[kj] 1000 SUNS and PHANTASMAGORIA

[Alex Smith]

I don't remember being as crushed by hearing "Grimly Fiendish" by the Damned as I was when I first heard "Adorations" by the `Joke, but then -- I was always *way* more into the `Joke. Still not a fan of that single. When the album came out, there were at least a few tracks with oomph to them (notably "Chessboards" and "Rubicon") and its aged fairly well, I'd say, but it's never been one of my favorites.

That all said, *ABSOLUTELY NOTHING* can compare to the jaw-dropping disbelief and abject disapointment I felt when I first heard "America" (to say nothing of the rest of the album that spawned it).

Alex in NYC




-----Original Message-----

>From: gingoblin at easynet.co.uk

>Sent: Feb 22, 2007 4:36 PM

>To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>

>Subject: Re: [kj] 1000 SUNS and PHANTASMAGORIA

>

>Indeed, and an era for both bands that I now look back on and think "hmm, 

>not the best really, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself 

>otherwise at the time"!  Actually, wasn't keen on 1000 Suns when it came 

>out either (and no, let's not start that one again!)

>

>

>At 20:39 22/02/2007 +0000, you wrote:

>>This was a new chapter for the damned, similar to the Killing Joke era of

>>1000 Suns.

>>

>>

>> >From: "Jerry Butson" <jerry at fleamusic.com>

>> >Reply-To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the

>> >band!)"<gathering at misera.net>

>> >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

>> ><gathering at misera.net>

>> >Subject: Re: [kj] OT: in Defense of PHANTASMAGORIA by the Damned

>> >Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:50:52 +0000

>> >

>> >My vote for one of the Damned's finest vinyl moments goes to he 12" version

>> >of Alone Again Or in its breakneck speed, edited

>> >on-the-fly-with-a-pair-of-rusty-scissors version...fantastic!

>> >

>> >On 22/02/07, gingoblin at easynet.co.uk <gingoblin at easynet.co.uk> wrote:

>> >>

>> >>Yeah, I do kinda enjoy Phantasmagoria the very few times I play it these

>> >>days, but after all these years I've realised for it to REALLY be the

>> >>Damned, it needs Vanian/Scabies/Sensible. They've had their moments with

>> >>the different line-ups, but nothing even comes close to the amazing stuff

>> >>of the earlier years.   I remember hearing a comp CD in some pub... it was

>> >>absolute genius right up to Grimly Fiendish coming on, when I wished it

>> >>would just end. Kinda summed it up for me.

>> >>As for their "image"... as Scabies said, Vanian could dress as a binman

>> >>and

>> >>still look good, while he himself could put on the finest clothes and

>> >>still

>> >>be a mess!!

>> >>Must admit, can't stand Eloise... though that's possibly from it being the

>> >>"hit" and having heard it way too often over the years. The current

>> >>line-up

>> >>do the best version so far, but could still do without it!

>> >>Oh, and the Five Foot One thing... I came out and directly asked them

>> >>around that time, and they didn't own up!  I recall asking Rat if covering

>> >>Five Foot One had anything to do with Vanian's height (to which he replied

>> >>"oh, I wouldn't say that to him"!!). Ah, my ever-tactful youth!

>> >>

>> >>Dave in Edinburgh

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>At 09:15 21/02/2007 -0500, you wrote:

>> >>

>> >> >Just a few words in defense of PHANTASMAGORIA. I was shocked as everyone

>> >> >else at said album's comparatively gloppy overproduction. Despite the

>> >> >funereal trappings, it owed more to the likes of Meat Loaf and Bonnie

>> >> >Tyler than it did to any Goth making the `rounds at the time (by

>> >> >comparison, the Sisters of Mercy sound like the Ramones). That said,

>> >>there

>> >> >were still some fine moments of pure pop on it (notably "Street of

>> >>Dreams"

>> >> >and "Grimly Fiendish", although "Is It A Dream?" is just crap across the

>> >> >board). I'm also a big fan of the non-album single "Eloise," another

>> >> >hoarily windswept and overproduced gem. Was in Punk? Not especially, but

>> >> >who cares?

>> >> >

>> >> >As a college freshman in 1985 out in the bowels of Ohio, I remember

>> >> >packing into a crowded station wagon to drive across scary,

>> >>backwoods-ass

>> >> >Midwestern pigfuck country to Kentucky to catch the Damned on the

>> >> >PHANTASMAGORIA tour (which, for some reason, bypassed the nearest city

>> >>to

>> >> >our school, Columbus). As over-the-top as their image and aesthetic had

>> >> >become (Hammer horror films, candelabras, graveyard shtick), they were

>> >>as

>> >> >full-on live as can be imagined (and yes -- quite definably PUNK in

>> >>every

>> >> >semblance of the term).

>> >> >

>> >> >I've grown to quite like the PHANTASMAGORIA album as a result. There are

>> >> >some great moments on ANYTHING as well (notably their cover of "Alone

>> >> >Again Or" and the title track, which is essentialy a wafer-thin-re-write

>> >> >of Iggy Pops "Five Foot One"). I saw them again with Brian James et al.

>> >>on

>> >> >the tour that resulted in the FINAL DAMNATION tour (`90 or so?) at the

>> >>New

>> >> >Ritz, and they were endearingly shambollic. The last time I saw them was

>> >> >in the mid-90's at since-shuttered Coney Island High. I don't believe

>> >>Rat

>> >> >was in attendance, but Dave was there in all his ridiculous glory. It

>> >>was

>> >> >fun to see them, but it wasn't really "the Damned" as I'd grown to love.

>> >> >

>> >> >I haven't picked up a new album/single of theirs since I can't remember

>> >> >when, honestly. But I listened to a clutch of Damned tracks on my walk

>> >>to

>> >> >work this morning, and the mere fact that their catalog stretches from

>> >>the

>> >> >stripped-down velocity of "Fish" and "Neat Neat Neat" through to the

>> >> >ersatz psychedelia of the Naz Nomad stuff and onto their vanglorious

>> >> >opuses (opi?) like the afore-mentioned "Eloise" is a testament to their

>> >> >versatility.

>> >> >

>> >> >Bless'em.

>> >> >

>> >> >Alex in NYC

>> >> >

>> >> >

>> >> >

>> >> >-----Original Message-----

>> >> > >From: Mike Porthouse <Mike at rteltd.com>

>> >> > >Sent: Feb 21, 2007 4:02 AM

>> >> > >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

>> >> > <gathering at misera.net>

>> >> > >Subject: Re: [kj] Clip of US punk documentary/riots

>> >> > >

>> >> > >Had the pleasure of seeing the current Damned line-up a couple of

>> >>times

>> >> > last

>> >> > >year (Vanian, Sensible, Stu, Pinch and Monty) and I have to say

>> >>they're

>> >>in

>> >> > >good form. Best I've seen them since the re-union shows in about 88 or

>> >>89.

>> >> > >Vanian and Sensible have a massive stage presence and they're now

>> >>playing

>> >> > >with good musicians. Always a good night out. Some good new songs and

>> >>a

>> >> > back

>> >> > >catalogue of classics. The only thing for me, which keeps them from

>> >>being

>> >> > >right up there with the best is their lyrics, which have never been

>> >> > anything

>> >> > >to get excited about.

>> >> > >BTW the recent MGE DVD release is very good for any Damned fans who

>> >>don't

>> >> > >already own it.

>> >> > >

>> >> > >Mike Porthouse

>> >> > >

>> >> > >----- Original Message -----

>> >> > >From: <gingoblin at easynet.co.uk>

>> >> > >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

>> >> > ><gathering at misera.net>

>> >> > >Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:32 PM

>> >> > >Subject: Re: [kj] Clip of US punk documentary/riots

>> >> > >

>> >> > >

>> >> > >> This was last July, and yes it WAS interesting to say the

>> >>least!  Fucking

>> >> > >> great, even if Casey Chaos's voice was shot.

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >> They came VERY close to doing it with Dave and Cap, but that's

>> >>another

>> >> > >> story.  It is a shame though... 30 years comes round once.

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >> There was talk of doing a few more dates, but nothing more than

>> >>that.

>> >>You

>> >> > >> never know though!

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >> A couple of pics from the gig :

>> >> > >>

>> >>http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/GinGoblin/100ClubJuly6th20068.jpg

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >>

>> >>http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/GinGoblin/100ClubJuly6th20067.jpg

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >> Dave

>> >> > >>

>> >> > >> At 13:34 20/02/2007 -0500, you wrote:

>> >> > >>>So the Brian James Gang thing made me curious again.  Don't own the

>> >> > >>>release

>> >> > >>>but it sounds promising even the simplistic, idiotic lyrics.  Vocals

>> >>are

>> >> > >>>fine.  So I stumble across their (always dreaded) myspace page:

>> >> > >>>

>> >>http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friend

>> >> > id=106508478

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>>and what do I see...

>> >> > >>>DAMNED 30th ANNIVERSARY LINE-UP:

>> >> > >>>Brian James-Guitar,

>> >> > >>>Rat Scabies-Drums

>> >> > >>>Mani-Bass

>> >> > >>>Casey Chaos-Voice

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>>This could be interesting.  Shame they couldn't do it with Captain

>> >>and Rat

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>>Anyone have anymore details???  IS there a snowballs chance in hell

>> >>thisis

>> >> > >>>coming to the US?  I would actually go see this

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>>Chris

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>>

>> >> > >>> >From: "TB" <Partyslammer at socal.rr.com>

>> >> > >>> >Reply-To: TB <Partyslammer at socal.rr.com>,"A list about all things

>> >> > >>> >Killing

>> >> > >>> >Joke (the band!)"<gathering at misera.net>

>> >> > >>> >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

>> >> > >>> ><gathering at misera.net>

>> >> > >>> >Subject: Re: [kj] Clip of US punk documentary/riots

>> >> > >>> >Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:10:33 -0800

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> >"Rob's Arse" wrote:

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> > >

>> >> > >>> > > Grave disorder really was a return to form but Not of this

>> >>Earth

>> >>was

>> >> > >>> > > terrible!

>> >> > >>> > >

>> >> > >>> > > I remember seeing them at the time with Scabies on drums,

>> >>Vanian

>> >>on

>> >> > >>> > > Vocals, Moose from NMA on bass with Kris Dollimore (Mr Session

>> >> > >>> > > guitar)

>> >> > >>> >and

>> >> > >>> > > Vanian's Grandad (wearing a LEATHER WASTECOAT).

>> >> > >>> > > I left that gig totally heartbroken. They were shitter than

>> >>shit.

>> >> > >>> > >

>> >> > >>> > > As an aside, we played wit teh Brian James Gang the other week

>> >>and I

>> >> > >>> >have

>> >> > >>> > > to say that Brian James is a lovely bloke. Shame there were

>> >>only

>> >>25

>> >> > >>> >people

>> >> > >>> > > at the gig!

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> >Did Brian have Dave Tregunna with him on bass? Any Lords tunes

>> >>played?

>> >> > >>> >More

>> >> > >>> >details, man!

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> >T.B.

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> >

>> >> > >>> >_______________________________________________

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>> >> > >>>_________________________________________________________________

>> >> > >>>The average US Credit Score is 675. The cost to see yours: $0 by

>> >>Experian.

>> >> > >>>

>> >>http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=660600&bcd=EMAILFOOT

>> >> > ERAVERAGE

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>> >> > >>

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>> >>2/19/2007

>> >> > >> 17:01

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>> >> > >>

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