In The Trashcan
Records GEM015
"Life ain't no fun without fuzz and Farfisa. We live in
troubled times..."
Written by "Dandy" Dave Andriese and released in 1992 by Teen Scream Records. This Dutch foursome was the first Billy Childish influenced band. I wonder which of the Headcoatees was their favourite: Kyra, Debbie, Holly or Ludella. I know what my fave Perverts song is: this Medway induced beat stomper from one of Rotterdam's best kept secrets from the 90s.
Two albums and two 7" releases are known by this Italian garage combo. This was their first and also the first on their own Tortilla Records label, that also issued their debut album "In a forbidden place". In 1993 this EP was released containing 4 terrific self-penned garage tracks.
Vinyl Vaults released this flexi disc as part of their "Young Man Afraid Of His Horses" issues, this being the first from 1993. The other song on this flexi is "Tear it to pieces". Here Thee Headcoats are helped out by Thee Headcoatees, all four of them. A few years later Debbie Bongo left. Billy Childish was, is and will always be one of the garage rock icons, albeit a Medway version. One of his many nicknames was Mr. Suave.
A Belgian record boss believed in the quality of this German garage combo and released a couple of EP's. They'll have no problem to admit that Belgian fans helped getting them where they are now: the best known garage band from Germany. This is not a cover, but a Satelliters original, issued on Demolition Derby (see vol 14 for more info about this influential record label) in 1995.
The Spiderbabies' Colin Gilmore in disguise or Mr. Suave. From Eugene, Oregon, came this American Billy Childish fan and unfortunately for us, Childish lovers, only one EP was released, containing four Medway masterpieces.
British garage outfit from Salisbury. Creepy organ sounds and fuzz guitar licks over haunted vocals make this song perhaps the best they ever recorded. Released on the Italian label For Monsters Records in 1995. Their first release was 1992 and their last 10 years later.
Let's go the France for the French Medway scene. Together with Thee Gorgons, The Squares were France's best known Headcoats copycats. Founded around 1990 they managed to release at least 5 albums, including the magnificent "Tribute to the Medway scene". This Spanish release on Roto was their final 45 release.
US band formed by Gregg Kostelich and Michael Kastelic and owner of the important garage label Get Hip. This cover version of the Gants' 1966 recording is the flipside to "I'm in Pittsburgh and it's rainin'", the Outcasts song.
As a joke Mike Spenser used London's Hit (to be read as London Shit) as label name and changed their name into the Five Young Cannibals in 1986 to annoy the Fine Young Cannibals and London Records. The Cannibals were The Kings Of Trash, more than Billy Childish and Mickey Hampshire.
One of Germany's first garage rock outfits featuring Rick Zontar on Farfisa organ and singer Vic Count, the band's song writers. "Don't call me Batman", the A-side, can be found on other compilation albums. Two albums and 3 or 4 singles were all they ever cut, all on Love's Simple Dreams, except this debut release on Twang! Records.
The Swiss kings of trash were The Monsters, founded by the legendary Lightning Beatman aka Beat Zeller. This 1996 Record Junkie release on red wax is a perfect example of how to combine garage rock, psychobilly and trashy punk to a coherent sound to scare off your neighbours. It's a splitsingle. Their US friends Dead Moon are here with a live version of "It's OK".
Garage rock means also Australia. James Peirce founded The Apaches around 1990 in Sherwood, Queensland. This is the only release I know. On Sundown in 1992, both sides are fine r&b influenced garage beat. See vol 35 for the A-side "I'm leaving town".
B-side of a 1986 release limited tot 500 copies. Look at the label and then listen to the song… you'll swear it's California 1965. Great garage beat.
An Italian release containing four unreleased tracks by a Swedish garage band that was active in the mid-80s. See volume 45 for another track of this fantastic EP on Misty Lane.
Liverpool band formed in 1986 connected to The Marshmallow Overcoat. This song in particular had a great influence on Kurt Cobain. In 1994 it was over, leaving the scene after half a dozen albums and about 10 singles.
With this song I end this volume which took off with our love for the Headcoat girls. This comes from the 1990 Headcoats single on the Australian label Dog Meat as flipside to "The earls of suave". A year later it reappeared on the Headcoatitude album, issued by Shakin' Street. It is still one of my favourite Billy Childish songs.
