Gee Sus artwork – International Anthem #3
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.
Graham Burnett
October 11, 2008 at 12:47 pmThere was a band from Southend, can’t remember their name offhand, that were a ‘tribute’ band to various anarcho-punk bands of yesteryear, with cover versions including Crass, Flux, and my personal favourite, ‘I’m Thick’, the song Chumba played as fake oi band ‘Skin Disease’ on Bushell’s ‘Back On The Streets’ EP.
Sam
October 11, 2008 at 5:32 pm“actually, i’ve always been surprised no one has ever formed a crass tribute act, like the Australian Pink Floyd or the Sex Pistols Experience.”
Name suggestions please. I propose:
Imitations of the Crass
Bloody Reunions
Andus
October 11, 2008 at 6:22 pmhow about cross
alistairliv
October 11, 2008 at 7:21 pmThere is an interview I did with Cross on KYPP – at end of ‘Unbanned from the Roxy, mais oiu”
https://www.killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/?p=736
alistairliv
October 11, 2008 at 8:09 pmLatest news- Penny ‘Centime’ Breton just rang – Cross are planning to reform: as a Crass tribute band!
They have been booked to play a special ‘Bankers Benefit’ gig for the Lord Mayor of London’s Show in Sat 8 November. [Penny Breton gave up music for accountancy in June 1968]
They are going to play the whole of their 1968 masterpiece “The Spectacles of Society” from the roof of the Bank of England. [Last and only previous performance at the Sorbonne, Paris 3 May 1968]
I did ask what Crass songs they would play but Penny Breton just mumbled something like ” no one will notice the difference”…
Watch this space for more breaking news. And please donate as much as you can to “The Bankers Benefit plc c/o Bank of England”… we need to raise at least £666 billion by Saturday 8 November.
Jay Vee
October 11, 2008 at 9:53 pmWell Crass did say at the end of the vinyl edition of ‘Best Before 1984’ – “We only did it for the money…” or something similar (outro on last track – B side)
Andus
October 12, 2008 at 8:40 amReally, I can’t say I have heard that bit, I can’t say I blame them. its better than being homeless, but they could have made more money if they had of done things differently.
While that answer may be true, it’s a somewhat naive viewpoint…
yes but no
Jay Vee
October 12, 2008 at 5:58 pmI’m inclined to agree with that statement, but not on Sundays; I feel it to be rather foolish.
andus
October 13, 2008 at 10:15 amIts Monday !
andus
October 18, 2008 at 9:04 pmTalking about Oi for England its on google video if anyone wants to watch the whole play.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1917768040647895869
John Serpico
October 22, 2008 at 11:25 pmThis is really quite a good Crass recording as live tapes go and one that I’ve never heard before. If you listen, in Punk Is Dead, Steve changes the words to “Tired of staring up a baldheads arse” and “Exploited, you’re napalm”. Whilst in Darling, Eve says “They sell us love as divinity when its only a social obscenity. Underneath we’re all Exploited”. They deliver a short but briliant set to what is essentially an audience of Exploited fans. According to Steve it was actually Wattie (via Annie Anxiety) who invited Crass to play the gig. Nothing to do with Bushell at all and if anyone was trying to “unite the tribes” it was Wattie – which is quite a paradox. Good stuff anyway and by the sound of it a good gig. People seem to forget that seig heiling and an air of violence was really common in those days – not only at Sham gigs where you might expect it but at Bauhaus, UK Subs, even Toyah gigs – and particularly at Crass gigs.
Graham Burnett
October 22, 2008 at 11:37 pmI remember going to see The Beat supported by UB40 at the Electric Ballroom in Camden circa 1979 or 80, plenty of Seig Heiling there as well…
philip
October 23, 2008 at 3:12 pm“There’s another series the beeb did round about the same era about a band, again I cannot remember the title of the series, but the theme tune went something like this. ‘So many thing I’ve been wanting to do, so many things things I’ve been itching to do but I can’t do cause I’m stuck in here with you, I’m going down, your royal jelly’, and thats about all I can remember, apart from the singer in the band being an Elvis Costello lookalike, it ran for about 6 episodes and has never been repeated”
Was it ‘Johnny Jarvis’? The singer of the band was a speccy Costello-alike
Nic
October 23, 2008 at 4:21 pmFucking hell! ‘Johnny Jarvis’…I’d forgotten the name, but it all comes back…haha! Classic! Nice one philip…
http://www.startrader.co.uk/Action%20TV/guide80s/johnjarv.htm
(There are a whole heap a clips on youtube)…
Graham Burnett
October 23, 2008 at 5:33 pmChap called Johnny Jarvis did my double glazing earlier this year… Funnily enough I met him through Nick Fenton, who made the film about the compost toilet building workshop we ran at Dial House a few years back, and who was (don’t know what ever happened to it…) making another film about Crass…
Paul Wilson
December 2, 2008 at 10:03 pmCrass in 1980/81 – Definitely some of the best gigs I ever went to.
Amazing visuals and full on performances.
1982 onwards – some of the most tedious days of my life, spent listening to endless hours of crass-like bands in large squatted buildings, made just about bearable by finding (and drinking) large amounts of beer and smashing up aforementioned buildings.
Francesco
February 24, 2009 at 6:51 pmCrass “No Love, No Peace” 2CD should be out within this year. It contains the complete performance (including the encores) of the benefit gig for Peace News in Nottingham, 02 May 1984 with Crass, Flux of Pink Indians, D & V and Annie Anxiety. Original soundboard tapes digitally processed and improved. 48 page booklet featuring lyrics, statements, notes and comments plus original photographs taken at the concert.
Nic
February 25, 2009 at 2:44 amNice one, Francesco: I hope it all goes well…
Just a quick one: Does it come with a patch for sewing on your clothes?
As a rule, I only bought Crass records if they came with a patch…
Nic
February 25, 2009 at 2:45 am(I went to that gig at the Marcus Garvey centre and had a great time 🙂 )
Francesco
February 25, 2009 at 11:38 amHi Nic,
sorry but, for what I know, the double cd won’t come out with a patch.
When there are news about this cd I’ll quickly post them.
Graham Burnett
February 25, 2009 at 1:11 pmNot a patch on the original version of ‘Stations’ then…
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 12:17 amhow many Crass records did come out with a patch enclosed…? 🙂
Penguin • Post Author •
February 26, 2009 at 12:29 amMy copy of the `Nagasaki Nightmare` 7″ single from 1980 came complete with a patch. It had some japanese symbols and the wording ‘Crass – Anti War’ screen printed on it. Still got it in the record actually.
Nic is only pulling your leg btw Francesco. I am sure he will purchase the CD whether a patch is included or not. Any money from the CD going back to Dial House at all?
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 12:41 amHi Penguin,
I’m not involved in the double cd project but this is an official release.
I know who’s working on this project and they’re great people.
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 12:13 pmHi Penguin,
I didn’t know what was Dial House http://www.southern.com/southern/band/CRASS/dialhouse.html sorry but I’m not English… 🙂
As I’ve told you, I’m not involved in the 2CD project.
Anyway, it’s an official release so I think that the money will go to all people that have rights on this stuff.
I don’t know if it’s a direct co-operation with Crass or an official licensed release.
Penguin • Post Author •
February 26, 2009 at 7:14 pmSome of my Dial House photos are here to view if you are interested Francesco
http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/killyourpetpuppy/Dial%20House/
Graham Burnett
February 26, 2009 at 7:41 pmand here http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturewise/sets/72157606434334532/
and here http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/course/coursepics.html
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 8:57 pmvery nice photos! It’s a big community!
Dave "BANDEY" Morrison
February 26, 2009 at 9:05 pmIt was two bands: Serious Damage & The Exploited that Crass did a short set with that night.
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 9:31 pmAbout the project: only the first press will come out as double cd.
One cd contains CRASS while the other cd contains D&V, Annie Anxiety, Flux of Pink Indians.
I’ll let you know when I’ve got more information.
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 10:28 pmHi Dave,
I’m not English so I don’t know all well, but, for all I know and I’ve read, there was a big rivalry (I’m not sure that this is the right word) among Crass and Exploited.
So, it’s very strange to me reading that these bands played a gig together.
They were too much different to co exist.
Penguin • Post Author •
February 26, 2009 at 10:53 pmCrass specifically invited The Exploited to perform on this night as they organised the gig themselves Francesco.
Francesco
February 26, 2009 at 11:45 pmI’ve read that Wattie has been attacked in Madrid by R.A.S.H. (Red & Anarchist Skin Heads) last november ’cause they say he’s nazi.
I’ve seen some “strange photos” in internet: one is Wattie with Murray Holmes (ex Skrewdriver bass player…) and another one is Wattie with some fans and, behind him, some people making roman/fascist salute…
I’ve seen that Wattie, on his left arm, has got a “strange” tattoo: a skull with a svastika and the words Exploited Barmy Army…
Rumours say that the famous “Nazi punks fuck off” by Dead Kennedys has been written by Jello Biafra thinking about Wattie…
Here’s an interesting article, in spanish, about Exploited and all the rumours about them http://www.libreopinion.com/members/decibelios/TheKriminaleExploitedKlasse.html
Who knows? Anyway I see no connection between Crass and Exploited.
Cheers.