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REVIEWS Latest see also REVIEWS BOOKS Public Image Limited Live At Rockpalast 1983 (Made In Germany Music) Track list: Public Image 1 / Annalisa / Religion / Memories / Flowers Of Romance / Solitaire / Chant / Anarchy In The UK / This Is Not A Love Song / Low Life / Under The House / Bad Life / Public Image 2 The way we were.......... almost 30 years ago John was riding a resurrected wave; This Is Not A Love Song charted, PiL appeared on The Tube and embarked on a tour of Europe giving most of us PiL-heads a chance to see JR in person for the first time. This performance, filmed on 31st October at Zeche Bochum for Rockpalast TV show, is a fantastic document of PiL during this period; a far better representation of the band than the Live In Tokyo video released at the time. Shot using a terrific mix of close-ups, medium and long shots, it shows just how good this line-up actually was. Never mind the cabaret tag often levelled PiL in 1983, they were a fine live outfit. The sound and picture quality of the DVD is superb, no annoying on-screen captions, just the uninterrupted gig. Forget any bootleg recordings you may have of the show, bin them and buy this. The definitive recording of PiL in 1983, it really does do them justice. Highlight; Under The House featuring Louie Bernardi, Joe Guida and Martin Atkins all on drums simultaneously. We also get treated to Public Image twice. “We’re not bad are we?” enquires John before Low Life. He wasn’t wrong. As for me, I saw them live 10 days later........... The two extras also provide a real treat. Firstly, sound check performances of Annalisa (it takes a minute to sort the vocals!) and Chant with keyboards very high in the mix. Fabulous. Secondly, Rockpalast host Alan Bangs interviews John at the time of the show. John talks about moving to New York, the film Cop Killer (Corrupt), Live in Tokyo album, and being adored, before walking off with his can of Red Stripe because he’s bored! A brilliant DVD release. Review by Phil Singleton (29th February '12) Sex Pistols - Live The Broadcast Archives (MVD Entertainment Group 5075)
Phil’s note: The following review submitted to GSTSPs by Jon Edwards sums up the release perfectly. The only other point to note is that the disc is region free. Jon takes it from here: This DVD, only available in the USA appeared on Amazon before Christmas with a January 2012 release date. The yellow sleeve with its picture of John from the Los Angeles Roxy gig in 2007 looked intriguing enough to buy for under a tenner, and left me wondering what could be contained within. Well, it just popped through the door, and on opening, the back cover credits the Filthy Lucre set list, and has stills of each of the Pistols from the Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo footage, November 16th, 1996. Slipping it into the DVD player, what we get is a basic menu, accompanied by audio from the Tokyo gig. If you haven’t guessed yet, the DVD is of the very same show in perfect audio and video. The song titles appear in vision at the start of each song, and in the top left corner, a white box with LIVE in black block letters appears throughout. We should all know the gig in question; John dressed as Noddy on LSD, Jones looking like a Guitar God in a Venus shirt, and Paul and Glen as unassumingly cool as ever. I have not seen the Sex Pistols - In Japan DVD, (the one with the Japanese sunrise cover and image of John from the God Save The Queen video), so I can’t compare the two, but this is an upgrade from my bootleg copy of the TV version of the show. Sadly this version doesn’t include the 2 tracks from the Phoenix Festival added to the end of the In Japan DVD. Those who don’t like to double dip on things would be best to avoid it if they already own the In Japan release. For Pistols completists, this is worth picking up; it is a great performance and the AV quality is stunning. Review by Jon Edwards (January 2012) Phil's final note: The Tokyo footage is identical to the Sex Pistols - In Japan DVD - the only difference is that the opening tiltes and closing credits, which appeared on In Japan, are absent on Live The Broadcast Archives. Vic Godard and Subway Sect – We Come As Aliens (Overground OVER126CD) Track listing: Best Album / Take Over / Back in the Community / Same Plan / If We'd've / Et Meme / Rhododendron Town / That Train / Somewhere in the World / Ne'er / Out of our Zone / Life in the Distance / Music of a Werewolf Clearly, I’m reviewing We Come As Aliens because of Paul Cook’s involvement. Paul plays on six tracks, but the tracks in question are not revealed, deliberately so. Quite a clever trick. I’ve got my theories but I’m not sticking my neck out! I’ve not followed Vic’s career closely over the years, and I am therefore familiar only with his output from back in the day, the obvious recordings such as Nobody's Scared and Ambition. I’d always thought of Subway Sect as quirky, and was taken aback at just how quirky the Sect still are on We Come As Aliens. Not just off the wall, but edgy and exciting, mixed in with sharp, witty, and barbed lyrics. This set sits effortlessly alongside Vic’s late 70's output, but it is far more than that; in fact it’s unlike anything else I’ve heard in a long time. Vic uses his voice as an instrument as he snarls, croons, and yes, sings his way through the songs; subtly adjusting his tone and delivery according to the style, tempo, and subject matter of the narrative. So, what of the narrative? His love of song writing, and his need to be a songwriter emerges in different guises throughout the album. It’s a central part of his psyche. On Best Album he declares, “We’re not gonna leave until we’ve done, until it’s the best album in the...” but never gets to say “world.” It’s as if he knows this goal is unattainable, but he really would like his album to be the best! Midway in the set is Rhododendron Town in which he confesses, “Once in my life I was through with it, panic over now my lifestyle's sound” while “saving up his best till laters, karma consonants and vowels.” Perhaps he is coming to terms with his vocation as a musician and songwriter and is determined to give us his very best? This fascination with song writing also closes the album, with the haunting Music of a Werewolf laying bare his insecurities with his craft. “Getting in a tiz and blundering, wondering whether there’s a pen or pad about.” It’s hard to pigeon-hole the style of the album, other than to say simply, Vic Godard. Whereas That Train elevates its own imagery with hints of bluegrass and gospel, played with a beat of a train thundering along dusty tracks, Takeover reflects a despairing and forlorn call to arms with lashings of spiky guitar. He’s taking on the apathy that is the human condition; “Answer stares you in the face; still you won’t pull out of the race.” The frustration with his fellow man at accepting the continuation of the status quo makes another appearance during If We’d’ve; “If we’d’ve had the nous to pool our single selves together.... we’d’ve trounced all them.” Politics - both party and personal - are central themes (the old punk spirit is here – no fear of that). The Same Plan has a pop at Lord Mandleson with the realisation that whatever the “modernisation” being proposed, “it will always be the same plan,” while he ponders “how come they always bomb the poor” during Out of our Zone. Dry humour is never far away, but excels during the observational Somewhere in the World which contains the funniest lyrics on the album: “Tea-leaf Keith sneaked, gate full of teeth, looking to all the world a savage. The Post took him on, regretting it from then on; mail’s piling up inside his garage.” Haven’t we all wondered where that missing parcel ended up?! There’s a change of feel during proceedings as Vic tackles Francoise Hardy’s Et Meme. It’s not out of place as the energy and snarled vocal delivery places it firmly in Subway Sect territory and makes you sit up and take notice. Is there a touch of irony in the performance or is Vic deadly serious? Perhaps both. Whichever, it’s engaging. Ne’er sums up the Subway Sect and Vic’s present day philosophy as he again lays bare his musical quest; “My dreams bring music striving daily to perfect soul, until the bits get knocked out and mixed up in the Sect bowl.” You see, he really does want to write the Best Album in the world, ever! His own left-field, off-beat, derivative outlook, style and unique musicality, puts paid to this lofty ambition. Did I say Ambition? We Come As Aliens has a direct lineage back to their classic 1978 single; the feeling and spirit is still evident. Only sharper. Don’t believe me? Just listen to the wonderful, in your face, punk rock cry of Back in the Community. The song distils society’s ills down to the selfishness of modern day life and urges us to “get back in the community and take lessons in humility.” It’s an outstanding song and performance, with lyrics that ingenuously write in Blakey and Butler from On The Buses; “I’ll have you!” I’m reviewing this album because of Paul’s involvement. If not for Paul I might never have heard it. I feel as though I‘ve had a lucky escape; missing out on We Come As Aliens seems unthinkable now. The 13 tracks are awash with catchy melody and compelling storytelling. You shouldn’t need Paul’s involvement as a reason to buy Vic’s latest album. It’s simply brilliant. Just buy it! Review by Phil Singleton (17th September '10) Pre-order We Come As Aliens Sid Vicious - Final 24: His final hours (MVD Visual DVD) Originally broadcast in 2006, the show was part of a series looking into the last day of a number of celebrities. It’s a clever format as it switches between the countdown of the final 24 hours and the back story, keeping the momentum going. The 24 hours themselves are depicted by re-enactments of key scenes supplemented by narration. The actors’ dialogue is kept to a minimum. Although “Sid” himself is not in any way a dead ringer for the real deal - and the hair seems more perm than spiky top - the documentary does succeed in getting across the feeling and decadence of the events, as the clock ticks down to his end. The programme includes contributions from Glen Matlock and Malcolm McLaren who, along with others, act in part as narrators of the saga. Sid’s Lawyer, James Merberg, plus Sgt Houseman, and interestingly Sid’s Forensic Psychiatrist Steve Teich (hired by McLaren and Anne Bevereley), revisit the tale from the NYC perspective. I’m not too sure about the “mercy killing” theory either. Until Michelle Robinson herself talks openly about Sid’s death, which is unlikely, his final moments will remain a secret. Anne Beverely emerges again as the major villain of the piece, quite rightly. Her refusal to get Sid to hospital after his first OD on the night he died, purely because of the publicity it would generate, is unforgivable. The Final 24 series tag line states: These are no ordinary biographies. These are psychological detective stories attempting to uncover the mystery of why the celebrity died. The use of the word “attempting” is wise. Nevertheless, this dramatization / documentary is a commendable, fast paced and informative affair, which delivers the goods. The final 24 minutes may remain elusive, but the final 24 hours are done justice. Review by Phil Singleton (12th July '10) Sex Pistols - Agents Of Anarchy DVD (IMC Vision) The latest unofficial Sex Pistols DVD tells the story of the band via interviews with Brian James, Kris Needs, Steve Dior, and Sirus Trixie (a friend of Sid Vicious). Previously filmed interview clips of Glen Matlock, John Lydon and Malcolm McLaren – all filmed in different eras – are included, plus radio audio of Sid Vicious. The documentary itself is largely built around footage from the London Weekend Show (Notre Dame), So It Goes, Longhorn Ballroom, and Janet Street Porter’s John Lydon interview from 78. Much, but by no means all, of the footage was included in the recent Who Killed Bill? DVD. Other oft seen clips (i.e. Nancy/Sid news items) make up the feature. I didn’t spot anything that was new to me, but that’s not what this is about. Musically, the Sex Pistols provide the soundtrack with a bit of Sid solo live creeping in. The Pistols music is either live or demos, but works fine in the film’s context. So how does it all hang together? Pretty well. We all know the story and we can all nit-pick so I’ll avoid doing so (but please spell McLaren correctly on screen). I particularly enjoyed Brian James’ perspective on the Anarchy Tour – not something we hear too often. The other three “story tellers” - Needs, Dior, and Trixie - do a competent and generally well balanced job. It’s a positive piece as borne out by the opening narration; “In three decades the Pistols went from public enemy number 1 to national treasures.” Whether this release is for you depends on the type of fan / collector you are. Those who are only satisfied with complete, unedited archive film will baulk at the lack of rare uncut footage or the use of narration. Those who enjoy a run through the Pistols career and get pleasure seeing clips and interviews edited together for this very purpose, should treat themselves. An enjoyable hour. Review by Phil Singleton (June '10) Who Killed Bill? The Sex Pistols On The News DVD. (Odeon Entertainment) Chapters: Who Killed Bill? / 1976: Where It All Begins / 1977: Jubilee & Fame / 1978: Punk Rock Explosion / 1978: Pistols In The USA / 1978: The End Of The Pistols / 1978: Sid & Nancy / 1979: PiL / 1980: Memories Of The Pistols / 1989: John Lydon / 1990: Vivienne Westwood Fashion Icon / 1995: Sex Pistols Retrospective / 1996: Sex Pistols Reformed / 1998: Malcolm's Views / 2000: Malcolm For Mayor / 2002: Sex Pistols Back Again / 2007: Sex Pistols The End? Who Killed Bill? has been sourced directly from ITN's archives and is part of a series that includes a similar release last year documenting the life and death of Michael Jackson. The material is gathered together loosely by a combination of year and topic. This is for the main part successful, although anomalies and errors do creep in (a Channel 4 news item on the film Sid & Nancy from 1986 shows up in 1978 Sid & Nancy , and the 1995 Retrospective chapter is comprised of a show from 1996). Before proceeding further I will get all my nit-picking out of the way. Clearly the rights to use the Pistols music were not acquired, and therefore all the original music has been replaced with what I can only describe as a soundtrack that reflects the Pistols. Thankfully, for the large part, i.e. the interview material, this makes no difference because there is no music, although elsewhere it is a little distracting. But, it's all about a trade off; if the cost of the project were higher, we might never get to see this. I know which I would prefer. My other quibble, and it is only a slight one, is that it would be nice to have an index of where each item is sourced and the original date of broadcast. However, the most important point to make is that this DVD is not a poorly compiled low end collection of bootlegged clips. Far from it. The items included are edited to focus on Pistols related material – this is important when viewing the Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren chapters which otherwise could potentially fill the disc with superfluous 'non-Pistols' chat. So, is it with getting? You bet it is. The picture quality alone makes it a 'must have' purchase. Janet Street Porter features heavily during the 76-78 sections which reminds us of her role in the TV coverage of punk during this period. Much of the early material is taken from The Year Of Punk, LWT ‘s retrospective hosted by Janet and transmitted New Year's Day 1978. This included a repeat of her famous LWT interview with the Pistols in 1976 which kicks off the chapter 1976: Where It All Begins. The oft seen Malcolm McLaren Anarchy Tour interview leaps off the screen with amazing clarity, and the daft spokesman for Leeds Polytechnic looks like he's straight out of the history books, only with more detail than ever. A very encouraging start. 1977: Jubilee & Fame also draws from The Year Of Punk . This, along with the following section, is the weakest part of the DVD with no real Pistols material. We have to make do with film of punks on the streets throwing flowers at bus drivers and getting pulled by the cops. Historically interesting, but when they interviewed a punk why did they pick on one who was so thick he barely qualified to be called a human, let alone a punk? 1978: Punk Rock Explosion, again starring Janet Street Porter, centres on the change of fortunes of the music press during the punk period. The Pistols link is tenuous at best. After this brief dip, things pick up with 1978: Pistols In The USA, which is a brief round-up of Atlanta clips, not rare, but a worthy inclusion. One of the disc's highlights is Janet's interview with John Lydon which took place following the Pistols break-up in 78, (1978: The End Of The Pistols). John, resplendent in his Mad Hatter top hat, strolls the streets of London talking to Janet; a group of kids start to follow them adding to the quirkiness of the piece. John is very sharp, amusing, and not as bitter as you may imagine; in line with the rest of this release, the quality of the film is superb. 1978: Sid & Nancy gathers together US and UK news items reporting the deaths of the pair, plus the Sid & Nancy film feature from Channel 4 news. Next up is a real gem - PiL on Check It Out in 1979 (1979: PiL) . Yes, it's on Youtube, but not as big and as bold as it is here. It's amusing to see a Check It Out presenter try and get her revenge the following year (1980: Memories of the Pistols) by damning Metal Box. The pieces included on the disc vary greatly in length. One short but sweet clip finds an off camera Danny Baker interviewing a grey haired John (1980: Memories of the Pistols) which I was not familiar with. The same goes for an interview with John discussing marine biology in which he states prophetically “I do have a preference for nature shows” (1989: John Lydon ). For hardcore fans of just the band, the Vivienne and Malcolm chapters will prove less popular, but you can't underestimate their input into the history and myth of the Pistols. A South Bank Show special on Vivienne provides the material for 1990: Vivienne Westwood Fashion Icon, edited to include only her early Pistols designs. Malcolm crops up in a TV short, Confession Box (1998: Malcolm's Views ), but perhaps more interesting are the clips concerning his failed run for the mayor of London (Channel 5 news, London Tonight, Trevor MacDonald Meets...). This is the only time the disc is in danger of drifting off topic, but it proves a worthy inclusion (2000: Malcolm For Mayor). Not surprisingly, the later years provide the bulk of the material. 1995 Retrospective features Granada TV's NWA show and focuses on the Pistols impact in Manchester with interviews with Glen Matlock, Malcolm McLaren, the Buzzcocks, Peter Hook, and various attendees at the Lesser Free Trade Hall shows, including Tony Wilson. 1996: Sex Pistols Reformed compiles footage from the 100 Club press conference, Finsbury Park news reports, plus an Australian press conference item and John interview, the latter which I'd not seen before. The interviewer tries to be clever...... I'll say no more. 2002: Sex Pistols Back Again starts with an ITN news clip and takes in the Cobden Club conference with some great footage of the Pistols rehearsing and drinking tea at Stanbridge Farm in Sussex prior to the Crystal Palace gig. This is a fairly long feature (14 minutes) which includes another excellent interview with John that was new to me, plus an appearance by John on regional London TV. 2007: Sex Pistols The End? brings the DVD to a close with 20 minutes centred on the launch of Guitar Hero 3 at Hoxton Square Bar in Shoreditch. Brief extracts from the conference itself - showing John throwing his microphone at a journalist - are supplemented by a 15 minute uncut ITN interview and a London Tonight feature. As for Bill Grundy himself, the man who inspired the title, only Steve Jones' choice words are on show - they open proceedings at the top of the programme. So, overall, what's the verdict? It's not perfect, and I know some would love to have famous shows such as The Year Of Punk released in their entirety: perhaps if releases such as Who Killed Bill? sell well, that may happen one day? Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Who Killed Bill? The Sex Pistols On The News. It is two hours of non-stop Pistols TV, presented in fabulous picture quality. To see clips in full, rather than just the extracts we are familiar with, is always welcome. Let's not forget there are items that you won't have seen before either. ITN are to be commended for opening their archives and breathing new life into all this footage. As a fan of the Pistols, this is a terrific product. Review by Phil Singleton (7th February '10) Pretty Blank 15 CD Box Set
Review by Tim Bucknall (June '09) Sex, Anarchy & Rock'n'Roll Swindle
Pink Vinyl LP
This is a great compilation. I didn't expect it to be this good as even the ebay seller I bought it from described it as "stuff we've heard a million times before!" If the Winterland track was at the correct speed I'd give this compilation 100/100 with no hesitation. This is very much the sort of compilation Dave Goodman would have put out on Dojo records if he was still alive. In fact I'm certain that this stuff leaked from his "stash". No Lip & Substitute are the original Oct 76 versions without overdubs but in the best available quality. The versions on Pirates of Destiny were smothered in fake reverb by Goodman and the 2002 Sexbox set remastered the tracks from this source. These versions are vastly superior; it is just a shame they didn't include Stepping Stone. Hopefully it will surface on another release. To sum up: The 2 tracks mentioned above make this a great purchase. I'll be listening to this LP much more than, for example the 2006 Spunk reissue which for me was ruined by speed problems (the 1976 tracks are too slow). This LP has the Spunk tracks at the correct speed. Sid! By Those Who Really Knew Him Odeon Entertainment Nice packaging. A zip-up wallet, with 3D plastic lettering and Sid picture. What more could you want? Well, let's see..... The documentary starts off promisingly (ignoring the awful graphics which utilise a Sid doll) with Jah Wobble discussing Sid's early days. Much of what he says is new: his first meeting with Sid and early recollections of his first visit to Mrs Vicious' flat and the shocking scenes that greeted him. The new interview footage in the documentary has been filmed in HD and it shows – it's crystal clear and vibrant. Steve Severin weighs in with a new angle on the birth of the pogo. However, it soon becomes apparent that it's the same people who are contributing to this project that did so to Who Killed Nancy? and any number of other Pistols projects. What they say in isolation is well worth hearing, and to be fair, they are fairly consistent with their anecdotes, it's just that we've heard most of it before. More than once. The Mclaren interview footage is disappointingly from 1980s TV shows, including the famous South Bank Show McLaren special. Annoyingly, the picture is given some kind of arty treatment - Lord knows why - it adds nothing to the viewing experience. It's a pity because the interview is good. What I can not understand is that while many clips appear in stunning quality, others undergo the “arty” treatment, with psychedelic spots and other camera wizardry applied. And what about all the unseen footage “culled from ITN's extensive archive?” You guessed it; it's very much the same old, same old....... with a few exceptions. I'll list the good stuff...... Sid & Nancy cable TV footage in brilliant quality; Atlanta TV news report on the Pistols first US show; and numerous LWT clips which are for the most part, excellent quality. The down side is that, yet again, we've seen most of it before. Purists will also balk at the fact that only clips appear, not the full interviews, but this is not a collection of TV appearances, it's a documentary. Some clips have cropped frames, which will also annoy a few people. There are a few extra seconds here and there which didn't seem familiar to me, but not a great deal. I hate to say this, and I may be wrong, but some US news footage of Sid seems to have been taken from YouTube. It's excellent footage, mind you. Frustratingly, there is no Pistols music, even when there is footage of them playing. The only exception is during the occasional news clip. What we have as the soundtrack is Sid Vicious live in New York. Incidentally, the bonus Sid 10 track live CD has already appeared as part of Jungle Records Sid Lives 2 CD set. As for the story itself, all bases are touched once more, with not everyone speaking in glowing terms. 100 Club promoter Ron Watts is one such dissenting voice. Ron is filmed in the 100 Club showing the exact spot where Sid attacked Nick Kent; from where he threw a glass at the Damned; and how and where Ron himself relieved Sid of his knife. I can now imagine Pistols fans standing in these locations trying to travel back in time to these historic moments! My conclusion. Overall, it's a well paced film, but it just seems so familiar. The cupboard really is bare now. Unless someone is willing to release unedited programmes/interviews/footage etc. I for one hope that this is the end of the Sid documentary saga. I've had enough. The zip-up wallet is nice though. Review by Phil Singleton (March '09) Who Killed Nancy? DVD Soda Pictures SODAA089 Having previously reviewed the movie, I won't do so again, but instead take a look at the DVD extras. The real jewel here is undoubtedly “Sid Vicious at the Roxy filmed by Don Letts.” Don has allowed his footage of Sid fooling around off stage at the Roxy to be viewed for the first time. Totalling around 4 minutes, bits of the film appear in The Punk Rock Movie, but most has remained unseen until now, including Keith Levene kindly helping to tie his shoe lace (Sid's broken his thumb nail). Bonus Stories provides an hour of additional interviews. Focusing mainly on Sid (with a little on Nancy and a tiny bit about Anne Beverley), we get to hear more stories about Sid's ability to attract trouble, his lack of sexual exploits pre-Nancy, the Jubilee boat trip, Huddersfield December 77, and his change to full-on rock star behaviour once he'd joined the Pistols. Steve English and Viv Albertine provide the lion's share of the most fascinating recollections. Unlike the movie itself, this section isn't burdened with having to tell a story, and is therefore interesting without being emotive. The other extras are fairly inconsequential. Outtakes is a few minutes of larking about, Fast Track To Hell is a song performed on camera by Neon Leon; Proud Galleries features clips from the launch of the book No One Is Innocent; and The Alan G Parker Story is the director's personal journey... The DVD extras total 90 minutes, so there's plenty to go at, with the afore mentioned Don Letts Roxy footage and Bonus Stories proving particularly good value. Review by Phil Singleton (February '09) Ladies And Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains. DVD Rhino Rock 'n' Roll Cinema 1 Featuring Ray Winstone (Billy), Steve Jones (Steve), Paul Cook (Danny), and Paul Simonon (Johnny ) as punk band The Looters. The Fabulous Stains. The ultimate cult movie musical. The word "cult" is thrown around too readily these days, TV shows with audiences of millions are termed "cults." The same goes for films, rock groups and books, almost anything that is popular. No, a real cult is a form of entertainment that has built up a following all by itself over a sustained period of time, largely by word of mouth. A cult also concerns something ignored by the mass public, who wouldn't "get it" even if it was staring them in the face. That's how I perceive the word. The Fabulous Stains is a cult movie. Filmed (mostly) in 1980 in Vancouver and Johnstown Pennsylvania (where the story is initially set), it disappeared off the radar almost immediately. Those of us who recall interviews with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in 1980 where they talked about "All Washed Up" (as it was originally called) soon gave up all hope of ever seeing the film. During the late 80's/early 90's it began to crop up on cable TV in the US, and so the cult began. A friend in Pennsylvania itself sent me an off air VHS copy. Apparently it was a popular film amongst people of a certain age and within the punk community. He told me how the entire story centred on the song Join The Professionals, and included another great unreleased Cook and Jones composition, Conned Again.
At last, almost 30 years later, it receives an official DVD release. For a film of this nature, the quality of the print used is vibrant and sharp (and I'm watching it through a multi-region player and PAL TV). Gratifyingly, the music sounds dynamic, which is a real plus for this release. Firstly, a look at the DVD itself. The menu plays "The Professionals" (as the song was known as back then), albeit The Stains version, but it's a nice way to get in the mood. The "extra" picture gallery includes some excellent stills of Steve, the two Paul's, and Ray as The Looters, both on stage and off. There are two commentaries included, the first by Director Lou Alder, the second by Diane Lane and Laura Dean. Both are worth listening to. Whereas Lou's is more measured, and assumes the viewer is not familiar with the film, Diane and Laura are out to enjoy recalling their time on the film. They have a great affection for The Fabulous Stains and prove to be an enthusiastic commentary double act. Onto the film itself. Despite the lack of experience of many of the cast, the performances are in the main first rate. Diane Lane, who was 15 at the time of filming, would later go on to big things in films such as The Perfect Storm and Unfaithful. Laura Dean, who amazingly was only 13, played Corrine Burn's cousin and fellow "Stain" Jessica. She would go on to star in the Jurassic Park series. Fee Waybill from The Tubes, played the part of the Metal Corpses singer perfectly, while up and coming actor Ray Winstone cranks his Cockney persona up to the max. Lou, Diane and Laura, all talk about Ray's accent in their commentaries, with some hilarious mimicking by the girls. Clearly the Americans could not understand him; "I like your hair" being the main offender. As for Steve and Paul, Lou points out that Steve had a lot to do with the production of the songs, which were recorded in Vancouver, and proved to be "a great help." Lou felt The Looters did a great job with limited time to rehearse, although it was hardest for Ray as he wasn't a musician. Lou also talks about the forthcoming release of the soundtrack - which has never been issued previously. The girls reveal that the The Looters played between takes at the big concert finale to keep the crowd happy. Although Steve and Paul don't have major speaking roles they do crop up throughout, throw a few expletives around, and star in some great on stage performances.
I like this film. It is what it is. A well told tale of youth verses adulthood, of image over musicianship, and of fading rock stars being brushed aside by a fickle industry and equally fickle public. As Lou points out, it doesn't relate to the modern music industry, but it is a time capsule from a period when managers and agents were king. And let's be honest, the Stains in their full Skunk dress (what little there is of it) look amazing. Ray Winstone was right when he said "I like your hair." And the rest. Well done Caroline Coon for supervising the Skunk look. If you like Steve and Paul's work as The Professionals, you will enjoy this for the music, seeing the boys in action, and as an historical document. If you merely want to check out a real "cult" music film, and have a slight interest in the punk period and the Sex Pistols, give it a try. The film has remained outside the mainstream for so long, perhaps the DVD will change all this? Will it lose its cult status and become too popular? I don't think so. Like I said earlier, the public at large wouldn't "get it." Make sure you do. To become a cult in the first place, a film has to have that certain X factor, something unique and special, something outside the norm yet able to draw like-minded people towards it. The Fabulous Stains has achieved this status on merit.
Ladies And Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains is a cult classic in the truest sense of the word.
The Punk Rock Movie DVD Fremantle Home Entertainment UK Release Date: 9th June 2008 Starring the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Slaughter & The Dogs, Generation X, The Slits, Subway Sect, Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, Eater, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, and X-Ray Spex. Originally scheduled for release in the UK back in March 2006, and then shelved, The Punk Rock Movie finally gets a UK DVD release over two years later. Having compared the new Fremantle release with the version scheduled by EMI two years ago, I can confirm that they are identical apart from the DVD menu. Therefore I have reproduced my review of the DVD from 2006 (with some minor alterations)..... First, the technical stuff. In order to achieve 16:9 (widescreen), as you would imagine, information is lost at both the top and bottom of the picture, primarily at the bottom removing the original group names and song titles. These are have therefore been re-captioned. Don't expect a big leap in picture quality, after all, as Peter Clifton describes in his commentary, it was "bloody awful, but it was punk". The audio can be listened to in both Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.0. On to the film. What else is there left to say that hasn't already been said about this movie? A priceless document of the time, filmed at various venues including the Sex Pistols at the Screen on the Green, footage from the final night at the Roxy Club, as well as, amongst others, The Clash and Johnny Thunders on tour. The infamous Keith Levene 'needle' sequence, missing from most prints of the film, is included. The sound is excellent, although the re-dubbing of some live tracks with the studio versions is frustrating and unneccessary. Those affected include Cranked Up Really High, White Riot, Oh Bondage Up Yours, Carcass, Chinese Rocks, and Born To Lose. Thankfully, the majority of the live sound, including all the Pistols material, is not affected. The commentary: Peter Clifton has clearly spent time putting together a detailed script that delivers biographies of each group as they appear, ensuring that if you did not know about the groups in this film before you watch it, you will by the end. He gives the history of punk in 85 minutes! He also tells the story of how the movie came to be, including tracking down Don Letts, and how they overcame the technical difficulties working with Super 8 film. Despite the format's limitations, he clearly felt it was the only way to film it. He shows particular fondness for Siouxsie and the Banshee's song Carcass, and tells a 'new' story about filming the video for Public Image involving Sid Vicious. I won't spoil it for you. The interview with John Lydon was conducted in Sydney, and althougth the caption states 1983, it's likely to be late '84 / early '85. Peter seems intent on referring to the 1960s, which John picks up on, pointing out he wasn't influenced by it! It's a fun, and rare, interview that gives a clear indication of where he was coming from two decades ago, as he reflects on the Pistols and discusses PIL, while at the same time fending off Australian insects. It's a warts and all piece of filming that even includes Peter's cutaways! This Widescreen Special Edition DVD is, without doubt, producer Peter Clifton's baby. It is certainly worth getting - the John interview alone justifies it - but a definitive version of the film still eludes us. Review by Phil Singleton (Feb '06. Revised May '08) Sex Pistols - Spunk: The Movie & Other Sordid Tales DVD (Independent Music Ltd IM7475)
Question: So what is Spunk: The Movie? Answer: Dave Goodman's studio demos synched to live footage. It's been lying around for a few years, and now an uncensored version has been released in Japan. The sleeve is based on the Sanctuary Records 2006 re-issue of the album. The track listing follows that of the LP, although the July 76 Anarchy demo replaces the October 76 cut, and Liar is omitted altogether. Substitute, No Fun,and the Oct 76 Anarchy demo follow. The Demo Not For Sale bleep (which appeared on the previously available pirate version of the videos) is no longer an irritation. This is particularly noteworthy, primarily due to the quality of the audio which is exceptional, sounding better than many of the available vinyl/CD recordings. There are other differences from the mixes we are more familiar with, most noteably a different vocal take on the July 76 version of Anarchy. In fact, the excellent sound of the tracks has now become the DVD's strength. As I have previously reviewed the bootleg release, an abridged version of my earlier observations, edited to fit this edition, appear in the following box:
Back to this new DVD release, the additional Other Sordid Tales rounds-up the well known promos of Anarchy, GSTQ, Vacant, and My Way (Rock 'N' Roll Swindle edit). More desirable are the 1977 Sex Pistols Number 1 GSTQ video and the 1996 five minute Promo Trailer, both of which are excellent quality. Spunk: The Movie & Other Sordid Tales is well worth seeing; partly for the excellent sound, partly out of curiosity, and partly due to the unique nature of some of the versions. Could it be that Dave Goodman actually held on to his best until last? Review by Phil Singleton (January '08) England's Dreaming (Virgil Reality VisionVRV6001)
These box sets seem to be the rage at the moment. The previously released sets, Never Trust A Hippie and Indecent Exposure, both which contained CD replicas of vinyl LP's, were enjoyable collections. This latest offering, limited to 1000 numbered copies, is a disappointment. The card sleeves for the DVD's feature famous 1977 music paper covers from NME, Sounds, and Rolling Stone. DVD 1: Sex Pistols Anthems. The first DVD brings together clips of the Pistols from various sources. Although no information is given with the box set, having watched it, the tracks and their origins are as follows: Anarchy (So It Goes); Vacant (Maasbree); Anarchy (Maasbree); EMI (Maasbree); GSTQ (promo); No Fun (Notre Dame Hall); New York (Stockholm); 17 (Stockholm); GSTQ ("Sex Pistols Number 1"); Anarchy (from DOA); I Wanna Be Me (Stockholm - bootleg quality); GSTQ (from DOA); Anarchy (1992 promo); Vacant (from DOA); EMI (from DOA); Vacant (promo); New York (from DOA); Anarchy (Stockholm - bootleg quality); Problems (Stockholm - bootleg quality); No Fun (Stockholm - bootleg quality); Bodies (from DOA); Anarchy (Jubilee Boat Trip); Vacant (Jubilee Boat Trip); Problems (Jubilee Boat Trip). The quality of the clips is variable (the Boat Trip footage plays slow) and poorly edited together with a fraction of a second missing from the beginning and end of many clips. It might not matter much, but it's avoidable. Most of this is available officially in better quality, and the rarer footage i.e. Stockholm, is of bootleg standard. DVD 2: 14 Pretty Visuals. This features the Goodman "long lost videos" which appeared in 2005. These promos are taken from the same source and feature the brief, but annoying "Demo Not For Sale" on screen stamp and accompanying bleep. As I've reviewed these before I won't do so again. (Click here for review). These videos have now appeared on DVD in Japan without the warning/bleep, as Spunk: The Movie & Other Sordid Tales. DVD 3: Pistols Live. This consists of the existing Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas 1978 footage and the full Winterland, San Francisco 1978 show. All of this has been available officially before, and in the case of Longhorn Ballroom is still widely available on DVD. The Winterland show is slightly out of synch, which makes this already pointless disc even more worthless. CD 1: Nashville Fight Night. The only CD in the set, Nashville Fight Night is the best thing about this collection. I really do enjoy the CD miniature replicas, and although the original vinyl bootleg was only released last year, this still looks the part in its card sleeve which reproduces the insert from the LP. The contents are the same as the vinyl with a break between sides 1 and 2. Incidentally, the fight takes place during Pretty Vacant. The booklet, while devoid of any information about the contents of the DVD's, reprints the text from the lengthy October '77 Rolling Stone article (although it fails to tell you this is where it is from!) Whereas the previous two box sets I mentioned earlier were compiled with care and attention to detail, this was not. This is greedy and cynical. The fact that it contains widely available promos which can be found on official releases emphasises this. Naughty, but not nice. If there is going to be any more of these sets, I hope they stick to reproductions of those long out-of-print collectable bootleg / semi-official albums. As for England's Dreaming, I'm not impressed. Review by Phil Singleton (January '08) Indecent Exposure (Exposed Records EXP 1001)
Limited to 1000 numbered copies, this new 6 CD box set continues the trend of re-issuing original vinyl LPs as CD miniatures in replica card sleeves. Indecent Exposure brings together 5 of the most famous live bootleg albums, plus Party Till You Puke which first brought to the world the Wessex Studio NMTB demos. The card covers look excellent. Two of the LPs (Welcome To The Rodeo & Gun Control) originally came with paper inserts. Rightly, the inserts have been reproduced as proper covers. In both cases, the inserts have been reversed for the back cover, giving a mirror image. I don't think it would have mattered if the backs were left blank. The Gun Control insert has been stretched to fit the cover dimensions, but would have looked as good had it been left in its original ratio. The CDs have a generic label bearing the Gun Control cover image, which identify each disc as part of the set. A reproduction of a label from each bootleg would have been a preferred touch. The CDs have been mastered from the original vinyl as far as I can tell. This is most noticeable on the Sweden disc, although at no point is the mastering poor. The Sweden LP was always my favourite bootleg album. Originally issued as a double LP with the track listing on sides 2 & 4 mixed up on the sleeve (as reproduced here), it works well in this new format, as does the sleeve which boasts one of the best ever bootleg covers. Welcome to The Rodeo has been given a more complete release on CD bootleg since the original LP, but it is thankfully the original vinyl version here, just as it should be. Another immensely exciting LP back in the day, it gave a real feel of the Pistols confronting America. It also contains one of the most unintentionally funniest Pistols moments captured on vinyl: Sid announcing "This one's called Submission". The band then kicks into No Feelings! My Name Is John has already been given a CD re-release in excellent quality on the Back To Zero label. This sounds identical. Another historic show, this was the Pistols' first American gig from their 1978 tour. The bands' musicianship is not at its best, but the attitude is present in spades. Gun Control gave us the full San Francisco gig (minus a few slight edits) which ended the '78 tour. The gig has been made available many times since, but this is how we all first got to hear it. As for the Indecent Exposure album itself, there was a time when these Burton-On-Trent recordings were rare, which seems almost inconceivable now. I hadn't listened to this material for well over a decade, and thoroughly enjoyed having a reason to play it again. It's a great performance and is presented here as per the original bootleg. The final disc Party Till You Puke is the odd one out and is slightly puzzling. Firstly, it was issued on CD originally as well as vinyl, unlike the other LPs. Also, the running order here varies slightly from my own CD copy (although it's correct on the sleeve), plus I noticed the start of Submission on side 1 was missing the "warm-up" before the song starts. It's only a few seconds, but why? Strange. A 32 page booklet containing a band biography and gig list completes the set. My verdict. A great set celebrating the good old days of the vinyl bootleg. A lot of care has gone into it, and although it's not perfect, it is a fine way of reliving or experiencing for the first time, the exciting buzz of finding that long sought after bootleg at the local record fair. Review by Phil Singleton (December '07) Never Mind The Sex Pistols - An Alternative History DVD Independent un-official DVD biographies are a minefield for a fan of any band. Earlier this year saw the commendable Chaos! Ex Pistols Secret History which showed it could be done. A tough act to follow. Billed as "An Alternative History", I was nervous. It conjured up images of a Sci-Fi alternative universe type approach where everything seems the same, but isn't quite. First things first, there is no footage of the band, or music from the Sex Pistols. This is not a problem. Those who will be attracted to this DVD are fans who will have the footage already, and a few clips does not necessarily make for a good documentary. Plus, and it's a big one, it helps keep the cost down. So, what we have is a "talking heads" documentary accompanied by a number of excellent stills of the group. So what's it all about? It's the story of the Sex Pistols, again. But do not despair; there are some excellent interviewees on show here with some intriguing tales to tell. The big names are Glen Matlock and Malcolm McLaren, and like all the contributors involved, they were filmed specifically for the documentary. Glen has told his side of the story before, but always manages to sound balanced, not to mention, wise. At one point he remarks that while it's hard to escape from his Pistols past, he is aware of the importance of it. Glen's presence is important as Sid Vicious undergoes a bit of a renaissance here, viewed by some as an asset. Even his musical ability is reassessed, care of Tour Manager John "Boogie" Tiberi. You'll be pleased to learn that Malcolm McLaren is up to his old tricks. It's hard to believe everything he says, but he is pure entertainment. This time out he's "confessing" to never wanting to make a record with the Sex Pistols because he didn't want to fit in, and only saw the band as a way to sell clothes. "Making a record was pathetic" he now claims. Love him or loathe him, he's well worth a listen and he's even thought up some new anecdotes. Steve 'Roadent' Connolly gives new insider insight on the immediate aftermath of the US tour when Malcolm was still hoping to keep the band together. The rarely heard John "Boogie" Tiberi talks calmly about the turmoil within the band and notably singles out John Lydon's relationship with Richard Branson as causing irreconcilable differences between John and Malcolm. Sex shop worker Alan Jones gives the most emotional account of the times as the atmosphere began to sour following the Grundy show, culminating in the violence on the Jubilee boat trip. The sight of his friends getting beaten by the Police on the quayside was the end of the road for Alan. It was no longer fun. Buzzcock Steve Diggle gives a non-London perspective on the impact of the band on not just himself, but on other likeminded individuals. The documentary is not perfect. A quick edit here and there would have removed a couple of minor factual errors. The number of interviewees isn't great, and the brief re-enactments of scenes from the Pistols story are an acquired taste. Some work, some don't. But.... let's not forget it is an independent budget priced documentary. So what is the "Alternative History?" I took this to be the new perspectives and anecdotes on offer. No Sci-fi trip, thank goodness. Running to almost 100 minutes and retailing at little more than the price of a couple of pints, you'll find more than enough here to justify its purchase. Back to my earlier reference to Chaos! The Ex Pistols Secret History. Never Mind The Sex Pistols - An Alternative History serves as its companion. Both are entertaining and informative. I can't say fairer than that. Review by Phil Singleton (29th October '07) Rock Case Studies DVD & Book Set
It is basically a reworked version of the Punk Icons DVD from two years ago. Music Reviews Ltd who released Punk Icons are listed on the back cover, so I was expecting it to be identical. At least they've made an attempt to make it different. This time the story of the band is told by Glen Matlock (reusing footage filmed for Punk Icons), author Alex Ogg, punk documentary stalwart John Robb (who was also in Punk Icons) and promoter John Giddings. It flows quite smoothly, but with glaring omissions (A&M, Virgin, boat trip, to name just a few). It also loses its way somewhat in the last twenty minutes by concentrating on Sid Vicious to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. There is good footage on show, but nothing rare; clips from the Anarchy and God Save The Queen promos, So It Goes, LWT, live in Dallas and San Francisco. Again, very similar to Punk Icons, only this time without that awful superimposed union jack which ruined the previous release. The DVD extra, a gallery of 10 photos, is identical to Punk Icons and is worthless. As for the glossy 72 page book, it looks nice, and even smells nice, but do we need yet another biography and a song-by-song analysis? I don't think so. Most of the pictures, excellent though they are, appear in the documentary or the gallery. Few are rare. The cover states "approximately 60 minutes". At 52 minutes, I'd call that very approximate. I'm not doing a good job at selling this release, am I? To be fair, I settled down in front of the TV with a cup of coffee to watch it, and the 52 minutes passed without any undue distress. It's no Filth And The Fury, but it's no Music Box either (the all time low standard for any documentary). If you own Punk Icons there is no point in buying this as well. If you don't, and are at a loose end having put the kettle on, you could do worse. The Glen interview is well worth seeing. Review by Phil Singleton (25th September '07) SID VICIOUS - SID LIVES! (Jungle FREUDCD095) DISC 1: Sept. 28th 1978. First Set: 1. Search & Destroy 2. Chatterbox 3. I Wanna Be Your Dog 4. Something Else 5. Stepping Stone 6. Don't Gimme No Lip Child 7. Belsen Was A Gas 8. Take A Chance 9. Chinese Rocks. Second set: 10. Search & Destroy 11. Chatterbox 12. I Wanna Be Your Dog 13. Something Else 14. Belsen Was A Gas 15. Stepping Stone 16. Chinese Rocks 17. Take A Chance 18. Don't Gimme No Lip Child 19. Something Else. There's been Sid Vicious CDs before, many of them, but this CD promised something a little more. The September 28th show (both sets) surfaced briefly for the first time in its entirety on the internet a couple of years ago. Would it be the same show and the same recording? Firstly, it IS the same show, and secondly, it IS a different recording. The first set of the evening has appeared on CD before, but never complete. The second set may seem familiar in part due to some of the between-track banter which appeared on Sid Sings. However, no music from this set was on Sid Sings. This second set has only appeared complete before on the rare internet recording. The recording sounds similar in quality and source to Sid Sings, rather than the internet version. Therefore, even if you were lucky enough to grab a copy off the 'net, you also need this. Although some of the band's between-song exchanges are not as clear as on the 'net version (perhaps due the positioning of the tape recorder on the night), the music is sharper and cleaner. On balance, this is the better recording. Guitarist Steve Dior is credited with restoring and remastering the recordings which may explain why the guitar is by far the clearest aspect of both discs in this collection. Let's hope "restored" does not mean "augmented". My only slight gripe is Sid's "1,2,3,4" introduction to the second set is missing, but I guess this wasn't on the original tape used here. However, the pluses far outweigh any minor niggle. This is a good recording of a show that hardly anyone has heard complete before. Oh, and Chris Spedding climbs on stage to accompany Sid for the finale: Something Else. DISC 2: Sept 30th 1978. First Set: 1. Search And Destroy 2. Chatterbox 3. Something Else 4. Belsen Was A Gas 5. I Wanna Be Your Dog 6. Stepping Stone 7. Take A Chance 8. Don't Gimme No Lip Child 9. Chinese Rocks 10. My Way. Second set: 11. Search And Destroy 12. Chatterbox 13. Something Else 14. I Wanna Be Your Dog 15. Belsen Was A Gas 16. Stepping Stone 17. Take A Chance 18. Don't Gimme No Lip Child 19. Chinese Rocks 20. My Way. So onto the September 30th show. On paper, no recording from this night has surfaced previously, or if it has, it's been catalogued as a different night. First off, this is not the other show that surfaced on the internet along with the September 28th show. This is different. The running order of the first set suggests this complete show has never seen the light of day before, and, as far as I can ascertain, there are versions of songs I have not heard before... I think. After two days mulling it over, my opinion is this: The second set on the disc is what was previously believed to be the first set on 29th September. The first set on the disc is more of a mystery. My ears just aren't good enough to be 100% sure how much of it has surfaced before. It has to be said, the show is not one of Sid's most memorable. This disc is going to prove a great deal of fun for the hard-core historians to unravel. The 8,000-word 24-page booklet is a great piece of work featuring a terrific Sid timeline and an essay by Steve Dior, a "song-by-song background", and it was good to see www.sex-pistols.net credited as a reference source. My initial verdict - if you're a Sid fan, you'll find this a real treat; the first disc is a gem. However, I'm going to leave the final verdict on the second disc to the Sid Live Recordings experts (Dino and Herve). Review by Phil Singleton (12th September '07) October 1st: Anarchy In The UK / I Wanna Be Me 7" You all know the records. For the first time in 30 years they are back in all their original glory. The sleeves and labels are reproduced with true attention to detail, and are more vibrant than ever. The card sleeves and heayweight vinyl give a meaty, substantial feel to the product. More bollocks all round. As for the pressings. They sound like 1976/77 analogue pressings. THANK GOD. As I previously stated on the Vinyl Series 2007 Singles page: All the 7"s are cut from original studio production masters, i.e. pre mastering. These are the mixes as the producer and band had wanted. The cutting engineer would then have transferred these to vinyl with any equalising as necessary. All 7"s were cut advanced head (purely analogue). Roll on Never Mind The Bollocks. Click here for Vinyl Series 2007 Singles page. Review by Phil Singleton (10th September '07) Sex Pistols - Never Trust A Hippy (Hippy Records HIPPYBX001) So what is this? Who remembers the explosion of live unofficial Pistols LPs in 1985 that quickly filled the record racks? A rag-bag collection of live material from the likes of Atlanta, Halmstad, Newport, Stockholm, San Francisco and Burton upon Trent, all thrust upon us with no care as to the content. Different concerts would rub shoulders with one another, and unless you were lucky enough to have a correctly labelled bootleg or tape and already knew the material, the lack of sleeve notes ensured you remained largely oblivious as to the gig you were listening to. Five LPs appeared in quick succession during late '85, all of which are included here; Never Trust A Hippy, Where Were You In 77?, Anarchy In The UK Live, Power Of The Pistols, and The Best Of The Sex Pistols Live. The remaining two; Anarchy Worldwide and Cash From Chaos, appeared three years later, and were much the same apart from the inclusion of the Goodman demos just in case you hadn't yet heard them. These last two albums seem out of place here and I would have been happy for them to have been excluded from this box set. On their release, after the initial excitement, my patience wore thin due to the shortcomings I've already stated and the added irritation that they sounded like they'd been pressed in concrete. I was convinced they were damaging my stylus, and after Never Trust A Hippy, Anarchy In The UK Live, Power Of The Pistols and The Best Of The Sex Pistols Live, I'd had enough and quit wasting further precious beer money. Anyway, here they are again in 2007. The collection comes in a sturdy box with a 24 page booklet containing a band biography, which is adequate but hardly what you will be wanting this set for. As for the albums themselves, the card replica sleeves actually look very good. The discs themselves are mastered from the vinyl LPs, which will come as no surprise, and sound just the same; a few crackles and pops here and there, but overall not as bad as I'd remembered. However, for me the most enjoyable aspect of this collection is the disc Where Were You In 77? It's by far the best in the set by virtue that it is the only disc that contains a complete show, recorded at Newport, Shropshire, 23rd December 1977. It's also one LP contained in this set that I did not buy the first time around. Although the shrinkwrap bears a sticker claiming Made In England, it is most readily available in Canada and retails for approximately $70. Whether it's worth tracking down depends on your desire to own these albums on CD. Maybe the originals hold a nostalgia value? Maybe you just want them in your collection? It's definitely NOT a must have, but on the plus side, what I can say is that you get exactly what you would expect, with nice sleeves and the desirable Where Were You In 77? album. Still undecided? Toss a coin. Review by Phil Singleton (31st August '07) Sex Pistols - In Japan (DVD)
The DVD duly arrived yesterday. The box is unspectacular with a picture of John from the GSTQ video mixed with a predictable rising sun on the cover. I flipped it over to read the back: "Recorded In Tokyo, Japan, November 16, 1996." Oh dear. I wasn't surprised. For those who do not know, this show was released officially in Japan 10 years ago as "Filthy Lucre Live in Japan". The video contained the full show minus the second encore of Roadrunner. Two tracks recorded at the Phoenix Festival July 21st 1996, Anarchy and Problems, were added to the release. That is exactly what you get here. Opening the box I was pleased to discover this is a factory produced DVD, not a DVD-R. Well, you never quite know what you're getting these days. Next step... playing the disc. There is no menu with individual track selection, however the disc does contain track separation, so you can flick through once the disc is playing to find the songs you want. Basically, press Play and off you go. The first thing you notice is that Masterplan have put their MP logo in the top left of the picture, a bit like MTV etc, perhaps to combat piracy. This stays in place throughout, but is soon forgotten. Anyway, I can forgive them due to the excellent quality of the picture and the dynamic sound. The show is best remembered for John's Austrian/Pinocchio outfit and Steve's rock and roll posturing and snarling - he almost has sex with his guitar at the start of Satellite. The Pistols themselves sound magnificent. It's certainly the best available professionally recorded show from the Filthy Lucre Tour. The two songs from the Phoenix Festival could have been a DVD extra, rather than remain tagged on at the end as they were on the video, but it hardly makes any difference. They're included, that's the main thing. So yes, I was disappointed that Sex Pistols - In Japan was not live in Sendai, but I am not sorry I bought the DVD. It's a quality DVD upgrade to my old VHS copy. Plus, including postage from Europe, it cost me just over a tenner! A bargain. If you don't have this show in your collection, now's your chance. Review by Phil Singleton (28th July '07) Sex Pistols Spunk 7" Singles Box. (Sanctuary Records Castle CMXBX 1534)
Spunk re-released yet again? Yes, but what a unique and special way to do it. Seven singles, housed in a sturdy black box, with accompanying booklet. Discs 1 - 6, which play at 45 rpm, come in generic "Sex Pistols" sleeves, complete with central hole showing the label. Disc seven is a 33 rpm 3 track ep which pulls together the tracks which were added to Spunk to make the No Future UK? LP, and is housed in a colour picture sleeve. The labels feature a black and white reproduction of the original Spunk label. A great deal of care has gone into this package, and it shows.
There is an additional plus to this set, namely the couplings of Nookie / Just Me, and No Future / Feelings which act as alternatives to the official EMI and A&M pressings of Anarchy and God Save The Queen. It's also nice to hear the un-edited No Fun appearing as a single cut. To pick a favourite single from the collection sends me scurrying in the direction of the less obvious. I'll go for Who Was It / New York. Or maybe Satellite / Problems. Or maybe...... The twenty page booklet comprises sleeve notes by Jon Savage, a number of photographs of the band from the period, reproductions of articles from the printed press, and a rare colour advert for Anarchy In The UK. Sanctuary's latest offering is clearly aimed at collectors and vinyl connoisseurs. If you fit that description, you will love this. Review by Phil Singleton (19th July '07) Order from Amazon Spunk [7" VINYL] ©2000/2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009/2010/2011/2012 Phil Singleton /
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(Amazon)
The story tells the tale of Corrine "3rd Degree" Burns - played by Diane Lane - who, following the death of her mother, forms the group The Stains with her two cousins. Attending a gig by aging 60's band The Metal Corpses, Corrine takes inspiration from the support band The Looters and manages to get The Stains onto the tour, at the bottom of the bill. And so the fun begins.
Track Listing - 
Previously billed as In Their Own Words, this set has been released with the revised title of Rock Case Studies.
"Limited edition numbered 1000 copies - 89 tracks - 7 CD's - all in their individual original jackets and presented together for the first time. 24 page full colour booklet biography."
I received an email last week drawing my attention to a new European DVD release, Sex Pistols - In Japan, which according to the accompanying information, was recorded in Sendai, Japan, November 23rd, 1996. What?! I almost fell off my chair. This footage has never been seen, or its existence even known about before. Incredible. Could it be too good to be true? I thought I'd better check it out before making an announcement and incurring the wrath of disgruntled punters, so I took the plunge and bought a copy. 
Disc 1: Nookie (Anarchy In The UK) / Just Me (I Wanna Be). Disc 2: Satellite / Problems Disc 3: Submission / Seventeen. Disc 4: No Future (God Save The Queen) / Feelings (No Feelings). Disc 5: Lots Of Fun (Pretty Vacant) / Liar. Disc 6: Who Was It / New York (Looking For A Kiss). Disc 7: Anarchy In The UK Denmark Street demo 1976 / Pretty Vacant Denmark Street demo 1976/ No Fun unedited version. Plus booklet with sleeve notes by Jon Savage. 
There is something compelling about 7" vinyl singles. They elevate individual cuts into a different sphere of appreciation. The process of deciding which single track you want to listen to, then physically selecting it and placing it on the turntable, means you give the track full attention. It's light years away from sticking a CD in your player and idly flicking through the tracks. This box set makes you re-examine the songs individually. Guess what? Each cut sounds mighty fine as a single, whether it be an A or B side.