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Aug 30. Rock bands are flocking to record Deep Purple tracks for the Jon Lord memorial album 'Re-Machined: A Tribute to Machine Head'. Iron Maiden, Metallica and Carlos Santana are among the motley metal crew on side for the comp. The track-listing is: Carlos Santana – 'Smoke On The Water', Chickenfoot – 'Highway Star', Glenn Hughes, Chad Smith and Luis Maldonado – 'Maybe I'm A Leo', Black Label Society – 'Pictures Of Home', Kings of Chaos (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Arlan Schierbaum) – 'Never Before', The Flaming Lips – 'Smoke On The Water', Jimmy Barnes, Joe Bonamassa – 'Lazy', Iron Maiden - 'Space Truckin', Metallica – 'When A Blind Man Cries', Glenn Hughes, Steve Vai, Chad Smith, Lachlan Doley – 'Highway Star'. If any punk bands are interested in doing a similar tribute for ‘Deep Purple In Rock’ we’d be well up for recording ‘Speed King’. Get in touch and we’ll discuss. Nads web mistress Batttttty had an unfortunate incident at Nottingham today, while visiting the Galleries Of Justice (the old Nottingham court house and prison where actors take you through each part, in character.) Says Batts: “I was a bit lippy to the Victorian Police Officer, made a few remarks about the inadequacy of his truncheon, and he made me put a gimp mask on and march around the prison exercise yard. It was like a day out with the Jolly Pranksters.” Sadly, no photos of this humiliation exist, but we do have some shots of Wattsie in a bikini which you can flick through for a fiver. Random stuff: Gal is interviewed about the late seventies scene in the latest issue of Vive Le Rock... the new Stones doc Crossfire Hurricane is released in November... The old Varukers’ album ‘Another Religion Another War’ is available now from Havoc Records – one for lovers of 1980s early hardcore punk and Fatcher-bashing, crusty paranoia. STOP PRESS: Charlton Boys – The Gonads, top quality metal badges now in stock! Price: £3 plus p&p. For bulk rates email Waistrel. Badges available now from the shop page.
STOP PRESS: to be briefly serious, we are inviting ‘young, athletic, fun-loving, sex-god’ punk rock vocalists to audition for the Gonads, as it seems increasingly likely that Gal will not be available for most UK gigs for some time. Genuine enquiries only c/o waistrel@the-gonads.co.uk Aug 26. Just passing through to say that Gal’s latest podcast (“the gateway to dementia”) is now up and running here. And by the way, we told you that you could trust this blog! Green Day did play Reading yesterday. This was their set: 'Welcome To Paradise', 'Murder City', 'Stay The Night', 'Burnout', 'Hitchin' A Ride'. 'Letter bomb', 'Brain Stew', 'St Jimmy'. 'Longview', 'Basket Case', 'American Idiot', 'Minority', 'She' There’s now an Angry Birds style game, inspired by Pussy Riot, called Angry Kremlins. It’s been launched in Estonia by programmers Magnus Vulp and Almondi Esco, to take the pee out of Putin and co. Fears mount for the safety of Nacho Jase after he had “an accident with two bottles of Russian vodka” in the not so wee hours of Saturday morning. Jase finally crashed out at around 8am and was last seen “comatose” in a tent. The moral of this story? Prolonged exposure to Pete Way can seriously damage your liver. Mr. Way is a recovering alcoholic... every bloody morning. Right that’s us done, back next month unless urgent news arrives. Aug 25. Gal recorded his latest podcast yesterday with studio guests Watford Jon and Daryl Smith from Argy-Bargy, whose superb new album Hopes, Dreams, Lies & Schemes has been dubbed “the best punk CD of 2012” by people who obviously haven’t heard our own Mutts Nuts masterwork. The pod also features tracks from Taurus Trakker, Discharger, Darkbuster, The Skints, The Nerks, N.O.Y.F.B., The Valkyrians, Criminal Class, The Barnyard Masturbators, Wild Billy Childish, The Last Resort and many more. We’ll let you know when it’s up (missus). Seriously the Argy album is the business, a great mix of punk, Oi, and street rock which is suffused with decent tunes. A couple of the tracks are worthy of The Jam at the height of their powers. Watford even sounds like Weller. And any idiot who thinks he looks more like Alexei Sayle should shut the fuck up about it because it really winds him up... Gal mentioned it twice but he thinks he got away with it. You can buy the Argy album, and pre-order the SkaNads ep direct from Randale, here. Punk ukulele merchants the pUKEs proudly present their debut video ‘Will I Learn’ on YouTube here. The track was written by the pUKEs and produced by Dick Crippen of Tenpole Tudor fame. Since they formed in an East London pub 18 months ago, the 17 women (plus the odd passing blokes) have become a minor phenomenon, bashing out classic punk tunes on ukuleles. Most of their live set consists of well known punk covers, but the group decided to write an original song for this, their first recording. EP on Damaged Goods soon! One for hardcore lovers: Rumpshaker number 6 is out now – 144 pages of hc reading matter including interviews with Punch, Mike Judge, Ceremony, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Sick Of It All and much more. Aug 24. Happy birthday, Charlton Tel! To cheer up the old bastard here are some shots of lovely Lorraine Reeves of Mudkiss fame, displaying her splendid inkings. Girls, if you want to get your tats out for the Nads, send your pix to waistrel@the-gonads.co.uk – the saucier the better.
Hooligan Update: the second Hooligan Classics ep (featuring us, Iron Cross, Stomper and the Old Firm Casuals) is scheduled for a late November release. Don’t forget the London International Ska Fest all-night on Sunday, from 10pm til 6am @Metal Works, 7 Torren St, Islington, London N1 (behind Angel tube). It takes place across three rooms. In Room 1 you’ll find: Tighten Up, Asher G, Tiny T & Ras Digby – UK Sound System Diamond Jubilee special. In Room 2, there are Rhoda Dakar, Little Diane (Ace Cafe), & Texas Ranger. And Room 3 will host the Phoenix City Social Club with DJ Cello (Coast To Coast), Fenomeno Show (Open The Gate) plus live bands Buster Shuffle & General Roots. Rumours of a secret fourth room open only to Pranksters and featuring the SkaNads, Mik Whitnall and a risqué burlesque show can neither be confirmed or denied. Twisted ‘Fuckin’ Sister’s Dee Snider has slammed US Republican Vice-Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan for using the band’s 1984 hit single 'We're Not Gonna Take It' at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. An angry Dee fumed: “I emphatically denounce Paul Ryan's use of 'We're Not Gonna Take It' in any capacity. There is almost nothing he stands for that I agree with except the use of the P90X.” (A home exercise regime). Speaking from his executive bar stool in The Swan, Fat Col Gannon (for it was he) commented: “Even I reckon Ryan’s a wacko. Did you see that picture of him after killing that deer? That was all a misunderstanding. All I said to him was he needed to get himself snapped at a stag party! I said ‘Knock one of ’em bandy’, not knock off Bambi.” An easy mistake to make. Aug 23. It’s official. We are replacing On File at The Voice Of Oi weekender, 2nd November, at the Boston Arms, Tufnell Park, London. Full line-up below:
*Green Day are strongly rumoured to be making a surprise appearance at Reading Festival this weekend. Billie Joe Armstrong dropped a major hint by tweeting: ‘Hello England! What rhymes with shredding?’ when he landed. (Could be bedding – The Nosher). The tweet was quickly deleted, but speculation is mounting like Julian Assange at a girls school sleep-over. The band have also just announced another surprise show, at Le Trianon in Paris on Monday. Odds and sods: The traditional Skinhead Invasion of the Isle Of Wight starts tomorrow: three nights of original reggae, Ska and rocksteady at the Town Club, 25 Star Street, Ryde. From 8pm till late – so clashing with the Isle of Wight scooter rally, notes a passing Mod; not to mention the Roy Orbison tribute night at the Shanklin Theatre... Tony van Frater of the Cockney Rejects has announced his side project band - tah-dah - the Moscow Mules, with former Rejects tour manager Tom von Spencer on bass, Upstarts legend Decca Wade on drums and Cast Iron Steve Smith on vocals. He says the Mules are “ready to record at me studio – I can't wait.” Aug 22. Tattoo Corner: here is the lovely Rhiannon Ifans showing off her ink. And here she is as a piece of living art. Discerning blog reader Rhiannon became 'working art' at the Misty Moon gallery in the Ladywell Tavern, Lewisham, where the public were encouraged to draw and write on her. Don't mind if I tattoo... (Oi, George Galloway, no, she's not asleep - put that away and just write!) Tonight, the gallery displays the art of Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis. Future events involve Carry On stars Fenella Fielding ("England's first lady of the double entendre") and Anita Harris (Cockney rhyming slang for a tidy bum). Check out the details at mistymoon.net
To celebrate what would have been Joe Strummer's 60th birthday, Hellcat are reissuing all of Joe's albums with The Mescaleros. The three - Rock Art & The X-Ray Style, Global A Go-Go, and Streetcore - will all be re-mastered and released on 25th Sept, on vinyl and on CD with bonus tracks. Aug 21. Green Day play the Shepherds Bush Empire on Thursday night for a very reasonable £50 a head. Better make that Greed Day. (It has been pointed out that Adam Ant charged more, but he’s nuts – what’s their excuse?) More agreeable news, a brand new magazine devoted to punk, Ska, rock and related culture, is expected to launch in five weeks time. The editors tell us they’re planning to “re-capture the spirit of 1970s/80s Sounds”. So they’ll be writing about the kind of bands you hear on Rancid Sounds, plus cult-orientated films and books, and the usual live reviews, album reviews, scurrilous gossip... basically they could put us out of a job. Bastards! Book news: Barney Hoskyns’s new oral history of Led Zeppelin, TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT, is published by Faber & Faber on September 6... Gal’s TIME FOR ACTION, telling the story of the 1979/80 Mod Renewal as it happened (including the Chords, Purple Hearts, Secret Affair, The Jam, The Jolt and many more), is published on Sept 24th... And this is big: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is getting the new super-app treatment! (No idea either – Ed). OK, what it means is the book will be available to buy as an app for iPads etc. It will come with the original text, including Anthony Burgess’s own hand-written amendments; plus Nadsat slang is translated and analysed as you go along, you get Tom Hollander reading the whole audio-book, and also the original epilogue which Burgess cut from the book (available mid-Sept from William Heinemann) More ink! Here’s Mick Maverick’s latest body art.
And here is The Blades logo, as modelled by Jeniera.
Aug 21. Had he lived, the great Joe Strummer would have been 60 today. So a load of our mates are throwing a belated birthday party for him at London’s 12 Bar club. Playing live: Night Of Treason, Viva Las Vegas, Shocks Of Mighty, Bitter Sweet Kicks, Captain Bastard & The Scallywags, and the mighty, Menace, who will be on stage at 7.30pm playing a warm-up show before the TNT festival in Hartford, CT.
Quick update on the Specialized benefit weekender. Specialized – The Big One takes place from Oct 19th – 21st, at Parkdean Sandford, Dorset featuring the genuinely legendary Rico Rodriguez, King Hammond, the Communicators, Rhoda Dakar, Roddy Radiation, the Specialized All-Stars, Orange Street, the Stone Foundation, Max Splodge and many more – including latest addition, 2-Tone man of note Trevor E.T. Evans. All for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Aug 19. Sadly, due to reporting restrictions, this is the only picture we can show you from last night's secret farm gig sponsored by the Jolly Pranksters Motorcycle Club (JPMC England). Around one hundred bikers and brethren gathered for the event which took place largely in a cow shed at an East Sussex farm about fifteen miles from Hastings. The warm-up disco was standard rocker fare: Maiden, Lizzy, Rose Tattoo, AC/DC, Hendrix, Lynard Skynard etc, but the big surprise was an unscheduled 45-minute live set from the Orgasm Guerrillas, whose sound has changed considerably from their tracks on the early Oi albums. It's sweeping, atmospheric and experimental hardcore that comes with electronic programming and synths. The lengthy, moody bass-heavy songs including 'Bone', 'Berlin' and '(He's A) Bastard' - dedicated to their former manager Martin Sporrell - are chaotic, cathartic, fast and heavy, straddling a line (a music critic writes) between the Stone Roses in concrete wedges and a punk ELP. Quite how singer Lunny had the nerve to dedicate 'Power Springs From The Barrel Of A Penis' to Pussy Riot is anybody's guess.
Random Noos: Anti-Flag have teamed up with Adam Vass of LaDispute to produce a limited edition t-shirt and poster, with all proceeds going to Pussy Riot... The Circle Jerks documentary My Career As A Jerk is released at the end of Sept... The St George's Day movie opens in selected cinemas on Sept 7th; see the trailer here. Aug 18. Pussy Riot have released a Putin-bashing single to coincide with their two-year incarceration for thought crime. Hear it here. The trio are in jail “because it is Putin's personal revenge," said Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. "The verdict was written by Vladimir Putin." Meanwhile, in a perhaps slightly less serious aside, here’s the first look at the SkaNads e.p. cover:
What has Sharron Stiletto started? Now Morrissey’s guitarist Boz Boorer is performing in drag and calling himself “the lovely Gaynor Tension”. Who next? Watford Joan? Leanne Wilson? Teresa Hayes? We’re keeping an eye on Vince Riordan... Before we go, here’s another great tatt: oh she is a big girl now, oh she is a big girl now, she got fat and we know how, oh she is a big girl now.
Aug 17 STOP PRESS: The Gonads have added our voice to the global protest against the jailing of Pussy Riot in Moscow today. Although we feel the shooting down of striking miners in South Africa is a much bigger offence to humanity, we are happy to join the rising tide of protest about the three Russian art-punk activists who have been sentenced to two years imprisonment each. Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” earlier today at Moscow’s Khamovnichesky Court. Their conviction comes after an incident in February this year when they performed a thirty second “punk prayer” at Moscow's Christ The Saviour Cathedral, mocking the Orthodox church’s support of President Putin. They were nicked on the spot and have spent the last five months behind bars, At the trial, the prosecution tried to portray the girls as “satanic lesbians” (our sort of girls!). Freedom of speech, freedom of protest are cornerstones of any democratic society. Trailer for new Jam documentary here. How about this for some ink? It’s by Brazilian tattoo artist Fernando Fly; he works at Tatuador studio, Sao Paulo.
Aug 17. There’s a brand new craze sweeping the mean streets of South London, folks - Punk Rock Bingo!! Not the Max Splodge version either, but proper games played in a pukka bingo hall. On Tuesday, style pace-maker Tony Feedback led an otherwise all-female six strong giffer-punk gang (including Wattsie of course) to The London Palace bingo emporium up the Elephant – which is massive. It’s the size of the Wembley Stadium football pitch and seats 2,000 old dears. Scarlet O’Harlot from the Motley Kunst won a bulls-eye. “Top prize is £2,000,” confides Tone. “We’re going every week, it’s the new rock’n’roll.” Hmm, yeah. Over to Fat Col for the punchline: “What’s blue and fucks old ladies? Gala Bingo.” Everyone a gem! The Gonads remain of course the undefeated, unchallenged world champions of Punk Rock Crown Bowls, Punk Rock Cribbage and Punk Rock Quasar. PS. We asked Scarlet if she likes it up the Elephant and Shona slapped us. One step forward, three steps back... we will have a great London gig announcement to make in the next few days. However, the release of the Hooligan Classics ep has been put back a couple of months because, Lars tells us, “Only half the bands have finished recording their tracks” – that’ll be us and Iron Cross then. Someone has grassed up the Awkwright’s concert to Rainham council who are now trying to shut it down on the small technicality of the private members’ pub not having an entertainment licence – this will be challenged by the Beast (don’t hold your breath). And worst of all, after a European court ruling, Martin Sporrell (aggressive Gooner) is back in business with his poxy bootleg album release. Now we’ll have to appeal to get it stopped. What a feckin’ waste of time and money. Aug 16. Elvis Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla and their daughter Lisa-Marie attended a candlelit vigil last night outside the King’s old gaff, Graceland in Memphis, to mark the 35th anniversary of his death. Effete El, who joined the 75,000 strong crowd, tells us: “It was an incredibly moving event – all those candles. It looked like Frankie Flame’s last birthday cake. Amazing.” Elvis died on August 16, 1977, aged just 42 after suffering a heart attack. He is buried in the grounds of Graceland, alongside his parents and grandmother. New from Louise Distras – ‘Shades Of Hate’. It’s here at last! Chelsea Dom’s review of Rebellion 2012. He writes: The problem with Rebellion is the conundrum of who or what to watch and when, such is the choice. However before we succumb to the musical barrage, proceedings began with Team Rebellion hitting the town in style (?), warming-up by winning the pub quiz in one of the local boozers following a suitable slap up in a local ‘bubble’ establishment (Bubble & Squeak = Greek – Cockney Ed). Then again we had a top team, with myself, the lovely Mandy, Jenny Rebellion, Richie Rocker, ace photographer Sammy Bruce and regular Punk Rock Curry Club members Mark Wyeth and John King. This year I didn’t watch many full sets, choosing to see snippets here and there (Between alcohol induced black-outs? – Quizzical Ed), and to catch some of the more artistic side of punk. In this respect, Thursday started in the picturesque Spanish room, surrounded by various pieces of splendid punk rock artwork, watching the first of several interviews, for which poor old Richie Rocker was thrown in at the deep end; John Robb being otherwise engaged. Proceedings started with Max Splodge being asked what his influence was before punk. Back came the response: “Cheese.” And so it went on: “What kind of cheese?” “Tesco’s... ” A step by step guide to acquiring cheap goods from said supermarket by swapping over the cardboard sleeves followed, ending with a vision of yuppies putting their poncy lamb shanks in the oven only to discover cheap, frazzled cauliflower cheese an hour later. Mickey Fitz followed, a more sobering affair - literally! As many know, Micky is a ‘recovering’ alcoholic, providing a very candid view of what this entails (Buying even less rounds than when he was drinking? – Ed). From here on in, various bands were spied from a distance. But I caught the end of Fire Exit and the somewhat energetic Gerry, one of the real characters on the scene, entertaining the crowds with a rousing version of Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’. Next stop were The System, an early anarcho band from the North West who despite a reasonable start, drifted into, well, anarchy (largely due to playing out of time with one another). The Business and the Buzzcocks ended the evening in the Empress Ballroom, with the former playing a set of standards (Mickey had told us during the earlier interview that apparently Stuart Pearce used to play ‘Southgate’ to the hapless Gareth in the England dressing room). The Buzzcocks were on top form crashing through classic after classic. A vast improvement on the debacle of a show I’d witnessed in Manchester which should have been a special event, given the guest appearance of Howard Devoto, but turned into the Steve Diggle cock-up show. Friday started at just past mid-day, with the Uppercuts, first time I’d seen them since their debut gig and they’ve come a long way since then. They knocked out a solid set to an appreciative crowd, but still can’t find a drum kit large enough to hide the inimitable Cherry! We then watched further interviews. Tom Hingley from Inspiral Carpets gave us an insight to the early days of punk in Oxford, followed by author extraordinaire, John King. John has written various fictional tomes that many relate to. The heroes and villains he creates reflect our own youth – from football hooligans, to punks/skinheads via being banged up abroad. Let’s hope his novel Human Punk comes to the big screen as planned. John also revealed that his father had played in band with a pre-Hawkwind Dave Brock. Back at the Empress, Chelsea took to the stage and blew the place apart. They were simply outstanding, churning our energetic classics from ‘War Across the Nation’ to ‘No Flowers’, ending with Nic Austin attempting to smash his guitar like Pete Townshend - although he seemed to do more damage to the stage than the guitar (ooh, I could crush a grape). Later that evening we returned to watch Anti-Pasti. Once they were seminal, and a key element of the scene. Unfortunately, their songs don’t seem to have suited the transition of time. It didn’t help that they playing them as musicians rather than in their raw/original form. I won’t mention Martin Roper dancing like an elderly uncle at a wedding. (You just did – Ed) Friday ended watching Social Distortion, who played a decent set, although for me it seemed a bit flat as it was mainly their slower numbers (no ‘1945’ or ‘Creeps’). Saturday was another case of fitting in bits & pieces: The Pigs playing ‘Fascist Dictator’ (in the absence of Bristol legends The Cortinas), Runnin’ Riot rampaging through a Buckfast-fuelled set with some decent new numbers, and 999 as good and solid as ever. Disappointingly, however, Pure Hell (the original black punk band who the Bad Brains cited as an influence) had pulled out. The Crows played to a full house on the acoustic stage, offering a mixture of their own numbers and choice covers, and were joined at the end by a certain Mr Rossi & a Slaughter roadie for a run through of the Rolling Stones number ‘Dead Flowers’ (Murder & the Crows anyone???). Following a few numbers with the Enemy (tight, solid, but not among the top bands of the early 80s), I had to watch the legendary Croydon band Case. Yet again another great set, with Matthew’s son and daughter on sax duty. It ended as usual with ‘Smilin’ My Life Away’, and everyone in the crowd bopping away. Later that evening Penetration showed what a great, under-rated band they are. Pauline Murray’s haunting vocals filled the Empress – ‘Don’t Dictate’, ‘Danger Signs’, ‘Come Into the Open’, ‘Life’s A Gamble’ and so on. This was a proper old school affair, with Ruts DC then treating us to some of their dub sounds and classic Ruts numbers which had the crowd going nuts. Slaughter & the Dogs followed and again banged out the old favourites, with ‘Bootboys’ segueing into ‘My Generation’. Great stuff! I didn’t watch PIL, as I’d seen them earlier in the year & their current set isn’t my cup of tea. Some seem to like PIL purely cos it’s John Lydon and would say the sound of him having a shit was the best thing since sliced bread. On Sunday afternoon, I watched the Cockney Rejects film East End Babylon, which I would thoroughly recommend. The stark reality of the East End and how the area has survived, despite being battered to pieces during WW2, provided a suitable backdrop for the emergence of the band, along with interviews from Mick & Jeff’s mother Jean (her version of how The Rejects got their name was somewhat unexpected, not to mention amusing!). This is one band who have never compromised or backed down, standing firm against the emergence of the far Right, which blighted the scene in the early 80s. Unfortunately dubious politics are again rearing their ugly head in numerous forms today, with neo-Nazis and fellow travellers attempting to infiltrate the scene. Some, who consider themselves apolitical, try and turn a blind eye to their involvement with the far right, thereby effectively opening the door for them. The flipside is the self-righteous ultra-Left, who one anarchist commented have become the new fascists. How true… My first foray into live music for the day was when Argy Bargy played the Empress stage for the first time, rocking through a number of new tracks from their fantastic new album Hopes, Dreams, Lies & Schemes, which marks a new maturity for the band, demonstrating a variety of musical styles, matched by their set. I also made my first trip into the Opera House to see the Outcasts, which put me in mind of the Hammersmith Odeon – classic venue, classic band. Rancid ended the weekend on high for all those watching, cranking out top tunes spanning their 20 year career, although one onlooker commented that the Charles Manson look doesn’t do Tim Armstrong any favours. And so ended another Rebellion, now in its 16th year and still getting better. One final comment from the weekend, made by Mr Wyeth, was that due to the variety of stages and acts on offer, each person had a unique experience. That is what Rebellion is all about and you won’t find it anywhere else. By Chelsea Dom, East End Badoes & Bar
Aug 15. The Gonads, your friendly neighbourhood sonic assassins, are celebrating five glorious, productive years by making our last four albums available for purchase again – on vinyl and/or CD. They are ‘Live Free, Die Free’ (2009), ‘Glorious Bastards’ (2010), ‘Greater Hits Volume 1: Plums’ (2011) and Greater Hits Volume 2: The Mutt’s Nuts (2012). All are available direct from our shop page. “At dawn, look to the east” – Gandalf. We’re working on another new four-track split single, this time with Russian underground punk herberts Uchitelt Truda. If all goes to plan, it should be released by a Belarus-based record company this Autumn. In other record noos, you can hear the new Green Day single ‘Kill The DJ’ here... New Casualties album Resistance, and the latest No Doubt effort, Push & Shove, are both released on 25th September... Julien Temple’s new film London: A Modern Babylon was shown on the Beeb last weekend. As well as the samey title, the documentary covered similar historical ground to East End Babylon, the acclaimed documentary about the Cockney Rejects and the changing face of East London, which had its first public screening in April. The coincidences don’t end there. The latter was directed by Richard England of Cadiz, the company who funded Temple’s 2009 film Oil City Confidential. Hmm. Temple may have made the Pistols movie, but Sham’s song ‘Rip-Off’ comes more readily to mind. When Mick Geggus heard that Julien was filming in their manor, he visited the shoot to have a word. Informed of his mood, the Cambridge-educated director is said to have done a runner never to return. Strong and semi-reliable rumours about Gal possibly emigrating have sparked crisis meetings at Nads HQ. Senior management (FB and Fat Col) have drawn up a list of seven potential new front-men to replace him if the unthinkable happens. They are: 1) Karl Howman (aka Jacko from Brushstrokes), a friend of Fat Col’s. Pro: he is “Charlton through and through”; anti: no-one knows if he can sing (although admittedly this never stopped Gal). 2) Waysted’s Fin Muir. Pro: one of rock’s greatest voices. Anti: how would Fin, a sweaty sock, feel about singing ‘England’s Glory’? 3) Garrie ‘Guitar’ Lammin. Pro: has worked with us before. Anti: his Rolling Stones obsession could derail our 35 year rise to punk rock glory. 4) Terence Hayes, PM. Pro: great Oi-Oi front-man with a brick-wall voice. Anti: a) he’s Millwall, b) he’s Millwall and c) what part of this are you not getting? 5) Kiria. Pro: great singer, easy on the eye, has worked with us before, and is likely to instigate live sex on stage. Anti – struggling to think of one. Oh yeah, supports the Gunners, but think of all those up the Arsenal gags to come. 6) Paul Di’Anno. Pro: Iron Maiden legend. Anti: He’s gone nuts, ain’t he? 7) Wattsie Watts. Pro: sexy, popular, funny, already our backing singer. Anti – would try to replace South Coast Steve with a 19-year-old Keith Moon lookalike (So why is that a negative? – Rest of band). Agit-Prop Corner: coalition-bashing Ska combo Captain Ska will play the after-show party at the next big TUC day of action (20th October). The gig, at Kings College London Students Union, also features afro-dub aficionados Soothsayers and earnest folker Grace Petrie. Don’t choke on your tofu burger. Tickets are £7 a pop from the KCLSU website. Hear Captain Ska here. Sandy Lane reports that Noel Gallagher dedicated ‘Wonderwall’ to “Stratford's finest Oasis tribute band” at a War Child benefit gig at Dingwalls, Camden last night – clearly a dig at Liam for performing the song at the Olympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday with his band Beady Eye. Aug 14. Skabour in pictures! Yeah, we know there’s only three of them, but we ain’t OK magazine, okay?
* Live & Direct! This is the promo for the new Flipron single featuring the legend that is Neville Staple. The spaghetti-Ska comet-themed knees-up is available for download on 10th September. It’s from the forthcoming Flipron album on Tiny Dog records 'Firework Shoes', produced by Rat Scabies & mixed by Dave Allen. (Not the dead comedian, although Frankie is in contact). Specials scholars will know who the legendary gent is blowing smoke into the camera at 2.59 here. *The Last Resort are confirmed to headline on Friday 2nd November at the Voice Of Oi London weekender:
Meanwhile here is a Gonads special investigation worthy of Roger Cook - the roots of the Last Resort revealed! Here is how ‘Violence In Our Minds’ sounded before they nicked it. And here’s the original ‘Rose Of England’. Bleedin’ tealeaves! And talking of English Roses...
... here's the rambling and delicately-fragranced Perfect Master (PM), Terence Hayes seen here acting as a tour guide/minder for wide-eyed American beauty Tiffini lost in the East End... and when it comes to beauties, it’s Tiff at the top.
Aug 13. Well hello peeps. We’re back. Sort of. Here’s a quick, serious update, penned by Fat Col: the next official release from the Gonads will be the Hooligan Classics ep, which will feature the brand spankers new Gonads' anthem ‘Glorious’, along with new numbers from Iron Fist, Stomper and the Old Firm Casuals. This will be released in Autumn by Randale Records. Following that comes the Nads' split 7inch ep with the Uprisers on Skinflint Records of the USA, released in November, our tracks will be ‘Harry May's Revenge’ and ‘We Are The Boys’. The SkaNads debut ep ‘Skinhead Lullabies’ is also due out on Randale in late Autumn, with great cover art by Steve Friel, and before Christmas there are plans to release Gal's own ‘Out Of His box’ solo album about which we can tell you precisely nowt, nothing, nada, zilch, sweet Fanny Adams and bugger all squared because no-one will breathe a word about it, not even Fit Bird. However the launch party for Gal's new book Time For Action (telling the story of the Mod Revival of 79/80 as it happened) will be in London sometime in September. Although we’d like to thank Col sincerely for keeping a watchful eye on our facebook page for the last month, we are sad to announce that he has now been banned indefinitely from Gonads HQ after he was discovered “pleasuring” the Nosher on the sacrificial altar. Security guard Dirty Rob was alerted to the incident after our neighbour, Palace Pete, complained of noises “like a walrus humping a seal with whooping cough”. Rob is now being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after catching the porky pair in a state of undress. The words “fanny like a punched lasagne” have been removed from the duty log by anti-sexism monitor Sandra Lane. The place also allegedly “stunk like a sushi restaurant’s bins during a dustmen’s strike.” *The Gonads had their dream of Olympics glory crushed last night, writes Trevor MacDonald. Gal tweeted that the band were standing in the wings at the Olympic Stadium with the Duke of Edinburgh "making sure he knows all the words to 'Oi Mate'", and that Kim Gavin had assured him that "it was either us or the Spice Girls, depending on the toss of a coin." Geri naturally offered to toss, and to swallow, and the rest is history... still, we liked Ray Davies and Eric Idle. Anyone who thinks Henry Rollins is a bit of a tit should watch him monstering a young fan here and have their suspicions confirmed. The truly legendary Dave & Ansel Collins tour England imminently. The lads will be giving it “double barrel” at the Isle of Wight Scooter rally, Ryde Ice Arena (25th Aug) ; 26/8 Brighton, Blind Tiger; 31/8 Manchester Band On The Wall and 1/9 London 100 Club. A Newcastle date will be announced. *While we were away... Kate Moss's name was removed as a co-writer of a Pete Doherty song after he was accused of using lyrics written by punk poet Nick Toczek. The supermodel had been credited with contributing to 'Baddie’s Boogie' on Babyshambles' second album 'Shotter’s Nation'. But the words had been half-inched from Nick's poem 'Stiff With A Quiff' which first featured on The Oi Of Sex comp and which Nick later recorded with The Burial. The line, repeated several times, was inspired by an argument in the street and reads: ‘It’s a lousy life for the washed-up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed-up bastard.’ (Words co-incidentally that are also very similar to those used in the divorce court by Janette Gannon's barrister). Toczek has been awarded 50 per cent of the royalties for Baddie's Boogie after a legal battle that dragged on for almost five years. He also got an out-of-court settlement worth nearly £10,000 from Doherty’s management. Toczek, 61, from Bradford, said: "I got my solicitor on to this within weeks of the album being released. After that, Kate Moss’s name never appeared among the writing credits for 'Baddie’s Boogie'." The model, credited with co-writing three other songs on the album, left Doherty for Kills guitarist Jamie 'Hotel' Hince in July 2007, three months after the smack-head sap announced that they were engaged to be married. In another coincidence Babyshambles guitarist, Mick Whitnall was previously in 1980s Oi band Skin Disease. STOP PRESS: there is no truth in the widespread rumour that Gal is emigrating. His PA, Fit Bird denied the charge emphatically, adding that “emigration is just one of several options on the table and anyway he ain’t signed the contract yet”. Pressed to reveal more, she replied: “Oi, no, now you shuddup cos I’m watching the Lympics ain’t I?” Sources close to the band suggest that should the unthinkable happen, the Nads would go on with a hand-picked replacement singer. Possibly Gal’s lookalike, Bluto from the Popeye cartoons. *While we were away 2: the Stone Roses had a secret gig at an Adidas party in Shoreditch last week. Guests included Paul Weller, Jimmy Page, the Cockney Rejects, Jessica Ennis, Bradley Wiggins (plus four minders), Pete Reed, Bobby Gillespie, model Daisy Lowe, Miles Kane, Suki Waterhouse, Jaime and Lois Winstone, Grant Fleming, Pam Hogg, our own Sandy Lane, Rosamund Pike, Mel Blatt, Chris Bleeding Moyles, Rupert Grint and Wretch 32. The Rejects’ only London show this year will be at the 100 Club on October 6th, but you can still get tickets for the Cockney Rejects Convention at BH2 on Saturday September 8th. They’re only £6 a pop. Our roving correspondent Chelsea Dom has yet to file his review of Rebellion, but in fairness it was only over a week ago and the pubs are still open; so in the meantime we’re forced to print the as-yet-unfounded allegation that PiL were “shite”, Neville Staple “good but restrained” (due to illness, sadly – Ed), Rancid were “the bollocks” and Vice Squad “superb.” Rumours abound that Motorhead are being tapped up to headline next year. Meanwhile, the traditional Jolly Pranksters’ Summer Ball was an uncharacteristic flop, we’re told, after the Old Guard banned punk and Ska bands and left the entertainment to an IPM from Variety Lodge. One of many disgruntled brethren tells us: “They had it in a hall in Chatham. I’m not saying it was run-down but the last time it was painted it was by Van Gogh. The ‘Oi-Lympics’ were cancelled due to a dispute over rules, timings and shared dressing rooms. And the turns included a piss-poor Celine Dion tribute act who looked like a side of bacon in a cocktail dress. She fluttered her eyeballs like a moth in a bottle and made ‘My Heart Must Go On’ sound like the death agony of a slow-roasted Korean cat casserole. Never again. Heads will roll.” The Ministry of Delusion are said to have secretly launched a new initiative, a bold scheme to utilise the psychic abilities of Frankie ‘Boy’ Flame with a view to extending “the empire of Oi” into the hereafter. A trial experiment is rumoured to have taken place in the backroom of a pub on the Isle Of Dogs, referred to mysteriously by the Ministry as “the omphalos of our order.” An MOD spokesman, dressed all in black as is customary, refused to comment. When we went back to our informant, however, he said simply: “Actually I’d had a skin-full and I might have dreamt it.” Here’s a new song from Spit Like This. Record news: The Phoenix City All-Stars album, ‘2-Tone Gone Ska’ has almost sold out ahead on its 3/9 release; have a butcher’s here: and grab a copy quick from here. Also out now, writes Sandy Lane, are: ‘Toil’ by Flatfoot 56 (Paper & Plastic) – Celtic punk from Chicago. Re-issues of the ‘Skinhead Glory’ 7inch by Iron Cross (TKO), and from the Templars the ‘Clockwork Orange Horrorshow’ ep on CD. (Templecombe Records.). If you dig melodic punk, check out ‘Champions At Heart’ from Down By Law (Epitaph). While fans of skinhead punk will lap up The Last Resort ‘Live In 2011’ double album, featuring 17 numbers including all the favourites (Randale). Springsteen lovers will probably rate the boss-tastic new Gaslight Anthem album, Handwritten. (Mercury). Finally, the Levellers release new single ‘We Are All Gun Men’ next month (On The Fiddle). Buster Shuffle are among the artists performing at Islington Metal Works on 26/8. There will be three rooms celebrating Jamaica's musical legacy from 10pm till 6am, with DJs the Tighten Up crew, Rhoda Dakar, Asher G (The Rocksteady Daddy), Tiny T (Mighty Cloudburst sound), Ras Digby (Sir Jessus sound), Little Diane (Ace Cafe), Texas Ranger, Della Soul, DJ Cello (Coast To Coast), Fenemeno Show (Open The Gate) and live band General Roots. Our loyal pals the Charlton Boys feature as extras in new gangster-hooligan movie St. George’s Day directed by and starring Frank Harper, along with the likes of Craig Fairbrass, Vincent ‘300’ Regan, Keeley Hazell, Charles Dance, Jamie Foreman and Ashley Walters. According to PR man, Cass Pennant, the film is “a suspense-filled drama of two cousins and their one last big job before retirement beckons. At the top of their game, respected and revered by fellow gangsters, cousins Ray Collishaw (Fairbrass) and Mickey Mannock (Harper) plan the biggest robbery of their careers when a drug drop goes awry. Pursued by the angry Russian mob Mickey persuades reluctant Ray to do one last job for the family. Under the guise of an England vs Germany football friendly, masked by football hooliganism, Ray, Mickey, and their crack team of criminal masterminds embark on the ultimate heist. But with the Russian’s hot on their trail, a wily detective (Jamie Foreman) with a vendetta, and a mole in their midst - can the boys pull it off one last time?” St. George’s Day opens in cinemas across the UK on 7th September 2012. Issue 351 of Maximumrocknroll celebrates the mag’s 30 year existence with interviews with Skitsystem, Stripmines, Napalm Raid, God Equals Genocide, Stressors, American Sun, Ferocious X, and Banyan, whoever the fuck they are. July 14. This blog and website are now closed for one month. Please be advised that anything you order from the shop page will not be despatched until August 15th. In the meantime, here’s a quick update: Gal recorded his latest podcast yesterday with studio guests Mitch from West Country ska geezers the Communicators, Bev Elliott and the Noxious Toyz, who played live in the shed. Full marks to the Toyz’s brilliant stand-in bassist Mark Bending (from Sgt Bilko’s Krazy Combo) who managed to play a double-bass in the Rancid Sounds studio which is only marginally bigger than an old-fashioned telephone box. It was like squeezing Heather Trott through a cat flap... (not Kat’s flaps, they’ve seen enough action). The pod comes with hot tracks from Loaded 44, Mouthguard, the Mardigras Bombers, The Hotknives, Booze & Glory, The 1-Stop Experience, Eddie Tenpole Tudor, Daytona, the Cockney Rejects, the Cundeez and more. It also contains the first ever public broadcast of ‘Glorious’. Hear it here! (The podcast is also available as a free download from iTunes here.) Out this week, new from The Mob a 1,000-copy pressing of ‘Back To Queens’ b/w ‘That’s It’. (Weathermaker Music)... Say Anything’s vinyl album Anarchy, My Dear (Equal Vision)... Morning Glory are giving away new song ‘Patiently’ as a free download... and from Poison Idea, ‘The Fatal Erection Years: 1983-1986’, volume 2 of the Kings Of Punk re-issues series on TKO. STOP PRESS: R.I.P. Roy Shaw, the legendary unlicensed fighter who died last night. July 13. As promised, here are the answers to all of your Frequently Asked Questions: Q. When will the Gonads release another album and what will be on it? (asks Little Dave from Canning Town). A: Next year, Dave. We’re working on a brand new studio album, called Dirty, as well as Greater Hits Volume Three – The Complete Cobblers. No decision has been made on the order in which they will be released. The Dirty song titles won’t mean much to you at this stage, but trust us, this is going to be louder, faster, heavier and nastier than anything we’ve ever done before. Q. Will there be a SkaNads album on the back of the new e.p.? (asks Suzy from Camden) A:Yes, they’re writing it as we speak. It’s not all filth either, there are songs about youth cults, homicidal bouncers and, erh, cricket. Again, there is no release date yet, but the Skinhead Lullabies ep is expected to come out in September. The early response to that has been absolutely top-hole. Q. Do The SkaNads mean that the Gonads are over? (asks Rich from Darlington) A: Absolutely not, sir. The Gonads will be back playing gigs later this year; FB is working on them as you read this. Q. Are the SkaNads just the Gonads in pork pie hats? (asks Cynical Stevie from Derby) A: Belay that cynicism, Stevie. No, they’re two completely different bands with different sounds and different agendas. All they have in common is Gal. Q. Is the Gonads film going to happen and can I be in it? (asks Amber from Brentwood) We hope so. Everything is in place except the finance but we’ve got a two man team working on that right now. Can you be in it, Amber? Our casting couch is always open... Q. What books are Gal writing next? (asks PJ from Woolwich) A: Time For Action is out this year, PJ; Gal is also editing the definitive Oi book as well as writing the third part of his pulp fiction Face trilogy. According to Fit Bird he is “firty fousand” words in to another project “like nothin’ he’s ever written before” as well. Q. What else can we expect from you? (asks Les from Harold Wood) A: We’ve got a few things in the pipeline, Les. The Hooligan Classics ep should be out next month, and our split single with The Uprisers is expected to be released in November. Various other ideas are still in development, but expect an intriguing left-field solo release from Gal before Christmas. This just in. Latest results from the punk-pop football league: Sham 69 – Blink 182. Level 42 – S Club 7. Sum 41– Loaded 44. Gang Of Four – Fun Boy 3. Dave Clark 5 – Heaven 17. UB40 – Haircut 100. By the way, we only wind up Tony ‘Boozy’ Barker because we love the big lug. We would encourage all bands to support his sterling efforts to bring the best of Oi to our friends the wrong side of Hadrian’s Wall. We’ll play for him ourselves, we’re just waiting for confirmation on the night bus. Harley Flanagan has spoken out about his recent arrest and the stabbings at the Cro-Mags show in NYC. His side of the story is here. July 12. STOP PRESS: Ahh shit, some bad news. Martin Sporrell is taking his bid to release an unauthorised Gonads bootleg album to the European Court Of Justice in Luxembourg. Says the Beast: “We are confident that Sporrell’s case has no legal merit and will be thrown out of the higher European court just as it was in London. The man is a thug and a chancer. As far as we are concerned this is just a waste of time and money.” Clyde Ward ran into Martin Gore from Depeche Mode yesterday. Martin asked him to tell Gal that he has still never forgiven/forgotten him for his first review of them in which he referred to the then Basildon-based synth-pop band as “three cunts with ironing boards.” Gal apologies profusely and says if he’d had his time again he wouldn’t have been so pleasant. July 11. Sandra Lane writes: The Gonads had a brilliant day in the studio yesterday. The band finished off three songs. ‘Glorious’ will be on the next Hooligan Classics ep, and we think it’s the best Nads anthem ever. Written by Gal and Clyde, ‘Glorious’ is a stonking, stomping anthem with a big sing-along terrace chorus. The other two songs are pretty damn mega as well, they are ‘Harry May’s Revenge’ (written by Gal and Steve Kent) and ‘We Are The Boys’ (Gal/Clyde) which will be the band’s two tracks on the US split single with The Uprisers, due out later this year. We will announce release dates when we know them. The SkaNads also completed their four track debut ep yesterday, and this will be released by Randale in September. The ep, called Skinhead Lullabies is dedicated to Judge Dread, RIP, and features the very filthy ‘Threes Up’ (Gal/Nick Welsh), pub anthem ‘Beer Can’ (Gal/Steve Whale), the rude and risqué ‘It’s Getting Harder’ (Gal/McMighty, featuring Jennie Bellestar) and the satirical ‘Avoid The Vexation Of Women’ (Gal/McMighty, featuring Dave Barker and comedy legend Mickey Pugh as Granddad). Backing vocals were stylishly supplied by Leah McCaffrey and Wattsie Watts. Fat Col has leapt in to defend Tony ‘Boozy’ Barker insisting that “The bus has a proud place in the pop tradition”. He mentions the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, and perhaps less convincingly Cliff Richards and the ex-London Transport double-decker used in Summer Holiday (all together: “We’re all going on a Barker holiday, standing room only for a week or two... ”). Being Col he also ends on a gag, about a bunch of Sweaty Sock pensioners on a coach trip. After a while one old dear taps the driver on the shoulder and offers him a handful of peanuts which he gratefully polishes off. Fifteen minutes later she taps him on the shoulder again and gives him another handful of peanuts. The third time this happens he asks “Why don’t you eat them yourselves?” She replied: “Och, we canna chew them as we’ve got no teeth... we just love the chocolate around them.” Random news: Ska legends No Doubt release their first new album for ten years in September, called ‘Push & Shove’. They’re posting an internet teaser on Monday... The new Clash documentary is said to take a less worshipful view of the band than previous Clash docs. Called The Rise & Fall Of The Clash, the film by Spanish director Danny Garcia, is more concerned with where it all went wrong, and how manufactured the band and their image was... We’re hearing reports that some German promoters are refusing to work with the Briggs because Joey is a scientologist... According to Billboard there are two Green Day documentaries in the pipeline... the Gaslight Anthem release their new album Handwritten on Monday week. Stop Press: Our condolences to Jimmy Pursey on the sad loss of his father. July 10. Happy birthday André Schlesinger, New York’s finest. And much love to Neville Staple who had a bad turn on stage in France at the weekend. Get well soon, mate. Stories reach us concerning our old pal Tony ‘Boozy’ Barker and his visionary scheme to set up a series of punk/Oi gigs in Scotland. Tone is suggesting that bands travelling up from The Smoke should meet him in his local and then catch a bus to the venue five miles away. “Why waste money on a taxi when we can get the bus right outside?” he reasons, perhaps over-looking the practical problems involved in transporting guitars, drum breakables, pedals and amplifiers, along with merchandise and luggage, via public transport. And if getting there is bad, imagine the journey back after 18 pints of wallop and a deep-fried Mars bar! Still maybe he’s on to something and Boozy Barker’s Bus Tours will be the next big thing in rock... And on the plus side, if Superyob play at least Franky can use his bus pass. (Rumour has it that Pursey has agreed to do a gig for him but only on condition Barker uses a school-bus, but we have no idea what that’s referring to.) Our pal Geno Blue is putting on an Ska & Soul charity fund-raiser at the Cock Tavern, Fleet Street this Friday (13th), with special guest DJ Gaz Mayall. The Moonstompers are playing live. See poster below for details.
Random irritations: people who set up “vital meetings” that disrupt your entire weekend and proceed to let you down 45 sodding minutes before the time of the meet that they called on. People who then say they’ll call you to explain why they’ve mucked up so appallingly and don’t. People who claim to be promoters who couldn’t promote a pair of tits in a lap-dancing club. Fuckwits who think bands should be happy to perform in their poxy, flea-ridden, miles-from-anywhere local for a few pints and a cheese sandwich. Bigger fuckwits in bands who agree with them. Record companies and merchandising firms who promise faithfully to account to you for sales and yet never fucking do. Messers, time wasters and bullshit merchants in general who permeate our scene and should be beaten with a shitty stick on sight. And Marcus Brigstocke. We’re not keen on him either, the posh, odiously right-on, fuck-faced twat. A mystery caller got through to Gonads’ HQ yesterday. “Make sure South Coast Steve reads that story about Harley Flanagan,” growled a mystery Scottish voice – referring to the shock news about Cro-Mag veteran Flanagan stabbing his replacement in the band last Friday. “Is that you RD?” we asked. “Away an’ bile ye heid,” came the charming reply, followed by the abrupt ending of the call. A hoaxer, surely? Random stuff: The genuinely legendary Dave & Ansell Collins play Club Ska at the 100 Club on Saturday, September 1st... Case release a new single on August 6th... a League of Labour Skins reunion bash is being planned for late August in a Pimlico pub... Chumbawamba have split up 14 years after their last hit; they got knocked down, they didn’t get up again. FB and The Beast have both been nominated for a prestigious “Nobby No-Show” award for letting us down at the last minute on Monday and Sunday respectively. Their prize will be a kick in the nuts from Fat Col... Jean Christophe Molinéris 2-Tone art is the best around; his book 'Heart & Soul Painting’ is published next week. Here is Gal’s review of his work: Jean Christophe Molinéris is an outstanding artist whose work captures the very essence of 2-Tone. His portraits don’t just “reflect”, they embrace and embody the spirit of Ska – the insolence, radicalism and sexuality that make this glorious music the antithesis of contemporary manufactured pop-slop. Better than anyone, Molinéris illustrates and celebrates the creative humanity that underpins the 2-Tone dream. His work is art that sings and dances and won’t be still. - Garry Bushell, 2012 OUT now, a new, unauthorised, but lavishly tooled Iron Maiden book by Neil Daniels, available here. July 9. Our pal, the US Gonad and Maninblack's mouthpiece André Schlesinger celebrates his XXth birthday tomorrow, July 10th and in honour Gonads representatives will be joining him at the infamous the Double Down Saloon in the East Village of Manhattan (14 Ave. A, 10009, near Houston) at 9pm to help him forget about his INCREASINGLY SURLY DISPOSITION. Cake and ice cream will NOT be served. But Sally Hand tells us that there will be the DDS's usual fetish porn and classic punk on the sports monitors, CHEAP DRINKS and FREE CONDOMS conveniently deposited by the co-ed bogs. She says “We're looking forward to getting a certain mean old man drunk so that we can get him (and some friends... ) in on some pictures in the DDS's new photo booth that he'll gladly pay to have destroyed at a later date. Yeah, it's fun for the whole family!” There will also be free mini CDs of Maninblack’s Fighting In The Streets b/w The NYC, badges, stickers and a few extras to give away as always... If you see Sally there (she’ll be taking pictures) say hello and buy her a drink! PS. Girls, if you sit on André’s lap he'll tell you how old he really is...
Crimewatch Stop Press: Christopher Brahney, the Stone Roses fan who went missing after their Heaton Park show on Friday 29th June, has been found dead. A body, recovered by police from the Manchester Ship Canal at 9.35am this morning, has been formally identified as Brahney. He was 22... Casey Chaos, the singer with Amen, has been nicked after allegedly crashing his SUV into fifteen parked vehicles in Los Angeles last week. Choas – real name Karim Chmielinski – was arrested at his home in Studio City and has been charged with driving under the influence. He is reported to have fled the scene. Casey has collaborated with a host of rock and punk artists, including the Pistols, Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop. July 8. Crimewatch continued: Violence erupted at the CBGB Festival at Webster Hall, New York, on Friday night. Harley Flanagan, a founder member of hardcore band the Cro-Mags allegedly walked into the VIP lounge and stabbed his replacement, Cro-Mags bassist Mike “The Gook” Couls. He is also said to have slashed and bitten another band member and taken a bite out of a third. The attack took place at around 8.30pm. Security mobilised immediately but it took six burly bouncers to overpower Flanagan, who is a mixed martial arts fighter trained in Jiu-Jitsu. They “beat the shit” out of him before the NYPD arrived and took him away in cuffs. The cops closed the theatre down. Flanagan has been charged with assault and possessing a criminal weapon. Couls was rushed to Bellevue hospital, his injuries are not life-threatening. Harley, is said to have fallen out with the band, specifically singer John Bloodclot in 2000; he later denounced him as a “fuckin’ dick”, “a bullshit merchant” and a scam artist who “never wrote a song in his life.” July 7. Tonight’s Madness gig at Carlisle Racecourse has been cancelled, along with the racing, due to torrential rain... Random news: Sham 69 – the real ones, with Parsons and Pursey - play the Brixton Electric a week today with support Spear Of Destiny... Shug O’Neill’s Guttersnipes are back, they play The Vale in Glasgow on October 21st... NOFX release a new 7-inch single called ‘Ronnie & Mags’ on August 14th, featuring two brand new tracks and a demo of ‘I Believe in Goddess’...
July 6. Hello herberts, wotcha wasters, and Ohayou gozaimasu to our regular readers in Japan. A few of you have been asking questions about various aspects of Gonadian activities and we intend to answer all of them before this blog shuts down properly for a month. If you have anything to ask, drop old Waistrel a line. Meantime, here’s some news: Bad Manners and the Dualers headline The Folkstone Skabour fest next month. The three-day seaside knees-up runs from 10-12 August. Sunday night headliners are Reel Big Fish. Other bands on the bill include the Skatonics, The Estimators, the Popes of Chillitown and The Bottlenex.
TONY Van Frater and Decca Wade are joining our favourite Northern comedian Mark Rough in the line up for the North East all-star charity re-recording of the Disorder classic ‘Air Raid’ which will be released in aid of the Jail Guitar Doors organisation to help ex-offenders back into society. John Lydon was entertaining enough on Question Time last night, but he answered one question by saying “I’m just a bystander, I know nothing” prompting Fat Col to shout: “Then fuck off out of it and give yer seat to someone who does.” Frankie Boyle tweeted that in comparison, Sid Vicious’s death is starting to look dignified.” Although the thing with Lydon of course is that at any time he could be right, he could be wrong... he could be wrong, he could be right. Right? The ex-Pistols sat next to Tory MP Louise Mensch (Col’s pin-up) who admitted “I did serious drugs and it messed with my head.” She is of course married to foul-mouthed Metallica manager Peter Mensch, who Gal describes as “Rock’s answer to Ari Gold.” July 5. Oi, oi the Mods are back… in Brighton… August bank Holiday
This is for our mate Nina:
Coming soon from Randale Records – the new album from ARGY BARGY, ‘Hopes, Dreams, Lies & Schemes’; the Last Resort’s ‘Live In 2011’ double album; Pist'n'Broke’s ‘20 Years Strong’ picture LP with four new unreleased songs and RUST’s ‘Lean Mean Street Machine’ album. Coming soon from us: absolute blissful hibernation until mid-August at the earliest. STOP PRESS. The Cockney Rejects documentary East End Babylon gets another airing on Saturday at the East London Film Festival (Genesis Cinema, Mile End) July 4. Happy Independence Day to our mates in the States. Today is the day they celebrate their independence from us – and their new dependence on China. Random guff: Ozzy’s old guitarist Zakk Wilde has named his new-born son “Sabbath”, let’s hope no-one from Kunt & The Gang follows suit... new Our Last Night album out next month... Amstel Light's Savor Complexity telephone booth ads campaign in the US celebrates ‘The Complex Tale Of Rock Music’. Sadly their comprehensive mentions of Punk and its sub-genres criminally over-looks the Punk Pathetique scene. Will no-one fly the flag for the Postmen and Barney & The Rubbles? We’re shocked and saddened. Here's the ad in full. July 1st. Movie director Rob Gomez has signed up to film Curry On Up The Gonads, and various big-name Cockney actors are on board once the funding is in place. But now we get to the serious bit. We need to cast the Gonads as we would have been in the late 70s/early 80s, as well as 2001, and we also need to cast entourage characters such as Fat Col, The Nosher, Bev Elliott, Batttttty, Ron Rouman and the rest. Proper auditions will be held later this year, but in the meantime, if you think you could be Ravishing Wattsie Watts, Stinky Turner, Judge Dread, Terry Hayes or Charlie Harper then and now or a young Jennie Bellestar please email photos and a CV to Lord Waistrel (who will be played by Michael Gambon if things go to plan). Says exec producer Paul Hallam: “We want genuine actors and actresses first and foremost, but there will be opportunities for extra work for young punks, skins and Mods.” Rob Gomez has worked with Gal before, on the cult classic flick Hell To Pay, which also featured Mickey Pugh. Mick has written the film script which is best described as “The Great Rock n Roll Swindle meets Confessions of a Window Cleaner with a pinch of Fight Club”. Barnet Mark will play himself. Waistrel’s email is waistrel@the-gonads.co.uk |
