THE SKEPTIX - ...So The Youth 1983

A great politically charged band, not as heavily political as Crass, but great well thought out meaninful lyrics are there. The Skeptix originally formed 1980 in Stoke On Trent by Snotty (vocals), Fish (guitars), Usher (bass) and Chig (drums) and they signed to Zenon Records and release their debut 7'' Routine Machine in 1981. Between 1981 & 1983 the band released five singles & an album via the German label Rock-O-Rama Records which was not a good decision, the album went down in nothing and received little response. A split with OHL, The Kids Are United EP, followed and they said goodbye to H.E. and in 1985 the Skeptix split up. In December 2001 the band, with the original band line-up, reformed & started to rehearse for the Holidays in the Sun Festivals in the UK & USA. Their first album in twenty years, Hate & Fear, was recorded & released in 2003. In the same year the Skeptix toured the USA to promote the album. The recording of their gig at New Yorks CBGBs became their next album for release. A DVD of the CBGBs gig, including additional footage from the tour, was also released. So now enjoy fast, brash UK eighties hardcore punk.

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A+P - s/t LP 1981

Last post before X-Mas and it's a another German classic: A+P come from Starnberg near Munich and was founded 1979 by three brothers, where bassist and guitarist are twin brothers. Characteristic are above all the snappy-critical lyrics and the unmistakable voice of the singer. What was planned as a surprise gag on the 40th birthday of the singer developed into a real reunion as part of the Punk-in-Munich project. Philip, the singer, was able to convince his two younger, then fourteen-year-old brothers and his friend Felix that they should make punk music. First, all four band members wanted to play guitar and so had to be gagged for the cast. Florian won, so Felix, who was actually the best guitarist, was on the drums. The first record was recorded with Felix, then came Jürgen Tonkel to the band, who was playing at the same time in inner German relations. Jürgen left A+P in 1984, Felix came back and the band played until 1985 in the original line-up.

The band was controversial in the then Munich scene, which was partly because they had as 'Starnberger' the reputation of Rich Kids. On the other hand, the first record was released on a major label (Jupiter Records/Ralph Siegel). So there were few appearances in Munich itself from A + P, but they played a lot in Starnberg and the surrounding area, but especially in Switzerland, where the Links Rechts EP appeared on Soilant in 1982. Jürgen worked with the band Inner German Relations (IDB) on the TV series BLAM and came in this way to acting, which he operates successfully today.

Due to the excitement of the song 'Dachau' appeared the 2nd edition of the album without this song. But anyone who dealt with the entire text of the song 'Dachau' recognized the very clear anti-fascist statement. 'Dachau' became a cult song. Even in the former GDR A+P achieved a considerable degree of awareness, tapes with the songs were copied countless times and further processed.

In 2004 A+P with Jürgen Tonkel on drums after twenty years went live again and publicly in Munich on the stage. The old A+P songs and especially the very personal but also very political lyrics have lost none of their original meaning and explosiveness. What should be a unique gig was repeated due to the incredible response in 2006 and 2007.

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NOT FOR SALE - NFS 1986

Two years after the A Few Dollars More EP the three piece from Houston released their only album on Rabid Cat Records and we enjoy thirteen creamies decorated with strawberries, cherries, lemons and tasty stollen from Mutti. The saxophone is a bit too dominant for my taste and disturbs partially, I had expected more, well, you can't have everything. Anyway, thirty minutes are quite enough and 'Solitaire' is a pretty number. Let's see what the weekend has to offer, come in well!

- Special Thx to Via -

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D.O.A. - Bloodied But Unbowed 1983

Classic record now and Bloodied But Unbowed is the truth of it. D.O.A. has slogged forward from the west coast of north America, criss-crossing the continent on a shoestring, infecting friends and strangers with an alien virus, a dangerous aggressive way of viewing the world. Talk minus action equals zero. Use your brain, think for yourself, speak out, take action or let the silence bury you alive. This blazing hot quartet, led by Canada's godfather of punk Joe Shithead Keithley on vocals and guitar, along with the incredible Chuck Biscuits on drums, the rock n' roll madman Randy Rampage on bass and the outrageous Dave Gregg on guitar blazed a wide swath through western counter culture. The Damage To Date: 1978-83, Alternative Tentacles, only hits!

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KLAXON - 1984

The Klaxons are an Italian punk band with post-punk influences, active since 1979. Historical formation and milestone of the Roman music scene, they are still today one of the reference bands of Italian punk, formed 1979 in Rome by the meeting of Andrea Morelli (bass/vocals), Lorenzo Tovoli (guitar/vocals) and Fabrizio Ferraro (drums). The first live performance takes place at the Roman Club Uonna. They also play in all the events organized at the time by Radio Red Wave and Radio Proletaria. In 1983 they released their first EP with five pieces, one of which, "Religion", came in first place in the Punk Charts Italia ranking in the Rockerilla newspaper. This little compilation was released via Sydney Town and tracks 1-5 were originally released on the "The Kids Today" EP, track 6 is from the "Quelli Che Urlano Ancora.." comp., tracks 7-9 are previously unreleased. Solid stuff!

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110 - s/t LP 1982

Now a real rarity by this early 80ies PunkRock combo from Hildesheim, Lower Saxony with their only album on Rillenschlange. 110 were Otto (vocals & guitars), Ulli (guitars) Ralle and Henning (bass), Markus (synth/piano/guitars), René (vocals & drums) and 110 is the emergency number in Germany (this only by the way). I can't remember how I came to this slab and unfortunately the band didn't reach the level of popularity at that time like other well-known German legends. Probably too intellectual and not so aggressive but lyrically they make very clear which side they stand on and criticize such topics as "be cool", "police actions", "press" or the sense of getting up early every fucking day, packed in catchy first-class melodic driving rhythm mid-tempo sound, really a fantastic record, even if you don't understand a word. On compilations only represented on the Wer Kriegt Das Noch Hin? cassette. It doesn't have always to be anarchy and beer, right!

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MASSMEDIA - Sista Ackordet 1980

The first band from Sundsvall that recorded an EP. The members had been in England and bought themselves an eight channel mixer and used that to record their EP's. On the first recording the battery of the fuzzbox went empty and because no stores where open the guitar sounds a little non-distorted. They released their EP's on the Massproduktion label, a label they created themselves. Being the most ambitious local punk band at the time they developed fast and even before the release of the first EP they recorded the classical single Das Jazz/Jag Vill Inget, live in their rehearsalroom with Jan Zachrisson from Diestinct, who knew slightly more about recordings. It is still one of the most furious singles from that period with the VU-meters glued to the red area. In February 1979 they released their first album on their own label Massproduktion. It had a print run of 800 numbered copies and is now regarded as a collector's item. In 1980 the Nilsson brothers went to Linköping to study, and that was the end of the band. The Nilsson brothers later started Huvudtvätt. So this album is an awesome KBD smasher and one of the top releases of this genre.

- Huge Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - Im Zeichen Des (Pleite-) Geiers 1997

A small overview into the heart of our beautiful cultural country with loads of interesting bands and East Side Records have spared no expense and effort to release this compilation with excellent artwork and infos. Two volumes exist and the second one is a click away on Woltis Provinzkacke Blog. Limited to 555 copies plus EP. Essential! Have a great weekend!

1.Vampirflug - TANZENDE KADAVER

2.Sommertag - INKOMPLEX

3.Hass Kommt Krass - HESSEN BASTARD

4.Traum Der Freiheit - NO MATTER

5.MTV-Punks - SICK

6.Die Zeit - KERMAT ATTACK

7.Pissbeutels - OSTBLOCK

8.Arbeitslos - SCHIMMELBROT

9.Fick Dich - INKOMPLEX

10.Ist Gut - KLAUS APFEL

11.Kinder Die Musik Erklingt - BUFFI IN NARDT

12.Du Hast Mich Geküßt - BUFFI IN NARDT

13.Mutterliebe - SICK

14.Kinder Der Straße - BOTTLES

15.Andreas Simon Fick Dich - TANZENDE KADAVER

16.Schicksal - INKOMPLEX

17.Der Mann, Der Immer Ans Telefon Geht - KLAUS APFEL

18.Der Mondscheintanz - UNGUNST

19.Zwanzig Und Weg - DOC BIOSA

20.Backstreet Knallo - OSTBLOCK

21.Vamp! - TANZENDE KADAVER

22.Intro/Rotzlöffel - ROTZLÖFFEL

23.In Den Straßen - BOTTLES

24.Das Biest - BUFFI IN NARDT

25.Karinade - BUFFI IN NARDT

26.Politiker - ROTZLÖFFEL

27.Ich Trinke - BOTTLES

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UPRIGHT CITIZENS - Open Eyes, Open Ears, Brains To Think & A Mouth To Speak!!! 1985

One of my favorite records is the following slab by the Upright Citizens and was recorded and mixed during the month of Feb. & Sep. '84 and Feb., April & May 1985 in Zero Green Studio, Essen. Resulted is this record in co-production with 'Better Youth Organization'. Also released by the band itself, limited edition in clear blue, the rest in black vinyl (my copy). Most of the tracks were already released on previous records, however almost all are either new recorded or at least remixed. Engineer was Walter Fux, with which we have mixed together. Cover artwork for the idea and we stand responsible. And also all texts and the total music comes from us except for "Holocaust" (CRISIS).

The first line-up consisted of Anton (vox+guitar), Uli (guitar), Cracker (bass) and Mario (drums). In 1989 the line-up and the musical line changed - with Alex (drums) and Chris (guitar), today members of the mopedgang or at Eisenpimmel, new influences came into the band. The songs changed, away from the fast political hardcore punk towards a sound and become more metal and I would not tell this punk anymore. The stage show of Upright Citizens were often compared with the Social Distortion, well I don't give a shit about those who wrote that.

In spring 2003, Upright Citizens gave their last concert on board a chartered excursion steamer on the Rhine. I can say, Upright Citizens are one of the best German punk bands whose records (early) are all absolute classics. Very rough and with brilliant lyrics, the gents stand out clearly from all of the incompetents and Pseudo punk bands in this country which not even understand the meaning behind it. Must have!!!

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CO-AL 159 - s/t LP 1982

Never heard this band before and I'm always happy to come in touch with new stuff, especially when it comes from Germany. This band has been named after a car registration, presumably their license plate and I find this very originell. This nice idea is also reflected in their music because it comes up with a simple scrape sound which I call NDW punk or whatever, the guitars reminds me of the Düsseldorfer KFC and you know how great they were. In 1982 the members from Coburg published their only album on Rockport Records with twelve songs. Remarkable their cover versions of "Lemon Tree" and "Blue Suede Shoes". Everyone should listen to these wacky songs, really. CO-AL 159 were Carsten (drums), Clement (bass), Jörg and Kurt (guitars) and Marion and Alex (voices), and here ends my info. Well, what remains is another cool platte which shines with the two part-singing and simply minimalistic sound effects: Cult!

- Big Thx to Fredrik -

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