*The Week That Was – 5th August 1985

Record of the week: (Group at Waterlooville that played for 4 hours), Hawkwind (still)

7th August 1985
Fuckin’ ace practice at Dorchester. Really good laugh.
8.5

8th August 1985
Had gig in Southampton. Fuckin’ excellent laugh though it took two and a half hours to find. Bought B.G.K. and Mornington Crescent 7″s and fanzines.
9

10th August 1985
Worked in morning. Went to Waterlooville in afternoon/evening with Paul, Nicky and Ken. Had a fuckin’ fine time.
10

11th August 1985
Came back at 9am. Crabby drove up near to Basingstoke. Quite a laugh. Went down Stocks. I got merrily drunk.
8

*Roadworks – 11th February 1985

Every road you travel
There’s a traffic jam
They put roadworks
Everywhere they can
When you’re in a hurry
The roadworks are always there
The lights are always red
You end up in despair


The Week That Was

Record of the week: Mud – Dynamite (?), Smiths – Nowhere Fast, Mass of Black (live), Atrox – Short Songs (live)

11th February 1985
Had a good laugh at work. Gave the showroom all their stuff off bulk as quickly as possible. They were quite pissed off. Mike is fucking me off cos he thinks I can’t so anything on my own. Started cassette to give to Wayne when he gives me the other one back.
6

12th February 1985
Mike’s getting even worse. I’m actually glad I’ll be at college tomorrow. Mum wouldn’t take me in today cos I ran out of petrol – she went and got some instead. Finished off cassette. The Howling is on telly tonight. Last night there was a question prog on TV from Wimborne but I only recognised two people.
6

13th February 1985
Got school bus. Got late bus to Poole. Steve Collins was on there. Got to college. Plumbing was crap. Ian went home. I beat him at pool. English was crap. Carpentry was crap. Wayne wasn’t on bus so I couldn’t give hime the tape. Got school bus home. Saw Dandy, who’s more beautiful than ever. Went down YC – was pretty boring. Jasper thought it was hard to punch a hole in the door.
6

14th February 1985
Work was slow. Bulk didn’t turn up til the afternoon. Big Brian was doing it – he was being all right this week. Ian was getting pissed off. Mike was pissing me off. Dandy’s gone to Italy – skiing. Don’t stop thinking about her. I WISH….
5

15th February 1985
Was in warehouse in morning and upstairs doing courses in afternoon. Came back – went to track, chain came off – pushed it to Muz’s. Took half an hour fixing it. Went on then came off again and was totally fucked – it even snapped. Two blokes helped me get it home. Mum took me to YC. Was pretty boring except that me, Crabb, Muz and Jas could take over soon. Crabb’s old dear brought me home.
5

16th February 1985
Got up at 11. Mum took me into town at 1.30. Bought 10 Manitou 7″s. Me and Fog got talking to some Christian propagandists. Met Piwi. Went round town with Ian and Fog. Went up to Shep’s place. Caught bus to Bournemouth. Got in free. Atrox were ok. General Belgrano went ok. Mass of Black were pretty good. Mad Are Sane were good too. Got bus back. Mum brought me home.
7

17th February 1985
Got up at 12. Went down Gaunts. Went up track which has iced over. Came home on Crabby’s bike. Went back out. Pissed around. Had ice fight up at the track. Went down behind Muz’s. Got wet. Came back. Bloke out of Josh and John rung me up. Tired to organise something for them – maybe at Gillingham with The Void.
7

*Over The Top And Six Foot Under – 21st January 1985

Wild child, well out of order
People couldn’t afford her
Over the top, loaded to the hilt
She destroyed everything you built
Built you up, pushed you down
No one pushed her around
Wild child met her maker
Paid a visit to the undertaker


The Week That Was

Record of the week: Wasted Youth – Gone Midnight, Flux of Pink Indians – The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks

21st January 1985
M: Took me ages to get to work. Chain kept coming off. Rung 3 Cross, get a service on Wednesday. Morning passed pretty quickly.
A: Afternoon passed pretty quickly too. Went long way home. Should be going to Ferndown with Dandy and Vicky. Hope Dandy gets the message.
E: Went to Ferndown. Bought some fags but left them at the Sports Centre. Saw Eric Coombes who is doing ok after his accident on Friday.
7

22nd January 1985
M: Couldn’t go in on bike so mum had to take me in. Got very pissed off after only a while. Feel like crying.
A: Afternoon got a little better but not much. It’s been a bad day all round.
E: Even the evening. Went to Shirl’s, talked with Dandy, Beki and Shirl. I don’t think Dandy wants to get the message.
3

23rd January 1985
M: Got bus to Wimborne. Got bus to Poole. Went to college. Wasn’t too bad. Went to Sloop at lunchtime and beat some bloke at pool.
A: Mr Andrews – our YTS bloke – was in college so me and Ian gave him shit. Saw Wayne on bus back – had a laugh.
E: Went down Youth Club. Played free pool all night. Fell asleep.
7

24th January 1985
M: Didn’t get up til 8. Feeling really tired. Had a laugh unloading fibreglass over in the yard. Martin (?) went to hospital about his arm.
A: Didn’t do much this afternoon – I want to move around departments. Janeen’s back and on a fucking full wage.
E: Went to Matt’s because I thought Dandy would be there. Had a laugh on his synth.
6

25th January 1985
M: Feeling pretty good today. Ian’s got an interview in Southampton. Doing lots of work. Bought a donkey jacket.
A: Didn’t do much again this afternoon – we’re just too good. Went for job interview at J.T. Lowe’s. Came home.
E: Went to Y.C. Fixed the pool table so we could get it free. Eraserhead tonight.
8

26th January 1985
M: Went to town. Got bus to Poole. Went to snooker club with Scott and Bennett. Scott’s friend Richard came along. Played a bit of snooker.
A: Went back to Richard’s in the back of his van and he’s a mental driver. Took a trials bike to the heath. I went on the back which was fucking excellent. Walked back to Wimborne.
E: Toni took me down Bournemouth. Gig was shit. Left with Paul and others. Went to nightclub where Bernice was. Got lift back.
8

27th January 1985
M: Got up at 10. Couldn’t piss around at Matt’s cos it’s Sunday. Came back, got bored. Rung Dandy who said she didn’t want to go see Frankie.
A: Cancelled tickets for Frankie. Pissed around on drums. Took dog. Stayed in and got cheesed off. Thinking about last night. Punk sucks.
E: Had a bath.
4

*The Week That Was – 24th December 1984

Record of the week: Manitou (live)

24th December 1984
Met Bernice and Steph. Wandered around Wimborne and got cold. Came back. Not feeling too well. Felt like dying. Jim, Jez, Roo have betrayed me and themselves.

25th December 1984
DAMIAN DIED TODAY – R.I.P.
Went to Murray’s. His dad has borrowed a business computer – decent.

26th December 1984
Found out the bastards put my name in the paper.

27th December 1984
Pissed around at work. Everyone from Gaunts is being a cunt. Especially Murray.

28th December 1984
Played cards at work. Got letter for payments through.

29th December 1984
Got copying done. Went up to gig. Gave out leaflets. All groups were good, especially Manitou. Went back to Fog’s. Got back at 2.15. Went to sleep at 3.

30th December 1984
Got up at 12. Tried to start bonfire but it wouldn’t go. Will Damian never rest? Read a bit more of book. Went to sleep.

*The Week That Was – 29th October 1984

Record of the week: MDC – Chicken Squawk 7″

31st October 1984
Start work Monday. Pissed off with people thinking they’re hard by drinking.

1st November 1984
Went to London with Paul, Alex and Charlie. Youth Brigade were stuck in Poland. Got MDC and MRRs.

2nd November 1984
Don’t want to do Youth Club anymore. See Wednesday.

3rd November 1984
Jasper did fireworks.

4th November 1984
Lost Cherrees was today. Went down but didn’t go in cos it cost too much.

*The Week That Was – 1st October 1984

Record of the week: Conflict (live)

1st October 1984
No word from Jeremy at all. Walked into town and got school bus back. Had a game of Spotlight. Dandy came down. Went home. Got drunk. Gave Vicki some earrings.

2nd October 1984
Finally wrote SHE’S SO BEAUTIFUL… Got in touch with Jez. He reckons there’s another gig on Friday. Rang Simon. Practice should be next Monday. Conflict Sunday. Busy weekend ahead – I hope.

3rd October 1984
Friday’s gig could be in Hamworthy. Rang Paul. Rang Justin. Rang Jez. Broke a string on Jez’s bass. Started drawing on wall again.

4th October 1984
Tomorrow’s gig is in Hamworthy. Justin may go. Can’t get Jez and he’s being very vague – in love with Fog maybe?

5th October 1984
Went to Poole. Gig wasn’t on. Went down youth club.

7th October 1984
Went to see Conflict. Fuckin’ good. Nice blokes to talk to as well.

*The Week That Was – 9th July 1984

Record of the week: Organised Chaos (live), Cult Maniax – No More Beach Boys

9th July 1984
Got up. Went to school. Took the books back. Saw a few teachers there. Went down to Wimborne. Went to careers shit crap. Saw Jim. He’s coming over on Wednesday. Burd came over. We eventually found someone with some booze. Me and Muz got absolutely smashed.

10th July 1984
Went to Sharon’s. Not doing painting which pissed me off. Put dirt in a wheelbarrow and took it down garden. Rubbing down a couple of posts. Came back. Got ticket for Friday if it’s on. Met Jez, went to Ben’s. Did some taping. I came back. Watching a shit film.

11th July 1984
Got up. Jim came round. Listened to records for a while. Took dog. Went down shop. Then back. Jim rode my bike around. Went to Murray’s. I went and got a video. Watched it at Muz’s. American Werewolf in London. Jim went on. I had tea. Went to see Bernice. Came back. Don’t know what else I done. Suppose I went to sleep.

12th July 1984
Went to Sharon’s. Did this and that. Got wet. Sharon had a moan. I felt like telling her to piss off. Did more odd jobs in the afternoon. Came back. Started typing up PCH booklet. Did that all fuckin’ night. Can’t remember anything else. Whether anything happened or not I don’t know.

13th July 1984
Got up. Went to town. Got photocopying done of lyrics and some photos. Went down Poole. Left bike at Justin’s. Got coach. Got to Warminster. Got drunk on the way. Gig was an hour late. Self Abuse – good. Organised Chaos – excellent. Cult Maniax – good. Didn’t see much of the Subhumans cos had to catch coach. Walked up to Justin’s, rode home. Got back about 3.

14th July 1984
Malcolm Owen d. 1980. Got up. Felt fuckin’ knackered. Lounged around all day. Decided to go at 6. Went to Bernice’s. Went down pub cos there was some do on. John Lines bought me a drink. We then got 4 cans. Lines only wanted one. I went to Holloways. Got some photos. Had a drink. Came back. Was dark. That’s life.

15th July 1984
Got up. Lounged around again. Jez came over. I told him about my idea for a fanzine – he says he’ll help. He’s coming over tomorrow. He went on. Talked to Muz for a while. Came back. Doing PCH booklet. Went to sleep. Good weekend really.

*The Week That Was – 21st May 1984

Record of the week: Confessions of Sin – Confession, Self Abuse – Loose, PCH – (This is not) Call The Cops
Record of the month – Subhumans LP, Confessions of Sin (live)

21st May 1984
Was going to start The Scar last night but started it today instead. Read half of it then watched film – which was ok. Had a bath. Then went to Houldey’s. They were setting up their new suite. Came back. Rang Paul. Talked for a while. Found out Zoe rang, said she’d ring again tomorrow. Watched Hill Street Blues. Read some more then went to sleep.

22nd May 1984
Decided not to go to school. When I woke up I started reading book. Finished it at 4 o’clock. It was a good book. Haven’t been doing anything otherwise. Went to Houldey’s. Found out Kathryn will go out with me when she’s finished with whoever. Zoe rang and apologised for Saturday. Dunno what else I did. Drew In Execlsis on my wall. Went to sleep.

23rd May 1984
Woke up early for some reason. Jez came round at about 10. Jim came at 10.30. Drew things on wall. Decided to do some PCH. Went to Houldey’s. Only Beki was there. I came back and got some sugar. Took our tape back and played it. Came back and did some more PCH. Came in. Jim and Jez went. I went to Houdley’s. Went to get some petrol. Came back. Came back. Went to Jez’s. Had a shit game of snooker. JC was there – cunt. Went to Ben’s. Went to a barn (?) on my bike. Came back. Spurs won UEFA Cup on penalties. Film was shit.

24th May 1984
Woke up about 10.30. Took dog. Went to Wimborne. Saw Liz eh. Got haircut. Bought some paints and gel. Came back. Went to Houldey’s. Had a chat with Beki. Came back. Wrote some of book. Didn’t do fuck all. Went to Jez’s. We went to Ben’s, spent ages trying to find him. He was with Harrison. Recorded tape to tape – stuff for Crass. We left at 10. I got back at 10.30. Dunno what I did but it must’ve been good.

25th May 1984
Woke up. Got letter from Zoe. Photos returned – so I decided to take them back to Bernice. Went to Wimborne – she weren’t home. Went round town. Saw a few old faces but not Bernice. Went to Jim’s. They’d just left to go to Poole. Left photos at Jim’s. Came home. Went to Jez’s to get money he owed me. Went to Houldey’s. Good news. Kathryn will go out with me. I think I was supposed to ring her but I’m not sure. Came home. Rang Paul and Andy. There’s a gig tomorrow at the squat but I can’t go. Went to sleep.

26th May 1984
Woke up. Watched TV. Was going to go to Wimborne but couldn’t be fucked – too wet. Got petrol and paper. Finished another book – Tarotown. Watched England V Scotland (1-1). Started Beast on my wall. Went to Houdley’s, no one there apart from Mr. H. Came back. Started painting the Beast’s head. Finished at about 11.20 – looks fuckin’s superb. Pissed off cos I can’t get Kathryn’s phone number. Watched film – Harry In Your Pocket – good.

27th May 1984
Woke up 12.10. Did fuck all. Had a bath. (?) went to get cat for Lorna. Stewart gave my mum a fiver – I had £2. Ben came over. His mum took us to Jim’s. Jum’s old man took us down to Winton. Pissed around for an hour. Got tickets off Andy. Cinema was a pit. Takano – ok. COF – fuckin’ brilliant. Self Abuse – brilliant. Got chucked out of a pub. Mum collected us. Took Jim back. Ben stayed the night.

(Self Abuse), Confessions of Sin, The Thing, Josh and Jon at the Junkyard, Disgusting Pukey Scarves – Capones, Bournemouth – 12th March 1984

12th Mar 2023 – Looking at this line up I was kind of absent of memory but then the name Josh and Jon at the Junkyard reminded me – they were a ‘band’ in the style of early Neubauten, SPK etc, making rhythm and noise with metal drums, old sheets of metal and angle grinders. I’d seen little glimpses of this music on TV and it was exhilarating to be face-to-face with flying sparks and the iron smell of an industrial factory.
This is what gigs were supposed to be about.
Confessions of Sin would have been a perfect compliment, with their Stooges/Birthday Party weirdness. I probably skipped Self Abuse this time as they were probably the odd ones out in this line-up, a little too straight-ahead punk rock.
Damn, I’d forgotten all about this. I wonder who Josh and Jon were? A quick search reveals a song video and the attached picture. Not much else though.

*End Of Year List 1983 – 31st December 1983

Singles of 83
Conflict – To A Nation Of Animal Lovers
Conflict – The Serenade Is Dead

All-Time Single
Theatre of Hate – Legion/Original Sin

LPs of 83
MDC – Millions of Dead Cops
VA – Son of Oi!
Kraut – An Adjustment To Society
Black Flag – Everything Went Black
VA – Rat Music For Rat People

All-Time LP
Black Flag – Damaged

Tracks of 83
MDC – American Achievements
Newtown Neurotics/Attila – Mindless Violence/Andy’s A Corporatist
Red Alert – Industrial Slide
Social Distortion – Moral Threat
Conflict – Berkshire Cunt

All-Time Track
Theatre of Hate – Legion

Gigs of 83
Subhumans/Self Abuse/Parasites – 11th June
Endangered Species/Paradox – 12th June
Butcher/Confessions of Sin/Admass/Shock To The System/Self Abuse – 18th June
Cult Maniax/Screaming Dead/Butcher/Self Abuse – 26th Nov