Where Have All The Bootboys Gone?
One for the old timers browsing the site, snotty punk rock at it’s snottiest…text below courtesy of punk77.co.uk.
Hailing from the notoriously tough Manchester suburb of Wythenshawe (once the skinhead capital of the North) Slaughter & The Dogs originally formed when Wayne Barrett (vocals) and drummer, Brian (Mad Muffett) Grantham, got together with bassist Howard ‘Zip’ Bates joined them in late 1975. Originally twin guitars, Mick Rossi became the sole guitarist when Mike Day left. Wayne thought up the name for the band whilst lying in bed prior to their first gig…. a mixture of Diamond Dogs by Bowie and Slaughter on 5th Avenue By Mick Ronson…hence Slaughter And The Dogs!
They did the usual rounds in local clubs and working men’s clubs doing covers of Lou Reed, Bowie and started writing their own numbers. Going from strength to strength and picking up good press they found themselves at the forefront of the Manchester punk scene along with the Buzzcocks and The Drones mirroring the London scene.
They blagged their way onto the bill of the Free Trade Hall gig with The Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks and managed to get themselves as second on the bill and first on the posters advertising the event and missing out The Buzzcocks!
They came on stage with long hair, satin, guitar poses a la Ronson etc and were hammered by the press and audience. “We really deserved the slagging we got when we first started, but I think its gone on a bit long, we should given the chance to show what we can do.” Wayne. Shy Talk 2. Manchester Fanzine.
But after seeing The Pistols and their look and sound and after taking to heart the criticisms they were astute to enough to see which way the wind was blowing as they cut their hair, changed their clothes and took on the new style like so many other bands of the time.
Glen Matlock: “I liked them…I thought they were a fun kind of band. I didn’t consider them to be a punk band although they got involved in that ‘coz that was what was going on at the time.”
Tony Wilson: “They probably had a little bit too much Bowie and a little too much Mick Ronson but nevertheless they were good.”
On Maclarens advice they set of for London and The Roxy club Mike Rossi “The aim after the Free Trade hall thing was for us to try and hit London.”
Their gigging schedule grew heavier and they were soon playing at leading London punk venues like The Roxy and Vortex as well as others like the Marquee and Nashville. Live they were quite a sight with Wayne’s predilection for talc in the absence of smoke generators !!! The Roxy gave the band their first recording break when they appeared on its live album with two songs ‘Boston Babies’ and ‘Runaway’
This led to a one off classic punk anthem single Cranked Up Really High / The Bitch (Rabid 1977 ) which in turn led to the band being signed by Decca. 3 singles followed in quick succession: Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone / You’re a Bore (1977 Decca) , Quick Joey Small / Come On Back (1978 Decca with Mick Ronson their hero), and Dame To Blame / Johnny T (1977 Decca). However disillusionment at poor sales caused the band to split days before their classic album Do It Dog Style (1978 Decca) was released.
A brief attempt as the Studio Sweethearts featuring Billy Duffy ( ex Nosebleeds and later to reappear in The Cult) and Phil Rowland (ex Eater) along with Bates and Rossi released one single I Believe / It Isn’t Me on DJM to total silence. Unable to get gigs and realising there was a market still for Slaughter, the band reformed with Phil Rowland on drums and released the raucous Ready Now / Runaway (DJM 1979). Wayne Barrett then left again and Ed Banger (ex Nosebleeds) was drafted in.
baron von zubb
October 24, 2008 at 10:29 pmMnmnm Snotty.
Welcome back Peng from your mini break.
This ones , well , a classic, bit like early Sham.
Still sound good
That Roxy Albums classic also.
Infact so is the 2nd one with ‘smile and wave goodbye’ and ‘dont ever want leave my sewer’.
‘where have all the boot boys gone ?’
Do you think they were being ironic, considering they were glam rockers in disguise?
Sam
October 25, 2008 at 2:57 amDo you have Cranked/The Bitch? The Bitch, as Pork said somewhere else is probably the best punk buzzsaw guitar ever captured (possible exceptions….’Better Off Crazy’ – Skrewdriver and just about anything off ‘(I’m) Stranded’ album by The Saints.
Slaughter were the first punk band I ever saw. This was at The Roundhouse in 77 and the lineup was (in order of appearance):
Dire Straits
Slaughter
Talking Heads
I shall never forget it. Walking home with Si up Adelaide Rd covered in sweat and gob. I remember ‘You’re Ready Now’ as being a bit too glam and polished when it came out, but I downloaded it a couple of years ago and it remains one of the most listenable punk tracks ever recorded. No social commentary etc….but a truly excellent slice of edgy rock and roll. I listen to it often to let off steam in the car on the way home from work.
Sam
October 25, 2008 at 3:08 amWell…just listened to ‘Boot Boys’ again and I’m often surprised (as a somewhat more educated musician than I was back then)how fucking good the best bands were and how ‘on’ the playing and singing was. Great bass line, tuneful singing and tight as a knat’s chuff.
baron von zubb
October 25, 2008 at 9:29 amYeah,I thought you’d seen ’em.
Great name too.
I remember hassling me mum about why she didnt ‘get’ it.
We’ve now got an image of you in the car park . .
Nic
October 25, 2008 at 11:39 amAlways loved Slaughter and the Dogs: their stuff stands up to a good caning whilst getting caned…
‘The Bitch’ is just so energising – that guitar riff kicks it out, and the Wild Man’s vocals are raw…
They also had some enjoyably dumb lyrics which only add to the overall feel…
I agree with Sam – I couldn’t handle ‘You’re Ready Now’ at the time (too ‘pop’), but it sounds great in retrospect…
I picked up a nice 180 gram bootleg of the album (with single tracks added) in Barcelona about 7 years ago to replace the old vinyl which has been ‘well loved’…
The one live album (‘Live Slaughter Rabid Dogs’ iirc) has some of my favourite ‘between songs’ comments, especially “Who threw a pint pot at my guitar? The jealous fuckers at the back…Well, my guitar was too strong, it did not break…This one’s called ‘Waiting for the Man’ – waiting for the jealous ones to fuck off” (I paraphrase)…
Chris
October 25, 2008 at 1:57 pmI remember “You’re ready now” came out the day my primary school broke up for Christmas holidays and buying it after finding 50p on the street added to my 25p pocket-money. Oh those blue remembered hills…
they really loved those Bowie/Ronson riffs, didn’t they?
Loved “Bootboys” but, yup, i’ll second the request for “Cranked Up Really High” and “the Bitch” – amazing record.
Ian S
October 30, 2008 at 1:50 pmIs ‘You’re ready now’ taken from the Frankie Valli song ‘Are you ready now?’ (was listening to it the other night on a northern soul comp)
Sam
October 30, 2008 at 6:27 pmWeirdly…yes. I just checked it out on youtube. You have just ruined this ‘edgy slice of rock and roll’ for me!
discoscheissser
August 7, 2009 at 9:48 pmListen to Wayne Barrett introducing ” Youre Ready Now” as a Frankie Valli cover on the “Live at the Factory” LP from 81′ on Thrush Records. Sound wise this has always been my favourite S&TD Lp just because the sound is so raw and brutal .
The killer guitar tone and riffs, ripping bass runs and super tight drum sound wrapped up by Barretts’ perfected Manc screams mean I have listened to this Lp even more times than the 1st LP…i dearly wish that i’d seen them at the Nuneaton 77 club in early 78′ which was the closest venue to me that they played at.
Also on the “Live at the Factory” LP Barrett introduces “Hell in New York” as being on their “new” LP, so it stands to reason that the live set on that Lp must have been recorded during late 79’/early 80′ as the Bite Back LP (featuring “Hell in New York”) came out in mid 80′ on DJM under the name “Slaughter” .
I also didn’t take to Slaughters’ more glam/r n r style immediately , – preferring the raw straight ahead style of the first 2 7″s , but as the Live at the Factory LP proves they were still raw and tight live in 79/80.
Anyone got any decent Slaughter live tapes from 77/78 to trade ?
Anyone know why Decca didn’t consider the UK pressings of their punk bands (Sparrer, Slaughter ) 7″ worthy of a picture sleeve – yet Decca Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany issued great picture sleeves to celebrate Decca’s 100 year (1877-1977 ) commemorations?
Thanks for the top site..some really great stuff – cheers !
Cakehole
April 29, 2013 at 12:46 amOi, the A side’s vanished! Can ye re-up it? Cheers man
Penguin • Post Author •
April 30, 2013 at 8:19 pmA side is re-up’d now cheers.
anarkistattak
May 21, 2013 at 7:41 pm“where have all the bootboys gone? I’m a jacket Potato, ALRIGHT!”