Nips 'n' Nipple Erectors - "The inimitable Shane MacGowan's debut recordings made for Soho Records when he was a punk rockabilly. Also featuring future Men They Couldn't Hang bassist Shanne Bradley" (product description).The rockabilly and R&B influenced Nipple Erectors (they had to change from that charming name to the more public-friendly the Nips), lead by Shane MacGowan, released a batch of singles under both names.
The next couple of years saw a change in the band line up and two more singles were released as well as a live recorded LP "Only the end of the Beginning" (1980). According to the "Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver" record folder, the line up had changed from Roger Towndrow to Gavin Dougles (guiter) and from Gerry Mcllduff to a guy named Grinny (drums). In addition to their live LP from 1980, they released yet another single, "Gabrielle" w/ B-side "Vengeance" on Chiswik Records. "Gabrielle" was sort of a poppier love ballad which wasn't all that bad but it didn't make it to the top of the charts like the band had hoped for. The B-side, "Vengeance" on the other hand was sort of a "You screwed my girlfriend, so I'm gonna break your head" type of song. Their last single "Happy Song" w/ B-side "Nobody" to Love" was released in 1981 on Test Pressing Records and was produced by the well known singer of the "Jam" Paul Weller (source).Gabrielle is a beautiful song, King of the Bop lotsa fun. It's a different Shane, if you will, but it's still Shane, and a great listen all around.
Also, go grab some live Latino Rockabilly War from Silence (is a rhythm, too). Heading that post is one of my favorite pictures of Joe :p
And- more Havana 3am goodness from Chairman Ralph. The four lost songs sound fantastic. I like the sound of this one- "'You Can Win,' a straight-up rockabilly anthem that didn't make it to record, but was played live regularly (the chorus starts with 'Wash your face, grease your hair,' what other instructions do you need?)" "Wash your face, grease your hair"- love it!
And for some words of wisdom about age which helped me out and a reminder that Paul is doing some new stuff with Damon Albarn. Can't wait to see how that turns out!
And for to hear punk/hardcore from Belgium and Sweden and the US, check out xrevolutionx. Some interesting looking stuff up there! And go look at Jim's guilty pleasures.
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While we're on the subject of Lation Rockabilly War shows: I'd also suggest another one from London, namely, 7/7/88 (Electric Ballrom): a stormer from start to finish (check out Zander's leads on the second song, "Love Kills," for proof!). Interesting setlist, too: not only do you get the BAD covers ("V13," "Sightsee MC"), but one from the Pogues ("If I Should Fall From Grace With God"), and the radical standard, "Viva La Cinsa Brigada" ("Long Live The 15th Brigade"). On the Clash front, there's a powerful and percussive-driven "This Is England," plus "Somebody Got Murdered" (which he rarely played, post-Clash).
Other noteworthy shows include the Hultsfred Festival, Sweden (8/13/88). for the rarely-played "Dum Dum Club," off SID & NANCY, and two from WALKER ("Tropic Of No Return," and "Tennessee Rain"). My US show pick has to be the Boston Paradise (11/13/89), which has a far higher energy quotient than most of the others from that tour...check out how "Sightsee MC" starts: Joe makes it through one-and-a-half verses before his colleagues realize what's going on...the minute they do, the song really takes off!
From a playing perspective, it's also interesting to see how Joe and Mick approached the same tune, in this case, "Sightsee MC"...Joe's versions are brisker, and lean more toward hard-edge funk, while Mick and company stuck closer to the recorded arrangement of NO. UPPING ST. when I saw 'em in '89. Either way, I didn't mind.
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