?
The

Right now
you’reon
onaa 31 bus
nowyou'rebus withwithyourlightingup
upaafag.
fag. You
your mate,mate, lighting
noticesome pink
pink-and-black
notice some-and -black
posters
stuckonon a wall inposters stuckin Kilburn.
Kilburn.
You say,
say,“Fuck"Fuckme,me,TheThe Clash
Clash areareplaying thethe Roundhouse
Roundhouse Easterweekend.”weekend." Having sod
sod allallbetterbetterto do, you
youwander
wander down
down theRoundhouse, pay
payyourquid
Roundhouse,
your two quid
and, blimey,
what's this,
Clash
and,
blimey, what’s
this, TheThe Clashandand Subway Sect don’t
don't turn
turn up.
What
What happens?
happens?YouYou getget The
The
Generation X
and hippie
hippieBoys, Generation
X and
JohnCale,Cale,allallon
onaaduff
duffPA.
PA. Being
Being
John
bit ofofaaflashflash sod
sod yourself,
yourself, you
you
a bit
want
wanttoto knowwho'sknow who’sconningconningyou,
you,so heregoes: 1) The
here goes:
The Clash
Clash were
were
contacted tothenever contacted
to play theRoundhouse. 2)
posters andandRoundhouse.
2) Allposters
ads
The Clash
Clash were
were to playads stating
stating The
were crap information.
information.
StaywithandStay withus,
us,wisewise up
up quickquick andkeepfighting.
fighting.See
Seeyouyou soon,
soon,kids.
kids.
keep
JOE
JOESTRUMMER,
STRUMMER,The
TheClashClash(MM, Apr(MM,
Apr 23)23)

Whenread that-BeatlesWhenI read
thatthetheex
ex-Beatles
were attempting
attempting toto stop thereleasean album
album mademade before
release of an
their
their unprecedented
unprecedentedrise
risetotofame,fame,
I felt IIwould
would have
have toto writewrite toexpress my, andand probably
prob ablymany
many
expressother fans’,
fans', feelings on thethe subject.
subject.
other
As IIseeseeit,
it,theytheyarearetryingtrying toto stopstop
thegrounds thatthe disc
disc on the grounds
thatitwould
derogatory to their
theirwould be derogatory
careers. Well, IIcan’t
can't think
think ofcareers.
anything
theiranythingmore
more derogatory
derogatory to theirindividual
individualcareers
careersthan
thanLiving
Living In
Material World (George),(George),
The Material
AtThe
TheSpeed
Speed OfOfSoundSound
Wings At(Paul/Wings) and(Paul/Wings)
andRingo's
Ringo’s

Fors cji? orrice

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BLACKGIVE
SABBATHTECHNICAL

Rotogravure (Ringo).
(Ringo). The
Thereason
reasonsurelysurely can’t
can't be thatthat it would
would kill
kill
sales
sales of
ofthe
theup-and-coming
up-and-coming EMI
live album,
album, because
because why should
shouldany of them
them care, as they
they are nolongersignedto
toEMI!
EMI!
longer signed
I am
am suresure Beatle
Beatle fans
fans
everywhere
everywhere would much
much rather
ratherhave previously unreleased
unreleas ed
songs,(eg, "Falling“FallingIn
InLoveLove Again",
Again”,
songs, (eg,“IYou” and
and"To“To Know"I Remember
RememberYou"
Her Is To
ToLove
LoveHer”)
Her")thanthanalreadyalready
over-released
over -released tracks
tracks (eg, “Ticket"TicketTo Ride”,
Ride",“Can’t"Can't Buy Me
Me Love”
Love" andand“She
"She Loves
Loves You”),
You"), even
even if they
they areareunreleased
unreleased versions.
MICHAEL
RINFOUL, Banholm
Banholm
MICHAEL RINFOUL,
View, Edinburgh
Apr23)
23)
Edinburgh (MM(MMAprsupporters.
Having been
been a fan
supporters. Having
since they
they played thethe Madever sinceat thethe Angel Hotel,
Hotel,
Gin Mill at
Godalming,in thethe early
early days, it
Godalming, insaddens me to think
think thatthat they arearesaddens
that certain
certain eccentricity
eccentricity
losing thatwhich went aalong
long way totomaking
makingwhat they
they areare today.
Genesis what
today.
WREFOD-BUSH, Merrow,
Merrow,
M WREFOD-BUSH,
Guildford,
Jan 15)
Guildford, Surrey (MM(MMJan
is)

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HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK1977
1977 I| 91
91
HISTORY

TS.0 tfis LoalL

1977

July – sep tembersEx
iAn DURY,dUry,
SEX Pistols,
PISTOLS, IAN
booMtown
rAts,
BOOMTOWN RATS,
MArC
bolAn
And MORE
MorE
MARC BOLAN AND

wel ia92
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
92 |I HISTORY
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'Ir.- arc..

llif

4111
August' 18,
8,1977:
August1977: aawhite
white
Cadillac hearse
carrying
9 Cadillac
hearsecarrying
Presley'scasket
Elvis Presley’scasketleavesGraceland
itswayleavesGraceland on its
way
to Forest
Forest Hill
Hill Cemetery
Cemetery in
toinMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis,Tennessee* ti:44.7.1...1111r

1

I

Buried near
Buriednear
ofthe grave
thegrave ofhis motherhismotherMM
MM AUG
AUG 2727 Elvis Presley is laid totheir respects.
rest. Celebrities
Celebrities pay theirrespects.
ELVIS
WASburied
BURIEDlast
lastweek
weekinin thethelvis wasPresley familyfamily vault
vault near
near thethegrave
graveofofhis mother, after dying fromfrom heart
heart
failure.
failure. An estimatedestimated 100,000 fans
fans had
had
passed inpassedin mourningmourningby
by hishis open
open coffin.
coffin.
Among
ay farewellfarewellAmong those
thosewho
whocamecametotossayto a legend
legend were
were actors
actors Burt
Burt Reynolds
Reynolds andandWayne,aaone-time
one-timeco-star
co-star andandJohn Wayne,
friend Ann-Margret
Ann -Margret andand Caroline
CarolinefriendKennedy, daughter
daughter of thethe late President.
President.
The pallbearers
pallbearers at
the funeral
funeral included
at theincluded
Esposito,Presley’s
Presley'sroadroadmanager,
manager, his
his
Joe Esposito,
doctordoctor Dr George Nichopoulos
Nichopoulos andand hisrecord producer,
recordproducer,Felton
Felton Jarvis.
Jarvis. The
service was conductedconducted byserviceby a friend ofPresley’s:
Presley's: Ohio evangelist
evangelist Rex
RexHumbard.
Humbard.

Michael Ochs archives / Getty

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came
rock
HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 93

1977
1977

.

er
JJay_
u ly SEPTEMBER– s e p t em b*.

ti

The Tom robinson
RobinsonThe
at london’s
London's
Band atMarquee club,Club,
Marquee
Octoberi977
october
1977

eBoardroom
drama
Boardroom drama
NME AUG
AUG20
20Musician/activist
Musician/activist
NME
iom Robinson
Tom
Robinson isis signed
signed to
toEMI.
EMI.

"Hewonvin“Headmiration”
admiration"
NME SEPT 24 On
the brink
brink ofNME
On theof aa comeback,comeback,
Bolan isis killedkilled inin aacarcar accident.
accident
Marc Bolan

MARC
BOLAN'S lady,
LADY, Gloriaarc Bolan’s
still notnot been
been told
told ofof
Jones, had stillMforto headline
headline aamajor
major tour
tour
forMarc
Marcandand T Rex toatthe endat theend ofof thetheyear.
year.
EMI Records were planning
to release
releaseplanning to
a compilationcompilation album
albumtitledtitledSolid
SolidGold
GoldTTRex
Rex
October14,
on October
14,consisting
consistingof
ofaa dozen
dozen ofof hishit singles
sing leswhich
which hehe hadhadchosenchosen himself.
himself. The
The
will still
still bebe comingcoming out,
out, but
but it’s
it's possible
possibleLP will
thatthethat thetitle
titlemaymaynownowbe
bechanged,changed, and that
become a commemorative
commemorative set.
it will become
set. Bolan's
Bolan’s
publicist said there
there is “a"afairfairamount”
amount" of new
publicist
T Rex materialmaterial in thethe can,can,thoughthough there
there areimmediate plans
singles.
no immediateplans toto issue
issue any singles.
Bolan's peak
peak was in
in1971-73
when, after
after
Bolan’s
1971-73 when,a relatively
relatively fruitless
fruitless period
period fronting
fronting John'sJohn’sChildren, he and Steve
SteveTook
Tookexpanded
expandedtheir
theirChildren,
Tyrannosaurus Rex duo
duointointo aaquartet
quartet –-andand
T Rex waswasborn.
born.They
had aastring
string of
of No
Noi1
They had"Hot Love",hits with “HotLove”,

his deathon Tuesday,
Tuesday, whenwhenhishis
death onfuneralGolders Green.
funeral took
tookplaceplace at
at Golders
Green. She
was still
still inin shockshockafter
after ananoperation
operation on her
fracturedjaw,
jaw, butwas said to be
fracturedbutwasbe recovering
recoveringand resting
resting comfortably.
comfortably. The
couple's
The couple’s
20-month -old son
being looked
looked20-month-old
son Rolan was being
afterbyby Marc's
Marc’s parents.
afterparents.
Mini in which he
Bolan died when the Mini
was passenger,
passenger, with
with Gloria
Gloria at thethe wheel,crashed into
into a treecrashedtree in Barnes, South-WestSouth-West
London, last Friday morning.
morning. They
wereLondon,They werereturning
returninghome
homeafter
afteraalate
latemealmealatataa WestWest
End
End restaurant
restaurant with
with Gloria’s
Gloria's brother,brother,
Richard Jones,
Jones, who
who waswasfollowing
following behindbehindRichardin his own
own car.
car. The
The crashcrashoccurredoccurred at
at
a notorious
notorious accident
black
spot, on the far
far side"Get It On”,
On","Telegram“Get“Telegram
black spot,ofhump -back bridge
bridge
Sam"and"Metal Guru";
Sam”
and “Metal
Guru”;
of a hump-backfour No
withfour
No22 successes withand on a wet
andwet surface.
surface.
himself did not"Ride A“Ride
A WhiteWhiteSwan",
Swan”,
Bolan himself
drive
never held
Of
“Jeepster”, “Children Of
driveandand had
had never
held'eepster",`Children
have another No 1
Revolution" andThe
Revolution”
He hadhad also
also
a licence.
licence. He
emerged"Solid Gold
Action";“SolidGold Easy Action”;
emergedfrom
fromaa selfselfconfessed period
period of
drug taking
and fourfour otherentries.
otherTopTop 1010 entries.
of drugtaking andDuring thatof thetheDuringthatperiod,
period,Bolan
Bolanwaswas one ofhard drinking,sparkedby
byhis
his decline
declineininharddrinking, sparked
popularity
hottest properties
But
hottestpropertieson
onthe
theBritish
Britishscene.
scene. But
popularityand
andhishisdivorce.
divorce.He
Hegavegave up
up bothboth
drugs
drink whensuccesstook
took aatumble
tumble when
when hehe became
becamehis successdrugs andand drinkwhen Gloria
Gloriacame
came into
intohishis
a tax
tax exile in America,
America, where
wherehehe was unable
life,
and
life, and waswaspoisedpoised –- both
both mentallymentally andprofessionallyto
emulate his British
British achievements.
achievements.There
to emulate
There
professionally –for
foraamajor
majorcomeback.
comeback.
first step
direction was
followedfollowedaa period
periodininlimbo,
limbo,butbutas
as Bolan
Bolan
The first
step inin his direction
washishis own
own
startedstood
startedhis
his fightback,fightback,heheonceonce again
again stood
Granada TV
TV series, which he completed
Granadacompletedfilmingdeath –-screening
the threshold
threshold of thethe big
big time.
time.
on thefilming shortly
shortly before
before his deathscreeningofwith thethe fullheadlined a short
short tour
tour earlier
earlier thisHe headlined
thisof thethe final
final show, withfull consent
consentof
ofhis
hiswith The Damned
Damnedyear, withfamily, is next
family,next
Wednesday
guest artists,
artists, but
but
as guest
Wednesday(28).
(28). His
His TV
producerwashopinghoping forfor
he wasproducer Muriel
MurielYoung
Young
more substantial
substantial
morewon
said this week, “He"He wonthedevelopments inthedevelopmentsin thethe admiration of
everyonethe studio.
studio.
coming months.
comingmonths. His
His
everyone inin thegreatest ambition
greatest
ambitionwas
wasHe
He really
really cared
cared about
about hisshow, his colleagues
colleagues andto have another
another No
hit,toNo11 hit,andhis music.”
music."Andbut tragicallybuttragicallyititwas
wasAndplansplans
never toto be realised.
realised.
neverwere already being
were
being laid

Michael Putland/GettY; GuS SteWaRt/GettY

His greatest
greatest
His
ambition was
was tohave another No 1

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK94 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
94

THE
TOM Robinson
ROBINSONband
BANDhave
havebeenbeen
he Tomsigned by EMI
EMIRecords,
Records,andandthethe deal
deal
signedcould
could prove to be as
as controversial
controversial forcompany as its relationshiprelationship with
with thethe
the company
Pistols was last
last year.
self-confessed gay,Sex Pistols
year. A self-confessed
Robinson distributes
at his concerts,
distributes pamphlets
pamphlets atorganisations as
RockAgainst
publicising such organisations
as Rock
AgainstSpare Rib,
Rib,thethe National
National Ab
ortionRacism, Spare
Abortion
Campaign,
the FreeFree
Campaign, Gay Switchboard
Switchboard andand theInce Campaign.
Campaign. Because of thethe causes
causesGeorge Ince
openly supports,
supports, a number
number ofhe openlyof venues havepreviously been
been reluctant
reluctant to book his
his band.
band.
Already there
there isisaa“minor"minorboardroom
boardroom drama”
drama"
EMI,heheclaims,
claims,because
because executives
executives areareat EMI,
reluctantreluctant to release hishishomosexualhomosexual anthem
anthem"Glad To Be
BeGay”
Gay"asasaasingle.
single.But
Butthethesigningsigning has
has
“Glad
been interpretedinterpreted asthebeenasaa politicalpolitical move
move by thecompany’s
wishcompany's record
record division, who
whoreputedly
reputedlywish
demonstrate their strength
strength and preventto demonstrateboardroom intervention
artistic policy
policy-– asboardroom
intervention inin artistic
was thethe Pistols
Pistols farrago.
wasthe casecase during
during thefarrago.
"The Record
Record Division
Division was
was likelikeaanaughty
naughty dog
dog
“The
who'd
nice juicy
juicy bonebone with
who’dgot
got a nicewiththetheSexSex Pistols,"
Pistols,”commented
Robinson, “butcommented Robinson,"but their master madethem drop
they've got
gotanother
another andandthemdrop it. Now they’ve
they're growling."
they’regrowling.”
EMI’s press
EMI's
press office
officerefutes
refutessuch
suchspeculation
speculation andanddoesn't anticipate
anticipate any
objections being
raised bydoesn’t
any objections
being raised
the board.
board. "We
knowwhatthe“We know
whatthey
theystandstandfor,"
for,” said
publicist
publicist Tom Nolan.
Nolan. “But
"Butmoremoreimportantly,
importantly,
this is aafirst-rate
first-rateband.
band. It’s
It'saasigningsigningcompletely
completely
this
independent ofother consideration.”
consideration."
independentof any other
Regarded asas oneone of theRegarded
the finest
finest newnew talents
talents in
Robins on was
was just
just about
about to sign a deal
dealrock, Robinson
worth"swooped in
worth£96,000£96,000 when
whenEMI
EMI “swooped
inforce"force”
his recent
recent show at
at London’s
London's Brecknock.
Brecknock.
at hisMembers of thethe AA&&R
departmentthen
thenbetteredbetteredMembers
R department
the offer mademade by
byJet
Butthethe financial
financial
theJet Records. But
size ofofthe
thedeal,deal,andandthetheattention
attention hehe hashas
attracted fromnumber of other
other record
recordattracted
from a number
companies, has
Robinsonunimpressed.
unimpressed.
companies,
has left Robinson“It"Itjustjustmeansmeans we cancan come
come off thethe dole
dole andand gogoquid aa week,”
week,"heheexplained.
explained.
on 30 quid
Robinson
Robinson formed
formed thethe bandbandafter
afterleaving
leaving Café
Society last October.
October. Until March
March he wascontracted totoRayD
avies' Konkel andand only
contracted
Ray Davies’
Konklablabel
secured a release
release after
after publicly
publiclycondemningcondemningsecuredThe Kinks’A
Kinks' leader for refusing
refusing to set
set himhim free.
free.Aterm of thethe release
release isthat heperterm
is thathe pays
pays Konk
Konk 10 per
cent of all
allrecording
recording advancesadvances andcentand royalties
royaltiesforforthethe next two years.
His
first release
release for
isto
tobe
beaapopular
popularHis first
for EMI isnumber, "Motorway",with Robinson’s
Robinson's
stage number,“Motorway”, withdedication
toInce,Ince,"I“I Shall
Shall be Released”,
dedication to
Released", on
the flip. It isisexpected
expected thatthat theel will release
releasethethelablabel"Glad To
ToBe
BeGay”
Gay"within
withinaamonth
month ofofthat,that, butbut
“Gladwill not publicise thethe record.
record.

TJ u ly – september

1977

/16::

imn taeUhKeduringa Uk trtourratitoo
promote her finalalb um,Rendezvous
album,
Rendezvous
dp

.

“I’ve
minute”"I've enjoyed every min'ute"

MM JULY
16Sandy
SandyDenny’s
Denny'spregnancy
pregnancyhas
hasprovided
provideda abreak
breakfromfromthetheordeal
ordealof
ofsongwriting.
songwriting.
MM
JULY 16"Why dohavetoto putput myself
myselfthroughthrough it?”
it?" shewonders. Why
Whycan’t
can't II relax
relax aa little
little bit“Why
do I have
she wonders.
bit more?"more?”

but thehappier inwork
butthe music
music itself,
itself,II shall
shall be much happierin my
my work
when I do
do return
return toto it. In general,
general, I feel
feel thatthat I must
must bebesatisfied with
I'm not
not satisfied with
with thethatsatisfiedwith myself.
myself. If I’m
the way that
I'm doing
doing something,
I’msomething,howhowcancanII expect
expectanyone
anyoneelse
elseto
tobe?
be?
How
feelthat
thatI'm
I’mas
as goodgoodasas I wantthem
How can I makemake people
people feelwant themfeel if I don’t
don't think
think lamto feelI amanyway?
anyway?
"Everyone, when“Everyone,when they
they review
reviewmy
my records,
records, seems to say
thethe same thing:
thing: another
another load of dirges. The trouble
trouble is thatthat
write those dirgey
dirgey tunes
that I can’t
can't
one of the reasons IIwrite
tunes is thatthat fast
that'smove thatfast onon thethe piano.
piano. I'm
I’m nono Fats Waller, and that’s
how it comes out,
it’saa real
real drag,
drag, II know.
leftleft Fairport Convention.
out, thoughthough it's
"To be honest,”
honest," she said,
said,“I’ve"I've enjoyedenjoyed every
every minute
minute"I don’t
don't want
write miserable
know howhow“Iwant toto writemiserablesongs.
songs. Do you know
“Toofreally neededneeded a break
break fromfrom thefeel after
after I've
Something
I feelI’ve written
writtenaamiserable,
miserable,sadsad song? Somethingof it,
it, 'cos’cos in many ways IIreallythethat’sreally hit
hitme
me and hurt
me. I feelgo and sit
business. I’ve
business.
I've been
been in it up to my eyes
eyesforfor overover 10
io years,
that's reallyhurt me.
feel terrible.
terrible. II go
virtually
down and I’m
I'm really
really upset
upset byit. I always write
write on my own.
own.
down
by it.
virtuallynon-stop,
non-stop, thoughthoughpeople
peopledon't
don’trealise
realiseititbecause
becauseI'm not
not hitting
hitting the
But whenwhen you’re
you're"It's likevicious circle,
circle, being
being ontend to“It’slike a vicious
on my own. I tendI’m
the headlines
headlines every
every day. But
think ofthings andwrite songs thatthat makethinkof sadsad thingsand so I write
make meworkingfor
fortentenoror11
11 years with
notmuchmuchofofaa break,break,youyou
workingwith notcan gogo completely
completely mad without
without realising it atatthe
feel even sadder. IIsit
sitdown
downandandI Iwrite
writesomething
something andand itit
feelthetime.
time. It's
It’s
taken
last summer
summer toto getget back to
to somesome sort
sort ofofme toto tearstears almost.
almost. I’m
I'mfedfed upupwithwith feelingfeeling like that.
that.
moves metaken me since lastWhy do I have
havetotoput
put myself
myself throughthrough it? Why
Why can’t
can't I think
think
Why
sanity –something
somethingIIdidn't
didn’tevenevenrealise
realise I'd
I’d lost.
lost.
sanity"Now II feel
feel II can renew
renew my oldoldabout other
other things,
littleabout
things, try
tryandand relax a little“Nowenthusiasm.
bit more?
bitenthusiasm. For
For instance,
instance,lastlastweek
weekII just
just"I'm not really interested
interested any“I’m
any moremorewent and played the piano forwent
for about
about
three
stuff, justfor mybeing heavy with
with people.
people. There's
in being
There’s nothreehours,
hours, all sorts of stuff,
just forinterested any
own enjoyment. It really felt
felt fantastic.
fantastic.
point, I've
whatpoint,
I’ve just realised, because what
do?IIcan’t
can'tdodoanything
anything about
about
can II do?
It’s
It's thethe first
first time I’ve
I've done
done that,
that, just
just out
out
more in beingofWhata
terribly defeatist
anything. Whata terriblyof sheer enjoyment, not out of necessity-– notnot having toto learn
learn something
something oror writewrite
attitude, you
can't doattitude,
youmight
mightsay,say, but
but ifif II can’t
doheavy with people" anything
anything about
things are, then
thenabout thethewayway things
something. II tellsomething.
tell you what, it feels good
good
forsurely I can try
try to make people
people feel
surelyfeelaafor thethe first
firsttime
timeinin years.
"I think
think by the time
time thatthat I'mlittle better
better about
littleabout it.
“I
I’m ready to go"You've got
got toto letlet yourself
yourself branch“You’vebranch out
out asback and work,
work, which
which will
will bebeOctober
October or
November, I shall be
be ready
ready toto do it.
it.
much
you possibly
possibly can,can, otherwise
otherwise you
much as youyou
November,Obviously,
there's a lot
lotto
through
can't
appreciate things
you're bigoted,
bigoted,can’t appreciatethings if you’re
Obviously, there’s
to go
go throughit'spain."
it’s a pain.”
beforethen,then,withwiththethebabybabyandandbeforeeverything,at least
leastforAt long last, at
for a time, theeverything,butbutthisthisisishow
howII feel
feelnow.
now.
"If I continue
continue along
pain
to have gone
gone out
pain seems
seems tooutof
ofSandy's
Sandy’s“Ifalongthethewayway I feel now
life, and it’s
it's a pleasurepleasure to
life,
tosee
see it.
it.colinirwin
about mymy music, not about
the businessbusinessabout
about theColin Irwin
SANDY
andyDENNY
dennyLOOKED
lookedradiant.
radiant.Yes,
Yes,oneoneisisalways
alwayssupposed to say
about ladies whensaythatthataboutwhen they’re
they'repregnant, but
true. She lounged
loungedpregnant,
butininthis
thiscasecase itit was true.
back, relaxed
relaxed and ebullient,ebullient, on-stuffed sofa
on thetheoverover-stuffedsofa ofof thetheNorthamptonshire
cottagewhere
wheresheshelives
lives with
with her
herNorthamptonshire cottage
husband,husband, Trevor
Trevor Lucas.
Lucas.
With hermonth fromWith
her baby
baby duedue barely
barely a monthfromnow,she
now, shewas
wasalready beginning
totalktalkabout
aboutanan autumn
autumn tour,
tour, and withalready
beginning towithno sign at
at allallof
ofany
anyfrustration
frustration at having been off
off thethe roadroadforlong –-wellfact,sincefor so long
welloveroveraa year, in fact,
sinceshe
she and Trevor

S"I'm not really“I’minterested any
more in being
heavy with people”

thethetour.
tour.NMENMEAUG
AUG 2020

Generation X➤ Generation
haveabandoned
abandoned
have
a scheduledscheduled gig
gig atat
Glasgow's Zhivago
Zh ivago
Glasgow’s
club
is Thursday
Th ursday
clubththis(18),andandwill
willinstead
instead(18),
play at
at thethe Paisley
Paisleyplay
SilverHotel.
Silver Thread Hotel.
The
band's publicist
publicist
The band’s
claims punk
punkgigs
gigs
have been
been bannedbannedhave
by Glasgow
GlasgowCity
City
byCouncil. NME
20
Council.
NMEAUG
AUG 20Quatro➤ Suzi Quatro
hasbeenbeeninvitedinvited tohasread forfor thethe part
part ofof
read
Leather, a female
femaleLeather,rock'n'roll singer
rock’n’roll
singer inthenext Happy
the next
Days series.
series. Miss
Miss
Days
Q's live
live album,
album,
Q’s
recently recorded
recorded inrecently
Japan,
to bebeJapan,isis toreleased in the
the UK
releasedatthe end of theat theyear.
year.NMENMEAUG
AUG 2020➤ Status
Status Quo
Quohavehave
startedrecordingstarted recording
theirstudiotheir next
next studio
album
Sweden.
album inin Sweden.
The
were
The sessions were
delayedwhile
delayed while

drummerJohn
drummer John
Coughlan had
Coughlan
had anoperation
operation for
appendicitis.
appendicitis.The
The
bandreturn
returnto
tothisband
thiscountry
thecountryinin theautumnforaa major
autumn for
tour.
tour.NMENMEAUG
AUG 2020

HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977
95
HISTORY| 95

GuS SteWaRt / GettY; chRiS WalteR / GettY

Sandy
Dennyonsandy dennyon
stage
stagein
in autumn
autumn1977,
1977,

Motorhead's➤ Motorhead’s
current
currentUK
UKtour
tourwaswascancelled
cancelledlast
last week
week
when
drummer Phil
when drummer
Phil
Taylorbroke his
Taylor brokehisright handbrawl.
right
hand inin a brawl.
Taylorinjured
Taylor was injured
duringfight withduringaa fightwithaaroadie in aaPlymouth
Plymouthroadiehotel, and will behotel,
unable totoplayplayforunablefor atleast aamonth.
month. But
But
least
the
hope tothe bandband hopereschedule thetherescheduleabandoned
abandoneddates
datesininlate September
September as
latepart ofof another
anotherpart
extensiveextensive series
series of
British concerts.
concerts.
BritishCount
The Count
Bishops, who
who were
wereBishops,playing support
support totoplaying
Motorhead, will
Motorhead,
will nowheadline at
at twotwoheadlinevenues booked
booked for
for

1977

ju ly – s ep t ember

September 7, 1977:
backed by Herbie
Flowers, Tony
Newman and Dino
Dines, Bowie andBolan jam together
on the Marc show

“Great fun”

SHEILA ROCK/REX“O

h ThaT’s reallY Polaroid! You’ve
gotta keep the ending!” David Bowie
rocked with laughter and Marc Bolan
wiped away the tears that had threatened toturn his finest hour into a nightmare. The great
day when David and Marc were reunited fora TV show will pass into the history books as
one of the funniest episodes never filmed.
Perhaps one should say never video-taped, forthe last show in the series Marc, put together by
Granada TV, turned out to be a drama of such
pathos and uproar that it made Coronation
Street seem dull, if that’s at all possible. There
were tears, outbursts of swearing, bitter rows
and the breaking of lightbulbs when everything
seemed to go wrong when David joined his oldchum for rehearsals and recording at Granada’s
Manchester studios last Wednesday.
The clash between old wave and new wave
was further heightened by the power of tradeunions and the congenital inability of rock96 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

MM SEPT 17 David Bowie appears on Marc Bolan’s TV show
– broadcast 12 days after The T Rex star’s untimely death.

people to get it together in anything likea normal, orderly fashion. It was 10 breaks
and split-second timing versus artistic
temperament and inexperience.
I thought it funny but I’m sure producer
Muriel Young didn’t, nor did the manager ofGeneration X, who turned up three hours late
without any equipment, nor Barrie Masters andhis famous Rods, who never got to appear on
the show after waiting around for two days.
In the event, by the miracle of editing andtechnical wizardry, the show will go out
complete with the Rods, and David making arare British television appearance, on all ITV
regions on Wednesday, September 28 at
4.20pm. But it would have been more exciting
if they had videoed the dramas taking place inand around the studio.
Marc was in his element as a television starand part-time artistic director. As one studio
boss was forced to ejaculate when Marc was

bellowing instructions, “I don’t know why
I’m the floor manager.” Said Marc, “Whenyou’ve got your name up in lights, you’ve gottatake responsibilities.”
The show was born out of Marc’s dream to bea media man, dating back to when he once didsome interviews for London Television. Here hecould invite his favourite guest artists, do a bit ofchat and generally camp it up in time-honoured
Bolan fashion. As a cross between Judy Garlandand Louis B Mayer, he was brilliant. But one of
the lads in the heavy rock combos booked forthe show stopped me dead in the gents bydemanding, “Is he queer?” “Nah, course not.
Straight as a die, our old Marc,” I protested.
A few minutes later, Marc sailed past us in thecorridor calling out coyly, “What shall I wear?
I know, the green dress with black suspenders.”
In fact he turned up wearing a leopardskin
creation that even a leopard might havebaulked at. The whole day was worthy of beingturnedthose probing
probingdocumentaries
documentaries
turnedinto
intooneone of thosewherepeople barewhere peoplebare their
theirsouls
souls andandthetheholesholes inin
theircameras so discreet
discreet thatthat
their socks before cameras
nobodysseems
nobodyeems aware
aware of their
their presence.
presence.
was just
just like The World
WorldAbout
cast of
It wasAbout Us. The castcharacters
KeithAltham,charactersincluded:
included:Marc's
Marc’sPR
PR Keith
Altham,recently rerecovered
recently
covered fromfrom aanervous
nervouscollapse
collapsethat
that
he threatened
threatened would
wouldbebe brought
broughton
on again
again if
BarbaraWittsaidsaidanother
anotherword;
Barbara De
Barbara De Witt
word; Barbara
who wanted
Witt, David’s
D avid'sAmerican
American PR
PRladyladywhowanted to
knowwhatbringing
know whatKeithAltham
Keith Altham was
was doing bringing
so many
manypress
Hart ofpressininher
herartist's
artist’swake;
wake;Bob
Bob Hart
The
Altham, buying
TheSun,Sun,anxious
anxious totosee
seeKeith
KeithAltham,buyinghim
drink ("You're
the only
only publicist
publicist I can’t
can't
him a drink(“You’re theaffordexter, ’60s
'60s
affordto
to have
havelunchlunchwith");with”);Jeff
JeffD
Dexter,hippie DJ andhippieand now
nowpartner
partner with Tony
TonyGourvish
Gourvishin Marc’s
Marc's management;
management; theGourvishthe said
said Mr Gourvish
resplendentoyjacket;
resplendentiningenuine
genuine1968
1968Teddy
Teddybboy
jacket;andEric
Eric Hall the
fromEMI.
EMI.
andthe manman from
wholeparty
partydescended
descended bybytrainupon
The wholetrain upon
Manchester
being hustledhustledManchester andand spent
spent thethe day beingout of theDavid’sout
the studiostudio by
byD
avid'sbodyguard,
bodyguard,a charmingly
charmingly polite
gentleman who
polite gentleman
who kept
appearing
have toappearingininfront
frontofofus
ussaying,
saying,"You'll“You’ll haveleave – now.”II half
half-expected
leave-now."-expected to meet
meet him
him at the
the
front
when I got
gothomehome thatthat night,night, holding
holding
front gate
gate whenup both hands to bar
baranyanyfurther
further progress.
The maintargetsofof his life’s
main targets
life's work
work(sending(sending
peopleopposite direction
direction fromwhencepeople in the opposite
from whence
they
Bolan's manager,
manager, histhey came)came) were
were Marc
Marc Bolan’s
hispress officer andpress
and various
various friends
friends hoping
hoping to see
David after his absence
absence from the scene for many
many
years.
strange what
what someyears."Ain't“Ain’t it strange
some people
peoplewill
will do"do”[were]
apt [lyrics[lyrics from[were] thethe rather
rather apt
from thethe Bay City
City
Rollers'"Ain't ItItStrange”]
Strange"]being
being danced
danced toRollers’ “Ain’t
to by
Heart
dancers
Heart Throb,
Throb, thethe show's
show’s troupe
troupeofof girl dancers
who had chosen to wear
wear plastic
plasticsee-throughsee-throughbowler hats
hats for their
their routine.
routine.
came thethe Rods
Rods-Barrie
On came– BarrieMasters
Mastersin
in jeansjeans
and shirt– mimingtototheir
theirbacking
backingtrack
trackononandshirt-miming"Do
Anything You
Wanna Do".
Mick
“Do Anything
You Wanna
Do”. "It's“It’s a bit Mick
Mouse,
he camecame off thethe
Mouse, this
this show,"show,” he said as herostrum,indicating
indicatingthat
thathehe andand thethe boys had
rostrum,
been
been hanging
hangingaroundaroundininthe
thestudio
studioall
all day
waiting
their bit.
waiting toto do their
Generation
arrivedredredof hair andGenerationXX arrived
and pink
pink ofcheeks, somewhat
somewhat breathlessbreathless from a disastrous
disastrous
day spent
spent on thethe M1.
Ml.Abroken-down
A broken-downvan,
van,nonoequipment available-theavailable – thebad
badnews
news
equipment
experienced
didn't stop
experiencedbymany
by manyaagroup.
group.But
Butit didn’t
stop
them
attitude expected
expectedthem adopting
adopting thethe aggressive attitude
new-wave
As offers wereof aanew-wave combo.
combo.As
were being
being mademadeto lend them
them equipment
equipment theycussed jokingly
theydisdiscussed
jokingly
whetherto smashsmashup
guitar, “What"What
whether oror not toup Marc's
Marc’s guitar,
400 quid?”
guitars
will ititcost
costusus–-400
quid?"Eventually
Eventuallyguitars
werelent, including
including Rod
bass (hewere lent,
Rod PaulPaul Gray's
Gray’s bass
(hetold
me thatthat if thethe X-men
X -mensmashedsmashed up
up hishis bass
bass
told meguitar, he would
guitar,would smash
smash them
them up).
amplifiersand
andinstruments
instruments
Miraculously, amplifiers
were procured
procured andand Generation
GenerationXX stormed
stormed into
into
their big number“Your Generation”,
Billy Idol,
theirnumber "YourGeneration", BillyIdol,
theiraggressively
their pretty
prettylead
lead singer,
singer, looking aggressively
angelic.
theyplayed
found myself
myselfangelic. In
In fact they
playedso
sowell I foundclapping theirlone applausethatclapping
their performance,
performance, loneapplause thatmustsounded almost
almost insulting
insulting in
must have soundedin thesilencethe studiostudio asas thethe echoes
echoes died
died rapidly
rapidlysilence of theX’s discomfort
away. But
ButGeneration
GenerationX's
discomfort was notover. They had
had to play
playaa number
number atatleastleastfive
five
more times, constantly
constantly being
being stopped
stopped by
bythe
the
technicians,something
somethingall
all musicians
detest.
technicians,
musicians detest.
had to keep
keep repeating
repeating the same
same
Marc hadintroduction:
introduction:"This“ThisisisGenerationX.
Generation X.They
Theyhave
have
Idol who
tobe
beas
as
a new singer
singer Billy
BillyIdol
who is supposed
supposed topretty as
ain't sosure. Checkout."prettyas me.
me. I ain’t
so sure.
Check it out.”
he stumbled
stumbled over thethe words
wordsbybythe
Eventually hetheattempt. "Mebrain weren’t
weren't connectedconnected tosixth attempt.
“Me brain
toleg,"heheexplained
explained with
with a grin.
grin.
me leg,”oppositerostrum.The
The mighty
mighty duo began
opposite rostrum.
their number
approvingly
their
numberand,and,saidsaidBilly
Billy Idol approvingly
from thethe sidelines,that disco
disco beat
beat allfromsidelines, "It's“It’s got thatright.”
right." “What"What anan oldold pooftah,”pooftah," grumbled
grumbled aroadie uncharitably.
MEANWHILE,
MORErows
ROWSwere
werebreaking
breaking
there was competitioncompetition on
Suddenly there
on stage
stage
eanwhile, moreout between
X’s manager
between Generation
GenerationX's
manager andandnumber groundas the number
groundto
toaa halt.
halt."We're“We’reproducer Muriel.
Stewart bellowed
bellowed
getting electric
here" shrieked
shrieked
producer
Muriel. As Stewart
getting
electric shocks
shocks up here”
abuse acrosspointing towards
abuse
across thethestudio
studiofloor,
floor,Muriel,
Muriel,aa very
Marc, pointing
towards thethe mics.
mics. Nobody
ladylike professional,
simply walked
walked away.
moved.
professional, simply
moved. Time was ticking
ticking dangerously
dangerously away.
"It's appalling,”
appalling," said Stewart.
Stewart. “Now
"Now they
they areareAt7pm
7pmthetheunion
union would
would pull
pull thethe plugs
plugs out
out
“It’s
At
show half
half thethe songsong or pull it out.
out.
and headhome. Attempts
Attempts were being
only going to show
andheadfor home.
We’ll dodo Top of The
Let’sgo!"go!”HeHe
We'll
ThePops
Popsinstead.
instead. Let'smade bybythe
madethe production
productionteam
teamtoto stop themade a move forforthetheexits,
exits,butbutthethebandband stayed
stayedband. "We'rerehearsing, actually”
actually" said
made
band.
“We’re rehearsing,and later
later Granada
Granada confirmed
confirmed thatsomewhat put
on andthat Xwould
X would
Marc, somewhat
put out.
be in theDavid stoodthe show.
stood quietly to one
one sidesidesmilingsmiling and
and
While
the September
September 28
being
unperturbed, but
While the28 show
show was still being
unperturbed,
butsuddenly
suddenlyhe
he frowned.
frowned. "That“That
recorded, theedition wasoutwasn't theasked as thetherecorded,
the day's
day’s edition
was going out
wasn’tthe actual
actualtake,
take,waswasit?"
it?” he asked
featuring
Marc singing
singing"Let's“Let’s Dance",
Dance”, thetruthbegantotodawndawn"What“Whatdodo you mean,
featuring Marc
the old
truth began
mean, notMontez hit,
hit,whichwhichsoundedsounded pretty
prettygood
really? Either
Either it was or itit wasn’t:”
wasn't:" “One,"One, two,
two,
Chris Montez
goodreally?
the Bolan treatment,
treatment, as
his new
newthree, four!"and Tony
TonyNewman
Newman uncertainly
uncertainly set
given theaswellwell as his
three,
four!” andsetsingle “Celebrate
therollingonce
once more.At
more. At this
this point
point Marc
Marc
"Celebrate Summer”.
Summer".
the drums
drums rolling
Now it was
was timetime forfor thethe studiostudio to be cleared
clearedoffthethestagestage with
with excitement.
excitement. "Awoodenfell off“A wooden
whilerehearsed theirb oxforforMarc,
Marc,please,”
please," said
said David.
David. “Look,"Look, we’ve
we've
while Marc and David rehearsed
their bigbox
number.
got to donumber. Momentarily eluding thethe bodyguard,
bodyguard,
do thatthat again,
again, it wasn’t
wasn't finished.”
finished." But thethemanaged to hide behindbehind aa piece
piece of scenery
scenery as
asstudio man
I managed
studiomanwaswascalling,calling,"Let's“Let’shave
havethetheRods,
Rods,
and Bowie joined
joined forces with
with Herbie
Rodsobediently
obedientlyscrambled
Bolan andplease. The Rods
scrambled onto
onto
Flowers, Dino
theirto start
startrecording
recordingand
andDavidDavid and
Dino Dines
Dines andand Tony Newman.
Newman. It
their rostrum
rostrum toandsounded likeshambles toto thetheinstantly started
started jamming.
jamming.At
soundedlike aa bit of aashambles
Marc instantly
At 7pmuninitiated. In
put
precisely all the lights went
went out
out andand thetheuninitiated.
Infactfactthethesongsong waswas only just put
precisely
togetheruntitled,aa bit
bit oftechnicians
disappeared."You've“You’vegot
gotaa
together in time and remained
remained untitled,
technicians disappeared.
casual rockrockjamming.
fun to see
see them
them
blackout, mate!"
casualjamming.But
Butitit was fun
blackout,
mate!”called
calledaavoice
voice fromfrom thethe floor.
floor.
s oundedpretty
prettyfunky
funkywith
A furious
furious row broke
broke out
out between
between theandtogether and they soundedwith
the Rods
Rods andMarc blazingon lead guitar.
thewhenit was realised
blazing enthusiasticallyenthusiastically on
guitar.
the producer
producer whenrealised there
there was nono
And totocomplete
complete thethe atmosphere
atmosphere oftime for thethe group to do
do theirtheir number.
number. "Thistime“This isMarc launchedlaunched himself into
unfair," said Barrie Masters. “We’ve"We'vebeen
been
revivalism, Marc
really unfair,”“Deborah”,
versionwaitinghereall
all day
day toto go on,"Deborah", aanew
newversion
waiting here
on,
which
cut when
when
and we came
came up fromwhichhad
hadto
to be
be cutandseemed to
London yesterday
yesterday to do thethethe backing track seemed
Bolan was allegedly London
go outshow. That’s
days
out ofofsequence.
sequence. “I"Idon’t
don't
That's two
two daysbut
wasted." The Rods
Rods stormed
stormedmind lip-synching, butwasted.”whenwrongverse..."totheir
theirdressing
dressing room
room
when it's
it’s the wrong
verse…”
off tocomplained
Marc tartly.
tartly.
where aacertain
complained Marc
certain amountamountSuddenlythere
swearing went
went on.
Suddenly
there came
came aof swearing
announcement:Bolan waswas allegedly
allegedly locked
lockedbellowed announcement:
Bolan
“Will
in his dressing
in tears,"Will anybody
anyb ody not
not onon thethedressing room
room intears,
please leave thethe studio!”studio!" Once more weand Bowie languidly
languidlyviewed
show pleaseandviewedthe
theresults
resultsofof thethewere
day's work on
onthe
thevideo-tapevideo-tape machine.
machine.All
were herded
herdedoutside.
outside."Oh“Ohwhywhydiddidwe
we come?"come?”day’s
All wassaid theaway.
smilesthe Rods, also hustledhustled away.
smiles when
when it was
was realised
realised they
they had
had something
something
But a kindly
kindly floor
floor manager,
manager, keeping
keepingclassicin
inthe
thecan,can, even
even ititififwas
shambles.
of aaclassic
was aashambles.
remarkably cool, swiftly
swiftly let
letthetheentourage
entourage backbackthere waswasanyanyacrimony
acrimonyit
evaporated later.
remarkably
If thereit evaporated
in againOn thegoing backback toto London,
David satagain toto witness
witness thethe final
final historic
historic chapter.
chapter.
the train
train going
London, David
readied himself
himself for his
his solosolonumber
numbernext to Barrie andand thethe Rods sharedsharedDavid readiednext
the rest
rest of the"Heroes" from the album.
album. Withjeansbeer, wine
tour
“Heroes”
With his jeansbeer,wine and
andchicken
chickenlegs.
legs."I“I want
wanttoto do
do a tour
carefullyrolledup
upto
toreveal
reveallace
lace-upof Britain
carefullyrolled-up boots, heBritain in thethe New Year”
Year"hehesaid.
said.“Starting"Starting instood coolly before
b eforethe
themicrophone,microphone, carelesscareless ofofand working
working
stood
Glasgow andchatter of thethe studio.
studio.
myway
reallythe chattermyway down.
down. I reallyIgnoring some impudent
feedback, he began
want
Ignoring
impudent feedback,began
want to play again.
again.
singing, slowly andand lowly at
at first,
first, with
with a deep
deep
Todaywassinging,Today
was great
great fun."fun.”voice thatthat always
comes as a surprisesurprise fromfrom one
also said
said that
that
always comesDavid alsoof suchhe had recorded
such slim
slimbuild.
build. There
Therewere
werepregnant
pregnant pauses
pausesrecorded a
between bars and then suddenly
suddenlyhe
Christmas show
betweenhe bellowed
Christmas
forth, "/bekingkingand
andyoubequeen/We
queen/Wewith Bing
forth,“I will be
you will bewith
Bing Crosby
Crosby of all
can be heroes
heroes justone day/We
day! We cancan be heroes!”
heroes!"canjust for one
people,people, andand hadhad also
wasaaremarkableremarkable performance
performance evenbeen recording album
It waseveninin a cold
been
TVstudio.
studio.
tracks withTV
trackswith Marc.
Now it was
was Marc’s
Marc's big
bigmoment
moment when
when hehe waswasBut it was
was good
good tojoin DavidDavid forforthethetaping
taping ofoftheir
theirhastily
hastilyhim backback again,
again,
to joinsee himsketched out
and perhaps
perhaps next
sketchedout number.
number.While
WhileDavidDavid had
had hishis face
and
next
made
made up, Marc called anxiously
anxiously to thethe floor
time we see him
him he’ll
he'll
time
manager: "Dowant meback?"
be herohero notmanager:“Do you
you want
me front
front oror back?”benot just
just forfor a"Just touch
touch your toes,
toes, Marc,”
Marc," called
called out
out oneone ofofday but
but a whole tour.
tour.
“Just
day
the Rods waiting
Chriswaiting totododotheir
theirnumber
number on
on thetheChrisWelch
Welch•

M

Bolan was allegedly
tears, Bowie
in tears,Bowie
languidly viewing
viewing
the videotape
videotape
the

Bowie

and
lam

on.
itget

1977
1977

j u ly – SEPTEMBERs e p t em b e r

JULY

JulyL3,1977:inamuslin
July 13, 1977: in a muslin"Destroy"topdesigned“Destroy”
top designed
by Vivienne
Westwood
VivienneWestwood
MalcolmMcLaren,
McLaren,and Malcolm
JohnnyRottenfrontsthe
Johnny Rotten fronts the
SexPistols
PistolsatDaddy's
Sex
at Daddy’sDanceHall,Copenhagen
Dance
Hall, Copenhagen

98
OFROCKR K 1977
98I |HISTORYHISTORY OF
1977

“Everyone"Everyone
has abeastly
side”
side"
THE
SEX PISTOLSPISTOLS
THE SEXoutragethe locals
locals ininoutrage theStockholm,a chatStockholm, but
but a
chat
with
JohnnywithPaulPaul Cook,
Cook, Johnny
Rottenand Sid
Sid Vicious
Rotten andViciousreveals
reveals hidden
hidden depths.
depths.
Discussed:
Discussed: hippies,
hippies,
imitators,
imitators, 0O-levels,-levels,even music.
music. “We"We never
never
even
sat
a
sat down
down andand wrote
wrote athesis,”says Rotten.
thesis," says
Rotten.
“We"We just
just dodoit.”it."-—NMI
NMEAUGUST
AUGUST 6 6—THE
HE PROSPEROUS
CYBORGSatthe
the next
next
CYBORGS attable inin thethe backback room
room oftable
thisStockholm
this expensive
expensive Stockholm
eating-place areare sloshingsloshing
eating-placedown their
theircoffee
coffee as
as fastdown
as they possibly can,can, with
with such
such indecent
indecent
haste
middle-aged
haste thatthat one
one plump, middle-aged
Swedette disgraces
herself inin theSwedette
disgraces herself
the process.
process.
As
theyvacate
the premises,
premises, another
another
As theyvacate thetroupetroupeareareusheredusheredin,in,taketakeaalook
look atat
the party
theparty in the corner and usher
themselves
again.
themselves out
out again.
Rotten–-a
discordant symphonysymphonyof
John Rotten
a discordantofspiky crimsonhair,
hair, grubbywhitegrubby white tuxedo
tuxedospikycrimson
embellishedembellishedwith
with a giant
paperclip
the lapel andandpaperclip onon theanabsolutelygodawful
an absolutely
godawful black
tie with orangeorange polka
polka dots –looks at
at thethedeparting
departing
Swedish posteriors
posteriors withno little disdain.
disdain.
"It must’ve
must've been
been my“Itaftershave,” he remarks
inaftershave,"remarks in
his-out voice, halfway
halfway
his fakefake-out
betweenbetween Kenneth
Kenneth Williams,
Sweeney Todd andSweeneyand PeterPeter
Cook, andand returns
returns toto hishis
beefheart fillet,
which –beefheart
fillet, whichmuch to hisismuch
his disgust
disgust –-isdelicious.
eats nearly
nearlydelicious. He eatsallandthatthat night
night heall of ititand
doesn’t even throw
doesn'tthrow up. »»Jorgen Angel / gettyT

Sex pity
4

-

""'"

eon E THEY OF
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |199
99

1977

j u l y – s e p t em b e r

In Stockholm, the Sex Pistols are a big deal. “God Save The Queen” isin the Top 10, just as it is in Norway, where they also have – for their pains– a monarchy. They’ve been splattered all over the national press in
Scandinavia just like over here; more so than any other visiting rockband, or so they tell me, anyway.
It hardly bears thinking about: “The outrageous young superstar of
Britain’s controversial punk-rock group the Sex Pistols knocked overan ashtray this morning while having his breakfast. MPs commented,‘Is this the kind of behaviour that we want our young people to emulate?
We must certainly think carefully about allowing this kind of performer
on television.’ See editorial: page two.” And all in Swedish, too…
In general, though, Sweden has been less willing to take John Rotten
at his word and identify him with the Antichrist than the good ol’ UK.
They’ve stayed four nights in the same Stockholm hotel without any
complaints from the management, despite Sid Vicious taking a leak inthe corridor because two girls had locked themselves in the bathroomof his particular chamber.
When the local equivalent of Teds (a bunch of kustom-kar kruisers/
American Graffiti freaks known as raggare) began harassing the Pistols’fans as they left the gig and, indeed, followed the band and their admirers
back to – and into – the hotel, the police were right there for the protectionof the people.
I even saw one Swedish copper at the back of the hall on the second gig
doing a restrained but joyful pogo to the lilting strains of “Pretty Vacant”.
Can you imagine that at a British Pistols gig – in fact, can you imagine a
British Pistols gig at all these days? In Britain, if the police were informedthat the Sex Pistols and/or their fans were getting the shit whacked out ofthem somewhere, the most you could expect would be that they’d show
up an hour or two later to count the bodies and bust the survivors (if any)
for threatening behaviour.
At home the Sex Pistols are public enemies. In Sweden they’re an
important visiting Britpop group. So it goes…
EMME TELL you a little bit about Stockholm, just for context
and perspective, before we get on to the good bits. They’ve got
the highest standard of living in the world over there – weep,
Amerika, weep – with an average weekly wage of £120 and prices
to match. A bottle of beer will set you back over a quid a throw, andby British standards it ain’t even beer; more like a beer-flavoured
soft drink that fills you up and leaves you belching and farting andurinating like an elephant and doesn’t even get you pissed. You candrink 20 quids’ worth of the poxy stuff and still go to bed sober,though the O Henry twist-in-the-tail comes when you wake up
with a hangover.
Somehow the idea of a suffering hangover without even having been
drunk is peculiarly Swedish.
The natives don’t see it quite that way, though. Through some weirdness
or other of the Scandinavian metabolism, they get completely zonko on
the stuff, with the result that the authorities think that they have an
alcohol problem. You can imagine what effectthis would have on a bunch like the Sex Pistols,
who are pretty fond of their beer. It got so badthat by the end of the tour John Rotten gave up
in disgust and started drinking Coca-Cola.
Swedish television is fun, too. For a start, thetwo channels only operate for a combined
seven hours each night, and the programmingseems to consist almost exclusively of obscuredocumentaries and the occasional mouldy old
English B-picture. Radio is impossibly dopey –you can’t even dance to a rock’n’roll station,’cuz there’s nuthin’ goin’ on at all. Not at all.
In the discos, they play the same dumbo
records that they play in UK discos, only six
months later, and the girls think you’re weird ifyou don’t/can’t dance the Bump.
Put it this way: if you think that there’s nothing going on in yourparticular corner of the UK, then there’s double nothing going on in
Sweden. Make that treble nothing. God only knows what the Swedes get
up to in the privacy of their own homes to cope with the total lack of decent
public entertainment facilities, but it must be pretty bloody extreme.
We thought some kind of oasis had been discovered when we founda late-night cafe that served Guinness.

L

John Rotten – who is, after all, an Irisher by roots(the rest of the band call him “Paddy” sometimes) andtherefore likes his Guinness – was enchanted by thisrevelation until we discovered that it was – are you
beginning to get the picture now? – a special Scanda
variety of Guinness even though it’s brewed up in
Dublin, and therefore no stronger than the rest of the
stuff they have over there.
We ordered up about 10 of the bloody things,
swilled them down and discovered to our horror that
we were all still sober, so we celebrated the fact by
doing a burner on the establishment in questionand vamoosing without settling the bill. We’d got as
far as the car of our self-appointed guide – a Chris
Spedding lookalike who runs a punk boutique called
Suicide and who calls himself “the only true punkin Sweden” – before a search party from the cafe
catches up with us and hauls The Only True Punkaway to face retribution.
At this stage in the proceedings, the Pistols are only
three-quarters strong. Sid Vicious is in London,
where he has had to appear in court on charges ofpossessing an offensive weapon of
the knifish variety and assaulting
a police officer.
That leaves the rest of the party
as Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook,roadies Rodent (borrowed fromThe Clash) and Boogie, andVirgin Records’ international
panjandrum Laurie Dunn, an
amiable Australian (stop laughingat the back there) whose room
seems to function as an assembly
point. People at a loss for anything
to do seem to end up going toLaurie’s room as a convenient wayof running into other people withnothing to do.
Steve Jones plays guitar. He’s been playing the guitar for little more thana year and a half, which would indicate that he’s going to be a monster
player by the time he’s been playing for a bit longer. The reason that hesounds far more professional and experienced than he actually is isthat he sticks to what is simple and effective and – within the confines ofa hard-rock aesthetic – tasteful. He knows what constitutes a good guitarsound, his time and attack are impeccable, and he plays no self-indulgent
bullshit whatsoever.
There are a lot of musicians far “better” than Steve Jones (in thetechnical-ecstasy sense, that is) who could learn a lot from listening tohim, could remind themselves of what they
were originally looking for when they started
out and how they lost it along the way.
Steve Jones is the oldest of the Pistols at 22,
and his stolid features and blocky physiquemake him, visually at least, the most atypical
Pistol of ’em all. On the first evening, he wentout to dinner in a Normal Person costume ofdark-blue blazer, grey slacks and a neat shirt
and tie – camouflage so effective that I nearly
didn’t recognise him when he passed me in thecorridor. It was only his fluorescent hennaedhair that gave him away as being a rock’n’roller.
He’s a friendly, relaxed, good-natured geezer;
could be anybody you know and like and drink
with; could be you.
Paul Cook plays drums, and has done so for three years now. Like Jones,
he plays with an ear for what sounds good, a straight-ahead highpowered no-bullshit approach to what he does and no distance at all
between himself and his drums.
Again, he’s an ordinary guy in the best sense of the term; he was in at
the roots of the band when a convocation of kids with heisted
instruments were jamming around in Shepherds Bush – no formalgroups, just a bunch of people playing together.

“I stayed in forabout two
weeks ’cos
everyone kept
calling me Sid”

100 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

The nucleus was Cook and Jones (the latter then singing as well as
playing guitar), Glen Matlock on bass and sundry additional guitarists
including Mick Jones (now of The Clash), Brian James (now of The
Damned) and Nick Kent (now of no fixed abode).
The Sex Pistols had their dark genesis when Jones, Matlock and Cook
got together with Johnny Rotten under the Cupid auspices of Malcolm
McLaren. Since Glen Matlock got the push and was replaced by Rotten’s
old college (not “university” – college) buddy and neo-bassist Sid Vicious,
the Pistols have consisted of two factions: Cook/Jones and Rotten/Vicious.
These factions are by no means opposed or unfriendly or at crosspurposes; it’s just that Paul and Steve get up earlier and go to bed earlier(with all that implies) and John and Sid get up later and go to bed later(with all that implies) – Paul and Steve hanging out together before Sid
and John get up and Sid and John hanging out together after Paul andSteve have gone to bed.
John and Sid are the public face of the Sex Pistols: Jagger and Richard to
the other two’s Watts and Wyman, even though it’d be highly misleading
to assume that the creative chores are split that way as well.
Anyway, that’s as much background as we’ve time or need for, so zoom
in on the Happy House, a Stockholm club run under the auspices of thelocal university’s Student Union where we’re a few minutes early for thesoundcheck prior to the first of the band’s two nights there.
NE THING you have to say for Rodent: it takes a lot of bottle
to set up gear while wearing a pair of those dumb bondage
pants that strap together at the knees.
Rodent, Boogie and this Swede called Toby (though the band andtheir own crew call him Bollock-Chops) have just schlepped a massive
PA system, three amps, a drum kit and all the rest of the paraphernalia
that it takes to put on a rock show up to the second floor of this horrible
structure, and Rodent’s done it all in bondage pants.
He does it the next night with his sleeves held together with crocodile
clips. It’s a man’s life in the punk-rock business. Join the professionals.
Sid Vicious has caused everybody a massive amount of relief byreturning from London with the news that he beat the assault rap

Ocompletely and copped a mere (?) £125 fine for the knife.
How’d you dress for court, Sid?
“Oh, I wore this real corny shirt my mum got me about five years ago
and me steels. I must’ve looked a right stroppy cunt.”
Oh yeah, we haven’t really met Sid yet. He got the name “Sid” when he
was named after an allegedly really foul-looking albino hamster of thatname that he and Rotten used to have.
“I hate the name Sid, it’s a right poxy name, it’s really vile. I stayed infor about two weeks because everyone kept calling me Sid, but they justwouldn’t stop. Rotten started. He’s ’orrible like that, he’s always picking
on me…”
Rotten: “Sid’s the philosopher of the band.”Vicious: “I’m an intellectual.”
Rotten: “He’s also an oaf. He listens to what everybody else says andthinks, ‘How can I get in on this?’”Vicious: “No I don’t! I’m a highly original thinker, man; he’s just jealous
because I’m really the brains of the group. I’ve written all the songs, evenright from the beginning when I wasn’t even in the group. They was souseless they had to come to me because of they couldn’t think of anythingby themselves…”
Thank you, boys. We’ll be returning to this conversation later, but
meantime there’s this soundcheck to do and it sounds terrible.
The stage is acoustically weird and means that by the time Sid’s got his
bass amp set up so that he can hear himself the bass is thundering aroundthe hall with an echo that bounces like a speed freak playing pinball. The
drums and guitar have been utterly swamped and everybody has aheadache. Even me – the man who stood 10 feet in front of Black Sabbath
yelling, “Louder! Louder!” – I have a headache. Oh, the shame anddegradation of it all!
The problem is partially solved by the simple expedient of moving
the amp forward until it’s beside Sid instead of behind him. It’s
unorthodox but it works and it means that a semi-reasonablebalance can be obtained. The sound still swims in the echoey halland everybody’s brought down something – you should pardon theexpression – rotten. »HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 101

premium rockshot

July 13, 1977: the Pistols
play to an audience ofabout 125 at a disco in
the restaurant of theÖstra Stranden Hotel,
Halmstad, Sweden

1977

j u l y – s e p t em b e r

Outside, a youthful
youthful horde
horde of Swedish
Swedish punks
punks
Outside,deckedfacsimiles of Britpunk
Britpunk outfits
outfits
decked out
out in fair facsimilesaremilling aroundaround looking
are milling
looking up
up at the window
behind which
which the band
behindband and their entouragearelurking.
are lurking.
None of these
the se kids
kids areare going
going toto getgetin
intonight,
tonight,
None
Housegigs
gigs areare mostly
however, because
because Happy
HappyHousefor over-23s
over -23sonly
onlyfactwhich
whichcauses
causes bitter
bitter– aafact
amusement
amusementbecause
becauseitit means
means thatthat thethe audienceaudienceis, officially
officially atatleast,least,allallolderolderthan
than thethe band.
band.
When thebackWhen
the groupgroupmakemakeaabreak
breakfor
foritit toto go backtothe hotel,
who stays out
out in thetheto thehotel,it's
it’s Sid Vicious whostreet listening
listeningto
towhatwhatthethepeople
peoplehave
havetoto saystreetandassuring them
theirand assuring
them thatthat thethe bandband areare on theirside. He’s
He's out
out there
there forformoremorethanthan five
fiveminutes
minutes
before he’s
pulledinto
intothethecar.
car.
beforehe's virtually
virtually pulled"I don’t
don't think
thinkwethem poxy
poxystudent
student hippies.
hippies.
“I
we should
should be
be playing for them
I reckonreckon we should
should tell ’em'em thatthat we
don't playss they let thethe kids in
we don’t
play unle
unless-– eithereither that
thatororopenopenupupthe
theback
backdoors
doorsand
andletletthethekids
kidsininanyway."
anyway.”In
In thetheend,-and -over,end, thethekids
kids have
havetoto waitwait until
untilthethefollowing
followingnight
nightwhenwhenit's
it’s1515-and-over,but
it's notnot aasituation
situationthat
thatthethebandband areareparticularly
particularly happy
happywith.
but it’swith.
In the dressing
roomback
backatat thetheHappyHouse
Happy Houseaafew
fewhours
hourslater,
later,John
Johnisis
dressing room
ostentatiously
ostentatiouslyasleep
asleepononaacouch,
couch,Steve
Steveisis tuning
tuningup
uphis
hiswhitewhiteLesLesPaulPaul
withStroh o -Tune(moreaccuratethan
thanthethehuman
humanear,
ear,totally
totally
with thethe aid
aid of aaStrobo-Tune(moreaccuratesilent so you don’tsilentdon't bug thethe shit out of everybody
everybody else
else inin thethe room
room bybymakingone today!)makinghorrible
horriblenoises,
noises,hours
hoursofoffun
funforforallallthethefamily,family, get
get oneandwhacking out Dee
Dee DeeDee Ramone
Ramone basslines
basslines on
and Sid is whacking
on hishis white
white Fender
FenderPrecision bass.
bass.
Precision
Sid's musicianshipmusicianship (orsame) is something
something of an issue
issue with
with some
some
Sid’s
(orlacklack of same)
people,let's say right
right here
here thatthat he’s
he's coming
coming alongpeople, so
so let’salong pretty
prettygood.
good.His
His
choice of Dee Dee
choiceDee asas hishis model
model isis aawise
wiseone,one,since
sincethat’s
that's just thethe kindkind ofclean,
strong andand simple
that therequire.
clean, strong
simple playing that
the Pistols require.
At present,
present, he's
flailing -from -the -elbow right-handright-handhe’s using
usingaa kindkindof flailing-from-the-elbow
action that
thattakes
takes far
far more
the notes
notes require,require, but
but hehe keeps time,
actionmore effort than
than thedoesn'tbum notes
notes (not much more than
than hisdoesn’t hit
hit moremore thanthanhishis shareshareofof bumhisshare,
ass Player as
as seriously
seriously
share,anyway)
anyway)andandtakes
takeshis
hisnew-foundnew-foundroleroleasasAABBassas he takes
takes anything.
anything.
in thethe hall,hall,thethestudent
student audienceaudience is milling
milling aroundaround ignoring
ignoring the
the
Up in
reggaesystem. There
movement
reggae that's
that’spumping
pumpingout
outofofthe
thePA
PA system.
There areare signs
signs of movement
the silver curtains
and thenthen they're
they’re on,on,
from behindbehind thecurtains andrevealed
their scummy
scummy glory. Rotten’sRotten'sbehindbehindrevealed in all their
thestaring out at
at thetheaudienceaudience throughthroughthe mic, staring
gunmetalpupils,
pupils, mouth
mouthtight,
tight, shoulders
shoulders hunched,gunmetalhunched,one handhand clamped
clamped aroundaround thethe microphone.
microphone.
"I'd like
like toto apologise,”apologise," he says harshly,
harshly, "forthe“I’d“for all
all thepeople who
who couldn't
couldn’tgetgetin.
in.It
It wasn’t
ourfault."
fault.”
peoplewasn't ourAnd
And thethebandbandkicks
kicksinto
into"Anarchy“AnarchyInInTheTheUK",
UK”,
Jones'
saw-toothed snarl
snarl teetering
teetering on thethe
Jones’ guitar a saw-toothededge of aafeedbackedge
feedback holocaust,
holocaust, Sid’s
Sid's bass
bass synchedsynchedfirmly into Cook’s
Cook's walloping
walloping drums
drums andand Rotten
an avenging scarecrow, anan accusing
accusing outcast
outcastancawing doom
cawingdoom andandcontempt
contemptlike
likePoe's
Poe’sraven.
raven.
There’s
There's been
been aa lot ofofbullshit
bullshit laid
laid down
down about
about
the Pistols'
thePistols’ musicianshipmusicianshipby
byaalot
lotof
of people
people who
whoshould know
etter (butshouldknowbbetter(butthetheworld
worldisis fullfull ofpeoplewho “should
know better”
butnevernever do).
do).
people who"should know
better" butplayed “God"God Save The
The Queen”
Queen" to Mick
I playedRonson when
Ronsonwhenhehewas
wasoverover here
hereaa little
little while
while agoago
andhe looked at me
andsaid,
said,"I“I
and heme inin amazement
amazement anddon't understanddon’t
understandwhy
whypeople
peoplekeep
keeptelling
tellingmemethat theyThey're fucking
fucking great!”great!"
thatthey can't
can’tplay!
play! They’reAnd, of course,
course, he’s
he's right.
right. They put down
down aablazing roller-coaster powerdrive
powerdrive for Rotten’sRotten's
blazingroller-coastercaustic vocals
and it sounds
sounds totally
totally right.
right.
caustic
vocals toto ride andExcept thatthat there’s
there's something
something wrong.
Somewhere along
the line the monitors
monitors haveSomewhere
along thedropped out,
and Rotten can’t
can't hear
completely dropped
out, andhimself
singing, withhe has tohimself singing,with thethe result
result thatthat heFriendssince
Friends
sinceshout evenpitching becomes
becomes evershout
even louder, his pitchingever
schooldays inschooldays
moreerratic
andthroat
put
under
more
more
erratic
andhisthroat
gets
put
under
more
West London:
London: Paul
West
Paul
and
and more strain.
and(right)
Cook and(right)SteveJones
Steve
Jones
numbers, Rotten mercilessly
Between numbers,
harangues Boogie,
responsible for theharangues
Boogie, who's
who’s responsible
nothing
live sound-mix,
sound -mix,but
butthere’s
there'sabsolutely
absolutelynothing
Boogie cancan do. The
Themonitors
monitors areare completely
completely
shot,
and they'll
patched up
shot, andthey’lljust
just have
have toto be patchedup
beforetomorrow's gig.
before tomorrow’s
gig.
the Pistols flail onon throughthrough "I
Still, the“I Wanna
WannaBeBe
Me","I'mALazySod",
far thethe best
best songMe”, “I’m
A Lazy Sod”,"EMI"“EMI” (by far
so far written
written about
about a record
record company),
company), "God“God
Save The Queen”,
Queen", “Problems”,"Problems", "No“NoFeelings",
Feelings”,"PrettyVacant",
Fun" andand“Pretty Vacant”,thetheencore
encoreofof "No“No Fun”
sundryanyonesundryothers,
others,andandit's
it’s hard
hardtoto seesee how anyone
whorock'n'roll couldn’t
couldn't dig
who digs rock’n’roll
dig thethe Pistols;
Pistols;
while
they're on
couldn't conceive
while they’reon stagestage you couldn’t
conceive ofanybody
better andand John Rotten bestrides
bestrides
anybody being
being betterthethe '70s
the rock'n'roll
rock’n’rollstagestageofof thethe second
secondhalf
halfofof the’70s
theavid Bowie
the first
thewayDway David
Bowie did
did for the
first half.
half.
Ifthe
thelastlastfew
fewBritish
Britishrock’n’roll
rock'n'rollyears
yearshave
haveproduced
producedaasuperstar,superstar,Johnny
JohnnyIf
Rotten is it.
it.AndAndletletFleet
FleetStreet,
Street,thetheBBC
BBCandandthetherockrockestablishment
establishmentcope
cope
Rottenthat thethe best
best way
waythey
because it isn’t
isn'tjust
justhappening,
happening, it’s
it's
with thatthey know
know how, because
already happened.Andthatalready
happened. Andififthethedefinitive
definitiveBritish
Britishrockrockbandbandofofnow
nowfeelfeel thatthey haveto Europe
Europe or Scandinavia
Scandinavia or
theyhave toto go toorevenevenAmerica
Americajust
justtotobebeableabletotoplayinofpeople,
people,thenthenthere’s
there'ssomething
somethingworse
worsethanthananarchy
anarchyintheplay
in front ofin theright now.
now.
UK right"Never are
aretyrants
tyrants born
born of anarchy,”anarchy,"wrote
wrotecelebrated
celebrated fun
fun person
person thethe“NeverMarquis desee them
them flourish
flourish only
ehind theMarquisdeSade.
Sade. "You“You see
onlybbehind
thescreen
screenofoflaw."
law.”And
who's tohe's wrong?
And right
rightnow
nowinin1977,
1977, who’s
to saysay he’swrong?
Getup,
stand up, stand
stand up for your
yourrights…
rights... andand segue
seguestraightstraight into
into
Getup, standMarley's “Exodus”,"Exodus", pumping
pumping out
the soundsystems ound system ofofaahideously
hideously
Marley’soutof thetwee rococo
rococo disco
disco deep
the 'eart
Stockholm. It’s
It's playing
playing at
at least
least
twee
deep inin the’eart of Stockholm.
loud asasanything
anything else
else thatthat they’ve
they've played
played so
sofar
fartonight,
tonight,andandthat’s
that'stwice as loudbecause John and Sid
Sidhavehavecommandeeredcommandeered the disco DJ’s
DJ'scommand
commandpost
postbecauseandfound it among
and they’ve
they've foundamong his records.
records. They’ve
They've also
also found
found “Pretty"Pretty
Vacant"and that
Vacant” andthat comes
comes upup next...
next…even
even louder.
louder.

Ray sTEvEnson / REx fEaTuREs“We"We dodo whatwhat
we want
want todo andand there’s
there'sno industry
behind us"us”
behindHISTORY OF
OF ROCK
102 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
102

HE FOLLOWINGFOLLOWINGAFTERNOONAFTERNOONfinds
findsthethePistols’
Pistols'party
party signingsigningHE
autographs, hanging
autographs,
hangingout,
out, posing
posing andand nicking
nicking things
thingsatat The Only
Punk In Sweden’s
Sweden's boutique.
boutique.
True Punkverdict seems
seems to be thatthat everything
everything there
The verdict
thereisispretty
prettymuch
muchlike
likeSEX
SEX
yearororso
soago
agoand,and,ininkeeping
keepingwith
withthethecelebrated
celebratedSwedish
Swedishstandard
standard
was aa year
living,everything
everything is aroundaround twice
twice thethe price
price thatthat it would be inin London.
London.
of living,
A photographer
photographer is onon handhand to capture
capture thethe golden
moments. Swelling almost
almost visibly
visiblywith
moments.
with pride,
pride,
Sweden's Only
OnlyTrueflourishSweden’s
True Punk unveils with aa flourish
deluxe leather
leather jacket thatthat he’s
he's ordered
ordered up
a deluxe
specially forspecially
for Sid.
Viciousaggy pink pants,
pants,
Vicious –charmingly
charminglyclad
cladininbbaggy
floral blouse
blouse andand sandals,
sandals, witha floralwithaalittle
littlepink
pinkbow
bow ininimmaculately spiky coiffure
coiffure-takes
his immaculately– takesone
onelook
look atat it
and declares
corny andand twee.
twee.
anddeclaresitit poxy, vile, corny
Sweden’s
Sweden's Only True
True Punk
Punk looks
looks deeply
deeply hurt.
hurt.

T

sex
SEX pistols
PISTOLS

Over theside of theon aa pairthe otherother side
the shop,
shop, Rotten
Rotten is trying
trying on
pair of repulsive
repulsive

leopardskin-topped
leopardskin-toppedshoes.
shoes.
"They're really ’orrible,”'orrible," hehe beams.
beams. “I"I mustmust have
have them.
them. IIcould
couldstart
start“They’reanotherabsurd
absurdtrend...
trend…like
likesafety
safetypins."
pins.”
another
waythatthat previous
previous sartorial
sartorial quirk
had caught
caught on with The
The way
quirk of his had
Youth andand become
become anan industry
industryvirtually
virtuallyovernight
overnightisisaasource
sourceofof vastamusementto
tohim-ashim – aswellwellititmight
mightbe.
be.
amusement
the Only True Swedish
Swedish Punk
Punk and-year -oldWith theandhishisgirlfriend
girlfriendare
aretwotwo1212-year-old
kids, neighbours
neighbours of
theirs fromthe country,
country, where
Theseof theirsfrom out
out in thewhere they
they live. These
two kids immediately
latchononto
toVicious,
Vicious, andandhehe spends
spendsmuch
muchofof hishis day
two
immediatelylatch
sittingthem andand playing with
with them
them andand talking
talking to them…
them... generally
sitting with themkeeping
amused. He's
at withkeeping thethe kids
kids amused.
He’s reallygre
really greatwith them...
them…ififyou
you knowknow
anyonewho's
who’sgot
got a pre-adolescentrock andneeds
anyonepre -adolescent kid who’s
who's into
into punk
punk rockand needsa babysitter,babysitter, allow
me to recommend
recommend you
Poppins inallow me
youSidSid Vicious, Mary Poppins
inpunk'spunk’s clothing.
clothing.
The previous
with rumoursthat thetheprevious night,night, thethe air
airhadhadbeenbeenthickthickwithrumours thatraggarefortrashing,trashing, andand for thethe second
second gig
gig-– thethe oneone open
open totothe
theraggare had
had eyes forteenageintensified.
teenage punk
punk rockers
rockers –-thethetalk
talkisis intensified.
The band’s
band's limo
limo –- shaddup
shaddup at
at thethe back
backthere!
there!–-andandthetheattendant
attendant
dronemobiles
through a police cordon
cordon andand everyone’s
everyone's hustledhustleddronemobilesare
are waved throughthroughthroughaabackback door
door mach
mach schnell.
schnell.
“Get
Rotten as Sweden’sTrue Punk"Get thatthat poser inside!”
inside!" snaps
snaps Rotten
Sweden's Only
OnlyTruePunk
dawdlesmake surenoticed indawdles to
to makesure he's
he’s noticed
in thethe exalted
exalted company.
company.There's
There’sless
lessdressing-room ligging than
than lasttime anddressing-room
last timeandthethebandbandareareon
onfastfastasas shit.
shit.
The punketteaudiencetonight
tonightisisaa lot cooler
punkette audience
cooler andand better
better behaved
behaved than
than
the-chucking beardies
beardies who mademade up last
last night’snight's crew,
crew,andandthethebandband
the beer
beer-chucking
feel aa far
fargreater
greater kinshipkinship to thethe crowd.
crowd.
“It’s
Rotten as thecrashinto
into"Anarchy",“Anarchy”,"It's our
our nightnight tonight!”
tonight!" shouts
shouts Rotten
the bandband crashandtonight his contempt
contempt is notnotdirected
directedat
atthe
theaudienceaudiencebut
but-ontheir
and tonight– on theirbehalfbehalf –atataa phantom
phantomenemy:
enemy:thethecrowds
crowdswho
wholurk
lurk outside
outside thethe police
policecordonsinin theirtheirDodges,
Dodges, Chevies
Chevies andand Cadillacs.
Cadillacs.
cordons
everything goesmonitors work, theTonight everything
goes fine.
fine. The monitors
sound'ssound’s fine
fine andand thethe bandbandrelax
relax andand playaplay a better,better, longer
longer set,graced by aacouple
hadn’tgracedcoupleofofadditional
additionalnumbers
numbersthat
thatthey
theyhadn't
botheredbotheredto
toget
get into
into thethe nightnightbefore,
before, including
including"Satellite“SatelliteBoy"
Boy”
andand "Submission".
“Submission”.
Next toto me,
me, aagirl
girlsitssitsononher
herboyfriend’s
boyfriend'sshoulders,shoulders, oblivious
obliviousto thethe little
little bubble
bubble of blood welling up aroundaround the-pinthesafety
safety-pinpunctureafety pinpunctureininher
hercheek.
cheek.After
Afteraawhile,
while, she
she switches
switchesthe
thessafety
cheek so's
so’s she canin herto her other
other cheek
can link it up
up withwith thethe chainchain inher
earring.
doesn't care.
care.
earring.Pretty
Prettysoon,
soon, thatthatbegins
beginstoto bleed
bleed too. She doesn’t
Everybody-band,
back-isEverybody– band,audience,
audience,even
eventhethecopcop at the back– is highhigh
as a kite
kite andand happy
happy as cancan be. There’s
There's no violence
violence andand not
not a badbad
vibe
everybody's getting
this is thethe showshow that
that
vibe in sight; everybody’s
gettingoff.
off. And thisourguardians won't
our guardians
won’tletletus
ussee?
see?
Listen,Listen, all thethe Pistols
Pistols do is get
get upup on
onstage,stage, play
playsomesome songs
songs
and
again. Shit,
Shit,officer,
officer,t’ain’tt'ain'tnothin’nothin' but a little
little rock’n’roll
rock'n'rolland get off again.
fun;no chicken-killing,chicken -killing, throwing
throwing of clothes
clothes into
into thethe audience,
audience,
fun; nonudity, or any
nudity,any ofofthatthatdirty
dirtystuff.
stuff.No
Noaudienceaudiencemanipulation,
manipulation, no
incitement.
incitement.This
Thisisishealthy,
healthy,Jack.
Jack.
trouble comes
comes after
after theain't theThe trouble
the audienceaudienceleave;
leave; it ain’t
the Pistols'
Pistols’
there’s nothingnothingat
atall
allthatthatthethePistols
Pistolscan
cando
doabout
aboutit.
it.
fault, andand there's
We'reallupstairs
upstairs drinking
drinking rats’
rats' piss
piss when
whenthere’s
there'saacommotioncommotion
We’re alloutsideoutside andand someone
someonereports
reportsin
inwithwiththethenews
newsthatthataa bunch
bunchofof
raggare have
have just
just chased
raggarechased aa couple
couple of young
young girl
girlfans
fansandandrippedrippedthebad toughtoughthe pins
pins right
right throughthroughtheir
theirfaces
facestotoproveprovewhat
whatbig
big badguys
they are.
are.
guys they
Sid wants
wants to
to go
goout
outthere
there andand laylayintointothem.
them. Someone
Someone elsesuggests
ramming themsuggests ramming
themwith
withthethelimousine
limousinelike
likethethecatcatin
in thetheSouth
Klanawhile
awhile back.
back. Ultimately,
Ultimately, there’s
there's
South diddidto
to thetheKu Klux Klan
nothingthat
thatcancanbebedonedoneexcept
exceptcall
callthetheFuzz
Fuzzand
andfeelfeel very, very
nothingvery
sick about
about the whole thing.
thing.

“Oris behind"Orrather,”rather,"interposesinterposes Vicious,
Vicious,“the"theindustry
industryis
behind ususratherratherthan withthan
with us."us.”
Hey,ififthetheindustry’s
industry's behindbehind you
knifeininits
itshand…
hand...
Hey,
you it's
it’s got aaknife“Yeah,”"Yeah," says
saysSid,
Sid,“but"butwe’ve
we'vegot
gotaaChieftain
Chieftain tank.”
tank.""They can’t
can't control
control us,”us,"continues
continues Rotten.
Rotten. “We’re"We'reuncontrollable.
uncontrollable.
“They
They've predictedpredicted all down
down thethe line against
against us, andand they’ve
they've failed. ThisThis
They’vescaresthem.They've
They’venever
never been
beenableable toto do that
before. They’ve
scares them.
that before.
They've always
known before thatthat the money
moneywould
butthey’ve
they'vemissed
missedthe
theknown
would comecome into it, butboat so many
many times.”
times."boat
PAUL
PAULCOOk:
COOK:“The"Thething
thingwaswasthatthateveryone
everyoneininthe
thebeginning
beginning waswasso
sosuresurethat noPeople like Nicky Horne
Horne said that
that
that
no waywas
way wasititgoing
going toto taketakeoff. People
they'd never play punk
punk rockrock andand now
nowhehedon’t
don'tplay
playnothingbut."they’dnothing but.”
Which is anWhichan equallyequallynarrow
narrow attitude…
attitude...
ROTTEN:“If"Ifnotnotworse.
worse.With
Withususititused
usedtotobe
be‘They`Theywon't
catchonon
ROTTEN:
won’t catchbecause we'reofbecausewe’regoing
going toto stopstop it'it’ andand there've
there’vebeen
beenaahell
hellofof a lot oforganisations
outto
tostopstopus,us,andandthey've
they’veall
allfailed."failed.”organisations out
don'tthink
think thethe Pistols
Pistolscan
can bebestopped
stopped unlessunless thethe kids are tired
tired
Me, IIdon’t
them.
of them.
ROTTEN:ROTTEN:“They’re"They'rethe
the ones
ones who
who makemake all
all thethe decisions
decisions now. They’re
They'rethe ones
theones thatthatcount,
count,and
andIIhope
hopethey've
they’vegot
gotthethebrainsbrainstotosusssussititall
alloutoutforforthemselves andbythethepress,press,‘This'Thisband
band isisfinished,’
finished,'and
andthenthenthemselvesandnotnot bebe told bythink,‘Yes, that’sfinishedand
andI'mI’mnotnotgoing
going toto like themthink, 'Yes,
that's right, they’re
they're finishedthem anymore. I'mgoing to like this.’
this.' They’ve
They've got to decide
decide for themselves.”
themselves."
more.
I’m now
now going
COOK:“I"Ithink
thinkit’s
it'sgonegonebeyond
beyondthe
thepoint
point where
where people
people cancan be told.
COOk:
They
wouldn’tplay
play'God‘GodSave
Save The Queen’went to the
Theywouldn't
Queen' but
but thatthat went
the top of thethecharts, andcharts,andthatthatusuallyusuallydictates
dictateswhat
whatgoesgoesin."in.”
We talk
talk about
about thethe Only
Only True
TrueSwedish
SwedishPunk’s
Punk's boutique,boutique, andand Rotten
Rottenopinesthatplaces
placeslike
like thatshouldonly
only bbeethere
opines thatthat should
there totoinspire
inspire people
people totocreate theirand be what they are instead
instead of adopting
adopting acreatetheir own
own look, andreadymade facade.
same dictum,
dictum, natürlich,natarlich, applies
readymadefacade. The same
applies to moozic: »»1t-

HO-BREA'
STOIti

S0OULTIMATELY,
WHYarearethethevarious
variousestablishments
establishments
ULTIMATELY, WHY

S"Because they
theywerecontrolled by“Because
wereall
all toto somesome extent
extent slightly
slightly controlled
by thetheindustry,"
Rotten, ensconced
ensconced with
withVicious
in thetheindustry,” says Rotten,
Vicious andand Cook in
relative peace
peaceandandquiet
quietofofaa hotel“There waswas always
always ananrelative
hotel room.
room. "Thereelement
the establishment
establishment behind
ourelement of thebehindit,it,butbutwith
withusus it's
it’s totally ourown.
dowhatwhat we
wewantwanttotodo
doand
andthere’s
there's nono industry
industry bbehind
ehindown. We do
us. That’s
That's the difference. That’s
That's what frightens
frightens them”
them"

Friendssince
meeting
Friends
since meetingat Hackney
H ackney Tech
Tech ininat1973:Sid
Viciousand
1973:
Sid Vicious
and(right)Johnny Rotten
Rotten(right)Johnny

HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 1103
HISTORY
103

CREDIT-– governmental,
and even rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll-– moregovernmental, media
media andfrightened of the Pistols than
than of any
any otherother previous
previous
frightened
manifestationofof rock’n’roll
manifestation
rock'n'roll madness?
madness?

1977
1977

j u l y – s e p t em b e r

JULY-SEPTEMBER"That's what
what music
music should
should be“That’sbeabout,"
about,”sayssaysRotten.
Rotten."I“Iget
get veryvery sickwithimitations. I despise
despise them.
them.
with the imitations.
They ruinit.
it. Theyhave
They have nono reason
Theyruinreason to
be in ititother
other than
than wanting
wanting money,
money,
which
which shows.
“You’ve"You've got
gotto
tohavehaveyour
your own
own point
point
ofview.
Youcancanhavehaveananidolidol-likeof view. You– likeyou may see
see aaband
band andand think,
think, ‘God,'God,
that bandbandarearereally
reallyfucking
fuckinggood,
good,
that
I'd
to be
be likelike that.’that.' So you
you start
start
I’d like toupown band,band, and then
then yourup your own
own ideas
ideascomecomeininas
as wellwell onown
on toptop ofthat
foundation.
that andand you
you have a foundation.
"But aa lot
lotof
ofthosethosebands
bands don’t
don't
“But
leave thatthat foundation
foundation andand they stayin a rut
rut andand they
theylisten
thelisten toto all theothertheir morbid little
other songs
songs in their"I'mreallythe“I’mreally thecircle andand they
they do rewrites
rewrites of them.
them.
brainsofthebrainsof thegroup",John
group”:
John
Hence
thous and songs about
about
Hence fifty thousand
Beverly –-AKA
AKA
how
the dole.”
dole."
how hard
harditit is to be on the
Sid
Vicious – on
SidVicious-on
aaplanein1977
plane in 1977
“Been
to The Clash,"Been listening
listening toobviously,""The ClashClashobviously,” says
says Sid. “The
onlywrote
only wrotethose
thosesongs
songsinin thethe first
firstplace 'cos
’cos of me
aboutliving
livingininaa poxy
poxy squatinplace
me andand ’im'im [Rotten][Rotten] moaningmoaning aboutsquat inHampstead.
prob ablythem
them coming
coming up
uptherethere andand seeing
seeing thetheHampstead.ItIt was
was probably
squalorliving ininthatthat encouraged
encouraged themthat shit."squalor we
we were living
themtoto writewrite all
all thatshit.”
Squalor in Hampstead,the bastion
bastionof
of liberalism?
Hampstead, theliberalism?
"Oh no,”no," says
says Rotten.
Rotten. “You"Youshoulda
shoulda seen
seen it."“Oh
it.”
Vicious: “It"It waswas liberal,liberal, allallright.
right. ItItdidn’t
didn't even
even have
haveaabathtub.”bathtub."
Was there
there any
anyparticularparticular plan
plan or strategy in mind
mind right at thethe start
start ofofthethe Pistols?
Pistols?
ROTTEN: “Instinct.
"Instinct. ItIt hasn’t
hasn't reallyworked
Rotten:really workedout
outlikelikethat.
that.WeWe nevernever sat
downandandwrote
wroteaathesis.
thesis.There's
There’sno
norules,rules,and
andno
noorder.
order.We
Wejustjustdo
doit,
it,
down
which
more to thethe point.
point. Do it, andand whenwhen you can’t
can't do it nono more,more, then
thenwhich is more
don't
don’tdodoitit at
at all."all.”
Vicious: “Ifnopoint
pointinindoing
doingit.
it.
VICIOUS:"Ifititrequires
requires any
any real
real effort,
effort, then
then there’s
there's no
It should
should just come.
come. If you
youhavehavetotoforceforceit,it,thenthenthere’s
there'ssomething
something wrong.”
wrong."ROTTEN: “Yeah,"Yeah, if you
youhavehave toto sitsitdown
down in your
your room
room and
Rotten:andgo,
go,'I've‘I’vegot
gotto
towrite a song,that’srubbish.
rubbish.ItItjust
justcomes.
comes.It's
It’s there."
there.”
write
song, but
but whatwhat about?’…
about?'... that's
Yeah,IIknow
knowjust
justwhatwhatyou
youmean,mean,John.
John.Pure,
Pure,untainted,
untainted,burningburningYeah,creativity...
creativity…
Rotten:ROTTEN: “Oh"Oh yeah,yeah, man.
man. Far out. It’s
It's very
veryhard
hard notnot toto runrun into
into thosethosehippiethemhippie bullshit
bullshit phrases,
phrases,because
becausesome
someofofthemthemwere
were good,
good, some of themactually
actually meant
meantsomething.
something.It's
It’sjust
justaa shame
shamethat
thattheyruined
they ruineda alot
lotof
of'em
’em
with silly ideas‘Yeah man,be free',free’, which
fuckall."
all.”
with
ideas about,
about, 'Yeahman, I wanna
wanna bewhich meant
meant fuck
VICIOUS:"Free fromfrom what
what they
they never
never even
Vicious: “Freeeven said."said.”'Course we did,
did, man
man-free’Course– freefrom
fromthethesamesamethings
thingsyou
youwant
wantfreefreefrom:
from:preplannedexistences,
existences, boring
jobs,
preplanned
boringjobs,
stifling media…
media...
COOK: "Yeah,
but they
theywerethat
cook:“Yeah, butwere like thatthemselves, weren't
weren’t they?”
themselves,
they?"ROTTEN: "I
can remember
remember going
those
Rotten:“I cangoing to thoseconcerts
those hippies being
being
concerts andand seeing
seeing all those
far out
out andand together,
together,maaaaaaaaan,
maaaaaaaaan, despisingmebecause I was about
about 20 years
yearsyounger
younger than
than
me because
theywereThat's when
they wereandandhaving
having short
short hair.
hair. That’sI saw
sawthroughthrough their
their bullshit.A
punks arebullshit. Alot
lot of punks
like thatthat aswhich makes
makes meas well, which
mereally
reallysick."sick.”
COOK: "The
onlymemory
cook:“The only
memoryofof hippies
hippiesII have
was whenwaswhen I was inin aapark
park once
once when
when we waswas
skinheads
throwin' conkers
skinheadsandandwe
we was throwin’
conkers at thesehippies
that's reallyhippies andand theywere
they weregoin',goin’, 'Hey,‘Hey, that’s
nice, man,
man,II really love conkers.’”
nice,conkers.'"
ROTTEN: “Well,"Well,thatthat mademade you aafool
foolthen,then,didn’t
didn'tRotten:it? IIthink
thinkthey
theywonhands down,
down, because
because you
won hands
4
were wasting
wasting your
your energy
energyandandthey
theywerelaughing
were laughingatyou."
at you.”find-out-what-the-kids-arefind- out -what -the -kids -are doing -and -make -them -stop trick.
doing-and-make-them-stop"Yeah, but
but whenwhen they
they find
find out
out“Yeah,
it's always
always too
says.
it’s
too late,"late,” hehe says.
"In five years’
years' time
time they’ll
they'll have“In
schoolteachers withschoolteacherswith safety pins
their ears. It’s
It's sosopredictablepredictablein theirwith those
withthose oafs."
oafs.”
VICIOUS:"Thedefinition
definition ofVicious: “Thegrown-up is someone
someone who
a grown-up
whocatches on
onjustsomethingcatchesjust as something
redundant."
becomes redundant.”
The kids Rotten
Rotten went
went toto school
schoolwith weren’t
weren't really
reallyinto
withinto music,
music,"except thethe geezers
geezers I hunghung aroundaround“except
with.
with. It waswasin
inskinhead
skinhead times
times
and they couldn’t
couldn't understandunderstandandskinhead could
how a skinhead
couldlike
like The
The
VelvetVelvetUnderground.
Underground. It was
was quite
quite
apt. I went
went to thethe Catholic
Catholic School
apt.
SchoolCaledonian Road, opposite
opposite thethein Caledonian
prison.
What a dungeon!”prison. Whatdungeon!"Force-feeding you
Force-feeding
you religion alongwith thethe lessons?
with“Yeah,
really destroy
you with what they do to"Yeah,ititwas
wasterrible.
terrible.They
Theyreally
destroyyou
to your
your
try andand taketake away
awayany
anykindkindofofthought
thoughtthat
that might
might inin anyanywaybesoul. They try
way beoriginal. You
Youknow
knowwhencaning was banned?
banned? In Catholic
Catholic schools
schools that
that
original.
when caning
didn’tapply, because
they’renot
notstatestate-run.
Theygetget aid
didn't apply,
because they're-run. Theyaid from the state,state,
they're notentirely state-run.
state -run. IIdon’t
don'tknow
knowwhere
get their
their money
money
but they’re
not entirely
where they get
from... I'dknow. It’s
It'sprobably
probably some
some Irish
Irish mafia.
mafia.
from…
I’d like to know.
“What"What they
they try to do
do isisturnturn you
you out
out aarobot.
robot.When
When ititcomes
comestotoallocating
allocating
jobs
student who's
about tokicked out
out into
into thethe wildit'sjobs for a student
who’s about
to be
be kicked
wild world, it’s
like bankbank clerk…
clerk... berailway attendant
attendant oralways jobs likebe a railway
oraa ticket
ticket collector.
collector.
Even theA-levels…”
the ones
ones who stayed
stayed on for
forA-levels..."Were any
any ofofthe
theteachers
teachers halfway
halfway human?
human?
"The ones
ones thatthat were
sacked very quickly.
quickly.Everything
Everything was taught
taught in“The
were got sackedinverystrict
strict style,style,in
inthe
thesamesameway
waythattaught religion:
this is thethea verythat they taught
religion: thistruth, thetruth,
thewhole
whole truth
truthandandnothingnothingbut
butthethetruth,truth,and
andififyou
youdon't
don’tlike
like it
you're gonna
gonna getcaned. But
you’reget caned.
But Catholic
Catholic schools
schoolsbuild
buildrebels:
rebels:aalot
lot went
went along
along
with
was always
with it, but a lot
lotdidn’t.
didn't. There
There wasalways a riot in religion
religion classes.
classes.
liked thatthat subject.
subject.
Nobody liked"Igot
gotkicked
kickedout
outwhenwhenI Iwas
wasnearly
nearly1515-14
andaahalf
half-because
had tootoo“I– 14 and– because I had
long hair. I had
had really
really long
long hair…”
hair...""Abaldingb aidingold
oldhippy
hippywithbigpair
pairofofplatforms
platforms on,”
on,"sneers
sneers Vicious.
Vicious.
“Awith aabig"That's whatwent totothe
thesamesame college
college asashim…”
him..."“That’swhat you
you were. I went“…to"...to get O-levels,”
0 -levels,"Rotten
Rottenfinishes
finishes thethe sentence
sentence for him.
him. “I"I waited
waited a year
year
and a bit because
because I went on buildingbuilding sites
working, andandsites working,andthenthenII went
went toto getsome 0O-levels-levels because
because II stillthat 0O-levels-levels were thethe way tosomestill had
had it in me thatheaven…plus
plusII didn't
didn’twant
wanttotoworkwork nono more.
heaven...
more.
"Igot
gota agrant.
grant.
It wase asy.For
Forsomesomereason
reason“I
It wasveryvery.
easy.
I alwaysalways liked
likedtechnicaltechnical drawing
drawing andgeography.At
At college I didgeography.
did maths,
maths, English,
English,physics, technicaltechnical drawing and chemistry…”
chemistry..."COOK: “I’ve"I've got
got anan O-level
0 -levelin
inwoodwork.”
woodwork."
cook:
Vicious:
VICIOUS:“I’ve"I'vegot
gottwotwoO-levels…
0 -levels...English
EnglishandandEnglishLiterature... andintelligent."
English Literature…
andI'mI’mvery
very intelligent.”
ROTTEN: “English"English Literature
Rotten:Literaturewas
wasaajoke.
joke.
I passedpassed thatthat with
with flying colours
colours without
without eventrying.
stupid fucking
trying.It
It was stupid
fuckingKeats
Keats poetry,
poetry,becauseEnglish in my Catholic
Catholic school.
becauseII did
did mymy English
“They
the
"They kicked meme outout halfway
halfway throughthrough thecourse because
because theycoursetheysaid
saidI'dI’d never pass, but
they'dwent andand tookthey’dalreadyalreadyenteredenteredme,me,sosoII went
the exam
examprivately
privatelybbecausetheecause I was still
still entitledentitled todown at County
County Hall.
sit down
Hall.
"AndIIpassed
passedwith
with an
an A…
A...andand IIwent
wentdown
downthere
there
“And
with
andshowed
showedititto
to 'em."’em.”
with thethe certificate
certificate andgetty"We're“We’refighting
peoplewho
peopl whoought
ought to be on
our
side”
ourside/T
MAYOR
MAYNOT
NOTseemseemironicironic now,
now, butbutt MAY
oR MAY
when-year -old JohnJohn
whenJohnny
JohnnyRotten
Rottenwas
was1515-year-old
ofFinsbury
Finsbury Park,
Park, hehe waswastossed
tossed out
out
Lydon ofhis hair
hairwaswastootoolong,long, thethe oldoldof school
school because
because his

I

HISTORY OF
104 | HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
104
I

UNLIKEFELLOW ReggAe
REGGAE freaks innlike fellow
The Clash,
Clash, there’s
there's no reggae
reggae inin thethe
Pistols' repertoire.
repertoire.
Pistols’"Ifindfindthatthatslightly
slightlycondescending
condescending-– andand thatthat is notnot“Ia slag-off
slag -offof
ofThe
TheClash.
Clash.I’m
I'mwhite,white, andand I’mI'm rock.
rock. I don’t
don't

U

sex
SEX pistols
PISTOLSthen
then some twisto went into
into thethe bogbogafterafterheÕd
he'dfinishedfinishedand
andstarted
startedtaking
takingpolaroid s ofpolaroidsof it.
uses footfoot powder
powder on
on hishis hair
hair because
because it absorbs
absorbs all
the grease.
He uses
all thegrease.I neversaw him
who didnÕt
hasslehim,
him,andandII never
never saw him
him hassle anyone
anyone who
didn't hassle
bullshit anyone
bullshitanyone who
who didn'tdidnÕtbullshit
bullshithim,
him,andandwhatwhatmore
morecancanyouyou say foranyone inanyonein1977?
1977?
ÒTurn
John
"Turn thethe otherother cheek too often andand you get
get aarazor
razorthroughthrough itÓit" Ð-John
Rotten, 1977.
Rotten,1977isisaaprize
prizeyear
yearforforviolence,violence,andandtalking
talkingabout
about thethe Pistols nearly
nearlyStill, 1977
always ends
Ð inthethewords
words of Garyends up
up asastalkingtalking about
about violence,violence,so
so-in
Gary
Gilmore-let'sGilmoreÐ letÕsdo
do it.
"When they
ÒWhen
they push
pushyouyouintointoaa cornercornerlike
likethat,
that,what
whatareareyouyoutotodo?
do?YouYoueitheror give up,
either kill them
them orup, whichwhich isisveryverysad,sad,because
because weÕre
we're fighting
fighting
people who
our sideÉside... or
are onour side but donÕt
don't know
peoplewho ought
ought toto be
be on ouror areon ourknow it.
saywe'reusing them,
them, but thethe real
real people
people who
who areareusing
usingthem
them they
they
They sayweÕre usingdonÕteven know about.Ó
don't even
about."
VICIOUS:"We'requite
quitenicenicefriendly
friendly chappies,
chappies, really, but
but everyone
everyone has
has
Vicious: ÒWeÕre
beastly side to them,
them, donÕt
don't they?
can't think
think of anyone
anyone I know
knowwhoa beastly
they? I canÕt
whoif
if
somebody
messedaroundaroundwith
withthem
themtheywouldn't
they wouldnÕtdo
do'emÕemover."over.Ó
somebodymessed
ROTTEN:ÒPeople"Peoplearearesick
sickofofbeing
beingused,
used,butbuttheyÕre
they'renow
nowattacking
attacking thethe
Rotten:wrong people
people-Ðeg,skinhead, everyone
wrongeg,us.
us.WhenWhenII was
was a skinhead,
everyoneII know
know used
usedtoto go
goto thethe matchmatchhadhadnothingnothingto
todo
dowith
withit.
it. What
What else
the football games,
games, andand thethere to do?
do?Disco?
Disco?TheTheyouth
youthclub?
club?TalkinÕ
Talkin"boutmy
mygenerationÉ
generation...
was thereÕboutthere wasnothing else
there
was nothingelse except
except alcohol."alcohol.Ó
withaa bunch
bunchofof peoplewhoÕre there
theretoto havehave
Yeah, but
but having
having aabarneybarneywith
people who're
onething,
thing, but
but random
random picking-on inin thethe streets
streets Ð-likeone too is one
picking-on
like somesomeskinheads used
to hippies
hippies-is
other ballgame.
ballgame.
skinheads
used toto do toÐ isaa whole otherRotten:ROTTEN:ÒYeah,"Yeah,butbutto
toaaskinhead
skinhead ititlooked
lookedlike:
like:ÔThese'Thesegeezers
geezers arearehaving fun
fun doing
what theyÕre
they're doing
havingdoing what
doingand
andwe'reweÕrenotnot just
just because
becauseofof thethe way
look, sososmashsmash Õem'em up andand stop
stop their
we look,theirfun.'fun.ÕIt'sItÕsjust
justlike
like thetheTeds
Teds inin
London,Õcoslike
like I said, when
to a festival,
MANY
PEOPLElike
LIKEtotofeel
feelthat
thatMalcolm
Malcolm McLaren
McLaren is
London, 'cos
when I had
had a crop
crop andand II went
went tofestival, thetheAnY PeoPle
is in
in
total
reaction I had
had was terrible.
terrible.
reaction
totalcontrol
controlof
ofthe
theSexSex Pistols:
Pistols: Svengali
Svengali toto Rotten'sRottenÕsTrilby.
Trilby.
Maybe they feel
feelhappierhappierthinking
thinking thatthat RottenÕs
Rotten's controlledcontrolled"Violence is always
always thethe endend result
result of nothingnothing toÒViolence
todo.And
do. Andit'sitÕsveryveryeasy,easy,
anditÕs very stupid.Ó
by McLaren
McLaren than
than they do feelingfeeling thatthatand it's
stupid."maybe
isn't controlledcontrolled at
JohnnyJohnnyRotten
Rottenisisananavidavidfan
fanof
ofThe
ThePrisoner,
Prisoner,maybe he isnÕt
at all.
SEE WHAT YOU'RE MISSING"Theyneedthat because
because they donÕt
don't
which figures.
he's notnot aanumber.
number. HeÕs
He's
which
figures. After all, heÕsÒThey
needtoto do thatT
than they alreadywant to think
think differently
differentlythan
already
free man.
man.Andmatter what
they put
put himhim
a freeAnd no matter
what theydo. They like their
their safe world. They donÕt
don't
through, he'll
freer man
man thanthan anythrough,heÕllalways
always be a freer
like realising
realising thethe way
waythings
the people
people whoÕve
who've tried
tried to tear
tear him
him down.
things actuallyactuallyare."are.Ó
of thecook:
COOK:ÒThey
"Theyfucking
fucking do
dothatthat with
withCharlesShaarMurray
Charles
Shaar Murray •everybody. They donÕt
don't likelikeadmitting
admitting thatthat
anybodyanybody actuallyis
actually isthe
thewayway they
they are.
are. TheyS
always say, ÔThey
always'They got
gotititfrom
fromthem,
them,theyÕre
they'rejustthem.'"
just like them.ÕÓ
tiohtn_
VICIOUS:"Thetrouble
trouble isisthatthat thethe generalgeneralVicious: ÒThe.4 oq,
public are so
so contrived
contrived themselves
themselves thatthat
"FUNK SKUNK
JUNK"
they
can't imagine
they canÕt
imaginehow
how anybody
anybody else
else could
EH,s DON'T CPaLtste
notcontrived. Therefore,
you're notnotnot be contrived.
Therefore, if youÕre
A.:411.11 TISC
SE
contrived,they
theyhave
havetotofindfindsomesomeway
way ofcontrived,"BLAME° PRINCESSGRACE"
justifying their own contrivanceÉÓ
contrivance..."the past:
past: Jack
Ghost voiceover from theIS
Nicholson inin Easy Rider
telling Fonda
Nicholson
Ridertelling
Fonda andand
Hopper,They'reHopper, "They'reÒTheyÕre not
not scaredscaredof you. TheyÕre
Sex pisTOLs
scaredrepresent to themÉ
them...
scared ofwhatof what you represent
what you represent
what
represent to them
them is freedom.
freedom.
But talking
talking about
about it andand being
being itit-Ð thatÕs
that'stwo different things.
ÒI
sold"I mean,mean, itÕsit's real
real hard
hard to be free
free when
when youyou areare boughtbought andand soldin the marketplace.
marketplace. 'Course,
don't ever telltellanybody
anybodythat
thattheyÕre
they'reÕCourse, donÕt
not'cos then
then theyÕre
they're gonna get real
real busy
busykillinÕ
killin'andandmaiminÕ
maimin'not free, Õcosto prove toto youyouthatthat they
they are.
are.OhOhyeahyeah-Ð theyÕre
they're gonna
gonnatalk
talk toto youandand talk toto youyouabout
about individual
individual freedom,
freedom, but
and talk
talk to you andbut theythey
seefree individual,
individual, it's
gonna scare
see a freeitÕs gonnascare'ern."Õem.Ó
But IIdonÕt
don't telltellÕem'emwhatwhatmymyghostghostvoice
voicesays,
says,because
becausethatÕs
that'shippies,hippies, andand that'sthatÕspast
pastandandgone...
goneÉand
andititwas
was bullshit
bullshitanyway.
anyway.
so they
they tell me.
Or soWhen hehe waswas eight he
A few
fewmoremorethings
things about
about Johnny
Johnny Rotten.
Rotten. When
hadmeningitis, andweak eyes,
eyes,permanent
permanent sinus,
sinus,
had meningitis,
anditit left him with weakstuntedhunched back.
stuntedgrowth
growth andand a hunched
The once-decayed
are held
held
once -decayed teeth
teeth which
which got him
him his nickname
nickname are"Itjustcomes,“It just comes,it's
it’s
together
together with
with steel
steel rods.
there":Johnny
there”: Johnny
RottenRottenononhis
his
onlytimesawhimhimthrow
throw upupwas
wasbecause
becausehis
hisdinner
dinner had
had
They only
time I saw
songwritingo977
songwriting, 1977
disagreed with
with his somewhat
disagreed
somewhat unstable
unstable digestive systemÉ
system... and
and

M

%No

?ALIF

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 105

ray stevenson / rex features

butI like what
like rock music,
music, butwhat we do with
with it. How could
could we sing
sing about
about
`Jah
Rastafari'? Even ÔPolice'Police And
AndThievesÕ
Thieves' isisfullfullofofinnuendo,
innuendo, itÕsit'saboutaboutÔJah RastafariÕ?
three
and on each side areare thethe police
police andand thethethreeinin oneone God
God on the cross andthieves; Rasta
Rasta in theThatÕs what
what thethe songsong implies.
implies. It doesnÕt
need
thieves;the middle.
middle. That's
doesn't needto saysaymore,don't
more, because
becauseaaJamaican
Jamaicanwill
willknowknowstraightstraightaway.
away. Besides,
Besides, I donÕt
like Junior
Junior MurvinÕs
Murvin's voice."
voice.Ó
HeÕs
He's very much
much like Curtis
Curtis Mayfield.
Mayfield.
"Yeah, very
verymuchmuch like
like Curtis
Curtis Mayfield.Ó
Mayfield."ÒYeah,
And
don't like
Curtis Mayfield?
And you donÕt
like Curtis
Mayfield?
ÒYeah,
it.
"Yeah, IIdo.
do.IIlikelikethethemusic;
music;thereÕs
there's aa different
different feel about
about it.
black kids
kidsdig
digyouryourmusic?
music?Do
Dotheytheyunderstandpart of thethe
Do black
understand it as partsame
same thing?
ÒFor"For sure.
sure. Where
Where was
was thatthat gig where
where aalot
lotofofdreads
dreadsturned
turned up?
up? That
That waswasreallyshocking. I think
think itit was an early Nashville, years
years ago. There
There waswasreally shocking.
a few ofofthemthematatthe
theback,
back,and
andIIwaswasreally
reallyshocked
shockedthat
thattheyÕd
they'd be
be there.
there.
I talkedtalked totothemthem afterwards
afterwards and they said,
said, ÔUnderstand,'Understand, just understand,understand,man
understand, mon'.
any trouble
trouble from blacks. They
They
manwill
will understand,monÕ.YouYou never
never get any
understandunderstandit'sitÕs thethe samesame movement."
movement.Ó
Yeah, but
but reggae
reggae singers
singers talk
talk about
about what
what they
they love at
at least
least asasmuchmuch asas
theyabout what
they do about
what they
they hate.
hate.
"Don't we?"ÒDonÕtwe?Ó
Only bybyimplication:
implication: in thethe sense
sense thatthat if itÕsit'sknown
known what
what youyoustandstandagainstcan thenagainstitit canthenbebe inferredinferredwhat
whatyou
youstandstandfor.
for.
"Yeah, but
but itÕs
it'sthethe samesame with
with reggae.
reggae. There
There areare so many
many people
people whoÒYeah,
refuseto
to listenlistento
to them:
them:'NoÔNono,
no,it'sitÕsall
all aa big con.
All thisJah
refusecon.Allthis terrible
terrible Jah
andcon toto makemake money.Õ
money.' ThereÕs
There's been
andRasta
Rastastuff,
stuff,it'sitÕs all
all a big con
beenloads
loads
of reviewsÉÓ
reviews..."ÒThat
Nick Kent"That one by
byNickKentwaswasjustjustclassic
classicignorance,
ignorance,comparing
comparing reggae
withhippies."with hippies.Ó

1976
1976

be r

j u l y – s e p t em
JULYSEPTEMBER

Joan Armatrading:Armatrading:absorbingabsorbingall
all theright
rightstyles
stylesof thethe album
mixtureofalbum is aamixture
romantic optimismof romantic
optimism andandexperience, exposing
experience,
exposingaa
lady ofof sensitive
sensitive feeling.
feeling.
ladyaccompaniment, as
The accompaniment,asmight be expected
expected from
from
might
gathering ofstronga gatheringof such strong
players, isspare andplayers,
is spareand atat allall
correctly intimes correctlyin tandemwith thewiththe moods.
SomeEmotion
EmotionShow Someanabsolutely
absolutely
seems to me an
essential item for thecollection ofwithcollection
ofanyoneanyone withremotest interest
the remotest
interest inintoday's music, presenting
presenting
today’sdoesoneoneof
ofour
ourfinestfinestas itit doesdelivering aa
singers deliveringcollection ofsearing collection
There would
songs. Thereappear to-a appear
tobe
beabout
abouthalf
half-apotential hit
dozen potential
hit singles
here, too.
too. What
here,
Whatanan album!
album!
RayColeman,MMSept
70
Ray
Coleman, MM Sept 10

The Boomtown
Boomtown Rats
Rats
The
The Boomtown
Boomtown RatsENSIGNThe
RatsENSIGNALBUMS

Oh Christ,
Christ, what
Oh
what will
will we
welabel
label them?
them? Rock’n’roll,Rock'n'roll,rhythm andrhythmand blues,
blues, pop,
pop,
new
All tags
tags apply
apply
new wave? All
but nono one alone totallybuttotallyfits
truefitsthethebillbillasas a true
representation
representation ofof what
Rats are
The Boomtown
Boomtown Rats
about.
Listen to thisabout. Listen
excellent
excellent debut
debutalbum
album
once
reel inin
once and you’ll
you'll reelconfusion;
confusion;spin
spinititagain
againandandwill squeal
squeal inindelight.
delight.
you will
I mustmust also
also emphasiseemphasise that,that,while thesummon all those
those
while
the Rats
Rats summon
sporadic traces ofstyles, with sporadic
Dylan, Stones, Beatles,
Feelgoods, Springsteen
Springsteen andFeelgoods,
and
their
much more besides, theiradaptation
is notnot oneone thatthatcancanadaptation isderivative. Thisbe called derivative.
This band
band
churns itit totopicks the cream and churns
create their
one
their own identity
identity –-one
that will
withthatwill become clearer with
album, I’m
I'm sure.
each album,
But what is mostmostheartening
heartening
about The Boomtown
Boomtown Rats is that
that
about
it shows thatthat thethe band have left
left
itroom forprogress ininfor real artistic
artistic progress
the future,
future, attheat a time when very
few new-wavebands
bandsthink
think about
about
few
new-wavewhere they’ll
be fivethey'll befive minutes
from now
admirablefromnow (an admirable
but one thatthat toimmediacy, but
to leads
only to a short-lived
short-lived existence).
havebeen
beencompared
compared
The Rats have
to Dr
Dr Feelgood
Feelgood when,heavily towhen, inin
fact,
they are thefact, they
the time-warped
time -warped(though great(thoughgreat nonetheless)nonetheless)

REVIE
W
1977

ALBUMSALBUMS
Joan
Armatrading
Joan Armatrading

Michael putland / getty

Show
M
Show Some
SomeEmotion
EmotionA&
A&M

With
oblique, uniquelyWith her
her oblique,structuredsongs
songsandand a voice
structured
voice thatthatswirlspassionately around thetheswirls so passionately
words
words thatthat you
you just
just have to listen
carefully, Joan
Joan Armatradinghas
carefully,
Armatrading has
quickly
our most
quickly become
become one
one ofof ourdistinguisheddistinguishedartists.
artists.When
Whensheshearrived with
with her brilliant
arrivedbrilliant album
Joan Armatrading,Armatrading, keen students
ofwould beof thethe songs knew it would
hard forforherherto
totop
topsuchsuchaahardcollection.
"Lovecollection.Every
Every one, from “LoveAnd Affection”
Affection" toto "Water“Water And
The Wine”,
Wine", had thatthat compellingcompellingtouch
truly original
original artist
artisttouch of a truly
who had absorbed
absorbed all thethe right
rightstyles and then
then transplanted
transplanted her
own urgent
urgent stamp.
stamp.
Here she is, then,then, long
long after
after
Here
that crucial breakthroughthat
breakthroughalbum...andalbum… and it's
it’s great
greattotobe
be ableable
toto heraldheraldShowSome
Show SomeEmotion
Emotionasasa spectacular
spectacular follow-up,
follow-up, full
full ofwarm songs reflecting
reflecting thethe album
album
title
mirroring Joan's
titleandand also mirroring
Joan’sapparent obsession withapparentromanticromanticaspirations
aspirationswhich
whichsheshefears might not be fulfilled.
fulfilled.
Her
lie firmly
in thethe blues,
blues,Her roots
roots lie
firmly in
andnever has this
this been
been more
more
and neverapparent than onon“Opportunity”,"Opportunity",a cleverly
cleverly conceived
conceived song about
about
HISTORY OF
106 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
106

committing acommitting
crime (a bank raid,
crimeperhaps?) which results
results in misery.
Joan'saspirations to this depth
depth
Joan’s aspirations
songwriting bodeof songwritingbode well for the
futureandand herher rarerare plaintive
futureplaintive vocal
firmly inline ofofdescentdescent
puts her firmly
in a line
fromfromthethe great
greatblues
blues singers.
“Woncha Come
Come On
On Home",Home”,"Wonchawhich
which kicks
kicks off
offthetherecord,
record,isisas
aspowerful as
anything she
powerful
as anything
she hasperformed
in thethe upbeat,upbeat, while
performed in"Show Some Emotion”
Emotion" and“Show"Peace In
In The
TheMind”
Mind"“Peacedemonstratedemonstrate again her
her quirky
quirkysong construction,
construction, which
whichremains
remainssuch aapositive
positive characteristic.
characteristic.
There’s even
even a pure
There'spure ballad,ballad, “Get
"Get
The Sun”,
Sun", which
which is kicked
kicked so
In Theso
inthe
thetreatment
treatment thatthat ititturns
hard inturns
into a blend
blend ofinto
of disco
discoandandjazz.
jazz.
But yes, there
there is aacriticism.
criticism.
Butof thethe speedy changes
Because of
the songs
songs –- notably
notably thein thepoignant ballad “Willow”,"Willow", with
with its
poignant
written story,
carefully written
story, along theof “Reach"Reach Out,
Out, I’ll
I'll Be There”
There"
lines of
-Joan's– Joan’sdiction
dictionloses
loses out
out and the
lyrics are
lyricsdifficult todifficultdiscern. A
shame, but
careful study
repaid, allis repaid,allthethesame.
same. TheThe
lyrical theme

Feelgoods taken
vital andFeelgoods
takenaa vitalandimaginative step further.
imaginative
further.
The potential
potential forforthisthisbandbandisisprettyprettyunnerving.
unnerving.
For the present, though,this
this album encapsulatespresent
past
present(new(newwave),wave), past(’60s R&B)
CoosR&B) andandfuture
future (the(thescintillating
scintillating combination
combinationofboth with-thoughtof bothwithwellwell-thoughtout lyrical
lyricalandand musicalmusicalout
arrangements).

c,

New -wave followers
followers will
New-wavewill
undoubtedlypick
pickononthe
the'77’77 popundoubtedlypop'n'energy feel
feel ofof “Lookin’"Lookin' After
After’n’ energy
Numbers","Mary OfOf The Fourth
FourthNumber1”, “MaryForm", “She’s"She's Gonna
Gonna Do You In”
In"Form”,
and, with
with slightly
slightly lessless enthusiasm,"Neon“NeonHeart",
Heart”,while
whilestaunch
staunchR&B
R&B
fanatics cancangetgettheirtheirfulfilment
fulfilment
out"Kicks", “Close"Closeout ofof things
things like
like “Kicks”,
As You’ll
You'll Ever Be”
Be" andand“Never"Never
Bite The Hand That Feeds”,
Feeds", the
the
Bite
only
duff track
only duff
trackonon thethe album.
album.
future, wemust look
look toFor the future,
we mustthearrangements ofthe sharp arrangementsof those
those
tunes
wellasasreferringreferring toto twotwotunes as well
beautiful
beautifulballads
balladsonon thethealbum,
album,"Joey's
On TheStreet Again",“Joey’s On
The Street
Again”,one
one
in thethe Morrison/Springsteen/
Morrison/Springsteen/
Lynott/Parker/ Costello
Lynott/Parker/
Costello mould,
and the even more
more poignant
poignant"I
Can", which
which“I CanCan Make
Make ItIt IfIf You
You Can”,
seems toto be
be heavily
heavily influenced
influenced by
Dylan vocally.
vocally.How
Howencouraging
encouraging
Dylan
itit is to see aaband
bandtackle
tackle twotwosuch songs when thethe river
river isisrunning,running,even
even gushing,gushing, in the
opposite
direction.
opposite direction.
Vocalist Bob Geldof
Geldof is
Vocalist
undoubtedly
theundoubtedlythe
themainmainmanman inin theRats.His
Hislyrics,
lyrics,particularly
particularly on
Rats.
on"Kicks"“Kicks”andand "Joey's“Joey’s On
On TheThe
StreetStreetAgain",
Again”, display
display acute
acute
awareness of what is happening
happeningon thethe street
street andand inin thethe home.
home.
The chauvinism
chauvinism and sheer
bloody-mindedness ofof “Lookin’"Lookin'bloody-mindedness
Afterwill no doubt
doubt
AfterNumber
Number1"
1” willwin
few enemies.
enemies.
win him
him a few
singer, his
his asset
asset isisknowingknowing
As a singer,theratherthe limitations
limitationsof
ofhis
his voice rather
than stretching
stretching and blowing the
gaff,
within aa set
set
gaff, soso he works well withinframework,
framework, embellishingembellishing thethe top
top
vocal with
with some nifty
nifty harmonies
harmonies(ason“Neon"NeonHeart”
Heart" and “Mary"Mary(as onOf
4th Form”,
Form", with
with its great
great
Of TheThe 4thchildishchildish chant outro).
healthy relationshiprelationshipHe enjoys aahealthy
withcompetentwith thethe rest
rest of his competent
band, trading
trading vocal bursts
bursts forfor
guitarwith CottCottandguitar licks withandRoberts, alaJagger
Jagger and Richards.
Richards.
Roberts,à la
I'd like toto seesee Johnny
Johnny Fingers’
Fingers'
I’dpotential
potentialexploited
exploitedmore.
more. On
On thisalbum, hehe seems aalittle
album,
little tied
tied
fairlydown, playing a fairly
predictable rolepredictablerole rather
rather than
than
expandingthe music
music toto an
expanding thebroader horizon.
even broader
Naturally, with
with a neo-newNaturally,
wave band,
band, thethe rhythm
rhythmsectionsolid, with
with Petesectionis
is solid,PeteS

;11:'- ;*:SINGLESSINGLESAdverts
Adverts
Gary Gilmore's
Gary
Gilmore’sEyes
EyesANCHOR
ANChorHarryDoherty,MMAug27
Harry Doherty, MM Aug 27
BILLY
BILLY JOEL
JOEL

Souvenir
SouvenirCBS
CBS

Some artists
artists sit on thethe precipice
precipiceofMajor Breakthrough
Breakthrough for
forof The Major
becomes an act ofso longlong thatthat itit becomesreal patience, awaiting their
theirarrival.
withBilly
BillyJoel.
arrival. So itit isiswith
Joel. Ever
tookaa fancy
since America
America took
fancy toto himwithkiller single called “Piano"Pianowith a killer
Man", itit hashasbeenbeen obvious
obvious with
with
Man”,
the release
release ofof each album that
hethethat hehas allallthethe vocal,
vocal,instrumental,
instrumental,
and songwriting
songwriting equipment tomatch theof Elton
Elton John.
John.
match
the impact
impact ofanything, he's
more
If anything,he’s a more
inspired,predictable writerwriterinspired, less predictable
than Elton,
Elton, as evinced
than
evinced here by"The
Entertainer", "The“The Entertainer”,“TheBallad
BalladOf
Kid" and"I've Loved
Of Billy
Billy TheThe Kid”
and “I’ve
Loved
These Days".
Days”. Basically, Billy
These
Billy Joel
Joel
writescloser toto thethewrites songs much closerboneothers. He
bone than
than many others.
He takes
as hishisbasis
basisforforwriting
writing not
not love ororinterdependence
interdependenceby
by twotwo people,
people,more
more thethelonelinesslonelinessand
andnearnear-desperationofof young
young Americans.
Americans.
desperation
Thus, “New
"New YorkYork State
StateOfOf Mind”
Mind"and “Los"Los Angelenos”
Angelenos" tend
tend toto bebecommentaries onon the extremescommentaries
extremesofthese two
two cities,of thesecities, while
while"Captain“CaptainJack"Jack”isisaa lament
lament onon

at sea.
sea.
a 21-year-old
21 -year -oldman
manmorally
morally at"The Entertainer”
Entertainer" parades“The
parades the
the
empty
empty life
lifeonon thethe roadroad ofof thosethosepeople, while
while"Say“Say Goodbye
GoodbyeToTo
people,Hollywood" pinpoints
pinpoints thecity'sHollywood”
the city’stransparent
transparentshallowness.
shallowness.
As wellwell asasbeing
being aafine
fine writer,writer,Joel
powerful pianist.
pianist. This
Joel is aapowerfulrecord,recording,record, fromfrom a TV recording,presents material from threepresents
threealbums, Piano Man,
Man, Streetlife
Streetlife
SerenadewellSerenade andand Turnstiles,
Turnstiles,asas well
He has not
as new
new material.
material. He
not taken
taken
an easy route
route in success, being
being
a commentatorcommentator on
on thethe passing
scene more
more than aaflat-out
flat-outromantic.
continues toromantic. But
But ifif hehe continues
tobuild
strength, there
build onon his strength,
thereisisnonodoubt Joelwill
willeventually
eventually clinch
doubtJoelit,
performances ofit, because his performancesofinteresting
ofteninterestingsongs
songs are often
magnetic.
magnetic.
RayRayColeman,MM
Coleman,
MMAug
Aug73
13

NME Aug 20

The
Desperate Bicycles
BicyclesThe Desperate
The
Medium Was
Was Tedium/
Tedium/The Medium
Don't Back
Don’t
BackTheTheFront
FrontREFILL
rEfIllPresumably inspired
inspired to
Presumably
tomakemake arecord by the punk dictum
dictum which
recordwhich
states thatanyone cancan play, The
that anyone
Desperate Bicycles
Desperate
Bicycles went
wentaheadahead
did it.
it. The
The result
result is not
not aalittle
littleand didweird.
John Peel
Peel plays it all theweird. John
time. And
when
time.
Andififyou
youaskask me, whenobviously has
hastheirtheiranyone so obviously
credentials
in all the rightcredentials inright places,
these boys
boys do,do, you
you can’t
can't
as these
not atpossibly knock it. Well, notleast until
they sign
sign with
until they
with a major
record label.
NME
recordlabel.
NMEJulJul76
16

Roogalator,le Single
Single GirlLove And The
GirlVIRGIN
VIrGIN
Old-fashioned
Hmmmmmm. Old-fashioned
blue-beatjump rhythm,
rhythm, electric
blue-beatjump
electric
chiming liketall
piano chiming
likeice
ice inin a tallon aahot
hot day,
day,breathy
breathy vocals
glass onlike Colin
with
Colin BlunstoneBlunstone withlaryngitis. Must
Roogalator!
laryngitis.
Must bebe Roogalator!
I'm alreadyalready tappingtapping my fingers
fingers
I’m
gentlyon thethe tabletableandand wishingwishingII
gently onout forforaa beer.
could go out
This record
record tries abnormallyabnormally
hard tojust
to soundsound cool,
cool,butbutititjust
wet. Even
Eventhetheattemptattemptsounds wet.
rave-up B-side
B-sidetransforms
transforms
at aarave-up
James Brown’s
Brown's sweaty,
sweaty,demonic
demonic"I Got You”
You" into
into something
something long,“I
neat. Roogalator
Roogalator playcool and neat.
play
great
and I love
great andlove thethe kindkind ofof midmid'6os R&B soulsoulthatthat they’re
they're’60s
drawing on,
but hey, aalittle
little more
more
drawing
on, but
humanity,please.NME
humanity, please.
zo
NMEAugAug 20SINGLES

W
REVIE
197 7

T
T Rex
Rex

Celebrate Summer
Celebrate
SummerEMI
EMI

one golden
golden instantinstant IIthought
thought
For onefinally pulledpulled off
off theMarc had finallyunalloyed pop triumphthat hehetriumph thatconvincing, viableviableneeds as aaconvincing,follow-up tofollow-up
to "Get“GetItItOn".
On”. This
isn’t
isn't it, but
but it’s
it's certainly
certainly the most
likeable single
made forfor aalikeable
singlehe's
he’s madetime, even thoughthough it,
long time,
it, ahem,
ahem,borrows
the melody
melody andand chordborrows thechord
Deviants'
sequence of The Deviants’"Let's Loot
Loot The Supermarket”.
Supermarket".
“Let’s“Summeris heavenin '77",’77”, yeah?
yeah?
"Summer isheaven in
Depends where
where you
Depends
you are, Marc.
wouldn't anticipate
I wouldn’t
anticipateheavy
heavysales
sales
in Lewisham
Lewisham forfor a week
week or two.
NME A
ug 20
20
NME
Aug

Ian Dury
Dury
Ian
Rqx And
AndDrugs
Drugs And
AndRock’n’Roll
Rock'n'Roll
Sex
STIFF
StIff

ex -pub -rockluminaireluminaireThis ex-pub-rockinfinitely more credit
creditdeserves infinitely
for the-'70s renaissancerenaissance ofofforthe late
late-’70s
rock culture
than all thoseculture thanarteriosclerotic lard-bellyarteriosclerotic
lard-belly"grand pappy of punk”
punk"“grandspecimens thatthat thethe gutter-rockgutter -rockhasofferedoffered up
up forfor instantinstant
press hasdeity. He
one ofof thethedeity.
He was one
prophets
prophets most responsible forforkicking music
kickingmusic out
outof
ofthe
thetaxtax-rock -Tsarsyndrome
syndrome andhaven rock-Tsarandrestoringto thethe rightful
rightfulacne
acne-restoring itit toowners in the sweaty
ravaged owners
subterranean depths,
depths, while
while also
subterranean
possessing thethe suss toto realise
realisethat fashion
there tothatfashion is there
to be
be led,led,
followed. Heothernot followed.
He and no otherwas theof safety
safety-pin
the instigatorinstigator of-pin
wearing thethe objects
chic, wearing
objectsinin hishislugholes whenlugholeswhen Richard
Richard Hell
Hell wasstill
theminin hisstill wearing
wearing them
Mothercare diapers.
Mothercare
diapers.
The
geezer's music boasted
boastedThe geezer’s
a totaltotal AngloAngloconsciousness
somewhat akinsomewhatto a vicious
vicious
Syd
Barrett,
and1976
and1976
finallyrolledaroundTheAdverts:(I-r)
The
Adverts: (l–r)
LaurieDriver,TV
LaurieDriver, TV
Smith,GayeAdvert
Smith,
Gaye Advert
Howard Pickup
Pickupand Howard

apres Dury le deluge.
deluge. And
And while
while
après
the majorityof punk
punk bands
bands aremajority ofgetting pecky
getting
peckylayers
layers of flabaround their
their souls
they getgetaroundsouls as theyused to the idea of having
havingpressofficer
officertickling
tickling their
theira press
from dawn to dusk
anus fromafter
after making their
theircross oncross
on thatthatsix
six-figure recording
contract,
Dury's still
still
Dury’ssharp andsleazy. IfIf thetheyoungsters
can't keep
can’t
up the pace
without
terminal
bland -out, thenthenbland-out,
TOO BAD.
TOO
Dury has createdcreated a Juke
Ian DuryClassic aroundaround youth
youth
Box Classic
cultures' Holy Trinity
Trinity that
cultures’
that would
would
Universal No
No 1l ifif Eddie
Eddie
be a Universal
Cochran hadn't
Cochranhadn’tdied
diedininvainvain andandwasn'tif our national media wasn’t
controlled bycontrolled
by joylessreactionary loonies.
reactionary
loonies. It's
It’s possiblystatement in
the ultimate statement
hedonistic London
narcissistic, hedonistic
Omnipotence over
Mod Omnipotence
purity of funk, inducing
stunning purity
addiction that
that
immediate addiction
intensifies over the subsequent
intensifies
Our Kidgrooves where Our
Kid gets
understandably chokedunderstandably
choked withwithemotion as
measured up
emotionas he gets measuredup
for his new
new custom-madecustom-made mohairmohairforhe cancan look
look like
like a real
real Tasty
Tasty
so he
Geezer when
Geezerwhenhehe goesgoes inin searchsearchof the night.
The"Razzle In My
The B-side
B-side is “Razzle
Pocket", about getting
getting nicked
Pocket”,
nickedtea -leafing ininthe
theSouthSouthStreet
Streettea-leafing
Romford Shopping Arcade out
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in Essex Overspill,conclusively thatproves conclusively
thatIanIan
writing theDury is writing
soundtrack for thisgeneration,
thankfully
which thankfully
ain't really got
got
ain’t
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sweet FA towith being
being Blank.
with
NME Sept 3
HISTORY OF
107
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |I 107

4dgrrnrahl-

ian dickson / getty

Briquette andCrowe
Briquetteand Simon Crowe
providingproviding thethe backbone.
backbone.
This rates as
asone
oneof
ofthe
the best
best
debut
debutalbums
albumsininyears
years andand The
The
Boomtown Rats will be hailed
Boomtown
as oneone ofof thethe best new bands
toI'd betbet myto arrive
arrive inin ages. I’dThin Lizzy collection
collection onit.
on it.

Remember all
those old
old
Remember
all thosehorror movies
horrormovies where
whereaasensitive andand observant
observantconcert pianist, violinist
violinist orconcertgets aamitt
mittsome such gets
transplantand ends up withtransplant andwithofa
brutalthe hands ofa brutalmurderer (or,apres themurderer(or, après
brilliantMarty Feldman,brilliant Marty
ofa
demented
the hands ofa demented
If you do, go
circus clown)? Ifline up with
with Adverts
Adverts main
man TV Smith.
This song is about
about waking
wakingup fromfrom an eyeeye transplanttransplant anddiscovering thatthat thediscovering
the donor
donor was("Let's dodo it”)it") Gilmore, theGary (“Let’s
American murderermurderer who
demanded the death penalty.
performance is,
The performanceis, how
how youyousay,
say,minimal,
minimal, but
but thethe idea is great
great
the record
record carries a genuine
genuineand thenot thethe performance
performance ofchill. IfIf not
the week, “GaryEyes”"Gary Gilmore’s
Gilmore's Eyes"
certainly theis certainly
the idea
idea ofof thethe week.
week.
Who
Whosayssays you
you have
have toto be
be abeardedginko with
with a synthesizer
bearded ginko
synthesizer
thought -provoking?
to be thought-provoking?

rre

1977

OC TOBER Ð DECEMBER

THE
STIFF
TOUR,
ThECLASH,
CLaSh,STiffTOur,
BUZZCOCKS,ROLLING
buzzCOCkS,rOLLiNg
STONESSTONESAND
aNdMORE
MOrE

Three dead,threeinjured
injuredthree
Three dead,NME
NMEOCT
OCT29
29Southern
Southernrock
rockbandbandlynyrd
LynyrdSkynyrdSkynyrddecimateddecimatedin ina planea planecrash.
crash.
AT T
9.02PM
LOCAL
October
20,20,
in in
9.02pmLOCALTIME
TImEononThursday,Thursday,
October
remotewoodlandin south-west
Mississippi,
Lynyrdremotewoodlandin south-west
Mississippi,
LynyrdSkynyrdceasedto exist.
The
whole
band
were
Skynyrdceasedto exist.
The
whole
band
were
involved
in inanan
airaircrash,
killing
three
of of
their
members
involvedcrash,
killing
three
theirmembersandcriticallyinjuring
another
three,
so soaddingto tothetheandcriticallyinjuring
another
three,
addingstringrecenttragedies.
stringof ofrecenttragedies.
The
band'slead
singerRonnie
Van
Zant
died,
along
with
The
band’slead
singerRonnie
Van
Zant
died,
along
with
their
newestrecruit,guitarist
Steve
Gaines(whojoinedtheir
newestrecruit,guitarist
Steve
Gaines(whojoinedlastlastyear)
andandhishissisterCassieGaines,oneoneof ofthethethree
year)
sisterCassieGaines,threebacking
vocalists.
Alsokilledwere
personal
managerDeanbacking
vocalists.
Alsokilledwere
personal
manager
Dean
Kilpatrick
andandthethetwotwopilots,while
twotwoof theroadcrew
Kilpatrick
pilots,whileof the
road
crew
died
subsequently
hospital.
diedsubsequently
in inhospital.
GaryRossington(guitar),
Leon
Wilkeson(bass)
andandBilly
Gary Rossington(guitar),
Leon
Wilkeson(bass)Billy
Powell(keyboards)
wereseriously
injuredand,on onMonday,Powell(keyboards)
wereseriously
injuredand,Monday,were
criticallist.
Guitarist Allen
Collinswerestillstillonon
thethecriticallist.
GuitaristAllen
Collins
andanddrummerArtimus
PylePyle
werealsoalso
injured,as wellas asthethedrummer Artimus
wereinjured,as wellotherbacking
singers,
butbutthey
areare
said
to to
bebe
recovering.
otherbacking
singers,they
said
recovering.
The
plane
was
charter
Skynyrd,andwascarrying
The
plane
was
onon
charterto toSkynyrd,andwascarrying
thethefullfullband
andandtheirroadandandlighting
crew.
First
reports
band
their
road
lighting
crew.
First
reportssuggestthatthatit ranoutout
of of
fuel
and
clippedsometrees
as thesuggestit ranfuelandclippedsometrees
as thepilot
tried
to crash
land.
pilot
tried
to crashland.
Theband'slatestalbum,
withthetheunfortunate
titletitle
of of
The
band’slatestalbum,
with
unfortunate
StreetSurvivors,
waswasofficiallyrelereleased
ased herher
byMCA
thetheStreet Survivors,
officiallyby MCA
daydayafter
thethecrash.
And
becauseof this,
MCA
have
nono
after
crash.
And
becauseof this,MCA
have
immediateplans
for fora memorial
or orcompilation
album.
In In
immediateplans
a memorial
compilation
album.
America,thethe
LPLP
went
gold
onon
thethedaydayof ofrelease.
America,went
gold
release.
Skynyrdstarteda massive
four-month
tour
Skynyrdhadhadjustjust
starteda massivefour-month tourof ofthetheStatesto topromotethethealbum.
It opened
onon
OctoberStatespromotealbum.
It opened
October
1515
and
was
due
to to
run
until
mid
-February, andand
they
and
was
due
run
until
mid-February,
they
were
their
a concerton Friday
were
on on
their
waywayto atoconcert
on Friday(21)(21)
at at
Louisiana
University
in BatonRouge
when
thethedisasterLouisiana
University
in BatonRouge
when
disasteroccurred.
Their
BritishpromoterHarveyGoldsmithoccurred.
Their
BritishpromoterHarveyGoldsmithreturnedfromAmerica,after
signingthemhadhadjustjust
returnedfromAmerica,after
signingthem
forfora majorBritishtour
in inMarch.
a majorBritishtour
March.
Theywere
discovered
byAl
Kooper,
and
made
their
They werediscovered
by Al
Kooper,
and
made
their
name
as support
on The
Who’s
1973
tour.
They
first
name
as support
on The
Who's
1973
USUS
tour.
They
first
touredBritainas support
to Golden
Earring,
andandwere
touredBritainas support
to Golden
Earring,were
so so
successful
that
they
finished
byby
headlining
their
successful
that
they
finished
headlining
their
own
Rainbow
concert.
own
Rainbow
concert.
They
have
since
continued
to grow
in instature:
They
have
since
continued
to grow
stature:touring
here
severaltimesandin thelastlast
NMEPolltouring
here
severaltimes– andin theNME Poll
were
voted
of theworld’s
10ck
rock
bands.
were
voted
oneoneof theworld's
TopTop10 rob ands.

pa photos

A

OF ROCK
19771977| HISTORY
OF ROCK
108108HISTORYI[

October 20, 1977: thewreckage of a twin-engine
Convair 240 plane thatcrashed into a wooded
swamp near McComb,
Mississippi, killing and badly
injuring members of Lynyrd
Skynyrd and others on board

t

!;

err

F

Y

r
ctoer20,1977:t e

wreckageof a twin -engine
Conyair 240 plane thatcrashed intoa wooded
swamp near McComb,

1%rhss!ssippi, kil ling and badly

injuring membersof Lynyrd
Skynyrd and otherson board

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 109

1977
1977

OOCTOBER
DECEMBER
CTO B E R –-DECEMBER

october6,1977i6, 1977:
October
Donna summer
Summer high
high
donna
kickingsinging
kickingand
and singing
inSaint-Tropez,
in saint-tropez,
south-eastern
south-easternFrance

what
about our interview?
interview? "There's
what about“There’sno interview,interview, there's
there’sjust
justaa press
press
conference.
CONFERconference.AA PRESSPRESS CON-FEROK, is thatthat clear
clear enough?”enough?"ENCE! OK,
demands Hill ferociously.
superior calmof thethe Hilton
The superior
calm of
Hiltonisisdisturbed
fierce argument
argument breaks
disturbedas
as a fierce
out.
Pyerepresentation
representation fromfromout. The Pyenaturally furious,
furious, andtheEngland are naturally
and thepress baffledbaffled –-thetheDaily
Daily Mirror
Mirrorhad
hadscheduledwhole page
page forfor their
their next
next
scheduled a wholeissue on thethe revelations
revelations ofofMs
Ms Summer.
Summer.
couple ofof hours
hours later
later Donna's
A couple
Donna’smanager
traced, but
managerRon
Ron DeDe Blasio
Blasio is traced,
butis
is

totally
doesn't
totally uncompromising.
uncompromising. He doesn’t
care
howfarcare howfarwe've
we’vecome,come, Donna's
Donna’s
doing
conference, but
but nodoing a press conference,
interviews.
interviews.What's
What’smore,
more, her
her concert
concertinintonight is sold
sold out
out andandthere’s
there's no
noway
Rome tonightway
we
be wangled
wangled in toto seeseeit.
it.“I"Idetect
detectwe can bea distinct
distinct note of hostility,”
hostility,"saidsaid Ms Hill.
dear, whateverwhatever gives you
you thatthat idea?
No, dear,PM
arrives forfor the press conference
conference
Donna arrives
20
befits aa big
big star, forfor
20 minutes
minuteslate,late,asas befitsthatevidently what
whatsheA determined
determinedthat is evidently
she is. A
from Boston,her mark
mark onlady from
Boston, she
she made her
showbusinessappearing inshowbusiness in Europe appearing
in thetheGerman production
production ofof Hair.
knew she wanted
wanted to
to besinger
She knewbe a singer
everhearing Mahalia
ever since hearing
Mahalia JacksonJackson when
she waswasaakid
kidandandfinally
finallygot
gotthere
there three
three
years ago via
viavarious
varioustheatricaltheatrical projects
projects
and modelling,modelling, whenmet Pete
whensheshe metPete
Bellotte and Giorgio
Giorgio Moroder.
Bellotte
There were
were a couple
couple of hits in Europe
EuropeThere
beforebeforeBellotte
BellotteandandMoroder
Morodercame
cameupup
withBaby" andDonna
with"Love“LoveTo
To Love
Love You
You Baby”
and Donna
breathed
breathedandand grunted
gruntedher
herwayway totointernationalthatinternationalstardom
stardom inin the styles that
MM OCT 15 A chaotic trip
trip toMM
tomeetmeetdisco
discostar
starDonna
DonnaSummmer.
Summmer.
Jane Birkin
Birkin had achievedachieved such
suchnotoriety
notoriety
Thekeykeyto
toher
hernotoriety?
notoriety?“I"I just sangsangananerotic
eroticsong,
song,that’s
that's all.”
all."
The
with
before.
with a few years before.
conferences are usually totally
totally
Press conferences
useless affairs
affairs at the best of times,
times, but
but I've
I’ve
never seen
anything likeneverseen anything
likethis.
this.Flanked
Flankedby
byDe
De
order
artists.
ITSOUNDED
trip toorder to write
write something
something about their
their artists.
t soundedAagood
goodidea
idea –-aa free
free trip
Rome! A chance toto see one of Europe’s
Europe's
from a budget
budget set
forBlasio andandananinterpreter,interpreter, Donna,
Donna,looking
looking
BlasioIt comes fromset aside forRome!
prettyanddemure,demure,signals
signalsshe's
she’s readyhistoric cities!
thepromotion... somepretty andready andpromotion…
some call
call itit hype.
hype.
most historiccities!AA socialsocial call on thethe chaos thatthat follows suggests Benito
BenitotheThis particularjunketwas
was making
makingaa fairPope!
Pope! And
Andaapenetrating
penetrating interview
interview with
with theparticular junket
fairdarlingdent in Pye’s
Pye's budget,
budget, Pye having
having only
only just
justMussolini has just
just risen
risen fromfrom thethe dead.
Mussolini
dentdarlingof
ofthe
thePlastic
PlasticMac
MacSet,Set, Donna
Donna Summer.
Ken Jenour(Mirror)andandII had
had hatchedhatchedanancame toto pass
passthetheMelody
MelodyMaker
Maker
acquired theJenour (Mirror)
acquiredthe British
British rights
rightsto
toDonna
DonnaSummer.
Summer.
And so itit cameplot to register
register ourevil plot
our protest
protestwith
withsomesome
ReturnairfarefaretotoRome
Romeisis£211£211 eachand the Daily Mirror, in company
company with
with two
two
Return air
each forfor thetherepresentatives
Mirror andMelody Maker, plus hotel
hotel
embarrassing questions,embarrassing
questions, but
but this
this wasDaily Mirror
and Melody
representativesfrom
fromPye
PyeRecords
Recordsin
in London,
London,obviously
out asany
any semblance
semblance ofoforderorderwaswasdeparted
anticipation of
for all four. No record
record company's
obviously outas
expenses forcompany’s
departedinin breathless anticipationof
immediately lost
excitable
immediately
lost inin the babble of excitable
gonna laymeeting Orgasm
Orgasm Rock's
Rock’s current
meeting
current goddess.
layoutoutthatthatsort
sort ofofbreadbreadwithout
without
problems were
perfect certainty
certainty thatfighting to get their
their
Italians fighting
a perfectthat aNo problems
were evident.
evident."Love“LoveTo
To LoveLove
point
You Baby”
Baby" was aafine
finerecord
record thatthat would
would haveguaranteed
point across to Donna.
smooth path is guaranteed"Everywoman“Everywomanlikes
likes to
to be
for
toget
gethishisthebenefit
benefitofofaaBBC
BBCban,ban,
made it even without
withoutthe
for the reporter
reporter toand thethe quirky
quirky"!“IFeel
which recently
recently
from artist
artist andconsidered sexy,"
considered
sexy,”sheshesays,says,
story, from
Feel Love",
Love”, which
my telephone
in answer
occupiedanswer toto thethe obvious
obviousmanager downwards.
occupiedthe
theNo1
No 1 position
positionfor
forseveral
severalweeks,
weeks,
question about
about being
being
questionDonnajob
was aareal
realoddity,
oddity,ananinspired
inspiredproduction
production job
Donna Summer
Summershortly
shortly
number... I canthatfrom the standard
to Britain,
Britain, forfor two
two
sexbomb.
bomb. “That’s"That's a nice
nice
a sex
comes tothat brilliantly
brilliantlybroke
brokeaway
away fromfeeling, but it’s
the only
formula,the Rainbow
it's notnotthedates at theformula, certainly
certainlyof
ofdiscodiscosingles.
singles.
likepeople
people toto think
think ofofway IIlike
Theatrein London,
So,
andSo,thethe interviewer
interviewer was sympathetic,
sympathetic, andTheatre in
London, an
theconcert debut
debut
would like
like to be known
known
me. II would
ambitious concert
the singer
singer would
would bebe charming,
charming,ofofthatthatII had
had noas aagood
doubt.
on aahandful
handfulof
of disco-orientateddisco -orientated hit
goodsinger
singerand
andaagood
goodperformer
performer toto thethebased ondoubt.Why,
Why,anan American
Americanpress
pressrelease
releaseonon thetheof my life.”life."
end ofsingles; pre-tour
lady
lady said
said asasmuch:much:“When"When all thethe major
major
pre -tour publicity,
publicity, you might
mightpublications
consider, is at
at aapremium.
premium. Meanwhile
Meanwhile in
the next
next inevitable
inevitable question,question,
And to theconsider,in Rome,publicationswanted
wantedto
totalktalktotoher,
her,sheshe handled
handledher
tofeminism,
feminism,she
sheresponds,
responds,
thethe
her attitudeattitude to
the plot thickens.
the intense
intense pressurepressure withwithgrace.
grace.Even
Even theContact isand interview
interview requested,"I think
think thatpeople should be treatedtreated“I
that all people
Contact
is made andordeal ofof 18
18 interviews
after which
which
ordealinterviews in one
one day
day–-after
she lost
lost her
her voicevoiceforfor aaday
daydidn'tfaze
but Donna is off
off shopping
shopping now.See
thethe same forfor thethe work
still
thework they
they do.A
do. Amanmanis
is stillbutnow. See you
you atat the– didn’t
faze her."her.”a man,
and a womanthat quote
quote –- notnotwithout
conference at three,
three, says
saysChristy
Christy Hill,
Hill,man, thankthank God,
God, andwoman is still
still apress conference
Remember thatwithoutirony
ironyinin
American lady
from Casablanca,
woman...thank God.”
God." Cheers
Cheers and morewoman…thankthe gangly American
lady fromthe events
events that
thatareare toto follow.
follow.Now
Nowyouyou may bethebaffledAmerican record
record company. Yeah,
Yeah,but
but
profundity.
babble greet this profundity.
her Americanbaffledby
bythe
thelogic,
logic,even
even thethe ethics,
ethics, involved
involved
in record
record companies
spending vast amounts
companies spendingof moneymoney on taking
journalistsoverseas
overseasin
inoftaking journalists

6A“A woman is still awomar; is still' a– thankGod"God”
woman -thankI

Francis apesteguy / getty"If everyone“Ifeveryone had
had
my telephone
number… I canonly
only give
give soso much”
much"

HISTORY OF
110 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
110

Summer in the city.

LENNON SPEAKS I- but only just!

"We really“Wereally have
have
nothingsay”
nothing toto say"MM OCT
min Lerman
is retiring
etiring
MM
OCT 15
15 John
Lennon is- sortvVe'vedecided
decided to
to be
be
–
sortohof. “We’ve
can."with ourour baby
baby asas muchmuch as we can.”J“Ibecame aa"I becamemusician because
Presley"of Elvis Presley”

Michael Ochs archives / getty

Sniggers
drift round
Sniggers drift
roundthetheroomroomasas thenext questionnextquestionisis unveiled,unveiled, even
even thethetranslator
allowing herself
herselfaa grin. It’s
translator allowing
It's fromgentleman, apparently
apparently Israeli,
a gentleman,
Israeli, who wants
to know why she had
hadto
tosurroundsurround herself
herself bytoso many
manypeople
people andand isn’t
isn't more
more accessible
accessible totothe media.
Right on.
the
media. Right
She stumbles
stumbles aa bit
bit onon thatthatone...
one…
“The
"The problem
problem is people
people don’t
don't realise that
that
artist, well, I don’t
don't getan artist,
get veryvery much
much sleep
sleep
and... ifif everyone
everyone had mymy telephone
telephone
and…
number…
well, II can only give
number... well,
give so much.”much."
And then,then,more
morebelligerently:
belligerently:In“In
American we were
were selling
selling before
before thethe radio
radio
Americanand thethe television
television and everyone
everyone knew about
about
proves thethe market
market is sometimes
sometimes
me –- itit proves
stronger than
media."
strongerthan the media.”
What was thatthe press
What
that about
about treating
treating thewith grace? The questioner
questioner persists.
withpersists.
"I'm gonna“I’mgonna punch
punchyou,
you,sir,"sir,” says Donna,
laughinglaughing dismissively. The conference
conference
rapidly disintegrates.
rapidlydisintegrates.By
By sheer
sheer volume,
volume,eventually we get
get through.
through. Jenour
Jenour quotes
quoteseventually
her own headlines back at her…
her...first
first lady
lady ofoflove... thethe biggest
biggest cock-teaser of
time.
love…
cock-teaserof all time.
"I never said
saidthat,
that, IIdon’t
don'ttalk“I
talk thatthatway,"way,”
snaps Donna,
Donna,althoughalthough nobody
nobody suggested
suggested
had. “Every"Every person
person has
hasaadifferent
different
she had.
expectation of
doesn't bear
expectation
ofme;me; itit doesn’tbear any
relevance
to me."
me.”relevance toJenourbattle ourour way toto thethe front
front
Jenour andand I battle
front ofand plant ourselves in frontof Donna,
Donna, now
signing
her ears off
signing autographs
autographs and shutting
shutting her
offfrom thesurprisefromthebabble.
babble.She
She looks
looks acrossacross in surprisepresumptuousness, and,
believe,at our presumptuousness,and, I believe,some
some fear.
fear. I ask her
her ifif sheshe waswassurprised
surprised by
the storm
Baby" caused
thestorm"Love“LoveTo
To Love
Love You Baby”
Britain. "Yeah,some ofof thethe lyrics
lyricsin Britain.
“Yeah, I mean sometheserock bands
bands sing...I
sing… I just
just sang
sang an erotic
these rockeroticthat's all. IIdidn’t
didn't expect
expect a reaction
reaction likesong, that’s
like
that, notEngland ofof all places.”
places."that,
not inin England
She raises her eyes skywards
skywards as thethe Italian
Italianhubbub intensifies
intensifies and there’s
there's aabattery
battery of
hubbubphotographers enclosingus."Iphotographers
enclosing us.
“I can't
can’t handle
this,”
room
this," she mutters.
mutters. Let’s
Let's go to another
another room
continue theand continue
the interview
interviewininpeace,peace,II say.
She hesitates.
hesitates. I see De
De Blasio
Blasio watching
watching
from“I’m sorry,
sorry, there’s
from thethe end ofof thethe room.
room."I'mthere's
nowhere to
there's thethenowhereto go."
go.” Well,
Well, there’s
the bar, or the
hotel foyer."I'm
haven't
hotel
foyer. “I’msorry,
sorry,I'd
I’dlikeliketo,to, but
but II haven’t
the time. I’ve
to go
go straightrehearsal
I've got
gottostraighttotoaarehearsal
then to the concert.
concert. Really, I’m
I'm sorry.”
sorry."and then
The girl they’re
they're trying
tryingto
tomould
mouldinto
intoaasuperstar wasthen hustledhustled away.
superstar
was thenJenour calls
callsthetheMirror
Mirror in London.
London.
Ken Jenour
allocated to Donna Summer goes
The space allocatedinstead toinsteadtoMud.
Mud.Colinfrwin
Colin Irwin

JOHN
semiohnLENNON
Lennon IS
is officially semiretired,and will
will not perform
retired, andperform orrecord for at least
least another
another year.
recordyear. He
press conference
conference at thethe Hotel Okura
told a pressin Tokyo last
he andandYokoYokolast Tuesday
Tuesday thatthat heJohn Lennon
Johnwanted to devote their
their time to their
their
Ono wanted
outside theoutsidethe Dakota
dakotaLennon.
building inbuilding
inNew
newson, Sean Ono Lennon.
York city,
City,1977
York
1977"We'vebasicallybasically decided,
decided, without
without a great“We’vedecision, tobe withwith ourour babymuch asdecision,
to bebaby asas muchas
can until
until we feel we
wecan
cantaketake thethe timetime
we cantoindulge
indulgeourselves
ourselvesin
increating
creatingthings
thingsThe Japanese questions
questions were hardly
off tofamily,"Lennon
Lennonannounced.
announced.
penetrating, however.
thempenetrating,however. Many of themoutside the family,”"Maybe when
when he's
three, fourthen we'll
concerned theconcerned
thedeathdeathofofElvisElvis Presley.
“Maybehe’s three,fouroror five, thenwe’ll“Elvisthink
think about
about creating
creating something
something else other"Elvisdied
died when
when hehe went
went into
into thethe army,”
army,"
than theLennon replied.
replied. "Up
until he joined
joined thethe army
Lennon“Up until
than
the child."
child.”
The
Lennons havethought it was
was beautiful
beautiful music,
music, andand Elvis was
was
The Lennons
have been
beeninin JapanJapansince
sinceMay,May,
I thought
andone of theof theirtheirvisit
visitwas
was totoforme andgenerationwhat
whatThe
The Beatles
and onethe purposes
purposes offorme
and mymygeneration
the child,child, now
about twohis
were
the ’60s.
'60s. IIbasicallybasicallybecame
became a musician
musicianshow thenow abouttwoyears
yearsold,
old, toto hiswere to thein-laws. Lennon
Lennon took
seriouslythat
thatbecause ofin-laws.
tookhishis stay
stay ssooseriously
becauseof Elvis Presley.
he enrolled“I
enrolled in aa JapaneseJapanese language
language course
course in"Ineverneverdid
didconcerts
concerts toto influence
influence people,”
people," heNewYork
before he went.
went.
answered onethem for many
many
NewYork before
answered
one questioner.
questioner."I“I diddid them
The
press conference,
conference, atreasons.And
have notnotperformed
performed
The press
atwhichwhichthetheMelody
Melodyreasons.
Andsince
since19661
1966 I have
Maker
was thewestern paper
for money,
Makerwasthe only
onlywestern
paper present,
present,
money, only
only forfor charity.”
charity."called just before
before their
their return
return to
Responding,question about
about
was called
toNewYork,New York,
Responding, therefore,
therefore, toto a question
continue to be
be theirtheir main
main home.
home.
reviving, he replied,
replied, "I
doubt itwhich will continue
The Beatles reviving,“I doubt
LennonLennon later told meme thatthatvery much.”much."
their only
onlymotive
Lennonalso asked
theirmotive waswas toLennon was
was also
thank theabout punk
punk rock, and
and
thank
the JapaneseJapanese people
about
for respecting
seemedvery out of touch
respecting their
their privacy
seemed very
touch
there.
with
music
of
past
while there.
with
music
the
past
year.
musician because After almost
Although perceptibly
perceptibly
almost 45 tentative
tentative
nervous,
he looked
looked inminutes,Lennon
LennonandandYokoYoko
nervous, heminutes,tremendous physicalthe shop, andand all thatthat
tremendous
closed theshape. Wearing an
Lennonshape.
Lennonwould
would add
add later
later wasexpensive
suit, with
with aa whitethat
he would
expensive black, two-piece
two-piece suit,
whitethat hewould be coming
coming to Britain
Britain “at"at somesomeshirt and-grey tie, andand with his hair
hair inpoint". He
Heappeared
appearedunconcerned
unconcerned both
both about
about
shirt
andpearl
pearl-grey
point”.
smart, conventional
returning andreturningandabout
aboutrecording
recordingagain.
again. His lasta smart,conventionalcut,
cut,hehesatsatbeside
besideYoko,
Yoko,
album,
Rock ’n’Roll,
who translated
anddiddid most
most of thetranslated andthe talking.
talking.
album, Rock'n'Roll,waswasreleased
released a couple
couple ofIncense burned,
burned, andyears
would hehe commentcomment on
the fact
years ago. Nor would
on theIncenseand anan incongruousincongruousnote
note waswasstruck by aaradio
radiosomewhere
somewherein
inthethepenthousepenthousethat his contract
contract hasthathasnow
now ended
ended with
with EMI.
struckThe birththesuite“You Are My
suite playing
playing "YouAre
MySunshine”.
Sunshine".
Thebirth of the couple’s
couple's child
child andand theI was
was forbidden
forbidden to ask
askdirect
direct questions,questions,
atmosphere ofmade him
him
atmosphereof JapanJapan seem
seem to have madeand after thethe conference
conference Lennon
Lennon remained
remained
remarkably contented.
remarkably
contented."Basically,“Basically, I'm
I’m now aa
and
Zen pagan,”friendly
but noncommittal.
“We reallyhavefriendlybut
noncommittal. "WereallyhaveZenpagan," he said. Perhaps
Perhaps thatthat explains
explains it.
nothing to
he explained.
explained.
MichaelMichael Watts
nothing
to say,"say,” heEntirely amicable in

NOV12
There's aa
MM NOV
12 There’s
split
split inin BlackBlack Sabbath.
Sabbath.

O
0ZZIE [sic][SIC] osbourne,
OSBOURNE,singer
formed nine years
years
zzie
singerwith
withBlack
BlackSabbath
Sabbath since the band formed
ago in Birmingham,week,
Birmingham, has
hasquit.
quit.His
Hisdecision
decisioncame
cameafter
afteraameeting
meetingwith
withthethebandbandlast
lastweek,
saidhishisdeparture
departure is entirely
entirely amicable. He has
hasleft
left thethe band toto follow
follow someformand he said
some formofbut exactly
exactly whatplanned has not
not yetyet been
been announced.
announced.
of solo career, butwhat is plannedBlack Sabbath
singer, and a vocalist
Sabbath areare now
now looking
looking forfor a replacement
replacement singer,
vocalist with
with a fairly
fairly wellwellknown
flew infrom America
known band
band flew
in from
Americathis
thisweek
weekforforan
anaudition.
audition.The
Thebandbandwaswas planningplanningan
an album
album when
when
Osbournedecided
decidedtotoquit,
quit,andandasassoon
soonasasaa singer
Osbourne
singer has
been
record will
been found,found, rehearsals
rehearsals will
willgogo ahead.
ahead. The record
will beberecordedrecordedinin Toronto
Torontobefore
beforeChristmas,
Christmas,andandisis due
due forfor
release in thethe spring
spring to coincide with
with a British
British tour.

Ozzie quits
Sabbath

1977
1977

OOCTOBER
DECEMBER
CTO B E R – %°11BER

-

41PA

The
atThe
Ranch,11311'-'16P
the Fall at
the ranch,/

Manchester'sfirstmanchester’s firstpunk
punkclub,onAugustitimmiclub, on August 18, 1977:(I-r)UnaBaines,Martin(l–r) una Baines, martin
Bramah, Karl
Karl Burns
Burns(drums),(drums),
MarkE
Friel
mark eSmith
Smithand
andTony
tony Friel“Peopletell me
Vecirile tell.
ii
litical" theirMM
we’re ppolitical”
we're
471

A

AUTUMN-THEWORLDutumn – the worldaacopper
copper-gold shade of dying? Nuclear
gold
Nuclearomni-destructionomni-destruction -the– theshrieking
shriekingtumblebefore the fallout?
tumble ofof the Bomb before

Woman andand man's
man’s expulsion
fromParadise
Paradiseinin
Woman
expulsion fromkevin cummins / getty

thetoppling of
the Christian fairytale? Or the toppling
capitalism
capitalism by revolution?

As The Fall say,say,their
their name is sosoevocative
evocativethat
that it'd
it’dbebealmost
almostcriminal
criminalto
toselectselectany
any oneone
meaningmeaning andand evict
evictallall others.
others.The
Thenew
newbands
bands
certainlyseem
seem toto choosechoose betternames thanthancertainly
better names
theBeatles, the Rolling
Rolling
the old
old -– I mean, The Beatles,
Stones? The
The Fourmost?
Fourmost? What
What kind
kind ofof names
are those?
Fallhithithard.
hard.Not
NotwithThe Fallwith the sledgehammer
superficiality ofhammer superficiality
ofthe
thesub-Ramones
sub-Ramonesclones/drones, but ingeniously
ingeniously-– intellectually,
intellectually,
suppose. Their
Their attack
attack is more
more cerebral
cerebral on
II suppose.
on allallfrontswithin these street-gut
street -gut
frontsthan
thanisis usual withininshores. Their
Their lyrics (nearly all indiscernible
indiscernible inconcert)concert)areare oblique,oblique, and occasionallyesoteric
esoteric enoughenough toto necessitate
necessitate explanation;
explanation;
they all
all look
sharp, yet
theylook very
very sharp,
yet cool
cool and detached,detached,
especially the blond axis
axisofofvocalist/lyricist
vocalist/lyricist
Mark Smith and organist
organist Una
and their
their
Mark
Una Baines; andmusic isisprobably
probably cleverclever before
before it’s
it's powerful.
powerful.
"cleverness" isn’t
isn't meant
meant toto suggest
suggestThat “cleverness”
a linklinkwith
withartartrock,
rock,thatthatbrightly
brightly contrived
contrived
fringe, thoughtThethought TheFall
Fallhave
have intelligencefringe,intelligence anda readinessreadiness toto experimentexperiment with
with form
forminincommon with
with thatthat genre.
genre.
Even their
their formal
formal adventurousness,adventurousness,though,of ananentirely
entirelydifferent
different order
order from,from,though, is ofsay,TalkingHeads’
Heads'clinicalclinicalvariation
variation –-The
say, Talking
The FallFalland the monotonous
take the repetition
repetition andvocals which
which have
haveflooded
flooded thethe country
country inthein thepast year andand develop
develop them
them into
into something
somethingpositive and exciting.
positive
even have
haveaasongsongcalled
called“Repetition”,"Repetition",
They evenperhapstheir finest,
ambitious
perhaps theirfinest,which
whichisis ambitious
despite revolving
revolving entirely
entirelyaroundaroundanandespiteomnipotent-chord core
-thread, Martin
Martinomnipotenttwo
two-chordcore-thread,
Bramah's guitar
guitar twanging
twanging trebly
Bramah’streblyinin acalculatedlytacky
tackyradio
radio-signal
thecalculatedly-signal sound –-theclosestreference pointclosest reference
pointisis probably
probablyBuzzcocks'
Buzzcocks’"Boredom",“Boredom”,thoughthoughI'm
I’mnotnotexactly
exactlysuresurewhy.
why.
Like
Scratch”,The
TheFall
Fall
Like Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks with
with “Spiral"Spiral Scratch",
HISTORY OF
112 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
112

.

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MM DEC
Introducing,fromManchester,
TheTi -hfeacFeatleldTthheaynaTrhee,
Fall. They are, insists
their frontman Mark Smith, far more multi-faceted than The Clash.

making their
their first
first recorded
recorded foray
glint inshediddidtilltill at
at least
least halfway
halfway
glint
in herher eye,eye, as she
are making
foray with
with anthrough thefinally
throughtheinterview,interview,when
when we
we finally
EP on
onManchester’s
Manchester's New
New Hormones
Hormones label,probably appear
decided we
decidedwelikedlikedeacheachother.
other.I Iwas
wasgladgladsheshewhich will probably
appear next
next month
monthandandfeature “Repetition”,"Repetition", "Frightened"
didn't know
few months
months before
before I’d
I'ddidn’tknow that
thatonly
only a few
feature“Frightened”(a(aslower,
slower,of thethe reviled
reviled student
student breed.
been one ofmore thoughtful,menacingnumber,number, which
which
thoughtful, menacing
relentlessly grinds
grinds outof you stand
stand on thethe left?
left?
But do all of
relentlessly
out its
its evocation of"Bingo -Master's Break-Out!",
Martin: "Yeah,
fascists."
Martin:“Yeah, well
well none
none ofof us are fascists.”
paranoia), “Bingo-Master’s
Break-Out!”,"Psycho Mafia”–
Mafia" -theNot everyone
everyone outside
fascist...
Not
outsidethe
theleft
leftisisaa fascist…
and “Psycho
the last being the song
haunted meme mostmost ininthe
thetwotwo months
months"Yes, they
they are,”are," retorted
retorted Una“Yes,
Una inin herher
which has haunted
laconic monotone,
monotone, “They’re"They're just
just wateredwateredlaconic
since I!first
firstsaw
saw them.
Mark Smith’s
Smith's intonation
intonation isintensely
down fascists. We’re
We're talking
talking about
about the
down
the
Mark
is always intensely
that's possible)
mentality."same mentality.”
cynical (if that’s
possible) andand usually
You reckon?
atall...
all…
deliberately tuneless,traitsreckon?!I don’t
don'tatdeliberately
tuneless, and both those traits
into their
their own ininthisthisfragmented
fragmented"They've got no mentality.”
mentality."
Mark: “They’ve
come into
Thought Police of thethethem seem
seem very
very
That exchange makes themwarning about the Thought
confident,
bothinin themselves
themselves and in theirpresent."Psycho
probably one ofconfident, boththeirpresent.
“PsychoMafia"
Mafia”waswas probablythat led
led toto themthem being
being brandedbranded anthat's just how they
they appear on
views, and that’s
the songs that
exclusivelypoliticalpoliticalband
band– -thefirsttimestage –-theytheyall
all implicitly
implicitlyexpress
expressaa distanceexclusively
the first
time theyfrompunk by wearing
casualappeared in
totally
from punkwearing nondescript
nondescript casual
ever appearedin print
printititwas
wasas
as a totallycommitted socialist
like Henry
Henry
gear (when's
gear(when’s thethelastlasttimetimeyou
yousaw
saw a new waver
committed
socialist band
band who, likewould have
havetrouble
trouble coming
coming to terms
wearing aa sweater?).
sweater?).
wearing
Cow, would
Una looks
fullypaid
paid-upcommercial art
art form.
form.
looks icily
icily uninterested,
uninterested, aafully-upwith a commercial
misrepresented, theymember of
the Tina Weymouth
Weymouth detachment
detachment
memberof theThey were grossly misrepresented,
theysay,say,though tales of Una
Unafuriously
furiously berating
berating otherotherschool; and MarkMark reminds
school;remindsme
mevisuallyvisuallyof
ofaa
thoughcommitted
butcynicalcynicalstreet
street-level
Manchester musicians backstage over their
theircommitted but-level activist.
activist.
Manchester
well asasexchanges
exchanges
when MarkMark sent
sent meYet whensexism, as well
the following,
following, show that
that
"Hey Fascist!”
Fascist!"the lyrics to “Heylike thelater
they come fromfrom quite
longlater on, he didn’t
didn't seem attheyquiteaa long
"The Clash set up
left. I’d
I'd mentioned
mentioned toconfident of thethe worthworth
all confident
way left.
that I’d
I'd heard theywork, heading
heading itof his work,
them thatthingsandknockwith “Pretentious
to refuserefuse all college
college"Pretentious Garbage
used togigs,andto sing “Oh"Oh
Inc 1977".
1977”.
gigs,
and to'em down like the Inc
Student!" instead of “Hey"HeyMartin, Karl
Martin,Karlandand Tony
Student!”
bassist, who's
who’s onFascist!". Una:
Una:“I"Ididn’t
didn'ttheir bassist,
Fascist!”.
police, employers" (Friel, theirthink we’d
we'd been going
going longbrink ofof leaving) agree
the brink
think
enough tohistory,"
thatthey'repoliticallythat
they’reless politicallyenoughto have aahistory,”
committed
thanthetheotherothertwo
twoandandarearein
in itit(it's only
only eight
eight months
committed than(it’smonthssince
sinceUna
Unaandanddrummer Karl
joined and the band’s
band's life
life
more forfor the"Well what
think
more
the music. “Wellwhat d'you
d’you think
drummer
Karl Burns
Burns joined
earnest).
we're in it
itfor?"
we’refor?”said
saidUna,
Una, onon thethe attack
attackagain.
again.
began in earnest).
I dunnoto communicate
Mark: “One"One ofchanged that
that
dunno –-tocommunicate a politicalpolitical belief?
belief?
Mark:of thethe reasons we changed
that it’s
it's become
become very
very trendy
trendy to"N oway
way– -themusic'svery
veryimportant.”
important."
Una: “Nothe music’s
was thatto bashstudents. The sentiment’s
sentiment's still there
there maybe,
Martin: "People
Martin:“People try
tryto
totie
tieus
us down too
students.
much –-we've
we’ve got
got otherotherthings
thingsbesides
besides thethe
but thethe main reason
reasonwe
wechangedchangedititto"Heybut
to “Hey
Fascist!" was thatthat we
wethought
thought it more relevant.”
relevant."
political angle.
political
angle. We're
We’re notnot inin thisthis band to put
Fascist!”what does thethe song"It's anthe beliefs
beliefs ofpolitical party
over theof any politicalpartyororeveneven
So whatsong say now? “It’spolitical ideas exclusively
exclusively –-though
our own politicalthoughanti -fascist song,”
song," said
said Una,
Una,“what"what else
else isistherethere
anti-fascist
say?" She
Sheglared
glared atat me
me withwith aachallenging
challenging
political songs
in our politicalsongswe
we meanmean what
whatweweto say?”“The Clash set up
things and knock- like the’em down –police, employers”

DECEMBER
OOCTOBER
CTOBER–-DECEMBER

1Radiators➤ The
The Radiators
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ringcurrently
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MMNOV12
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and will
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nevergetgetoutoutofof– -their
credibility
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diminishas
as they
theygogoon.
on. The
The Clash
Clash set
set upupthings andand knockknock 'em
’em down, like the police,thingsjemployers
employers –-wewedo
do thatthat too,
too, butbut that's
that’s all
Thedoing.
The Clash are doing.
“Thosewho tell"Those people
people whotell me we’re
we'repolitical,
in thethe fucking
fucking
political,II think,
think, 'You
‘You mean inClashdon't you,Clash way, don’tyou, andand we're
we’renot.
not.II mean,
mean,
something like
like “Bingo-Master’ssomething"Bingo -Master's Break-Out!”Break -Out!"is nothingnothing to do with
with conventional
conventional politics. It’s
It's
aboutapartly funny
about abloke
bloke cracking
cracking up, partly
funny andpartlynot.
not.And
AndII think,
think, 'You've‘You’ve fucking
partlyfucking
ignoredignored that,
that, haven't
haven’t you?'
you?’"You're not
not a very
very good
good songwriter
songwriter ifif you“You’reyou
can only
only write
write about
about one dimension
dimension of life,”
life,"
added"You have
havetotowritewritewhatwhatyoufeel.
added Mark. “Youyou feel.
Oneyoumight
might bebeparticularly
particularly angry at
One day you
fascism, have a real
like you
you dodofascism,
real gut-reaction
gut -reaction likewhen
pickets likewhen you
you go on pickets
like we
we do.
"But there
there again, it’s
it's difficult
difficult to“Butto feelfeel things
when you’re
you're away fromfrom thethe original
original situation,
situation,
itfeels
little forced.
Hatred",it feelsaa little
forced.Like
Like "Race“Race Hatred”,
anothertoanother ofof ourour songs –-this
this lot
lot want
want torehearse it
rehearse
it butbut I can’t
can't sing about
about racial hatredhatredagain and again
again till
till II get
get itit right
right because
I'dbecause I’dlose allallfeelingfeeling forfor it.
it. And
And asaslyrics
lyricsthey
theydon’t
don't
lose
stand up on theirown; thestand
their own;
the song only works
when it’s
it's full of live
live feeling.”
feeling."
yet nono major
major company has expressed
expressed
As yetinterestin
inThe
The Fall, which must be largely
interest
largely totodowith their
do withtheirrefusal
refusal(like(likeBuzzcocks)
Buzzcocks) toto leave
leave
Manchester forfor the brightest
brightest lights
theManchester
lights and thebiggest cheques.Again,cheques. Again,there's
there’ssome
some kind ofbiggestsplit
split between
betweenMark
MarkandandUnaUnaandand thethe others
othersonontheMartin,the question
question ofof commercial
commercialsuccess.
success. Martin,
Karl
Karl andand Tony
Tonycome
come out
out withwith thethe same oldoldguarded-wave phrases
guardednew
new-wavephrases about
aboutsuccesssuccesslike
like"We“We won't
won’tchangechangeour
ourstyle,style,we'll
we’llstay
staylikelikeusus -–ifif people
people likethen we
wewon’t
won't turn
turn themlike us, thenaway andand we’ll
we'll plough
plough the money back into
into
cheaperit."cheaper tickets
ticketsand
andalbums
albums ifif wewe make it.”now –-sojust about
about every
They mean itit now
so does justyoung
talk toyoung band
band II talkto –but
butsuccesssuccesssucks
sucksyou
you ininso smoothly
smoothly and completely
completely that
hardlythat you
you hardly
noticenoticeyou're
you’rekeeping
keepingall
allthethemoneymoneyyouyoumake.
make.
only way
way toto escapeescapecorruption
corruption is to
The only
avoid commercial
commercial success fromfrom thethe first,
first,andandMark reckons thethe way
waythethebandbandplay
playmight
mightactMark
act
as aacommercial
commercialself-destructself-destruct unit:
unit: “I"I really
reallydon't
getting into
into thatthat kindposition
don’tseesee us getting
kind of position
anyway. IfIf we
wedid
didthere’dthere'd be
be something
somethingwrong,
wrong, because
because ourour musicalmusical approach
approach now
now
could
massivepopularity
popularity -–could never
never win
win us massive
somethingdetracted ifif we did.”
did."something would
would have detracted"Huge commercial
commercial success doesn’t
doesn't
Una: “Hugeinterest
personally at all. Apart
Apart fromfrominterestme
me personallyanything
can't imagine
imagine enjoying
anythingelse,
else, I can’t
enjoyingananaudience
sopredictable.”predictable."audience response if it was so"Hey, could
could we
wetalktalk about
about music?”
music?"
Tony: “Hey,What onWhat
onearthearthfor?
for?Chris
ChrisBrazier
Brazier1977

December25,1977Sid
december 25, 1977: Sid
Viciousand
girlfriend
Vicious and girlfriend
NancySpungenata
nancy Spungen at aPistols
Pistols
benefitgigforthechildren
benefit gig for the childrenof striking
striking firefighters
firefightersat
atIvanhoe's,
Huddersfield
Ivanhoe’s, huddersfield.m====.11“Onlylocally”"Only advertisedadvertised locally"
MM DEC
DEC17
17The
TheSexSexPistols
Pistolsplan
plantototour.
tour. Discreetly,
Discreetly,MM"local objections
down toto a minimum”.
minimum".
to keep
keep “local
objections down
N
FRIDAY this
THIS week
the Sex Pistols kick off
offon
ontheir
their first
firstn Fridayweek thesince their
theirdebut
debutAnarchy
AnarchyIn
InThe
TheUK
UK
official British tour
tour sincedates.
dates. The
The bandbandwill
will bebe playing
playingaa straightstraightrun
runof
of10
10 dates,
dates,
finishing on
finishingon Christmas
ChristmasDay,
Day, butbut there
thereisis thethe possibility
possibilityofof afurthershow being
being added
addedforfor London
London audiencesaudienceson
onBoxing
BoxingDay.
Day.
further show
While thethe concerts
concerts haveconfirmed bythehave been
been officially confirmed
by Cowbell, theband's booking
and booked
booked openly
the Sex
SexPistols’
Pistols'name,
name,band’sbooking agency,
agency, andopenly inin thethere
is stillthere isstill some
some ssecrecy
ecre cyabout
ab outthetheexact
exactlocation
location of
ofthe
thevenues
venues andandthe final
final bookingsbookings willb eadvertisedadvertised locally
locallywithindays
thewill only bewithinaa few days
the shows.
shows.
of theCowbell’s
Cowbell's John JacksonJacks onsaid
saidthat
thatthethe details
details of thethe venues
venues andandconcert dates
last-minute secret,fromconcertdates areare being
being kept
kept a last-minutesecret, even
even from
Virgin Records, thethe band’s
band's record
record company,
company, andand fromfrom thethe groupgroup
themselves.
Despite thethe secrecy,
secrecy, Jackson stillthemselves. Despite
still fears
fearsproblems
problems
authorities, but
out aacomplex
complexstrategy
strategy
from local authorities,
but he has worked out
two alternative
alternative “tours”"tours" if local
localauthorities
authorities or police
police revoke
revokeinvolving two
licenceslicences at thethe last
last minute.
minute.
"The shows
shows will be
be advertisedadvertised locallythe Sex Pistols,
Pistols, but
but thethe“The
locally as
as theadvertising willclose totothe
thedatedate totokeepkeepthethepossibility
possibility
advertising
will bebe very close
localobjections
objections down
down totoaaminimum
minimum andand to ensure
ensure a fair
fair
of local
distribution of
the first show
showwillon salesale
distribution
oftickets.
tickets.The
The tickets
tickets for thewill go on
daybefore
the concert.”
concert"the day
before theJackson confirmed
thatthethe10
10showsshowswill
will bebe played
Jacksonconfirmed that
played in theareas of Britain:
Britain: North
North London,
London, East
EastAnglia,
the West
following areas
Anglia, theCountry, Merseyside,
North Yorkshire, East
East Midlands,
Midlands, two ininCountry,
Merseyside, two
two in Norththeone south
the GLCarea.
the West Midlands,
Midlands, andand onesouth of London
London outside
outside thearea.
that haseen advertisedadvertised andOne show thathas alreadyalreadybbeen
andsold
soldwellwellisis at
at
Bristol's Bamboo
Bamboo Club
December 21.
Bristol’s
Club on December
21.
Tickets for thethe shows
shows cost
cost £1.75,£1.75,althoughalthoughoneonepromoter
promoter has
has beenbeen
offering them
them atoffering
at £2.50. Jacksonthat anyone
anyone who
has
said that
who hasfan. ty J1.4-, le, ovc
paid morepaid
morethanthan£1.75£1.75forfor alegitimate ticket
thelegitimate
ticket will
will get the
S;. -_X.-,--FoLs
balance refunded
refunded when theybalanceto thethe show.
go to

O0

Pistols
set off
on `secret
U.K. tour

Covington,➤ Julie
Julie Covington,whocame to fame
who camewithChrist
withJesus
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Evita,
Superstar andand Evita,
releases her
her version
versionreleasesof
Cooper'sof Alice Cooper’s"Only“OnlyWomen
Women
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on Friday.
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Virgin single
The Virgin
singlefeaturesorchestralfeatures orchestralarrangements
arrangements
by John
John Cale,
Cale,
by
who
who appearsonkeyboards.
on keyboards.
MM Nov
NOV12
MM12➤ Charles Mingus,
thethe influential
influentialjazz
jazz
bass player
player andbass
composer,composer,has
has hadhad
toone-off
to cancel a one-off

concertLondon's
concertat
at London’s
Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Odeon on Nov
Nov30.
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singer➤ Rock’n’roll
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selected to
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young
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youngElvis
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..tlivr,;In,'HISTORY OF
113
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |I 113

Ray stevenson / ReX; DaviD ashDown / gettysay,wedidn’t
didn't form
form as aapoliticalpolitical band.”band."
say, we
Una: “But"But if you sing about
about life, you’re
you'resingingsocietysinging politically.
politically.Politics
Politicsisis life
life andand society
in its perversity
perversity has
into something
somethinghas made itit into
else. But
But God, we’ve
we've covered
covered it enoughenough –let's talk
talk about something
something else."
let’s
else.”
But Mark
Mark carried
Butcarriedononanyway:
anyway:"This“Thisisis
typical, getting
boggeddown
downinin politics.
typical,getting bogged
politics.
People comecome up'You're thethePeopleup toto meme andand say, ‘You’re
onlypolitical band,'
reply, ‘What'What about
about
only politicalband,’ andand I reply,
Then they
Tom Robinson?’
Robinson?' Thenthey say, ‘Yeah,'Yeah,but
but
you'repolitical,' but
true.
you’re really political,’but it's
it’s notnot true.
"They're pushing us into
into thethe politicalpolitical“They’resyndrome that
thatThe
TheClashClash have fallen
syndrome
fallen into
into

1977
1977

OOCTOBER
D ECEMBERC T O B E R –-DECEMBER“What’"What'ss aa
normalperson?”person?"Keith's drug
drug bust,
bust, vomiting
vomiting journalists,
journalists,
Keith’spunk
punk rock…
rock... MICKMICKJAGGER
JAGGEfloats
floatseffortlessly
effortlessly
above
develop,”above itit all.
all. “Bad"Bad circumstances
circumstances develop,"
says Mick,
Mick, "and“andonce
onceyou
yougetgetaa badbadsays
reputation
it’s very
very hard
hard toto shakeshake itit off.”
reputation it'soff."W
gjisbert hanekroot / getty

MELODYMAKER
MAKEROCTOBEROCTOBER— MELODY
1515—-

HISTORY OF
114 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
114

WE
HEAR,Michael,that
MICHAEL,THATRobert
RobertPlant
Plant is goinggoing
e hear,to join thethe Rolling Stones
Stones if Keith
Keith isissentsent down
down forfor
100years.
years. “Robert"Robert Plant!
Plant! What’s
What's 'ee
100’ee going
going toto play?"
play?”
Jagger's face,
face,that
thateternal
eternal face,
face,thatthathashasgrinned
grinnedJagger’s
lifetime of–-nay,
nay,leeredleered –atatus
usfor
forwhatwhatseems
seemslike
like a lifetime
rock'n'roll, broke into an expression
expression of such
suchamusedamusedrock’n’roll,
derision thatthat thehimself might
confusion.
derisionthe Devil
Devil himself
might reel
reel back in confusion.
Mick fends
fends off
offthethebuffets
buffets ofofthe
theworld
worldwithwithaasense
senseofofhumour
humourthatthat has
hasaltered since
since thethe dayswhen thethe Stones
Stones were thethe apple ofofAndrew
scarcely altereddays when
Andrew
Oldham's eye. Whatever
Whatever storms
storms break
break about
Oldham’s
abouthis
his head,head, asas
the world's
world’s press
thepress steams
steams on
on withwithheadlines
headlines about
about thethefutureand Bianca,
futureofof thetheStones,
Stones,oror Mick
Mick and
Bianca,oror KeithAnd
Keith AndHis
His
Latest Bust, whateverwhateverthe
thecurrent
current furore
furore about
about rude
rude album
album
covers oror snipes
snipes at punk
punk rock, Mick sails
sailsthroughthrough it all
all withwithgrunt of mock
mock despair,despair, or just
just thethe hint
hint of anger
anger inin hishis
a grunt
expressive eyes.
expressiveWhatmeabout
aboutJagger
Jagger inin ’77
What astounds
astounds me'77 is his
histolerance,
tolerance,
his patiencepatience andForaaman
manconstantly
constantly
and concern
concern for others. For
isremarkableremarkable self-effacing andandcalled an egotist, he ismindfulof
ofhis
his fellow man.
when I was
mindfulman. For example,
example, whensuddenly andduring thethe course
suddenlyand quite
quiteviolently
violently sick during
course of ourinterview,leapt to his feet
feet andand pointed
pointed out
out thethe quickest
quickest
interview, he
he leapt
route to the gentleman’sroute
gentleman's convenience.
convenience.
had looked
looked forward
forward toeer withwith
I had
toswillingswillingaafew
fewcans
cansofofbbeer
Mick as hehe hithit aabottle
bottle ofofbrandy
brandy andand we talked
talked of thethe great
great
days ofwhile heheofrhythmrhythm andand blues. But unfortunately,
unfortunately, while
the effects
effects ofofalcohol
alcoholwith
withallallthethepanache
panache ofofstood up to theexperienced trooper,and collapsed
collapsedan experienced
trooper,II began
begantoto keel over andon thethe sofa.
sofa. »»

II

"When I go
goon
the
“When
on theroad,
road, I become
become atotal monster”:
monster":
total
MickJagger
Mick
JaggerininLondon,19
77
London,1977

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |1115
HISTORY
115

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER"Didn't you eat?”
eat?" inquired
inquired Mick
Mickwithsurprising solicitude“Didn’twith surprising
solicitude(some(somerock
rock
stars
ring for aasecretary
secretary andand ask thatthat the interviewer
interviewer bestars would
would merely
merely ringbehurledthe premises).
premises). "Youshouldn't drink
drink on an empty stomach.
stomach.
hurled fromfrom the“You shouldn’t
I ate.
ate. Two
Twoofofthose
thosethings…”
things..."andandhe
hepointed
pointed totothethebatteredbattered remains
remains ofofa pairpair ofofhamburgers.
hamburgers.
stumbled away from thethe unedifying
unedifying spectacle,difficult
I stumbled
spectacle,butbutafterafteraafew
few difficult
momentswas
was able toof one ofmoments
to return
return and continue
continue a cross-examination
cross-examination ofofthe
Our Time.
the Living
Living Legends
LegendsOf
Of OurTime.

ICK
MADEaAsurprisesurpriseappearance
appearance in London
London Town last
last
ick madeweek, having
havingjetted
forbusinessbusiness meetings.
meetings.
jettedininfromfromNew
NewYork
York forIt hashas been
been suggested
suggested inin somesome quarters
quarters thatthat he waswas primarily
primarilyinterestedin
inhelping,
helping,by
by publicity, to promoteinterested
promote the last album
album forWarnerThis isisaapracticepractice notnot
WarnerBrothers,
Brothers,thethedouble
doubleLove
LoveYou
You Live. This
entirely
not seem
seem
entirely without
without precedent
precedentin
inthe
therock
rockbusiness,business,but
butMick
Mick did
did not
over-worriedLove’s evolution,
contentsor
orfate.
fate.He
Hehas,
has,after
afterall,all,over-worried about
about Love's
evolution, contents
maderecords in his career
career andand onemade quite
quiteaa few records
one moremore Stones
Stones album
albumisisnotcause for bouts
bouts of ecstasy.
ecstasy.
not exactly
exactly a cause
MasterJagger
arrived in
midst wearing
wearing white
trousers andpink
MasterJagger arrived
in our midst
white trousers
andaa pink
shirt.
came inlastnight,”
night,"heherevealed.
revealed. “I’d
"I'd been
been there
there
shirt."I“I camein from
fromNew
New York
York lasta few days
dayshustling
hustling the album,
album, doingHewas
wasaabitbitindistinct
indistinct
doingradio
radioand
andTV."
TV.” He
as he waswasstill
stillmunching
munching aahamburger
hamburger at thethe time.
time.
Had Mick beenb eenlistening
listening to thethe exciting
exciting new
new music
music thatHad
thatwaswasgoing
goingtotochangechangethe
therockworldrock worldas
aswe
weknowknowit?
it?
“Well…
munch)…
"Well... (munch(munch munch).
. . you
you have
have toto listenlisten to a lot
lot ofofbad
bad stuff
stuff before
beforeyou findfind anything
anything good."-wave
good.”And
Andheheindicatedindicatedaagreat
greatpile
pileofofnew
new-wavesingles
Chelsea, Electric
clubs
singles on
on hishis desk
desk by Chelsea,
Electric Chairs,
Chairs,etc.
etc."I“I went
went toto a few clubs
York, all
It was all likein New
NewYork,allthosethose ones
ones onon thethe samesame street.
street. I dunno.
dunno. It
likethethenight
Another world. It’s
It's starting
starting to happen
happen innight before
before last.
last. Anotherin London
London at
at
Coventthe Rock Garden?
Garden? They
Theyhave
Covent Garden.
Garden.You
You bin to thehavesomesomeveryverygood
good
bandsthere.
there.Some
Somearearegood,
good, some
some areare quite
quite awful.
awful.
bands"It's like listening
listening toreggae records.
hear 20 singles
singles andand find“It’s
to reggae
records.You
You hearfind oneone
goodlotta work listening
listening tobands. Sure,That'sgood one.
one. It's
It’s a lotta
to bands.
Sure,II always
always go out. That’s
what I wanna
do whenwhen I go out,
what
wanna doout, listen
listen totobands.
bands. Sure, IIsee
seemoremorebands
bands
than
to checkcheckout
outthetheones
onesthatthat areare supposed
supposed to be good.
good.
thanmovies.
movies.II like to

getty

M

"I likelike totogo
goto
toclubsclubsthatthat have
have six
sixbands
b andsononin
inone
onenight,
night, andand you see ’em'em“Iremembertheir
theirnames!
names!But
ButII go to concerts
and clubs
clubs all
all andand can’t
can't remember
concerts andthe
don't get excited
excited about
about records,
records, I’d
I'd rather
rather see thethe bands
bands live.
the time.
time. I don’tA
lotofofthe
thenew
newbands
bandsdon’t
don't record
record well anyway.
anyway. I’ve
I've got
gotsomesome
A lot
here…thetheSqueeze...
Squeeze…'Right‘RightTo
ToWork'Work’ by Chelsea,
here...
Chelsea, that’s
that's terrible.”
terrible."
happen next
What will happen
next in the great Stones saga?
"We're going
going into
into thethe studiostudio andand we'restart“We’rewe’re going
going to start
recordingrecordingour
our next
next album
albuminin Europe."
Europe.”be ableable toto play
play onon thatthat one?
Keith will be"Yeah, nono problems.
problems. He cancan leave
the States,“Yeah,
leave theStates, gothey seem
seem toto be very sweetback andand forward,
forward, they
sweet
about
don'tknow
knowwhat's
tohappen
happenabout it. IIdon’t
what’s going toto himhim in Canada,
Canada, though.
though.I've
I’ve nono idea.
idea.
Somethingwill
will happen
eventually,but
but I don’t
Somethinghappen eventually,
don't
knowwhat.
December 2nd
know what.The
The trial
trial is on December
unlessseems tounless theyput
they putititbackback again.
again. This
This seems
be a toughone. We'll
We’ll see.
Yeah, I’vebetough one.
see.Yeah,
I've been
been
worryingmuch more
more
worrying about
aboutit,
it, but
but it's
it’s muchworrying
worryingfor
forKeith
Keith than
thanititisisfor
for me."me.”
Had he mademade any
any contingency
contingency plans?
"No, IIcan’t
can't makemake plans
plans until
until I know
know
“No,
what'stohappen.
happen. Because
Becauseanything
anything
what’s going to
can happen
happenandandwe'll
we’lljust
justhave
havetoto meetmeet itcanascomes."
as it comes.”
had been
been many
manywildsuggestions
There hadwild suggestions
as to who
who might
might replace
replace Keith Richard
Richardinthe Stones
was sent
sent to prison
prisonin theStones if he wasin Canada.
Canada.
“Well,
whatisis"Well, I’ve
I'vejust
just said
said IIcan’t
can't saysaywhatgoing totohappen.
happen. They
Theymight
might put him on
probation.
report toprobation.He
He might
might have to report
Canada everyweek.
every week.They
They could
Canadacould makemake him
him
live inin Toronto,
Toronto, oror gogointointohospital.
hospital. They cancan"“He
He gets
gets inintrouble
troubledo anything
anything theywant.
they want.II can't
can’tmakemake anyany
a lot,
lot,right?”:right?": Keith
Keith
Richardsin
Richards in April
Aprili977,
1977,
plansforfor all thosepossibilities.We
We justplans
those possibilities.
a few
fewweeksafter
weeks afterhehehopehopethey
theyarearegoing
goingtoto be
be fair
fair about
aboutit."it.”wasarrestedin
was arrested in Toronto
Torontoyou have
have aarow
rowwithabout theand charged
chargedwith
with
Did youwith Keith about
trafficking
traffickingin
in heroin
problem hehe hadthe Stones?
problem
had caused
caused the
HISTORY OF
116 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
116

“No.”
"No."
Was hehe annoyed
annoyed at him
him getting
getting into
into dire
dire straits?
straits?
"Well... I never
never like
like ititwhen
whenhehegetsgetsinto
intotrouble.
trouble. We
Wedon’t
don't rowrowabout
about it”
it"“Well…
But ititplaces
places thethe Stones
Stones inin jeopardy,
jeopardy, surely?
"If hehegetsgetsput
put away
away forforaalong
longtime,time,ititcertainly
certainly does,”
does," said
said Mick irritably.
irritably.
“If"He does
does get into
into trouble
trouble aa lot, right? But
But he’s
he's been
been very
verygoodand“Hegoodlately,"lately,” andMick almost
as he busied himself with thealmost whispered
whispered this
this last commentcomment asremnants ofhope everythinghim
remnants
ofthe
thehamburger.
hamburger."So“SoII just
just hopeeverythinggoes
goeswellwell for him
and that
don't haveworry about
about all these
these things
things one
andthatwewe don’t
have to worry
one reads
reads about.
about.
“Yeah,to bebe"Yeah,ofofcourse
courseIIwant
wantthethebandband totocontinue.
continue. We’re
We're supposed
supposed totouring next
thinking about
touring
nextyear.
year. I just keep thinking
aboutititverypositively.
very positively.We
We want
wanttotomake aa new
new album.
album. A
on thethe roadroad in thethe spring,
spring, so
I'm just
just goingmake
A single. Go on
so I’mahead
andplanningplanningit.it.IImean,
mean,really?
really? The
The thingmore
ahead andthing is, I don’t
don't know
know any
anymorethan anybody
than
anybodyelse."
else.”
You'llthe trial,
trial, II guess?
guess?
You’ll be at the“Yeah,
togoing
goingbackbacktotoToronto,
Toronto,letlet"Yeah, IIguess.
guess. I’m
I'm not
not eveneven looking
looking forward
forward tome tell you. And
And thethe press
press haven’t
haven't be
en very happy
happywith
ep on
on
me
been
withme.
me.They
Theykekeep
and onand I telltellthem,
them, ‘I'I don’t
don't know
know any
anymore,promise.' And
andon at me, andmore,II promise.’
And they
they
keep
if JimmyPage
Pageisis going
going toto join the
Stones.”keep asking
asking ifJimmy
the Stones."
Wasn'tRobert Plant?
Plant?
Wasn’t it Robert"Robert Plant!”
Plant!" Mick burst
burst into laughter.
laughter. "What's“Robert“What’s'ee’ee going
going to play?
Tambourine?”
Tambourine?"
what waswas going
going toto be
be thethe future
future policy
So whatpolicyofof thetheStones,
Stones,so
sofar
faras
as he
he
could say?
could
“The
has never
never really
really had
had aa policy, even
"The band
band haseven when
when Brian was inin charge
chargeand hehe wrote
wrote it down
down onon bits
bits of paper.
paper. So we
we havehave been
been policy-less.
policy -less. But
Butof ititand
everyyear
different band
band now.
album weevery
yearwewe change.
change.This
Thisisis like a different
now. The last album
we
did in thethe studiostudio was very mixed.
mixed. We
Wehad
hadthreethreeororfourfourdifferent
differentguitar
guitarplayers, so it was
was difficult
difficult to make.
make. This
This one
one is going
going toto be
be moremore tight.
tight. It’s
It's
players,
difficult toaybeforeb eforeweweget
getstarted.
started.ItItmight
mightturn
turn out
out totobe
berubbish.
rubbish.
difficultto ssay“Next
Mick. “This"Next year
year we’ll
we'll bebe working
working really
really hard,”
hard," insisted
insisted Mick.
"This year
year thethetouring part
Keith'sthing.
thing. When
When youyouareareunderunder
touring
partwaswas really
really screwed
screwed up
up by Keith’sthat kindpressure, it's
fun to be on
on thethe road.
road. In allallthese
these different
differentthatkind of pressure,it’s nono funcountries,
you have
have endlesscustomschecks.
checks.In
In everyevery country
youfeelfeelyouyou
countries, youendless customs
countryyou
tobebebusted.
busted.IfIfanybody
anybodyisison
onbail,bail,they
theycertainlydo
watchyou.
are going tocertainly do watchyou.
"They gogothroughthrough you atat thethe customs,
customs, andand thatthat applies“They
appliestotoeveryonewith
withyou.
you.It's
It’s aa hassle.
everyonehassle. I was on bailbail once
once when
when we
were on thethe road andand it was
was aanightmare.
nightmare. I was
wasat
atthe
theairport
airportfor six hours.
hours. I was
was onon bailbail inin England
England andandII waswas going
going toto
Switzerlandfrom
fromAmerica,
America,atatthe
theendendofof1969.1
1969. I had
the
Switzerland
had thetrial
That waswasforformarijuana.”
marijuana."
trial inin 1970.That
Youdiddidspend
spend aafew
fewhours
hours ininprison?
prison?
You“Morewith suppressed"More than
than hours. Days!”
Days!"Mick
Mickshook
shookwith
suppressed
mirth.
about fourThat waswasenough.
enough. EnoughEnough tomirth."It“It waswas aboutfour oror five. Thatputreallyput meme offwanting
off wantingtotogo,go,IIcancantelltellyou.
you.ItIt waswas 'orrible.
’orrible.ItIt was
was really
weird. A strange
existence.You
You just don’t
weird.A
strange existence.
don't want
want to get involved
involved ififyoucan avoid
remember asking
out foryou canavoid it. I remember
askingthe
theguyguyififII could
couldgogo outexercise,the exercise
exercise, 'cos
’cos it was theexerciseperiod.
period.And
Andthetheguyguysaid,
said,'You‘You
don’t want
want toto go out
don't
out there
there with
with allallthosethose criminals,
criminals, do you?’”
you?'""I hadhad toto getgetaajob.
Because ininprisonprison everyone
everyone had
had aajob.
“Ijob. Because
job.
I was
was going
going toto be
be putput down
down for aa librarian,librarian, but
butII never
neverdiddidgetgetto see what
what thethe sscope
cope was.
was. Before
Beforeyou
youareareconvictedconvicted theytreat
can keep
keep your
your own
own clothes
clothes andandtreatyou
you differently.
differently. Youcan
everything.
the prison
prison clothes.
everything.Then
Thenyou
youhavehave toto wear theclothes.
I wasn’t
wasn't there
there long
longenoughenough forforthat.
that.Aguythrew
A guy threwaa
newspaperwith anannewspaperinto
intomymycell.
cell.ItItwas
was The
The Times witheditorialout bybythetheafternoon.
afternoon. Of
editorialpiece
pieceononme.
me.I got out
courseII didn’t
wanttotogo
go back, but I’ve
coursedidn't want
I've been
been in prison
prisonsince,
Rhode Island
Island nearprison there
there insince, inin Rhode
nearBoston.
Boston.II was in prison
in1975[sic[sic–-1972]
foraalittle
littlewhile.
while.Got
Gotarrested
arrested forfortryingtrying to19751972] forstop Keith being
thecourse
courseofof justice.
stopbeing arrested.
arrested. Obstructing
Obstructing the"I think
think I said,
said, ‘’Ere,"Ere, don’t
don't do that,
that, we'veconcert to“I
we’ve got a concert
to do.'
do.’`OK,
youtoo.’too.'Keith
Keithhad
had hithit somebodys omebo dyand
and waswas arrested.
arrested. ItItwas‘OK, youwasprobably ajournalist,a journalist,like
likeyou.
you.Oh,Oh,itit was too
probably
too awful.
awful. But
Butnothingnothing
happened
happenedin
inthe
the case."case.”
people would say thethe Stones
Stones were
werejust
justplainplainirresponsible.
irresponsible.
Some people“Yeah,"Yeah,IIguess.
guess.It’s
It'sjust
justananaccumulation
accumulation of
ofdifferent
differentevents
eventsandandpeople.
circumstances develop,
badreputation
reputation
people. Bad circumstancesdevelop,andandonceonceyou
you get aabad
it's
hard to shake
shake it off.
off.Some
Somebands
bands aroundaround now
badit’s very hard
now get aa bad
reputationand
andthat's
that’sit.
it.It's
It’s thethe samesameinin a bar.
A guy
reputation
bar.A
guyhashasaabadbadreputation
reputation
andpicked on.
on. OneOnetends
tends totoget
getdrawn
drawninto
intothese
these things.
things.
and hehe always gets picked
Fromexperience, once
you're stuck
stuckwith
From my own experience,
onceyou've
you’vegot
got it, you’re
withit.
it. ThisThiscountryhas
hasgotgotto
to bebe thethe worst
worst place
place for that.
countrythat.

rolling stones“Other countries are ready toaccept you may be different but
take you at face value. Here they
never forget anything you may
have done in the past. I don’t see
how our image is ever going tochange here. They don’t want it tochange – do they?
“ I was violent when I was younger,
but most people are violent for awhile when they’re young, aren’t
they? You have a punch-up once,but you don’t want a punch-up all
the time, do you? I met a guy theother day I really wanted to throttle.
It was at a party and I was sitting
there shaking. I managed to control myself but
I told him I was going to thump him. I gave him
one minute to get out and he said, ‘Why?’”
What had he done to upset Jagger?
“He was a journalist.”
Oh, it wasn’t Anthony Scaduto by any chance?
“No, it wasn’t Scaduto. Bad luck! Yeah, I saw hispiece on me in the Daily Mirror. What’s wrong
with him?”
Scaduto, an American, had written a biographyof Jagger that Mick detested and recently wrote
a Mirror piece about Mick’s marriage to Bianca.
“He’s a sick person,” said Mick vehemently.
“I wouldn’t give him 60 seconds. I’ve never
met him. He wrote me an insulting letter,a threatening letter saying that if I didn’t work with him on his book he
was going to write terrible things about me, and I don’t like to bethreatened. The book was awful, it really was. Just rubbish. He’s a very
bad biographer and I have no respect for him.”
He talked about “Jagger watchers” in his Mirror piece.
“It’s all so far removed from reality. All that stuff you read in the papers
about me and Bianca, it’s like a page out of someone else’s life. It has no
relation to me at all. It’s completely made up.”
What about the dramatic events on the yacht in the Mediterranean,
where Mick was supposed to be making a last-ditch rescue attempt on his
marriage? He looked amazed.
“That was completely made up. How could they know what was goingon? It’s all so crazy. The summer is the worst time ’cos they have so little towrite about. It used to be the silly season. Now it’s called the sick season.
I think they really must have run out of news. They think you’re fair game,
but it’s a bit annoying. Thank God I don’t live here all the time now. If I did it
would be a nightmare. England, Germany and Italy are the worst countries
for gossip. Here they just write pages. But there’s nothing new about it. It
used to be movie stars. They dished the dirt on everyone in Hollywood.
“Have you ever read Hollywood Babylon? They dished everyone and a lotof those scandals were made up. And it affected their careers in those days
a lot more than it does now. Big movie companies would drop people if they
got into trouble. They would protect them to a certain point and then if
there was real trouble they’d drop them and their career would be finished.
“I know in certain instances record companies aren’t keen to take ona band because of their image, like EMI and the Sex Pistols. Because thegroup behaved in a certain way, the company just kicked them out.”
Did Decca ever threaten to drop the Stones because of their behaviourin the early days?
“No, they were more sanguine about us. I think EMI were a bit shortsighted about the Pistols. I’ve already told them that! [The Stones are now
signed to EMI for their next album.] I told them I could go on televisionand say even worse things than the Pistols did! I said, ‘Are you gonna fireus?’ They said ‘No.’ They’d better not! Maybe I’ll try them out.
“What did the Pistols do at A&M? They wrecked the office? We wrecked
several offices at WEA – but after we signed.”
Mick laughed and began pacing about the room. I thought he waslooking for items of furniture to smash, but in fact he was in search ofmore brandy.
Why did he sign to EMI?
“I got severely criticised because I wouldn’t tell somebody else. It’s notreally anything to do with you or anybody else. I could put it in a few“I think EMI
were a bit
short-sighted
about thePistols”

words, but nobody would
understand it. EMI are very
alive. I was amazed. I thought
they’d be like Decca. That was myimage of them. But they seem to bereally jumping.
“It’ll be interesting to workwith some new people. That’s oneof the reasons we signed withthem. We’re still with Atlantic in
America. It’s EMI for the rest of theworld and Britain.”
Own up, there are millions ofdollars involved.
“Oh, there are a few pennies,
Chris. Well, there is quite a lot ofmoney. But we’ve got to sell a lot of records.
If we don’t then there’s not a lot of money.
“It’s the same with any group. If you sell a lotof records, then the record company will
make a fortune. If you don’t, then they get
nowhere. We’ve only had two record
companies in, er, 14 years.”

ick is a traveller. He never seems
to stop still in one place for long.
“I love it when people tell me I’m sosettled down and domesticated. For me it’s
one hotel to the next. I rented a house in New
York for a while, which was nice. I’d neverdone that before. I’ve always lived in hotels.
“I do try and hang out with different kinds of people, but I’m usuallyaround music-business people. You find yourself going to studios on abusman’s holiday singing back-up vocals.
“I was going back to college for a while, but I never made it. I’m a real
drop-out. I wanted to do comparative religion and history, but justcouldn’t take three months off and go every day. I found myself having towork, and I’m just too lazy.
“I need three months off from music, but I can never get them. The
Stones just roll on, by their own volition. Not by anybody else’s volition.
We’ve not had a manager for years. Can’t bear them.
“So don’t you fucking start,” he glowered suddenly. “I’m so sorry – why
do I put on this terrible act? Everybody gets so scared. I went to this mostpeculiar club in London which was full of kids and old men. And I told thisold man to get out of my seat. I said, ‘Fuck off.’ And this guy was, like,
trembling. The place was full of old men with young girls.”
It wasn’t the Marquee?
“The Marquee! No, ’course not.” Mick began to muse on the meaning oflife, his role in rock’n’roll and the strange forces at work upon us all.
“I’m afraid most rock’n’roll stars are just interested in themselves. You
go on a stage… you get egotistical, of course you do. You think you arereally important… and you’re not. I don’t think anyone in rock’n’roll isimportant. We’re all full of shit. As a performer you do need an ego, butthat doesn’t mean it’s any good.”You’ve been called egotistical.
“But I am sometimes. You have to be.”Does Mick meet enough normal people?
“Is there such a thing as a normal person? What’s a normal person?
I think I’m normal. But most people think I’m not. I don’t like to mix withsycophants, but most bands do. They want to hear people tell them how
great they are. It’s a constant massaging of the ego. But everybody needs
that, at least for a few minutes a day! It keeps you sane.
“But I think I’m going through a sane period. I’m really well adjusted.
But that’s just because I haven’t been on the road. When I go on the road,I just go CRAZY. I become a total monster. I don’t recognise anybody;
I don’t even see them. ‘Who are you? Forget it. Go away. Who are you?
From the MM? Forget it. Get out. I don’t want to see you. I’ll give you two
minutes! I’m doing my makeup, get out!’“What a terrible monster I am. I feel guilty about it afterwards, thenI laugh, because the whole thing is a joke. But Keith is worse than I am.
Is he a prima donna? Oh yeah!”
Monsters or not, the Stones will be back again on the road soon. And if
Keith can’t make it, well there’s always the MM small ads. Chris Welch •M

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 117

1977

O C T O B E R – D ECEMBERThe Clash in Belfast,
October 1977: (l–r)
Joe Strummer, Mick
Jones, Paul Simonon
and Topper Headon

118 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977%.

s ILattarl:adrian boot“Desolationand chaos”
THE CLASH visit Belfast, and find no one will insure them toplay their gig. As tempers flare, the band confront the realityof their era. “We got a lightning tour of what was happening,”says Mick Jones. “The group stuck out like a sore thumb.”

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 119

1977
1977

OOCTOBER
D ECEMBERC T O B E R –-DECEMBER

gril

Leavingthe
thefortified
Leaving
fortified
Hotel,TheClashEuropa Hotel,
The Clashandtheirphotographer
andtheir photographer
takeataxiandventure
take a taxi and venture
beyondBelfastcitycentre
beyondBelfast city centre- MELODYOCTOBER—MELODYMAKER
MAKER OCTOBER
2929—IMPOTENCE
BEdescribed
described as having
having to apologise
apologise for
mpotenceMIGHT
might besomething thatsomething
thatwasn't
wasn’tyour
your fault.
fault. When complete control
becomes remotebecomes
remotecontrol.
control.Last
LastThursday
ThursdayininBelfast,
Belfast,The
The ClashClashwere confronted
withsuchsuchaafreeze
freeze-out.
confronted with-out.
date not only marked
marke d thethe opening
opening of their
their current
current UK
The date
UK tour,but also the first time
time aamajor
majorBritish
Britishpunk/new
punk/newwave/now band
band
butwave/now
had played
played in thethey
had
the strife-racked
strife -racked city.
city.Joe
JoeStrummer
Strummer remarked
remarked thatthat theyhad
the venue
venue ever since
since thethe group formed
formed last year,
had wanted
wantedto
to play
play theandwhere
and consequentlywere
consequently wereitching
itchingfor
forthethestagestageofof thethe Ulster Hall, wherethesupposed toagain thethe Faceless Ones
the event
event was supposed
to taketake place.
place. But once again
who transform
transform people into puppets
puppets stepped in at
atthe
the11thllth hour
hour andandrefused permission…
permission...
However, let’s
the
let's start
start at
at thethe beginning
beginning of thethe invidiousinvidious fiasco. Perhaps
Perhaps theminor
irritants thatinterpreted
minor irritants
thathappened
happenedin
inthe
themorning
morningcould
could now be interpreted
as omens
omens for thethe later
latercatastrophe.
catastrophe.
We
had been
been left
left in the
Weallallarrived
arrivedat
atthe
theairport
airport toto findfind thatthat thethe tuner
tuner hadcab and the carnet
carnet (the official
officialdocument
documentfor
fortransportingtransporting equipment
equipmentfromNorthern Ireland
ote wasfrom Northern
Irelandto
toEire)Eire) forgotten.
forgotten.Soundman
SoundmanMicky
MickyFo
Footedispatchedto
togathergatherup
upthe
themissing
missinglinks
linksand
andso
sohad
hadto
tocatchcatchaalater
later
dispatchedadrian bootI
0

0

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
120 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
120

plane.Plus
Plus thethe plane
planeits
itselfwasplane.
elfwasdelayedthe air
traffic
delayed because
becauseofof theair traffic
controller's
industrial dispute.
controller’s industrial
Then throughthrough security
security (the guard
guard
jokingly described
described his
Presence
his Evil Presence
detector
Dan Dare gun)gun) andand
detectoras
as aa Dan
onto theonto
the plane, where conversation
conversation
turnedturnedunnervinglyto
unnervingly totalk
talkofof therecentrecent Baader-Meinhof
Baader-Meinhof hijacking.
hijacking.
Not, youyoucancanunderstand,understand, the most
comforting
comfortingof
of topics
topics at 8.30am ona planeplane to Belfast. Spirits
Spirits picked
picked upup
as Paul Simonon
Simonon leaned
leanedover
overtotoannounceannouncethat
thathishiswordwordforfor thethe daywas"synopsis". Eh?
was “synopsis”.
We werewereabout
about totolandland andand thethestewardessthe customary
customarystewardess made theannouncement
announcementthat
thatanyone
anyonecarryingfoods
foodsoror livestock
carrying
shouldMinistryshould reportreport to the Ministry
OfAgriculture.
Of Agriculture. MickJones
Mick Jones
shoutedshoutedout,
out,"That“Thatincludes
includesme!
me!
I'mchicken!"I’m a chicken!”AnotherandAnothercab
cabrideride followed
followed andinitiationinto
intoBelfast
Belfast began.
initiation
began. Scenesof endlessendless devastation,
devastation, urban
urban
wasteland,terraced houses
houseswasteland, rows or terraced
that had
had been
beenreduced
reducedto
to(and(andby)by)thatshells, the windows boarded
boarded up
up
withgreybreezeblockwith grey
breezeblock slabs.
The driver was like aasurreal
surrealtouristanother
tourist guide.
guide. Passing yet anotherguttedmeticulous memory
gutted pub,
pub, his meticulous
threwout
outaa brief history
threw
history of theeventsevents behindbehindthetheattack.
attack.HowHow
manywhen itmany people
peoplewere
were killed
killed when
happened,what
what thethe backlash
backlash had
happened,been.
lookupthat street
street on
been. Ifyou
If you lookup thatthemen were killed last
the left, two men
monthininaa firebomb
firebombraid,
raid,etc.
etc. OneOne
monthbuilding
whatbuildinghe
he singled
singledout
out waswas whatremained
Employment
remainedofof thethe Youth Employment
Exchange, now enmeshedinaa wire
wire
Exchange,enmeshed in
cage. Joe
JoeandandMick
Mickunderstandably
understandably
gave it aalingering
lingering glance.
glance.
Late thatday Mickmusemused,“Blackthat dayMickd, "Blackis thethe predominantpredominant colour
colour here.
here.
The
The first
first thing
thingII saw
saw inin Belfast
Belfast waswas
hundredsofof blackbirds."
blackbirds.”
hundreds
added in a lighter
lighter tone,
tone,
He added"Joethought they
theywerebut“Joe thought
werecrows,
crows, buttheyweren’tcrows
crows because
becausecrows
crows
theyweren't
dark glasses
glasses andtakes onon
have dark
and saxophones."
saxophones.”The
Themovie
movieFritz
FritzTheThe Cat
Cat takes
different meaning
meaning ina different
inBelfast.
Belfast.
similarlyfenced
fencedoff
off by a wire
We arrived
arrived at the hotel, thethe Europa,
Europa, similarly
wireboundary andthat it has
has thethe dubious
dubious claim
claimboundary
andsecurity
securityoutpost,
outpost,totofindfind out
out thatfame ofofbeing
beingthethemostmostbombed
bombed hotel in Europe.
Europe. Everything
Everything seemed
seemed toto fametobe going well
was in thewelluntil
untilabout
about 4pm,
4pm, when
when yours
yours truly
trulywasthe pub
pub awaiting
awaiting
the bandband forforaa pre-soundcheckpre-soundcheck Guinness
theGuinnessor
or two.
two.
Suddenly drummer
drummer Nicky
adon rushed
to comecome backback
Suddenly
NickyHe
Headonrushedin:in:"You've“You’ve got toto the hotel. The gig
gighashasbeenbeen cancelled.”
cancelled." Whaaaat????

O
0

NE of
OFthe
THEpromoterspromoters was
was waiting
waiting with
with thethe storynestory soso far.
far. Thegig
gighadhadbeenbeen organisedorganised bybythe
theNorthern
Northern Ireland
Ireland Polytechnic
Polytechnic
and they had genuinely believedbelieved thatthat all
all aspects
aspects had
had been
been
andaccounted for.
Allbutbutone,one,asasitittranspired:transpired:thetheinsurance.
insurance.
accounted
for. All
Tosecure
secure thethe Ulster
Ulster Hall
Hall (which(which is run
run by thethe Belfast City Council
Council andandTo
connected with
with thethe Polytechnic)
Polytechnic) whatknown as anan
not officially connected
what is known
insurance "covernote" is neededneeded totounderwrite
underwrite any unforeseen
unfores eenmishaps
mishapsinsurance“cover note”
thatmightoccur.
occur.It
It is aastipulationthat might
stipulation mademade by thethe Hall. Three
Three weeks
weeks
the Medical
Medical And
AndProfessional
ProfessionalInsurance,
Insurance, who
who handle
handle thepreviously, thePolytechnic's affairs in this
this respect,respect, apparently
apparently assured
assured the
Polytechnic’s
the Polytechnic's
Polytechnic’s
entertainment’s
committeethat
thatthethecovercovernotenotewould
would not pose any
entertainment's committee
anythe clash

THE CLASH

problems.ItIt would
would simply
simply be
be anextensionofof theirtheirexisting
existingcover
coverforfor theproblems.
an extension
theStudent's
Student’s Union.
Union.
However,comecomeThursday
Thursdaymorning,morning,thethecommittee
committee were
were informed
informed
However,thatofinsurance
insurancehad
hadbeenbeenwithdrawn
withdrawn-– allegedly because
becausethat thethe offer of
there
outstanding claims
concerts.
there were outstanding
claimsarisingarisingout
outof
of previous
previous Clash
Clash concerts.
This thethe bandband later refuted
refuted asasentirely
entirelyuntrue.
the committee
committee
untrue.Anyway,
Anyway, thefeverishly tried to find
find anan insurance
insurance broker, both
both in Ireland
Ireland andand on themainland,prepared tounderwrite themainland,who
whowould
would be prepared
to underwrite
theconcert.
concert.No
No onewas forthcoming
forthcoming-evenpremium ofof– evenafter
afterthey
theythemselves
themselveshad
hadofferedoffered a premium£500. So
Soan
analternative
alternative plan
plan was suggested:suggested: switch thethe venue
venue to Queen’s
Queen's
University. But
Butthatthat also
alsoproved
provedfruitless
fruitlessas
astheytheycouldn’t
couldn'taccept
accept thetheresponsibility,
the requisite
requisite insurance.
insurance.
responsibility, not having the
Since thethe event
event looked
lookeddoomed,
doomed, thethe Polytechnic
Polytechnic promoterspromoters asked
asked thethelocal radio and TV
TVtotoannounce
announce thatthat thethe gig
gighadhadbeenbeencancelled.
cancelled. By
Bythis
thistime
had started
started totime thethe fansfans hadto congregate
congregateoutside
outsidethe
thedoors
doorsofof Ulster Hall.
The police
police turned
turned up and told them
them thethe news.
news.In
Indespair,despair,frustration
frustration and
and
anger
anger they
they stormed
stormedroundroundtotothe
theEuropa
EuropaHotel,
Hotel,pulling
pullingat
atthe
thewirewirefencefence
andand demanding
demandingto
tosee
seeTheThe Clash.An
Clash. An officialfrom Queen’s
StudentBody arrived
and saidsaid
fromQueen's Student
arrived andthey
could play in aasmaller
smaller hall
hall in
inthe
theuniversity
university
they could-theopposed to thethe originallyoriginally– thebar,
bar,inin fact, as opposedmooted main
main concert
concert arena.
arena.
mootedand PaulPaul explained
explained this
this to the fans, who
Nicky and
duly rushedrushed towards
learning. The
towardsthe
theseatseat of learning.
ideal by any means,but itit was bettersite wasn’t
wasn't idealmeans, butbetterthancapacity ofofthannothing.
nothing.The
TheUlster
UlsterHall
Hall has
has a capacity
1,600,while
whilethethebarbarholds
holdsonly
onlyaroundaround 400 and,
and,
1,600,
due to the liquor licence, was barredduebarred to those
those
under
Justtotocompoundcompound thethe seriousness
seriousness ofunder 18. Justthethatthe situation,
situation,news
news waswas also coming in thatseveral of theseveralthe hotels
hotelsthatthat thethe bandband had
had secured
securedfor thethe tourtour had
had cancelled
cancelled the bookings.
bookings.
Nickywashorrified: “Sometimes"Sometimes IIthink
think
Nicky
was horrified:
I might
might just
just slash
slashmymywrists
and maybe thenthenwrists andthey'dthey’d see
see whatwhat they're
they’redoing
doingtoto us."
us.”time The Clash had
had tried
tried to play inin Britain
Britain was
was atat thetheThe last time
BirminghamRag
Rag Market
Market festival
festival inin July,
BirminghamJuly,virtually
virtually subtitledsubtitled"The
last big event
event before
before we all
all gogoto
tojail”,
jail",and
andthatthathadhad collapsed
collapsed“The lastunder
torrent of bans.
bans.
under aa torrent
The next
next move
move waswasto
todismantle
dismantle all thethe geargear thatthat had
had been
been so far
far
erectederectedin
inthe
theUlster
UlsterHall
Hallandandto
tomovemovetoto Queen's.
Queen’s.The
The kids
kids were
wereamassing
advance tickets
amassing outside
outside thethe university
university entrance
entrance(800(800 advancetickets
had been
many more puntershadbeen alreadyalready sold andand obviously
obviouslymany
punters were
emerging
the nightnight itself). It waswasbothbothananodd
oddandandpotentiallypotentiallyemerging onon thehysterical situation.
situation.
The police
were there
there inin force, but
police andand army
armywerebut looked
lookedconfused,confused,
to saysaythethespectacle.
spectacle.They
Theyweren't
acclimatised to
the least, by theweren’t acclimatised
such a congregation.
congregation. Instead,
Instead, thethemayhemmayhemgatheredgathered momentum.
momentum.
oppressive faces
faces again.
again. A
The old obstacles
obstacles were rearing
rearing their
their oppressive
white
was feared
feared andand insurance
insurance coverstayed as inaccessible
inaccessible
white riot wascover stayed
as it had
had been
been allallday.
day.InInaddition,
addition,thetheroadies
roadieswere
wereunhappy
unhappywith
withthe stage. It didn’t
thedidn't boast
boast thethe most
most reliable
reliable structure.
structure.
the dressing
dressing room, the band
band smouldered.
smouldered. But
there wasIn theBut there
nothing
do without
without incurring
incurring massive
massiverepercussions
repercussions
nothing they
they could dofrom almost
every legal side.
fromalmost every
side. Unfortunately,
Unfortunately, thethe only course
course ofactionto leave.
leave.They
Theyweretrappedinincontracts
contracts thatthat cared
cared
action was towere trappedzilch about
about providing
providing entertainment
entertainment forfor rock'n'roll-starved
rock’n’roll-starvedkids.
kids.
First
First Joe andand Mick left,
left, followed
followed quickly
quickly by Nicky
Nicky andand Paul.
Paul.
I was
was ininthe
the second
second batch,batch, andand ascame out
out by aa sidesideentrance
entrance
as we camea bunchbunch of about
about 40 kids
kids were
were waiting.
waiting. They
They pleaded
pleaded with
with
Nicky andand PaulPaul totoplay,play,and
andin
inreturn
return thethe two
twobandband members
members
attempted
attemptedto
toexplain
explainthe
thetrail
trailofof absurd
absurdevents.
events. But the words
were drowneddrowned out,that thethe group
groupout, and
andallall thethe kids
kids could
could see
see was thatthey had,
were
they
had, in many
many cases, travelled
travelled long
longdistances
distances to enjoy
enjoywereabandoning
abandoning them.
them.
Nothing could have been
been further
further from thethe truth.
truth. The group
group
Nothinganddone virtually
virtually everything
everything
and manager
managerBernie
Bernie Rhodes had done
they
could to alleviate
alleviate thethe 11th-hour chaos.
chaos. The
Thekids
kidsbecame
becamethey could
11th-hour
furious.
the fansfansfurious.Nicky
Nicky and
andPaulPaulleftleft inin thethecar,car, andandas
asitit drove
drove off thehurtledabuse,abuse,beer
beercans
cansandandwhateverwhateverwas
wasavailable
availableat
at thethehurtleddepartingdepartingvehicle.
vehicle.
such anan iron clampdown
clampdown occurs,
When suchoccurs,ititmust
musthavehaveits
its countercounter-reaction.A
A few
windows in thereaction.
fewwindows
the Ulster Hall were
were smashed,smashed, fivepunks
(threemale
maleandandtwotwofemale)
female) were arrested
andaa pack of about
punks (threearrested andabout
100formed
formedaahuman
human chain
chain across Bedford Street.
Street.
100

JUST
THEYmeanmeanit,it,maaaan.
maaaan. Back in thethe hotel
hotel theust REMEMBER,
remember, theytheatmosphere wasofterminal
terminal depression intercut
intercut withatmosphere
was one ofwith purepure
on thethe verge
vergeofofforming
formingtheir
theirown
own
anger. Three fans who were on
band
had collared
collaredJoe,
Joe, whose externalbelies anband hadexternal belligerence
belligerence beliesanJ

sympathetic and understanding
understanding nature.
three blokes
incredibly sympathetic
nature.The threebitterly hurt,
hurt, and Joe spent
spent several
several hours
hours clarifying
clarifying thethe debacle
debaclewere bitterly
andoffering advice
advice about
about getting
gettingaa group
grouptogether.
together.Two
Two wereand offering
Protestant andand in order
order totopractise
practise together
together they
they
Protestantandoneone waswas Catholic, andran theofallallthatthatsuchsuchreligious
religiousintermingling
intermingling implies.
implies. Now
Nowran
the daily risk ofthatthat makes the ludicrous struggles ofofthe
themoremorepampered
pamperedmainland
mainlandwould-be stars
don't you think?
think?
would-bestarslook
look aa trifle
trifle silly, don’tlate -night news
news came
came onThefirst
firstitem
itemwaswas–-surprise,surprise,
The late-nighton thethe TV.
TV. Thesurprise– TheClash,
Clash, thethe pared
pared-down
giving no clear
surprise -The
-down information
information giving
clear picture
pictureofwhatACTUALLY
HAPPENED, Mick
Micksneered.
sneered.
ofwhat ACTUALLY HAPPENED,"The most
most horrible
horrible thing
thing was thethe way
waythe“Thethekids were
weretreatedtreated-thetheywere– theway
way they
were pushed
around.
chance toaround.They
They didn't
didn’thave
have a chance
understandhappening, sotheywere
understandwhat
whatwaswas happening,
so theyweredisappointedininus.
us.Obviously,
Obviously,itit wasn’t
ourdisappointed
wasn't ourfault, but you can’t
can't explain
explain thatthat topeopleto 800 people
personally.
they've been
been pushed
pushedpersonally. The way they’vearoundbyby thethe army
army andand thethe police,
police, theyaroundobviously
thought, 'Whatobviously thought,‘Whatthethefuck's
fuck’sgoing
going onon
here?'
reacted accordingly.
accordingly. Everyone
here?’ They reacted
acted the monkey theywould.
acted
they thought
thought they
theywould.
"Like, it’s
it'salmost
almost aanight
night ofoffreedom
freedom andand they
they“Like,
canslipping throughthrough their
their hands
hands while
can see it slippingwhile
policemenare
are crushingcrushingthem.
them.YouYou don’t
policemen
don't look
for sanesane reasons.
reasons. Youjust
the object, andand »»
You just see the"The horrible“The
thing was thething
way the kids
were pushed
around”
around"ENTS PRESENTS

C011itiexam hall tAd. 21mi:7,4E9.30.
pat eganstickets; 50 tztl.students union,
HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 121

1977
1977

I

O C T O B E R – D ECEMBERRoyalUlster
UlsterConstabulary
Royal
Constabulary
patdownpolicemen pat
down theband,
who atone pointband,who
atone
point
werethoughtto
were thought tobebemembersof
lster
members
ofthe
theU
UlsterDefence Association
Association (UDA)
Defence(UDA)

theand you aim
aim for that.
that.
the object
object is The Clash andYouwant toto bebeassuredassured that
You want
thatit's
it’s going
going onon andandititdidn't.
weeks' time the insurance
insurance will
didn’t.In
In two weeks’willprobablybe
and The Stranglers
Stranglers
probably beworked
worked out
out and[set totoplayplaythen]then]will
willcome
comeininand
andcleancleanup,and[set
up, andthey'llreas
sure them.
they’ll reassurethem.Meanwhile,
Meanwhile,forforus
us thethekids were lining
lining thethe street
street inin front
front ofofarmoured
armouredcars. It wascars.
was aascene
scene ofofdesolation
desolation andand chaos.
chaos.
"I thought
thought it was great
great thatthat they
they lay down
down“Iin the road inin front
frontofofthosearmoured cars
those armoured
cars
because theywanted
they wantedthe
theconcert
concertso
sobadly.
badly. The
The
becausetroublethat it's
time here we andandtrouble is thatit’s our first time
don't
situation andcan't go down
down
don’t know the situation
andwe can’t
the police
police station
andcheckcheckitit out,wethestation andout, because
because we
don't
can walk down
down thedon’tknow
knowifif we canthe block.
block. I'm
I’m
like a complete
complete alien.
alien.
“It
way of getting"It waswas veryveryself-conscious.
self-conscious. It was aa self-conscious
self-conscious way
getting youryourown
own wayin
way inaasituation
situationwhich
whichisisso
soout
outof
ofour
ourcontrol.
control.No
Noway
wayarearewe
wegoing to call
call thethe shots
shots with
with guys
guyswith
withBren
Brenguns
gunsstanding
standing outside
outside andandbeatingon
onkids.
kids. InIn no
no waywas
way wasitit also
beatingalso giving up. We
Weain’t
ain't anan army,army, we’re
we're
a rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll band.
band. It'sband against
against thethe army
army andIt’s like aaband
and thethe Ulster
Ulsterconstabulary,trouble, andand thetroubleconstabulary,who
whowerewereonly
only there
thereinincasecaseof trouble,
the only
only trouble
wouldn’t insure
insureus.
us. Thewas produced
produced by thethe fact
factthat
thatthisthiscompany
companywouldn't
threathalf a million
million pounds
pounds meant
threatofof half
meantnothingnothingtotome.
me.They
Theysaid,said,'Do‘Doyouyouwantmeant it.
wanttoto payitpay ityourself?'
yourself?’sosoIIsaid,said,`I'llpay‘I’ll payititmyself.'myself.’I meant
it.
“They
getitit off me,
joke. IIthink"They couldn’t
couldn't getme, soso throw
throw me in jail.
jail. It’s
It'sjust
justaajoke.
think
they
had a lot more
more trouble
trouble here
here because
because of thethe fact
fact thatthat thethe concert
concertthey had
was cancelled
cancelled thancompletethanififthey
theyhadhadletletthetheconcert
concertgo
goon.
on.ItIt was
was a complete
redherring."
red herring.”

THAT
AFTERNOON,other
OTHERbizarre
bizarrehat afternoon,
eventshad taken
takenplace.
place.Mick
Mick andevents had
and Joehad gone to do
do an
an interview
interview with
with thethehadstation, Downtown
local radio station,
DowntownRadio.
Radio.As
As
they
outof
of thecar by the station,
they stepped
stepped out
the carstation,mistaken them
them for members
members
the security had mistaken
the UDA.
UDA.The
Thereason
reasonwas
wasevidently
evidently their
theirof theclothes
black zippered
zippered outfits, Doctor
clothes-–blackMarten's footwear,
which
Marten’s
footwear, leather
leather jackets,
jackets, whichhighlights the
between thethe (excuse
highlights
the fine line between
thesymbol andand reality.
reality.
the possible
possible pomposity)
pomposity) symbol
Again, what
what is dede rigueur
rigueur down
down thethe Vortex
provocative implications
implications in thethetakes on provocative
authentic
war zone. In addition,authentic war
addition, during
during theafternoon, we-bus forafternoon,
wehad
hadallallpiled
piledinto
intoaa mini
mini-busround -the -town photo
photo session.
session. Theband wereease at
at thethe prospect
prospecta round-the-town
The bandwere ill at easeandand its ramifications.
ramifications. At suitably
suitably evocative
evocative landmarks,
landmarks, like anan armyarmy
barracks, or devastateddevastated rubble,
hadbarracks,
rubble,thethecameracamerawould
wouldwhirr.
whirr.How
How hadMick felt?
Mick
“Like
goat. I just
"Like Paddy
Paddy McGinty’s
McGinty's goat.
just felt
felt likelikeaadick.
dick.The
Thebestbesttimetime was
was whenwhen
the kids were
were inin thethe photos
photos with us. That
That was thethe only
only time
time when
when it waswas
all thehuman andthough. The
human
andreal.
real.II should
shouldimagine
imaginethey'll
they’lllap
lapititup
up in
in London,
London, though.
Thesoldiersin theirtheircubbyholes
cubby holesthought
thoughtwewewereweredicks.
dicks.The
Thekids
kids
soldiers crouching
crouching inthought we
asked some,some, ‘Do
'Do you want
want to be in thethethought
wewereweredicks.
dicks.Like, we asked
photograph?' andphotograph?’andthey
theysaid
said 'bollocks'‘bollocks’ on the Ballymurphy estate.
“Butbecausewewegot
got a lightning
tourofof what"But IIthink
think ititwas
wasimportant,important, becauselightning tour
what
actually happening,
happening, andallyinintouchtouchduring
during those
those
was actually
andso
sowe
wewerewere rereallymoments. II was more aware
aware of what
what waswasgoing
goingononaroundaround memethanthan thethemoments.
camera.
If I hadin Belfast I would
camera. If
had known
known people
people inwould have
have hunghung out
out withwith them
them

adrian boot (2)“The"The soldiers
crouching incubbyholes
thought wethought
weredicks”
were dicks"

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
122 I| HISTORY
122

T

Air

the clash

THE CLASH

but, as in allbut,
all good
goodstories,
stories,ended
ended upup being
being thethe hero,hero, destroying
destroying
thesingle-handed. However,
he returned
returned tothe hideaway
hideaway single-handed.
However, when hehiseditor with
with thethe explosive copy,
copy,ititwas
wassummarily
summarilyrejected
his editor
rejected
becauseitit was –-you
you might
might say-too
say – tooreal.
real.AsAs a result
becauseresult he quit
quit thethejournalistic
journalisticdepartment
departmentand
andjoinedjoinedthe
theplatoon.
platoon.
read: “It’s"It's easiereasier blowing
blowing up
up JapaneseJapanese
The last line read:magazines(geddit?)(geddit?)than
thangetting
gettingone
oneof
ofmy
my articles
articlesonon thethe warwar
magazines
accepted,
thinkJoe
accepted,sir."sir.” Do you think
Joewaswas making
makingaapoint
pointtotome?
me?
There were two shows
shows inin Dublin
Dublin at
at yetyetanother
another bastion
bastion ofTherelearning.Trinity
TrinityCollege,
College, in an astonishingly
ornatehall,
hall,Joe
Joelearning.
astonishingly ornate
shoutedthis posh?”posh?" andshoutedout,
out,"Ain't“Ain’t thisand hehe was right.
Portraits of past
past academic
academic luminaries
luminaries decorated
Portraits
decoratedthe
thewalls
walls-bewigged
sculpture of– bewiggedgents
gentsinin languidly
languidly pensive
pensive poses,
poses, a sculpture
two almost
almost intertwined
intertwined figures
thefiguresand
andaa gigantic
gigantic organ in thegallery,which lookedcame out of Hollywood
Hollywood in its
its most
mostgallery, whichlookedas
as if it came
fantasticphase.
phase.Set
Set all this alongside the kids andfantastic
and thethe finally
finallyerectederected backdrop
backdropand
andthetheironies
ironies were extreme.
the
fans
who
were
disappointed in Belfast had
had
Many of the
fans
who
were
disappointed
Simonon
and
Jones
by
an
Simonon andJonesby ancome down,
down,and
andJoeJoe dedicateddedicated"Hate“HateAnd
AndWar"War” toto them.
them.
come
army
Saracen vehicle
vehicleon
onarmySaracen
Royal Avenue,
Avenue, Belfast’s
Belfast's
Despitetime for aaproper
proper soundcheck,soundcheck, theDespite there
there notnot being
being time
main shopping
shopping street,street,band,
firstaround,astonishing,soaring throughthroughband,
timearound,wereastonishing,soaringsecured ateitherend
at eitherendbythe “ringof
of steel"steel”
bythe"ring“London’sBurning",
Burning”,"Capital",“Capital”,"City“CityOfOf The Dead”(which, as
as"London's
Dead" (which,Mick said,
said, isisthe
the opposite
opposite of what
what was
was happening
happening inin Belfast),
Belfast),"Janie“Janie Jones"
Jones” andand"Garageland".
“Garageland”.After
Afterhalf
halfaadozen
dozenororsosonumbers,Joe announced,“Listen – shutup.
up.II can't
can’t playwith
play withnumbers,announced, "Listen-shutthese guys here,”
here,"motioning
motioning towards
towards thethe security
security guards.
guards.
these
and become part
part of thethe background.
background. Instead,
Instead, IIthought
thought
Instantly
d andand went,
went, andand suddenly
suddenlythe
poured ontotheInstantlythey
they uppe
upped
the kids poured
onto thethe groupgroupstuck
stuckout
outlikelike a sore thumb.”thethumb."
stage, creatingtheAnotherraw
raw nerve
nerve was
was thebackdropThe
The Clash
Clash playcreating a scene
scene of delirious
delirious confusion.
confusion. No, they
they didn’t
didn't prevent
prevent the
Anotherthe backdrop
band fromplaying, but exulted
exulted in thethe fact
fact thatthat this
this waswastheirtheir night,night, their
their
band
from playing,against.
blow-upof
of a violent
against. It featuresfeatures a photographic
photographic blow-up
victory. Strangely,
Strangely,thetheaudienceaudiencenumberednumbered few
fewfashionably
fashionablyattired
attiredBelfast street
street scene,
scene, replete
repletewith
witharmoured
armoured cars andandpunks.
hunchedcivilians.
civilians.
punks. Most were longhairs
longhairs or thethe curious
curious brigade
brigade who
who transform
transform
hunchedthemselves from sports jacketed bystanders
bystanders (one couple were
wereactuallyactually
themselves
Mick: “I
"Ididn’t
didn'tthink
think we
weshould
should put
put ititup
uphereherebecause
becausesmooching tofrenetic dervishes.
dervishes.
smoochingto "Cheat")“Cheat”) to frenetic
they aren’t
wanttotobe
beremindedremindedof
ofititthey
aren't going to particularly
particularlywant
On “Remoteandwhat the fuck do
If thethe first set
set waswas good,
good, thethe second
second one was superlative.
superlative. On"Remoteand they are going toto saysaywhatdo they
they know
knowaboutabout
Control", Mick’s
Mick's voice
voice(he’s(he'snow
nowtakingtaking charge
charge ofofmoremorevocal
vocalparts
parts thanthanit. Obviously
Obviouslywe're
sympathetic andand havehaveananempathy
empathyfor
Control”,
we’re sympatheticforrang out
outin
inspine-chilling,spine -chilling,splintered
splinteredshards.
shards.
also feel
feelwewemight
mightbeberubbingrubbing their
their faces
facesever) rang
the place, but I also
Nickylooked
se -limb e dasashehethrashedthrashed out
out aa titanic
titanic
Nicky
lookeddeceptively
deceptivelyloo
loose-limbed
it.In
InBournemouth
Bournemouth it’s
it's great
great because
because everyone
in it.
everyoneisisdrum underlay,
India -rubber intensity,
intensity, attacked
attacked thethe bass
asleep andavybbecause
ecause everyone
everyone isdrum
underlay, while
while Paul, with India-rubber
fucking asleep
andit's
it’s really
really heheavywith a venom thatthat wouldsuperb as
confronted bythis
don't need
need towithwould have
have split
split thethe atom.
atom.JoeJoe was also superb
as heheconfronted
by thisstuff,
stuff,butbutinin Belfast they don’tin thosethose juddering,
juddering, quickfire movements.
movements. Equallycircled the stage in
Equally
be reminded.
You just
reminded. You
just have
have totowalkwalkdown
down thethe street
street andand bebeintense wasThieves", whose
whose
reminded ofevery day.
intensewas thethe version
version ofJuniorof JuniorMarvin's
Marvin’s"Police“Police And Thieves”,
reminded
ofitit every
significance grew
uncannily after"How many
manytimes have we been
been searched?
searched? Must be
significancegrew uncannily
afterthetheprevious
previousday's
day’sevents.
events.Words
Words like
“How
times
intense, powerful, unavoidable,
unavoidable, magnetic
magnetic just
justspun
spun throughthrough mymyhead.
intense,
head.
about
was going
going to beabout 20 times.
times. I really
really felt
felt this
this concert
concert was
loveThe
TheClashClashbecause
because they
they areare oneone ofofthe
themostmosthonesthonest andand exciting
exciting
rock'n'roll show andand thethe audiencea rock’n’rollaudiencewas
wasgoing
goingtoto be
be oneone
I loverock'n'roll bands
ofthe
thebestbestwe’dwe'devereverencountered.
encountered.But,
But,ofofcourse,
course,thethebureaucrats
bureaucratsand
androck’n’rollbandswe
we have.
have.
of
So,on
onleavingleavingthe
thehotelhotelon
onSaturday
Saturdaymorning
morning toto catchcatch mymyvariousSo,variousarseholes– you cancanbe
be a Catholicarseholes put
put their
their foot in it.
it. But
Butlistenlisten-you
Catholic or aa
planes andLondon, a small
small incident
incident irked considerably.
considerably.
ProtestantProtestantkid-you
kid – youcan
cancomecomealong
alongand
andallallbe
be bouncing
bouncingtogether.
together.
planesand trains
trainsbackback toto London,
Getting into
into thethe lift were
weretwo
twochambermaids
chambermaids whoworriedly confided
confided"Now thethe authorities
authorities gotta“Now
gotta seesee something
somethingwrong
wrongininthat.
that.It's
It’saa cruel
cruel
Getting
who worriedly"Watch out.
out. There
There areare punk
punk rockers
rockers on
this floor. Mind
Mind you don’t
don't
irony. The
Thelive
livebackdrop
backdropbeing
beingassociatedassociated withwithourourgroupgroupandandthenthen thethein me, “Watchon thisbeaten up."authorities stamping
stamping on
concert."authorities
on ourour concert.”
get beatenup.”
replied thatthat they
they didn’t
didn't want
want toto beatbeat
I repliedanyone up.
AT
LEASTtheTHEfollowing
followingnight
night inint leastanyoneup.
"They do,”do," thethe girls rushedrushed backpromised rock'n'roll
Dublin the promised
rock’n’roll took“Theybackatatme.
me."Are“Areone?"
the train
train down, Joe handed
handedplace. On theyou one?”look like
like one?
one?
Do I lookme a Combat
Combat Picture
Picture Library
Librarycartoon
cartoon strip
strip"Youcan’t
can't tell
tell bybythe
thelooks.
looks.They’re
They're aaterrible
terriblebooklet,Wouldn'tDare.
booklet, called
called Jack Wouldn’t
Dare.
“You
They put
put safetys afetypins
pinsthroughthrough their
their cheeks
cheeks"That's for you andandMelodyMaker,"lot. They“That’s
Melody Maker,” heand evenbabies' cheeks."
andeven babies’
cheeks.”quipped.
quipped. It told thethe engrossing
engrossing saga of one
one
atfault
faultforforsuchsuchananattitude?
attitude? Girls, this
thisreportererts (who(wholooked
lookednot
notunlikeunlikeWho is atreporterJack
Jack Rob
Roberts
band is more on
on youryourside
sidethanthan youryourmanager
managerElvisCostello
Costelloand
and hadhad PRESSPRESSemblazoned
emblazoned on
on
band
Elvis
Hewas
wastoying
toyingwith
withthethe idea
idea ofofthrowing
throwing
is. Hehis
his helmet).
helmet). The time
time was thethe Second
Second World
them out
the hotel because
because of their
their so-calledso-called
War, andand Jack The
TheHack
Hackwaswassent
sentout
outwithwith ananthemout of the"bad language".
this band.
armyplatoon
search-and-destroymission“badlanguage”.See
See thisband.They
Theyarearevery,very,
army
platoon on aasearch-and-destroy
missionspecial. Ian
lanBirchvery special.
toJack wasSCAREDSCAREDto aaJapaneseJapanese arms
arms dump.
dump. Jackwas
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HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 123
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1977

O C T O B E R – D ECEMBER

revul MIND
THE BOLLOCKS
HERE'S THE

JohnnyRotten:Johnny Rotten:
markedbyhis
marked by his
Catholic
Catholicschooling?
schooling?

rules, as Tony Parsons
rules,
to saysaybefore
before heused togot wise. Good
Good dance
got
tune,
while
tune, anyway,
anyway, while"Problems" says
“Problems”
says itit all:"Bet
thought you“Bet you
you thoughtyouknew
what I/ waswasabout/
about/
knew whatBet
thought
Bet you thought
ALBUMS
you'd
you’d solved all yourproblems/But
problems/But YOU
areproblem."are the problem.”
Whatcha gonna
do? Vegetate?
Vegetate? Listen
Listen1977
toto thethe Sex Pistols
album? GreatGreatsongs
songs
ineffectual flicks
gone, ineffectual
the wrist
wrist like
"New York",of thelike “NewYork”,All veryvery Weller,
Weller, butbutis
is thisAll
thisa Jagger
Jagger II see before
before me?
which probably
probably has
which
has David
me? No,No,
it's the singles,
sing les,allfour of them
them –Johansen quaking
Johansenquakingin
in hishis heels,
it’s
all four"EMI" -– youit,
and “EMI”
you guessed
guessed it,“Anarchy
In The UK”,
"Anarchy In
UK", “God"God Save
The Queen”,
Queen", “Pretty"Pretty Vacant"they're bitching.
they’reVacant”andand"Holidays In"You'reonly
on/y29/Yougotta
lotto“You’re29/You gotta lot
to“Holidays
In TheThe Sun"Sun” –learn." In spite of this inspired
inspiredlearn.”
constituting
one third(weigh it)
constituting one
third (weigh
Of course, there
there are"Seventeen" rambles
opening, “Seventeen”
of the vinyl. Of
a little
and theguitarsdo
dogo
go on
on a
other great
great songs.
little andthe guitars
other"/justspeed/That's
allIneed."bit. “Ijust speed/That’s all
need.”
This in nono first-roundfirst -round knockout.
knockout.
This is no
noClashClashattending
attending thethe
Whaddya think
think so far?
far?
WhaddyaWell, I’ve
Convention; nonoJam
I've saved
savedthethebestbestbitbitforfor
CBS Convention;
Jam voting
Conservative; noDamnedlinger over. You’ve
You've alreadyalready
you to linger
Conservative;
no Damned
fucking
heard two
two songs thethe bandheard
fuckinganan American
American girl
girlwith
withaaco-wrote
Sid Vicious
Vicious(as(asFender bass; nono Stranglers
Stranglers
co -wrote with
with Sid
Fenderdistorting Trotskyforopposed to
Matlock, The
opposedto GlenGlen Matlock,The
distorting
Trotsky and Lenin fortheir-hating, bully-boyKid): “EMI”"EM I" andTrue Pop Kid):andtheirown
owncunt
cunt-hating,bully-boy“Holidays
InThe
The Sun".
Sun”. Here’s
the Sex Pistols.
Pistols.
"Holidays In
Here's thetheends. No, this is theThewhich (so I’m
I'm told
told –-II
third. It's
"Bodies".
third.
It’s called
called “Bodies”.
The band which
wasn'tbeginning)"She waswasaagirl
girlfrom“Shefromwasn’t there
there inin the beginning)
Birmingham/She
had justhad
had anstarted
Birmingham/She hadjust
startedititall.
all.
Greatsongs
abortion/She wasofabortion/She
was a case ofGreat songslike
like "Submission",“Submission”,
a numb-nostrilled
numb-nostrilled "Venus
insanity/Her nameinsanity/Her
namewaswas Pauline,“VenusInIn
she lived
was aa no
FursrPenetration'7"1 Wanna
lived in a tree/She
tree/She wasFurs”/“Penetration”/“I
Wanna
Your Dog”,
Dog", ininformform hypnotic,
hypnotic, inkilled her baby/She
baby/She sent
one who killed
Be Yourincontent writhing.
through a
letters from the country/She
country/She
her letterscontent
writhing.Pain
Pain throughwas anthata
whip inan animal/She
animal/She was a bloody
bloodydull, passive haze. IsIsthata whipyourabnormal?
disgrace/Bodies/Pm notdisgrace/Bodies/I’m
not anyour hand
hand oror areare you abnormal?
"Submission/Going
animal/Dragged ontable inanimal/Dragged
onaa table“Submission/Goingdown,
down,
aafactoryfillegitimate
factory/Illegitimateplace
place todown, dragging
dragging her down/
down/
Submission//tell you what
what
be/In a packet
packet in aalavatory/Die
lavatory/Die
be/In
Submission/I can't
can’t tell
I've found.”found." Smack?
little baby screaming/Bodies/littleI’ve
Screaming fucking
mess/
Geeks?
What a mystery
mystery andfuckingbloody
bloodymess/
Geeks? Whatand
whoanimal/It's ananabortion/abortion/
Not an animal/It’s
who grew
grew upup on the New Yorkyelp as thethe drilldrill
Mummy/Pm notnotananabortion/abortion/
Mummy/I’m
Dolls? Dogs yelp
Throbbing
Most unhealthy
Throbbing squirm/Gurgling
squirm/Gurgling
continues. Most
unhealthy andandya like it like that?
that? Well,
Well, itit growsb/oodymess..."bloodymess…”
grows
you. A bit
bit like
like cancer.
What? Good
What?
GoodGod.
God.WasWas I
on you.
shocked! Did
Did I jump!
jump! Is
Isthatthat what
what
shocked!
Great"No Feelings":
Greatsongs
songs like
like “NoFeelings”:"Igotnoforanybody
they wanted,
wanted, toto shock people?
people?
they“I
got no emotion foranybody
better understandunderstand I'm
Smart boys.
they mean it? Is itit
Smartboys. Do theyelse/You better
I’msatire of thethe most dubious kind?
satirelovewithwithmyself/My
myself/Myself,
in loveself, mybeautifulself."John's Catholic
Catholic schoolingschooling
Did John’sbeautiful self.”Ah,Ah,solipsism
solipsism

REVIE
W

ALBUMSALBUMS
Sex
Pistols
Sex Pistols
Never
Mind The
The Bollocks,
Bollocks, Here’s
Here'sNever MindThe
Sex Pistols
Pistols VIRGIN
The Sexvirginray stevenson / rex features

What
waiting for?
for? True
What areare you waiting
love,
love,school
schoolto
toend,
end,third
thirdworld/world/
civil
more wars in thethe third
third
civil war, more
world,
world, a leader, the commandos
to stormtostorm thethe next
next aeroplane, next
week's
Revolution?
week’s NME, The Revolution?
Pistols album!
album!
The Sex Pistols
Hail, hail,
hail, rock’n’roll,
rock'n'roll, deliverdeliverthemfrom evil
but lead them notnotthem fromevil but
into
temptation. Keep
into temptation.
Keep them
them

quiet/offthe
the street/content.
quiet/off
punk! You wanna elpeeelpeeHey punk!
sized “Anarchy”"Anarchy" single?
single?YouYou
wanna original
original “Anarchy”"Anarchy" black
bag? You wanna
wanna bootleg
bootleg album?
album?
You wanna
wannacollectcollectbutterflies?
butterflies?
Very fulfilling,
fulfilling, collecting
things...
very satisfying.
satisfying. Keepthings… very
Keep yousatisfied,satiated,satisfied, makemake you satiated,make you fat and old, queueing
queueing
forfor thethe rock'n'roll
rock’n’rollshow.
show.
Pistols. They could
could
The Sex Pistols.
up thethe namename and
andhave dreamed
dreamed up
died.
equationdied. The hysterical equationsocietysocietymakes
makesofoflove/alove/agun
gun==
power/crimeshoved
shoved down
down its
power/crime
own throat,throat, rubbed
rubbedininits
its ownown
face.
I'm just
just asasrepressed
repressed
face. See, I’m
and contaminatedcontaminated as thethe next
next
guy. AndAnd I like thethe Sex Pistols.
Aesthetically,
apart fromfrom
Aesthetically, apartanythingelse.
else. Three of them areanythingvery good-looking.
good- looking.And
And thesoundof thethe bandgoes...
sound ofband goes…
“I"I don’t
don't wanna holiday
holiday in thesun/Iwanna go in thethe city/
city/
sun/I wanna
There's aathousand
thousand things
thingsThere’s/I wannawanna say to you…”
you..."HISTORY OF
124 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
124

leave its
its mark?
mark? IIdon’t
don't know
know
leave
where
comingwhere "Bodies"“Bodies”isis comingfromitscaresIt'sfrom andand itscares me. It’s
obviously
gutter view
obviously a gutter
view ofofsex/dirt/blood/
sex/dirt/blood/
reproduction
reproductionandand ifif thethesongattack onsong is an attack
on suchsuch
a mentality
mentality it’s
it's admirable.
But, as with
with “Holidays"Holidays In
But,
In
The
Sun", Rotten
Rotten never
never
The Sun”,
allowshimself toallows himself
tomakemakeaamoral
judgement and,moral judgement
and,
going
goingbybythings
thingshe's
he’ssaid,said, heheseems refreshingly
refreshingly capable
capableofof makingmakingthem.
them.IIwish
wishhehewould.
would say that
thatwould.II wish he would
East Germany
Germany isispresently
presently
Eastorganisingitself better
better thanorganising itself
than
West
West Germany
Germany-– oror vicevice versa, ifif
that'sthethat’swhat
whathehe believes.
believes.II wish theSex Pistols had said inin “Bodies”"Bodies"that
not bethat women
women should
should notforcedforcedto
toundergo
undergosuch
such savagery,especiallywithin a “welfare”"welfare" state.
especially withinstate.
I'm sick ofof unlimited
unlimited tolerance
tolerance
I’m
and objectivity,
objectivity, because
because itit leads
leads
toto annihilation.
annihilation.II wish everyone
wouldquit sitting
would quit
sittingon
on thethe fence
fence inthethink
the middle
middle ofof thethe road.
road. I think"Bodies"“Bodies”willwillbebe openopen toto muchmuch
misinterpretation
misinterpretationand
and thatthat totoissue it waswasgrossly
grosslyirresponsible.
irresponsible.
of these
these songs (under(under new
Many ofnames) also crop
crop up on
on theirtheirbootlegbootlegalbum
album –-plus
plus"Satellite",“Satellite”,inin
which
give thethe finger
fingerwhich the Pistols giveto
"Just Me”,
Me",to thethe provinces,provinces, and “Justwhich
non-existenttune
which has aanon-existenttuneandandfrightening
frighteningwords:
words:"You“You wanna
wanna beme/Didn't
me/Didn’t/foo/
I foolyou?"you?”TheThe singing
singing
is donedone with
with much less expertise.
expertise.
Rotten sounding
sounding sick to death. It’s
It's
Rottena muchmuchbetter
better record.
record.
don't really
really know anything
anything
I don’t
about
but theabout music,
music, but
the Sex Pistols
seemwell as anyone
anyoneseem toto play
play as well
I've heard,
heard, and I’ve
I've heard
heard Jimi
I’ve
Hendrix andTownshend
Hendrix
and Pete
Pete Townshend
records.
records.II never
never knew
knew what
whatwaswasmeant by “guitar"guitar hero”
hero"-–ititsounds
soundslike thethe kind ofof phrasephrase a mental
mentallike
retard"Guitarretard might
might mouth. “Guitar
hero""war hero”,
hero",
hero”-you– youmean
meanasas in “warthatthing?
that kind
kind ofof thing?
Why should
Whyshould anyone
anyone wish
wish toto playplay
more
more usefully
usefullythan
thanSteve
Steve Jones,
Jones,
ordrum more elaborately
elaborately thanor drum
thanPaul Cook,
Cook, oror play
play better
better bass
Paul
bass
than
Vicious? What
What purpose
purposethan Sid Vicious?
could
outdo them?
could itit serve
serve to outdo
them?
what are the Sex Pistols?
Pistols?
So whatthe tabloids
tabloids aa welcome
welcome rest
For therest
fromviolence infromnubiles
nubiles(sex(sex and violence
theirdrugs too,
theirnamename alone
alone andand drugs
too,
ifif you count
count Rotten'sRotten’s speed
speed
dalliance); for the dilettantes,
dilettantes, aa
newdiversion (Ritzmonthly
new diversion(Ritzhas
has a monthly
punk column); forfor the promoters,
promoters,a newnew productproduct to push; forfor theparents,
for thetheparents,aa new excuse; forkids, a new
newwayway(in(inthethetradition
tradition ofof
the Boy
Boy Scouts, the terraces
andtheterraces andone-upmanship)
one-upmanship) inin which todissipate
their precious
dissipate theirprecious energy.
energy.

MORE, Malcolm!"
Julie
MORE,
Malcolm!”
JulieBurchill,
Burchill,
NME
Nov55
NME Nov

AllmanAllman And
And Woman
Woman
Two
Two TheThe Hard
HardWay
WayWARNERS
Warners

When"I'm So
When TheThe Clash cut “I’m
Bored With
With The USA”
USA" they
they
Bored
couldn't
couldn’thave
have heard
heard this
this album,
yet it’s
applicable. AndAnd
yet
it's eminently
eminently applicable.
itit could
happened in
could only
only have happened
intheit's hard to think
think ofthe States;
States; it’sof aBritishwho would
would have
British couple
couple whothewiththe arrogancearrogance toto comecome up withthis collection of mediocrity.
The bad news
newsstarts
starts with
with thegrossly
title Gregg
grossly sexist title
Greggand
and
Cher
for
Cher Allman
Allmanhave
have chosen for
theirduo
duo status,
status, Allman
Allman And
And
their
Woman,
which reduces
reduces one
of
Woman, which
one oftheoutstanding female
the most outstanding
singers ofof thethe last
last decadeor so tosingers
decade ortothechattel ofthe role
role ofof a mere chattel
of anaverage Southern
Southern rocker.
rocker.

Perhaps, however,
however, Cher
Cher
consented
to be relegatedrelegated toconsented toworse
worse than
than second
second best
bestinin an
attemptto
tokeepkeep her
her own name off
attempt
off
thethe album,
album,in
in whichwhichcase
case she's
she’s
taken
wisestep.
step.Her
Hersubservient
taken a wise
subservientrole continues throughrole
through into themusic, where
where she's
forced to
she’s forced
to sing
sing
far
too low
get down to thefar too
low to get
level
level of hubby. Even when she’s
she's
singing
her own, on “Island”,"Island",singing on
on hershe barely
barelysparks,
sparks, but her
unrestrainedsexuality
sexuality comes
unrestrained
through.
contrast, Gregg’s
Gregg'sthrough.By contrast,
solo spot, “Shadow"Shadow Dream
Dream Song”,
Song",
is grotesque,grotesque, as he groansgroans out
out thetheballad,ballad, bum
bum notes
notesand
andall.
all.
duo they
they seem toto have
As a duo
havestarted out
out with
startedwith the intention
intention of
becoming
white Marvin
Marvin Gaye
becoming a white
Gaye
and Tammi Terrell
Terrell and get
get off
off totowith"Move“MoveMe",
Me”,aaa goodgood start
startwithlively ’60s-style'60s -style song on which
which
livelythey
fair impersonation
impersonation ofofthey give a fair
the Motown
Motownpair.
pair.They
They keep
keep upupthethemomentum throughthe momentum
through"I“IFound
Found
You, Love”,
Love", brightbright and breezybreezy andnot unlike
unlike"It“ItTakes
Takes Two",
Two”, then
not
then
start
downhill withstart toto go
go downhillwith "Can“Can
You Fool”.
Fool". They
Theymeetmeettheir
their
Waterlooon
on thethe fourth
fourthtrack,
track,anan
Waterloounspeakableunspeakable version
version ofof Smokey
SmokeyRobinson's “You’ve"You've Really Got
Got A
Robinson’s
Hold On Me”
Me" which they manage
Holdtodirge. There's
to turnturninto
intoaa dirge.
There’s nonoway thatthatanyone
anyonecan
can match theMiracles' definitive
definitive original,
original, ofof
Miracles’course, but
but there’s
there's plenty
plenty ofscope forforaa good
good reading
reading ofof this
thissong,
Eddie Money
Money has proved
provedsong, as Eddieon his debut
debut album.
album.
Gregg's singing
singing gets
From here, Gregg’s
gets
worse,
Cher loses
enthusiasm andworse, Cherloses enthusiasm
andthemostly become
become maudlin
maudlinthe songs mostly
ballads. If
If it
it didn’t
didn't represent
representsuch
such
a wastewaste ofof talent,talent, this album
album would
would
bejoke. Perhaps
Perhaps they
they should
shouldbe a joke.
have called
called itit Funny
FunnyAndAnd Cher.
MichaelOldfield, MM
Michael Oldfield,
MM Nov26
Nov 26Sad
FanxTa-Ra
Sad Café
Café Fanx
Ta-RaRCArCa

A
remarkable debut
debut album
that
A remarkable
album thataugersfor thethe groupaugers well not only forgroup
but forfor all
workingbut
all music makers working
within thethe framework
framework ofof British
BritishwithinCafe areare oneone ofof thetherock. Sad Café
to emerge
emerge in somebest bands totime, andand side two,
time,
two, in particular,
particular,
engrossing programme
programmeof this engrossing
represents a sustained
sustained peak
peak ofofrepresents
achievementrare
rareononalbums.
albums. ItIt is
achievement
literally a performance,
performance, withliterally
witheacheachsong oror instrumental,
instrumental,
piece, song
slottinginto
intothethenext
next one, withslotting
barely a pause
pauseforfor breath.
breath.
barelyAlthough
Although all
all the compositions
are richly
variedthey
theyseem
seem totoarerichly varied
follow
followaa logicallogicalpath,
path,asas thethetempos switch
moods and tempos
around. Side
Side one tends
around.
tends toto beopener,more patchy. The opener,"Babylon", is certainly
certainly a good
good
“Babylon”,
introduction
to theirtheir music, for
introduction tofor ititfeaturesingredients.
features their
their key ingredients.
These
distinctive lead
These are distinctive
leadvocals
vocalsfromPaulPaul Young, plenty
ofbackbackfrom
plenty of
vocal harmonies,
harmonies, violent
violent leadup vocallead
guitar fromguitarfrom thethe passionate
Ashley Mulford,
an orchestral
AshleyMulford, anorchestral
approachapproach toto arrangements,
arrangements,andandthethe sophisticatedsophisticated keyboard
keyboard workof the man largely
largely responsible
responsible for
those
those arrangements,
arrangements,Vic
VicEmerson.
Emerson.
"Blacktheir single,“Black Rose",
Rose”, theirsingle,concludes
firstside
side andand isconcludes thethe first
rather too obviously influenced
influenced
rather
Hall && Oates,
Oates, but
but thethe bandby Hallband arearestill finding
finding their
theirfeet,
feet,so
so
stilltheir own
doubtless more of theirpersonality will
personality
will emerge,
emerge,asas
indeeddoes on the second
indeed itit does
segment.
segment. Opening
Openingwith
withanan
instrumental by Emerson entitledentitled
instrumental“The"The Further
Further Adventures Of
Of MadAlan",
nice toto hearAlan”, itit isis nicehear himhim
get away
awayfromfrom rockrock
consciously getcliches and employ
employ strange
strangechordal devices
to createcreate a moodchordaldevices tomystery. Theof menace and mystery.
guitarcuts across theguitar cuts
the organorgan
psychotic killer
killerchords like aapsychotic
advancing
victim. The
advancing on
on his victim.
The
finally resolves into “Fanx"Fanx
piece finally
Ta-Ra",
which is a song
song about
about theTa-Ra”, which
theaftermathaftermathof
oflove,love, hence
hence thepicture.
cover picture.
The
band's musicits
The band’smusic makes
makes its
immediately, and thethe best
best
impact immediately,
way to enjoy
enjoy this
this
album
to start
start
album is toatbeginningat the beginningand letlet itit build
build
rather thanratherextract odd
extract
tracks.
tracks.II have
have

a feelingfeeling that
thistime next
this timeyear
year we
we maymay bebetoasting
toasting themthem
as ourour Brightest
Brightest
Hope. They are
Hope.
certainly one ofofcertainlymine. Chris
mine.
ChrisWelch,
Welch,MMOct88
MM OctSINGLES

W
REVIE
1977

SINGLESSINGLES
Wire Mannequin
Wire
MannequinHARVEST
Harvest"SweetJane"riff
Magnificent “Sweet
Jane” riff
repetition, ludicrous
surfing
repetition,
ludicrous surfing
back-up vocals, heavy
heavy petting
petting
the middle of a fire
fire fight
fight fromfromin theveterans ofveteransof thethe Roxy era
overcoming
the age barrier
overcoming thebarrierwith a shambling
shambling punkathised
punkathised
withpop -consciousness andpop-consciousness
and oneoneforfor suitable vinyl
vinyl fodder
fodder forforaa
K -TelPresents
PresentsPunky
Punky Waver
Waver
K-Tel
Explosion. Aimed
Aimed at the
Explosion.
position
whichwill
willsoonsoon bebe held
position which
heldby Theby
TheRichRichKids.
Kids.NME
NMENov26
Nov 26

Juneigni
June 1977:
Talking Heads
Heads
Talking
taketheir
take
their
"feyfunk"to“feyfunk” toAmsterdam
Amsterdam

Talking Heads
Heads
Heads
Talking
Uh-Oh, Love
Uh-Oh,Love
Comes ToComes
ToTownTownSIRE
sirefunk forfor passive
Fey funk
passive
intellectuals withintellectualswith added
ingredientsof hesitant
hesitant steel
ingredients ofbacking David Byrne’s
Byrne'sband backing
contrived flitty
flitty yelp.
contrived
yelp. Their
Their
unfulfilledpromise disappoints
unfulfilled promise
longwinterwinterwhile hardly causing longnights ofnightsofinsomnia.
insomnia.NME
NMENov26
Nov 26
Wings Mull
Mull OfWings
Of Kintyre
KintyreCAPITOL
Capitol

the Isle Of
Of
Nice cover pic of the
Davaar on thethe west coast of
Scotland. Thistribute -in Scotland.
Thisisis a tribute-into thethe areaarea ininArgyllshire
Argyllshiresong towhere
FriendlyMacca
Maccahas
has hishis
where Friendly
twee little
little hideaway.
twee
hideaway. The
Campbeltown pipe
withCampbeltown
pipeband,band, withwhom Wings posed forfor thetheCampbeltown
cover of The Campbeltown
Courier, all sound good,
good,
Courier,
especiallyJohnnySinclair,Sinclair, but
especiallyJohnny
the song
thesongsucks
sucksonon ice.
ice. NNENovi9NME Nov 19

Bill Withers
Lovely Day
LovelyDayCBS
CBs
Just oneJust
one look
lookatat you,you, hehe knows
knows
it's gonna
lovely day. And
it’sgonna bebe a lovely
the world’s
world's all right
right with
with him,thehe knows it’s
be a lovely
it's gonna
gonna belovelyGentle soul-jog withwithday. Gentle
soul-jog"dah-dah-dee" Beach“dah-dah-dee”
BeachBoys
Boys
harmonies
harmonies over soothingsoothing
strings -and -ribbon section,section,strings-and-ribbon
eternity
content platonic eternity
fraternity
pinwallpaper
wallpapermusic
music
fraternity pin
suitable for-runs ofsuitable
forthethere
re-runs
Lassky And
LasskyAnd Crutch.
Crutch.NNEN0v26
NME Nov 26

Bob Marley
Marley && The
Wailers
Bob
The Wailers
Jamming/Punky Reggae
Jamming/Punky
ReggaeParty ISLAND
Party
island"Punky Reggae“PunkyReggae Party"
Party”waswascelebrated before
celebrated
beforeititwas
was evenevenreleasedbecause ofof allallreleased because
references tothose references
to TheThe
Clash, The
Clash,The Jam,Jam, TheThe Slits,
Slits,The Damned, Dr
Dr Feelgood,
Feelgood,
etc... but it’s
it's more
more ofof
etc, etc…
vaguegoodwill
goodwill gesturea vagueto thethe punks than anything
anything
It's best
best toto regard
regard this
thiselse. It’s
Perry/Bob Marley
MarleyLee Perry/Bobcollaboration
effortas
as justjustcollaboration effort
welcome,worthwhile
worthwhile
a welcome,excellent
B-side to the excellent“Jamming”(from thethe
"Jamming" (from
Exodus album, natch)than any kind of cosmic
thanstatement.
statement. NME
NMENovi9
Nov 19HISTORYOF
OFROCK
ROCK1977
1977| 1125
HISTORY
125

Gijsbert Hanekroot / Getty

Oliver Twist ofJohnny Rotten, Oliver
this generation.
wanna some
this
generation. "I“Iwanna

OCTOBER -DECEMBER

1977

Benign anarchy
reigns on the STIFF

RECORDS tour with

ELVIS COSTELLO, IAN

md team spirit

little brats what
it's all about,"says Costello.

DURY ark, NICK LOWE

O C T O B E R – D ECEMBER

prevails. "Ian Duryshows those whining

1977

getty

Benign anarchy
reigns on the STIFF
RECORDS tour with
ELVIS COSTELLO, IAN
DURY and NICK LOWE
– and team spirit
prevails. “Ian Duryshows those whining
little brats what
it’s all about,”says Costello.

126 | HISTORY OF ROCK 1977

greatest?"“Who’s thegreatest?”»

October 28,1977, Lyceum
Ba Ilroom,
London:28,
artists
October
1977, Lyceum
and crewBallroom,on stage forthe artists
London:nightlyfina
le
of
the
Live
and crew on stage for the
Stiffs Tour,"Sex& Drugs& Livenightly finaleof theStiffs Tour, “Sex & Drugs &Rock& Roll&Chaos":(1-r)
Dave Edmunds,
WrecklessRock & Roll
& Chaos”: (l–r)

Edmunds, Wreckless
Eric, IanDave
Dury,ElvisCostello'
BP Fallon
andIan
Nick
Lowe
Eric,
Dury,
Elvis Costello,
BP Fallon and Nick Lowe

Charnpness

Hall

THE BUNCHOn MONDAY,

131

N?

Of SEM

24th OCTOBER,

1977

at 7.30 p.m.
E1.50 at the door

Tickets 025 in advance refundable
Tickets not returnable or

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER- NME—NMENOVEMBERNOVEMBER 55 —EXA
NDDrugs
DRUGSandandrockrockandandroll…
roll... sex
sexandand drugs
drugs
EX ANDand rock androll…sex
sex andandand roll...
and drugs andand rock andandroll..." Hot
Hot damn,
damn, m’man,
m'man, Leicester
roll…”
LeicesterUniversity
Universityis
isjumpin'-to -assjam-packed
jam-packed
jumpin’tonight.
tonight.The
Thehallhallisisass
ass-to-ass
with sweaty people
withpeople going boingggg-boinggggboingggg-boinggggboingggg to the deranged
deranged rhythm
rhythmofof IanIan Dury's
Dury’s 77
anthemthe Good Things In Life,
Life,allallofofthem
themchanting
chanting
anthemto
tothe
thejoysjoys of the
manaicallyalong
alongtotoHimself's
Himself’salmost
almostmantric
mantricinvocation.
invocation.
“SEX!!! andmanaically"SEX!!!
and
DRUGS!!! andand ROCK'!!
and DRUGS!!! andand ROCK!!!
ROCK!!! andandROLL!!!
ROLL!!! SEX!!!
SEX!!! andROCK!!!
andSEX!!!andandDRUGS!!!
DRUGS!!!and…”
and..."
andROLL!!!
ROLL!!! SEX!!!
Meanwhile, thethe stage is also
alsofullfullofofsweaty
sweatypeople
jumping up
upand
anddown
down
Meanwhile,
people jumping
and
RockAnd
Roll!"TheTheonly
onlydifference
difference is thatthat
andyelling
yelling"SexAnd“Sex And Drugs
Drugs And RockAnd Roll!”
most ofofthemthemareareplaying
playinginstruments.
instruments. There
Therearearethreethreedrummers,
drummers, three
three
keyboardplayers,
players,two
twobassists
bassistsand
andonly
onlyGod
GodandandJake
JakeRiviera
Rivieraknow
knowhowhow
keyboard
many
many singers
singersand
andguitarists.
guitarists.Both
BothJake
JakeRiviera
RivieraandandGodGodarearein
inLeicester,
Leicester,but
onlyJakebuying drinks.
drinks.
but only
Jake is buying
It’speople tonight,
tonight,ladeladeezIt's Stiff’s
Stiff's Greatest
Greatest Stiffs
Stiffsdumping
dumping music
music onon thethe peopleez'n'gemmun, thedemented’n’ gemmun,
thehardest
hardestworkin'workin’coachcoachparty
partyininshowbiz.
showbiz.A
A demented
army
drunken hippies
hippies with short hair
hair surfing
surfingarmy of drunken
on thethe new wave: five
fivefeatured
featured performers
performers andandanall-star cast ofoffahsands,
an all-starfahsands,mate:
mate:sex,
sex, drugs,
rock'n'roll,
intrigue, comedy,
rock’n’roll, violence, intrigue,romance,suspense,
suspense,thrills,
thrills,chills,
chills,spills,
spills,bills.
bills.
romance,It'sinstant smash,-sash bash,
bash, aacrystal
crystalIt’s an instantsmash,aa silk
silk-sash
shiploadmutants andand crazies
crazies cunningly
cunningly
shipload of mutants
disguisedas
asaa coachloadcoachloadof
ofhungover,hungover,blitzed
blitzeddisguisedout musicians.
musicians.
Coast -to -coastweirdness.
weirdness. C’mon
C'mon along
along andand
Coast-to-coast
join thejoin
the crew.

“S"S

FRIDAYMORNING,shORtlY
SHORTLYbefore
RIDAY MORNING,
before
10
his
10in
inthe
the am.
am. God
God isisshedding
shedding his
the form ofofgentle grace in thea torrential
torrential downpour
downpour suitable
suitable
only for Noah
The Ark andonly
Noah The
andHowardHoward The
The Duck
Duck overa somewhat
somewhat ungratefulungrateful
Bayswater. Your
Bayswater.
Yourreporter,
reporter, having
havingpackedRamones T-shirt andandpacked his
his Ramones
copy
Fictioncopy ofof TheThe Best Science FictionOf
OfJG
JGBallard
Ballard(if(ifyouyoudon’t
don't
have
have itit now
now you
you cancangitgitit)
it)decabsand wanders
wanders into
decabs andthe offices
officesofof Stiff Records
theRecords
to link
linkupup withwith histravelling companions.
companions.
person hesees
The first person
he seesis Dave
Dave Edmunds,
Edmunds, who
who islending
maestro's
lending his maestro’s
touch on guitar
touch
guitar andand drums
drums
to-Stars.
to TheThe Nick
Nick Lowe
Lowe All
All-Stars.
He looks
looksdisgusted
disgusted (though(though
he tries
tries to be
be amused)amused) at thehorrificawakehorrific idea
idea of being awake
andand functioning
functioning(all(all terms
terms
used in theirusedtheir loosest
possiblesense) at such ananpossible sense)
odd
and ungodly
odd andungodly hour.
hour.
He is wearing
wearing a pink-andpink- andblackvelvetthat looks
black velvet jacket
jacket thatas
CliffRichard
Richard used
used to wear
wear
as if Cliff
Oh Boy!b
Boy! back
it on
on Oh
ack inin ’58.
'58.
"Dave, your
your girlfriend’s
girlfriend's“Dave,
sessionforthe
Photo session
for theon four,”four," announces
announces Stiff's
Stiff’sLive
Stiffs Live album:
LiveStiffsLivealbum:
unnaturallycheerfulcheerful andunnaturally(I-r)ElyisCostello,Nick(l–r)
Elvis Costello, Nick
Dury, Larry
Larry
Lowe, Ian Dury,efficient-person.
efficient office
office-person.
Wallis,Wreckless
Wallis,Wreckless Eric
Edmunds
Edmundspicks
picks up thephonephone andand begins
begins toissue instructions
instructions forthethe videotaping
videotapingof
ofLowe's
Lowe’sappearanceon
onSo
SoIt Goestheappearance
Goesthechris gabrin / getty

F

HISTORY OF
128 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
128

following night.
night. “Be"Becareful
careful not
not totoeraseeraseElvis,
Elvis,though,”though,"heheadmonishes
admonishes
as –-bangbangonon cuecue –enter
enter(fanfare,(fanfare,please)please)Elvis
Elvis Costello.
A potato
potato face carved
carved out
out of granite
granite andand surmounted
surmountedby
bythe
thenow
nowlegendary
pair of massive
clasping a cartonlegendary pairmassive hornrims,
hornrims, clasping
carton of orangeorange juice
juice
grip of iron,
iron, Costello
Costello looks like Clark
Clark Kent
Kent thethe day
day after
after he decides
decides toin a grip
tostop coming
coming on
wimp just to protect
protect his
secret identity.
stop
on likelike a wimp
his secretidentity.It's
It’s a bird,
it's a plane,
plane, it’s…
it's... Elvis!
it’s
There's just
justtime
timetotoscanscanthethememomemopinned
pinnedto
tothe
thewall
wallthatthatannounces
announces
There’sthat Stiff isisnot
notresponsible
responsible forforanything
anything charged
charged toany of thethe hotel
hotel rooms
rooms
that
to anyapart
frombreakfast
breakfastandandsaysayhello
hellototoLarry
LarryWallis,
Wallis,who
wholooks
looksasasearly
early-apart frommorning groggy
anyone but at least
least hashasaapairpairofofimpenetrable
impenetrableshades
shadesmorning
groggy as anyone
and 18 inches
inches of hair
hair toto hidehide behind.
behind. Thentime toon thethe busbus andandandThen it's
it’s timeto get onaim
aim for Manchester.
Manchester.
busdriver’s
driver'snamename isisTrevor
Trevor-wonder
ofwonders!
and inevitably
inevitably
The bus– wonder ofwonders! –- andhe's dubbed
dubbed Clevor
honour of thethe Ian Dury
Dury song of thethe samesame
he’s
Clevor Trever in honour
name.
Fortifiedby
by thefruits of aa raidname. Fortified
the fruits
raid ononthe
theoff-licence
off-licenceconveniently
conveniently
located aa couple
couple of doors
doors down
down thethe road
the otherother way
locatedroad fromfrom StiffStiff –oror is it theround? –- andand cassettecassette tapes
and Costello, everyone
everyoneround?
tapespreparedpreparedby
byWallis
Wallis andpreparesto meetmeetthetheday.
day.
prepares tofirst block
blockofofseatsseatsononthe
thecoachcoacharearethetheundisputed
undisputed staked-out
staked -out
The first
territory-Hour Clubterritoryof
ofThe
The24
24-HourClub –aaselfselfexplanatory
designation.This
Thiscrew
crew of hardcore
explanatory designation.
hardcorecrazies is mademade up(formerly ofofcrazies
up of Larry Wallis (formerly
Motorhead,
Motorhead,thethePink
PinkFairies
Fairiesand
andUFO),UFO), PeteThomas(one-time(one-timeChilli
ChilliWilli
Willi&& The
The Red Hot
ThomasPeppers
drummer and-time drummer
drummer
Peppers drummer
andnow
now-time
with&The
TheAttractions
Attractions–-notwith Elvis Costello &not tomention drumming
drummingand
andrhythm
rhythmguitar
guitarduties
dutiesmentionwith
Terry Williams
Williams (archwithNick
NickLowe)Lowe),, Terry(archexponent of Swansea
Swansea cool,
cool,currently
currently stoking
stoking thetheexponent
engineengine room
room of Dave
DaveEdmunds’
Edmunds' Rockpile but
but onon
this
plus
this tour
tourpounding
poundingititout
outforforNick
Nick Lowe) plus
Lowe andand Edmunds
Edmunds themselves.
The final
lynchpinofof thethe24
24-Hour
final lynchpin-Hour Club(AKAThe
ThePound-A-Minute
Pound -A -Minute Club)Club) is Elvis’
Elvis' bass
bass
(AKA
player,who used
used toplayer, who
to bebe Bruce
Bruce ThomasThomasofof TheThe
Sutherland
Brothers&& Quiver. Then
Sutherland Brothers
Then there’s
there'sa lady named
named Penny
who plays
PennyTobin,
Tobin, who
keyboards
and in thethekeyboardsfor
forNick
Nick Lowe, andsuccessivetiers
tierswe
we find& The
successive
find Ian
Ian Dury
Dury &The
BlockheadsBlockheads –that's
that’sthetheineffable
ineffable Duryhimself(guitar,himself plus
plus Chas
Chas Jankel (guitar,keyboards),Norman
NormanWatt
Watt-Roykeyboards),-Roy (bass),
John
Turnbull (guitar),avey Payne
Payne
John Turnbull(guitar),D
Davey(saxes), CharlieCharlieCharles
Charles(drums)(drums) andand(saxes),Mickey Gallagher
Gallagher (keyboards).
(keyboards).
"Here's aa scoop
scoop for“Here’sfor you,"you,”
Jake Riviera
Rivieraisistotoannounce
announce
gleefully thefollowing
gleefullytheevening.
used toevening."Mickey“Mickey usedtoplayfor
Framptonplay for Peter Frampton
andhe
heco
co-wrote‘Show MeMe
and-wrote 'ShowThe
Way', which
which sold
The Way’,millions,
what'smillions,right?
right? So what’s
he doinghedoing grovelling
grovelling for
peanuts
tour?"
peanutson
onaaStiff
Stiff tour?”Well,ititain’t
ain'texactly
exactlypeanuts,
Well,peanuts,
gets5050 quid
Jake. Everybody
Everybodygets
quid aweek cash
cash money,
money, but
but at least one
Stiff owed
owed soso muchmuch money
money tohis
to hiscohorts –don't
don’task
askme
me whatwhat hecohortsspent
but it’s
it'sprobably
probablywhat
spent it on, but
what
you'd'vespent your
you'd
you’d’ve spent
your bread
breadononif
if you’d– thatheheendedendedup
up withbeen him
him-thata measly four quid in his pocket
pocketon
payday after
after he'don payday
he’d paid
paid backback his
hisdebts. God,
God, it's
it’s toughon theroad.
debts.
tough onthe road.
Behind his
The
Behindhiscopycopyofof Jack The
Ripper:Final Solution,
Ripper: The Final
Solution,tighttight-buttoned,highhigh-pocketedbuttoned,-pocketed"Basher"Loweappears
appears taciturntaciturn“Basher” Loweandtruculent, occasionallyand truculent,taking aa meditative
swig onon histakingmeditative swig

It’s
It's a silk-sash
silk -sash
bash, a crystal
shipload ofmutants andcrazies

IF is luso-

worth
it ain't
fuck.
a

The Essential
Essential Lenny Bruce.
The
There’s
There's a film crew in tow,
tow, andandin orderorder to get thethe fullfull cinéma
cinemaveritenumber and capture
capture thethevérité number-uh– uh –gestalt
gestaltofofthe
thetour
tourininall
all itsawful
they film thethe Stiffs leaving
leaving thethe coachcoach to runrunawful glory they
through-pit, andand even scan
scan them
themthroughthe
therainraininto
intothethegreasegrease-pit,
queueingup
upfor
for theneogrub.Worst
Worstofof all,queueing
the horrorshow
horrorshow neogrub.
they
everyone eating.
eating.
they film everyone
LarryWallis
groans elaborately.
"Listen," heheinstructs
instructs
Larry
Wallis groanselaborately. “Listen,”me andand Stiff’s
Stiff's resident
resident genie,
genie, ananebullient
ebullient yobbo
yobbo known
known
as
Kosmo Vinyl, “let’s"let's eat
eat asboringly as
sibly can."as Kosmo
as boringly
aswe
wepos
possiblycan.”Wechomp
chomp asasmechanisticallymechanistically as(in) humanlyWe
as is (in)humanly
possible until
Pennebaker’sheirs
heirspackpackupupto
to try andpossible
until Pennebaker's
and getsomean andand Elvis. Wallis
Wallis cracks
cracks up. “I"I don’t
don't
somevisualvisualout
outof
of IIanthinkseen anyone
thinkI've
I’ve ever
ever seen
anyoneeateatas
as boringly
boringlyas
asyou
you just
justdid,” hedid,"
he tells
tells Kosmo.
major event
event ofofthatthatparticularparticular stop was
was thethe
The major
discovery
numerous pots
discovery of numerous
potsofofgreengreenSlime
Slimeonon salesale inin thethemediashop.
shop.II don’tknow if you’ve
media
don't know
you've seen
seen thethe stuff, but
but it’s
it's
pure
nasty green
green goo thatthat looks quite
quite
pure Blecccch
Blecccch City: a nasty
unspeakablyvile,unspeakably vile,like
likeaacross
crossbetween
betweenKing
KingKong's
Kong’sbogies andandLinda
LindaBlair's
Blair’spuke
pukeininThe
The Exorcist. I don’tbogiesdon't
knowwhy
in motorway
motorway shops,
shops, because
because it's
know whythey
theysellsell it in
it’s notexactly the ideal stuff
stuff forforboredboredtoddlers
toddlersto
tosmearsmeararoundaroundin a carin
car on aa long
longdrive,
drive,but
but it’s
it'sgreat
great forfornasty-minded
nasty -mindedrockmusicians
keyboardrock musiciansininaacoach.
coach.Kos
Kos andand Elvis'
Elvis’ keyboard
players es se dwith
withthethestuff,
stuff,and
andplayerSteve
Steve Nieve
Nieve getget really
reallyobobsessedit’s thrownandsmearedsmearedall
allover
overthetheplace
placebyby thethe timetime we
it's
thrown andget to thethe hotel.
hotel.
ofthe
the tourtour personnel
personnel kill
the hour
Most ofkill thehourbetween
betweencheck
check-getting pissed
in andand going totothethegiggigby
bygettingpissedor
orunpacking
unpacking(me, IItake
takethree
three aspirin,
aspirin, havecoffeeandand readread aabit
bitof
ofJGBallard),(me,
have a cup of coffee
JG Ballard),but
has different
different ideas.
ideas. As soon
soon asaswe’rewe'rebackbackononthe
thecoach,coach,Costello
Costello
but Elvis has
like a chimp
who’s just
just poured
pouredallallthethePG
PG Tips down
theis grinning
grinning likechimp who's
down thedirector's
director’s trousers.
"Who's onon thethe casecase then?”
then?" he gloats.
gloats. “Who’s"Who's thethe greatest
greatest scorer
scorer ofof“Who’srecordsthat
thatevereverlived?
lived? I've
I’ve just been
to Woolworths
andII got tworecords
been down
down toWoolworths andtwocopieseach!!!"
copiesofof 'Anarchy‘AnarchyInInTheTheUK'UK’on
onEMI
EMI for 32p each!!!”and Wallis are awestruck,
awestruck, as
straight
Kosmo andaswellwell they
they might
mightbe.
be.To
To go straight
off thethe coachcoach andand slog forfor15
15minutes
minutes down
down toto Woolworths
Woolworths just
just onon thethe off
off
chanceandchance that
thatthere
theremight
mightbebe something
somethinggood
good in the deletions rack andthenthencome
comeupupwithwithaa find
find worth
worthanywhere
anywherefrom
fromfive
fivetoto15
15 quidquid inin thetheLondon vinyl Shylock
LondonShylockemporia…
emporia... Listen,
Listen, anyone
anyone out
out there
there still
stillsceptical
sceptical
aboutblinding, transcendent
about thethe sheer,
sheer, blinding,transcendentgenius
geniusofofElvis
Elvis Costello?
Outside theollo, theOutsidetheManchesterAp
Manchester Apollo,
thesignsignsayssays"Live“Liveononstagestageat
at7.307.30
ELVIS COSTELLO”.
they
the
ELVIS
COSTELLO".Clearly,
Clearly,
theyhaven’t
haven'tgotten
gottenthe
themessage
message about
about thefive
-waydemocracy
democracy onon thisthis tour.
tour. Or
Orratherrather four-way: thethe fifth
fifth Greatest
Greatest
five-way
Stiff, Wreckless
Wreckless Eric,
Eric,isisback
backhome
homeunder
underdoctor’s
doctor's orders.
orders. It isisexplained
explained
that, lacking the staying power
that,
power ofofthe
theveteransveterans-– thethe collective
collectivenumber
number ofofgigs under
under these
these guys’
guys'belts
beltsisisastronomical
astronomical-he
into thethe– he threw himself into
touring
withsuchsuchenthusiasm
enthusiasm thatthat hehecontracted
contracted chronic
chronic
touring lifestyle withlaryngitis.This
This means
meansthat
thataafirm
firmsetsetorderorderhas
hasto
to be
be adheredto.
laryngitis.
adhered to.
Pete ThomasThomas is playing
playing with
with both
both Elvis andand Basher
Basher andand IanIan Dury
Dury
See, Peteplayswith Wreckles
aswellwellasasdoing
doinghishisownownset.
set.Therefore,
Therefore, neither
neither ofplays with
Wrecklesss asthese
can do two
two consecutive
consecutive sets, which
which means
means thatthat thethese two
two gents canthe order
order
canCostello ororLowe-Wreckles
scan bebe eithereitherWreckless-Lowe-DuryWreckless-Lowe-Dury-CostelloLowe-WrecklessCostello-Dury
DurybeingenoughCostello-Dury (Costello and Durybeingthetheonly
only ones
ones with
with enoughrehearsed
rehearsedmaterialmaterialtotodo
dothe
thelastlastset).
set).Without
WithoutWreckless,
Wreckless, thethe orderorder istherefore
thereforeLowe-Dury-Costello.
Lowe-Dury-Costello.Got
Gotit?
it?
At thethe backstage
backstage buffet,
loading up
buffet,Elvis
Elvis is loadingup hishis plateplatewithwithaafairly
fairlystunningmeats, saladysaladyitems
whatnot.
stunningassortment
assortmentof
ofcheese,cheese, cold meats,
items and whatnot.

1111
October
October7,1977:(1-r)
7, 1977: (l–r)

Dave Edmunds,
Edmunds, Nick
Nick

Loweandformer Pink
Lowe and former
Pink
Fairies
Motorhead
Fairies and Motörhead
memberlis
memberLarry
LarryWal
Wallison stageonstage at
at BathBath
University,
University, Somerset
Somerset

bemuse d stare,
stare, he adds
adds reassuringly,
reassuringly, "It'sme. Some
Some
Seeing my bemused“It’s notnot all for me.
it's forforDay.
Day.WeWeusedusedtotoget
getsosohungry
hungiywhen
wewerewererecording
recording ‘The
'The LongLong
of it’swhen weAnd
Winding Road'."He pauses.
pauses. His spectacles
spectacles flash"There's a
And Winding
Road’.” Heflash evilly. “There’s
intere sting story
story behindb ehind allallofofthat…”
that..."
very interestingraises his
his eyebrowsHe raises
eyebrowsinvitingly.
invitingly.IIsay,
say, "Yeah?"“Yeah?”"...which shall remain
remain secret."
wends hishiswaywayto
the tune-up
tune-up room.
room.
“…whichsecret.” He wends
to theI've got
gotjustjustenoughenough time
time totomurmur,murmur, ‘That’s'That's what
think, buster,'I’vewhat you
you think,buster,’at
at hishis
recentlyvacated-uprecentlyvacatedairspace
airspacewhen
whenit's
it’stime
timetotorushrushout
outfront
frontforfor curtain
curtain-up
on The-Stars.
on
The Nick
Nick Lowe
Lowe All
All-Stars.
WHATEVERYOUDO,
DO,
don'tevereverletletanybody
anybodytell
tellyou
youthatthat
hAteveR YOu
don’t
Nick Lowe
Lowe doesn’t
doesn't know how toto putput aa band
band together.
together. At thetheback
the stagestage there’s
there's Terry Williams
Williams andand Dave
Dave Edmunds
Edmunds
back of thehammering itit out
drum kits, andand strung
strung out
hammeringout on twin drumout behindbehindOur
Our Heroare Penny Tobin (keyboards),
and Larry
Larry(keyboards), Pete
Pete ThomasThomas (rhythm(rhythm guitar)
guitar) and(lead), all
alllayinglayingititdown
downdeep
deepandandcrisp
crispwhile
whileBasher
Basherguns
gunsthetheWallis (lead),motor of a mouth-wateringmouth-watering vintage-string -and -bass
motor
vintageGibson
Gibsonsix
six-string-and-bass
doublenecker
into"So“SoIt
It Goes".
Goes”. The
doublenecker into
The tautness
tautness of Lowe’s
Lowe's soundsound seems
seems
incongruous against
against his studiedly
studiedly casualcanvaguely incongruous
casual manner.
manner.Still,
Still, he candynamite bass
-slouch, andpop
play dynamite
bassevenevenininaasemi
semi-slouch,andsingsing realrealgood
good like
like a pop
star
despite thethe wadwad of gum
star should
should despite
gum hehe keeps
keeps molaring.
molaring.
keeps socking
socking ititto
tothethepeople
people–-notably
notablywith"Let'sEat”
Eat"–-until
it's
Basher keeps
with “Let’s
until it’stime for Larry
LarryWallis
strut his
Costello andandtime
Wallis toto strut
his stuff.
stuff. Unlike
Unlike Lowe, Dury, Costello
Edmunds– whoareareknown
knownand
andrespected
respectedbyAnglophiliac
by AnglophiliacYanks
Yanks even ifif
Edmunds-who
the mass
mass USA
USApublic
public-Wallis
doesn't exactly
exactlyhave
havethethecredentials
credentials
not by the– Wallis doesn’tthat would
Stonecritic
criticroll
rolloverovertotohave
havehishistummytummytickled:
thatwould makemakeaa Rolling Stone
tickled:I mean,MarkI of Motörhead?
mean, the Pink Fairies, UFO
UFOandandthethe unlamented
unlamented Mark
Motorhead?
Wallis'mission inseems to be to prove
prove toto thethe current
current crop
Wallis’ mission
in life seems
crop of young'uns thatand a half ofof’uns
thathe's
he’s still
still mean
meanandandnasty
nastyeven
eventhoughthoughhe's
he’sgot
gotaa footfoot andhair.
he performs
performs"On“OnParole"
Parole”andand"I'm“I’mA
A Policehair. Judging
Judging by thethe way
wayhe
Police Car”
Car" »W

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK129
HISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 | 129
I

david corio / gettybottle of cider.
bottlecider.Edmunds
Edmunds appears
appears
likewisebehind Elvis:
Whatlikewise behind
Elvis: What
Happened? andand thenthen turns
turns theWilliams andbook over toto Terry
TerryWilliams
andgets
into a heavy-duty
he avy-duty poker
poker
gets intogamewhich lasts until
until thethe coachcoachgame whichreaches thethe first motorway
reaches
motorway
services.
services. Williams
Williams gets stuck intotheand thenthen nods
the book andnods out.
out.
Towards theback of the
Towards
the back
the coach,coach,
Costello ploughs
ploughs eeagerly
agerlythroughthrough

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER(his newnew Stiff
Stiffsingle,
single,natch)natch) I’d
I'dsaysayhe
succeeds(his
he succeeds
admirably.
guitar andand angry, sneeringsneering
admirably. His slicing guitar
vocalsare about
about aswimpy andand mellow as aa ton
ton
vocals are
as wimpyof gelignite.
gelignite.
moment of
takes his
His momentof glory
glory over,
over, Wallis takes
his bow
bow asas
Lowe announces
announces in
inaanicely
nicelyoffhand
offhandway,
way,"One“One ofour drummers,
DaveEdmunds,
Edmunds,isisgonna
gonnacomecomeupup
our
drummers, Daveandguitar." Pete ThomasThomas stashes
stashes hisand play some guitar.”hisborrowedborrowedred
redStrat
Strat andandslides
slides inin behindbehindthe
thekitkitas
as ajubilant,juiced
juiced-up
strapson
onhis
hisGibson
GibsonESES
jubilant,-up Edmunds
Edmunds straps
335 andand bellows
bellows into
into thewrote
themic,mic,"Nick“Nick Lowe wrote
it, I recorded
recorded it andand I hope
hope you
you boughtboughtit!
it! It's
It’s
called'I‘I Knew
Knew The
The Bride'!"
Bride’!”
calledband storm
storm intocrackling
The bandinto thethe songsong with
with a cracklingenergythat provides
energy thatprovides thethe most
most dynamic
dynamicpiece
pieceofear massage
thus far: Thomas
Williamsear
massage thus
Thomas andand Williams
hammeringhammeringtheir
theirkits
kitsthroughthroughthe
thefloor
floor with
with aflood
power thatthat keeps
keeps right
right up
up until
until the band
band
flood of power
makesits
its exit
exit onon Lowe’s“HeartOf
Of TheThe
makes
Lowe's superb
superb "Heart
City".
The keener-eared
keener -eared voyeurs
voyeurs backstage
backstage note
noteCity”. The
that
actually singing
thatLowe
Lowe is actuallysinging"Aardvark“AardvarkOf
Of The
The
City” on the
ride-out.
City"
the song’s
song's ride-out.
Backstage, all
Welshjubilation
jubilation as Phil Ryan
Backstage,
all is Welsh
andthe Man
Man band)band) andandand MartinAce
Martin Ace(formerly(formerly of the
George Ace (allAces)
George(allthree
three now with
with The Flying
FlyingAces)
show
up to hang
hang out
out withwith Terry andand Daishow up
Edmunds
Edmundsto
tohelphelpcelebratecelebratePhil's
Phil’sbirthday,birthday,butbutit's
it’stoo
too late
late to stop now
becauseIan
IanDury
Dury&The& The Blockheads
Blockheads areare duedue upup on
on stageÉ
becausestage...
one sense,
sense, Dury
Dury isisthe
the tour’s
tour's major
major revelation.
revelation. It’s
It's hishisreturn
return to thethe
In onepublicKilburns somemonths ago
public stagestage following
following thethe collapse
collapseofof The Kilburns
some 18 months
ago
and it all comes
andcomes right
right onon toptop ofofan
analbum
albumthatthat waswasas
asexhilarating
exhilarating as thethe
Kilburns'
universallyjudged
disappointing. (It's
Kilburns’ album
album waswas universallyjudgedto
to be
be disappointing.
(It’s called
calledNewBootsAnd
just inin casecase youyoudon’t
don't know.)
know.) The
TheDury
Duryalbum
album
New Boots And Panties!!, just– if one– for thethe existence ofalone would bebeaajustification
justification-if
one were
wereneededneeded-forof
Stiff, because
because I can’t
can't think
think of aasingle
singlestraightstraight record
record company
company in England
England
who would have had
had the vision toto commissioncommission andand release
releaseit.
it.
The soundbetweenLowe's
Lowe’s set andsound has improved
improved between
and Dury’s,
Dury's, which
which means
means
that
from appalling
appalling to mediocre.
mediocre. The audienceaudience have warmed
warmed upthat it's
it’s gone fromup
as well, asasisisdemonstrated
demonstrated by thethe fact thatthat a couple
couple ofofthemthemactuallyactuallybrave
brave
the security
golemsroaming
roamingthe
thehallhallandandattemptattemptto
toget
getup
up andand dance.
dance.
thesecuritygolems
Mind
they're stiff-armed right backb ackinto
intotheir
theirseats
seatswithin
within seconds,
seconds,
Mind you, they’re
stiff-armed
but
it's thethe thought
thought thatthat counts,
counts, andand by thethe timetime Dury
Durywindswithbut it’s
winds up
up his set withthe anthematic
anthematic"SexAnd“Sex AndDrugs
DrugsAnd
AndRockAnd
Rock AndRoll",
Roll”, every
body’s up
up attheeverybody's
once.
golems snarl
snarl andand frownfrown asasthreateningly
threateningly as they can, but there
there
once. The golems
aretoo damn
damn many
manypeople
are just too
peoplestanding
standingup
upand
anddancing
dancingatatonce
onceforfor them
them
to have any effect at
at all.
all.There’s
There's aamoral
moral ininthat,that, kidz.
kidz. Bear
Bear ititin
inmindmindnext
next
time
wanna dance
concert.
time you wanna
danceat
at a concert.
Dury's set consisted
consisted of thethe materialmaterial
Dury’sfrom his new album,
fromalbum, played about
about
Lowe(left)
Nick Lowe(left)and
andDaveonetrillion times
one trillion
times harderharderthan
thanititwas
wasEdmundsbackstage,
Edmunds
backstage,
theformer
fired
before theformer firedinthe studio.
studio. The
wasin theThe whole
whole set
set wasthe latterlatter fromfrom the Live
sublime, but especial
sublime,especial standouts
standouts
Stiffs Tourlowing aa
StiffsTourfolfollowing
were
the moving
Man", thethewere themoving"My“My Old Man”,
early-hoursrow
drunken early-hours
row
hilariously accurate
accurate charactersketches
Trever" andandsketches"Clevor“Clevor Trever”"BillericayDickie",“Billericay Dickie”, thethe rocking,rocking,spat
spat-out"Sweet Gene Vincent”
Vincent" with
with aout “Sweet
zonkedstilldangerous
dangerous Edmunds
Edmunds
zonked but stilllayingguitar muscle,laying on some extra guitar
muscle,quality,would have
have totobe
becompassion;compassion; ififonly
onlybecause
quality, it would
becauseof thethe waywayheherefrains
refrains fromfromtraining
training upon
upon hishischaractersthat manywould
characters thethe scornscorn thatmany wouldsay
say they
deserve.
savage, perceptive,
perceptive,deserve. His
His music
music is also witty, savage,
highlyoriginal, very musicalmusical andand you cancan dance
dance tohighly original,
to it.
What
Whatmore
morecancanIIsay?
say?Enjoy.
Enjoy.
there's thethe king
Finally, there’s
king andand hishis elite
elite guard.
guard.Elvis
Elvis
Costello
The Attractions
Attractions look
Costello & The
look like
like thethekindkindofof kids
kids atat
my school who hated
hated rock'n'roll,
prefectsrock’n’roll,got
got toto be prefects
before anybody
anybody else, served
served as
as school
schoollibrarians
librarians andwere astonishingly
astonishingly officious
youreturned
returned aofficious if you
bbook
ooklatelateorordid
didanything
anything freaky
freaky in thethe library.
may telltellyou
yousomething
something about
about the school(This may
I wentwent to. Bang
Bang goes
goes thethe last
last shred
shred of my
mystreetstreetcredibility. Oh well.) Keep
Keepthose
those kids
kidsinintheir
theircredibility.
school uniforms
tilltheir
theirmid
mid-20s,
uniforms till
-20s, drag ’em'em
throughthroughaahedge
hedgebackwards
backwardsand
andyou've
you’vegot
gotElvis
Elvis&The
TheAttractions.
Attractions.
Costello &Except that,woweee, they
they got
got it tightthat, woweee,tight andand
they'rethe hottest
hottestthey’re rockin'rockin’ here
here tonight.
tonight. They're
They’re thelittleteen combo
the kids sobbing
sobbing
little teen
combothat
thateverevergot
got thewhile they
they frugged
fruggedatat thetheendend-of-term
while-of -term dance,
dance,
writing teenage
teenage pop
pop songs
songsabout
about adultadultand for writing
playing monster
monster guitar
guitar andandsituations –- and playing
singing like aabitch– Elvisbitchwhile
whilehe’s
he'sdoing
doingitit-Elvis
can't be beat.
beat.
Costello can’t
As thethe live
live tracks
tracks onon thethe back of “Watching"Watching The
The Detectives”
Detectives"demonstrate,
thelive
liveElvis
Elvisexperience
experienceisisabout
aboutasaslaidlaidback
backasasGo
Godzillademonstrate, thedzilla on
speed. Put
oy intointo thethe Hip MOR
MORbracket
bracket at
at your
your own
own peril,
peril, son!
son!
speed.
Putthisthisbboyset consists
consists of Elvis classics
classics oldoldandand new,
new, andand asas aaspecial
special tributetribute to
The settothemissingWreckless
WrecklessEric,
Eric,hehedoesdoes"(I'd“(I’dGo)Go)The
TheWhole
WholeWide
WideWorld"
World” -–the missing
minus, unfortunately,thatminus,
unfortunately,thethelife-sizelife-size cardboard
cardboardcut-out
cut-outofof Wreckless thatoriginally intended
intended tobring on. Bruce
Bruce ThomasThomas slides
slidesbehindbehind Terry
Terryhe originallyto bring
Williams’
Williams' drum
drum kit, andand thethe bandband are augmented
augmented by Blockheads
Blockheads saxist
saxistand ex-Kilburn Davey
DaveyPayne,
Payne,plus
plusDenise
DeniseRoudette
Roudette on
on bass.
bass.
andex-Kilburn
Denise is (a)(a)aafinefinebass
bassplayer
playerwho
whoworks
workswith
withWreckless’
Wreckless'band,
band,(b)(b)ananDeniseall-roundfinehuman
humanbeing,
being,(c)(c)Ian
IanDury's
Dury’sgirlfriend
girlfriendandand(d)(d)oneoneofof thetheall-round finemost bbeautiful
eautiful women
women I've
met all year.
mostI’ve met
the first
first encore,
encore, Dave
Dave Edmunds
Edmunds -– by now semi-leglesssemi -leglessbut
butnotnotgiving
giving
For thean– comesonontotoadd
addhishisguitar
guitar“MysteryDDance”,
andforfor
an inchinch-comess sorceryorcery toto"Mysteryance", andthe second
second thethethe entire
entire cast
cast assembles
assemblesfor
for –-you
youguessed-"SEX!!!
guessed – “SEX!!! andandand ROCK!!!
and ROLL!!!"DRUGS!!! andROCK!!! andROLL!!!”

paul welsh / getty

Dury’sDury's stage
stage
presence
presence is asasremarkable asaseverythingelse
else about
about him
him

"Plaistow“PlaistowPatricia"
Patricia”withwithits
itsjaw
jaw-dropping
carry on much
much
droppingintro...
introÉIfIfII carrylonger, I’ll
I'll have
have listed
listed thethe wholedamn
damnsetset under
under"highlights",“highlights”, but
butthat'sthat’sthethekindkindofofset
setitit was.
was.
Dury's stagestage presence
presence isDury’sis asremarkableeverything else about
about
remarkable asas everythinghim.
battered bowler hat andandhim. In his batteredstainedstainedjacket,
jacket,he
he seems
seemstoto have
havelurchedlurched leering
leering straightstraightout
out ofDickens, a manic
manic andand macabre
macabrecostermonger,
Chorus forcostermonger,aaGreek
Greek Chorus
thehad tothe rejects
rejects andandlosers.
losers. IfIIf I had
nameDury's most
most outstanding
outstanding
name Dury’s
HISTORY OF
130 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
130

B

BACKAT
THEhotel,hotel,there’s
there'sananimpromptu
impromptu party
ACK AT The
partygoing
going on,on, asas TheThe
KursaalCortinas are
California peach
peach
Kursaal Flyers and The Cortinas
are inin town.
town. A California
namedFarrahFarrah –"Farrah“FarrahFawcett
Fawcett-Minor”,
named-Minor", is how she
she introduces
introduces
herself-who
nurse'sherself– whodoes
doesthethetour
tournewsletter
newsletterisis dressed
dressed up
up in a nurse’s

111111111r

uniformand
andis
is askingasking various
various people
people if they
uniform
requiredrinking
require medical
medical attention.
attention.Basher
Basher is drinking
Bloody Mary
Mary fromfrom aa pint
pint mug,
mug, andand Dave
Edmundsis
is discussing
discussingaasong
songlyric
lyric with
with Will
Edmunds
Birch fromfrom thethe Kursaals.
Edmunds is preoccupied
preoccupied withthings: thing
Edmunds
with two things:
the first
first being
thebeing thethe fact thatthat he is somewhat
somewhat
unhappy-to
unhappy – tosay,
say,thetheleast-withleast – withthe
thestatestateofof hishis
relationship with hishisrecord/management
record/managementcompanySwan
Swan Song, andcompany
and thing
thing the second
second thethestrength
strengthandandenergy
energythat
thathehederives
derivesfrom
from working
workingwithguitarist Billy
Bremner, drummer
drummer Terrywith guitarist
Billy Bremner,
Williams andbassist-vocalist-songwriter-genius
Williams
and bassist-vocalist -songwriter -genius

FN
E

ROUTETO
TOLeicester,
Leicester,thetheparty
partystops
stopsininthe
thecharming
charming little
littleN ROUTetourist-trap village
Bakewell-– where,
members of
tourist-trap
village of Bakewell
where, as various members
the party
party areto point
point out,
out, thethe tarts
tarts come from. Ian
Ian
theare not
not slow to
Dury buys up one chemist’s
Durychemist's shop’s
shop's entire
entire stock of Interdens
Interdens –medicatedand ceremoniously
ceremoniously distributes
distributes
medicated toothpicks, lamebrain! –- andthemthe assembled
assembled company.
them toto thecompany.
After various
various eating
eating places
been dismissed
places have
have been
dismissedas
as"too“tooexpensive",
expensive”,
II-man-man ends
ends upup having
having lunch
lunch with
with Costello,
Costello, Davey
DaveyPayne,
Payne,Farrah
Farrahandandphotographer
providing five
photographerFran
Franatataatiny
tinylittle
littlecaff
caff where
where thethe strainstrainofof providing
simultaneousorders
ordersproves
provesalmost
almosttoo
toomuchmuchforforthethefacilities.
facilities.
simultaneous
After thethe purchasepurchase of throat
throat pastilles,
pastilles, apples,
apples, andand ice-cream,
ice-cream,me
meand
and
Costello
settle down
Various people
people are
Costello settle
downtoto raprapourourwayway to Leicester. Various
opiningthat
thatEdmunds
Edmundswill
willshow
showupupininLeicester.
Leicester.Me,
Me,II reckon
opining
reckon it seems
seems
unlikelyand sure
he's backback-–
unlikely andsure enoughenough there
therehehe doesn't,
doesn’t,butbutby Monday he’s"Helloboys" -– andAll“Hello boys”
and AllIs
IsWell.
Elvis Costello
Richard Hell, Talking
Costelloreckons
reckonsthat
thatthethecurrent
current albums
albums by
byRichard
TalkingHeads
the last decade,decade, andand that
Heads andand IanIan Dury
Dury areare amongamongthethefinestfinestmusic
musicofof thethatthepain in thethe musicalmusical ass
ass these
these days
days arearepunkwagon
punkwagon jumpers.
jumpers.
the biggest pain
He loves
lovesthetheSexSexPistols
and The
TheClash,Clash,butbuthashasnothingnothing but
but withering
withering
Pistols andWinewef Wed"Teenage pop
pop songsÒTeenage
adultsituations":
about adultsituationsÓ:ElvisCostello
Elvis
Costelloon
on stage atatUniversityduring
Bath University
during
LiveStif
fs Tourthe Live
Stiffscontempt for thethe third-div
third-div punk
punk bands.
bands. “Ian
"Ian Dury’s
Dury'scontempt`Blackmail Man’
Man' really
really shows
shows those
those whining
whining little brats
brats what
what it’s
it's allallabout.”
about."‘Blackmail
There's been
been talkRichard Hell becoming
becoming an
theThere’stalk of Richardan honorary
honoraryStiff
Stiff for theoccasion
occasion inin Leicester,
Leicester, andand asas it turns
turns out
out he's
he’s there
thereat
at thethe gig, but in aa nonnonplaying capacity.
capacity. He's
the Dury
Dury andand Costello sets,
sets, chugging
chugging
playing
He’s in the wings for thecan ofofbeerbeerandandstaring
staring ininbemusement
bemusement at
ab surdon a canat thethe slightly
slightly absurd
spectacleof me
me andandCostello
Costellosinging
singingalong
alongtoto"My“My Old Man”.
spectacle of
Man". His
His eyeseyeswiden-ifwiden– ifthat's
that’spossible-inpossible – indelightdelightasasDury
Durycroaks
croaks"Arse-holes-bas-tards“Arse-holes-bas-tardsfuck-ingcunts-and-PRICKS!!!"the beginning
beginning offuck-ing cunts-and-PRICKS!!!” atat theof"Plaistow“PlaistowPatricia".
Patricia”.InIn
his honour,
Costello opens
openshishissetset with
withHell's
Hell’s “Lovehonour, Costello"Love Comes
Comes In
InSpurts”.
Spurts".
As soonsoonasaswe’dwe'dtrooped
troopedinto
intothethehall,hall,Pete
PeteThomasThomashadhadturned
turnedroundround
and announced,
and inin terms
terms
andannounced,"Now“Nowthis,
this,myfriends,
my friends,isiswhat
whatIIcall
callaa gig",
gig”, andsound quality
quality ande, Leicester
Leicester beats
beats Manchester
Manchester allof soundandgeneralgeneralvib
vibe,
allhollow,
hollow,
despite thethe absence
Edmunds. The
audience isup andandeven despiteabsenceofof Dave Edmunds.
The audienceis up
grooving rightgrooving
right fromfrom thethestart,
start,which
whichproves
provesthat
thatcollege
collegegigs
gigsareareOK,OK,
buster,they do playeight-trackbuster, even thoughthough theyplay ananendlessendlessendlessendlessendlessendless eight-trackSgtPepperin
the bar.
bar.
of SgtPepper in theWhichwhere wewecamecamein,in,with
withIan
IanDury’s
Dury'sjoyous
joyousinnocent
innocentmantra
mantraWhich is where“SEX!!!!
ROLL!!!!”
chanted"SEX!!!!andand DRUGS!!!!
DRUGS!!!!andandROCK!!!!
ROCKf ! and!! andROLL!!!!"
chantedby
bya aberserk
berserk
hallful of kids
kidshigh
highonongoodgoodvibes
vibesandandrock’n’roll
rock'n'rollmusic
musicandandanything
anythingthat
that
hallfulhappened tobrought along with
with them.
them.
they happened
to have brought
Listen, everyone’s
everyone's a billtopper
billtopper on this
this tour, everyone’s
everyone's a star,
star, andand I’dI'drecommend youthese acts,
acts, singly
singlyandand together,
together, inin thetherecommend
yougo
go seesee any of thesefuture: Dave
Edmunds' Rockpile
Lowe,Ian
IanDury’s
Dury's Blockheads,
Blockheads,
future:Dave Edmunds’
Rockpilewith
withNick
Nick Lowe,Elvis Costello
LarryWallis
Wallis gets
gets up
Costello &&The
TheAttractions
Attractions andand whateverwhatever Larryup to0
next, notss Eric.
know it makes
makes
next,
not toto mention
mentionpoor
poorol'ol’Wrecked
WreckedWreckle
Wreckless
Eric.YouYou know
00
sense, bruvvers
bruvvers 'n'sense,’n’ sistuhs,
sistuhs,andandyouyoubestbestbelieve
believeit's
it’s gonna
gonnadodo ya good.

david corio / getty

Nick Lowe
Lowe ininhis
hisbandband Rockpile.
Rockpile. He’s
He's also
also upset
upset bybeing
described as
being describedas "dumpy“dumpy andand matted"
matted”byby Tony
Parsonsin
inNMEa
NME a couple
coupleof week’sParsons
week's back.
"I know
know I’ve
I've got
got aa little
little bit
bit ofofaapot,
pot,but
but thethe axe
axe
“I
hides
that. As forformatted…”
matted..." hehe scratches
scratches worriedly
hides that.
at his dishevelled
dishevelled but
but undeniably
undeniably clean
clean andand shiny
shiny
barnetgesture sobarnetandandthenthenwaveswaveshishisfistfistwith
withaa gesturesoextravagant
triple Scotch
extravagantthat
thathehenearly
nearlyknocks
knocks aa triple
all over Terry Williams.
allWilliams.
24 -Hour ClubClub is inin fullfull swing
swing when
when I decide
decideThe 24-Hourto crash out aroundaround half
-three, but thethe first
first person
personhalf-three,
I meetmeet inin thethe liftliftononSaturday
Saturday morning
morning is Edmunds,
Edmunds,
face white
white andand jaw clenched.
clenched. "I'm
“I’m leaving
leaving thethe tour,"tour,”
he announces.
announces.
Downstairs,
theair's
air’s soso thick it’s
Downstairs, theit's like
likedrowningdrowning
in molasses. During
During thethe night,night, there’dthere'd been
been ananaltercation,
ofmidnight
midnight raving
raving thatthat hadaltercation,aa bit ofgotten out
out of hand,
gottenhand, aaprankprank escalated
escalated into afull-scale
thosefull-scale accident
accident during
duringone
oneof those564 ederetwitamaW4-0Ar
moments
perceptions and perspectives
perspectives
moments when perceptions
are eroded
erodedby
by boozbooze.
wasaree. ThoughThough Edmunds
Edmunds was
not the main
main protagonist,
protagonist, heand one other
he andhad
had been
beenfiredfiredoff
offthethetour
tourbybyNickNickLowe
Lowe asassoon as the latter foundsoon
found out inin thethe morning
morning(ithadhadallallhappened
happened in his
his room,
room, but
but he’dhe'd slept
slept
(it
right
through it).
right throughit).
The Main
Main Culprit
Culprithad
hadbeenbeenreinstatedreinstated by
Lowe because
because hehe apologised,apologised, but
butEdmunds
Edmunds
refuseddo likewise,
likewise,and
andunrepentantly
unrepentantly
refused to dohoppedaacab
cabto
tothe
thestation
stationto
togo
gobackbacktotohoppedLondon,guitar andand ampamp inthe
London, leaving his guitar
in thetruck.
and Williams
Williams attemptattempt tohimtruck. Lowe andtofollowfollow him
but all
all their
love’s into thethe station
station but
their love's
in vainvain since
since thethetrain
10minutes
minutes before
before they
theygetthere.
trainhas
hasleft
left 10
get there.
Williams drums
drums thehimself. "I
Saylarvie. Williams
thefirst
firstpart
partofofLowe's
Lowe’s set
set by himself.
“Ifrom thethesetsetandandElvis
Elvis Costello
Costelloweighs
weighsininon
onKnew The Bride”
Bride" isisdropped
dropped fromsecondAnd like
likethethecavalry
cavalry charging
charging oversecondguitar
guitaronon"Heart“HeartOf
OfThe
The City".
City”. And
thedelivers a solo onon thethe Saturday-night
Saturday -night
the ridge
ridge inin thethelastlast reel,
reel, Wallis delivers– even Dai Edmunds
version of “City”"City"that’s
that'sasasgoodgoodasasanyone
anyone-even
Edmunds –- could
havethat song. Watch this
this boy
boy-life
have played on that– lifebegins
beginsat
at30,
30, Larry.

0

CharlesShaar
ShaarMurray
Murray•Charles
HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
1977 |1131
HISTORY
131

1977
1977

OOCTOBER
D ECEMBERC T O B E R –-DECEMBER“`Anew
A newmusicalmusicallanguage"
language”
DAVIDBOWIE
BOWIEdelivers
delivers“Heroes”"Herob – made while holed up
DAVID
in Berlin
Berlin with
ENOandandthethe“amusing”"am._
ROBERTin
withBRIAN
BRIAN ENO
ROBERT
FRIPP.On
Onhis
hisreturn
return toto thethe UK,
discus;FRIPP.
UK, hehe discusses
his recent
strategies.
“I’mcompletely
completely open,"
open,” he says. “I’m sostrategies. "I'meclectic
complete vulni
vulnerability is involved.”
eclectic thatthat complete"HEROES" DAVID BOWIE

HE'S
UPout
OUTofofhisarmchairandandontoonto thethe balls
balls of his
his feetfeet asas thethe doordoor
e’s uphisarmchaircloses behindbehind me.
me.
"Christ, how long has
has ititbeen?”
been?"“Christ,Four years, man,man, andand I set
set upupthe
the tapetape machinemachine –- Bowie
Bowieattempting
attempting tobalance
Carlsberg bottle
bottle -– andtime tobalancethe
themicrophone
microphoneon
ontop
topof
of aa Carlsberg
and nono timeswap
small talk
talk because
because interview
circumscribed, soswap smallinterviewtime
timeisis severely circumscribed,
so by
the
we’ve both
Bowie’s lit
the timetime we'veboth satsat down
down andand Bowie's
lit aaGauloise
Gauloisethere’s
there's nothingnothing to do but
but pullpull thetheand get straightstraight on it.
pin and"Wherestart after
after four“Where cancan we startfour years?"
years?”hehe asks.
asks.
we bothbothknowwhereknow whereititwill
willgo.
go.
Hell we cancan start
start anywhere;
anywhere; we
Whydoesmore accurately
accurately "Heroes"
quotes? Are thethe
Why does Heroes –-oror more“Heroes” –-comecome inin quotes?
inverted commas
commas actuallyactuallypartinverted
partofof thethe title?
“Yeah. Firstly
was quite
thoughtI'd
I’dpick
pickonon thethe only
only"Yeah.
Firstly-–itit wasquite a silly point
point really
really –-II thought
narrative song
the title.
title. ItItwas
wasarbitrary,
arbitrary, really,
really,because
becausethere’s
there's nononarrative
songtoto use as theconcept to thethe album.”
album."
concept
I’d felt thataboutthethewordword
I'dthat thethe useuse ofofquotes
quotesindicate
indicate aadimension
dimension of irony
ironyabout"Heroes"orabout thethe whole concept
concept of heroism.
heroism.
“Heroes”
or about"Well,
inthatthatexample
examplethey
theywere,
onthatthat title
title track.
track. theThesituation
situationthatthat sparked
sparked“Well, inwere, onthewhole
wholething
thingwaswas– I-Ithought
thoughthighlyironic.
There's aawall
bythe
studiooff the– highlyironic. there’s
wall bythe studio[the album
album having
Berlin] about
about
[the
havingbeen
beenrecorded
recordedatatHansa
HansaBy
ByThe
theWall
Wall inin West Berlin]
there. It's
about 20 oror30
30meters
metersaway
awayfrom
the studiostudio andand thethe control
control room
room looks
there.
It’s aboutfrom theout onto
turret on top of
where theonto it.
it.there’s
There'saaturretofthe
thewall
wallwhere
theguards
guards sit,
sit,andandduring
duringoflunchbreak every
everyday,boyandgirlwould
meet out
outthere
thereandandthe course oflunch breakday, aaboy
and girl
would meetcarryon.
carry
on.
“they were obviously havingananaffair.
affair.And
AndIIthought
thoughtof
ofall
all thethe places
places to meet
"Theywereobviouslyhaving
meet
Berlin, why
whypickbenchunderneathunderneath aa guard
guard turretin Berlin,
pick aabenchturretononthe
thewall?
wall? They'dthey’d comedirections andthere... Oh,
theywereboth fromfrom thefrom different directions
and always meet there…
oh, they
were bothwest, but
would always
presumed
but they
theywould
alwaysmeet
meetright
rightthere.
there.And
AndI I– using-usinglicencelicence– -presumed
that they
theyweresomewhat guilty
guiltyabout
this affair and sosotheytheyhadthatwere feeling somewhat
about thishad
imposed this restriction
restriction on themselves, thereby
therebygiving
themselves an excuse
excuseimposedgiving themselves
for theirbasis…” »their heroic
heroic act.
act. IIused
usedthisthisasasaabasis..."TONORROw WAWA TO 11140SE WHO CAP 441.AR ET COMINC.

!qtr.

clive arrowsmith / camera press

H-

NOVEMBER1212— NME NOVEMBER
—-

i
g
EA

g

=

t
--!

i

“The intention was to
go in and play aroundwith method andprocess”: David Bowie
on the creation of Low
and “Heroes” in 1977

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 133

1977
1977

Michael Ochs archives / GeTTY

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER

Therefore itit is ironic.
ironic.
Therefore"Yesititis.
is.You’re
You'reperfectly
perfectlyright
rightabout
aboutthat,
that,butbutthere
there“Yes
was no reason
reason why thethealbum
album should
should have
have been
been
called"Heroes".
“Heroes”. It
called"The“The Sons
calledItcould
could have
have been
been called
OfTheAge".ItItwas
wasjustjustaacollection
collectionof
ofstuff
stuffthatthat
Of
The Silent Age”.
I andand Eno andand Fripp had
had put
put together.
together. SometheSome of the
stuff thatwas left off
was very amusing,butthisthiswaswas
stuff
that was
offwasamusing, but
thethe batch,batch, the stuff thatthat knocked
knocked us
out."
the best
best of theus out.”youfindfindthatthat recording
recording in aa studiostudio that’s
that's rightright
Do youby thethe Berlin
Berlin Wall gives you
you aasense
sense ofofbeing
being onon thetheedge ofofsomething?
something?
"That's exactly
exactlyright.
put myself
myself“That’sright.II find
find that
thatI have to put
in those situations
situations to produce
produce any reasonablereasonable goodwriting.
gotthatthat same
same thing
thing about
about whenwriting. I've
I’ve still got
when I
get to aacountry
country or aa situation
situation andand I have toto putputormyself on aadangerous
dangerous level, whether
whether emotionallyemotionally or
mentally
things likementallyor
or physically,physically, andanditit resolves
resolves inin things
like
that:
leading what
what isisquitequite aaspartan
spartanthat: living
living in Berlin leading
life forfor aaperson
person ofofmy
mymeans,means, andand in forcing myself
to live according
according to thethe restrictions
restrictions ofofthatthatcity."city.”
it'stimetime totomovemovenow
nowthatthat other
other persons
persons are
So it’sarewritingsongs
songsabout
aboutthetheBerlin
BerlinWall.
Wall.
writingchuckles into
have
Bowie chuckles
intohishisSpecial
SpecialBrew.
Brew."Yes,“Yes,II havenoticednoticedthat,
that,actually.
actually.II haven't
haven’tyet
yet mademade upup mymind,but
butII havemind,
have thethe choicechoice of two
two places
places thatthat I’m
I'm
thinking
One's Japan
Japan andand thethinkingof
ofgoing
going to.
to. One’s
theotherotherisis
Israel,and I don’t
don't know
Israel, andknow which
whichone's
one’sgoing
goingtotowin."
win.”
The sight of thethe Thin
Thin White Duke
Duke in a kibbutz
kibbutz
strikesvisual to pass
pass up, plus
strikes one
one asas being
being too
too good
good a visual
Bowie went
wentthroughthrough aaJapaneseJapanesephase
phaseinin'73.
’73.
“Yes,"Yes,andand IIkeep
keepwanting
wanting toto gogobackbackthere.
there. IIthink
think
I'll
plump for Kyoto,
Kyoto,because
because IIwant
wantsomething
something very
I’ll plump
serenemonths tothatserenearoundaroundme
meforforaa few months
tosee
see if that
produces anything.
anything.ItIt is also
producesalso important
important to my
privateprivatelife
lifethat
thatIIgo
goto
toKyoto."Kyoto.”
Wetalktalkabout
aboutthetheJapaneseJapanesemime/dance/theatre
mime/dance/theatre troupeWetroupeOndekoza,
Ondekoza,
who’d justrunat
atSadlers
SadlersWells
Wells and
who Bowie had
who'djust completedcompleted aarun
and who
had missed
missed bya day ininAmsterdam.
Amsterdam."It“Itsounds
soundslike
likeaatoken
tokenshow
showfor
forus
uslot
lotto
tohavehaveaagandercomments after
described thein JapanJapangander at,"
at,” Bowie comments
after I've
I’ve describedtheshow.
show. "But
“But in-when
though it
it-thereparticularly in– whenII was travelling though– therewas
wasan
anawfulawfullot,
lot, particularly
intheprovinces, of very
verystrange
strangeritual
ritual performances
performances
the outlying
outlying villages and provinces,that
hadn't seen
dge ofofJapane
se is
thatI hadn’t
seenbefore.
before.And
And still,
still, because
becausemy
myknowle
knowledge
Japanese
limited – tosaythe
say theleast!
least!-I– Inever
neverrereallyfoundout
outfromfrom what
what school itlimited-to
allyfoundcame
origins were."camefrom,
from, oror whatwhat its origins
were.”
the purpose
purpose of
ritual must
must be invocation,
invocation, what
the rituals
Since theof all ritual
what were
were therituals
designedto
to invoke?
designed"Well, aalot
lotofofthem
themwere
werefrom
fromShintoism,
Shintoism, andand they
they talktalkveryerally“Well,
verylibliberallyabout
the few
fewcountries
countries in thethe world thatthat tolerate
tolerate allabout being
being one
one of thereligions, but
Christiansin
inthe
thewhole
wholeofofreligions,but you’ll
you'll only find
find about
about three
three Christians
Japan.
They're tolerated…”
tolerated..." heJapan. They’re
he laughs
laughs harshly,
harshly, "...but“…but everybody
everybody else
else isa Shintoist,
Shintoist, mate!
most of their
their art
art forms
forms derive from either
either thatthat ormate! So mostor thetheimperialsources.
sources.It's
It’s very sophisticatedbut aa bit suspicious
imperial
sophisticated but
suspicious sometimes.”
sometimes."
but so’s
so's Bowie
Bowie himself.
himself. I think
think ofthe koto
Yeah, butof thekoto Bowie
Bowie plays
plays onon "Moss“Moss
Garden""Heroes"and
berserk screamunder
Garden”fromfromside
side two
two of “Heroes”
and his berserk
screamofof "i'm“I’m underJapaneseinfluence
influence andandmy honour’s
Japanesehonour's at stake”
stake" fromfrom “Blackout”"Blackout"ononthe
thesamesame
album,
seeseeDB
album,and
andreflectreflectthat
thatthethekibbutzim
kibbutzimprobablywon't
probably won’t
DBforforaawhile
whileyet.
yet.
what about
about China?After
ack in ’71,
'71,Bowie
Bowiewaswassomething
something of
So whatChina? Afterall,all,bbacka Maoist.
Maoist.
"Ahhh, that’s
that's still there.
there. That
That place
place continues
continues to“Ahhh,
tointoxicate
intoxicateme.
me.II got aa
glimpsewhen I was
was inin HongHong Kong…
Kong... it’s
it'sstrange.
strange. There’s
There's nothere,
glimpseofof it when
no wallwall there,
you see. When
When you move out of Hong
Hong Kong
Konginto
intoChina,
China, you
you cancan just
just walk
walk
over, andand often
often youshot at.
It's quite
quite feasible
wanderyou won't
won’t getget shotat. It’s
feasible toto sortsort of wander
intoChina andaround, wander
wander aroundaround allrightinto China
and just
just look around,
all those
thosevillages
villages rightnear thethe border."border.”near
Hey,living
livingdangerously
dangerouslyis
one thing,
thing, but
but recording
recording anan album
album in a
Hey,
is onesituation
musicians was
shot...
situationwhere
whereoneoneof
of your musicians
was actuallyactuallyliableliable toto get shot…
(A(Asharpsharpchuckle)
chuckle)“I"Inever
nevertravel
travelwith
withmusicians.
musicians. I only
onlytravel
travel on
onmy
myown
own
these
these days."days.”
Afarfrom thethe times
times hehe wouldn’t
wouldn't budge
budge anan inchinch without
without bodyguard,
bodyguard,
A far cry fromhairdresser, PR...
PR…
secretary, personal
personal assistant,assistant, travelling companion,
companion, hairdresser,
All mytravelling isdone onwanting toideas forfor“All
my travellingis doneon thethe basis
basis of wanting
to get my ideas
writingsystem fromwriting fromfrom real
real events
events rather
ratherthan
thanfrom
fromgoing
goingbackbacktoto a system
whence it came.
wary of listening
whencecame. I amam very
verywary
listening toto muchmuch music.”
music."HISTORY OF
134 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
134

Guitarist Robert
Guitarist
Robert Fripp, joins
joinsco-producer
co-producer
Brian Eno
EnoandBrianand David
BowieininHansa
Bowie
HansaBy
By TheThe
Wa II,Berlin,
Berlin,totorecordrecordWall,the “Heroes”"Heroes"album
thealbumininthesummer
thesummerofof19771977

gestures at
at thethe massive
massivestereo
stereo set
setenthroned
enthroned on the table bybythe
He gestures
the sofa.
"RCAsent
sentallallthisthisstuff
stuff over
over andand I forgot
forgotto
toask
askthemthem forfor somesome records,
records,“RCA
but
timethey
theydeliverdeliverany
anyI'llI’llbebegone.
gone.ItItdoesn't
doesn’trereallyfollow meme
but by thethe time
ally follow
around much.
aroundmuch.Imagine
Imaginetrying
tryingtotoplug
plugininone
oneofofthose
thoseininBangkok!
Bangkok!MyMy
drummer insists
carrying one aroundaround with massive headphones
headphones anddrummer
insistsinin carrying
wires sticking
have aatapesticking out everywhere.
everywhere. I don’t
don't travel like
like that.
that. IIonly
onlyhavetapemachine tonotebook.
machineto useuse as a notebook.
"No, Event,
Event,Character,
Character,Situation:
Situation: they’re
they're my preference
preference for thethe basis of“No,
writing.
I’m not
not eveneven really
really intereste
interested
in that.
that.I mean,
writing. But at thethe moment,
moment, I'm
d in
mean,
the last two
two things
things have mademade forforaacomplete
completere-evaluation
re-evaluation ofofmy
mywritingthewriting
had aalot
lottotodo
dowithwithbeing
beingbored
boredwithwiththethetraditional
traditional things
style. It had
thingsI'd
I’d
been
writing, andandwith
withwanting
wantingto
toput
putmyself
myselfinin thethe position
positionofof having
been writing,having tocome up
up withwith a new musicalmusical language
comelanguagefor
for myself."myself.”mention thatthat Lowmissed
missed me
me completely.
completely.
I mention“Wellhesays,says,"a“a lotlot of ititmissed"Well I’m
I'm not
not surprised,”
surprised," hemissed meme as well. IIdon’t
don't
understand it.
don't understandunderstand "Heroes"either.
It's something
something that’s
that'sunderstandit. I don’t“Heroes” either. It’s
derived throughthrough processthederivedprocessand
andmethod,
method,withwithabsolutely
absolutelyno
noideaideaofof theconsequences
and nono preconceptions
kind.”
consequences andpreconceptions of any
anykind."
Lowhadseemed totome
analbum
albumpresenting
presenting-in
attractive light
light-–
Low had seemedme an– in anan attractive
withdrawal fromthe world almost
almost totothe
thepoint
pointofofcatatonic
catatonicschizophrenia.
schizophrenia.
withdrawal
from theBowie
Bowiegrimaces
grimaces andand clears
clears his
histhroatthroat aa trifle
trifleostentatiously.
ostentatiously. “There"Theremore than
than anvery...
is moreanelementelementof
oftruthtruthininwhet
whetyou
yousay.
say.ForFormemeitit was
was very…
wanted toto dodothat,”that,"heheinterrupts
interrupts defiantly.
defiantly. “What"What you’ve
you've read
read from thethe
I wanted
experience
experience of thatthat album
album is absolutely
absolutely accurate.
accurate. I did
didachieve
achievesomething,something,because there's
albums thatthat I haven’t
haven't experienced
experienced at first
first hand.
hand.
becausethere’svery
very few albums
Youcancan eveneven telltellwhatwhat city
cityI’ve
I'vebeen
beenininby
bylistening
listening toto thethe albums.
albums.
You“I’m"I'm completely
completelyopen.
open.I’m
I'mso
soeclectic
eclecticthat
thatcomplete
completevulnerability
vulnerability is
involved." You’ve
You'vegot
gotnonoshields,
shields,then.
then.“I’ve"I'venever
neverdeveloped
developedthem,
them, andand
involved.”
I'm not
not toto suresurethatthat IIwant
wanttotoany
anymore,because I’m
I'mbecoming
becoming far
far moremore
I’mmore, because
satisfiedwith life...
life… my private
straight,
satisfied withprivate life. I’m
I'mbecoming
becoming incredibly
incredibly straight,
assertive, moderate…
moderate... verylevel, assertive,
verydifferent
differentfrom,from,say,say,twotwoyears
yearsago."
ago.”
Twoyears
years agoagoyouyouwerewereananuptight
uptight game
game player
player with
with a sore nose.
nose.
Two
“Out
onthe
thewall!
wall! No,No, listen,
I’d been
beenexposed
exposed(he(he gives the"Out there
there onlisten, I'd
the last
last
thewordwordaasavage,
savage,ironicironictwist)
twist) toto aageneralgeneral LA-ism
LA -ismwhich,which,quite
quite
syllable of thefrankly, I can’t
can't cope-pot in thethe world."
frankly,cope with.
with.It's
It’s thethemostmostvile
vilepisspiss-pot
world.”LA,
LA,IIsay,say,isislike
likebeing
beingtrapped
trappedin
inthe
thesetsetof
ofaamovie
movieyouyoudidn’t
didn't want
want to seesee
the first place.
in the"Absolutely!It’s
It'sworse
worsethan
thanthat.
that. ItIttranscends
transcends that.
“Absolutely!
that.It's
It’saa movie
movie thatthatisiscorrupt, withscript thatthat is so devious
devious andand insidious.
insidious. It’s
It's thethe scariest
scariest
so corrupt,
with a script

DAVID BOWIE

movie ever written. You feel a total victim there, and you know someone’s
got the strings on you.”So, why do people build themselves mansions out there? It must be likevoluntary self-imprisonment.
“Oh, it is. It’s like going to live in Switzerland to look after your tax
money, which is the most incredible thing I ever did. I don’t live there but
I stayed there. I don’t live anywhere. I have never got around to getting
myself a piece of land, putting up a house on it and saying, ‘This is mine,
this is home.’ If I did that, that would just about ruin everything. I don’t
think I’d ever write anything again. I must have complete freedom frombases. If I ever had anything that resembled a base – like a flat on a longlease or anything – I felt so incredibly trapped.
“Even if I go away I know that it’s waiting for me – more than that, it’s like it
has me on a string, and it’s dragging me back. I don’t foresee that I could live
comfortably in any of the cities I go to. Unlike mymanagerial predecessor, I’m not investmentminded. I still like the idea of making records
next to the wall. I think that is what one shoulddo, in my case anyway.”
Returning to the subject of the recent waxings,
it seems that “Heroes” is an attempt to fight backagainst the state of mind that Low wallows in.
“Do you know something? The hardest thing
for me to do is to help you in solving those
problems, because all I know is the input of thealbum. I have as much idea of the – Outback?” helaughs, “about what comes back off that album
as what you do. Eno is the same. Neither of us understand on a linear
level what the thing’s about, but we get a damned good impression of
information coming off those two albums that seems very strong, andthat was not very intentional. The intention was to go in and play aroundwith method and process, but when we’d finished Low and “Heroes” what
we had in our hands was something that actually does give information.
“If it seems obvious to you, then you’ve described my state of mind at thetime of making those two albums very accurately. That’s exactly – onboth albums – what I’ve gone through. Low was a reaction to having gone
through that peculiar… that dull greeny-grey limelight of America and its
repercussions; pulling myself out of it and getting to Europe and saying,‘For God’s sake re-evaluate why you wanted to get into this in the firstplace? Did you really do it just to clown around in LA? Retire. What you
need is to look at yourself a bit more accurately. Find some people you
don’t understand and a place you don’t want to be and just put yourself
into it. Force yourself to buy your own groceries.’“And that’s exactly what I do. I have an apartment on top of an auto shop
in an area of the town which is quite heavily populated by Turks, and I did
that for a bit…”
Two relevant quotes: the novelist Elizabeth Bowen once wrote:“Anywhere, at any time, with anyone, one may be seized by the suspicion
of being alien – ease is therefore to be found in a place which nominally isforeign: this shifts the weight,” which is as good a thumbnail sketch of theobsessive traveller as any I’ve encountered.
And then there’s the character of Herbert Stencil in Thomas Pynchon’s
V: Herbert Stencil, like small children at a certain age and Henry Adams
in The Education, as well as certain autocrats since time out of mind,
always referred to himself in the third person.
“This helped ‘Stencil’ appear as only one personality among a repertoireof identities. ‘Forcible disolvation of personality’ was what he called thegeneral technique, which is not exactly the same as ‘seeing the otherperson’s point of view’; for it involved, say, wearing clothes that Stencil
wouldn’t be caught dead in, eating foods that would have made Stencil
gag, living in unfamiliar digs, frequenting bars or cafes of a non-Stencilian
character; all this for weeks on end; and why? To keep Stencil in his place:that is, in the third person.
“Ooh, aren’t you well read!” mocks Bowie, but hiseyes show a flash of recognition. “I understand thatcompletely! I completely sympathise with the man!
I know exactly why he did that, I think! So that initialperiod in Berlin produced Low, which is ‘Isn’t it great
to be on your own, let’s just pull down the blinds andfuck ’em all.’ The first side of Low was all about me:‘Always Crashing In The Same Car’ and all that selfpitying crap, but side two was more an observation inmusical terms: my reaction to seeing the East Bloc,

how West Berlin survive in the midst of it, which was something I couldn’t
express in words. Rather it required textures, and of all the people that
I’ve heard write textures, Brian’s always appealed to me the most.”
Yeah, but they lack context.
“Brian isn’t interested in context. He’s a man with peculiar notions,some of which I can come to terms with very easily and are mostaccessible, and some of it way above my head, mate, in terms of hisanalytical studies of cybernetics and his application of those things tomusic and his general fine arts approach. It’s something that I’ve known
from way back as a general characteristic of a kind of person that I used toknow when I was a lot younger.
“I find that very simpatico. All those crazies. But I can’t really talk on hisbehalf. We spend most of our time joking. Laughing and falling on thefloor. I think out of all the time we spent recording, 40 minutes out of
every hour was spent just crying with laughter.
“Do you know Fripp? Have you ever spent timewith him in a humorous state? He is incredibly
funny. Unbelievable sense of humour. Having
the two of them in one studio produces so muchrandom humour – incredible stuff. So anyway,
what I’m doing, in this wonderful new world ofdiscovery and experimentation, is a refocus
about what I’m trying to do.”We talked a little bit about (you should pardon
the expression) punk rock and Bowie opinedthat the worst thing about punk was the way somany bands were diving gleefully into thecategory instead of striving to be assessed outside of it.
“None of them are fighting it; none of them are saying, ‘We are us.’
They’re saying, ‘Yeah, we are punk’, and in so doing they’re putting aboundary on their writing scope, which is a shame because they could bea movement of sorts. But you have to let a movement remain as a
subculture for a little while and gain some – I’m wary of using the word
‘maturity’ – gain some recognition of its own relationship with theenvironment that it lives in. That’s Eno’s Rate Of Change – one of his
cybernetics things – and it’s very interesting.
“People are more interested in the technical innovations as they
happen rather than the rate of change within where they happen.”
Hence gadget obsession?
“Oh, that’s not so bad. I welcome any new relationship between man
and his machine. I think that’s very optimistic and very good. The
average man… see, what you have got is a situation where a hundredyears ago the average man could fix anything that went wrong in his
home. If it went wrong he could fix it. But how many things does a man
have now that are out of the area of his knowledge? If his television goes,
he has to get a specialist to fix it. He doesn’t know his immediate
environment. This is because we are put under the impression that weare to accept every new technological achievement that is pushed upon
us before we readily understand the last lot.”
What’s the last technological innovation that you understood?
“Me! I think the fountain pen. I’m the perfect example of the victim oftechnology. I think it’s disastrous.”
Change of subject. Did Bowie consider he was being misrepresented
when he was tied with fascism last year? “What I thought was that I’dmade some very trite theatrical observations which in fact backfired.
I can’t blame the press for that.”
Did you consider it to be a mistake? “Oh God, yes, but I thrive on
mistakes. If I haven’t made three good mistakes a week, then I’m not
worth anything. You only learn from mistakes.”
So what exactly were you trying to say with all that? “It was an
immediate reaction to England, having not seen it for so long. What I saidon the Continent was based on anticipation, and when I got here I thought
I’d got it right. I seem to have a knack for putting
myself in those kind of dangerous positions. I’d justdried up and I couldn’t write anything.”
Do you think that, once again, London would bea place that would stimulate your writing?
“It is a very different London, and that is worth
consideration. It’s been on my mind the longer I’ve
been here, and I’ve been coming back for a couple ofdays at a time just taking tentative looks, but there’s
so many places that I haven’t been to get a vibe
from.” Charles Shaar Murray •“I’m becoming
incredibly
straight, level,
moderate…”

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 135

1977
1977

O C T O B E R – D ECEMBER“We"We don’t
don't
re retregretmisty esmistakes”
Thi BUZZCOCKSBUZZCOCKShavehavegrowngrownupupawayaway fromfr
The
London’s
punk
hype –- tney've
they’veeven
evenstopped
stoppedgetLIIIU
getting bottled.
gum Hype“Iwritesongs
songs that
thatdon't
don’texclude
exclude anyone,”says"I writeany
Peteonly people
people the!.
they exclude are
Pete Shelley.
Shelley. “The"The only
peopleabout love.”people who
who don’t
don't know
know anything
any

van

-

DECEMBER
3— NME DECEMBER
3—THE
PIZZAPARLOURPARLOURmuzak
muzakisisa anever-ending,never-ending,damned-for-all-eternity
damned -for -all -eternity
HE PIZZA
loop -tape ofofageing
ageing session
session men
men bleating
bleating out
loop-tapeout sanitised
sanitisedversions
versionsof
of19771977
smash hits
swinging teens,
teens, etcetera.
etcetera.
smashhits for swinging
false -teeth,wrinkled
wrinkled interpretations
interpretations ofofThe
Crown Topper, false-teeth,
TheRods'
Rods’ "Do“Do
Anything YouWannaDo",
TheModern
ModernLovers’
Lovers'“Roadrunner”,"Roadrunner", even (forgive(forgive
Anything
You Wanna Do”, of The
them, Lord,
theyknownot
them,
Lord, theyknow notwhat
whattheydo)
they do)ofofthe
theSexSexPistols'
Pistols’"Pretty“PrettyVacant",
Vacant”,asaswell ascopies of The
asarteriosclerosistic
arteriosclerosistic carbon
carbon copies
TheJam,Jam,Clash,
Clash,Damned,
Damned,Stranglers,
Stranglers,Vibrators
Vibratorsand
andabout every other
other namename in thethe coteriecoterie ofofpunky-waver
punky-waverelite
elitethatthathashasever
everbeen
beenreverently
reverently
just about
gobbed on bybythe
enlightened hordes
safety -pinheads... except
gobbedthe UK's
UK’s enlightened
hordesof safety-pinheads…
except forfor Buzzcocks.
feeling of relief
Pizza Putrido reflectively.
With mixed
mixed feeling
relief andand slack-jaw
slack -jawshock,shock,I gaze
I gazeatatmy
myPizzaPutrido
reflectively.
Surelythe-calibre credentials
credentials of thethe Mancunian
Mancunian innovators
innovators would
them amongst
amongstSurelythe highhigh-calibre
would put them
the first in line
line forforthethedubious
dubioushonour
honour ofofhaving
havingaabastardised
bastardised representation
representation of
their work
theof theirincluded on any
punk-pizza-rock-muzakloop
loop-tape???
anypunk-pizza-rock-muzak-tape???
Buzzcocks
ofthe
thevery
veryfirst
ofcollective
collectivetalents
talents totobandband together
together back in
in JuneJune
Buzzcocks were one offirst set ofinthe
thewakewakeofofthe
thecataclysmic
cataclysmicaural
aural upheaval
upheaval instigated1976 ininstigatedby
byMalcolm
MalcolmMcLaren's
McLaren’sRude
Rude
Boys. They
played their
theSexSex Pistols
Pistols at
Theyplayed
their debut
debut gig thethe following
following month
month supporting
supporting theManchester's Free
Trade Hall. Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks terminatedterminated their-summers
Manchester’sFree Tradetheirsetsetwhenwhen their
their16
16-summers
drummer boy,tail -flyingterror
terror throughthroughdrummerboy, thethe ganglingJohn
gangling JohnMaher,
Maher,deserted
desertedhis
hisskins
skinstotofleeflee inin tail-flying
thethe crowd andand out
out into
into thethe night.
night.
From
playsupport
From there
thereBuzzcocks
Buzzcockswent
went onon to play
supportto
tothe
thePistols
Pistolsat
atthe
thefirst
firstScreen
ScreenOn
On The Green
inIslington;
Islington; to play
playDayOne
the 100 Club
ClubFestival
Festivalwith
withthethe Pistols
Pistols andand Clash;
Clash; totoreplace
replace
gig inDay Oneof thetheon thethe Pistols'
Pistols’Anarchy
Anarchy Tour
Tour coach;to support
The Clash
Clash at thethe expelledexpelled Damned
Damned oncoach; andand tosupport The
theHarlesden Cinema
Harlesden
Cinemagig
gig onon theirtheirWhiteWhiteRiot
Riot Tour.
The last
last waswasjustjustafter
afterthey
theybecame
first band
band to form their
their own independent
independent record
became thethe first
recordlabel
label
in thereleased thethe dawning
dawning of this
this year
yearwhenwhenthey
theyreleased
the classic, precious,
precious, priceless “Spiral"Spiral Scratch”
Scratch"ontheir
their New
NewHormones
label. “Spiral"Spiral Scratch”
Scratch" was arguably
arguably the"Anarchy
EP on
Hormones label.
the finest
finest45 since “Anarchy
UK".NoNofewer
fewerthan
than16,000
16,000ofofthe
thelittle
littleblack
blackbeauties
beautieswere
werebagged
bagged andand posted
posted by
In The UK”.
Buzzcocks themselves
themselves from the front room
room of manager
manager Richard
Richard Boon’s
Boon's Manchester
Manchester home.
Buzzcocks vinyl even occupied
occupied thetracks on
TheRoxy
Roxyalbum.
Buzzcocks
the last
last two
two tracks
on thethe LiveAt
Live At The
album.
Allthat…
that... andandwhat-oh, what do they
theyget?
whatdodotheyget,they get,oh
oh-oh,
get?
In sleepy
London Town there’s
Pizzaland punk-muzakpunk-muzakloop
loop-tapeforIn
sleepyLondon
there's just
just no place
place ononaaPizzaland-tape forridiculouslyunderrated
aabunchbunch of ridiculously
underrated Northern
Northern cults.
"Oh,they'll get aroundaround to ‘Orgasm`OrgasmAddict',"
comments Pete
Pete Shelley
Shelleydrylyas
piece“Oh, they’ll
Addict’,” comments
dryly as hehe pops a pieceof pizza
into his mouth.
“It’s this commercial
world welive in…”
pizzainto
mouth. "It'scommercial worldwe
in..." »»sheila rock / rex features

T

1

241
HISTORY OF
136 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
136

Buzzcocksin
NovemberBuzzcocks
in November
1977:
Steve Diggle,
1977:(l–r)(I-r)SteveDiggle,
PeteShelley,StevePete
Shelley, Steve
Garvey andandJohn
Maher
GarveyJohn Maher

buzzoocks0

spiral scratch

HISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 137
.41

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER

that Buzzcocks
Buzz cocks give
giveaatoss
tossabout
aboutBabylon,
Babylon,despite
despitetheir
their impeccable
impeccableNot that
punky-waver
credentials. Coming
Manchester may
mayhave
blinkeredpunky-waver credentials.
Coming out of Manchester
have blinkered
thethethe record
record corporations
corporationswhen
whenititcame
cametoto snapping
snappingup
upthisthiscombo
comboforfor thedotted line
line of aarecording
dottedrecordingcontract,contract, butbutthisthisminor
minordisadvantage
disadvantage has
has
been
than compensatedaspects of their
their
been more
more thancompensatedfor
forby the beneficial aspects
geographicalunder pressure
geographicallocation;
location;Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks were
were never underpressureto
to follow
a punkpunk party
party line
some ofoftheir
theircontemporaries
contemporaries in London.
London.
line like some
Manchester, fashion-spoon elite
In Manchester,
fashionas
asexclusive
exclusivedictatorship
dictatorshipofofaasilver
silver-spoon
elite
just
doesn't exist.
at theirtheir own
own pace.
pace. They’re
They're very
very
just doesn’t
exist. Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks have
have evolved at
specialandandthey
theyknow
knowit;it; if thespecialthe rest
rest ofofthe
the worldworlddoesn’t
doesn't …
... well, they’ll
they'llcatchupcatch upsooner
soonerororlater,later,and
andifif they
they don't
don’t that's
that’sstrictlystrictlytheir
theirown
ownloss.
loss.
"If we’dwe'dbeen
been fromfrom London
London we would have
have been
been signed“Ifsignedup
upaayear
yearago,ago, butbut
be inin thepositionwe
we areare now,"
now,” Shelley asserts.
we wouldn’t
wouldn't be
the position
asserts. “The"The musicindustry
centralised, whichmore totoits
itsdetriment
detriment than
than ours…
ours...
industryis centralised,
which is more
"I hatehate London,
London,it’s
it'sjust
justanother
anothercity.
city.WeWe
know-fairly
certain-the“Iknow– fairly certain– the things
thingsthatwewe want
we’d beenthatwant to do andand how we
we want
want totodo
dothem.
them. IfIfwe'dbeen caught
caught up intherush in the beginning
beginning we wouldn’t
wouldn't have been given thethe breathingbreathing
the rush
space
direction weno rushrush to sign.”
sign."
space toto work on the direction
wewantwanttototake.
take.WeWe were in no
Shelley smiles,
smiles, wryly.
wryly.“Until"UntilUnited
Unite dArtists
Artistscame
camealong,
along,allallthetheinterest
interestwas
profile anyhow.”anyhow."
was fairly
fairly low profileP

pETE
SHELLEYiSISshort,
short,sharp
sharpandand slyly
slylyurbane;
urbane; dapper,
dapper,ETE SHELLEY

diminutive anddefiant in his unfashionably
unfashionably
diminutive
and quietly
quietly defiant
conservative taste-piece threeconservative
tasteforfor sartorial
sartorialeleganceelegance-a– atwotwo-piece
three-buttonelectric
electric-blue
angora-goat’s-hairsuit worn
wornwith
withaa brightbright-yellow
button-blue angora-goat's -hair suit
-yellowrollneck, the same two-tone
two -tonecolour
colourcombination
combination thatthat dominates
dominates on
both
Buzzcocks' first United
United Artists
both thethelabellabel andandcovercover of Buzzcocks’
Artists single,“OrgasmTo?”.
"Orgasm Addict”
Addict" b/w
b/w “Whatever"Whatever Happened
Happened To?".
"It hasn’t
hasn't been
been banned,”banned," asserts
hasn't“Itassertsthe
thetrenchanttrenchantShelley.
Shelley."It“It just hasn’t
been
been played."
played.”John Maher is elsewhere
Angloegg
egg andchips, so only two
elsewhere noshingnoshingAnglo
and chips,
two
other
arepresent
presentin
inthe
thepizza
pizzahouse
house-thePinocchio-featured,
other Buzzcocks are– the Pinocchio-featured,
painfully
Diggle(back-up(back-upvocals
vocalsandandstaccato
staccatorhythm
rhythm guitar
guitarpainfullyshy
shy Steve Diggle
to Shelley’s
Shelley's lead)lead)andand their
their latest
latest recruit,recruit, watchful,watchful, silent
silent bassist
bassistSteve
Garvey, who
who resembles
resembles Bruce Foxton’s
Foxton's kid
kidbrotherbrother andand waswas drafted
drafted in to
replace-mountain, Big
out
replace thethe ejected,
ejected, difficult
difficult man
man-mountain,
Big Garth, kicked out
becauseBuzz
Buzzcocks
be a therapeutic
vehiclebecausecocks believe
believe thatthat a group
group cannot
cannot be
therapeutic vehicle
for thethe problems
problems of one
one member.
member.
"It waswasgetting
getting totothe
thepoint
point where
where ififhe’dhe'dbeen
beenininmuchmuchlonger
longerand
anddidn’t
didn't“It– which we didn’t– thendo somesome drastic
drasticchanging
changing-which
didn't think
think he’d
he'd bebeableabletotododo-then
there
out," opines
opinestherewouldn't
wouldn’tbe
beaaBuzzcocks
Buzzcocksat
atall,
all, we'd
we’d all just freak out,”
Shelley, who
who isisbasicallybasicallyaashy
shyperson
personbut
butwith
withgrowing
growing self-confidence.
self-confidence.
Shelley
Shelleyco-founded
co-founded Buzzcocks
Buzzcockswith
withthat
thatenigmatic,
enigmatic,natty-baldhead
natty-baldhead
Howardwhen thenotice at their
their college
Howard Devoto
Devoto when
the latterlatter stuck
stuck up
up a notice
requesting
requestingcontact
contactwith
withlike-minded
like-mindedsouls
soulsinterested
interestedin
informing
formingaa band.
band.
Shelley wasthe
theonly
onlyperson
personwho
whoreplied.
replied.The
Thetwotwospent
spentaafew
few daysdays inin
Shelleywas
Londonchecking out the capital’s
capital's fast-evolving
fast -evolvingseminal
seminalpunk
punk scene,
scene, andandLondon checking
got the band’s
band's moniker
whichmonikerfrom
fromaaTime
Time Outreview
Out reviewofRockof Rock Follies whichcontainedthethephrasephrase"Getting“Gettingaabuzz,
buzz,cocks!".
cocks!”.
contained
Theywere
Malcolm McLaren
They
wereintroduced
introducedtotoSteve
SteveDiggle
DiggleininJuneJune'76’76 by Malcolm
at the first Pistols
Pistolsgig
gigininManchester.
Manchester.They
Theyfound
JohnMaher
Maherthroughthrough ananfound John
ad in Melody Makerof thisthisadMakerandand atatthe
the beginning
beginning ofyear, as interest
interest grew inin thethe bandband after
after thetherelease"Spiral Scratch”,
Scratch", Devoto
Devoto left
releaseofof “SpiralBuzzcocks
Buzz
cocksto
tostretchstretch his
histalents
talents inin otherotherdirections,distaste fordirections,feelingfeeling a growing distaste
performing
and extreme reluctancereluctance toperforminglive andcommit himself
himself to anythingas drastic
commitanything as
drastic asa recording
recording contract.
contract.
"Howard thought
thought heunable to“Howardhe would be unable
experimentifif he remainedin thethe band,"band,” Shelley
experimentremained incomments,bored withcomments,stifling
stiflingaayawn.
yawn."I“I get boredpeoplethepeople asking
asking about
aboutHoward.
Howard.Tonight
Tonightis
is the63rd Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks gig (the(the second
second of thethe Marquee
MarqueeBuzzcocks brace)
brace) andand Howard
Howard only played
played thetheBuzzcocks
first 11
11–-heonly there
there at
at thethe very
verybeginning.”
beginning."
he was only
Their disdain
disdain for Babylon’s
Babylon'sstreets
streets ofofchicchichashasmeant
meantaadisappointing
disappointing
paucityBuzzcocks' gigs ininthe
thecapital;
capital; before
before thethe two
two Marquee
Marquee dates
dates
paucity of Buzzcocks’
they'dthey’dplayed
playedLondon
Londononly
onlyfourfourtimes
timesin
in1977.
1977.
“It’s"It's the only place
place we get
get gobbed
gobbed on,”
on," Shelley
Shelley smirks.
smirks. “Only"Only inin London
Londonandbut now IIunderstandunderstandand otherotherliberated
liberatedplaces...
places…ItItused
usedtotopiss
pissmemeoff,
off, butthatmark ofofrespect…”
respect..."that it's
it’s a markHis eyes are widemock-awe.
wide with
with mock
-awe.

“If
"Ifsomeone
someone out
out there
there can gob right
right into
into your
yourmouth... well,mouth…
well,it's
it’s thethe nearest
nearestyou
youcancangetget toto aFrench kissyards."
Frenchkiss fromfrom 30 yards.”
But ititwould
wouldappear
appear thatthat thethe cocky cockney
cockney
sparrers are
sparrers
arecatching
catchingon
onfast.
fast."The“The last
last time
time wethere was nowhere
nowhere near
near asplayed London, there
many
and glasses
glasses thrown
thrownatat us
us as themany chairs
chairs andtime before."time
before.”B

iriUZZCOCKSSINGLOvE
LOVEsongs.
songs.
UZZCOCKS SiNG
The
may bebe betrayed,
betrayed, bitter,
The love may
bitter,vitriolicvitriolic andandvengeful,vengeful,butbutitsits lovelove
nevertheless.
Shelley’s incisive
incisive lyrics are thenevertheless. Shelley's
theofaaneotericneotericSmokey
SmokeyRobinson
Robinsonbearing
bearing
work ofgrudge. The
The direction
direction of thethe bandband alteredaltereda grudge.
after the Devoto departure,
departure, Buzzcocks
featuring Shelley
out front
front after
after he tookfeaturing
Shelley out
charge of limelight
limelight chores
chores seeming
seeming morechargemoreofofa quintessentiallyquintessentially pop-oriented
pop- oriented band
band andandthe vehicle forforaatortured,
tortured, angst-ridden
angst -ridden
less theartist withartistwith aa widow's
widow’s peak.
peak.
Marquee has
has got thethe House
House Full
Full sign
signupupoutside.
outside.Inside
Insidethethe
The Marquee
Establishment Punk,
Establishment
Punk,verticalvertical gyration
gyration andand long-distancelong-distanceFrench
FrenchKissing
Kissingreaching perspiration
perspiration point
fret -thrash thetheis reaching
pointasasShelley
Shelleyand
andDiggle
Diggle fret-thrashjuddering,abruptly
abruptlystaccato
staccatoopening
openingchords
chordsto
toBuzzcocks'
Buzzcocks’ ode
ode tojuddering,
shot -nerved unrequitedunrequited lusta shot-nerved
lust habit,
habit,"Breakdown".
“Breakdown”.
"Well if I seem a little jittely1 I- can't -restrain -myself .."“Well-if-I-seem-a-little-jittery/I-can’t-restrain-myself…”
Shelley controls
controls thethe crowd
crowd with
with aapolite
politedeceptive
deceptive grace,
grace, aanatural
naturalperformer withperform live notnot
performer
with sufficientsufficient confidence
confidencein
inhis
his ability
ability to perform
feelthetheneedneedtotoassault
assaultthe
theaudienceaudiencewith
withmandatory
mandatorypunky-waver
to feelpunky-waver
contrived
belligerence.
contrived belligerence.
John-bowed andsly ssolid
olid onJohn Maher
Maherisis continuallycontinuallyhead
head-bowed
andrelentles
relentlessly
onskins,skins,
at thethe backback ofofthe
thestagestagemeshingmeshing with
with Steve
Steve Garvey’s
Garvey's voluble
volublehis work atbasslines,
still feeling its way
b as slines,thetheneophyte
neophyte Buzzcock’s
Buzzcock's playing
playing obviously
obviously stillway(Lancashire's answer
while hishisstudiedstudied cool visualvisual is(Lancashire’s
answertotoSid
SidVicious?)
Vicious?),,while
commerciallyviable
the teen-appeal
teen -appeal stakes
stakes than
than that
that
infinitely more commercially
viable inin theof thethe rotund,rotund, revolving Garth.
Garth. And IIcouldn’t
couldn't help
help wondering
wondering if thetheexpulsion of
the Gentle
Gentle Giant
this crucial
the Buzzcocks'
expulsionof theGiant at
at thiscrucialstagestageofof theBuzzcocks’
scaling of thethe heights
heights waswasperhaps
perhaps mademade with
with aamore
moreruthless
ruthless calculation
calculation
scaling
than
Shelley wouldhave
have you imagine.
than Shelleywould
imagine.
that's conjecture;conjecture; Buzzcocks
livebandband than
than
But that’s
Buzzcocksare
arenow
nowmoremoreofof a live
they've everbeen before,
including thethey’veever been
before, including
theearly
early Devoto
Devoto days.As
days. As always,
always,Diggle looks
looksmildly
mildlysurprised
surprised to find
find himself
himself on stage, his
his guitar
guitaremanating ajuddering,
emanatinga juddering,WilkoesqueWilkoesquestutter
stutterasasaabasebaseforforShelley
Shelley to cut
short, sharp,
the plectrum,
plectrum, giving
short,
sharp,savage
savage flicks
flicks of thegiving Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks thethe soundsoundofofa humming,
circular saw that incorporates
the concision andhumming, brachiatiatebrachiatiate circularincorporates therock -action speed
speed ofofla
lamodemodepunkais
punkaiswhile
whileexercising
exercisingaarefreshingrefreshingcontrol
controlrock-action
dynamics thatthat onlythe
the new bands
bands havebeen able to master.
master.
of dynamics
only thebest
bestofof thehave been
It’s
It's rich,rich,rhythmic
rhythmic andand addictively
addictivelyrepetitive,
repetitive,perhaps
perhaps reachingreaching its
itsmostmost
expressionon
onthe
theadventurous
adventurousinstrumental
instrumental recitation
recitation
perfect expression"Puls eb eat".Maher
Maherrepeats
repeatsaadrum
drumrollrollofofdevastating
devastatingbrevity
brevitywhile“Pulsebeat”.
while theother three
Buzzcocks dance,
three Buzzcocks
dance, eyes closed with
with
their
man
their instruments
instrumentssilent,silent,thenthenasas one man
cutting rich, full, abrupt
abrupt slices ofofsoundsoundthat
that
cuttingbuild to the contagious,
intelligent magic
magic with
with
build
contagious, intelligent
which
which they
they climax
climax thethe show.
"Pulseb eat" asas thethe last
lastnumber
number shows
Doing “Pulsebeat”
in Buzzcocks a willingness
inwillingness toto experimentexperiment thatthatnoother bandcanmatch,match, together
togetherno otherband inin thethe UKcan
withthe panache,panache, aplomb,andwith theaplomb, self-possession
self-possession andability
to pullpull itit off. At
ability toAtthe
the barbar The
The Clash’s
Clash's Mick
Jones reels
reels withwithstunned
stunned admiration.
admiration. "They're“They’retheband inin thethecountry
countrywho'dfinishthe only band
who’d dare finish
with that,"
that,” hehe gasps.
withgasps. “Fucking"Fucking brilliant.”brilliant.""Thankyou,“Thankyou,goodnight!"
goodnight!”Shelley
Shelley shouts
shoutsinto
into
the mic
mic as they stumble
stumble off,brought backan encore
encore of thethe Spiral
SpiralScratch
theoff, broughtback for an
Scratchtrackof a teenage
couple’s
track “Time’s"Time's Up”,
Up", thethe story
story of
ofthe
thedisintegration
disintegration of
teenage couple's
relationship when thethe intention’s
intention's unjust
unjustandandthethecommitment’s
commitment's unequal.
unequal.
relationship“I"I trytry toto keep
keep
thethe lyrics
II writewrite
ambisexual”
ambisexual"

HISTORY OF
138 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK 1977
1977
138

I’ve beenat the supermarket,
standingin
in lineline with beans
I've
beenwaiting
waitingat
supermarket, standing(CASH UP)
UP)
(CASH
I've
been waiting
waitingat
forsticky
pictures ofofthe
I’ve been
atthe
thepostpostoffice
office for
sticky pictures
the Queen
Queen(STICKUP)(STICKUP)

buzzcocks
BUZZCOCKS
Decernbern,1977:
December 11, 1977:
topping a billwithtopping
billwith
SubwaySect
Subway Sect andSiouxsie&The
Siouxsie & The
Bansheesatthe
Banshees at theRoundhouse
Roundhouse

Boredom, boredom,
Boredom,boredom, boredomboredom
Now
movie
Now I'mI’m living in this movie
Neoteric ==newfangled,
newfangled, in
inthe
themodernmodern mould
mould
But
doesn't move me
But it doesn’t
waiting for the phone
I don’t
don't mind
mind waitingphone to ringring
Let ititring
ringandringandand ring
andring,ring,thethe fuckin'fuckin’ thing!
Youknowknowme,me,I’mI'mactingactingdumbdumb
YouY’know
Y'know thethe scene,
scene, very
veiyhum-drumhum -drum
Boredom, boredom, bor-dum,bor-dum, bor-dum,bor-dum, bor-dum
bor-dum
Now there’s
there's nothingnothing that’s
that's behindbehind meme
I’m
because my future
I'm alreadyalready a has-been,
has-been, because
future ain’t
ain't what
what it was
thinkIIknow
knowthethewords
wordsthat
thatIImean…
mean...
Well, IIthink"There's bitterness
bitterness inconcedes Shelley.
"Butthere’s
there's“There’sinour
oursongs,
songs, yeah,"yeah,” concedes
Shelley. “Buthopetendency to self-pity,self-pity,but
butIIrealise
realisethat’s
that's notnothope inin them,them,too.
too.I have got aatendency
theto getgetanything
anything done, by making
making myself aamartyr…”
martyr..."the way to
Buzzcocks. "Whatever
cashedcheque…”
cheque..."Buzzcocks.
“WhateverHappened
HappenedTo?"To?” –"Your“Yourlove
love is aacashed"It's more
more pissed-off
pissed -off frustration
frustration than“It’sthanself-pity,"
self-pity,”sayssaysShelley.
Shelley."It's“It’slike,"
like,”
he free-associates,
free -associates, “when"when someone
someone you
you really
reallycare
careabout
aboutdoes
doessomething
somethingstupidhadn't dones orrythatthat they’ve
they'vestupid andandyouyou wishwish they
they hadn’t
doneit,it, you're
you’re just
just sorry
done
that."
done that.”
seesthethescenescenein
inManchester
Manchester asasinfinitely
infinitelymore
morehealthy
healthythan
than
Shelley seesin London, andand rightly
rightly so, citing
citing thethe attitudeattitude of young Manchester
Manchester
musicians
musicianswho
whoareareintointobands
bandsforforthethesimple
simplerush
rushofof playing
playing andandnotnot
expectingexpectingto
toget
getsigned
signedupupby
byaa record
recordlabel
labelasassoonsoonasastheytheystep
stepout
outof
ofthe
the
garage…because
becauseitit just
just doesn't
doesn’thappen
happenlike
likethatthatupupthere...
there…which
whichisiswhy
why
garage...
there's
London fit toto lick
lickthetheplectrums
plectrums of
there’snot
notaa bandbandininthe
thewhole
wholeofof London
virtualvirtual unknowns
unknownsThe
TheFall.
Fall.
“I’d"I'd bebe aanervous
nervous wreck
wreck inin twotwo weeks
weeks if IIlived
livedininLondon,”London,"Shelley
Shelleyadmits.
admits.
course, Manchester
Manchester is far
far fromfrom anan auralaural promised
promised land
Of course,
land andandhashasgotgot its
sharedross like anywhere
anywhere else,
precious vitality
out thetheshareof drosselse, butbut there
thereisis aa precious
vitalityab
aboutothers)sorely
sorely lacks. And ititallcity thatthat London
London (and(and others)
allemanatedemanated fromfrom thethesamematerial thatrock sprouts
sprouts from:from:boredom,boredom, boredom,boredom,same raw material
that all
all classic rockboredom,bor-dum, bor-dum.
bor-dum.
boredom, bor-dum,
Youknow
know thatthat I say
saywhatwhat I mean
mean
You
saywhatwhat comes
comes totomy
mymindmind
I say
Because I never
never getgetaroundaround to things
thingsliveaastraight,
straight,straight,
straight, line
line
I liveYouknowknowme,me,I’mI'mactingactingdumb
You
dumb
You
Youknow
know thethe scene,
scene,very
veiyhum-drumhum -drum

T

rrHE
SECONDdaTE
DATE
theMarqueeisisanother
anotherunqualified
unqualified
HE SECONdatat
theMarqueesuccess. Buzzcocks run
run throughtrackssuccess.
throughthe
thefourfourSpiral
Spiral Scratch tracks(“Friends("Friends Of Mine”,
Mine", “Boredom”,"Boredom", “Time’s"Time's Up”
Up" andand “Breakdown”)"Breakdown")
plus “Sixteen”,"Sixteen", “No"No Reply”,
Reply",“Whatever"Whatever Happened
Happened To?","Orgasmplus
To?”, “Orgasm
Addict""It'sabout
about people
people who
who useuse otherother people
people merely for
Addict” (Shelley: “It’sthe orgasm because
because they can’t
can't handle
handle a proper
proper relationship;
relationship; that’s
that'sdangerous"), "Oh
too dangerous”),“OhShit",Shit”, "Pulsebeat",“Pulsebeat”,"Love“Love Battery",Battery”, "Fiction“Fiction
Romance" (Shelley: “It’s"It'sabout
aboutthethecommercialisationcommercialisation of love
loveininthings
thingsRomance”
like Romeo And
And Juliet
Julietor
orThe
TheLittle
LittleHouse
HouseOn
OnThe
ThePrairie
Prairieto
tosuchsuch ananextent thatthat every time
time you have
have aaminor
minor heartache,heartache, you build it into
into
extentmuch more
more throughthrough sheer
sheer theatricaltheatrical melodrama”)
melodrama") andand their
their next
so muchsingle, the outrageously
magnificent"What“WhatDoDoIIGet?",Get?”, pureoutrageously magnificent
pure pop
pop fortomorrow people thatthat is destined
destined to be written
written down asas thethe finest
finesttomorrow
this year (including(including Spiralsingle of thisSpiral Scratch).
it's “Do"DoAnything
Anything You
YouWanna
WannaDo”
Do"without
withoutthe
thecontrived
contrived
Musically, it’ssense of epic, while lyrically it’s
it's worthy
worthy of Smokey
Smokey Robinson
Robinson at his finest,finest,sense
and nothingnothing gets better
better than
than that.
that.
and

I justjustwanna
wannalover
loverlike
like any
any otherother –-what
whatdodoIIget?
get?
I justjustwannasomeone
wanna someonetotonever
neverforgetforget –what
whatdodoIIget?
get?
WhatdoII get?
What do I get
get-– oh-oh?/Whatoh-oh?IWhat do"The songs
songs aren’t
aren't complete
put“Thecompletestories,"
stories,”Shelleytells
Shelley tellsme.
me."You've“You’ve got to put
yourself
themforfor them
themtoto taketakelife."life.”
yourself into
into them
youfeelfeelthetheneedneedtotokeepkeepyour
yourownownsexualsexualpreference
preference out ofofyouryour
Do youand/or interviews?
lyrics and/or“I
to keep"I trytryto
keep thethe lyrics I write
write ambisexual.
ambisexual. If IIwas
wasaagreat
greatbutch
butchmacho
macho
rock -guitarist singing
singing songs about
about laying all thethe groupies,groupies, then
then itrock-guitarist
wouldn't mean
workwith.
don't likewouldn’tmeananything
anythingtotowomen
womenororthe
thepeople
peopleII workwith. I don’t
excluding people from ideas
becauseofof theirideas simply
simplybecause
their gender.
"And also
also ififIIwrote
wrotesongs
songslike
likeTom
TomRobinson
Robinson about
about being
being gaythen I'd“And
gay thenI’danother partbe excluding anotherpartofof thethe audience.
audience.And
And because
becauseI'm
I’maa man,
man,ififsang songs
songs about
about male/female
male/female gender
cut out more
more
I sanggenderthen
thenit's
it’sgoing
going toto cutpeople. I enjoy
enjoywriting
anyone.
people.
writing songs
songs that
thatdodo notnot exclude
exclude anyone.
"The only
onlypeople
are people
people who
who don’t
don't know
knowanything
anything“Thepeople they
they exclude areaboutlove.” TonyParsons
about love."
Tony Parsons •HISTORY OF
OF ROCKHISTORY
ROCK 1977
1977 |1139
139

ray stevenson / rex features

Im
m
And
waitingfor
getyourself
yourself
And now
now I'mI’m waiting
forYOU,
YOU, to getgood andUP)
and readyready (MAKE(MAKEUP)to myself
myselfisisthis
thiswhat
whatthey
theymeanmean by going
going steadysteadySay to(BREAKUP)(BREAKUP)
room
And I’ve
I'vebeen
beenwaiting
waitingin
inthe
thewaiting
waitingroomAndbeen sitting
sitting inin thethe sitting
sitting room
And I've
I’ve been
And now I’m
I'mwhining
whining ininthe
thedining
diningroom
room
Waiting
for you is like waitingin thethe moon
Waiting foryou
waiting for thethe manman inmoon
was really
really smouldering,smouldering, sobought aa packSizecigarettes
cigarettes
I was
so I bought
packofof King Size
(STOOD UP)(STOODThis
you just
come along and have no
Thishanging
hangingaround’saround's killingkillingme
meififyou
justcomealongand
noregrets (GIVE
regrets(GIVE UP)UP)
callyournumber andin bedbed (GET(GETUP)
I callyour number
andyouryourmothermothertells
tellsmemeyou'reyou’re still in
UP)
When you get totothethephone
phoneyourthick andand sexy,
sexy,shoots
shootsthroughthroughWhenyour voice is thick
the top
top of mymy headhead (HANG
the(HANG UP)UP)
And I’ve
I'vebeen
beenstanding
standing inin thethestanding
standing room
room
Andbeen smoking
smoking inin thethe smoking
smoking room
And I've
I’ve beenAndliving roomroom
And now
now I'mI’m dying in the living
I'm gonna
gonna forget what
what I came
came for here
here real
real soon
soon
I’m
said your
your time’s
time's up/Me
up/Me tootoo
I saidI'm out on
on accountaccount of
ofyou
I’m
you
time's up/Me
up/Me tooYour time’s
tooAnd
I'm out on accountaccount ofofyou
And I’myou
your time’s
time's up/Your
up IYourtime’s
time's up/Right
up /Right up
up
Yeah, your

What
What did you think
think of thethe Roxy
Roxyalbum?
album?
"I thought
thought itit waspiece of shit
shit because
because ititwas“I
was aa piecewassosolousy,"
lousy,”
Shelley
ays calmly.
calmly. “Like"Like ififsomeones omeone dug
dug upup anan old essay
essay of
Shelley ssays
yours andeverybodysaid,
said,'Wow,‘Wow, that’s
yours
and it got printed
printed andand everybody
that's great!’great!'
Butwe
don't regret
certain order."But we don’t
regret making
makingmistakes,
mistakes,itit brings
brings a certain
order.”
tellShelley
Shelleythatthat aagood
goodgauge
gaugeof
ofthe
thedifference
difference inin thethe
I tellatmosphere’sofof boththat theatmosphere'sboth London and Manchester
Manchester is thethe way
waythatsuperband thethe last
superbJohn
JohnCooper
CooperClarke
Clarkewas
was received
receivedat
atthe
theVortex
Vortex andlastnight of thethe ElectricElectric Circus
Circus respectively;
respectively; in
in Manchester
Manchester the
stomped,night
the kids
kids stomped,
clapped,roaredwith
with laughter
laughterandandeveneven danced
danced(not(notbadbadforfor a poet),clapped, roaredpoet),
whereas in London
London thethe punks
punks threw
threw bottles.
bottles.
whereasShelleynods.
nods.“It’s"It'ssadsadthatthatpeople
peopleininLondon
Londoncan’t
can'tappreciate
appreciatesomething
something
Shelley
new andbecause it hasn’t
and exciting
exciting simply
simplybecause
hasn't been
been deemed
deemed cool…”
cool..."
Londonain’t
ain't thethe only
onlyplaceplacewhere
whereBuzzcocks
Buzzcockshave
haveencounteredencountered
But London"Weplayed
playedLeeds
LeedsPolytechnic
Polytechnic andand IIhappened
happened to be wearing
wearing a
bigots. “We
Manchester
United shirt...
shirt…andandtheywent
they wenttotally
totallycrazy,"
crazy,” recalls
recalls a bemused
Manchester United
bemused"Howwasknowwhatinterest in
football
Shelley. “Howwas IItoto knowwhatititwas;
was; I have no interestin footballwhatsoever... I've
nothing against
wouldwhatsoever…
I’ve nothing
against students
studentsper
perse,
se, but Buzzcocks would
never play
playaa students-only
students-onlygig.
nevergig.It's
It’stootoomuchmuchofofananexclusive
exclusive thing
thinglikelikebeing asked
playaa Masonicdarts team.
better to play
being
asked toto play
MasonicHall
Halloror a darts
team.It's
It’saa lot better
CBSconvention
convention than
than a student-only
student- onlygig...
cabaret girl."
a CBS
gig…you
youfeelfeel like a cabaret
girl.”

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBERAA deranged
derangednight
night out
out atat punk
punknightspots
nightspots
in thethe company
company of
MOON,newly
newlyreturned
returnedinof KEITH
KEITH MOON,
fromLA.
LA. Drink
Drink isis taken,
and bands
fromtaken, andbands areare witnessed,
witnessed,butnostalgicand
and strangely
strangelymoving
movingevening.
evening.
but it’s
it's aa nostalgic“I’ve
been into
the abyss,”
Moon confides.
"I've been
into theabyss," Moon
confides.

“I"I likelike thetherape andpillage"pillage”
MELODYMAKER
MAKERDECEMBERDECEMBER
3— MELODY3—
AHUGE
WHITE Rolls-RoyceROLLS-ROYCEslid
slidthethe length
lengthhuge white
Wardour Street
Street like aa skateboard,skateboard, Jan
&Dean
Dean
of Wardour
Jan &blasting from its hidden
hidden speakers,
speakers, thethe ownerownerblasting
bellowingalong toto "Dead“Dead Man's
Man’s Curve"
Curve” likelikebellowing along
man possessed.
possessed.
a man
From
Marquee toinfivefiveseconds
seconds-– cancanFrom Marqueeto thethe Vortex inman live at such
A queuemansuch speeds?
speeds?A
queue ofofsullensullenpunks
punksstands
stands freezing
freezing inintheawaiting remission.
Dean now
now
the cold,cold, awaiting
remission.Up
Updraws
drawsthetheRolls,
Rolls,Jan
Jan & Dean
spilling
into thethe street,
LostGeneration.
Generation. The
The
spilling out
out into
street,thethebattle
battlecrycryofof a Lost
punks,all
all black leather
punks,
leather andand shivering
shivering knees,
knees, gaze inin wonderment.
wonderment.
Moon strides
strides out
out onto
onto thethe pavement,
pavement, cladhuge buffalo
buffalo
Keith Moonclad in a hugecoatsmothered inand strikes
dramatic posecoat smothered
infur,
fur, andstrikes a dramaticpose like a
Shakespeareanactor
actorharanguing
haranguingthe
theplebeians
plebeians
Rome."This“Thisisis
Shakespearean
ofofRome.
privilege,"shouts brazenly,
don't fucking
straight in,privilege,” he shouts
brazenly,"I“I don’tfuckingqueue,
queue,II go straight
in,
first
class." AndAndhehetossed
tossedback
backhishisheadheadininananarrogant
arrogant gesturegesture andandfirst class.”
swept into
and anybody
anybodyelse
else who might
swept
into thethe club past
past fans, bouncers
bouncers anddare
progress.
dare impede
impede his
his progress.
wasthethegrandest
grandest entry
entry since
sinceNapoleon
Napoleonparadedparaded down
down thetheChamps
Champs
It wasÉlysée,e,andElyse
andinstead
instead ofofprovoking
provokingthe
themobmobintointoaafury
furythey
theyresponded
respondedwithcheers andwas certainly
certainly aa hilarious
hilarious moment,
moment, one
one ofwith cheers
and laughter.
laughter. It was
many
Punk Crawl.
manythethenight
nightKeith
KeithMoon
Moonwent
wentonon aa Punk
Crawl.
Why should
Moon go in among
thepunks,
punks,dodoIIhearhearthethecry?
cry?WasWas itshould Moon
among theto be patronising,patronising, totourist? The
to be
be provocative
provocativeor
or simplyto
simply tobebeaa tourist?
answersslightlymore
than thecertainanswers areare slightly
more complex
complex than
the questions.
questions.It
It is certain
thatofof theof rockrock statesmen,
KeithMoon
Moonisis moremore
that
the olderolder generation
generation ofstatesmen, Keith
likelyto
accepted than
than most.
most punk
punk bands
bands andlikely to be accepted
most. While mostmusicians
forms on the planet,planet,musiciansseem
seempositively
positivelyhostile
hostileto
toall
all otherotherlife
life forms
they have
have a certain
grudgingrespect
respectfor
forTheThe Who, it seems.
theycertain grudging
seems. The
The myth
myth »»

denis o’reganA

HISTORY OF
77
140 I| HISTORYOF ROCKROCK191977
140

"Yes, it’s
it's a bison.
bison. Shot
Shot itit“Yes,myself”:
myself": Keith
Keith Moon,
furjacket,
wearing aafur
jacket,putshisfeetup
puts
his feet upinin punk
haunttheVortex,Soho,
haunt
the Vortex, Soho,
London, November
November' 1977
977
London,4:"::::'

Moon
the
on
andingHISTORY OF ROCK 1977 | 141

when the Who's

revLsit wittheh thoLondonwho

inclubssixtieswhere.

he

1977
1977

OOCTOBER-DECEMBERC T O B E R – D ECEMBER

has-wave bands
bands aredoing what
what
has somehow
somehow arisen
arisenthat
thatthethenew
new-waveare "only“only doing
The
years ago".
The WhoWho did
did10 years
ago”.
Actually,
nearer 13 years ago thatthat TheWho were playing
playing
Actually, it was nearer
The Whoevery Tuesday
Tues daynight
nightatatthe
theMarquee,
Marquee,and
andspeaking
speaking asas anan eyewitness,
eyewitness,to suggest thatthat any
the new-wave/punk
new -wave /punkbands
bandsplaying
playingtoday
today
any one of thehadfraction of thethe originality
originality or
had a fraction
or excitement
excitementofof thetheoriginal
originalWho
Whois
isa calumny
calumny sscarcely
carcelyworth
refuting.
worth refuting.
that does
does notnot meanmean theBut thatthenew
newwave
wavedoesdoesnot
nothavehaveaa right
righttoto exist.
exist.
They
exist for today
todayjustseconds
They exist
justasasThe
TheWhoWhoexisted
existedfor
foraa few brief seconds(on(on thethe scalescale of history)
history) in their
their day. The Who were explosive,
explosive, riotous,
riotous,aggressive, violent andand undoubtedly
undoubtedly prone
madness.
pronetotofitsfits of madness.
As farfaras
asKeithKeithMoon
Moonisisconcerned,
concerned,nothingnothing much
much has
has changed.
changed. His
good looks have
have long
longsince
sincegone,
gone,dissipateddissipated inin aathousand
thousand nightsnights ofexcess, with no Dorian
Dorian Gray-style
Gray -styleportrait
portrait ininthe
theattic
attic totohaunt
haunt him,
him,
except, perhaps,
perhaps, inthe fadedfaded scrapbooks
scrapbooks of past
past triumphs.
triumphs. Todayin theTodaygood looks are theX,
goodthe preserve
preserve of Billy
BillyIdol
Idolandandhishispals
palsininGeneration
GenerationX,one
the few bands
bands thatthe old
Who
one of thethatdodohavehavesome
someofof thethe magic
magicofof theold Whoandthem.
and eveneven soundsoundaabit
bit like them.
Keith retains
eyes, his expressive
retains his Marty
Marty Feldman
Feldman eyes,
expressive face andandmaniacalretainsmaniacalgrin
grinthatthatsets
sets offwarning
off warningbells
bells among
among thethe wary. He retains
his restless
restless energy andand almost
almost physicalimpatience. For
physical impatience.
For all his
laughter andand wildwild exploits, there
laughterthere is something
something infinitely
infinitely sad about
about
Keith at
at times,
times, aaman
man haunted
haunted bytragedy andthe future.
future.
by tragedy
and fearful
fearfulofof theas soonsoon asas aadark
darkshadow
shadow casts
casts acrossacross his
his mindmind andand flickers
But asflickers acrossacrosshis face, he– the world
world
his
he shrugs
shrugs ititoff
offandandreturns
returns toto thethe worldworldheheloveslovesbest
best-theof endlessendless pranks,
pranks, outrageous
outrageous poses and verbal onslaughts.
onslaughts.
Although
Althoughthe
thejourney
journeyfrom
fromthetheMarquee
Marqueetotothe
theVortex
Vortexisisonly
onlyaa few
hundredyards, for me it wasaeonsofofhundred yards,
waslikeliketravelling
travelling down
down aatime
time tunnel,
tunnel, aeons
space-same route
route with
before,space andand timetimeapart.
apart.I'd
I’dtravelled
travelledthe
theself
self-samewith Keith before,
butthis time,
emerged from the tunnel
tunnel mouth
but thistime, asas we emergedmouthinto
intothetheVortex,
Vortex, thetheyoung Keith
franticblurred
blurredfigure
figureininaa white
white T-shirt,
T-shirt, flailingflailing sticks
sticksyoung
Keith-–aa frantic
anddown his
his mouth
mouth-instead-clad apparition,and stuffing
stuffing pills down
– insteadbecame
becameaafur
fur-cladapparition,a distortion
distortion of thatthat figure locked
locked away
awayininthe
thememory,
memory,surroundedsurrounded once
once
more byyoung faces, no longer
in a newmore
byyounglonger fans,
fans,butbutdistantdistant characterscharacters in
new twist
twist
to the rock’n’roll
rock'n'roll plot.
plot.
Keiththethejourney
journeywas
nostalgic homecoming.
homecoming. He
spent long
For Keith
was a nostalgic
He has spentyears inin theratherunreal
unrealbeach
beach-house
lifeofofLos
LosAngeles,
Angeles, a giantyears
the rather-house life
giant Jaywick
Sands
be backback ininLondonLondon seemed
seemed like a return
return to
his roots.
roots.
Sandsonon thethePacific.
Pacific. To be
to hisactually looked thoroughly
thoroughly athome among
He actuallyat homeamongthethenew
new kids
kids andand new
newbandsthatthathave
have inheritedinheritedwhat
whatwaswasonceoncehishis kingdom.
kingdom.That
That waswas oncebands
theMaximum R&B,
ofpills
pillsandandposters,posters, slogans
slogans
the kingdom
kingdomofof thethe mods,
mods,ofof Maximum
R&B, ofandand T-shirts.
T-shirts.
Thingschangedaalot.
lot.TheThenoisenoiseisis still
still there;
only theThings have/haven’t
have/haven't changed
there; only
the
names
changed, along
attitudes. Twelve
namesonon thethe T-shirts
T-shirts have changed,
along with the attitudes.
Twelveyears
kidsresented
resented outsiders,outsiders, clung
clung together
together in groups,
groups, identified
identified
years ago, kids
with theirdressed alike
alike andan aggressive, defensivewiththeir bands,
bands, dressed
and adopted
adopted an
defensivecollective
let's start
start at thethe beginning.
beginning.
collective stance.
stance.Today...
Today… well, let’s

BACK
IN1966,
1966,Keith
KeithMoon
Mooncollapsed
collapsedafter
afterplaying
playingaaparticularly
particularly
ack infurious version"MyGeneration”
Generation" atatthe
the Manor
Manor House,
House, aapub
pub ininfuriousversion of “My
North London. Roadies carried
carried him
him head-first into
into thethe fresh
fresh airair
North
head-firstand II drove
himin
inmy
my shiny
shinyblack
blackConsul
Consul(£200,(£200,MOT,
MOT, radio)
anddrove himradio) to thethe
ScotchStJames
Jamesandand boughtbought him
him a drink.
drink.
Scotch Of St
wasdelighted
delighted to
to be
be invitedinvited out for aareturn
returnSo IIwasdrinkbyby Keith last week,
whenhehedrink
week, althoughalthough when
proposedvarious dens
dens of iniquity
iniquity andandproposedaa visit
visit to various
whatbeen described-classwhat have
have been
describedas
asthe
thelowest
lowest-classrhythmcellars
cellarsin
inall
all London,
London, I mustmyrhythmmust admit
admit myheart
alarming palpitations.
palpitations.
heart began
began alarming
hansom cab, IIjourneyedjourneyedthroughthrough
Hailing a hansom
the swirling
swirling fog totheto thethe notorious
notorious red-light
red-light
districtwhere prostitutes
prostitutes in
districtof
of Soho, whereinfox
fox furs
furs
lean
against gas lamps,
lamps, Chinese
Chinese menmenlean indolently against
flit toto andand frofromakingmaking significant
significant gestures,
gestures, and
and
where
oftheir
theirbull’s-eye
bull's-eye
where Bobbies cast the light oflanterns
discern thethelanternsinto
into dark
dark alleyways to discern
mutilatedremains
remainsofof gang warfare.
mutilatedand I were
were supposed
supposed toKeith andto meetmeetupupin
inLa
La
Chasseonce famous
famousChasse Club in Wardour Street, a once
watering hole where the elite ofwatering
ofthe
therock
rockbusinessbusinessonce
oncestumbled
stumbled up
upand
and
down
steep stairs in searchsearch of companionship.
companionship.
down its steep
hadn't been
Chasse for six
sixyears
yearsandandsuspectedsuspected it was closed.
closed. It
It
I hadn’t
beentoto La Chasse
was. As I beatlanding two flights up, aa Chinese
was.Asbeat ononthe
the door
door ononaatinytinylanding
Chinese manman

STEVE EMBERTON / caMERa pRESSB

flitted down
down from the floor above
above andand mademade aasignificant
significant gesture.
gesture. There
There
flittedthenwhich set
set thefor thethen followed an inane
inane conversation,
conversation, which
the hallmark
hallmark forthe rest
the evening.
evening. Is thethe Chasse
Chasse open?
of the"What do you want?”
want?"“What
Have you seen
seen Keith?
"No, IIhaven’t
haven't seen
seen Keith, I’m
I'm looking
looking for Richard.
Richard. We want
want to“No,
to buybuy
drink."
some drink.”
Yes, buta drink
And soso on.
on.
Yes,
but IIwant
wanttotobuy
buya
drink too…
too... And
wasestablishedestablished thatthat the bar was
was closed
closedandand seemed
seemed unlikely
unlikely totoopenopen
It wasseveral hours
hours yet,
yet, andand IIrepaired
repaired hastily
hastilyto
the pub just alongfor several
to TheThe Ship, thethefrom thethe Marquee,
Marquee,which
whichhas
haslonglong been
beenaa hauntof musos.
the street
street fromhaunt ofmuso s.
the early
early'60s('64-67), thethe placeplacewould
wouldbebepackedpackedwith
withmusiciansmusicians
In the’60s (’64-67),
from Jeff
JeffBeck
BecktotoPeterPeterFrampton,
Frampton, fromfrom The
The Animals
Animals to Jimi
Jimi Hendrix,
Hendrix,
only, fromfromfrom The Yardbirds toto John
John Mayall’s
Mayan's Bluesbreakers.
Bluesbreakers. It was
was aahappy
happy place
place
until one night a certain
certain drummer
drummer withcertain famous
untilwith a certain
famous group
group exploded
explodedsmoke grenade
grenade on
on thethe premises,
premises, andand cleared the bar.
a smokeKeith appeared
shockedwhen
whenII related
the story
story to him,
appeared shocked
related thehim, when
when I finally
finally
down.Arms
outstretched ingreeting, he launchedlaunched into his
histracked him down.
Arms outstretchedin greeting,"dear boy”
boy" routine,
routine, aa crossStanshall and“dearcross between
betweenJack
Jack Hawkins,
Hawkins,Viv
Viv StanshallandNoelNoel
Coward.
It’s one of his
Coward. It's
hisfavourite
favourite roles,
roles, tinged
tinged with
with a cholericcholeric colonelcolonel andandretired empire
retiredempirebuilder.
builder."Delighted“Delightedtotosee
seeyou,you,what
whatwill
willyou
youhave?"have?”HeHe
could be greeting
greeting an old army
army chum
chum at
at somesomefar-flungfar-flungtrading
trading post.
post.
could
He is
pouncedupon
uponbybyaa charming
charmingforeignforeignlady,
lady, a stranger
isimmediately
immediatelypounced
strangerboth of us, who wants
wants toto bothto discuss
discusshis
hisbuffalo
buffalocoat.
coat."Yes,“Yes,it's
it’saa bison,bison,shotshotititmyself," said
said Keith,
Keith,launchinglaunching into
tissue of lies,
lies, which
which thethe lady
lady seemed
seemed tomyself,”into aa tissue
acceptaccept without question.
question.
"Which tribe did thatthat Red Indian
Indian belong to?”to?"inquires
inquires thethe woman
woman at
“Whichlength. Everyone is baffledbaffled but
but began
began reelingreeling off
offnames
namesofofIndian
Indiantribes…
tribes...
length.
“Sioux,"Sioux, BlackBlack Foot,Foot, Apache?”
Apache?""No, no,no,nonenone ofofthem.
them. He
Hewas
wasthetheRedRedIndian
Indian with
with thethe Faces…
Faces... Tetsu?"“No,
Tetsu?”"Oh," says
says Keith,
Keith, “he"he wasFunny“Oh,”
was JAPANESE!
JAPANESE! Funnysort of
ofRed
RedIndian,
Indian,what?”
what?"The
Thewomanwomanstared
stareddeadpan at
indisbelief
disbeliefand
andthenthenwithdrew
withdrew
deadpanat Keith infrom
the convers
ation.At
point, there
there wasfrom theconversation.
At this point,wascommotion in
the barbar andand a raising of heads.
heads.
a commotionin theKeith emitted
emitted a piercing yell andand dasheddashed down
downtheGenerationX.
the barbar toto greetgreet thethe arrival
arrivalofof Generation
X.II
stayedstayed with
with Bill Curbishley,
Curbishley, The Who’s
Who's manager,
manager,
remarkably sanes ane gentleman,gentleman, anda remarkably
andKeith's
Keith’schauffeur -cum -minder, Richard,wellchauffeur-cum-minder,
Richard, who
who is wellover sixsixfeetfeettalltallandandknown
known asas Little
Little Richard.
Richard.
party began
The party
begantotogrow
growlarger.
larger.John
JohnD'Arcy,
D’Arcy,new Who
Whopresspress officer,
officer,arrived,
arrived, celebratingcelebrating his
his
a new
first day on thefirst
the job.
job.The
Themumble
mumble ofofconversation
conversation
becameIttranspired
transpired that the publican
publicanbecame louder. It
would
and Tony
TonyofofGeneration
Generation
would notnot service
serviceBilly andthegroup,group,he'dhe’dnever
neverheard
heardofofthem.
them.But
Butifif you serve
X. Nothing
Nothing against
against theone punk
punk rocker,
serve ’em
'em all. That
That seemed
seemed tothe philosophy.
philosophy.
onerocker, you
you serve
to be the"Right then,then, if they
they don’t
don't get served,
served, we all leave,”leave,"saidsaidKeith,
Keith,and
andthere
there“Rightwas aa mass
mass exodus
exodus totothe
theMarquee
Marquee asas thethe team,team, now
now eight-handed,eight -handed,`All this
this feels“All
like an early
Who gig. But
Whothey’re not
not asthey'retalented”
talented"

HISTORY OF
OF ROCK
142 I| HISTORYROCK 1977
1977
142

keithmoon
KEITH MOON

throng, a true
true initiate
throng,initiate into
into thethe wonderful
wonderfulworld
world ofpunkery. And when somebody
somebody shouted
punkery.
shoutedoutout"Wanker!",“Wanker!”,knew thethe true
true bliss
the newly converted.
converte d.
I knew
bliss of theIt was considered
considered a good time
time to quit
quit thethe Marquee
Marquee for
the Vortex,
and weIdol at
at thethe bar, while
while KeiththeVortex, andwe left
left Billy Idol
Keith
and remnants
andremnantsofof thethe entourage
entouragepiled
piledinto
intothetheRollsRollsRoyce,
intact inin theRoyce,miraculously
miraculouslyintact
the street
street outside, andandrolled towards
towards themused thatthat I have once been
beenrolledtheVortex.
Vortex. I mused
MelodyMakerscribe
MelodyMaker scribe
thrown out
the Vortex,
Vortex,or
oratatleast
leastrefusedrefusedentry
entrywhenthrownoutofof thewhen it
ChrisWelch
Chris
Welch –-in"tradin “tradpul lover" andbeer pullover”
and beerwas called Crackers, and I waswaswearing
wearing denim
denim jeans,jeans,
soaked mock-leather
mock -leather
soakedweren't allowed in such
such aafashionablefashionable disco.
disco. IfIfyou
which weren’t
youjacket –-isjabbedwith
is jabbed withtoothpickby
aatoothpickby Moonweren't wearing
wearing denim
might bebe thrown
thrownweren’tdenimjeans
jeansnow,
now, you mightout for being
being aasocialsocialdeviant.
deviant. Keith
Keithstaged
stagedhis
hisdramatic
dramatic
entry, andand I fully
fullyexpected
expected thethe revolution
revolution to start.
start. But
entry,
after Keith’s
Keith's provocative
provocative speech-making,speech -making, thethe only commentcomment fromafter
fromaacheerful
bouncerwas,
was,"Is“Is hehe in a good
cheerful bouncer
goodmood
mood tonight?”
tonight?" Perhaps
Perhaps this
thisjust one
one performance
performance inlong -running show.
was just
inaa long-running
Inside, thethe Vortex all
allwaswassafety
safetypins
Inside,pins andanddyeddyedhair,
hair,but
butII waswasrelieved
as on mylast visit. Everybody
relieved to note
note there
there was no spitting,spitting, as
mylastMoon shows Billy
Billy Idol
Idol
Moon
peaceful as the hippies
hippies in
the old Middle
Middle Earth.
Earth. It wasn’t
wasn'twas as peacefulin theGeneration X
of Generation
exactly Tolkien Lives,
Lives,butbutthey
theyseemeds eemedto
tobe
beenjoying
enjoyingthemselves
themselves inexactlysomevampson
thesomevamps on the
London,1977
piano, London,
1977
harmlessfashion.There
There was even aagay
who observed
harmless fashion.
gaypunk
punkwhoobserved aareunion
reunionbyMr
and the celebrated
celebrated American
Probywithwaltz by
Mr Moon andAmericansinger
singer PJ Proby
with amarched-punk
shocked, “There’s"There's some
some amazing
amazing lowlife in tonight.
tonight. But it’s
it'smademademymynight,
shocked,night,
marchedalong
alongWardour
WardourStreet
Streetininaa southerly
southerly direction.
direction.ItItwas
was anan allall-punkdear,
seeingKeith
Keith Moon.
Moon.II mean,
buy posters
posters of him.”night at
at theandthetheplace
placewas
was packed
packedto
to thethe walls, although
not
night
the Marquee
Marquee andalthough notdear, seeing
mean, II go out andand buyhim."
quite
Robinson Band
must admit
admit it was
was stunning
stunning tosuch a setting.
setting. He
I musttomeetmeetMr
Mr Proby
Proby inin suchHe wasquite asas frantic
franticas
as whenwhenthetheTomTom Robinson
Band were
were onon aawhile
whileback.
back.
meet TheThe Depressions,
Depressions, whoplaying at
strolling about
about instetson, looking
looking evenevenyounger
youngerthan
than inin thethestrollingin his cowboy stetson,
We meetwhowill
will bebe playing
at thetheVortex later.
days when
Already thethe flow ofofalcohol
alcoholisisbeginning
beginning to taketake effect,effect, andand as Keith
Keithshouts
shoutswhen I last
last saw
sawhimhim atatthe
the heightheight ofofhis
hisfame.
fame.We
Wealmost
almostexpected
expectedine arabove
abovethethe noise
noise ofofThe
TheWorst
Worst(a(agroup
groupfrom
fromManchester)Manchester) it
him tous aaburst
burst ofof“Somewhere”.
"Somewhere".And
Andindeed,
indeed,Mr
MrProby
Probywasin finefine
him
to give us
was inin my earbecomes
discern exactlywhat
talking about.
about.
as itittranspired.
transpired. Meanwhile,
engaged in heatedheatedvocal form as
Meanwhile,Keith
Keith was engaged
becomes harderharder to
to discern
exactly whathe
he is talking
conversation
withaayoung
youngstudent
studentwho
whogavegavejust
justasasgoodgoodasashe
he gotgot in the“I’veabyss,” Keith revealed"I've been
been into
into thethe abyss,"
revealed suddenly.
suddenly. I knew
knew hehe didn’t
didn'tconversation withthemean
ably referringreferring tosomeverbal stakes.
stakes. He did tell meme hishis name,
name, butbut thethe shockshock of finding
finding thethe Vortex
verbalmeananother
anotherpunk
punkrockrockclub,club,butbutthatthathehewas
wasprob
probably
to somedarklooked over thethe edgeedge of thethe abyss, but
but I haven’t
haven'tcharges 52p for aashot
shotofofbrandy
brandydrove
droveititfrom
fromananalreadyalreadyshatteredshatteredbrain.
brain.
chargesdark period
periodininhis
hislife.
life. "I've“I’ve looked
actuallybe
been
actually
en inside,”
inside," I tried
tried toto saysayhelpfully.
helpfully.ThroughThrough aahaze
haze ofofbrandy
brandyAt anyanyrate,rate,Keith’s
Keith'snew-foundnew-foundfriend
friendgrinned
grinned from ear to ear,
ear, shouted
shouted hisandbothremarks
remarksseemed
seemedsuitably
suitablyprofound.
philosophy above
philosophy
abovethethebarragebarrageofof thethebandbandandandaccusedaccusedus
usof
ofrippingrippingoff
off thetheand lager, bothprofound.
Wenow
nowseemed
seemed to
tobebetalkingtalkingto
tothethechaps
chapsfrom
fromThe
TheDepressions,
Depressions,punks. Quite how
howlI couldn’t
couldn't completely
completelyunderstand,hadsomething
somethingpunks.
understand, but it hadWe
to do
we received
includingMr
Mr Crowbar,
Crowbar,thethedrummer,
drummer,who
whoisisaagreat
greatfanfanof
ofKeith.
Keith. But
includingdo withwith just
justbeing
beingthere.
there.Eventually
Eventuallywe
received somesomegrudging
grudgingmusic
our way into
into thethe sweltering
sweltering crowdhear Theacknowledgment. "At
the bottle
bottle toacknowledgment.
“Atleast
least you've
you’ve got theto comecome down
downhere."
here.”
music calls
calls andandwe
we fight our
crowd toto hearThe
Worst. They
Theyare.
are.But
Buttheytheyarearealsoalsotremendous
tremendous fun.
fun. Two,
Two,maybe
maybethree
three ofof
"What's to bottle?”bottle?" snappedsnapped Keith.
“What’s“Well,
themaltogether.
altogether.A
A singer with a guitar
his neckneck is shouting,“Rats,
them
guitar aroundaround his
shouting, "Rats,"Well,aalot
lotofofpeople
peoplewere
wereafraid
afraidto
tocomecomehereherewhenwhen ititfirst
firstopened.”
opened."you'rerats!" at us.
us. I’mI'm told
toldthey
they makemake upup thethe numbers
numbers asalong.
responded to this
this by burningburning holes
the kid’s
kid's jacket.
Keith responded
holes inin theyou’re all rats!”
as they
theygogo along.
A drummer
drummer leapt
bashed away
"Ican
can taketake anything
anything you cancan throw
throw atme," hehe said
said with
with remarkably
remarkably“Iat me,”
leaptfromfrom thetheaudience,
audience,took
tookoverover thethekit,kit, bashedawaygood humour.
Keith threw
threwaa glass
glass of brandy
at him.
furiously for somedepartedbythe
by thestagestagedoor
doortotowildwild
furiouslysome minutes
minutes andand thenthen departed
humour. Keithbrandy athim.
applause. The singer
singercontinued
continuedunabated,unabated,until
untilanother
anotherdrummer
drummer"I'm 30,”
30,"said
said Keith
Keithsuddenly.
suddenly.
“I’mappeared"I'm 18."“I’m
18.”
appearedandandrepeated
repeatedthe
theperformance.
performance.I Ibelieve
believethere
therewaswas a third, but
They looked
The younger
events became
becamesomewhat
somewhatblurred.
blurred.AAfan
fantold
toldmeme laterlater that
thatThe
The Worst were
eventswere
looked at
ateacheachotherother andand bothboth burst
burst into
into laughter.
laughter. The
younger ofthethe two
lunatics told
-star status
status was
no interest
interest to him.
him.
thetwo lunatics
toldKeith
Keith that
thatrockrock-star
was of no
the best
best band
bandhehe hadhadever
ever seen.
seen.
Meanwhile, Keith was backback ininthe
thebarbar andand being
being accosted
accosted by suspicious
suspicious"Youmeanmean nothingnothing to me,”me," heheannounced
announced aloofly.
“You
aloofly.
Meanwhile,“Poof!”
but not
notyouthsinin black
black leleatherjackets,aged
agedabout
about14,
14, or soyouthsatherjackets,
so ititseemed.
seemed. “Don’t"Don't youyou"Poof!"rejoined
rejoined Keith
Keithsmartly.
smartly.Not
Notthethemostmostbrilliant
brilliant repartee,
repartee, but
get boredbored wiv’
wiv' smashingsmashing things
them superciliously.
bad after
after several
several beakers
beakers of Remy
RemyVortex.
Keiththenthenbegan
began tototurnturn hishisbadVortex. Keiththingsup?"up?”asked
askedoneoneofof themsuperciliously.
"Nah,"Keith,“I"Ismash
smashupupsomething
something different
different every
everyday."attention to
sticking what I thought
thought was aahypodermic
hypodermic syringe
syringe into
into
attention
to me,
me, sticking“Nah,” said Keith,day.”mywrist (it turned
out toto be a toothpick,
about
“What
"What do you do
do whenwhen you’re
you're touring?”
touring?"
mywristturned out
toothpick, mercifully),
mercifully), complaining
complaining about"Fuck like hell,”hell," said
said our
our host.
host.
my"tradand knave
spend
my“tradpullover"pullover”andandinsisting
insistingthat
thatI Iwas
wasaafool
fool andknave notnot to spend“Fuckgroup billeddescribed byreal people
people likelikethethepunks.
punks.Apparentlyhe
berating
more time with real
Apparently he was berating
The next groupbilledwere
were TheThe Flies,
Flies, describedbyKeithKeithasas "Pre“Prequite violent terms,
terms, according
according tolater reports,
reports, butmust confess
confess
me in quite
to laterbut I must
Raphaelite scum".
scum”. But once
Raphaelite
oncethey
theystarted
started playing
playing he
he nodded
nodded approvingly.
approvingly.
"Ahyes, TheThe Flies.
Flies. They
They zip
zip along
along at aa furious
furious pace."that by this
this time
time IIwas
wastotally
totallyimmunised,and don’t
don't remember
remember a word ofofthat
immunised, and“Ah yes,pace.”
did hehe think
think they
theywere
when they
they used
AinI vaguely
vaguely remember
remember was
along
it. All
was singing,singing,oror ratherratherhowling
howlinglike
likeaa dog, along
But didwereasasgoodgoodasas TheThe Who whenusedtoto play
with PJ Proby
Proby andand Keith toto thethe music
music of The
TheDepressions
Depressions in
the world's
within theworld’son theago?
onthe very same
same stage,stage, so many
many months
months ago?
"No, butbut they’re
they're good.
good. I feel
feellikelikegetting
gettingup
upand
andplaying
playing with
with them.
them. I
punkversion
first punkversionof
ofThe
TheHedley
HedleyWard
Ward Trio.
“No,
never
the audienceand PJ
PJsplitsplittotoTrampTrampclub
clubtotocausecausesomesomereal
realdamage
damage among
among thetheKeith andnever sat
sat inin theaudienceininthe
theoldolddays,days,sosoII can't
can’ttell,
tell,butbutallallthisthisfeels
feelslikelike
deb s,The
TheWho’s
Who'sseniorsenior PR
PRconsultant
consultant left thethe Vortex totofindfind his
his charge,
charge,debs,
an early Who gig.
have theangig.But
Butthey’re
they'renot
notas
astalented.
talented.They
Theyhavethe samesame feelingthat
had, butbut there’s
there's nothing
to beberefusedrefused re-entry
re-entryto
bythe
ouncers
only toto thethe clubclub bythepreviously
previously friendly
friendly bbouncers
that we had,nothingnew
newthere.
there.I've
I’vebeen
beentoto these
theseclubs
clubslots
lots oftimes,
all, all
all thethe clothes,clothes, all thethe rape
rape and("Fuck off,”
off,"they
theysaid).
s aid).I stumbled
I stumbledinto
intothethenight
nightair,
air,emerging
emerging from thethe far(“Fuckfartimes,and
andII like
like it all,andpillage."pillage.”end of thethe timetime tunnel,
tunnel, my trad
trad jersey soaked
soaked in beer, wines
wines andand spirits,
spirits,end
Keith, atcaughtsight
sightofof TheThe Who’s
at thatthat moment,
moment, caught
Who's new publicist,
publicist,hovering
plastere d with
with Depressions
Depressions stickers
stickers andand convinced
convinced there
there is life
lifeafter
afterdeath.
death.
plasteredhoveringuncertainly.
uncertainly."You“Youlooklooklikelikeaa pillar,"pillar,” roaredroaredKeith
Keithsuddenly.
suddenly.We
We
presumeofsociety.
society.At
anyratethedrummer
drummer dropped
dropped toKeithdiddidnotnotescapeescapefrom
fromthetheVortex
Vortexwithout
one parting
parting shot.
shot. This
But Keith
without one
presumehe
he meant
meantaa pillar of
At anyrate thetime a punk
punkwasenamoured to
Whoandandbeganbegan
time
waslessless enamoured
tosee
seethethestarstarofof The Who
his knees andand hurledhurled a pint beaker of brandy
brandy all
allover
overthetheunfortunate
unfortunate
man's
trousers, leaving him
him somewhat
somewhat nonplussed.
nonplussed.
berating him
daring topossess a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce(that(thatcunningcunningberating
himloudly
loudly for daring
to possess
man’s trousers,
day,MrMrD’Arcy
D'Arcyreported
reportedthat
that hehehad
had totoburnburn all
all hishis clothes
clothes
example of thethe Derbyshire
Derbyshire work people’s
people's arts
arts andand crafts
examplecraftswhich
whichhelps
helps keep
keep
The following day,after
wrung out
our economy
economy alive).
ouralive). "Capitalist“Capitalistpig...
pig…youyoushouldn't
shouldn’thave
haveaaRolls-Royce,
Rolls-Royce,
after our
our nightnightout
outandandwaswasplanningplanningtotowrite
writeaabook.
book.AsAs he
he wrung
outhishistrousers
feltaaraining
rainingsensation
sensationroundround thethe ankles
ankles andand discovered
discovered thatthat
should have
have a people’s
people's car!”car!"
you should
trousers I felt
my (imitation)(imitation) leather
leatherjacket
pint of beer
beer thatthat seemed
seemedwaited for thethe tirade
tirade topeople's car…
car... Get
Keith waited
to stop.
stop. "This“This isis a people’s
Get in!"in!”jacketwas
wasdraining
drainingoff
off aa pinttohave beenack. IIgave
light laughlaugh andto havebeentipped
tippeddown
downmymybback.
gave aa lightandfelt
feltoneoneofof thetheChrisWelch
Welch•Chris

1

HISTORY OF
77 | 143
143
HISTORY
OF ROCKROCK191977

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1976

J U LY – D ECEMBEr

Readers’
Readers' letters

2-10

MM/NME JUL-DEC
ri ualuy ueposed,
Quark... atomised
atomised andand campaigns
campaignscriticised.
criticised.
MM/NME
JUL-DEC Presleydeposed, Quark…

The King (until the next one)

Michael Ochs archives / GeTTY

The King (until the next one)
Without trying
trying totodiminish
diminish thethecontribution
contributionElvis
Elvis mademade toto rock
music, it is ridiculous
to saysay hemusic,
ridiculous toinventedany
invented rock'n'roll.
rock’n’roll.Like any
invention,
more
invention, there
thereisis always morethanoneone person
person on
on thethanthe advent
advent ofbreakthrough,happenedbreakthrough,butbutElvis happenedtothe first
to be thefirst inin hishis mould.
mould.IfIf itit
hadn’tbeen
beenhim,
him,itit would
would have
hadn'tbeen
thatbeen somebody
somebodyelse.
else. So all thatrubbishrubbish about
about there
therebeing
being nono
Cliff Richard
Richard oror Beatles
Beatles without
without
Elvis is pure
pure drivel.
drivel.
isalsoalsoridiculous
ridiculouscomparing
comparing
It isthe record
recordsales
salesofof Elvis with
thewith those
thoseof TheThe Beatles.
Beatles. He
Hereleased
released three
three
or four times
times the quantity
quantity ofdiscs
of discs
thatThe
The Beatles
Beatles released
released(91(91
thatsingles[sic]);thethe only
only
singlesto
to 21 [sic]);
comparison
comparisonthat
thatcancanbe
bemademadeisthe quality
quality of their
thetheir respective
respective
songs,and insongs, andin thatthatfield
field The
The Beatles
will never
never bebe equalled,equalled, let alone
alone
beaten.The
The Beatles
Beatles could
could have
have
beaten.
had
No 11hits,
hits,butbutquality
quality notnot
had 100 No
quantitywas
quantity was their
their trademark.
trademark.
Unfortunately
forElvis,
Elvis, hehe wasUnfortunately fornotcomposer orgifted speaker,
speaker,
not a composer
or a giftedandmusic thatthat lives
notanditit is music
lives on, notpeople. In future
future the names
names of
Lennon/McCartneywill
Lennon/McCartney will ringout
composers, anddoubt
out as composers,
andII doubt
ifElvisBeatles will
if Elvis or The Beatles
will bementioned
name, apartapart frommentionedinin name,thethe oddodd book
book or film.

As forfor thethe behaviour
behaviour ofof thetheElvis
Elvis
fans,
they have not acted
acted in aaway
fans, theyway
befittingthe
theKing
Kingofof Rock'n'Roll.
Rock’n’Roll.
befittingIt isisaashame
shamethat
thatany
anyperson
person dies,butwould have
have been
been old
oldenoughenoughbut I would
to act inin aaresponsible
responsible manner,manner,andcrying all over thetheand not
not go crying
place.
don't think
think Beatles fansplace. I don’t
would act
act inin thisthisway, andwould
and we arearecloser to them
them andand their
their music
here
Britain.
here in Britain.
It is
how people
isfunny
funnyhowpeople who haveslaggedfor years
years areare now
now
slaggedElvis
Elvis off forsingingpraises in
singing his
his praises
in print.
print.The
The
real truthis thatthatElvis reigned
realtruth isreigneduntil
then heuntil about
about1963,
1963, but since thenhasbeen about
about as important
important tohas been
tomusic asas flypaper.
music
flypaper. Every era has

King, but
but since
since The Beatles
Beatles wea King,haven'thaven’t had
had any.
any.
So thethe King is dead,dead, long
long live thethenextKing.
King.RIP,
RIP, Elvis.
Elvis. JOHN HALL,
next(MMSeptiO)
Manchester (MMSept 10)
Hawk-eyed
Hawk-eyed

ThanksHarrigan for
Thankstoto Brian
Brian Harrigan
actually listening
actually
listeningto
to thethe lyrics
lyrics on
our new album
album Quark,
Quark, Strangeness
And Charm,
Charm, which
which few reviewers
reviewers
have
have botheredbotheredto
todo
do in
in thethe past.
past.
But I’don hishis
But
I'd like
like toto taketake him
him upup onremarks
structure.
remarks about
about song structure.
As aalyricist
lyricistandandsongwriter,
songwriter,
structure
is something
somethingII taketake very
structure isdoes mymy colleague
colleague
seriously, as does
and co-writer Dave Brock. Now
andco-writer
the current
currentfashion
fashioninin songthestructure isisthee-chorusstructure
theoldold vers
verse-chorusvers
e -chorus,instrumental
instrumental break,verse-chorus,
break,
chorus,Aschorus, fade, or bomp.
bomp. Finito.
Finito.As
exemplified with
exemplified
withalmost
almostclone
clone-like conservative
conservative adherence
adherence by
the so-calledso-called "newwave".
“new wave”.
theRock'n'rollmusical genre
genre isRock’n’roll as
as a musicalprettyandpretty conservative
conservativeanyway,
anyway, andanyoneanyone who tries
tries toto depart
depart fromthethe accepted
accepted structure
structureis
is boundbound tobebe accusedaccusedof
ofheresy.
heresy.The
Thelonglong
intros andand fade-outs
fade-outsMr Harrigan
introsHarriganreferspassages ofrefers toto are, in fact, passages
musicalmusical texture
texture andandeffects
effects
essential
to andexpressive of theessential toand expressive
thelyricsthat heseems toregard as
lyrics thathe seems
to regardtherequirement of
the only
only requirement
ofaa song.
song.
No doubt
doubt along
along with
with melody
serious composers
composers have(which serious
beenbeenleaving
leavingto
tothe
thewriters
writersof
ofTVTV
commercial
jingles for nearly acommercial jingles
century now).
centuryIt isissignificant
significant thatthat thethe track
trackheheprefers is the one that
prefersthat has
has thethe most
most
conventional structure
conventional
structure(which(whichisnot,opinion, synonymoussynonymous
not, in my opinion,
withthethebest).
best).If
If there
thereisis ever
ever goingwithtogenuine newnewwaveto be a genuine
wave in rockmusic,-upmusic, instead
insteadof
ofall
all this
this hyped
hyped-uprehash ofIggyPopof Iggy Pop impersonations
rehashimpersonations
pseudo -anarchistic
and pseudo-anarchistic
posturing,
posturing,ititisisnot
notgoing
going toto be
spear-heading
new ideas
spear -headingany
anynewideas
attitudes unlessunless they areareand attitudes
accompanied byconcepts ofofaccompaniedby new concepts
structure
to express them.
structure tothem. Form
content are the same
same thing,
thing,and content
cannot be divorced.
and cannot
If you look
look bback
Ifyou
ack atatthe
the history
history ofauthentic artistic
authentic
artistic(and(andsocial)social)revolution-dada,
revolution – dada,surrealism,
expressionism,
expressionism, psychedelicism,
psychedelicism,
notice thatthatstructure
structureetc –-you'll
you’ll notice
wasthe first thing
thing toexploded.
was theto be exploded.
Which is exactly
And redefined.
redefined. Whichwhat
modern physicists
what modern
physicists have donewiththe atomic
atomic theory
theory since thewith thediscovery
discovery of thethe quark.
quark. The

LtaLF:71.ii-CLW
L!:“strangeness”
thatdefies
defies analysis.
"strangeness" thatanalysis.
And the mysterious
mysterious “charm”"charm" that
that
appears totogether.
appears
to hold
hold it all together.
ROBERT CALVERT,CALVERT, Hawkwind
Hawkwind(MMJul(MM
Jul 9)

Protest note
Protestnote

NMEstands
NME
standsfor
forNew
NewMUSICALMUSICAL
Express,ie,
ie,concerned
concerned with
with music.
Express,
Today I bought
my copy
copy of NME
bought myfrom my friendly
friendly neighbourhoodneighb ourhoo dfrompaper shop.
noticed thatthat for the
papershop. I noticed
secondyou had had trouble
second week
weekyou
troubleprinters, andand thethe paper
paperwith your printers,
down topages. Not your
your
was down
to 44 pages.
fault, IIthought,
thought, can’t
can't be helped.
helped.
when inThrills II found
found one
But whenin Thrills
one-and -a -quarter pages
pagesononanotheranother
and-a-quarterone ofyour causes,
namelyblo
bloodofyourcauses, namelyodsports, II got annoyed.
annoyed. You
would
sports,
You would
thought thathave thoughtthat with
with such
such little
littlespace
you would
would have
have filled
filled it up
space youwith musicalmusical articles.
witharticles.And
And nosingles column!
column! Where
singles
Wherearearewe
wesupposed
to findfind that,insupposed tothat, in
Gardeners' World,
Exchange&&
Gardeners’
World, Exchange
Financial Times? Get
Get your
yourMart, Financial
priorities
priorities right: music reviews
yourcauses,
causes,whether
whether
before all youranti -NF,nuclear
nuclear power, or blood
blood
anti-NF,
sports.
Much asas I basicallysports. Muchbasically agree
agreewith your
music
with
your views,
views, I buy a music
paper for music, not
not this
this kind of
paper
writing.
up, Olde
writing. So tighten
tighten up,
Campaigners. (CanCampaigners.
(CanII have
have aajob?)
job?)
ALLAN POSEUR,EDGAR ALLAN
Amersham,Bucks (NMENov(NME Nov12)
12)
Amersham, Bucks

Explanation isisas
Explanation
as follows:
follows: westartedthe weekwith
with a balanced
started theweekbalanced
52 -pageissue,
issue,having
havingpulledpulled out
out
52-pageadvertising to provide
providesome advertising
optimum
editorialspace.
space. This
optimum editorial
being so, we
wehad
hadno
nohesitation
hesitation
being
scheduling theschedulingthe blood sports
piece, which was
was designateddesignated forsome of thethe earlier
earlier pages
pages inin ouroursomeprinter's schedule.
the day
printer’sschedule.On
On thebeforebefore press
press day, however, thetheproblems at
our printers
printers (Why's
problems
at our(Why’s it
always me, God?) took
took aaturn
turn for
foralwaystheworse andandwe
we weretothe worse
were forced
forced toto 44
44pages,
pages,dropping
dropping
cut back toeditorial andsome editorialand somesome ads.
Editorial
cuts had
Editorial cuts
had to be mademadematerial notprocessedfrom material
not yet processed
the printers,
printers, and that’s
that's why
whytheat thethesingles column
was late
column (which(whichwas
forinstance,
instance, went out
out andandcopy), forsports (which(whichwas
blood sports
was early)
early)
stayed in.
didn't have
have nonostayedin. We didn’t
choice-thoughchoice– thoughGodnosewe
Godnose we
tried, Godnose
suffer Helltried,
Godnosewe
we suffer
here every
everyweek
here
weekatat thethe World's
World’s
Beleaguered Rock
Most Beleaguered
Rock Weekly,
Godnose yes sirree.
sirree. (No, you
youcan’t.
can't.
GodnoseGet back
Nick Loganback in thethe Pit.)Pit.) Nick
Logan

%%Ns&

4 2 -4 -6 -8
monnwAy
1.11

MY AIM IS
LVIS COUT NOWOSTELLOWE AWE THE *D1AMPIr-kr,
trY

WE WILE kr_or.:K 7r..)11

HISTORY OF
OF ROCKROCK 1977
145
HISTORY
1977 |1145

1977

m o n t h by mon th

Comingnext...
Coming next...
in1978!
in 1978!

S

S0oTHAT
1977.We
Wemeant
meant it,it,man.
man.
that WAS
was 1977.
Certainly, that’s
that's notreporters on
not it from our reporters
on thethe beat.
beat. The
staffers of NME
NMEandand Melody
MelodyMaker
Makerenjoyedenjoyedunrivalled
unrivalled access
accessstaffers
to the biggest stars of the time, andand cultivatedcultivatedaafeel
feel forfor thetherhythms ofscene; as thethe times
times changed,changed, sorhythmsof a diversifying scene;
so diddidthey. While
Whileininpursuitpursuit ofofthe
thetruth,truth, they
they unearthedunearthed stories
that have come toto assume
assume mythicalmythical status.
status.
that
That's very much
much thethe territory
territory ofofthisthismonthly
monthly magazine.
magazine. Each month,
month,
That’s
TheHistory
HistoryOf
OfRockwillbebebringing
bringingyou
youverbatim
verbatimreports
reports fromfrom thethe pivotal
pivotal
The
Rock will
events in
eventsin poppopculture,
culture,one
oneyearyearaamonth,
month,oneoneyearyearatataatime.
time.Next
Nextup,up,1978!
1978!

KATE BUSH
BUSH
KATE

Aphenomenal
PHENOMENALnew
NEWarrival
arrivalon
onthe
thescene.
scene. The
The singer
singer from South-East
South -Eastatheatrical avant-garde
London brings a completely theatricalavant-gardepop,
pop,allalldelivereddeliveredininan unprecedented
opened my mouth
mouth andanunprecedentedvoice.
voice.Is
Is itit contrived?
contrived? "I“I just opened
and itcame out,"
cameout,” sheshe says.
says. "Honest."“Honest.”BOB
BOB DYLAN
DYLAN

Back
Dylan
BACKwith
WITHaAhuge
hugeband,band,andandananengaging
engaging line
line inin stagestage banter,banter, Dylan"I turned
turned roundeven finds time for an informal chat
chat with
with thethe MM.
MM. “I
round ininJapan andand saw
saw aa pairpairofof breasts
breastson
onstage,"stage,”hehesayssaysofofhis
hisnewly
newly"sexy"“sexy”
show. “Igotta bebe donethis.”"Ithought
thought then
then thatthat something’s
something's gotta
done about
about this."

THE JAM
JAM
THE

PAULweller
WELLERAND
bandvisit
visitAmerica. AAsupport
support slot with
with Blue Öyster
Oysterpaul
and bandAmerica.
isn't rapturously
rapturously received
Cult isn’t
receivedby
by bandbandororaudience,
audience,while
whileWeller
Wellerfeels
feels
stung by
Jam's first
first album.
album. “In"In a few
fewyears’
years' time,”time," asserts
assertsstungby thethe fatefate of The Jam’s"people willrealise how
Weller, “people
will realise
howgoodgoodititwas."
was.”

PLUS...
PLUS…
DAVID BOWIE!
BOWIE!
DAVID
SUICIDE!
SUICIDE!
ROLLING STONES!
STONES!
ROLLINgHISTORY OF
OF ROCK
146
ROCK 1977
1977
146 | HISTORYIFROM
THE MAKERS
MAKERS OF
OF UNCUT
FROM THETHE HISTORY OF

month, we-lost NME
Makerinterviews
interviews
Every month,
werevisit
revisitlong
long-lost
NME andandMelody
Melody Maker
and piece
Thismonth:
month: 1977.
andpiecetogether
togetherThe
TheHistory
HistoryOfRock.
Of Rock. This1977.
"In 1977
1977 IIhopeI“In
hope I gettoheavenrCosIbeen
get to heaven/’Cos I beentoo
toolonglongononthe
thedole.
dole…”.".

Reliveyear…
Relive thethe year...

THE CLASH
CLASH SAW
SAWLONDONLONDON BURNING
BURNINGTHE

DAVID BOWIE
BOWIE MADE
MADE LOW
LOWAND"HEROES"DAVID
AND “HEROES”
THE SEXSEX PISTOLSPISTOLSBROUGHTBROUGHT ANARCHYANARCHY TO
THE
TO EUROPEEUROPEand KEITH…andKEITHMOON,
MOON,LED
LEDZEPPELIN,ZEPPELIN, BUZZCOCKS,BUZZCOCKS,ELVISCOSTELLO,COSTELLO,MUDDY
MUDDYWATERSWATERSand
andmanymanymore
more
ELVIS
shared everything
with
NME
and
MEL
ODYMAKER
sharedeverything
with
NME
and
MELODY
MAKER. . .

from UNCUT...
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