Hot Press Interview 1990

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Hot Press Interview 1990

Mark L · Loudmouth

Great interview. Not sure V Deep is 'tighter' than Mondo Bongo and that Geldof's voice is /was a problem. How could it get lost in the 'noise' of Mondays? It is distinctive and expressive. I also disagree with the idea that Banana Republic was merely a hit 'in the slipstream' of hits. It's a very good record, with biting lyrics. If the slipstream is a thing, how did Guilty get away, merely a few weeks later?

I still think Million Years should have been properly rereleased as Geldof promised at the time. Instead, it was B-sided on to a below average fourth single from the next album. Mary's Prayer was a deserved hit, third time round in 87 for Danny Wilson and before Elton John got 5 weeks at number one with Sacrifice and Healing Hands, they had both been released individually and both failed to dent the top 40 in 1989.

The Vegetarians of Love was a good album. So much has changed in the last 30 years. Except he still takes an age to write an album. Two years?! Chance would be a fine thing.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Nice end in that without Geldof, there would be no James...

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Nice end in that without Geldof, there would be no James...

Yes, the known influences are growing, Razorlight etc. Maybe it's at long last considered safe to cite Geldof as being influential.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Nice end in that without Geldof, there would be no James...
Yes, the known influences are growing, Razorlight etc. Maybe it's at long last considered safe to cite Geldof as being influential.

The Showaddywaddy of Punk? I don't think too many will be citing Geldof

Not sure how The Rats and Showaddywaddy match up though. Showaddywaddy were a rock and roll covers band whereas the Rats wrote original music and aside from the Under Their Thumb revamp never did a cover. Blondie, The Jam, The Stranglers and The Clash had covers as singles (Denis, Tide is High, Walk on By, David Watts, I Fought The Law, English Civil War). And as for the Pistols when Lydon left...

-- Edited by ArrGee on Friday 16th of October 2020 12:14:59 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Nice end in that without Geldof, there would be no James...
Yes, the known influences are growing, Razorlight etc. Maybe it's at long last considered safe to cite Geldof as being influential.
The Showaddywaddy of Punk? I don't think too many will be citing Geldof
Not sure how The Rats and Showaddywaddy match up though. Showaddywaddy were a rock and roll covers band whereas the Rats wrote original music and aside from the Under Their Thumb revamp never did a cover. Blondie, The Jam, The Stranglers and The Clash had covers as singles (Denis, Tide is High, Walk on By, David Watts, I Fought The Law, English Civil War). And as for the Pistols when Lydon left...

-- Edited by ArrGee on Friday 16th of October 2020 12:14:59 PM

Neither a punk band or a colourful revivalist band, it is lazy journalism in the extreme with a baffling rationale. And as the recent Citizens documentary reminded people, it was very cool for around 18 months to be a Rats fan. I would say from June 78 to Feb 80, they were one of, if not the most, popular bands in Britain. And part of that was because of the disdain they had for the likes of Showaddywaddy, Bay City Rollers and, very publicly, the Grease mob.