Sons Of Bad Breath performance
An excellent recording of Monty and his Sons Of Bad Breath thrashers giving it all the effort they could muster on the night.
Part of the infamous Hackney Hell Crew. Pretty rough bunch of heavy drinking and heavy speeding squatters that formed an axis of bands such as Blower, Eat Shit, God Told Me To Do It and of course Sons Of Bad Breath.
Amongst the Hell Crew were Monty, Ollie, Pus, Simo, Martin, Animal, Napoleon, Sean, Bully, Alien and Scruff from Gateshead.
Some of the Hell Crew did not survive passed the 1980’s, the ones that did hopefully are well enough.
I was very pleased to see Ollie in Bristol in the early 1990’s at a Gunshot (UK Hip Hop) performance (on a boat in the docks that is actually a club). Ollie was Nike trainer’d up and looking well, in some sport tracksuit clobber. Very much a change from when I had last saw him, while on one of my regular visits to 108 Brougham Road to see Andy Martin and Dave Fanning.
At that time in the mid 1980’s, a whole bunch of the Hell Crew were camped out at this house including both Pus and Simo, two that did not make it through to the next decade.
Thanks to Clint for sending this tape in, and thanks to Mike from Decadent Few for recording it for Clint in the first place.
chas
November 9, 2008 at 1:16 amGreat thanks luggy, can’t speak for the quality but I enjoyed it. I think Gerard’s going to stick some pictures on the flowers site – hmm, I’m not quite the thin white duke I was but that could be a diet thing – I moved onto solids once I stopped squatting. Good to see Dave and Steve Corr again and remind ourselves of the many entertaining and ridiculous things that happened in Stamford Hill twenty odd years ago. A shame so many reminiscences end with ‘he became a junky’ but at least most of them survived. Sorry to hear about Christine, but it’s good to know Karen’s still around. I must have seen that drawing 100 times and never realised it was her (she had a shaved head when I knew her), but now you mention it…. Say hi from me next time you see her.Was Bardens the Tofu Love Frogs? How was that?
luggy
November 9, 2008 at 1:50 pmSteve’s chucked some pictures of your gig on his MySpace. Karen always used to be bald when I lived with her in various squats but she’s grown it back now.
Bardens was the Frogs gig although I preferred the support bands, they should have let sleeping frogs lie! Lovely people but familiarity has bred contempt with me. It was a good night, lots of people there but I overdid it a bit so lunched out the John Sinclair thing last night. He’s probably just a fat old hippy still extolling the virtues of hash anyway.
Hippy Nigel
November 14, 2008 at 7:27 pmMonti
Nigel from upstairs at 281
You still see Olly? Aint seen anyone from Viccy Park Road days since was in Bristol with either Striknien DC or Paranoid Visions, buggered if can recall who it was now. Borrowed a van off you I think but could have been another person for gigs in Hackney….
Laura Place was very short lived though seem to have hazy recollections of a sweat lodge in garden….
Phil R
November 14, 2008 at 8:45 pmLaura place had two different generations of squatters. It was prob the first lot that had the sweat lodge. Some of the second lot went off to squat the red house in derbyshire
Trev
November 15, 2008 at 5:10 pmThanks for all the info on the blue house, my memory’s fading whilst my waistband expands!!!!
Monti, glad your well, my son’s only 10 weeks so i’ll put the book into storage and bore him rigid when he’s older, I’m sure he’ll be embarassed but then what are dads for.
Take care and see those that are going at the Flux gig
Trev
Monti
November 24, 2008 at 1:54 pmTo Val+Martin: Sorry but cant find any info on Fraggle i`ll keep askin about tho..Yeh Odin must easily be bout 22..bet he`s a big lump of a bloke like his old man was eh??………To Trev: Given the excesses of the bad ol`days ive got a surprisingly good memory of a lot of wot went on then..my 18yr old daughters really into the idea that I was in a band after all loads of fathers probably say “yeah I was in a band etc” and for them to find out you actually were in a band aint a bad thing. My girls known Martin(SoBB) and Gabba(Chaos UK/FUK) all her life and she`s more impressed than embarresd bout it all…hahaha Bless`er!!..To Nigel: Alrite mate, good to hear your fine, im still in touch with Martin, Olly+Alien..there all doin fine.
baron von zubb
November 24, 2008 at 8:12 pmHello Monti & to all on the best numb skull thread.
Well well.
I bought Bob Shorts book the other week and realised that Lulu offer a print to order publishing thing.
A completely new concept to me the luddite that i am.
So .. here it is.
http://www.lulu.com/content/4875148.
A massive thanks to all on this site who have made encouraging comments about the bits you read, and for info given.
Why have I done it?
Well not just cos im an egocentric vain git.
Also because there is, as far as i know, nothing in print about ‘us’, the London punks of that era from ‘78 to the riots of ‘81.
A bit b4 the era of the books that Monti et all are in
I wrote it 20 years ago, so I owe to that person and all of us who have survived, to complete.
Allen Ginsburg it aint but its a slice of history.
The .99p that I get is going to charity.
So go to lulu and buy it for xmas!
The perfect tome for credit crunch Britain.
cheers again.
Jake
Kaff
December 23, 2008 at 2:57 amHi Monti, nice to find you in good form, and Billies 18!
Natalie had her 22nd bday there, times flying. Ill be able to give Amy a photo of bags she loved that dog seems like yesterday my friend, what a carry on eh?!Talk soon, all the best to you. Kaff
Monti
December 24, 2008 at 7:21 amKaff, fuckin`ell good to hear yer ok. Nats 22 jeez dont time fly by?? I got a big white English Bull Terrier called Fred..you`d love`im. He`s 8/weigh nearly 5 stone and farts like fuck. He`s like a cartoon dog!!! Bit mad people remembering Sons of Badbreath after all these years eh??? Robso moved to cornwall + missus and 2 girls few years ago but anyway look above somewhere my e-mail address is there, send me a e-mail…Merry Xmas to ya…and all you turkey (or baked organic wellie) munchers out there…and a `Appy New Year to y`all..hahaha i’m fuckin 50 next year……..decided to grow up when i’m 173 cos I fink my legs might`ave gone by then!
Kaff
December 25, 2008 at 11:45 pmHiya! Monti,
Long time now, since we had a beer or two and got into some bother! Nice as ninepence us lot ha! Girls think im a little crazy, but I dont understand it myself…
Got the email sorted, I think..and its sent ok, guess your having a wee dram to yer self so i guess it hats off to you for the month lol chat soon, best.
Kaff.
Monti
January 6, 2009 at 7:43 pmHahaha bet this shocks ya Kaff but i aint bin pissed for over 10yrs now…Still`ave the odd pint but thats it..Dont worry aint gone religious, just cant be bothered……….To Trev…Axegrinder….I seen Dalb (ex Gutrot now Argy Bargy bassist) the other day. He`s just moved in round the corner from me in Bristol, we`ad a good laff talkin bout the old days……..Finally to Penguin and all who read this….ALL THE BEST FOR 2009 !!!!
Kaff
January 7, 2009 at 10:57 pmHey! Monti, a little shocked! You can say that [hollow legs yerself] mind you I could never drink anyway [oh dear!] took me a few years to realise that much, lol doesnt bother me now at all.
Was chating to Vic Sox, looks like their ready to rumble again, good job I think, they have gigs lined up n all, anyway Monti must go now, take care then.
slyme68
January 8, 2009 at 8:29 pmMonti – next time you see Dalb, tell him Simon from Amhurst Park days sends regards… Tell him that Ian is clean and working as a journalist – he’ll never beleive that!
The Fat Man
February 14, 2009 at 12:19 pmHi there people..
Simon from Amhurst Park days?? Ian clean and sober? Well that’s two of us!! Been sober over 10 years meself.. Yup, I’m living in Bristol now and glad I’ve met up with Monti.. I have a box of the Gutrot 10″ Filthy Muck compilation from Wicked Witch here which I need to sell to pay the bills!! Trev from Axegrinder.. Get in touch mate.. Trying to find Daryn so we can get his Gutrot records to him!!
Also mentioning Ian Glasper, Stevie, Tim and me did an interview with him for the new book regarding Gutrot & the Kardboard Box.. Also still in touch with Scottish Alan who did the Kardboard Box flyers and was an integral part of the crew.. Also like to point out that the Hackney Hell crew helped us build the stage there that many bands played on!!
Graham Burnett
February 14, 2009 at 12:38 pmSay hello to Dalb from me as well, we spent many happy hours at the bar of the Anarchist Bookfair with Malcolm from Housmans over the years…
The Fat Man
February 14, 2009 at 1:01 pmHello mate.. Hope all’s well.. Saw you’d been posting on here!!
Was always a laugh runnin’ the bar and the bookfair.. and a way of getting drunk for free!!
Chris
February 18, 2009 at 3:44 amAnyone know Carol from Colvestone Crescent and how she is?
Val n Martin
February 18, 2009 at 7:07 pmHi Chris
Are you the Chris who had the lovely white dog called Yogie. You used to wear a hat I think. We are Val and Martin (I had lots of make up and hair back then Martin had black spikey hair sometimes pink and black ) we used to live in Colvester Cres with Age and Fraggle and Brain Damage, Gavin, Jay etc. If it is you how are yuo keeping?
Not seen you for many many years..
Val n Martin
Chris
February 18, 2009 at 9:55 pmYes it is Val, me Chris. Good to hear from you two and all is well. I cannot believe together still, really good and 3 kids too. What do yous do to survive, jobs etc. I vividly remember Colvestone and you lot, twas mental, alsatians, glue and shit etc. I was seeing Carol, your mate, that too was mental. My dog was the best, English bull terrier, always getting his lipstick out. I live in Australia with wife and 6 year old Ronnie, tis grand. Got messed up for many years in 90s but that was then. Saw Marnie in Canada in 93, Gail98, Ages x -she is a healer type in Glastonbury. Alien is still about Hackney, pulled the ceiling down at my wedding allegedly. Gavin was in Brighton 10 years ago I heard. How is Carol? Do you still look like punkers, birds of prey tattoos etc? Cheers,
Chris.
Val n Martin
February 19, 2009 at 6:42 pmHi Chris,
Yes its mad that we are still together its about 25yrs now our kids are 21 – take a look at his last film on you tube ” plague world” he does all the special effects himself. Then we have two girls 17, 14 we now have a cute dog called Splodge. No we dont look punky now. Kept in touch with Fraggel for a bit but lost touch same with Gavin and Liz.
Are you on facebook if so search for my name.
We dont see Carole anymore but last I heard she was fine.
What do you do in Australia?
Where abouts are you? We keep saying we are going over to see Martins relatives they came to see us a few years ago and thought it was freezing it was our summer.
Great to hear from you keep in touch.
Luv
Val N Martin
JJ
March 11, 2009 at 6:30 pmGreat reading and great tunes.
Does anyone have Blower/Poison/God Told Me To Do It tapes lingering about?
I sent Scruff a box of tapes to record these for me on two years ago along w/$20 to post them to the US and still hasn’t sent them so I am really looking forward to hearing this stuff for a long time!
Tall Chris
August 5, 2009 at 11:07 amWhat happened to Eat Shit? I remember them leaving Hackney for Bristol ostensibly because of the cheap cider available out West but also because of rumours that revenge for the tattooing of puppy breaths forehead were becoming a bit serious. Is goatsbreath and dogsbreath still in the land of the living?
Penguin • Post Author •
August 5, 2009 at 1:59 pmPus ‘Goatsbreath’ got stabbed after jumping out a window in Bristol during a drug deal that went horribly wrong back in the late 1980’s. Blyth Power played Bristol the night after and returned with that news. Not sure if it completely accurate, just what I was told at the time.
Always thought Pus was an ok bloke the times I met him when he was staying at 108 Brougham Road, with a load of other HHC members.
Tall Chris
August 6, 2009 at 11:16 amCheers penguin. Anyone ever hear of Napoleon any more?
monti
August 12, 2009 at 12:33 amchris mate, u been givin sum duff info sumwhere down the line….the only member of eat shit to live in bristol was shaun in mid 90s….it was in fact me (monti…sons of badbreath`s shouter…can’t say singer now can i ???) who moved to bristol durin the HHC period soon followed by martin (also sobb)…cheap cider`n face tattoos are just a “chinese whispers” style add on and ad nuffink to do wif why me or martin moved to bristol…..penguin got the basic story bout pus right but pus had met a guy who`d bin ripped off n he went back to the house wif him…he was stabbed in the street but didnt jump out of any windows…this happened two streets away from my house…i went to give the old bill info on how to contact pus`s mum (who lived in ostend) and was held n questioned for 6-7 hrs as if i was involved before they let me go…they found his ma thank fuck cos otherwise i`d have had to formally ID him…your right bout pus tho…he was a good bloke, irritatin at times but aint we all ???…dogbreath (age) died of a smack o.d at sum party in london….shame cos like pus despite his appearance he too was a sound bloke…napoleon`s the only HHC bloke that i dunno where he is but avin lived wif n spent hours in vans wif `im i’d say he`s either a mental patient or a born again christian (for the 2nd time) politician…live life people…!
monti
monti
August 12, 2009 at 12:52 amto update and prevent any “nonsense tales” about pus…out of the 5 blokes who stabbed pus 3 of em od`d within 3-4 yrs after pus`s death…the other 2 were killed in seperate incidents by “person or persons unknown”…it’s true i was questioned in relation to these deaths as were a few other people but lack of evidence AKA none has led to nuffink tho none of us has officially been 100% cleared of any involvment…its also been at least 10 yrs since a copper last talked to me bout it…all info i’ve just said is fact nuffink more, nuffink less…if u hear otherwise then your bein lied to…if any of you readin this are avin a drink then i`d like u to raise ur glasses / cans / plastic bottles etc to the memory of two good men who`s lives were cut short…Pus & Age…RIP fellas
Penguin • Post Author •
August 12, 2009 at 12:58 amWelcome back Monti, shame about the grim subject matter but hoping you and your daughter are both keeping well.
monti
August 14, 2009 at 3:23 amalrit peng mate…we`re ok thanx urself?? grim material it is mate but im makin sure people know the facts `n nuffink else…mate ive read all sortsa fings on sum sites bout us lot…people claimin to ave been in the Hackney Hell Crew and im finkin who`s that??… funniest of all was from a guy in italian band cheetah chrome mothers boys or summink sayin a HHC person threatened him wif an axe he took from his toolbag which he ad wif `im cos he`d been at work…forget the fuckin axe but who ad a toolbag never mind a fuckin job in them days???…penguin u`ll like tis one…i saw a post written by old dangerspoons in febuary where he wrote about the filthy junkies somewhere…i asked the question were u a clean junkie then???…im blocked from that site now…fuck em!!!
Simon
August 18, 2009 at 11:14 amHey Monti
Your posts are really interesting- HHC and everything. How much of this is in Ian Glasper’s forthcoming book?
Cheers, Simon
monti
August 19, 2009 at 3:42 amAlrite Simon, the Sons of Bad Breath chapter in Ians book is approx 3,000 words, mainly about the band than the HHC….Eat Shit ave got a chapter as well but i aint read it….imagine it`ll be bout the band again…..Dunno who started callin us the HHC..personally i fink its a stupid name but it cud be worse…Ive read on websites loadsa HHC stories…sum true..sum wif a hint of truth`n sum absolute bollox…Also a few people claim to ave been in HHC i aint even heard of em ever so lets sort out a few facts..The Hackney Hell Crew consisted ONLY of people who lived in the massive squat 281 Victoria Park Rd. Hackney, this included all members of both bands and mates such as Pus, Robso, Simo and a handful of others….nobody else!!!….Gotta admit im still bit bemused at the interest in HHC etc…at the time we was just livin our lives in our own chaotic way….Some people from that era in a attempt to make their own sad tale more excitin or wotever will add summink bout the HHC..are you readin this Legion of Parasites fella who said we arrived at one of there gigs and intimidated the crowd..one fing to say to him…”BOO!!!!”….ur easily intimidated or as i suspect talkin utter shit…..as for the cheetah chrome mummysboys wif their axeman tale…you deserve a slap for that u silly fucker!!…bloke said i had come to the gig after finishin work (????) wif an axe…wot was my job then Inner London Lumber fuckin Jack? Id like to thank Ian Glasper who came to my house to interview Martin`n me…nice fella..Cheers mate!!!…Simon type “Hackney Hell Crew” into ur search engine and you`ll find sum stuff bout HHC..mainly bollox though.
John No Last Name
August 19, 2009 at 4:08 amHi Monti,
I actually do remember the axe story, I heard it the first time from Sean (GodTold Me to Do It/Eat Shit) and someone from either the Stupids or Bad Dress Sense who saw the whole thing go down. Then I heard it again a week or so later from Sid from CCM.
I remember Sid showing me his war wounds from that brawl and doubt he made it up, but I am also pretty sure it wasn’t any of the original Hell Crew, but one of the groups of ‘crusties’ that showed up later and started trying to emulate the way you lot dressed.
Clinton
August 19, 2009 at 10:50 amSean Eat Shit mentioned that it may have been Mark Palmer who coined the name Hackney Hell Crew. As for the CCM “axeman”, it may have been a person by the name of Anarchy Sid. Hell, I could be making all this up, as I’m far too young and from Australia-so missed out on this era of Hackney punk.
I did release the Eat Shit ‘live’ 7″, and have done a little research on the topic.
As for Napoleon, I heard he was working at a fairground in Nottingham-but this is not confirmed.
Mike
August 19, 2009 at 11:36 amHi Clint! You’re correct, CCM axe-incident was nowt to do with HHC. It was Anarchy Sid, orig. from Wolverhampton. It all started over some pizza (?) apparently…Kay (Decadent Few singer) was living w/Anarchy Sid in early 90’s (he died around ’96-7) and he told me what he could remember of the incident and his ‘participation’.