GORILLAS - It's My Life 7'' 1978

It's time for a little trip, and my pilot just informed me that the weather is perfect for a helicopter flight to London. So, off we go! Here we'll meet a band that started back in 1972 under their first band name, the Hammersmith Gorillas. More from wiki: Jesse Hector played in bands from the age of eleven, first the Sun Records influenced Rock & Roll Trio between 1959 and 1961, and then the R&B influenced band the Cravattes between 1962 and 1964. Cravattes bassist Adrian Stambach joined mod outfit the Clique in 1963. Jesse then reformed the Rock & Roll Trio (1966-1967) before starting two more short-lived bands, the Way of Life (1967) and the Mod Section (1968) and went on to form the proto-Punk band Crushed Butler in 1969 with drummer Darryl Read and bassist Allen Butler. After a brief flirtation with EMI Records, Dick James Music, and Decca Records the band was renamed Tiger in autumn 1970, until Darryl left to join the glam rock group Dizzy after Tiger disbanded, then Hector with the addition of new drummer Gary Anderson and bassist Vic Allen changed name again to Helter Skelter in 1971. With the addition of bassist Allen Butler (who also had been one of a number of different bass players that passed through the Crushed Butler various lineups) the band became the Hammersmith Gorillas in 1972 taking their name from London's pro-Castro activist group the Hammersmith Guerillas.

The band's debut release was a cover version of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" on the Penny Farthing label, produced by Larry Page, and timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the original release. They then signed to Chiswick Records and recording two singles for the label with session drummers Chris Townson playing on the first single and Matt McIntyre playing on the second single for the label. With Gary Anderson back on drums the band begin to build a loyal fanbase before moving on to Raw Records. In 1976, they played at the Mont-de-Marsan Punk Festival in the south of France along with the Damned and Eddie & The Hot Rods. After two more singles in 1978, the band's debut (and only) studio album was issued, Message to the World.

Hector was noted for his extravagant sideburns, and was a keen self-publicist, declaring the Gorillas to be "the future of rock music". He was influenced by several dead rock stars, and several tracks on the band's album were performed in the style of his heroes, including a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" and "Going Fishing" performed in the style of Marc Bolan. They returned to Chiswick in 1981 for the "Move It" single with Jimmy Knight appearing on bass, before splitting up after Alan Butler died from injuries sustained in a horse riding accident. Hector continued to regularly perform live around London, working with a new band, Jesse Hector & The Sound, in the early 1990s, with bassist Kevin White and drummer Gilles Baillarguet. The band issued a single in 1991, "Leavin' Town" on the Clawfist label. When the group split in 1993, Hector assembled a new band, the Gatecrashers, named after a Gorillas single, contributing to several retro-garage rock compilations and releasing an EP in 2000, Keep on Moving.

Later Hector worked as a cleaner at the Hackney Empire theatre and the Royal Horticultural Society, and was the subject of a documentary film in 2008, A Message To The World, directed by Caroline Catz, which was shown as part of the Raindance festival, and at the Barbican as part of its "Pop Mavericks" season.

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V/A - Chiswick Aquaria 1978

Magnificent pub/punk compilation on this rare Italian issue with bands made at least one 7inch on Chiswick Records, the sublabel and forerunner of Ace Records, started in 1975 by Ted Carroll and Roger Armstrong, with its origins in a second hand 45 records market stall in London. They were later joined by record fanatic Trevor Churchill. Towards the end of the 70s, they were releasing work by a series of "Pub Rock" bands. It is now the punk, power pop and rock label in the Ace Records stable. Nine bands with fourteen songs from their early young & unspent days, some made it into big business, others disappeared into nowhere and some swam unfortunately away to the right scum. Apart from that, this is an excellent compilation, this is the expensive promo release, and still worth buying. 1980 came out a Spanish release called Chiswick Aquaria Collection with more label bands.

1.Psychotic Reaction - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

2.Saints & Sinners - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS

3.When The Night Comes - LITTLE BOB STORY

4.No Russians In Russia - RADIO STARS

5.Better Off Crazy - SKREWDRIVER

6.No One - JOHNNY MOPED

7.Taking It Easy - THE COUNT BISHOPS

8.Dirty Pictures - RADIO STARS

9.Gorilla Got Me - THE GORILLAS

10.Motörhead - MOTÖRHEAD

11.Television Screen - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

12.Route 66 - THE COUNT BISHOPS

13.You're So Dumb - SKREWDRIVER

14.Dead Vandals - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS

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THE NIPS - Only The End Of The Beginning 1980

The Nips (better known as The Nipple Erectors) were an English punk band formed in London in 1976 by female punk artist Shanne Bradley and are notable as having been Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's first musical group. Initially consisting of vocalist/songwriter Shane MacGowan (known at the time as 'Shane O'Hooligan'), bassist/songwriter/original punk artist Shanne Bradley, guitarist/artist Roger Towndrow  and drummer Arcane Vendetta; The Nipple Erectors performed their first gig at The Roxy Club Covent Garden. London in 1977. The band later released four singles and there was one bootleg live album between 1978 and 1981. Inspired by The Stooges, The Nipple Erectors incorporated elements of rockabilly and '60s garage rock into their music.

Following the release of their first single, King Of The Bop, in June 1978 on Soho Records, the band renamed themselves The Nips and released the garage punk song "All The Time in the World"/"Private Eye" with Phil Rowland of Eater on drums. By May 1979, the band's line up had changed to include Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, on guitar. The Power pop anthem, Gabrielle was released in November 1979, first on Soho Records, and then reissued on Chiswick Records. with John ("Grinny") Grinton (ex Skrewdriver) on drums. By the time of its release, Grinny had been replaced by Roger Travis Williams. Gavin Douglas' guitar playing on this record marked a change in the band's sound to a more melodic style. A live album, Only the End of the Beginning was released on Soho Records in 1980, from a recording made whilst on tour with the Purple Hearts. Two other live bootlegs have recently appeared, Live @ The 101 Club and Live @ the Hope & Anchor both recorded in late 1979.

In 1980, the Nips recorded a demo for Polydor Records at their studio in Bond Street. It was produced by Paul Weller. There were four songs recorded for this session, including "Happy Song" "Nobody To Love", "Ghost Town" and "Love To Make You Cry". The Line up for this recording was, Shane MacGowan-vocals, Shanne Bradley-bass, Gavin Douglas-guitar and Mark Harrison (ex Bernie Tormé)-drums. "Happy Song"/"Nobody To Love" was released as a single in October 1981, on Test Pressing Records. The Nips announced to the press that they were quitting after a last gig @ London's Covent Garden Rock Garden on 10 March 1980. MacGowan and Bradley did reform the band later that year, albeit briefly. The line up included James Fearnley on guitar and Jon Moss on drums. This line up played a final gig at London's Music Machine with The Jam in December 1980. In 1981 Jon Moss joined up with Boy George to form Culture Club. During 1981, Bradley took the band in another direction away from the traditional rock band format to incorporate Greek, Cretan and Irish Roots/Folk music. The popular Irish folk and America folk song "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway" had previously formed part of their early live set with Guitarist Roger Towndrow. This line up included Macgowan and Bradley plus John Hasler (ex Madness) on standup snare drum and Scots/Irish Folk Fiddler David Rattray. Later that year Bradley decided to take a break from music. Shane Macgowan and John Hasler went on to play in Pogue Mahone, later shortened to The Pogues. In 1984 Shanne Bradley co-founded The Men They Couldn't Hang to play "The Alternative Country and Western Festival" on March 1984 @ The Electric Ballroom in Camden. (source: wiki)

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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TWINK & THE FAIRIES - Do It '77 12'' 1978

Now a little piece from Chiswick Records and this is a solid three rockin' track 12Inch. On this record involved Twink (vocals/drums), Chris, Kid, Little John (guitars), Danger (bass), Fingers (keyboards) and it's the first slab with the Fairies from Colchester. A few basics: Twink, is an English drummer, actor, singer, and songwriter who was a central figure in the English psychedelic movement. You can read on the web how this formation came about and so on, I'm a bit empty and don't want to keep writing useless blah blahs. Twink has been in the music circle since the mid 60's and is still active to my knowledge.

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RIFF RAFF - I Wanna Be A Cosmonaut EP 1978

In 1977, Billy Bragg formed the punk rock/pub rock band Riff Raff, and toured London's pubs and clubs. The band released a series of singles, which did not receive wide exposure and so the band disbanded 1981. This first EP was released on Chiswick Records and it's awesome. What a pity that the record was at that time not very successful, which I cannot really understand because there are four punkrock classics that kicks not exactly in the ass but still catchy & snotty and all of you who know Billy Bragg as solo performer you will be surprised how crazy this man was and still is. And today??.. you pay a lot coins for a copy, crazy or? I like the EP and I can listen to it everday and maybe you agree with me. In 2002 came out a compilation CD with all the singles on BMG.

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MIDNITE CRUISER - Rich Bitch 7'' 1977

Northern Ireland didn't have a big underground scene but some cool bands came from there and Midnite Cruiser from Belfast is one of them and they consisted of Paul (vocals), Crow & Peege & Rodney (guitars), Jimmy (bass) and Ger (drums). Their only 7Inch was released on Cliff Moore's IT Records label. He owned four record shops in Northern Ireland and after a meeting with Chiswick in London, he returned home and to set up his own label. Only five singles were made. A bit useless info: Midnite Cruiser were basically Speed with extra guitarist Rodney joining the ranks. The music is much punkier than the previous Speed release. The tracks for the single were recorded at Hydepark Studios, Templepatrick and engineered by George Doherty, who would go on to form his own Rip-Off label the following year. The band split soon after the single's release. Paul West (real name Paul Maxwell) went on to join the Tearjerkers. The two songs are also guests on the indispensable Bloodstains Across Northern Ireland compilation.   

- Great Thx to Fredrik - 

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