A combination of unearthing the Ruts DC 'Rhythm Collision' gig and landing a small haul of music papers from 1982, has set me off on another thread. I haven't specifically covered the year 1982 before *, but it should be a pretty easy one to cover as mainstream music scene in the UK had yet to go completely down the toilet (that was a few years off yet).
* Upon checking it would appear that I have... but here's some more!
I was part of the record bying public at that point with all of my resources (meagre as they were) being exchanged for vinyl. This was a great time for looking back through band's back catalogues. In my home town of Burgess Hill in West Sussex, there was a market stall run by a bloke called Les. On a Saturday morning in those pre-pub days this was the place where you would find your mates, engaged as they were too in rooting through the 7" singes boxes intent on expanding the collection. Singles for 30 pence, albums for £2-3. We shunned the likes of Woolworths and W.H. Smith's whereever possible as they were expensive outlets, to be used only when birthday or Christmas tokens from aunts and uncles were available or a release was brand new, yet to be passed onto Les and his market stall.
Being 13 was also a huge barrier to live music. The 'Over 18's' policy of pubs and smaller venues ruled me out leaving only the two big venues in Brighton as an option, The Conference Centre and The Dome. In 1982 I went to my second gig (the first being in late '81). The event was Toyah. It was 'The Changeling' tour, the album after 'Anthem' that shifted the band from the clubs to the big venues. Now, no disrespect to Toyah but the next big act to play at The Brighton Centre was The Clash. If I had my time again I wonder what choices I would have made. Looking at the advert in the local Brighton newpaper, had I opted for The Clash I could have saved 50p (and perhaps bought a pound of blackjacks with it!).
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As I said, music was still good. Those bands that had the talent to diversify from 1977 punk continued to thrive (The Stranglers, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash....) and for those that couldn't make the transition there was always 'UK '82'!)... not that that was so bad either you understand.
That the music scene of 1982 was not complete cack is evidenced by John Peel's Festive 50 for the year. Whether 'Pass the Dutchie' or 'Happy Talk' should rightfully be in there is moot, but nevertheless it's not a bad list!
Some of the bands appearing in John's list will doubtless appear in this next '20 From' thread.
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