Crass – 100 Club, London W1 – 05/07/83

Posted on October 7, 2008February 6, 2024 by Penguin

Gee Sus artwork – International Anthem #3

Punk Is Dead / Mother Love / Rival Tribal Revel Rebel / Bata Motel / Hello Hero / Banned From The Roxy / Do They Owe Us A Living? / G’s Song

A Crass performance at the 100 Club that was shared with Serious Damage, a skinhead band from South London, and the Exploited.

A gig to try and unite the various tribal punk / skin factions.

I think Gary Bushell had something to do with the organisation of the gig along with The Exploited.

Crass were specifically invited by The Exploited to perform with them on the night, as Annie Anxiety, who also performed, was dating Wattie from The Exploited at the time.

You can hear the other bands followers throughout this Crass performance, happily siegheiling away.

Oh dear, not exactly what Gary Bushell (if he did indeed have a hand in the running of the night) or Crass would have hoped for.

Loads of rare Crass radio interviews, practice tapes and live performances on the KYPP site, use the search function to find them all.

A little text from the Southern website:

Crass are remembered as the most notorious agit−propsters of the 70s and 80s, for being founders of the Stonehenge festival, to having questions raised in Parliament regarding their various pranks, including a spoof tape of a telephone conversation between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, to their promotion of the ’Stop The City’ marches, alongside the organisers Dave ‘The Postman’ and London Greenpeace, and many many more activities. They are also remembered for being the leading protagonists of the genre know known as anarcho−punk, for being the first band to make their records available at little more than cost price, and to print a “Pay No More Than…” price on their record sleeves to stop fans being ripped off. And although many will remember the Crass sound as being ’unlistenable cacophony’ and their lyrics as ’shock slogans and mindless token tantrums’ (copyright: The Sun), listen to these records now and what you hear may surprise you, as what went on the studio was actually quite revolutionary in more than just the political sense.

Crass gigs were more like events, encompassing music, poetry, film and performance. There were often stalls from various political organisations and the members of the band would wander around the audience handing out leaflets and lyric sheets. The incredible backdrops which covered the walls were created by G Sus (latterly Gee Vaucher) who also designed the band’s terrifying, humorous and highly acclaimed artwork. The films Crass projected at shows were also created by Gee and another filmmaker, Mick Duffield.

In recent years Crass fought and won a long battle against property developers to keep hold of Dial House. In November 2002, the original members of the collective performed at the “Voices and Music Against War” event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank, though they did not appear on stage at the same time. Crass will never reform.

91 comments

Dave "BANDEY" Morrison
February 27, 2009 at 12:44 am

It was the other way round: The Exploited invited Crass.
I was there. It was advertised as a Exploited gig and we knew nothing about Crass till we arrived. I don’t remember too much but it is in my gig book, that is how I know the other band was “Serious Damage” as I filled it out when I got back every night. I don’t remember it being packed. I don’t recall any trouble/violence either not like the huge big ruck at GBH 100 club.
Penguin • Post Author •
February 27, 2009 at 12:57 am

Fair enough Dave, Pete Wright and Penny told me at or around the time that I placed this post that Crass had helped organise it.
I needed to ask them (seperately) who the skinhead band was, and the organisation of the gig came out in the conversation. Of course it was a long time ago, and they could have given me a bum steer.
Annie Anxiety may well have helped with getting Crass on the line up if the Exploited had invited Crass to appear cos she was friendly with Wattie at the time.
Penny and Pete could not remember the skinhead band, but you can so cheers for that…
Dave "BANDEY" Morrison
February 27, 2009 at 1:09 am

Yeah it probably was in the pipeline to do for a long time I doubt it was sponanious and both parties had something to do with the organisation of the gig. I just looked in my gig diary that was the only time I saw Serious Damage & I can’t find anything online about them having a quick look.
Just seen yer Myspace link, you look familar, I used to hang around with 16 Guns back in the day. Fulham Greyhound/Clarendon/Feltham FC etc
D.F.
February 27, 2009 at 2:26 am

Hi there, curious about Penguin’s earlier post about Pete Wright now doing children’s books (?!) I work with children and would love to get my hands on copies of his work, any idea where to track it down?
james
February 27, 2009 at 10:10 am

When interviewing Steve in the late 80s we talked about this gig. He said it was brokered by Annie Anxiety who was going out with Wattie then.
Francesco
February 27, 2009 at 12:15 pm

thanks to all for the full explanations!
You are close to Crass and you know very well the English scene:I can only learn from you.
Do you know if there’s a complete recording of the gig with the Exploited?
Francesco
February 27, 2009 at 4:54 pm

I’m reading that Crass wrote “Hurry up Garry (The Parsons Farted)” thinking about Garry Bushell.
As you know my English is very bad, but it seems that this lyric is not to support Garry.
http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/?p=419
Francesco
February 27, 2009 at 6:08 pm

I remember that Garry Bushell was involved in punk/oi band The Gonads http://www.the-gonads.co.uk/ this could be the unknown oi band in the list of this gig? I don’t know if they were from South London.
I was thinking about Peter & The Wolf too, but I don’t know where were they from….
Penguin • Post Author •
February 28, 2009 at 11:53 pm

D.F. message from Pete Wright:

Penguin,

Here’s two Italian web sites that lists some of the books wot I wrote!

http://www.cronosnet.com/liceo/lingue_2000/Testi.htm

http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/libri-autore_wright+pete-pete_wright.htm

I wrote under the names Pete Wright obviously, then Rita E Lovell and May Demeter (‘lovely Rita, meter maid’ – The Beatles – but they never got that!)

The Intermediate Reader ‘Bermuda Triangle’ is a sequel to the Easy Reader story.

Easy reader 2,000 words – Intermediate 12,000 words.

There’s probably a ‘Harry Millennium and the Search for Civilization 2,000’ floating round – that’s more of a textbook.

There’s some other stuff in the Intermediate Reader series under Pete Wright. Perhaps unobtainable?

I have the texts in the computer, but not enough of the originals to lend out – they never come back!

If you want to search google then put in ‘La Spiga Pete Wright’

Good luck.

Pete
D.F.
March 3, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Excellent, I’ll look into that, thanks!
Dave Lewer
June 17, 2010 at 10:47 pm

I ‘WAS’ at that gig in question when the Exploited played with guests ‘Crass’ and I really don’t remember any other bands being present. I can also categorically state that neither the 4 Skins or indeed The Business were playing that particular gig.

I know it’s a long time ago now and memories fade, but I used to be present at most punk/skinhead gigs at that time and one of the lesser bands that may have been present and might have been part of the order of bands appearing could have been ‘The Seer’s, though I’m not implying that they they were, it’s just that I would have remembered if it had been one the bands that I was particularly supportive of at that time.
To be honest, in those days I was a skinhead and simply went along to see The Exploited play their set and was simply astonished when Crass made their presence on the stage. I thought and still believe it was completely inappropriate for the two bands to play the same venue as the Exploited fans weren’t receptive to the more ethical and passive messages of the Crass promoting maxims. I was only about 13 at that time and felt pretty awful at the treatment Annie Anxiety received by the mixed audience of mostly punks and a lesser volume of skins who were hell bent on shouting abuse and throwing the contents of their plastic pint glasses at her. I can remember that after their set finished and as she left the stage I approached her and asked if she was OK – not much consolation I know after her being soaked with beer / spit and being viciously verbally abused. I was just too young and ill equipped I guess to know what to say to the poor girl.
Anyway, I remember the main en-thesis on the evening was Wattie promoting the fact that The Exploited’s music was due to be the released on the TV drama ‘Made in England’, which at that time incidentally, was really something for me myself to get excited about. The final offering was, as those who have viewed it, not a very accurate portrayal of the typical skinhead lifestyle but much a media fed interpretation of the very worst element, which incidently was another heavy blow and another reason for the demise of the skinhead culture
Sorry to ramble, but I just felt it was prudent to add the truth to the case being spoken about and to clarify some of the conjecture and supposition that is clearly evident in some of the statements made.
Jimmy plimsole
October 16, 2010 at 8:59 pm

Dave your right in what your saying. It was Tuesday 6th of July 1983 I was also there it was an Exploited gig that Crass played on. Serious Damaged supported. The skinheads slaughtered Crass and rightly so. The set lasted about 20mins. Then they left and went to live in trees!
Crass at the 100 Club |
November 1, 2010 at 11:35 am

[…] Live audio from this Gig can be found here at the excellent Kill your Puppy Fanzine/blog […]
Plimsole
November 21, 2010 at 9:56 pm

Just played the audio from that night. Crass were every bit as bad as I remember!! Complete shite! Truly awful! Everything that was bad about “punk” bands in the early 80’s. How anyone looks up to these mugs is beyond me!
AL Puppy
November 22, 2010 at 9:50 pm

Plimsole – quite right. The whole problem with punk was that none of the groups had any musical talent what so ever. For real music, proper songs with tunes and complex lyrics, played by virtuoso musicians (who could sing in tune !) you have to forget all about punk and get back to the real stuff…

Progressive rock!

Here is a clip of Genesis playing The Musical Box in 1972-
http://youtu.be/uc5U5K_Vmy0

How could anyone think that Crass or or any of those eighties punk bands (or the seventies ones) could possible out play or out perform masters of the musical and theatrical arts like Genesis, Yes, ELP, Caravan and Van der Graaf Generator I will never know.
Jimmy plimsole
November 27, 2010 at 9:10 pm

No you soppy hippy it’s just crass I don’t like! The other bands at the time were great. The dross you like is self indulgent over thought out rubbish! Why do you think it died out. Do any bands nowadays refer to them as the reason they got into music. No. Stone Roses Smiths New Order Happy Monday’s Oasis Blur Artic Monkeys all give a nod to punk roots not the shite you talk about. GEt YOUR HAIR CUT and move into the modern age!
luggy
November 28, 2010 at 12:18 am

Good bite, Al!
AL Puppy
November 28, 2010 at 12:30 am

Thank you.
Jimmy plimsole
November 28, 2010 at 1:13 pm

Hook, line and sinker. Well done!
AL Puppy
November 28, 2010 at 10:49 pm

Yes but… I was actually a big prog rock fan before I encountered punk. I also had long hair and a beard.
S
August 13, 2013 at 5:58 pm

I’ve just remembered being told that Mensi was sitting about on the floor of the 100 Club with Wattie and Annie one night when they decided to do a gig together, so the mystery Skinhead band might be (pre leftist) Angelic Upstarts….
Graham Burnett
August 15, 2013 at 9:29 pm

Did the ‘No Love No peace’ double CD Francesco mentions above ever materialise? Sounds like a nice package!
Luke
June 16, 2015 at 9:42 pm

I remember the Crass/Exploited gig well, apart from the fear that me and my mate were going to be beaten to death by Boneheads I was very impressed by Annie Anxiety’s performance which managed to completely shut-up the sieg heiling for a while when she did one of her poems/songs that included her putting her fingers in her privates while shouting lyrics that were something like “you think you can fuck me but you can fuck off”, or something like that. More memorable than the lyrics were the looks on the Boneheads faces as they were confronted by a single woman who was able to own the stage and venue by asserting herself as a woman.
It was very scary at the time but in hindsight I wouldn’t of missed the night for anything, I didn’t even want to go to the gig what with me seeing the Exploited as a bit of a joke but only did because another mate said he would pay for me to get in because he didn’t want to go alone, had I known Crass were playing as well I would of gone, with fearful reservations regarding the neo-Nazi presence though.
Youthman
August 28, 2015 at 6:35 pm

I love these GSUS images — more please — they are inspiring
Luke
April 17, 2024 at 5:28 pm

The clearest memories of that gig were Annie Anxiety using her fingers to ..(ermm) ‘enter’ herself while singing/reciting lyrics about macho lads and sex which did more than anything or anyone else to shut up the seig heiling idiots and wattie taking to the stage saying “do you like crass? Crass are crap” after S.Ignorant had explained to the audience that crass were there to try to unite punks. It was a great surprise to see crass play at the same gig as the exploited, it even made me sorta like the exploited when they played live and crass were great that night.
As crass took to the stage after Annie. Anxiety I said to my mate who was sitting on one end of the stage with me “that’s it, we’re going to die now” because of the big scary neo Nazis who had started their chanting again but she heard me and leaned down to try and reassure us by say ing “don’t worry, you’re with us” which did make me feel one percent less likely to die at least but it was nice of her to try to reassure us though. I’m glad my mate had dragged me there because I wasn’t an exploited fan at the time so he had to bribe me by paying for me to get in to give him some company because he didn’t want to go alone but, funnily enough I enjoyed going to see the exploited live after that gig.
It was a mad night even by UK punk gig standards.