Rat Kings Demos

 

Not much to write home about with this well known bootleg. Nice at the time I suppose, a cobbled together collection of demos covering a period of eleven years, with JJ's 'Girl From The Snow Country' thrown in. I guess this would be one of the last 'classic' bootlegs. I cannot think of many that were produced after 1991. Anyway it is here for completeness. Search Rat Zone for better!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-WjBfSEhWgxT4sm5O

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-uRYeikNYWoLHrQ7N

 

The Damned (The Doomed/Les Punks) Electric Ballroom, Camden, London 5th September 1978

 

They were very much a band for firsts. First to release a single, first to get to America and the first to split. 1978 was a particularly frenetic year for the former members of The Damned. Upon parting, Dave Vanian was in and out of Richard Strange's Doctors of Madness in no time at all, Rat Scabies became a White Cat, Captain Sensible formed a new band King (a world apart from the King of Coventry as it were), whilst Brian James formed Tanz Der Youth (and Lu Edmonds formed The Edge). Whilst all of this activity was undoubtedly very creative, none of it was particularly successful (when put up against The Damned) and certainly none of it was long lived!

It did not take the punk renegades long to fathom on which side their bread was buttered and it was not long before Scabies, Sensible and Vanian were once again sharing a stage. So as not to confuse people too much they opted for the name The Doomed and with Henry Badowski in tow they played a handful of dates. A month or so prior to touring as The Doomed they appeared as Les Punks with Motorhead's Lemmy deputising on bass at Camden's Electric Ballroom. This is the stand out gig of this particular incarnation of the band. They played an interesting set that night with the inclusion of Hawkwind's 'Silver Machine' and 'Motorhead's 'City Kids' for the benefit of the new if temporary bass player. Also, for some strange reason the Rich Kids' 'Marching Men' is played. Several songs from the as yet unrecorded 'Machine Gun Etiquette' also get an early airing in this gig which sounds pretty raucous.

Just around the corner was yet another line up as Algy Ward, formerly of The Saints, took on bass playing duties on a permanent basis (or what at least passed for permanent in the world of The Damned).

Many thanks to Mark for this, an upgrade from my MP3 version. Cheers!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-g6qu5BopjZQwY0ms

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-bvUPTVUpQA3OOz13

Les Punks at the Electric Ballroom

5th September 1978

Will He Stay Awake?

 

Next weekend promises to be a test of my rock 'n' roll stamina, if indeed I have any these days. Saturday night sees the 100 Club hosting another 'Punk at 50' event. This one marking the venue's own seminal contribution to the birth of punk. We are talking about the 100 Club Punk Festival. On the night the music is to be provided by John Mckay's Reactor.... with luck we will be spared a twenty minute howl through the Lord's Prayer! I am not sure whether John was there on the night, but TV Smith certainly was and his Adverts set is sure to be brilliant (they always are). Host for the night is Marco, who was most definitely there and on the stage to boot, strumming with Suzie and the Banshees.

In keeping with the original, this is also a two night festival. The first night (Friday 18th) features X Generation X and the Stinky Toys hosted by Terry Chimes (formerly of The Clash).

Then the fun starts. I need to be up at three the following morning to get the first flight out to Berlin in order to see Anja Huwe (for the first time since seeing her with Xmal Deutschland in 1986). Really looking forward to this. I have plugged it on here already, but her solo album 'Codes' is fantastic. I will have to see whether I can stomach a Red Bull!

Empress Ballroom, Wintergardens, Blackpool 6th August 2026 (Rebellion Festival)

 

As you all know, The Strangers put in an appearance at this year's Rebellion Festival which marked fifty years of punk and thirty years of Holidays In the Sun/Wasted/Rebellion. The Stranglers were late comers to this particular festival, but each time they have played in recent years they have been well received.

Always looking for a new angle, in my not so valuable opinion, perhaps the band could have 'punked up' proceedings a bit more, in keeping with the anniversary, with a temporary suspension of the big 80's hits in favour of some spittle flecked growlers.... 'Ugly', 'Dagenham Dave', 'Curfew'... that sort of thing. I mean 12/19 with a '77/'78 vintage is pretty good, but I like to try my luck! And great to have 'Mean To Me' captured!

Many thanks to Chatts for sharing this one. Always most appreciated!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-BLXnh0AHxhgJUoN3

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-gtwHQbnrFQMtzdVb

TV Smith Kirche Von Unten Berlin 17th May 2002

 

I was kindly sent this recording recently by yesican. Cheers, much appreciated! Visitors to this site will know that I have been a fan of TV Smith for a great many years now. Tim is a man on a mission. Often with arriving at gigs with nothing more than a merch bag and an acoustic guitar in hand, other times with a band in tow.

On this occasion he was solo, playing dates in Switzerland and Germany. According to his extensive tour diaries (this gig is covered in 'How To feel Human Punk Rock Tour Diaries: Volume Two') by the time the support were done, Tim took to the stage at 11.30pm and proceeded to play to a receptive crowd for no less three hours, finally leaving the stage at 2 am, 43 songs later! And what a career spanning set this was from the Adverts, through the Explorers and Cheap, right up to the present.

According to the diaries, our intrepid minstrel was on for three hours sleep before heading to Schoenfeld for a one night in his own London bed before heading to Ireland for a 'Holidays in The Sun' festival appearance on the afternoon of the 19th. Fair play to the man!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-sPLJ1e7DJ0PSqytL

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-QPHHo4RLHyXoNXWz

Hugh Cornwell O2 Academy Islington London 6th November 2018

 

Here's a nice addition from Hugh. A November night in Islington back in 2018. Down to Chatts with a bit of an audio massage from DomP. Many thanks to both!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-wH4iiUwqgYOrxhgO

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-OFvvsCMDpEA0sggC

The Stranglers IV in MLXXVII

 

Far from being a technophobe or a luddite, I like technology and whilst I might be slower on the uptake than some, I generally embrace new technology. AI though for me is in some respects somewhat tedious, both generally and professionally. Nevertheless, it is quite remarkable in its capabilities. I have enjoyed variations based on the Bayeux Tapestry (Medieval Knievel, Saturday Night in Hastings etc), so this one made me smile... Stranglers relevant, very much on topic right now and nicked from another site!

I love the Bayeux Tapestry, it is without doubt one of the greatest historical artifacts that we possess. A few years ago I had the privilege of seeing it in Bayeux... and better still at a fraction of the current British Museum admission price and minus the masses.