On This Date in 1978: The Clash released its fifth single, “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais.” This song contains my very favorite Clash lyrics, ever: “Turning Rebellion Into Money.” If that isn’t a concise manifesto for Punk Rock – and Rock & Roll in general – I don’t know what is.
British punk rock pioneer Poly Styrene (born Marianne Elliott-Said) passed away Monday evening (April 25th) after a brief fight with Breast cancer. The distinctive vocalist, best known for fronting the seminal British Punk band X-Ray Spex, whose debut album, Germ Free Adolescents, came out in 1978, was 53 years old. Ironically, her latest album, Generation Indigo, is released just today in the US. Rip Poly.
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“Never a Frown With Golden Brown”
On This Date, January 11th in 1982: The Stranglers released their nineteenth single, “Golden Brown” from their sixth studio album, La Folie. “Golden Brown” — written by keyboardist Dave Greenfield — reached the #2 spot on the U.K. singles chart, is pretty obviously a love song about the pleasurable effects of heroin. Just take a casual glance at the lyrics.
Thanks to The P5 Blogspot For The Tip!
On This Date, November 7th in 1979: The Damned released their amazing third album, Machine Gun Etiquette, which included the singles “Love Song,” “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today” and “Smash It Up (Part II).” Machine Gun Etiquette was the London band’s first album without founding guitarist Brian James. Captain Sensible moved from bass to guitar and Algy Ward (ex-The Saints) joined The Damned as their new bassist. I actually saw The Damned on this tour in 1979, at the infamous Cuckoo’s Nest in Costa Mesa, California, and hung out with Damned drummer Rat Scabies for most of the evening. Machine Gun Etiquette refuses to sound dated even thirty years after its release, and is still one of my favorite albums, ever. Punk Rock! Read my fantastic interview with Captain Sensible from 2001 at This Link.
Thanks to The P5 Blogspot For the Tip!