Whilst plebbing around on Myspace (first time in a long time) I stumbled upon this dormant page for a band we put together for one gig only back in 2005. The recordings are intentionally crude and fizz with energy. We only recorded 4 songs: DIRTY ROBBER, I DON'T LIKE YOU, HEATSEEKER and RIP YER HEART. All covers by The Wailers, Skrewdriver and The Rip-Offs respectively.
I don't entirely remember what we played in the set but I vividly remember a stonking version of MY BABY DOES THE HANKY PANKY with Topsy Stag on vocals.
Here is the blurb from the page:
"FOUR TRAINED ASSASSINS....... UNDERCOVER AGENTS........... ARMED WITH GUITARS ......... PLYING THEIR DEADLY TRADE......EXECUTING CRUDE, SNARLING, UGLY GARAGE-PUNK!! "
THIS IS PROJECT:ODDJOB ................... A SMALL BAND PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR OWN AMUSEMENT AND DISTRACTION......FEATURING EX-MEMBERS/CURRENT MEMBERS OF.........THE STAGS, DOKTOR COMBOVER, JAILCELL RECIPES, DRIVE. OUR MISSION IS TO PLAY OFF THE CUFF, THICK-NECKED, SAUSAGE-FINGERED THUG-ROCK. AMPED UP, IN THE RED, ROCK 'N' ROLL .....A TIP OF THE STEEL-BRIMMED BOWLER HAT TO THE TOUGHEST SIXTIES GARAGE BANDS AND BEST '77 ERA PUNK BANDS
Listen to the songs HERE
Skrewdriver?! G
ReplyDeleteHere we go with the age-old, knee-jerk reaction to the very mention of the name 'Skrewdriver'.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, here are my feelings on this thorny subject.
The original 1977 incarnation of this band was a damn good, rough and ready, street level punk band. Signed to Chiswick records, the first two 7"s and following 12" have absolutely no racist slants whatsoever.
The band then broke up and a couple of years later,the vocalist put together a new band under the same name with an out and out racist agenda. Aside from the abhorrent,nasty nature of such a band ...from then on, the music was also utter dogshit.
I HATE racism/sexism....but I do believe it is somewhat blinkered to condemn these early recordings along with the later 'white power'garbage.
Kneejerk, my arse. The lead signer of a band in 77 was the same racist, hareful prick. Somewhat blinkered? I think you're being somewhat naive. You know more than more there are 1000 songs to cover. Why bother do one of Skrewdriver, whichever incarnation, if you don't want people to mention it? G
ReplyDeleteYes it's true, there are 1000's of songs to decide to cover but that particular one just fitted the 'ugly' template for what we wanted to do. If you listen...it's actually a dumb song about hating your boss.I am absolutely not defending what this band came to stand for and I agree, the guy was most likely a nasty piece of work right from the off but I honestly don't believe that listening to 'pre-racist'era Skrewdriver will corrupt the listener making them a racist. Just like listening to Bad Brains will make you a Homophobe or watching slasher movies will turn you into a serial killer.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think you know me well enough to know that I am not racist,nationalist, homophobic or sexist.
I totally understand why people hate everything associated with this band and of course, everyone has the right to comment on this but I am not now, nor would I ever, try to justify this man, his opinions or what the band became... but I can't help still regarding these '77 songs as punk classics.