13/10 On This Day in Punk History

Punk history was made this day when The Who recorded ‘My Generation’ in 1965. Lester Bangs once said ‘Rock & Roll is an attitude, and if you’ve got the attitude you can do it, no matter what anybody says… whatever anybody ever called it, Punk Rock has been around from the beginning – it’s just Rock honed down to its rawest elements, simple playing with a lot of power… PASSION IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT’. What boasts that spirit attitude better than ‘My Generation’? This song sums up why we have Rock & Roll, why it is so necessary. This day in 1965 The Who made Punk history.

A couple of days ago in 1976 an unsigned Wreckless Eric gave a tape of his material to Stiff Records. Well, this day 76 he’s called back to the label and offered a contract. Eric will become a big name for the label and New Wave music in the UK.

It was also one day ago in 1978 that Nancy Spungen was killed. Today Sid Vicious appears in court, charged with second degree murder. The New York press infest the story, claiming he’s been proven guilty before the trail has even begun. Bail has been set at $50,000 and Vicious is now looking to Malcolm McLaren for help.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Penetration release their first album, the glow-in-the-dark Moving Targets. Here’s the lead track ‘Future Daze’:

This day 1990, Iggy Pop is in the charts with a duet withB52’s Kate Pierson entitled ‘Candy’. A decade earlier, Jim Carroll, the drug addict-cum-poet-cum-punk release his first album. Jim Carroll is probably most famous for The Basketball Diaries, an autobiographical account of his teenage years of heroin addiction (made into a film with Leonardo DiCaprio). He became a succesful poet in 70s New York and was an early supporter of Patti Smith. She in turn encouraged him to start a band, which he did. It was this day in 1980 that The Jim Carroll Band released their debut album featuring the classic song ‘People Who Died’. Here’s the late Carroll:

26/09 On This Day in Punk History

Oi! Oi! Oi!

This day was a busy so it’s gonna be bullet point, in chronological order beginning with the not so Punk:

1945 – Bryan Ferry is born on this day. He’ll grow up to be a direct influence on the Punk rejuvenation of music.

1965 – After a disagreement between the Protopunk rockers The Who Keith Moon is lying unconscious and Roger Daltry has been kicked out of the band. However he’ll be reinstated the next day.

1975 – On this day an ad runs in Melody Maker asking for a whizz kid guitarist. The ad was written by Malcolm McLaren. Paul Cook is unhappy with Steve Jones guitar playing and wants somebody better. After auditions they recruit Steve New (later of Rich Kids with Glen Matlock) but kick him out after a few weeks realising they don’t want two guitars.

1977 – In LA The Germs realise their debut single ‘Forming’, with a warning that ‘This record may cause ear cancer’. The b-side is a live recording of ‘Sexy Boy’ taken when they played at The Roxy for possible inclusion in the Cheech & Chong film Up in Smoke (which eventually included The Dils). It was their second gig.

1977 – That same day, back in Europe, The Jam are on stage in Sweden when they get pelted by trash and their amps get smashed. They cancel their gig in the Netherlands this week, citing they don’t have the gear to play.

1978 – John Cooper Clarke releases his debut LP ‘Ou est la masino de fromage?’ with Martin Hannet on bass and producing.

1991 – The Irish Pogues have got an English member in the form of Joe Strummer, replacing Shane McGowan for two nights in New York.

Peel Slowly and See

1995 – And on this day in 1995 the essential Velvet Underground compilation Peel Slowly and See is released. Named after Warhol’s instructions of the cover of their debut album it contains their four studio albums (including the Closet Mix), their historic Ludlow Street demos and various live tracks and demo recordings. Brilliant.