EXTERNAL MENACE - Youth Of Today EP 1982 & No Views EP 1983 & Seize The Day EP 1997

Triple pack for the weekend start by this awesome band from the suburbs of Glasgow. Their debut from 1982 Youth Of Today is a classic record and one year later it was followed by their second EP called No Views. Again four smash hits and you get what you're lookin' for. The band went through a few alter ego moments over the following years - playing External Menace songs at gigs but under different names. Beat The System!! had folded and the band released a few compilation tracks on Rot Records. In 1987 Wullie (vocals) was taking a short cut across the M8 when he was hit by a car and killed. A decade on, the band were revived when Captain Oi! records began to show an interest in releasing a compilation album of all the bands previous releases. The band continued to chop and change over the following two years. In 1997 the Seize The Day EP was released. They toured Europe three times, toured the UK, played countless festivals and recorded the Process Of Elimination LP. Again many line-up changes but the band is still active and with their good basic Britpunk sound always a pleasure guest in my house.

Details: External Menace formed from the same youthful energy that gave birth to many of the "second wave"of British punk bands. Put together by vocalist Wullie Hammill and John Sneddon in the summer of 1979, the band were typical of the 1979/1980 punk bands, faster and rougher than the class of 77, but not an all out UK82-style attack. The band played out as often as they could, evolving fully into the UK82 mold, and released two singles and also putting in an appearance on the Total Anarchy compilation (1982). Their sound was typical of the era, kinda speedy punk with gruff vocals and anarcho-inspired lyrics abour war, the evil governments and nonconformism. That was the side of External Menace that most people knew best, but towards the middle of the 80's they branched out in a more melodic (but still hardcore) direction, playing reggae inspired tunes like "Rude Awakening" and "Killing Me Asylum". While the band recorded two or three more demos, putting some of their new tracks down, they didn't manage to get any more vinyl out, and finally broke up in 1985. Fast forward to 1994 Ian Welsh of Swine Flu harassed John Sneddon to get External Menace back together, and start kicking some more punk rock ass. Sneddy agreed, but only if Welshy (what is it with Scots and diminutive names ending in Y?) joined the band as vocalist, since Wullie Hamill had died in 1987. Swine Flu disappeared shortly after their first single was released, and re-emerged with a new name and a new guitarist. External Menace was back.

Their first new release was Pure Punkrock on Captain Oi! in 1995, which featured all the band's Beat The System!! recordings, plus a handful of early demos, and re-recorded versions of some old songs, the release didn't attract the interest of anyone except the UK82 completists. The band were invited to play the first Holidays In The Sun festival in August of 1996, and accepted. The entire festival was recorded (very poorly) and released on video by Barn End, and selections were released on two CDs by Anagram records. The band were invited back for HITS 1997, and (again) accepted. Around the same time the first of the HITS compilations appeared (early to mid 1997), External Menace finally released their first new single, the Process Of Elimination EP. The five track single was a completely unexpected, it featured some serious punk rock/reggae fusion, in the shape of "Rude Awakening", and was a drastic step AWAY from their UK82 roots. Later that year they also released a split 7" with Rectify, and their first album. The songs were a mix of old and new Ex Menace songs, with a few hold-overs from Swine Flu. It was a refreshing blend of UK82 hardcore and more straightforward midtempo punk, with a healthy dose of reggae thrown in for good measure. The album really made people sit up and pay attention, these guys weren't just another 80's punk band back for a few quick bucks, they were talented musicians with something interesting to offer the punk community. Unfortunately they only managed to release on more 7" (a split w/Recharge) before breaking up again in 1999. Puhh, a lot of words again but good infos are part of it!

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NEIL SMITH - Rotten Roll EP 1994

"Wrowdy Music For Wrowdy People!" so Neil himself describes his music and Yes, we're pretty wrowdy. I use here a few words from his site: "Neil grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and had his first experience with music at the age of 8 when he took up saxophone in school because it was the only instrument they offered which was also played by SHA NA NA (Neil's favorite band!). By the age of 10, Neil discovered the guitar and just immersed himself in it teaching himself from books and a few formal lessons, but mostly by ear from his collection of rock'n'roll records. There wasn't much for a kid to do in Indianapolis besides find trouble (and Neil found a LOT of it!) so the guitar became his main outlet throughout his teenage years and he played in many garage bands during that time. In 1986 when Neil was 18 years old, he encountered a guitarist wanted ad on a wall at a local music store. The ad was from a Florida-based band called STEVIE STILETTO who were a punk and pop band with a few records out on an independent label. He met the band and stayed up all night learning their entire latest album, Neil quit his job flipping burgers at Hardee's, quit school, dumped his girlfriend, sold his car, moved away from home and was on the road with a crazy rock band! Neil continued touring and recording with Stevie Stiletto for five years when in 1991 the band finally imploded in Lubbock, Texas. Neil then began releasing his own records and CDs and today he mainly plays country music." So enjoy this little record with four weird-deep-kickin'-ass-punk'n'roll numbers in its most extreme kind.

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STRIKE - Radio Songs 7'' 1980

PowerPop today and two fantastic examples of this genre are offered by Strike's only single, and after that they quick disappeared from the scene. And I would like to give you useful infos about the band that was put together by the interesting SpitRecords blog: "Strike were a five piece combo that hailed from Belfast and consisted of Mark (vocals), Noel & Paul (guitars), Laurence (bass) and Davy (drums). After forming, they immediately got down to rehearsing at Nix's parent's garage and composing fresh songs which eventually evolved into their own distinctive melodic sound. They then began gigging locally with their set of originals, filled out with the odd cover version, including 'Teenageer In Love', a number which practically every Belfast punk band at the time had a go at! Noel worked in a recording studio which helped a lot. He was able get the fledgling band into the studion quite regularly, at the end of the day, where they would work late making demos and putting their live set together.

They released one 7Inch on Shock Records in 1980, pressed in a limited edition of only 500 copies. To promote the slab they played a series of gigs around Ireland, which received much media attention and they also secured a high profile support slot to the Boomtown Rats at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. A&M Records showed an interest in signing the band and sent one of their puppet over to watch Strike perform at The Pound in Belfast. They had really liked the demos that they had been sent, but unfortunately no recording contract were made.

 There followed sone line-up changes which resulted in Steven taking over duties at the drum stool and Lesley became the new singer. This change in personnel found the band move in a different musical direction too. They began to play less original material and concentrated more on playing covers by bands such as the Tourists and Pretenders and playing residences in Dublin and Belfast. This later incarnation of the band released two tracks on the Belfast compilation from 1980. Their single was re-released by Sing Sing Records in 2010 in a limited run, sold out very quickly."

Enough of words, let the music speak and enjoy two Gassenhauer, made by a sympathetic combo.

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THE RATS - Liar 7'' 1998

HOLY SHIT! can I only say what the three from Perth deliver here. The Rats with their debut record and they founded in the late nineties by Donny (vocals/guitar), Matt (bass), Frankie (drums) and this two-sided killer 7Inch came out via Empty Records. I bought this slab for little money on a record fair and I'm still excited today by its dirty '77 style blast piss off sound which is driving and maybe a bit monotonous because the songs only offer a few chords, but that's exactly what makes this music addictive, for me at least. For their short lifespan (dissolved in 2001) they have released quite a bit, two albums and three singles. So if you like simple, no-frills punk, you can't ignore this band and there weren't many of them in the nineties. TOP!

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NANA BONNARD - Enculé Tête De Mort EP 1983

Rare EP by this French combo from Angers. Nana Bonnard were founded 1982 and consisted of Edouard (vocals), Steve (guitars), Denis (bass), J.F.N. (drums) and this 7Inch was released via Studio 1 and we enjoy three excellent mid-tempo goodies with a pinch of Oi!, finest street punk. Euthanasie Records reissued this little nugget 2013 with one more track, Morpionibus De Profondis, from the Chaos En France compilation. I have no more infos about the gentlemen and no other 'new' songs are immortalized on the few compilation contributions. So you see, once again an interesting combo that only appeared briefly and left a piece of vinyl, which is very much sought nowadays. In 1984 the band broke up.

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V/A - Now In Session 1982

A wonderfully summer day is coming to an end and I'm about to have a date with a charming woman now and what could be more pleasant than posting a real rarity and first of all my warmest thx to the ripper (which is unknown to me). Now In Session was published on Downtown Radio and this compilation is being offered on discogs for almost €1200, to be honest, this seller have a hole in the head because this slab doesn't have the attributes for an expensive record, I mean, there are records that might deserve such an offer, but here I find it a little exaggerated. - The recordings on this album are unique and I know the music-loving hordes among you can't longer wait to listen to this rare stuff, almost all of them did at least one single and are rather modest in their appearance in the underground world. It's also not a 100% punk record, but anyone who only expects such things on wdthtc can lick my ass anyway.

1.Proramme Love - THE OUTCASTS

2.Teenage Love Song - P45

3.Lady Of The Night - SWEET SAVAGE

4.Too Good To Talk To - SPLITTIN' IMAGE

5.Total Control - RICHMOND HILL

6.I Wonder Why - PROTEX

7.That's What Friends Are For - THE MOONDOGS

8.No Return - PSYCHO

9.Crackin' Up - SAIGON

10.Poisen Noise - PERFECT CRIME

- Fuckin' Great Thx to Nolti -

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FLUCHTVERSUCH - s/t EP 1985

Euthanasie/Anomie Records brought this only record by Fluchtversuch in a limited edition of 1100 pieces out. Founded in Bochum by Linse (vocals), Kühlie & Pinky (guitars), Rolly (drums) and we enjoy four decent, and for the Eighties typical, Deutschpunk hits which are remarkably solidly arranged (who plays bass?). In 1990 the band added a new xeroxed cover to the original one and sold it as a hand numbered limited edition (rest). The band is represented on numerous compilations, mostly released as cassette and after their breakup, some members continued as Bad News. Fazit: chic record with good lyrics.

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DOM FÅGLARNA - Pappa Mamma Bilen Och Jag 7'' 1981

Stockholm is a perfect place to create a punkband and this 7Inch is a further example for a brilliant record. Six piece Dom Fåglarna, Lisbeth (vocals), Leif & Fredrik (guitars), Arne (bass), Peter (drums) and Thomas (sax), recorded a demo and sent it to some record companies and wait for an answer. After a gig they were aproached by Slick Records and they signed them and quick a single was recorded and given to the many punk swimmers in 1981. Two '77 style numbers with snotty guitars and the female voice of Lisbeth give them additional listening. Slick planned an album with the band but Lisbeth went to Cyprus to concentrate on her painting and the band shortly split. Actually a pity because I think a LP would have been another killer. Well, that's life and they leave us with these two goodies. Superb!

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BITCH BAND NO 1 - Zirrppppp! 1981

Let's come to a record at the weekend that doesn't have much to do with punk but is rare and somehow interesting, at least for some. Founded 1979 in Hamburg, Bitch Band No 1 were an international female band with singer Betsy (vocals), Barbara (guitars), Claude (bass), Poppy (keys), Lottie (drums) and they toured in the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Germany. In 1981 they played at the first women's rock festival Venus Weltklang in the Berlin Tempodrom and released their only album on GeeBeeDee Rekords. Not all fifteen songs can thrill me, some are too long and splash senseless and emotionless off, but musically the ladies can play but unfortunately nothing earth-shattering, even my fleas in the carpet look at me questioningly. Why post? Reason is, that some out there are looking for the record and couldn't go out of the house, others ran amok, even splitting the tongue is handed down, jaja, and before you get rid of a lot of money make sure if the record is worth it. Now I'm riding relaxed to the train and enjoying two days off.

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RAMONES - Leave Home 1977

Let's waste your time with the second album by the Ramones and it was released on January 10, 1977, through Sire Records and the songs were written immediately after their brilliant debut album writing process, which demonstrate the band's progression. The album had a higher production value than their debut and featured faster tempos. The front photo was taken by Moshe Brakha and the back cover, which would become the band's logo, was designed by Arturo Vega. The album spawned three singles, but only one succeeded in charting. It was also promoted with several tour dates in the States & Europe.

The songs in Leave Home concentrate on various themes, with the musical tones being diverse as well. Some tunes were more pop-oriented, while others, like Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment and Pinhead were loaded with distorted guitars and had a more punk rock sound. The song Carbona Not Glue was taken off the album because it potentially violated the trademark of the stain-removal product Carbona. The track was replaced with Babysitter in the UK and Sheena Is a Punk Rocker in the United States (prior to its inclusion on Rocket To Russia) both Carbona and Babysitter were included on the 2001 expanded edition. Critical reception for the album was generally favorable, with several reviewers pointing out the fact that it highly resembled the band's debut. Critics also said the album was less groundbreaking than their debut but had humorous and enjoyable pieces.

Joey relates: "We thought we had a lotta songs that should've been hits. If you grew up in the sixties, things would just get played and be hits right off the bat. So we thought since our music was doin' something unique that everyone would pick up on that. What really happened was we were so alien that no one wanted to touch us. And so we wouldn't get played."

Last Words: all previous Ramones posts in the blog are re-upped; The FOUR were brilliant, are brilliant and stay brilliant - R.I.P.

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