It's impossible to look back at leather outfits in rock music without mentioning Suzi Quatro. I can still remember how impressed I was when I saw her on television for the first time in 1973. On the one hand, that the entire band was dressed in leather and on the other, that she added hard rock to glam rock. Their first songs were classic stompers with a clear hook line and certainly influenced bands like The Runaways or Joan Jett.
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft couldn't have been more blatant than Suzi when they turned everything upside down at the end of the 70's. Robert Görl and Gabriel Delgado-Lopez met in the Düsseldorf punk scene and crossed boundaries with their physically emphazised music. Until then, it was unthinkable to make electronic dance music. And it was also inconceivable that dictators and the Messiah could appear in the same song. D.A.F. also became the blueprint for many other groups such as Front 242 and almost the entire techno scene.
Mention must also be made of Dublin's Thin Lizzy, who flew the flag for hard rock during the glam-rock era. Most of the songs were recorded with two guitars and the many songs with classic hooklines are carried by Phil Lynott's. Lynott liked to wear leather in his early days, especially live.
Everything has an end, and so does this little series, which will perhaps be continued when black leather jackets become the order of the day.
When I look at other blogs, from time to time posts appear where the authors remember concerts that are long ago or have only recently taken place. I really enjoy what I can read and be a member of their memories and brings back memories from gigs I was part of. So it is an easy way to start a new little series about bands and concerts I had the pleasure to see.
In 1975 my parents allowed me to go for a concert with an older friend. We went to see Bachman-Turner-Overdrive in a bigger gym where usually local basketball teams used to play. In my younger days I wasn't aware that there was bands playing to support the main act. And this was the first time I saw Thin Lizzy in their original line-up. They impressed me much more than the main act because they had the power BTO never had. I remember that they played Suicide and The Rocker, two songs that would get one of their trademarks years later. These songs built the blueprint of hard rock and metal which got famous genres at my place when I moved myself to punk and new wave. And yes, Phil Lynott had a great physical presence on stage. Not in the way he had years later but I could see that he was the man behind this little great Irish band.
It was almost three month ago when I saw a documentary about the moon, the space and how we to get to our satellite and tried to conquer them. I thought about to make a small series with songs/artists that had moon in their names but sadly forgotten about it. The last days I remembered it and I decided to post another songs with moon in their title. Of course it is hard to name the best but at the end it is the fact that I will feature the songs that mean something/a lot to me. So enjoy and have a great weekend. Me I will go for watching my team playing against our neighbor in the table. Both down at the bottom and close to relegation. We will see what happens - anyway life goes on.
A few days ago Dave Edmunds appeared on my phone with Trouble Boys and this brought me back to another great song. This is a short post because I have problems with the internet and I hope I will fix it soon.
Two weeks ago I posted something about songs that are dominated by riffs and asked for some suggestions. I got some response by regular visitors on this little place in the internet and I think it could be something about a new small series. Here are the suggestions by some followers that made some contributions in the comment section:
FurryBootCityBoy named a very old song by Neil Young from his 1969 solo-record Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. It is a track he re-recorded it several times during his long lasting career and I've to admit that this riff is a killer. I knew this from my very younger days and can still listen with a lot of you to it.
CC a great mate I met last year at our gathering last year in Glasgow named Thin Lizzy for this title and I have to say that it showed his great taste. A song from Lizzy's best years and unforgettable for lads like us which were young when they released their best albums when we had our high-times.
The Swede threw a single by The Clash in the round. And I have to agree that this is one of the songs that was on my list. A short song that have everything to be a classic and always remarkable song. Great stuff at all.
During the last days I made an archival back up copy of my laptop on an external drive and I took a look on what's on my external drive. I got aware that I had a lot of albums by Thin Lizzy from the late 70's. It was a band that lots of folks could agree to in no way their musical preferences were. Thin Lizzy were Phil Lynott, playing the bass and having a great voice. After listening to their songs once again I have to admit that none of them lost it's fascination after all the years. It might be 40 years ago since they recorded this songs but I still like to listen to them.These songs are from their 1978 live double album Live and Dangerous, a classic in this genre.
Today's song showed up these days on my mobile phone and I couldn't get it out of my head since then. It is a version of a classical tune from Thin Lizzy from their 1976 album with the same title. I love the version by the Dropkick Murphys because of it's power. This song is still played by the Dropkicks in their concerts. I would like to present the original as well but I can't find it on my hard drive. Still a song you can't destroy.
This year I have concluded my education. My employer has offered to me an unlimited contract which I have also accepted. Main reason was to save some money to start a life on my own feet. In the middle of the year a letter arrived in which I was invited to pattern. In my whole life I have never dealt to go to the army. In my whole life before I used to protest against what I've seen about military operations and wars that accompanies since I grew up. Therefore, I have found out about the fact which possibilities there are, so that I am not drawn. The only possibility consisted in refusing the military service and therefore the service in the weapon. It worked in this way: You had to write down the reasons why you won't use a rifle or something like that. Most of my mates did it that way and argued that they have ethical reasons not to use any kind of guns.
The next thing was that you were invited to an interview where you have to explain your reasons again and again. They listened slowly to your arguments and they asked for example: 'What would you do if you and your girlfriend are in the park late at night and some guys come around trying to rape her. If you have a gun - will you use it?'. With questions like that they wanted to destroy your arguments of being a peaceful one. Of course you could get briefed about this questions and answers but my biggest problem was that I was in this time very active and successful in a protection association. I have denied competitions on state level so that my name was well known in my sport. When I come to the interview they just asked me the question why I take shooting as a sport but will not be able to carry a gun in the army. After all I failed and I had to accept to join the army next year. Knowing that I wouldn't have enough money when I do my job for 15 month in the army I didn't make a great vacation. But all in all it wasn't a very bad year.
In 1978 the Bee Gees entered the top of the charts with 'Staying alive' and 'Night fever'. Disco was born and Studio 54 in NYC was the blueprint of all clubs was founded.
The movie 'Saturday Night Fever' presented us the first star on the dancefloor with John Travolta. Now kids wanted to dance and act like him. After appearing in the American TV series 'Welcome back Kotter' he became famous with this movie and the following 'Grease'. It was the start to a lot of dancing movies following the next years.
With the dance boom the gay movement had it's coming out in the late seventies. With bands like the Village People they came proud out of their clubs. Without them and their attitude and confession to their gayness many bands in the later years would have it much harder to stand (like Frankie goes to Hollywood, Bronski Beat, etc).
It was also the year Kate Bush appeared with her fantastic and clear voice and brought us some unforgettable songs.
Garry Rafferty released his number one hit Baker Street with one of the most remarkable saxophone solo ever (our neighbor tried it for years but never got the right tune).
Stiff Little Fingers gave us their perception on the conflict in Northern Ireland with their song 'Alternative Ulster'.
Ian Dury came returned with my favorite 'Hit me with your rhythm stick'. Fantastic bass line.
Warren Zevon told us stories about 'Werewolfs in London'. (I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand walking down to Mayfair).
Blondie was present now on international stage but a hit all over Europe was Paul McCartney wit 'Mull of Kintyre' - what a shame (and I didn't notice any song from Siouxie and the Banshees, the Buzzcocks, Patti Smith at all)
Remarkable records that was published in 1978:
George Benson - Weekend in LA: Maybe his best record at the highest level. Listened so often to this record all over the years.
REO Speedwagon - You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish: Bought this record just because of the title. Old fashioned rock but great songs and guitars on it.
Nick Lowe - Jesus of cool: Producer of a lot of band (mostly on the STIFF label) got time to make a record with some of his best songs.
Little Feat - Waiting for Colombus: Aanother fantastic live record presenting the last days of inspired classic rock.
Thin Lizzy - Live and dangerous: Never been better than this. We danced to them songs until we fall down to the ground.
The Rezillos - Can't stand the Rezillos: Get us party all night long. Great record still.
Pere Ubu - Dub housing: Music from another planet
George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Move it on over: Back to the roots of rhythm' n' blues
Herman Brood - Cha Cha: Pure rock with a lot of punk style in it from our neighbors in Netherlands
Nina Hagen Band - same: Great voice from Eastern Germany with a fantastic German version of 'White punks on dope'
Steele Pulse - Handsworth Revolution: Pure British reggae.
Blondie - Parallel lines: Could listen to Debbie Harry often at this time What movies from 1978 are still worth to see again:
Halloween: Part one with Jamie Lee Curtis is still the best one
The Deer Hunter: Michael Ciminos drama with Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken of men going to a war that couldn't be won and coming traumatised.
Dawn of the dead: When there is no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth
Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong doped
La Cage aux Folles: Gay couple, one of them running a drag club in St. Tropez adverrtising ultra-conservative parents
The Last Waltz: Goodbye to a great band
What moved the world in 1978.
Pedro Cardinal, a leading critic of the Nicaraguan governments was assasdinated - riots against the Somoza's regime started; Northeastern US blizzard kills more then 100 people; China bans the works of Aristole, Shakespeare and Dickens; American porn publisher Larry Flint is shot and paralyzed in Lawrenceville, GA; the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan is proclaimed under pro-communist leader Nur Mohammad Taraki; Messner/Habeler made the first ascend to the Mount Everest without supplemental oxygene; FIFA-World Cup was won by Argentine - Germany lost in semi-final against Austria; Iranian Army troopers open fire to rioters in Teherean, killing 122, wounding 4000; President Carter signs bill that allows homebrewing of beer; the world got a new pope with John Paul II - the first non Italian pope sins more than 400 years; Nobel Peace Price is won by the premiers Sadat and Begin.
My personal favorite this year was Magazine' first record 'Real Life'. It is one of the best first records ever. Punk turned into New Wave and the sound was different now. The three chords songs turned into another dimension. Now you could hear a new kind of songwriting. The member of the bands knew how to handle their instruments and to arrange songs. One of the best examples was 'Real life'. The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving the famous Buzzcocks with John McGeoch on guitar. They recruited Barry Adamson on bass, Jim Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson on drums. Their first record is filled with experimental sounds that would be the blueprint of many other bands.
The songs are still fresh and innovative after all the years. I love to hear them again from time to time.
Back in the days of my youth we had a location for special events. It was downstairs in a cellar downtown in my hometown. We celebrated new years day and several bank holidays at our little club. What made fun to us in the late 70's were Thin Lizzy with their great live record. Sometimes we played one whole side at a row. For me Phil Lynott was great at this time and no one could touch his great presence. 'Dancing in the moonlight' might be his heritage to us.
