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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DANGEROUS RHYTHM - s/t LP 1981

Today and tomorrow the semi-finals and I can hardly wait until it starts. Four teams, each of which I think has the quality & power for the title, but only two make it to the final, we'll see who achieves it. In any case, my tip is clear if you have paid attention. But let's change the continent for a moment and take a detour to Central America and visit Mexico City and meet Dangerous Rhythm and you heard right, Mexico isn't much known for numerous punk bands, but they exist there too. D.R. was formed in Mexico, August 1978 by Cuban singer Porfirio "Piro" Pendas, Marcelo (guitar), Johnny (bass) & Rip Sick (drums), and can claim to be one of the first punk bands in the country. Piro, the band's vocalist, immersed himself in the whole Los Angeles scene, and was in contact with the Chicano side of the city through Tito Larriva from The Plugz and other bands from the area like Circle Jerks, Fear, and Black Flag. The impact of punk classics like the Sex Pistols, The Clash, or the Ramones obviously had a big influence on their sound. Dangerous Rhythm never forgot their family tree, absorbing large doses of unconventional rock like the New York Dolls, The Stooges, and Lou Reed. All these elements helped the band forge their own style and so they starting with songs sung mostly in English and vibrant, direct melodies and in 1979 the time had come and the band released their first EP No No No via Orfeon with three fantastic killers. After laying the foundations of the non-existent punk scene and recording their first eponymous debut album in 1981. It was released by Hip 70, a label run by Armando Blanco, who owned the club of the same name, which was the focal point of the Mexican scene in the '80s. The end result was mind-blowing and shows a band with nerve that played new wave with a punk rhythm. Their debut was reissued by a Spanish label called Beat Generation on 180-gram vinyl and features replica cover art and inserts plus a liner notes written by Piro in an edition of 500 copies. Solid Stuff!

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SUBTRACTIONS - It's Exposed EP 2015

Another uncovered whopper, a massive missing link of first wave West Coast punk. Four incredible songs that never saw a release during their tenure until now, boiling over w/punk brilliance, pulse-pounding and antagonistic anthems that immediately command your attention. From the recently-unearthed 1980 studio recordings, HoZac Records presents Punk pioneers from Fresno/California: The Subtractions.

"When one thinks of Fresno, CA punk bands certainly aren't the first thing to come to mind. This sleepy city located inland and about the halfway point between Los Angeles and San Francisco became a hot spot for 60s rock bands to stop through which carried over into the 1970s, when the wave of hard rock washed over the town, resulting in numerous bootleg LPs from AC/DC, Van Halen and more. Fast forward to the appearances of "punk" across American pop culture (DEVO on SNL, Sex Pistols US tour, Ramones planting seeds everywhere) and you've got bands springing up around every corner, Fresno included. And even on the first Maximum Rocknroll compilation, Not So Quiet On the Western Front, three Fresno bands made their debut appearances, Maniax, Nazi Bitch & the Jews and the Frigidettes, but little was known about the bands that predated those, until now.

The Subtractions were the brightest-sounding pure punk band of the bunch, and although stacked with a lively gig schedule, complete with a sold out support slot for the Dead Kennedys, they sadly never left their recorded mark on the world in their original inception, but luckily they DID have the good notion to make a recording before they went their separate ways, and finally seeing the light of day in October 2015 is the "lost" debut EP called It's Exposed on HoZac Records in edition of 500 copies." (Todd Killings) - Here they have four tracks rescued from the vault, listen!”

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THE LURKERS - Fulham Fallout 1978

It's time for a classic one which is dedicated to the Lurkers, legendary British punx from Uxbridge/West London, formed 1976 and the original line-up consisting in Pete "Plug" Edwards (vocals), Pete Stride (guitar), Nigel Moore (bass), Pete "Manic Esso" Haynes (drums) and still active nowadays. They are notable for being the first group ever on Beggars Banquet Records for whom they released two albums. The style on their debut is a good demonstration of how they earned the nickname "The British Ramones" and it came out between the previous two singles, containing fourteen slices of nearly melodic lowbrow masterpieces, including a new version of the pogo-tastic 'Shadow'. "No pretensions, no hype, no frills and were nothing less than pure rock'n'roll. This is a band who deserve so much more respect than they get" One reviewer described it as by far their best with production that really makes the guitar kick. It's sloppy and amateurish, but that's what makes it so great. "Be My Prisoner", a song from the album, appeared on Streets, a compilation (BEGA1) from 1977 of early UK combos from a variety of independent record labels. - In my opinion their best album; catchy songs, singalong choruses, simple Punk'N'Roll, must have!

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ÜBERDOSIS GRAU - Schritt Ins Nichts EP 1997

Powerful, energetic and ponderous mucke far from slogans with deep thought lyrics by this three-piece from Frankenthal, a small kaff in the south of Rheinland-Pfalz and Überdosis Grau exist since approx. 1993, emerged from the Slime cover band "Die Letzten" they have remained loyal to the minimalist line-up: Flo (vocals/guitar), Tobi (bass), Stefan (drums). This is their debut slab on Freibeuter Records with four goodies. Like most bands, Überdosis Grau started with cover numbers. The repertoire included songs from Toxoplasma, Ramones and Nirvana, among others. Above all, these bands shaped the style of their own songs which they mixed with a dose of depression and a bit gloom. However, pressure and speed were not saved, so that the current style of the band could develop. To date they have released two albums and on few compilations. In any case interesting band far from Pogo. Listen!

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SLITAGE - Farbror Polisen EP 2016

New lost material from Slyngel Rekords, #013 and it's Slitage, Norrtälje's first punk band, formed early January 1977 and the Ramones and Damned ignited the spark and made them want to start making noise in their rehearsal room. The band consisted of Petta (vocals), John (guitar), Ted (bass), Micael (drums). They did some gigs in folk house in Norrtälje and a tour to Småland's Lessebo. In 1979, a demo was recorded in Uppsala with the help of members of the pop band Hansa Band. Among the songs was "Stoppa Travolta", a song that felt just right in a time when disco and pompous symphony rock was a great contrast to punk. "Fort Men Fel" is about pickpockets who always fussed and wanted to whip the shit out of the punks. "Farbror Polisen" is about the nice uncles from the law enforcement officers. In the fall of 1979, the band was disbanded but members continued to play in other bands such as Studio Sex, Cherness, Blues Drivers, Mannish Boys, Generals and President Gas. This three track killer EP contains recordings from this demo, released in green vinyl in an edition of 300 copies. It kicks! So, please, either take the plunge or stop teasing me.

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DISASTER AREA - Die On Your Board 1986

In 1979, the later members were in the process of developing their skate skills on the concrete surfaces of the Berlin district of Märkisches Viertel, known as the ghetto. A trip to London with the Berlin Skate Club led to contacts with the punk scene. This resulted in the connection between skating and punk music for the band. In the winter of 1980/81 they began to rehearse as C&A (Chaos & Turmoil) in a boiler room. Under this name they played their first concerts with the Suurbiers (from which Die Ärzte later emerged) and die deutsche Trinkerjugend. In 1984 they were inspired by the "Loudest Band in the Universe" appearing in the series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and renamed themselves Disaster Area. In the same year they produced two tracks for a split single with the band Die Schlimmen Finger on the Berlin label Pogar. The debut Die On Your Board was created in just three days 1986 and after a record review in MaxiMumRocknroll, the band received more and more concert inquiries. In 1987 Disaster Area played for the first time at the skate contest in Münster, where they appeared regular since then. In 1988 the second album Back From The Reservation came out and is stylistically more influenced by hardcore punk. The song 'Skate Tonight' from the first single was also newly recorded. In 1988 Oli suffered an eardrum injury from feedback at the Skate'N'Roll Festival and left the band. Frusti became the new drummer, and Norman joined as second guitarist. In 1989 they took part in the Berlin Senat Rock Competition and made it to the finals.

In 1990, the third album Cut The Line came through Bonzen Records and the Ox wrote at the time: “Germany's Skate Punk Band No.1". This was followed by a tour with the Badtown Boys and a live album, recorded at SO36 in Berlin. Norman switched from guitar to snowboard and Domi became the new guitarist. Shred Ready is the band's fourth album and for the first time, metal borrowings were clearly heard in the music. The guitarist received a postcard from Marty Friedman of Megadeth with the words: “It Rocks! The fun of the Ramones with cool lead guitar, too. Keep up the good work! ". In 1994 Disaster Area played as the opening act for The Offspring and in December the same year made a ten-day tour through ten Berlin concert halls to mark its tenth anniversary. In 1996 Domi switched to the metal band Orth and Disaster Area continued as four piece. The new songs became much more melodic and the Powder EP was released the same year. The next album Slam Section was released in 1998 on the metal label Noise Records by Karl Walterbach. At the end of a tour with CIA (Ex-Slime) and several concerts with Millencolin followed. In 1999 Tom, who had previously played in Mr. Ed Jumps The Gun joined the band. Tom already knew Disaster Area back in 1984. He had played guitar on the split single for Die Schlimmen Finger. A tour with California punx The Line followed and for the 20th anniversary of the band the last album Forever was released.

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ROCKS - Combat Zone 1994

Only album by Rocks on Kangaroo Records and it took a long time for the band to become active again. In 1978 they brought their legendary You'r So Boring EP on Point Blank Records (500 copies) out and and set with that an astonishing exclamation point, 1995 re-issued as CD with bonus tracks. I first came in contact with them through Tepid Spit Artists, an unofficial tape compilation what I acquired from Incognito Records. Short basics: "Rocks, please, never put a “The” in front, were Sydney based Punx which started its life as a three piece in 1976 with childhood friends Bill Webb (a.k.a. Bill Posters) Drums/Lead Vocals, Peter Davie Guitar/Vocals and Steve Vanderschoot Bass/Lead Vocals. Having jammed together after school and on weekends and with their love for early 70’s rock surging through their veins, it was no surprise they would turn to Punk as they forged ahead finding a style to become a band. When bands like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols came along, it was obvious what they had become and they would go on to be one of Sydney’s best loved Punkrock bands..." Combat Zone is twenty-two times fresh sound combined with catchy melodies. Rocks are still active and occur at irregular intervals here and there somewhere. Enjoy the album & the warm rays of the sun with a cold beer.

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VORWÄRTS - A Trip Down Memory Lane 2002

Swiss punk veterans Vorwärts are from the area of Basel, founded by Udi (vocals), RR & Bibä (guitars), Nutty (bass), Roli (drums), and today the oldest Punk combo from Switzerland still playing live. In 1984, when singer Udi and his friends went into the studio for the first time and the result is the very much sought nameless five track 12'', 300 copies exist. Vorwärts already had several years of service under their belt: the band was formed 1979 and Udi remembers his first contact with the punk movement, which was only slowly making its way from London and New York to the Upper Basel area. "When punk was born in 1976/77 we had no idea," he says. It wasn't until two years later that he heard the first songs by the Ramones, The Damned, Clash and Sex Pistols and had pictures in the "Pop/Rocky”or “Musikexpress”. That "simply blown him and his friends away", as he told the bz: "Punk was so much better, more urgent and more important than anything we had heard before." The founding of his own band was "an outbreak, a departure, an undreamt-of freedom". Forward hit the Zeitgeist and were able to record their first successes: with their song TV Generation the quintet made it onto national radio and with a self-made clip (you can find it on YouTube under the title Boring Generation) even on Swiss television. But in their early years, Vorwärts not only met with approval. It belonged then that they were insulted as “Schwuli Söu”, “Gsindel” and “Soupack” because of their appearance - “bright green and black striped jeans, studded belts and bracelets, sprayed shirts, holes in clothes, a lot of leather and so on” the everyday life of the five young men. In 1988 the dissolution followed due to various individual follow-up projects and 1998 the reunion on the occasion of the wedding of a band member and since then they still active and their last record was released two years ago for their 40th year existence! (source: partly bzbasel)

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THE USERS - Now That It's Over 7'' 1979

One more raritiy from Love Child now and they are always welcome on wdthtc, 250 copies exist from this two sided killer and a few words: "We've got our own individual style. Most punk bands are the same as the Ramones... its pathetic. ..The basic ingredients of rock'n'roll are sex drugs and frustration, If we can getamps and get on stage, that's all.  Its a big V sign from us to you." The Users - Chainsaw 5 March/April 1978. - "The Users were from Cambridge and formed in September 1976. Their sound was a mixture of The Stooges, New York Dolls, Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols. Young and with attitude - plenty of it. Other songs included Russian Roulette, Heart To Heart, Bad Decision, Slow Death (Flaming Groovies) Louie Louie, Moving In A Fast Lane and Red Hot Rag. Cambridge was also home to Lee Wood and his record shop. "..members of The Users, who had been in the shop before, asked me if I could spare the time to come and hear them rehearse. I went along and they were a five piece. I can't remember the details but somehow we decided to make a record together." Lee Wood Punk77 Interview. More details on punk77 and more Kicks In Style are guaranteed.

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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GERMS - (GI) 1979

Another classic that needs to be heard is the debut by the Germs, punk from Los Angeles and originally active from 1976 to 1980. The band's main early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and drummer Don Bolles. They released only one album (GI) on Slash Records, produced by Joan Jett, and were featured the following year in Penelope Spheeris' documentary film The Decline Of Western Civilization, which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement. Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Info from wiki which says everything:

Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) and Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg) decided to start a band after being kicked out of University High School for antisocial behavior, allegedly for using "mind control" on fellow students. Their original name was "Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens", but they had to shorten the name as they could not afford that many letters on a T-shirt. The (initially hypothetical) first lineup consisted of Beahm (then known as Bobby Pyn, and later as Darby Crash) on vocals, Ruthenberg (under the name Pat Smear) on guitar, an early member named "Dinky" (Diana Grant) on bass, and Michelle Baer playing drums. This lineup never played in front of a live audience.In April 1976, the band added Lorna Doom (born Teresa Ryan) on bass, with transitional member Dottie Danger (later famous as Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's) on drums. Carlisle never actually played with the band, as she was sidelined by a bout of mononucleosis for an extended period. She was replaced by her friend Donna Rhia (Becky Barton), who played three gigs and performed on their first single. Carlisle remained a friend and helper of the band (she can be heard introducing the band on the Germicide: Live @ the Whiskey recording, produced by Kim Fowley), only leaving because her new band, the Go-Go's, were becoming popular and, as she put it, "I was really disturbed by the heroin that was going on". Nickey Beat, of various noteworthy Los Angeles bands including the Weirdos, also sat in on drums for a time.

The band's first live performance was at the Orpheum Theater. Smear recalled: "We made noise. Darby stuck the mic in a jar of peanut butter. It was a dare, we had no songs or anything! Lorna wore her pants inside out, and Darby covered himself in red licorice...we made noise for five minutes until they threw us off". The Germs initially drew musical influences from Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Ramones, the Runaways, Sex Pistols, and New York Dolls. Early on, Smear was the only musically experienced member; Doom survived early performances by sliding a finger up and down the fretboard of her bass while Rhia generally kept a minimal beat on the bass drum, periodically bashing a cymbal. Early performances were usually marked by raucous crowds made up of the band's friends. As a result, their gigs became notorious for being rowdy and usually verged on a riot.

The end of the band came when Crash, who had become increasingly impatient with drummer Bolles' antics, fired him and replaced him with his friend Rob Henley. Shortly after the Germs split, Crash and Smear formed the short-lived Darby Crash Band. Circle Jerks drummer Lucky Lehrer joined the band on the eve of their first (sold-out) live performance, when during soundcheck, Darby kicked out the drummer they'd rehearsed with. The band, described by Smear as "like the Germs, but with worse players", played only a few gigs to lukewarm reaction before splitting up. Shortly after that, Crash contacted Smear about a Germs "reunion" show, claiming it was necessary to "put punk into perspective" for the punks on the scene. However, Smear has said Crash told him privately he wanted to earn money for heroin with which to commit suicide. Since Crash had described this scenario many times in the past, Smear did not take him seriously. On December 3, 1980, an over-sold Starwood hosted a final live show of the reunited Germs, including Bolles. At one point, Crash told the amazed kids in the audience, "We did this show so you new people could see what it was like when we were around. You're not going to see it again".

Crash committed suicide on December 7, 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on heroin in a suicide pact with close friend Casey "Cola" Hopkins, who ended up surviving. She later insisted that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. According to Spin, apocryphal lore has Crash attempting to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall as he lay dying, but not finishing. In reality, he wrote a short note to David "Bosco" Danford that stated, "My life, my leather, my love goes to Bosco". Outside the world of the Germs' fans, news of Crash's death was largely overshadowed by the murder of John Lennon the next day. A local news station mistakenly reported that Crash had died from taking too many sleeping pills.

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THE NEIGHBORHOODS - No Place Like Home 7'' 1980

The Neighborhoods came out of Boston around 1976-77 while the whole punk scene was going on at the Rathskeller (The Rat) in Kenmore Square. The Hoods were an excellent rock group playing Mod punk-type music a-la early Who and much like the Jam and Generation X in their early days. David Minehan was the lead singer and guitar player who from the very beginning had a great stage presence and played guitar like it was his last night on earth. In the back was Mike Quaglia keeping the rock steady beat and Jim Bowman keeping the bass lines strong so Dave could weave in and out. By 1979 the band changed bass players and John Hartcorn was there to add more bass rhythm and energy to the mix. The band was now on fire and easily won the WBCN Rock'N Roll Rumble held at the Rat. The Hoods power-rock was infectious with songs like “Monday Morning”, “Teachers Pet”, “Flavors”, “She’s So Good” and “Think It Over.” In 1980 they released a single on Ace Of Hearts label called “Prettiest Girl” & “No Place like Home” which got a lot of airplay in the local New England area. Soon the Hoods were a favorite local attraction in RI and especially at the Living Room with sell-out crowds. The Hoods were on the verge of going nationally but based on stories we later learned, mismanagement caused the band to split for a brief moment in July 1981 but as it turned out, it was the end of an era in the early Hood history. It’s a shame they never got to release an album from that time frame to capture that great raw power era...

 After the Hoods regrouped they decided to go in a different direction. Gone was John Hartcorn on bass and he was replaced with Tim Green who added a more funky style playing to the new music. The band material now was based more on higher energy and less on bright melodies. In 1984 they finally released their first mini-LP "Fire Is Coming" with another new bass player named Lee Harrington who had joined the year before. That was followed by a full record for Restless record label in 1986, "...the high hard one...." and "Reptile Men," in 1987. The band also did a national tour with the Ramones in 1988.....

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GOLLYWOG - Fredagskväll 7'' 1978

Now a small highlight from the Swedish province of Jönköping county and the historic province of Småland. Gollywog was a punk combo from Tranås and were actice 1977-1980 and consisted Håkan (vocals), Peter & Jois (guitars), Anders (bass), Tomas (drums), and this is their very rare, much sought by collectors, only fuckin' record which they released by themselves in an edition of 300 copies. The five were inspired by the Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Ramones and others and most of their own songs (and there were a lot) were mainly written by singer Håkan. In their short livespan they played a handful of gigs in Tranås, Malmö, Motala and Stockholm. In 1980 the band broke up and Håkan became singer in the Nässjö band Rottweiler. The A-Side is a superb catchy number with killer guitars and if they had released an album in this style, it would have been on everyone's lips, one hundred percent. The flip is a solid rockin' track, equally brilliant. TOP record!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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NE LUUMÄET - Laki Ja Järjestys 1990

Third album by Ne Luumäet on Poko Rekords with eighteen ramopunk songs. Founded in 1985 and they strongly influenced by Ramones and they played a very significant role in the creation of the Finnish ramopunk genre. The band ceased operations in 1993, but returned to the stage in 1999, releasing "Autopartio 525" EP as well as the compilation Rahat Ja Pois. Since then, the band has not recorded any new material. In the 21st century, Ne Luumäet has performed publicly, mainly in charity concerts. However, in the summer of 2007, the band performed at Ruisrock and at the Tavastia Club in honor of Ramone Week named by Heko Luumäki ("Punkrock 30 years old," 30 years old from Ramones' first Finnish concert). In 2011, the band performed twice in Yy-Kaa-Koo-Nee: RAMOPUNK! book publishing events. Among the members of the band Ne Luumäet, guitarist Heko Luumäki has continued to be the most active in punk and ramopunk in the band Rehtorit, which he founded in 1995, where Kaide Luumäki and Finski also played Luumäinen in the early 1995s. In addition to band activities, Heko Luumäki has developed ramopunk events, of which Converse Club, Ramoviisut and Ramones Week are his creations. Joey Luumäki, the singer of the band Ne Luumäet, has composed new material and performed at solo gigs from time to time. Superb record!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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BANDAGE - Republik EP 1978 + Populär 7'' 2015

You take what you have, Bandage thought and sat in a boy's room in the mid seventies and tried to mimic the hard rock bands with the help of acoustic guitars. In April 1977, they thought it was time to buy real gadgets, and in the same vein they heard the Ramones, The Clash and Sex Pistols and decided that it was punk they wanna play. In July the same summer, they did their first gig at a farm party in Tyresö. The set was then Peter (vocals/bass), Jan (guitar) and Stefan (drums). A little later Stefan #2 joined as 2nd guitarist. Then the high school began to approach the end and for a couple herded the lump. When Bandage rented a studio in May 1978 to record this four-song EP, it was already almost clear that the band would be closed down. Although the studio technician had to decide, it had not become a record. He suggested a little tentatively that it might be enough if they used the recording as a demo ... But a record it was, though so terribly punk it didn't sound. "Republik" their attack on the royal house, and closing "Sven Brutal" were pretty tough songs, while "Jesus Lever" could be mistaken for a religious song. However, they assured it was irony. And speaking of irony, they changed the lyrics from "Republik" to "Diktatur" instead of emphasizing the irony. But according to David Halvars, it was marginally more people who understood the irony in the text line “Dictatorship - We should have that! Dictatorship - We want that! Dictatorship - We shall have that in our country ”. Over time, a new bandage emerged. With only Peter and Jan from the original set, they continued for a while before the band went to the grave for good. (Info from the book Ny Våg)

In 2015 Slyngel Rekords dug out two more lost nuggets from the Stockholms and released the single in an edition of 300 copies in purple vinyl. They exchanged a few members, including David Halvars from Bitch Boys in the band, and recorded a demo in 1980 that sounded much rougher than the EP. The demo ended up on the radio program New Vags editorial which meant that the Swedish people got to experience a catchy punkpop song named "Populär". What should I report further? This is excellent stuff whereby I like the new single almost better but that's like everything, a matter of taste and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this fantastic stuff - they only existed about a year and never get outside Stockholm.

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EWING OI - Mår Bra EP 1984 + III EP 1986

In the south east of Sweden, more precisely from Linköping comes this short-lived band. Ewing Oi was for a short while four members when Per Hertzberg (bass) joined. Then, when Anders Ekeros (guit/vox) left, they started to play lots of Ramones covers but it didn't work out and after many name changes the band recorded their debut EP in 1984 which was released by Eugen Records and was sold out quickly. 

Three awesome punkrock goodies on it which have the dirty sound of the early times and two years later the band released a second EP named "III" just to create confusion (which was the purpose). And again four pretty 'Viking Rock'N'Roll' punkrock fuckers to heal the world. - The end of the group came in September 1986. One compilation track (Bodybuilder) was used on the Schweden-Punk Teil 2 cassette, a German self-release, which is certainly interesting. That should be it for today, see you again tomorrow.

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EXPLODING WHITE MICE - Fear (Late At Night) 7'' 1988

Exploding White Mice were a punk-rock band from Adelaide, Australia and were formed in the 80s. Their name was taken from a scene from the movie Rock'n'Roll High School, in which a laboratory mouse spontaneously explodes upon being exposed to the music of the Ramones, the band's foremost influence. Greasy Pop's superstars hit hard with another slab of inspired guitar ravaging obviously brought on by late nights listening to Road To Ruin. Lead singing Mouse Paul Gilchrist's singing is starting to get over the flatness he had on the first couple Mice records, and the blend of his vocals with the ever gutsy guitar and drums attack is starting to work real well. This is a group that is clearly started to develop a sense of power and they are a kicker!

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STIDLJIVA LJUBIČICA - Osvrni Se Na Mene 1981

Let's come together and unlock your eavesdroppers because it waits another example of fantastic powerpop riffs, this time by Stidljiva Ljubičica from Croatia and they were active 1980-1982 in former Yugoslavia. The band split up soon after releasing second album. Members were: Renato (vocals, organ, piano), Zlatko (guitars), Tvrtko (bass), Elvira (drums). Glorious music deserves background knowledge and I give you a bumpy translation because my Croatian is a bit rusty, but I think you can follow that, here we go:

The emergence of a new wave in the music scene, which enabled various musical styles and directions to simultaneously exist in this region at the same time. In the beginning it was underground art music created by people often without big musical experience and not much talent but with a lot enthusiasm for new ideas. There were various fusions and almost incompatible directions that created new hybrids of completely unique and original music. Combinations of rock'n'roll, punk, ska, surf, new wave created Clash, Talking Heads, Blondie, B52, Ramones and many more... in Yugoslavia by Film, Haustor, Azra (only the first two albums), Stidljiva Ljubičica and some other bands who wanted to use this boom to catch a slice of glory of the wings of a successful trend which enters the mainstream.

Stidljiva Ljubičica unmistakably had the characteristics of a famous new wave groups, they appear suddenly, out of nowhere. They were more than ten years younger than their competitors. They had a female drummer Elvira (not common at this time) & they were fuckin' teenagers who held their first gig at the end of 1979 in the hall of the high school center Vrbovec. Their songs are short, mostly 2-3 minutes long, varied, completely stripped of superfluous arrangements and with catchy beats. Lyrically small pop art stories. They performed in cinema halls, clubs and in smaller towns. The audience celebrated them frenetically, they played a couple of two-minute songs and ran off stage. There they were greeted by a bunch of journalists and photojournalists so they held a short press conference and told them "we release our first single via Jugoton and starting recording our first album."

In summer 1981, their debut 7Inch 'Volim Te' was released and a Yugoslavian version of Top Of The Pops invited them and the whole country became aware of the fantastic four! At that point, the band had about twenty songs ready so they go ahead and started the recordings for their first album, Osvrni Se Na Mene. Before that, they decided to celebrate their success with a promotional concert at the sports hall in Vrbovac, together Johnny Stulic and Azra, and held a concert in front of thousand people. Many gigs all over Yugoslavia were made in front of several thousand visitors & it was a great opportunity to promote the album which they recorded and mixed in seven days. Despite the praise of the media, the commercial success of the album was not as satisfactory as that of the record label.

The band decided to start immediately with the recording of the second album Jesenje Frke, with the idea, that after recording, Renato (he hasn't finished high school) as soon as possible join the army and Elvira start a job at the media and when the record is out, she will be performed again, as well as Renato's return from the army. There was very little no praise for the album, because there was not much opportunity to promote it. It was early 1984 that the group could physically reunite, but the members couldn't find the feelings of the "old" spirit, so there was only one concert in the original cast at the Pauk Hall in Zagreb. The air was finally out and Stidljiva Ljubičica history.

Don't hesitate, get it!

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RAMONES - Mondo Bizarro 1992

You can't do anything wrong when you pull out a Ramones slab, that shows your good musical taste and ensures attraction. Unless you are one of those who wear a Ramones T-shirt as fashion and have no idea what's all about, I see enough of you damn stupids! Well, what should I be upset about? Anyway, this modest rip saves me from doing the work myself, a little info from Wiki: Mondo Bizarro is the twelfth studio album by the Ramones, released in 1992. It is the first to feature their new bassist, C.J. Ramone, who replaced departed member Dee Dee Ramone. 

It was the Ramones' first studio album in three years, after the band left Sire Records for a new contract with Radioactive Records. The title was taken from the film of the same name, a 1966 sequel to the film Mondo Cane. Although Dee Dee had left the band, he provided the songs "Poison Heart," "Main Man" & "Strength To Endure" as compensation for the band bailing him out of jail due to problems with his long drug addiction. "Poison Heart" & "Strength To Endure" were released as the album's singles, in June and October 1992, respectively. In a 1992 interview for an Argentinian newspaper, Johnny Ramone said of the album, "Generally I always find two or three songs that I hate. From Mondo Bizarro, I really like almost all the songs and I am very satisfied with the result." However, when he was interviewed about the album for the 2003 documentary End of the Century, he stated, "I don't like it. I don't like it at all." In Johnny's 2012 autobiography he awarded the album (along with its predecessor, 1989's Brain Drain) a "C" grade, stating, "The songs are the weak spots on the album. C.J. was in the band, but his writing wasn't up to par yet." The album was certified gold in Brazil in 2001.

 Thirteen songs and number seven is one of my faves. R.I.P.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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RATSIA - s/t LP 1979

Ratsia was originally formed in 1977 by Jyri (vocals/guitar), Juha (guitar), Rudi (bass, vocals) and Pasi (drums) and they were mostly playing Stooges & Ramones songs, but soon they started writing songs of their own, sung in English. The language was then switched to Finnish. Ratsia took part in the Finnish rock championship competition in 1979 and won in the "New Wave" genre! They were featured on the Hilse compilation with a song called 'Ihohygieniaa', a cover version of Breakdown by the Buzzcocks and many more. In the same year followed the band's debut album, released in fall with great melodic mid-tempo tunes (pretty the Clash cover of 48 Hours). Fourteen smasher all in all and if you really want to find something to complain about the album, you could say that it sounds too clean and February was way too warm. The band broke up in fall 1981.

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