‘More deadly than the doodlebug, more awesome than the atom bomb itself…. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Purple Helmets!’

It was almost a case of blink and you missed them. If you lived too far from London it is all the more likely that you would indeed have missed them. The pulse of The Purple Helmets throbbed with vigour for a couple of short years, in which time they only played a glandful of gigs in the London environs, plus some brief appearances in France.

The Stranglers had toured heavily throughout 1985, 1986 and into 1987 playing dates all over Europe and in the US and Australia. The Stranglers were overdue for a break.

To a fan like myself, 18 in 1987 and only recently for the first time in possession of some disposable income (thanks to my weekends spent mopping up blood as a domestic hand in my local A&E department), this band hiatus, whilst deserved, was quite frankly a major disappointment for me. I had some money, independence and was raring to go, but The Stranglers had gone to ground.

I did what I could in 1988. Tickets were bought for a planned AIDS benefit at Wembley Arena in where the band was to play alongside The Communards, amongst others. As a result of bad promotion, this gig was pulled and although JJ responded to my written moan by putting myself and Steve Tyas on the guest list for the band’s gig in Berlin the following month, the logistics of getting to a gig in the Middle of East Germany ruled the offer out. Dusseldorf and Milton Keynes followed, but two dates were a poor substitute for a tour.

So how exactly was this Stranglers shaped hole in my life to be filled, enter the form of The Purple Helmets (on reading that line back it sounds wrong in every way!).

The Purple Helmets brought together JJ, Dave, well known Stranglers associates, Alex Gifford and John Ellis with Tears For Fears drummer Manny Elias completing the line up.  If the SIS press release for their album ‘Ride Again’ is to be believed, The Purple Helmets were true rock survivors having completed the traditional Beat group apprenticeship of amphetamine fuelled nights in the clubs of Northern Germany before burning out on the West Coast of America on a breaker of alcohol and Class A substances. But old rockers never die and the lure of the boards brought these five men back together in 1988 to do it all over again. As promotion it read well….. but as to its authenticity, well I had my doubts!

In truth The Helmets first stepped out in Rennes in late 1986, but then went to ground again until 1988 when starved Stranglers fans had the first opportunity to see them play dates in London.

Who Remembers The Purple Helmets?

I noticed on the Forum last week that there was a mention of a Purple Helmets radio session that the band did in 1989 and that got me thinking about the Helmets generally and where they fitted in the overall history of The Stranglers. As a consequence the next half dozen or so posts will focus on JJ and Dave's pet project of the late '80's.

999/The Vibrators (Norwich Waterfront – October 2018)

Always a pleasure to catch up with Nick, Guy and Arturo. 999 have been a musical mainstay of my life for over 30 years now. Tonight as we entered the upstairs part of the Waterfront venue I spied Nick to my right setting up the merchandise stand. Initially, he was a bit huffy, but that was because someone had spilt their pint across the table that he was laying stuff out on. The other members picked us out and said hi as we moved towards the stage. That evening my nose was something of a talking point as two days before I had collided with a glass door in a Prague hotel that had left me with a deep horseshoe-shaped cut across the bridge of my nose. What an idiot!

First up were The Vibrators of which Eddie is the only original member. Now performing as a three piece, the line-up included guitarist Nigel Bennett, on loan from The Members. In recognition of this we were treated to a rendition of the timeless ‘Sound of the Suburbs’. The set was a mixture of old and new of which I have to say I was only familiar with the old, ‘Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)’, ‘Baby Baby’, ‘Automatic Lover’ and my favourite song, ‘Disco in Moscow’. Whilst I have seen them on numerous occasions in pubs and at punk festivals they have never really grabbed me, nevertheless they delivered their set with energy and passion, something that I would say is not so easy to do in front of a quiet, midweek Norwich audience.

Eddie of The Vibrators behind the kit

Mo and Eddie.

And so to 999. For a man who has been in rock 'n' roll for as long as Nick Cash has... he was with Ian Dury (Kilburn and the Highroads) back in '72, he carries out his duties with 999 with remarkable zest and energy. Often dismissed as scene band-wagoners (an unfair accusation in my opinion) it is undeniable that they wrote some songs that are classics of the punk genre...... 'Emergency', 'Nasty Nasty', 'I'm Alive' and of course the irrepressible 'Homicide' and they were all belted out on the night. I tell you when I get smacked in the face with the sponge of Nick's microphone for a response to 'Feelin' Alight with the Crew' I feel right at home! Wonderful stuff.

A Lurker in out midst. 

Arturo and Mo.

Mo, Guy and Gunta.

Nick and Mo.

JJ Burnel Le Truck 'K' Lyon 5th April 1989

Here's a recent bootleg that appeared on the Forums a week or so ago. Since the link to it via the Forum has expired I am more than happy to give it a permanent home on Aural Sculptors. I very nearly went to this. A great night with a very European flavour...... something sadly lacking these days!

Thanks as ever to Eric!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-NOuqhOrJoE

Segs and Ruffy Talk about The Crack 40 years on (London Live January 2019)

RESTORED LINK - The Rainbow 4th April 1980

One of the classic Rainbow gigs without Hugh that appeared as the 'And Then There Were Three' bootleg CD. Restored here.

U.E.A. Norwich 8th December 1993

Here's a good quality recording from the 1993 tour which featured Tim Bruce who was sitting in on drums for an incapacitated Jet.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-3dcfpxi06d

01. Intro
02. Duchess
03. Someone Like You
04. English Towns
05. Gain Entry To Your Soul
06. Old Codger
07. Southern Mountains
08. So Uncool
09. All Roads Lead To Rome
10. Was It You?
11. Time To Die
12. Toiler On The Sea
13. This God Is Mine
14. I Feel Like A Wog
15. 96 Tears
16. Brainbox
17. All Day And All Of The Night
18. Sugar Bullets
19. Ugly
20. Tank
21. Strange Little Girl
22. Hanging Around
23. Sometimes
24. No More Heroes