I have posted this gem previously with some erroneous information. Several years ago I posted these two sets from the inimitable Johnny Moped. On that occasion I stated that the recording was from 3rd February 1977. I was informed that the sets were recorded on 17th April 1977. Now, with the help of the two histories of The Roxy that I have, I have tried to figure out what was going on
The Roxy WC2 A Punk History - Paul MarkoThe Roxy 14th December 1976 - 23rd April 1977 - Andrew Czezowski & Susan Carrington
As is often the case, a search of the internet serves only to muddy the waters further. There is a set on there said to be from 31st March 1977. Whilst this set has the same running order as the two sets presented here the gig atrributed to 31st March is different to both. However, a date of 31st cannot be correct as a gig by The Damned and Johnny Moped was cancelled. According to Andrew Czezowski's account, the reason given for The Damned pulling the gig was that Dave Vanian's vocals were shot, but the feeling within the Roxy camp was that this was ruse from Stiff who didn't want The Damned to appear on the album. Czezowski further complained that the cancellation cost them money as 31st March was intended to be the first of three further days recording for what would become the famed 'Live At The Roxy' compilation album (some bands including The Adverts had been captured in the third week of March). With The Damned pulling out the Manor Mobile was sitting idle with nothing to record. Moreover, the cancellation required Andrew and Susan to make last minute rearrangements to the recording plans which meant that the last day of recording (2nd April 1977) was a crowded affair in punk's premier club.
The second set is certainly the band playing on 2nd April, the night that the majority of the album was recorded. This version of 'Hard Lovin' Man' is the one that appears on the album. The other bands appearing on the bill on the 2nd were Smak (later The Unwanted), Wire, X-Ray Spex, Johnny Moped and Buzzcocks.
The venues gigography does indicate that the Johnny Moped did play the venue later in April, not on 17th but on the 16th when they played with Skrewdriver. However, it makes far more sense to state that the first set was recorded on the first night of the April recordings (1st April) when Johnny Moped played with Eater. In the Czezowski/Carrington account, Eater's Andy Blade remembers Mike Thorne (producer of the 'Live At The Roxy' album) asking Eater what kind of sound they were trying to achieve 'we just stared at him as though he wre talking Bulgarian or something' Blade recalled.
So there you have it Tom cats, I think that's sorted it. And this is just the kind of rabbit hole that the internet can drag you down and lose you a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon... establishing the origin of a 48 year old Johnny Moped set!
FLAC: https://we.tl/t-hfRB4TLqRs
Artwork: https://we.tl/t-hgwjNGcTms
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