20 From '80 (9) The Pretenders RivieraTheatre, Chicago 8th September 1980

Chrissie Hynde

The Pretenders

No band wants to be pigeon-holed and for sure The Pretenders were difficult to pin down style-wise. Ex-music journalist Chrissie spent 1976/1977 in the company of London's punk hierarchy so well understood the UK scene. All the while she wanted to step out with her own band and so The Pretenders came together and in doing so they brought to the stage a pretty unique fusion of UK punk with the strong Americana overtones (there that's put them in a box!).

In short the early Pretender's material was great. The first album is a classic. However, as has happened so many times before, the first line up fell apart when half the band succumbed to drugs.

This excellent sounding radio broadcast from Chicago features that first line up and is a great live representation of the first two albums from the band.

FLAC: On its way!

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/619578728/PretendersChicago080980MP3.zip

Artwork: https://rapidshare.com/files/504877671/PretendersChicago080980AW.zip

01. Precious (with brief dropout)
02. The Adulteress
03. Kid
04. Talk Of The Town
05. Space Invader
06. Cuban Slide
07. I Go To Sleep
08. Private Life
09. Brass In Pocket
10. The Wait
11. Stop Your Sobbing
12. Louie Louie
13. Bird Of Paradise
14. Tattooed Love Boys
15. Band Introductions
16. Up The Neck
17. Mystery Achievement
18. Whatcha Gonna Do About It

Personnel:
Martin Chambers - Drums
James Honeyman-Scott - Guitar
Chrissie Hynde - Vocals, Guitar
Pete Farndon - Bass

In London on this night:

U2 (who?)    Marquee Club
Essential Logic/Splodgenessabounds/War Dept.    Music Machine

 

 



 

20 From '80 (8) The Jam Park West Chicago 6th August 1980

What really needs to be said of The Jam in 1980? Whilst of the 'new wave' bands The Police were probably the biggest in the world with their brand of white reggae, there was no doubt that in the UK, The Jam ruled the roost. Take a look at the albums that they produced around these years and it should be no surprise that they were so big.

Mr Rotten had left the building, Messers Strummer and Jones had set their sights in the US, which kind of left Paul Weller as the new voice of the disaffected youth. 1980 Britain was a country that was feeling the first blows from a new political doctrine that was later to become known as Thatcherism. The Jam knew and understood their audience maybe better than any other band before or since. That understanding was articulated in Weller's peerless talent as a lyricist. Just listen to 'Saturday's Kids' or, from a couple of years later, 'That's Entertainment'... just brilliant stuff!

Whilst this recording is from one of their US tours, unlike The Police and The Clash, The Jam never broke the US audiences. At this time they were just too British sounding.... it was only in their last years that they nodded towards a US influence with the introduction of soulful brass.

This set, recorded for radio, is a dream, showcasing the band at the height of their powers.

FLAC: https://rapidshare.com/files/1664517565/TheJamChicago060880FLAC.zip

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/3625222677/TheJamChicago060880MP3.zip

1. Saturday’s Kids
2. Burning Sky
3. Thick As Thieves
4. It’s Too Bad
5. Going Underground
6. Mr Clean
7. Butterfly Collector
8. Private Hell
9. Little Boy Soldiers
10. Smithers-Jones
11. Dreams Of Children
12. To Be Someone
13. The Eton Rifles
14. Strange Town
15. When You’re Young
16. Down In A Tube Station At Midnight
17. Girl On The ‘Phone
18. All Mod Cons
19. David Watts
20. 'A’ Bomb In Wardour Street
21. Interview

Colston Hall Bristol 11th July 1980

Here's another short one (at the request of meAnie) from the 'Who Wants The World?' tour. This time from The Colston Hall in Bristol. Not great sounding but a nice to have if you were there.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-eNgRwNoUQc

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-TLgcnGzOBK

1. Intro/Shah Shah A Go Go
2. Ice
3. Toiler On The Sea
4. Duchess
5. Hanging Around
6. Baroque Bordello
7. Waiting For The Meninblack
8. Down In The Sewer
9. Who Wants The World?
10. Thrown Away
11. Hallow To Our Men
12. Tank
13. Nuclear Device (cuts)

The Faith Band, The Golden Fleece Nottingham 22nd March 2002

Here's a gig with a bit of a tale. On this occasion under the banner of the Faith Band, Paul Roberts and Baz Warne played a low key gig in Nottingham. The gig was promoted by a friend Barry Spooner.

In his own words:
'A very special year for me not least of all because I had the pleasure and privilege of becoming a “promoter” for Paul Roberts & Baz Warne when they performed as the Faith Band in Nottingham on ‘The Peoples Acoustic Tour‘. This tour was an opportunity for fans to organise their own gigs. Myself and about another dozen or so fans jumped at the chance (maybe ‘jumped’ is not the correct word)!. To cut a long story short I joined forces with a Nottingham city centre based landlord to put on a free gig which basically showcased PR’s solo material and very successful it was too, even if I do say so myself. Fans came from all over the place and ‘The Golden Fleece’ rocked that night. But all of this didn’t happen without mucho blood, sweat & tears. I even went to a Hugh Cornwell book signing (’Song By Song’) armed with home made flyers to try and publicise our event. Hugh even autographed a flyer for one fan! Anyway, 3 months of sleepless nights paid off.' 

FLAC: https://rapidshare.com/files/1565025032/TheFaithBandNottingham22March2002FLAC.zip

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/4026491679/TheFaithBandNottingham22March2002MP3.zip

Artwork: https://rapidshare.com/files/348901205/TheFaithBandNottingham22March2002AW.zip

1. Chasing Rainbows
2. Fried
3. Here
4. Postcard
5. Can't Seem
6. Only Women Bleed
7. In Heaven She Walks
8. Grateful
9. Sinister

Thanks to Paul B for the recording and Barry S for the words and the photos.

Paul Roberts & Baz Warne

The Golden Fleece, Nottingham

22nd March 2002

Hugh Cornwell Interview BBC Radio Derby 23rd August 2012

Here's a slightly longer interview with our Hugh from a BBC Radio Derby broadcast from last Thursday. Also features studio versions of 'Something Better Change' and the 'Totem & Taboo' single.

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/1047065528/hughderby2.mp3

Hugh Cornwell Interview BBC Radio Stoke 24th August 2012

Here's a brief interview with Hugh from Friday afternoon's show on BBC Radio Stoke in which he discussed Totem and Taboo and his upcoming Manchester date.

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/2609550757/hughstoke.mp3

20 From '80 (7) Devo Orpheum Theater, Boston, 17th July 1980

Now for something truely left field. Devo were/are in many ways unique. Proponents of the Theory of Devolution, the band believe that the human race is devolving (Devolution, de-evolution, or backward evolution is the notion that a species can change into a more 'primative' form over time. Devolution presumes that there is a preferred hierarchy of structure and function, and that evolution must mean "progress" to "more advanced" organisms. This may include the idea that some modern species that have lost functions or complexity accordingly must be degenerate forms of their ancestors).

Here's their first UK TV appearence in which they explain themselves.

"We are the fluid in the punk enema bag"!

Devo

'So It Goes' Granada TV, UK 1978

Over the years they have certainly exercised a powerful influence over their fans. Take this pillock for example.....

A pillock sporting an Energy Dome

2007

Here's a great quality radio broadcast from The Orpheum Theater in Boston. This set features their best material in my opinion.

FLAC: http://rapidshare.com/files/160998924/DevoBoston170780FLAC.zip

MP3: https://rapidshare.com/files/3073039838/DevoBoston170780MP3.zip

Artwork: https://rapidshare.com/files/1390947704/DevoBoston170780AW.zip

1. Freedom Of Choice Theme/Whip It
2. Snowball
3. It's Not Right
4. Girl U Want
5. Planet Earth
6. S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)
7. Secret Agent Man
8. Pink Pussycat
9. Blockhead
10. Satisfaction
11. Uncontrollable Urge
12. Mongoloid
13. Be Stiff
14. Gates Of Steel
15. Freedom Of Choice
16. Jocko Homo
17. Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
18. Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy
19. Come Back Jonee

Mark Mothersbaugh

July 1980