Badge of the Week #1

 A couple of weeks ago Ombudsmen, the band that my daughter sings/shouts for had their album launch with a gig in Manchester. I thought it might be a good idea to produce some old school pin badges that they could sell/give away whatever on the night, so I bought myself a badge maker. And its great!! Here I am at 56 making button badges. Many moons ago, the badges that you wore told someone else pretty much everything they needed to know about you... your taste in music and/or your political stance especially. 

At the school I went to there were strict rules about badges, they weren't to appear on blazers, so we wore them behind the lapel. To flip someone's lapel was to reveal an array of bands. From about the age of 10 or 11 it was a bit of a treat to visit the Sunday Market in Haywards Heath where there was a stall that only sold band badges. I would spend ages peering at the offerings whilst my parents went of in search of what ever it was thet they were after. My problem was one of limited funds so I had a choice of one or two per week.

I still have them, and looking across Facebook, so do a lot of people, old punk badges are coveted items in the collection. Some are highly sought after and command a high price, others are just crap, poorly produced (yet still of significant monitary value). What I have is of little value, run of the mill S.I.S. stuff, but I always liked the idea of being able to produce my own. I still sport band badges on my jacket now, but just the one at a time these days.

The badges that I will post on here will not be for sale. Nothing on this site makes any money on the back of The Stranglers or any other band that I post about. At some point though I may give a few away I dunno.

The first one I fancied was a Celia badge. I have a very vivid memory of seeing a chap at the Reading Festival in '87 sporting a T shirt with the cover of 'You Better Believe Me' on it and I was green with envy. It is still the only 'Celia and the Mutations' T shirt I have ever seen... I am assuming that it was self printed.

I love two singles on which The Stranglers/JJ collaborated with the mysterious Celia Gollin.

Archive Interviews 1978 - 1980

 

Here's a great little collection of radio interviews conducted in the 1978 to 1980 period which covers the most interesting period of the Mk I career. Skipping through it prior to posting I noted two notable interviews were both conducted for Tommy Vance's 'Rock On' Radio 1 show. Hugh talks about Nosferatu, how Devo got involved and Robert's unique percussive contribution to the album. There is also an interview with Hugh and Jet on their Raven 'rebirth' prior to the Wembley gig, in which they also discuss the 'Rock Goes to College' incident. Seems to cast some doubt on the idea of a BBC blackout of the band post Top Of The Pops and RGTC.

WAV: https://we.tl/t-cC9tMolwqM

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-eeTevN6NbI

Hugh Cornwell Kulturzentrum Schlachtof Kassel 28th March 2024

 

Here's one that I intended to post yesterday (on its birthday) but unfortunately work intervened. Hugh returned to this venue in this central German town to play the 'Totem & Taboo' almost on its entirity (9 of 11 tracks) along with a similar number of Stranglers' tracks (I wonder whether he s contractually obliged by promoters to include Stranglers' songs in the set these days?).

Anyway this one sounds great and Hugh enjoys a good report with the audience. An all round good gig I think.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-af91WpHmQE

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-jHhJMpyacy

The Vapors Cruel World Pasadena CA 20th May 2023

 

Following on from last weekend's northern adventures with The Vapors here for your listening edification is a short festival set from 2023's 'Cruel World' event, a West Coast celebration of New Wave music, a type of festival that seems to be very popular at the moment in the US.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-BcOxBz9Lp2

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-KOQwUg4wCK

Spotlight on Andrew Lauder (New Musical Express 3rd March 1978)

Here's a brief insight into the world of Andrew Lauder, the record company executive, who when with United Artists signed The Stranglers, and along with the acquisition of Buzzcocks, made UA one of the big league independent labels behind punk.

This piece comes from the time when, having left United Artists, he was setting up Radar Records that really got behind Elvis Costello & The Attractions.

I found it interesting what he said of the punk scene as it existed in early 1978.

"In 1977," he theorises, "a new generation of kids discovered rock 'n' roll for the first time. This year many of them will learn how to play it and those who've already learned to play it are now learning how to write it".

He hit the nail on the head with that opinion I thought. Those bands that had survived the madness of punk could within 18 months play their instruments and were therefore free to produce some very exiting and totally diverse material... the reason why 1979 can be considered to be the best year for British misic ever!

Ventura Theater Ventura CA 22nd March 1997

 

Another anniversary show, one a bit younger this time and as obnoxious as your average teenager! An adrift Stranglers entertain the Californians back in 1997. I still wince when I hear the band's version of 'Summer In The City'. A great song in the wrong hands.

MP3 (as received): https://we.tl/t-LZntk3Wuuv

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-3dyyxNudj9

Rotation Hannover 22nd March 1985

 

Sticking with all things Aural Sculpture for one more post. Here is a gig that celebrates its fortieth birthday today. A great gig with pretty good sound too. Please read the original uploader's notes. This is a matrixed version of two different recordings as the taper (the same person as the uploader) had mike issues with their own recording which affected several songs mid set.

Happy Birthday Hannover!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-KIQqU8hqVD

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-3LcqDOId6i