Geoff Travis in Conversation Pop Recs Sunderland August 8th 2013
Laura and I went to see Geoff Travis in Conversation at Pop Recs in Sunderland last night. Geoff Travis is the founder of Rough Trade Records. Rough Trade started as a record shop in London in the early days of punk, and then launched a highly influential record label and distribution network which was home to The Smiths and many other bands. Pop Recs is a record shop, coffee house and venue launched and run by local band Frankie And The Heartstrings. The event was over-subscribed, and was aimed at local musicians and those involved in the music business, being part-organised by local music business catalyst Generator. Guardian writer and Music Business commentator Eamonn Forde was asking all of the questions, and made sure that there was also plenty of opportunity for questions from the audience. It was a fascinating evening, with Geoff talking about the formation and growth of Rough Trade, and giving us insights into what made it such a success. He explained that he started the company so that he could have control over his own destiny, and follow the music that he loved and believed in. Rough Trade was set up on a set of socialist values of honesty and fairness, and Geoff told us how he has always followed his own interests and worked with bands and artists who he believed in. He explained the importance of being spontaneous, and not waiting to act on instinct, citing an example of how Rough Trade failed to sign the Stone Roses, because they didn’t act quick enough in issuing a contract. He also spoke fondly of Morrissey and Marr, and Javis Cocker. He talked about the recent rebirth of Rough Trade with artists such as The Strokes (who he heard down the phone and knew in 10 seconds that he wanted to sign them) and The Libertines. An inspiring evening with a guy who has certainly been there and done it.
Posts Tagged ‘new wave’
9 Aug
Geoff Travis in Conversation Pop Recs Sunderland August 8th 2013
8 Aug
Killing Joke Middlesbrough Gaskins Sat 25th April 1981
Killing Joke Middlesbrough Gaskins Sat 25th April 1981
“Killing Joke lurk in rock and roll’s shadow world where they weave with electronic instruments of mystic fire magical incantations and dark grinding musical shapes that linger in the air like Aleister Crowley’s opium-scented nightsweats” (dangerousminds.net).
And so it was when Dave and I experienced “The Joke” at Middlesbrough Gaskins in 1981. Gaskins was a club in Middlesbrough town centre which played host to a number of punk gigs in the early 80s, frequented by the same crowd that assembled at the Rock Garden, the Town Hall Crypyt and Redcar Coatham Bowl. The first thing I recall about this gig was arriving to an empty ballroom with a large pentagram set out on the dance floor in front of the stage. The gig started to fill up, and the aforementioned pentagram was inhabited by a fire eater, known as “Dave The Wizard” who then proceeded to breath fire at us, while performing a primeval war dance. Dark spooky stuff. This was the world of Killing Joke at the time, very influenced by Mr Crowley, black magic and the dark side. The line-up was Jaz Coleman on vocals and organ, Kevin “Geordie” Walker on guitar, Martin “Youth” Glover on bass, and Paul Ferguson on drums. Jaz had his face painted with black make-up, and Youth looked very like Sid Vicious. And the music was loud, dark, doomy, pounding and relentless. There was something sinister and unnerving about the evening; a power and energy that transcended the music being performed. This was music from the dark side and took punk to another epic level.
From a fanzine site: “NC: Can you tell us about the fire-eater? JAZ: Oh yes, that’s a long time ago. The Wizard, he used to blow fire. He was a real nut case, that guy. He used to blow fire and war dance. He has not done it for a long time. He had some interesting ideas. He blows fire, this is about him not us, but he blows fire, he does not blow it in the sort of conventional theatre-come-cabaret sort of act. He blows it in a very ritualistic sort of way. He takes fire as being your will, your desire, and he uses it in that way, and it was really good at that time, and it just seemed to fit, and that was it” (No Class Fanzine No 1).
6 Aug
King Kurt Newcastle Dingwalls mid 1980s
King Kurt Newcastle Dingwalls mid 1980s
I only experienced the majestic madness and mayhem of King Kurt in concert once, at a gig at Newcastle Dingwalls, sometime in the mid 80s; it was probably 1983 or 1984. King Kurt were a totally crazy psychobilly band, who formed in 1981 and split up in 1988. The gig I attended was around the time of their best known single “Destination Zululand”, which was released in 1983. I went to the gig with my mate Dave, and a jolly good time was had by all, particularly the crazy followers of King Kurt. Seeing this band live was like nothing I’ve ever seen before or since. Singer Gary “The Smeg” led the band and the totally nuts crowd through a set of crazed rockabilly music, but it was the extra-muiscal antics which were the most fun. By this time King Kurt and their fans had become infamous for “food fights” at their gigs. The band and their fans came heavily armed with eggs and bags of flour, which were then thrown around, both on and off stage. The whole front area of the crowd was a big mess. We lurked at the back avoiding the deluge of debris. One lucky guy was invited on stage for a custom crewcut administered by Smeg and the boys. But the highlight was a stage prop known as “The Wheel of Misfortune”, a piece of torture equipment the like of which I have never seen since. It was a large wheel on which a lucky fan was strapped and fed snakebite through a tube. The lucky recipient must have drunk about 10 pints of the stuff before he vomited it all over the stage. For the music think The Cramps meets the Sex Pistols meets Carl Perkins meets Zulu rhythms. “Destination Zululand; hum diddle dee dum hoo wah he ho; Come on boys jump in the van; People came from foreign lands; on motor cycles and in vans; to see the latest Zulu band! Destination Zululand; hum diddle dee dum hoo wah he ho!!!” They just don’t make bands like this anymore (although I see that a reformed line-up of King Kurt has just played the Rebellion festival in Blackpool). Wahoo Wahoo 🙂
17 Jul
The Jam Newcastle City Hall 1980 and 1982
The Jam Newcastle City Hall 1980 and 1982
The Jam were back at the City Hall in 1980 and 1982, playing a couple of nights each time. Support for the 1980 concert was The Piranhas who hit the charts with their cover of Tom Hart. A bootleg exists for this concert which shows the setlist as: Thick As Thieves/Boy About Town/Monday/Going Underground/Pretty Green/Man In The Corner Shop/Set The House Ablaze/Private Hell/This Is The Modern World/Little Boy Soldiers/But I’m Different Now/Start!/Scrape Away/When You’re Young/The Eton Rifles 
Two years later and they were back again, this time supported by The Questions, who were signed to Paul Weller’s record label. They also wrote some songs for Weller protege Tracie Young (aka Tracie). 
The ticket also mentions a local support act, but I’m afraid I can’t remember who that was. By 1982 The Jam had released six albums, and had hit the charts many times, including three Number 1s. Town Called Malice was Number 1 in 1982, and the band were riding the crest of a wave. However Paul Weller was beginning to feel that this was the end of The Jam and the band was soon to disband. I would see The Jam, once more which I will write about tomorrow. Looking back this band left a legacy of great singles, and some great live performances.
16 Jul
The Jam Newcastle City Hall 1979
The Jam Newcastle City Hall 1979
The Jam called at the City Hall twice in 1979, once in May, and again in December. Both gigs were glorious occasions. By now Paul Weller was developing as a songwriter, and the concert set was changing all the time. Live favourites of mine were David Watts, Billy Hunt, the wonderful Away From the Numbers, all the singles, and Smithers-Jones. Their cover of Batman still appeared now and then and was always good fun. The beautiful Butterfly Collector was also part of the set by late 1979, and remains a favourite to this day. 
Paul Weller was just on fire at these gigs, spitting and snarling the vocals, with Bruce Foxton bopping about alongside him, and Rick Buckler smashing away at the back.
Setlist from London Rainbow Theatre show of the December 1979 tour: Girl on the Phone; To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time); It’s Too Bad; Burning Sky; Away From the Numbers; Smithers-Jones; The Modern World; Mr Clean; The Butterfly Collector; Private Hell; Thick as Thieves; When You’re Young; Strange Town; The Eton Rifles; Down in the Tube Station at Midnight; Saturday’s Kids; All Mod Cons; David Watts
Support for the December tour came from The Vapors who were to hit the charts with Turning Japanese. The programme for the Spring Tour 1979 has some smashing period advertisements. I am invited to buy Jam Shoes from Shelly’s of London. The come in “all colours”: white and platted, black and platted, black and white, red and white, red and beige, etc. Just send £12.99 plus £1 postage. Jam Jackets in plain colours (£35) and Union Jack (£55), from Carnaby Cavern Ltd (we supply The Jam, The Four Tops, so why not you?). “Mod” Parka, genuine american fishtail parka as word in the 60s, US Army surplus, not new but in good condition, only £12.50, from ACME Clothing Co. Wow! What a wardrobe. I wonder if I send my cheque off now I can still buy these. They would sure look great to wear the next time I see The Who or Paul Weller 🙂 !
15 Jul
The Jam 1977 and 1978
The Jam 1977 and 1978
When we think of late 70s punk rock, we have a certain image of safety pins, spitting, the pogo, and fast furious rebellious rock. In reality the punk scene was a pretty broad church, which drew from a wide range of influences. The Jam burst onto the scene in 1977, blending mod, sharp suits, with attitude, arrogance and great catchy pop songs. They had obviously been influenced by, soul, R&B, The Who and The Small Faces and you could tell that lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller was a big fan of Steve Marriott and Pete Townshend. I attended a few early Jam concerts in the North East, at Newcastle Mayfair and at Sunderland Seaburn Hall. These gigs were pretty wild affairs with Weller and the guys having to dodge a hail of glasses (and they were real glass in those days, not plastic) and waves of spit. The Seaburn Hall gig was particularly ferocious; it was attended by a group of skinheads (“We hate punks”) who were looking for trouble and there were several scuffles. The Jam set in those days drew from their first album, their early singles, and a nifty cover of the Batman them closed the show. They were a breath of fresh air and it was evident even at those early gigs, that this was a band that stood above the rest, and would ultimately transcend the punk movement. By 1978 The Jam had graduated to playing Newcastle City Hall, a venue that would be host to some great Jam gigs over the next few years. I also saw them headline the Friday night of the Reading festival in the same year. Sample Jam setlist from 1978: The Modern World; London Traffic; I Need You (For Someone); The Combine; Aunties & Aunts; Standards; Here Comes the Weekend; Sounds From the Street; News of the World; London Girl; In the Street, Today; Bricks and Mortar; In the City; In the Midnight Hour; Carnaby Street; All Around the World. I think support for this gig was Patrick Fitzgerald and The Dickies?
13 Jul
Japan Newcastle City Hall 1982
Japan Newcastle City Hall 1982. 
By 1982 Japan were popular enough to command two shows at Newcastle City Hall. Support came from Sandii And The Sunsetz, who were on their debut tour of Britain, and were a five piece Japanese band. My enduring memory of this gig was a simply mesmerizing version of “Ghosts”. David Sylvian sat centre stage on a stool, just pure cool. Japanese guitarist and keyboardist Masami Tsuchiya performed with the band on this tour. Sadly Japan were already disintegrating and the band split shortly after this tour. 
The tour culminated in six sold-out nights at London’s Hammersmith Odeon; these were their last UK shows. These final Hammersmith concerts were recorded to produce Oil on Canvas, a live album and video released in June 1983. Set list: Burning Bridges, Sons Of Pioneers, Alien, Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Swing, Cantonese Boy, Visions Of China, Nightporter, Canton, Ghosts, Still Life In Mobile Homes, Methods Of Dance, Quiet Life, European Son, The Art Of Parties, Life In Tokyo, Fall In Love With Me. Now David Sylvian is another guy that I really must see again, if and when he next plays in the UK.
12 Jul
Japan Newcastle City Hall 1978 and 1981
Japan Newcastle City Hall 1978 and 1981
The band Japan first came to my attention when they supported Blue Oyster Cult at Newcastle City Hall in June 1978. There was quite a buzz about this new band at the time, reports portraying them as heavily influenced by Bowie, The Dolls and glam. To be honest, I was somewhat disappointed by their performance that night. They seemed at the time to be all image, with little substance in terms of the music, which was pretty ramshackle punk/new wave. David Sylvian played out his best David Johansen poses, and they did have a quite fun version of “Don’t Rain on my Parade”. But the sound was poor, and they were no match for BOC, who were at the height of their success. I also recently read that Japan supported Jim Capaldi and The Contenders on his UK tour which took place in October 1977. 
Now I saw Jim Capaldi around that time at Newcastle Poly, but I’m afraid that I don’t remember seeing Japan. By the time I saw Japan again, on the “Visions Of China” Tour in 1981, they were a totally different, and very impressive band. They had released their fifth and most successful album Tin Drum, which featured the beautiful and haunting “Ghosts”. Japan were amazing at the 1981 gig at Newcastle City Hall. David Sylvian and Mick Karn were both excellent front men, and I was simply transfixed when they played Ghosts. Supporting Japan that night were Blancmange, who went on to further success themselves. Setlist: Canton, Swing, Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Alien, Talking Drum, Visions Of China, Quiet Life, My New Career, Ghosts, Cantonese Boy, Methods Of Dance, Still Life In Mobile Homes, European Son, The Art Of Parties, Life In Tokyo, Fall In Love With Me, Canton (finale).
11 Jul
Joe Jackson 1981 and 1982
Joe Jackson 1981 and 1982
By 1981 Joe Jackson was doing the Jumping Jive. This tour called at Newcastle Mayfair, and saw Joe in a big band format with an album and tour which recreated 40s swing. It was an interesting and enjoyable gig, and very different from the Joe Jackson gigs I had previously attended. I went with my mate Gillie who was really into Joe and the Jumping Jive at the time. 
By 1982 Joe was back in the singles charts with the great Steppin’ Out, and touring with a new band. I caught his show at Newcastle City Hall in 1982. The ticket tells me that there was no support that night and that “the artiste” ie Joe) came on stage at 8.15pm. I can’t recall a lot about this gig, the early Joe Jackson gigs are the ones which stick in my mind. Songs like Is She Really Going Out With Him? and Fools in Love mixed new wave, pop and jazz in a stylish way like no other band at the time. This was the last time I saw Joe Jackson in concert. Joe’s visits to the UK have been less frequent in recent times. He’s another guy who I’d like to see again.
10 Jul
Joe Jackson 1979 and 1980
Joe Jackson 1979 and 1980
Joe Jackson was a cool guy when he emerged as part of the punk and new wave scene in the late 1970s. He hit the charts with his debut album Look Sharp! and the singles Is She Really Going Out with Him? and Its Different For Girls. And he wore the coolest Denson shoes, which can be seen on the cover of the Look Sharp! album. In those days you could pick up Denson winklepicker sidelacers and Chelsea boots for a few quid in sale shops. I wish I’d stocked up on them! All my pairs wore out many years ago. 
I remember the City Hall show as a great gig, playing the singles and the tracks from the album. I first saw Joe Jackson as support for a band called the Pleasers at a gig at Newcastle Poly. The Pleasers were an interesting band who modelled themselves on the Beatles and Merseybeat and yet had their own style. A typical Joe Jackson setlist from 1979: One More Time; Pretty Girls; Look Sharp; Friday; Sunday Papers; Baby Stick Around; Is She Really Going Out With Him; Fools In Love; Life Is A Bowl Of Cherries; Kinda Kute; Happy Loving Couples; I’m The Man; Throw It Away; Got The Time; Pressure Drop; Come On.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 