Former Record Mirror scribe Barry Cain dusts down his 1977
archive interviews of Messrs Lydon, Scabies and Cornwell and
revisits the chief Punk protagonists 30 years on to prod them
with their musings. Trumpeting his Famous Five - Pistols, Jam,
Clash, Damned and Stranglers - ’77 Sulphate is a marvellous
first-hand account of the year music exploded and it’s hard to
put his book down. The witty, tongue-in-cheek text is fluid,
informative and infectious – like amiable Barry himself, who was
there at the start - and it’s difficult not to love him and get
wrapped up and speeding alongside. Never mind the bollocks –
here’s all the excess, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll you’ll need
without the aid of a Tardis. Thank God there’s a follow-up fix
in the pipeline.
(Can’t possibly imagine who Hugh refers to at the bottom
of page 301 – Ed!)
NB. Barry has given his first ever interview – for The
Burning Up Times – see Issue 3.
An enthralling insight into the stories behind each Stranglers song.
Recommended, in fact, essential reading, even though Hugh had to take
out all the song lyrics...
After years of gathering dust unpublished, Chris
Twomey’s epic work, The Men They Love To Hate finally sees the light of
day, albeit within EMI Records 4 CD Stranglers box set, The Old
Testament. Thorough and painstakingly researched, the booklet covers the
years 1974 to 1982.
No Mercy, The Authorised and Uncensored Biography of The Stranglers
Informative read, in what should have been the
definitive Stranglers tome, amid claims of unfair bias against Hugh, and
Buckley’s detracted writing, Essential purchase, nevertheless.
The book flits at break-neck speed from scene to
scene, but do we ever get to find out who the real Hugh Cornwell is
in the rush? He has his own energetic style, but it only really
comes alive on the stage when Hugh reels off the golden nuggets,
interspersed by the related golden oldie hits of yesteryear.
512 pages of punks key figures, featuring interviews
from over 100 contributors including Hugh Cornwell, JJ Burnel, John
Rotten, Glen Matlock, Mick Jones, Don Letts, Captain Sensible, Jah
Wobble, Penny Rimbaud, Slash and Billy Bragg:. 'To see the Clash on
the White Riot tour was like discovering how to be a rock star: you just
did it yourself. You didn't wait for someone to come and discover you.
That was the most important thing that came out of punk...We came home
and we cut our hair and bought skinny trousers. It was year zero. That
was the moment for me.'
"Punk
Rock" is a book like no other. It is an oral history of a radical
movement which exploded in Seventies Britain. With its own clothes,
hair, artwork, fanzines and radical politics, Punk boasted a DIY ethos
that meant anyone could take part. The scene was uniquely vibrant and
energetic, leaving an extraordinary legacy of notorious events,
charismatic characters and inspirational music.
Now, for the first time, we can read all about events
such as the Sex Pistols' swearing live on the "Bill Grundy" TV show and
staging their anti-Jubilee riverboat party on the Thames, famous gigs at
the Roxy and 100 Club, and the groundbreaking records by the Pistols,
the Clash, the Damned and others. From the widely debated roots of punk
in the late-Sixties through to the fallout of the post-punk period in
1984, and the ongoing influence on today's bands, "Punk Rock" is the
definitive oral history of an inimitable and exciting movement.
Readers of The Observer will have seen
excerpts from the book by Burning Up Times contributor John Robb.
To get your copy, go to:
www.goldblade.com
The author has dutifully and lovingly chronicled this revealing
biography of one of New Wave’s most endearing characters. Collated from
a broad range of friends, family and former band mates, the book ends
with a meet with the man himself prior to his sad death in March 2000.
Obscure pub rockers Kilburn & The High Roads are here – as are the band
we all know and love, The Blockheads, Detail is painstakingly
researched, ‘though not without error: “The Stranglers had been
formed by Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel and Jet Black, after they
met at college in 1974…”
Should have come to us for Stranglers’ formation facts! As Ian may
himself be saying: “Oi! Oi!”
Canvey Island’s high octane R&B band Dr. Feelgood stormed the mid 70’s
pub rock scene and took on the world, unknowingly paving the way for
Punk with their hard, uncompromising sound and style. Down By The Jetty
author Tony Moon (initiator of Strangled fanzine) writes with fluency
and affection about his first love, with the co-operation of all band
members, past and present. Damned fans might be forgiven for thinking
the front cover is a Grave Disorder rip-off; it’s the same artist, Vince
Ray. Recommended purchase.
No
More Heroes - the complete history of UK punk 1976 - 1980
A good reference book for all old punks, profiles of over 400 bands
including an extensive chapter on the Stranglers. The author is a bit of
fan of the band and for once they get a good press! Highly recommended -
James Greenfield.
‘Strangled’s
‘must get’ book of the year…’
The
Best Of The Stranglers
Punk Rock:
An Oral History 
Sex
& Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll: the Life of Ian Dury
Down
By The Jetty: the Dr. Feelgood Story
No
More Heroes - the complete history of UK punk 1976 - 1980