Hugh Cornwell Grend Kulturzentrum Essen 25th September 2011

 

Here is another excellent recording of a Hugh gig in Essen courtesy of Peter. Cheers, highly appreciated as always! Although predating the release of 'Totem & Taboo' Hugh is obviously proud to be able to give the title track an early airing here.

I did stumble across a spat on one of the multitude of Stranglers related Facebook pages... the keyboard combatants were once again engaged in the 'Hugh's better, Hugh's best' type argument. This particular argument was based around an old article that someone had dredged up in which Hugh was bemaoning the fact that The Stranglers' had retained the name... there then followed the 'karaoke' Stranglers comments etc etc. Essentially we are talking about the same argument that that has rumbled on since 1990. That argument should have run out of steam by the mid-90's at the very latest, but still seems to trouble the minds of some 35 years on!

At a time when we are rapidly losing our the bands and the musicians that we love to the Grim Reaper as opposed to Test Match Special (as Hugh would have it) we should just relax, enjoy the bits that we like and ignore whatever it is that we don't like or that which annoys us whilst we still can.

Anyway... here's a bit of Hugh.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-gUKX3RJ8PZ

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-9mwXGI7oB2

Badge of the Week #6

 

'Air... aircraft engines menace

The black track steel train

Says hello to many brothers

Digging holes to save the others'

25 mm.

Buzzcocks And Magazine 'B'Dum B'Dum' A Granada TV Special 1978

 

I think that I would have got this documentary originally from Punktorrents. This is an excellent Granada TV special spotlighting the progress to date of Manchester's Buzzcocks and Magazine. In interview's with Tony Wilson, both Shelley and Devoto discuss their writing and motivations as well as the early incarnation of Buzzcocks. The documentary also features some excellent footage of a 'reunion' gig of sorts when Devoto once again joined his former Buzzcocks band mates on stage at a gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester on 21st July 1978 to mark the second anniversary of the gig where they supported Sex Pistols.

DVD Image: https://we.tl/t-dmVamrCurT

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-riUIvSPuOZ

Buzzcocks 1980 Home Demos for 4th Album

 

I believe that this collection of demos has been in circulation for sometime. The artwork that I have put together is accurate in one sense in that the material in this collection was demoed with the intention that the final songs would become the basis of the fourth Buzzcocks album. On the other hand, it should be noted that these songs are performed in these rudimentary states by Diggle and Shelley separately i.e. without the involvement of each other or John Maher and Steve Garvey. 

It does seem apparent that the two principal song writers in the band were pulling in different directions in a musical sense at this point. Pete Shelley especially has already embraced electronica with which he would continue to work with Martin Rushent during 1981, a collaboration that was to bring him significant critical acclaim with 'Homosapien'. The two named songs from Shelley in this collection, 'I Get A Feeling' and 'Guess I Must have Been In Love With Myself' went on to appear on that first solo album. Steve Diggle's contributions are more aligned with the pop/rock sound that Buzzcocks were known for.

The tensions within the band arising from relentless touring schedules over a number of years, not helped by an excessive intake of drink and drugs, pulled them apart in March 1981 as described in this piece that appeared in the 28th March issue of New Musical Express.

I would have to wait another 8 1/2 years before I got to see them.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-Fj8TnjHRil

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-A92UYyogIH

Conflict - Colin Jerwood RIP

 

Shocked this evening to learn that Colin Jerwood of Conflict has died after a short illness. I started listening to Conflict in about 1984 after getting hold of 'The Serenade Is Dead' and later 'Mighty And Superior'. Like all Crass related bands they were REALLY good value for money if you happened to be a vinyl junkie on a very tight budget. I first saw them at the Richmond in Brighton in November 1986 when 'The Ungovernable Force' was not long out. Of more note, my mate Matt and I travelled up to London for the infamous 'Gathering of the 5000' gig at the Brixon Academy in April 1987... a gig that didn't end well. Last time was at Rebellion a couple of years ago.

Conflict and Colin's biggest legacy in my life is that they were responsible for me giving up meat 30 years ago and whilst in some respects I may be in the words of the Subhumans something of an 'Ex-Teenage Rebel', the diet thing remained!

RIP Colin!

Guilfest Stoke Park Guildford 10th July 2009

 

I believe that Guilfest is back up and running this year. For a few years this was a brilliant festival and Day out. The Stranglers have played there no less than four times over the years if I have my jottings correct (2004, 2006, 2009 and 2024). If you take a close look at the 'Guilfest '09 ' logo it also states that the event organisation was in association with the University of Surrey... forgiven they must have been!

Here's an audience shot video of the set.

DVD image: https://we.tl/t-BqAezghCVe

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-56SsnF3hZc

Hugh Cornwell Musiktheater Piano Dortmund 30th March 2014

 

So after a brief interlude with the 'Forever Now' thread of posts its back to the bread and butter, This is an excellent gig from Germany recorded in March 2014. This is new to circulation for which Peter gets my most sincere thanks!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-hyS1Kz2rva

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-pfLeYkojHo