Shellac

So I got off pretty lightly the only time I tried to heckle Shellac, Mr Albini was sporting the new "faux hawk" at the ULU and I called out "Oh No! - hes got a Joe Strummer haircut" he just pretended not to understand responding with "yes it is a jolly super haircut" in what was presumably meant to be an english accent and then moved on to a more worthy adversary.....

This is "spoke" the last track from Phoenix festival: its so good : a scream fest descending into chaos as Steve and Bob fight for a go on the drums at the end.

 

And this "song of the mineral" from the Garage.....

These clips are from a bootleg I bought (probly from Camden Market) quality on the Phoenix fest gig is pretty good, the other from the garage less so.

Godflesh

Godflesh: Justin Broadrick

In hindsight putting Bastard Kestrel on the Godflesh tour was a bit odd:  Intense, metal loving dopeheads do not mix well with irritating oi fans on whizz. We were informed after the first gig that we were not welcome to ride in the van after all, and continued the tour by train.

The tour was supporting the release of their Streetcleaner LP : the guys still had a drum machine and had only just aquired the second guitarist. They sounded absolutely colossal , I didnt even know you could get steel guitar picks till I saw JB's and the squalling shrieks he gouged from that poor guitar were terrifying.

This video is a from a bit later on at the Underworld (spot the pillar in stage centre) and apparently there be Mick Harris from Napalm Death on drums. Theres photos around from the other side of stage but I couldnt spot Hunter filming in them.

Headbutt

Headbutt: Elvina, Simon, Jym, Keith, Chris, Ashley.

Headbutt started out as a completely unlistenable post-Bastard Kestrel solo/studio project and mutated to a rotating lineup of all star noiseniks including rejects from Sperm Wails, Silverfish, Loop Guru and err what ever Stef was famous for...all the while retaining that trademark unlistenability.

This is the legendary Falcon video , remastered and optimised for viewing on a phone or a elevator  ..from the "Hunter" Compilation.
.


I just want to know who takes shopping trolleys to gigs anyway? Asking for trouble really.

Nirvana

Go On - Google the line up to Reading Festval 1991...they dont book  em like that anymore.....


We got a lift from Big Rog yhat year I think, What Im sure of is that we got to Catherines flat in good time cos we knew she would need to crimp her hair (2 hours on a good day or 4 if "medicated") however after a good period of fussing around she muttered something about clean clothes and disappeared to the freakin LAUNDERETTE for 2 hours...so we missed the Babes AND Silverfish.... 
Im not a great Nirvana fan but I understand they are popular in some parts... I remember being transfixed for a few moments by the bass players outfit (Purple Tee, High waisted Red jeans) before wandering off to find a drink and get ready for Chapterhouse....

Video is from the "Hunter" Compilation, and the best bit is the "OMG Im standing next to Kim Gordon watching Nirvana play Teen Spirit " moment half way through!!!!

Slaughter and the Dogs

We used to write letters to bands when they put a contact address on their singles (ie "add them as friends"?) , if you were lucky you got one back with maybe a sticker or a badge or something. These guys sent me back an awesome big=cool 2" badge, and a photo, they told me I was a member of their fanclub and to expect lots of cool stuff,  I never heard from 'em again but I like to think Im still a member of the fanclub.
Unfortunately the photo had their names on it and I could never really feel as strongly about them after I learned the drummer called himself "the mad moppet", the importance of a bit of mystique guys......
Okay I broke the rules, this is from a  record not a tape but, this is my blog , I make the rules ok.  Yeh Im the boss! I really tried to rip the whole LP but it is so FUCKING BAD, that I couldnt do it.
Im afraid now to play the singles that made me love these guys, what if its just those rosey glasses again? what if they were a crappy scouse rock band with no redeeming qualities? (as this record would emphatically demonstrate) .

Do they play "Cranked up really high"? no.
Do they play "Dame to Blame" ? no.
Do they play "Bitch" ? no
they play "Sister" freaking "Ray"......

its only redeeming quality is the "rapport" built with an obviously hostile crowd, that ends with the classic "my guitar is strong" retort.

 "Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone "
Slaughter and the Dogs

s:bahn

  AND NOW WITH LONG LOST FOOTAGE OF THE INFAMOUS DOGHOUSE SHOW

 

S:Bahn Live at the Doghouse , Hobart

So, Im at the Punters Club lurching away to One Inch Punch when I get a tap on the shoulder and some guy asks me "are you a singer", well what do you say? Kristian wants to start a band , he used to be in "Providence" (means nothing to me) , he says "cool" a lot but seems ok.
So we put an add up in polyester records "bass/drums needed for high impact noise band, must like unsane, sonic youth, big black"  that sort of thing. We get a call from Rob , hes from ballarat and doesnt say much but he seems ok. We try out a couple of drummers before we get this guy with dreads, Denis,  whos in "wigshop" ('never heard of em)  , he used to be in "Root beer" ('never heard of em), he says "right" a lot, but seems ok.
I borrow my mate Neil from Ricaines' Fender combo and we head down to midian, Im scared we might be standing around playing a riff for 30 mins (called "jamming" apparently) so I bring a couple of ideas I have..but no problems - KABOOM - these guys can play!
Thats how a band comes together and - one time in a hundred- it works.

And here for the first time since 1995 the first demo in all in its emo-angsty-guitar-shredding-splendour:


http://www.divshare.com/download/16117496-f95
"just  cant turn this damn thing off!!"


81 shows each with a numbered flyer from Denis...heres No.1:

And 4,5 and 6


And here near to the end , playing lake of fur, live at the punters club, 1998

There wasnt a huge crowd at this show, but one of the  cameras was on a tripod and of course the ever courteous melbourne gig going public all stood behind it.....

Terminal Burnz

We had that photo done in a pro studio on Tottenham Court road, but the night before I got glassed at a party, hence the well cool puffy look! I didnt care though, cos at the same party I kissed my first love....(did i really type that?)

Ok its now well past the statute of limitations : someone tell me....why did we go back to that crappy studio, how did we not realise all our songs were all over 7 minutes long, why didnt I use a tuner, why were the words "turn the vocal down a bit please" not used?