Ripcord

## Description

Ripcord is similar to Prove Yourself in that it is a Pablo Honey deep cut that has sort of been forgotten over the years. One of the fastest and most outwardly energetic songs on the album, Ripcord features shifting drum patterns, very heavy guitar work and double-tracked Thom vocals. Sounds a lot like a lot of other songs from this era in theory, but its relentless energy sets it apart.

## Live history

Ripcord was played reasonably consistently between 1992 and 1995. It remained a setlist regular for the bulk of that time, all the way up to the end of 1995. Come the 1996 shows, however, it was (understandably) dropped. Live performances of Ripcord are known for their bracing tempos, which generally far exceed that of the album version; Thom would also alter the vocal melody to account for the harmonies in the studio take, which (obviously) couldn't be replicated live.

### 1992

Ripcord was consistently performed throughout 1992 and is available on three of the recordings we have from that year. Like most other 1992 songs, you need not really look much further than 1992-11-09, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England and 1992-11-11, Huddersfield University, Huddersfield, England for the cream of the crop that year.

### 1993

As with 1992, Ripcord appeared at almost every full band show in 1993. Not all performances from that year, however, are the same. Apart from small changes to tempo and Thom's vocals (no ripcord, they can kiss my assssss), Jonny would also develop a brilliantly entertaining guitar solo for the end of the song that would frequently act as a detuned 15-20 second outro to the song towards the end of the year. This was no doubt partly due to boredom! Notable and/or recommended performances include:

* 1993-02-11 Signal Radio session - an acoustic version with all 3 guitarists, and a really awesome one at that. You wouldn't expect the relentless push of the full band versions to be replicated in this arrangement, but it well and truly is.
* 1993-03-14, Town and Country Club, London, England - the performance of Creep on this soundboard is more notable, but Ripcord is also worth getting here - the tape is so good that it rivals the actual studio version in sound quality.
* 1993-06-20, Passage du Nord, Paris, France - a rough recording should not take away from this breakneck performance, with Thom and Phil putting in everything they've got.
* 1993-09-03, Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland - a somewhat slower performance, but in very good soundboard quality; you can also hear the new ending well here.
* 1993-12-09, Brixton Academy, London, England - most notable for the first version of the ending that finishes on a GORGEOUS major chord, a change that would be carried on into 1994.

### 1994

Ripcord remained a live staple throughout the entirety of 1994. Although the tempo of the song perhaps never got as breakneck as in 1993, other changes - Jonny's new version of the ending, for instance - meant that this remained an enjoyable live rock-out, albeit one with very few obvious 'standout performances.' Notable and/or recommended performances include:

* 1994-05-27, The Astoria, London, UK - although on the slower side, it's hard to argue with the sound and video quality here. Also demonstrates the fun that the band would always have playing this one.
* 1994-10-06, Exeter University, Exeter, England - meh AUD quality, but notable solely for the one-off return of the detuned outro.