Aaah, to be fair, hands up, I think you've got me there to a certain extent...

I'll admit that I'm probably guilty of the all too common failing of looking through my rose-tinted-clash-fan glasses and ignoring some of Joe's less admirable and contradictory characteristics; his socialist rhetoric vs. his actual money grubbing ways and so forth (but too be wholly fair who's never been caught in that trap? Dylan soon flung away his principals when Microsoft came a-calling).

It's no secret that the early days of London punk had no real agenda. Haircuts, tight trousers and posing took precedence over any coherent political ethos beyond angry sloganeering and god ol' fashioned unfocused teenage rebellion (and I've absolutely no problem with that...) and obviously everything about The Pistols fits perfectly in that mould. The fact that The Clash were one of the first to attach a slightly more articulate political message makes them a slightly more interesting listen for me personally, but I'll agree that this alone isn't enough to elevate them above any of their punk contemporaries. On pure musical chops though I still think that first Clash album has the edge over most. Don't get me wrong, I do rather like The Sex Pistols but I've always found them just a touch lacklustre in comparison to some other bands of that ilk, and their status as THE defining British punk band has always annoyed me somewhat (this is just my opinion based on the tunes, and I know I'm in the minority here...). The Pistols' stature seems founded more on their image and media outrage at the time (which was largely based on the 76 Today Show appearance which is just cringeworthy - with regards to both the band and Bill Grundy's behaviour) rather than their actual musical efforts.

I think possibly your giving Lydon a little too much credit there, for me his early antics have always smacked a little of teenage petulance rather than any considered subversive performance - and yes, that is very in keeping with those early punk ideals, but I just find it a little hollow.

It maybe sounds like I'm being a bit harsh on ol' Lydon and The Pistols, obviously Nevermind The Bollocks... deserves a place in the punk pantheon, just maybe not the top-spot, and hell, for his faults Lydon isn't nearly as vacuous as some we could mention (...cough - Sid Vicious - cough...)

Aaaanyway, seem to have got a little off topic here...

Interesting take Johnny Singles. We're on the same page regarding the first Clash album being supreme. I do disagree with your views on Strummer compared to Lydon though. I really do love the early Clash stuff, and Strummer is tremendous (I enjoy the 101ers quite a bit too). I think you're attaching way too much importance on the Clash (and Strummer) being "political" - as if that somehow elevates their importance as a punk band. It doesn't. All that matters is delivering the goods - which the Clash certainly do. Where I really find fault in your opinion is that Strummer is quite disingenuous. The immediate event that comes to mind is his spouting B.S. communist propaganda at the Us festival - while collecting (and later blowing) a healthy amount of cash from Steve Jobs. Lydon on the other had is completely captivating (and the Sex Pistols also deliver the goods musically - don't discredit them because of that clown McLaren). I have no idea where he stands on "issues", and that is part of what makes him so utterly fascinating. He's like the Andy Kauffman of rock-n-roll. He never gives you a wink, and lets you in on the joke.

I'd agree that the eponymous first LP is the only truly 'punk' of The Clash's albums but that's precisely why it's my favourite. For me White Riot is pretty much one of the quintessential 70s British punk tracks (far more so than Anarchy in The UK or any of The Sex Pistols' other offerings).

I'm always quite surprised when people knock the first Clash album, it's not exactly flawless but I do think it's by far one of the best albums of that ilk. I know the slightly remixed, slightly different US version is a little less frantic and a touch poorer than the UK version for some reason, but that really doesn't explain the degree to which it get criticised... Oh, I don't know...

I'd would agree that Joe wasn't exactly the most charismatic or overtly passionate of interviewees but I disagree that this somehow makes him disingenuous or not authentic as a punk figure, especially in comparison to Lydon. Yes, Lydon is/was more extraverted and full of 'angry young man' punk rhetoric in interviews, but then I've always found The Pistols as a whole to be a bit of a one trick pony and a more that a little all-mouth-and-no-trousers (after all this is a band constructed by McLaren with their image as the primary concern). For all his punk posturing and insipid social commentary Lydon's actual politics have always been somewhat lacking (this is of course a 53 year old man still flogging his punk credentials whist shilling butter for a living...)

Personally I think in both musical and political terms 'The Clash' is an archetypal British punk album, and surely punk album = punk band regardless of whatever style of band they might later transform into?

The Sidney J Wakefield clue turned out to be a helpful one -- thanks, PJ! SJW died in 1983, and "informed sources" tell me there's no chance in hell that his documentation has survived... but I lucked out and stumbled across the guy who compiled SJW information for Barry Wickham's book, and he had some half-answers for me. Shout-out to JOHN DIXON, hubba + hubba. Recorded in late 1965, he says, just as I figured, and apparently it's a Viv Records custom pressing. According to J.D., the other bit of matrix info suggests a custom label abbreviated as DD and artists with the initials H.A. and T.B. -- both sides apparently NOT by the same artist. Hell of a way to do things... but that strengthens my suspicion that this never had a legit. release. That's all I've got so far... Next stop: reissue labels that have done a thing with Viv compilations. Wish me luck... Hugo M. pmadreenter@yahoo.com http://pocamadreenterprises.bravehost.com

no one could every replace Johnny Thunders, but i'll still probably go see them when they're here. they're playing at the venue i use to work at so i really have no excuse not to go.

I'm curious to hear thoughts on the reincarnated New York Dolls. They just released their second album since they reunited. I've given it quite a few solid listens, and, a bit to my chagrin I find myself enjoying it quite a bit. I liked their previous release too (perhaps a bit more). While a part of me is troubled by the use of the name New York Dolls by only two surviving members, I'm willing to forgive with the quality of this material. It'd be another story if they released something as embarrassingly putrid as the Who's Endless Wire - but happily, that's not the case. While I certainly miss Johnny Thunders' guitar work and (even more) his sneering/whining vocals, the music holds up to their classic work. It's not quite as good, and lacks some of the power and sleaze. Instead, it is a bit more refined and mature. All in all, it's quite good. I did catch their live show last time around too, and it was surprisingly good. There was certainly a high level of energy. Anyway, I'm just curious to hear other opinions.

sounds cool,

I like how it's pretty down to earth but you don't hold back on the details

interesting stuff

this summer I'm hoping to be jamming lots so I'll see what happens I guess

I usually crack out a basic bass riff, then maybe dirty it up or not with a Big Muff Pi.
Paul the guitarist will play with chords round the bassline.
We hah and hum for a while, have a beer, then practice the whole song, usually it's repetitive process until one of us says "what about?" and we try those ideas within the tune.
Regarding the lyrics, we have a stock of songs that we try to fit into the new tune, or we will start saying any old thing until it fits. UIsally we have jst one line and will slowly change the words as the tune develops.

Hey,
thanks so much for bringing all this up! The bands sounds swell.
"Cambia Rocks" was/is great and it's awesome that the docu is made. Very cool.

Get's me totally freaked out those &%$§!?* idiots destroyed so much of it! GRAH!!

Of late, I have been putting my bass through a Russian Big Muff Pi.
Gives a dirty sound, but does not get too carried away.

Check it out: OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1379092/

Julien Temple is in production on "Oil City Confidential", a documentary on the amazing kings of 70's pub rock, Dr. Feelgood. Unfortunately Lee Brilleaux is no longer with us, but there should be enough footage of the band to enjoy. I'm looking forward to this one.

Does anyone here use Songbird? As apposed to iTunes or any other music player? So far I've tried it and it's been great. The add-ons are all great and it can play practically any music file type both, AAC and WMA something iTunes/WMP can't depending on which you are using. It gives the user so many more choices. It even has an add-on for iPods though i haven't it yet. Anyone know how well it works with iPod?

yeah, i saw the movie. it can be good if you don't think about all the inconsistancies but those are hard for me not to see. hah.

ette james a republican?? man, i'd hope that she'd be smarter than that. oh well, she's still got them pipes, man, so i'm not worried.

Hopefully not! Else I will just have to "NOT-SEE-THAT" when I listen to her! Kevin Schneider said:

"He ain't my president"
Oh my God, is Etta James a republican? Ryan Katastrophe said:

I like Etta James saying Beyonce is gonna get her ass whipped if she keeps singing her song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZAqKv86Clg

"He ain't my president" Oh my God, is Etta James a republican? Ryan Katastrophe said:

I like Etta James saying Beyonce is gonna get her ass whipped if she keeps singing her song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZAqKv86Clg

i never knew this but ol' Big Daddy Roth had himself a surf band! i found the three records they made and put em up for download on my blog Get Dorked!. i dig em a lot. hope ya like it. ps. i'm new to these parts. nice little place ya'll got here.

how about NOVEMBER ERA 1972 I DO THINK BUT THINKING HURTS @ TIMES

long shot bbut ?????????????? lords green sleeves

Hhahahaha! Hilarious, good stuff! Pacifiction Records said:

How about TAIKE? It's a rustic heavily localized form of Taiwanese punk/rock. Here's a weird 'n' wild music vid by the classic taike band LTK COMMUNE:


For more on Taiwan indie music, visit Island of Sound (www.islandofsound.org)

MB=! How about BORIS? Realreal good doomy kind of Metal, with psych sprinkles. ...Not the best explanation, though haha. Seen live and loved. Brother Panti-Christ said:

Yeaaaya... the Boredoms played in Bern in the 90's, Zorn did a couple times too, both of them mindblowers. Japanese are leading the front for the weirdest and wildest music, damn sure. Melt Banana is my faves, they are just toooooo damn weird.

Brother Panti-Christ said:

Yeaaaya... the Boredoms played in Bern in the 90's, Zorn did a couple times too, both of them mindblowers. Japanese are leading the front for the weirdest and wildest music, damn sure. Melt Banana is my faves, they are just toooooo damn weird.

Then you should check out Melt-banana covering classic Detroit rock band The Dogs. I just posted "GST 483" on my profile, actually sounds kinda normal; for them! For more info, take a look at The Dogs tribute here: http://www.pacifictionrecords.com/japan/CD/VA_doggystyle.shtml Sorry if it sounds like self-promotion, but yes, I am trying to sell records!

March 10th

18.00-19.30 DJ P.J. Bonneman (Gorilla Angreb etc.)

John Carpenter - Assault on Precinct 13 (main title)
Joe Meek - Entry of the Globbots + Telstar (demo)
Chain Gang - Son of Sam
Beat Happening - Our Secret
Doc Watson - Shady Grove
Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues
Flipper - Love Canal
S. Gainsburg - SS in Uruguay
Green Mansions - A Hard Day's Night
Keggs - Girl
France Gall - Merci Herr Maquis
Lawrence Comp - Moon Beams
Ariel Pink - For Kate I Wait
Young Marble Giants - Brand New Life
Corporal Gander's Firedog Brigade - Hey You
UFO - Timothy
Pere Ubu - Non Alignment Pact
Barracudas - Baby Get Lost
The Normals - She's No Fun
Joe Meek - Disc Dance of the Globbots
Inspiration For Scanners - Gråd I Krogene
Lori Sanders - Out of your Mind
Ariel Pink - Immune to Emotions
Shames - My World Is Upside Down

19.30-20.30 Lowcut

A Feast Of Snakes - Kill Your Boyfriend
The Fall - 2nd Dark Age
Zodiac Killers - Genetic Mutation
Larry Wallis -Police Car
Brutal Knights - Bikini Diet
Church Of Misery - Killfornia
Chainsaw Eaters - Dawn of Desolation
Melting Walkmen - Desertland
Gunslingers - Black Dwarf Man
Dan Melchoir - Aberdeen Mississippi Blues
Syphilitic Vaginas - Benzedrine & Gasoline
Gert Wilden & Orchestra - Little Girls
Digital Leather - Studs in Love
The Lewd - Mobile Home
Smogtown - I Am The Cancer
Knugen Faller - Jeg Är Värdelös
Neokarma Jooklo Trio - Night Revelation

Sounds good- I'd like to hear it.

Hi there folks,
Us creeps are a new Garage band from Austin, Texas.
We've just self-released our debut album "Cave Girl"
We're talkin' primitive Fuzz driven Garage stomp...
Can I send a copy of our CD to your Radio Shows and Podcasts ?
Cheers
Wig

The Tatts are doing shows ? Hell yeah...the last gig I saw before I split for Texas was seeing the fellas at the Annandale Hotel, that was in 2003. A band I was in The Navahodads (90s), we were luck enough to have Pete Wells play on a couple of tracks on our first album...RIP Wellsy.