Destination Zululand

 

At the beginning of the 80s, there was a very lively live scene in southern Germany. Almost every week there were concerts in various clubs by new, unknown bands that were still affordable. Dynamic pricing had not yet been invented and I was lucky enough to see many young bands. 

It was in spring 1984 when me and a friend went to see the next new and weird thing from England. King Kurt brought rockabilly back into music and they were famous for their excessive live appearance. We were not really sure what we expected but afterwards we were happy have seeing them live. As announced, we experienced a band that delivered a wild concert. Driving beats, classic guitars and a singer who danced wildly on stage. To top it all off, they threw wallpaper paste, eggs and flour around. 

Certainly not the best concert we have attended, but one of the most fun we have had.

When I was in London for the first time two years earlier, I experienced a similar concert in a small club. Tenpole Tudor were the band of the moment and in the charts with their first two singles. For a punk band, they played amazingly good riffs and had a feeling for melodies and a lot of fun on stage.

Labeled

The title shows one of the provocative marketing slogans for a record label in the late 70's. Stiff Record was formed by Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson, both enrooted in the pub-rock scene of the early 70's by managing pub-rock legends like Dr. Feelgood or Brinsley Schwarz. The legend tells that both founded the label by a loan on £400 from Lee Brilleaux of Dr. Feelgood. So it is nearby that their first single was by a veteran of the scene: Nick Lowe. They signed a lot of artists I could agree with and I bought a lot of records only because they was released on Stiff Records. It was also a label that had open ears for the dawning of new kind of music and musicians raised in the pub-rock scene got a panel to develop a new sound. Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric on the one and The Damned, Madness and Tenpole Tudor on the other side were the bands I connect with this label. Always good to listen to them from time to time.

Labled

If it ain't STIFF it ain't worth a fuck was the labels' claim. It was a message to all of those who were interested in new music. Formed in the era of punk in 1976 by Jake Rivera and Dave Robinson they signed a lot of artists with pub rock roots trying to make their own sound based on the basics. STIFF records were a trademark in these days bringing quality and new music to me. Most of the releases showed artists that became famous during the years. The quality of their producers, especially Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello made this label famous. They were alive until the mid 80's and vanished afterwords. STIFF introduced me into so many new music like none other label. They opened my ears to very new and great music in the late 70's. It is hypothetical question if my musical taste would be different without them. But I think they were at the hight of the musical taste in new music in these days. So let's get a journey back in the early days of STIFF were music was new, fresh and exciting. Not everything of this song are the music I listen now but it was a very pleasurable journey back in time.

So enjoy.

Live Music On German TV

It was back in 1981 when I took my first trip to London and on the radio they played often Tenpole Tudor's Swords of a Thousand Men more than once a day. But the more I listened to it this song became one of the songs of this summer and I bought the record Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary and I still play it from time to time. Tenpole Tudor appeared the first time in the 78 film The Great Rock and Roll Swindle. Originally billed by Malcolm McLaren as a replacement for Johnny Rotten. Typing this words I ask myself the question why I am attracted to this music. Maybe because they had a punk attitude, playing a unique combination of rockabilly, punk and power pop or just because it is a music that give you some funny mood. Anyway, I was astonished to see them a few weeks later back on German television. I watched this show with a few mates and we had great fun watching them.

Swords Of A Thousand Men

The average rock fan wouldn't remember Tenpole Tudor but I am sure that the ones who was addicted to punk music would remember very well. They were close to the Sex Pistols and had their first appearance in the movie The Great Rock and Roll Swindle. In the early 80s they had some chart success with songs like Three Bells In a Row and Wünderbar. I found a review at allmusic that says everything about the band:

This was a band, after all, that came across as a gang of rockabilly toughs decked out in medieval garb, led by a gangly, goofy drama student that could sing but not carry a tune. This was a band that reveled in silly antics and sillier songs, stealing from old-time rock & roll, punk, novelty pop, and country, turning it into a joyous, catchy cacophony. They were misfits, classic British eccentrics making music that was a jumbled mess of American pop music, filtered through wry British humor and punk. If they were a footnote, at best, to rock history, some may wonder why the hell anyone would want Swords of a Thousand Men...

So enjoy and sing along to this little gem.

Tenpole Tudor - Swords Of A Thousand Men

Songs the Lord taught us Pt. 3

Hi,

made today a lazy day at home, watching television and working on my blog. Before I leave to watch one of my favorite football team I give you some early songs from the eighties.

Every time I hear these songs I remember the days of our youth, where we did what we did and listened to any kind of music. One of my favorites was Tenpole Tudor - a small band with only two or three smash hits in the British charts. Still simple but anyway easily to hear beside (especially to drink a beer by).

Listen and enjoy

Three bells in a row is for a very good friend of mine - good luck at the slot-machine