JOHNNY THUNDERS *NEWS*

With the 35 year anniversary of Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers L.A.M.F approaching, (Mon Oct 3^rd 1977, according to George Gimarc's Punk Diary book) those good folk at Jungle Records are gonna be releasing a 4 CD Box set! Here's an advanced press release from Jungle Records telling us all about it.

The Heartbreakers' 4-CD 'L.A.M.F.' - 'Definitive Version' box set.

Features:
* The original Track Records album restored!
* Pre-LAMF demos unearthed!
* Alternative mixes exposed!
* the '94 'lost mixes' version
* 44-page detailed booklet

A highlight of the box is a restored version of the original Track 
Records album, which was universally condemned in 1977 for having a 'muddy mix' (caused by mastering errors) and led to the departure of drummer Jerry Nolan.  Now, using modern audio restoration techniques, at last it sounds as it was intended with the 'mud' removed.

Another highlight is a disc with pre-'L.A.M.F.' demos from three 
sessions in 1976 and 77, including previously unreleased tracks with 
Richard Hell on bass.

A further disc has 21 alternative 'L.A.M.F.' mixes from the marathon 
sessions at five different top London studios.

It also includes the hitherto definitive remade 'lost mixes' version, 
re-compiled in 1994.

The package is accompanied by a comprehensive, 44-page booklet featuring a 'Making of 'L.A.M.F.'' timeline, an introduction by Thunders biographer Nina Antonia, plus guitarist Walter Lure's recollections of the Heartbreakers time gigging, recording and living in punk London from 
1976-77.


Dunno how much this hit of Thunders is gonna cost , hopefully the deal will be under twenty quid. For the vinyl junkies there's a slab of  180g DMM cut vinyl in a revamped gatefold sleeve, Alongside this is a reissue of the expanded 'D.T.K. - live at the Speakeasy' album on purple vinyl (limited, numbered), and also a reissue for all three original 7" singles: - Chinese Rocks/Born To Lose, One Track Mind, and for the very first time, the exceedingly rare It's Not Enough 7".  Vinyl LPs LAMF & DTK will be available at Jungle Records ebay shop next week. 

"THE FUCKING CUNTS ARE TREATING US LIKE PRICKS!"

They try to distract us with stories in the media about a paedophile school teacher running away with a 15 year old pupil. The other month it was a lion loose in the Essex countryside.

The real truth lies buried in graves in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and on the streets of Madrid and Athens. Closer to home planned changes in employment law will make it easier and cheaper for bosses to get rid of employees., while Trade Unions plan to unite once again in protest about changes to pensions. Soon they're gonna start killing the badgers. Then there are the proposed changes to planning permission regulations which will see the green belt disappear under airport runways and extensions, high speed rail links and 'affordable housing'  England's green and pleasant lands is  gonna be a concrete countryside with nowhere for any animals to escape to or live in, except for the plebbs.

Just like the missing school girl we are being fucked, manipulated and lied to by the people in control!(that's if we let them!!!!)

COP KILLERS! / KILLER COPS!

In the week that two women police officers were killed in Manchester, the trial was taking place in London of the man accused of selling a gun to Mark Duggan, whose killing by the police sparked the August 2011 Riots. Evidence was given that this was the gun Mark Duggan was brandishing at the police before they shot him. The man on trial told the court that when he sold Mark the gun 15 minutes before the shooting it was wrapped up in a sock, but after the shooting there was no mention of a gun found on or near Mark Duggans body, never mind a sock. Conflicting evidence or a cover up! Remember ….Who killed Liddle Towers, Blair Peach, James Kelly, and Ian Tomlinson? The police did!

After the death of the two police women, there have been calls for arming the police and bringing back the death penalty. How about a return to British seventies Sweeney style policing, some “Honest guv, he fell down the stairs” police brutality, instead of the Go ahead punk make my day Ropo-Cop hi-vis militia style we've got now.

We couldn't trust the Police without guns, so how we can't trust them if they were all armed! and as for mis-carriages of justice, or stitch up cover ups, we only need to look back at Hillsborough and the Birmingham Six.

Police stop and search tactics have alienated whole sections of society, who see the police as an occupying force on the streets where there is no 'policing by consent'

Who killed the police? Harry Roberts, Raoul Mote, and Dale Cregan did!

It's all just law and disorder.

JOHNNY THUNDERS / NIKKI SUDDEN (Re-Posts)

Today’s music is a double header of re-posts; JOHNNY THUNDERS and NIKKI SUDDEN, it seemed fitting to put them both together in one post as they crossed paths in several ways. Johnny was always big influence on Nikki, both musically and stylistically. Nikki first met Johnny when The Heartbreakers were touring Britain in 1977, they then met up again when  Nikki interviewed Johnny for Zig Zag magazine in 1980, during the encounter they scored and took drugs together before swapping certain items of clothing with each other. Five years later on The Jacobites first tour of Germany in 1985, someone in the audience shouted to Nikki “You're Johnny Thunders in disguise” Nikki responded by gesturing toward Dave Kusworth and saying “and this is Keith.” The only time they came close to a musical collaboration, as far as I'm aware, was when Nikki recorded Johnny’s Have Faith, for a tribute CD, Again...This One's For J.o.h.n.n.y. (Thunders didn't play on it) that and the Thunders covers that Nikki often slipped into his live sets. Sadly both Nikki and Johnny are no longer with us, but their music and memories continue to not only live on but grow.

The Zig Zag interview can be found at Cactus Mouth Informer. Nikki's recollections of Johnny Thunders can be seen at White Trash Soul, and some more of Nikki's writings, about Johnny can be read at What A Nice Way To Turn 17.

You can't put your arms around a memory, but you can get your hands on JOHNNY THUNDERS – Live in Stevenage.... Here, and NIKKI SUDDEN's Lost In A Sea Of Scarves....there. 

Remember kids the drugs do work, but they can screw you up and could kill you!  

Sunday Thinking

An Islam baiting video by Coptic religious fundamentalist Christians adds more fuel to the fire of the conflict in the Middle East, the 'war on terror' will never be won.

Attacks on Embassies and Western interests, demand a response from Obamas administration and in the build up to the US Elections, how he handles the situation could make or break his chance of re-election. Things happen for a reason, and it's all in the timing....remember Sept 11^th?

The British Royal Family exposed for the pricks and tits they are. First Prince Harry was caught with his trousers down, and now the Duchess of wherever has been captured without her bra. Shame never mind, who really gives a fuck?

At the start of Prince Harry's tour of duty in Afghanistan he has been targeted by the Taliban, shame they missed him and got two other soldiers instead.

The British state has been exposed as corrupt, just weeks after everyone was celebrating in post Olympic flag waving patriotic pride just how Great Britain is. The Independent enquiry into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football fans at Hillsborough in 1989 has revealed a conspiracy and cover up by the state. For 23 years people fought for the truth and for 23 years politicians of all political parties let the truth lie buried in doctored statements and lies fed to the media as 'the truth' Rather than take responsibility for their failings and inactions they blamed the fans. This isn't news to many people, we've always known that the employees of the state abuse the powers they have for their own ends, and will do anything to maintain that power and status quo, and punish those that threaten it.

After the Miners Strike and the impending Poll Tax Bill Thatcher, needed a strong police force to keep order. During the eighties there was no love lost between the city of Liverpool and central government. In 1985 Liverpool Council leader Derek Hatton a Militant Labour politician overspent the councils budget as a protest against government funding cuts to the city, an abuse of power at the time or a timely use of power? You decide! Westminster decided, and a battle line was drawn.

After 23 years Westminster has decided that the truth was a pack of lies, now there's a battle cry by the people for justice!

The State still covers up and conspires against the truth; Jean Charles Menendez shot dead by police, the innocent victim of terrorist paranoia. Ian Tomlinson, who died after being punched and pushed to the ground by the police at the G20 protests. Mark Duggan killed by police on the street in Tottenham, it's been a year since it happened and his family still haven't been told the reason he was shot dead.

The truth is out there, it's just they don't want us to see or hear it, they'd rather cover it up and use the media to distract and manipulate the minds of the masses.

URBAN DOGS - Warhead (Acoustic) @ Gaye Adverts Punk and Beyond Exhibition

Thanx to Retroman65 Blogspot for uploading this to YouTube 

"One by one they take you all in!"

FREE THE PUSSIES!

Yulia Tymoshenko the former Ukrainian Prime Minister lies ill in a hospital prison bed, imprisoned on dubious charges of 'having abused her political power' by the man she defeated in 2004's pro-democracy 'orange revolution' elections Viktor Yanukovych, who regained power in 2010 and is presently trying to re-build his dictatorship. It's not all about Pussy Power and Putin, it's about all politicians across the world and the power that they have,and how they can abuse it. There's so much we take for granted. I have the power to abuse, and can call David Cameron a cunt without the fear of being locked up by security forces for saying it. There's also so much that can be taken away from us if we let them do it. I wonder if the troops are gonna leave the streets of London once the Olympics have finished? The reason I ask this is because I heard some stupid plebs on the radio saying that the presence of soldiers made them feel safe and secure. Funny.... the very thought of having the army on the streets fills me with fear.

ELECTRIC RIVER - In Your Name E.P (A Review)

Electric River have been plugging and playing their way around the pubs'n'clubs of their home county Kent, the garden of England, for the past couple of years, building up a loyal and faithful following. The last year has seen them gigging further afield and making a name for themselves on the London circuit.

The In Your Name EP follows on from 2009's Radio No Go album and the Darwinian Flush EP, the intervening years have seen the band grow into a formidable force to be reckoned with. The five tracks: In You Name, Happy, Hold Your Nerve, Still and an acoustic version of Hold Your Nerve, rock with a real honesty, passion, power and punk rock kick.

Comparisons have been drawn between them and The Clash, The Alarm and Bruce Springsteen, I'd also add Big Country to that list. But....Electric River are no copyists, they have their own distinct big sound, with ringing guitars, catchy sing along choruses and storming melodies that stomp and stamp through your head, until yer foot can't stop tapping, and the intelligent and socially aware lyrics are buzzing round yer brain.

In Your Name is released by England Street Records on Sept 10^th and their as yet untitled album is due for release early 2013. Expect to hear a lot more from Electric River in the future months and years. Check out their website here!

SPIRITUALIZED - Come Together (1 Track Promo Single.)

Dunno about 'gorgeous pop' this is a hypnotic and aggressive drug song that could go on forever. Not sure about The Beatles and Beach Boys? either, more like MC5 and The Stooges. This is the 'radio friendly 're-recorded version, the original with the fucks instead of sucks can be found on their beautiful, majestic and almost classical album Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space. Fuck Brit-Pop, this was Bonged and Monged Drug-Rock pure and simple, the gospel according to Jason Pierce. Come Together here!

Some more Sunday thoughts/notes/scribblings.

I heard a presenter on the radio (LBC 97.3FM) this morning asking the listeners if “we have forgotten about Afghanistan?”

Well over the last couple of weeks people seem to have forgotten about anything that wasn't gold, sliver or bronze related. So while Team GB were increasing the counties gold reserves by winning medals, more soldiers lost their lives and limbs for their country in wars that will continue for as long as the British army are on Afghanistan and Iraqi sand.

It's not about democracy in a world that's getting more un-democratic. Global condemnation rains down on the Syrian regime, as their bombs rain down on innocent civilians who's only crime is to want free elections and political rights. In South Africa striking miners are slaughtered by the police. In Russia, Putin has put the boot in, with Female punk band Pussy Riot being given a disproportionate sentence of two years hard labour for 'hooliganism' after their impromptu performance in a Moscow church that criticised his re-election as Russian leader amid allegations of vote rigging, and generally offending his masculinity.

Then there's the case of Julian Assange of Wikileaks, who sought political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London a couple of months ago, he has now been granted it, but the British Government are refusing to let him leave and fly to Ecuador, or as they call it “escape the country” Is that allowed under International Law? Mind you since when has defying interternational laws stopped the US and UK governments doing exactly what they like? Without their illegal war in Iraq we may never have heard of wikileaks. The whole Wikileaks thing is a prime example of might against right. The might of America versus the right to the truth. Assange fears his extradition to Sweden to be questioned about sex allegations will lead to American intervention and his eventual deportation to 'the land of the free' to be held to account over the leaking of US Military 'secrets'.

Freedom....there is no freedom when people can't speak out against their leaders, but you can't kill thoughts or lock up ideas. Leaders across the world need to remember that, because one day their time will come, and that day and time comes closer every time their abuses of power are seen live and direct in perfect flat screen HD clarity on BBC/Sky/Al-Jazeera News, that's if there's nothing more important to broadcast, like two weeks of people running, swimming and throwing things.

I wonder how well Britain will do in the forthcoming Para-Olympics? probably better than the last time thanks to all the injured ex soldiers who've had their legs and arms blown off by land mines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

THE FOLK DEVILS - Vinyl Rip Re-Post

I'm gonna be lazy with this re-post, and re-print some of what I  wrote in the original post.

"Today’s musical offering at the alter of rawk’n’roll comes from the swamp lands of 1980's West London; Goodnight Irony is basically the ‘Greatest Hits’ (if they’d had any) of the criminally ignored Folk Devils. It is a collection of wired and wild, spikey and fiery amphetamine laced rock’n’roll. "  If you like the Jim Jones Review, then The Folk Devils could be for you!

THE PARTY'S OVER!

Unfortunately I did see the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, my daughter wanted to watch it. What a load of shit! If that was a celebration of British music and culture then the whole nation should be in mourning.

A load of washed up has beens Ray Davies and The Who, sorry folks your time has passed, we've got Muse and The Karzy Chiefs now, and they can fuck off with their third rate pop and rock pap. George Michael....where's a lone sniper when you needed one. The dedication and years of hard work by the athletes was contrasted by the instant X-Factor celebrity culture of the likes of No Erection, Massive Tantrum and Jessie J. “It's not about the money, money” well the whole games have been about the money, from the cost of staging them, the overpriced tickets, the sponsorship deals and “the bling, bling” of the gold medals.

Freddie Mercury and John Lennon were brought back to live, when they should remain dead and buried. Imagine, yeah I imagined.....The taxis carrying those vacuous fame hungry whores The Spice Girls crashed, causing serious injury.

Russell Brand, has he started taking drugs again, and as for Liam Gallagher and his Beady Eye, I hope Noel kicks his fuckin' head in for that performance of Wonderwall. Still it could have been worse, The Clash or the Sex Pistols could have made an appearance.

The music on show at the closing ceremony didn't put a spanner in the works, it oiled the machine.

Where were the terrorists when you needed them?

I aint even gonna bother with the rest of the shite that was passed of as something to be proud of, the supermodels etc Oh the irony of Eric Idle's performance of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, because once the smoke from the fire works has settled and the Olympic fever has passed, that's what people are gonna have to do because....“Life's a piece of shit when you look at it.” and we're gonna be in it for a long time unless we wake up and see what is actually going on in front of our eyes not what they want us to see.

URBAN DOGS - Bonefield (A Review)

It's taken three years for Charlie Harper (UK Subs) and Knox's (The Vibrators) side project band the Urban Dogs acoustic album to hit the streets, and now it's here, has it been worth the wait? Too right it has, Bonefield is a real pedigree album that sees amongst its eleven tracks the mongrel punk rock of Tomorrows Girls return to it's acoustic roots. This is an album of the old, new, borrowed and the blues, all nicely packaged, with an eight page booklet of photos, liner notes by Charlie, and a great cover painted by Knox. For a “bare bones production” it's got a lot meat to it, thanks in part to Knox's beautiful 'electric' guitar licks'n'riffs that litter the album.

Individually Charlie and Knox have been knocking out their punk rock blues for over four decades now, and they still sound fresh, exciting and full of life, taking on the old blues classics Charlie used to busk in the 60's like Move It On Over, Hobos Lullaby, and Cocaine, which feature some great harmonica playing by The Harper, their sleazy sublime spin thru of Summertime, really is a treat. The stripped to the bone anti war statements of Warhead and War Baby, make them sound even more vital and relevant than they did in the eighties. Classics both of em! A big ya! to the rewired and wild acoustic feral ho-down that is New Barbarians.  Dragnet is just a great song no matter what. There are a couple of newies; Knox's autobiographical narrative Swampdog Blues and their Dylan like protest number Not In My Name. From start to finish Bonefield is a real gem of an album that doesn't disappoint, and could surprise a few people along the way. Old  punk classics are taken to a different dimension and given new depths, and the old blues classics are given a punk twist.  Highly recommended and available from Time and Matter Records.

WE ONLY SING WHEN WE'RE WINNING.

Olympic competitors crying because they came second and only got a silver medal.

You don't see people crying if no one likes their singing or guitar playing, do you? Oh no wait up, yes you do, the X-Factor, no but that doesn't count, cos their not musicians, they are contestants and it's a competition. That's what makes music different from sport. It's not a competition about who's the best band, although the(ir) media try to turn it into one. Stones V's Beatles / The Clash V's The Pistols / Blur V's Oasis

On the radio this morning, the presenter was referring to people having “caught the Olympic bug.” think I'd rather catch the plague than “the Olympic fever.” People have been brainwashed.

I saw some TV footage of the Olympic volunteers who were telling visitors to the Olympic Park to “smile” and “look happy”, all slightly sinister if you ask me

Give it a couple of years and people will see that it really was a case of the emperors new clothes, all style with the substance bought and sold through sponsorship deals, for the medal winners.

I don't want to take anything away from the athletes and their achievements, but they are just puppets/pawns in the real game which is all about Great Britain PLC winning.

Will the future returns be larger than the present costs, will the Olympic Legacy see more people taking up sport, I mean they've been buying and wearing the clothing for years.

Sport and keeping fit are two different things, you can exercise without competing, go running and cycling without racing. What about just for fun!

More, more, more, more competition, more gold more success. The government is proposing to make 'competitive sports' compulsory in all primary schools. Children shouldn't be forced to compete, it should be a choice, between themselves and their parents. After school Sports clubs should be accessible to all and subsidised for those on low incomes

Politicians co-opting the success of the Olympic Games for their own ends i.e. the promotion of UK PLC. I mean who was it that stopped competitive sports in schools? And who sold the school sports fields for housing? The politicians. If the London Olympics have been a success it's not down to the politicians, it's down to the people.

The majority of money for British sports comes from The National Lottery Fund, which is money made from the scratch cards and tickets people buy when they dream of the big win.

Sport and capitalism are great in bed together, because it's all about the competition. The winners and losers, success and failure. There are more losers than there are winners in both, but there's an illusion that if you try you will succeed on the ladder to success, but it really depends where abouts on the ladder you start. Some are nearer to the top than others.

I've heard people say that “life is about winning and losing” No that has how it has become thanks to the capitalist machine and cogs like sport that keep it moving, music on the other hand might make the machine money, but it doesn't support the basis of the machine which is competition. Music is a way to fight the machine and throw spanners in the works, in a way sport never can. That's why it's Rock'n'Roll for me!

COCK SPARRER - Re-Post

Another musical re-offering.  This time it's the mighty COCK SPARRER, Live @ The Fulham Greyhound, London in 1983. With any repost requests, remember some times things take a little longer than we'd like them to. In this age of instant everything, we are losing the art of being patient, we want everything and we want it now! Well here you go then is this what you want. Enjoy! and thanx for waiting it will have been worth it.           

SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK - Acoustic

While I was sorting out the re-post of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik Demos (see original post for the new link) I thought I'd stick this little curio up, an acoustic?! Performance from Nov 30th 2002 at The Wembley Exhibition Centre.... Sigue Sigue Sputnik stripped and naked, back to basics. Check it out here! It Rocks!Once again thanx  to the original uploader over at Guitars101 Forum.

JOHNNY THUNDERS / NEW YORK DOLLS - Re-Posts

NEW YORK DOLLS - Live @ Michigan Palace 31/12/73

JOHNNY THUNDERS - Live @ The Venue, London 22/4/82  (Part 1)   (Part 2)