Tag: punk rock

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

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

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.

*The Week That Was – 27th February 1984

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Record of the week: Birthday Party – Bad Seed, Minutemen – Clocks, Black Flag – Machine
Record of the month: DOA – Bloodied But Unbowed

27th February 1984
Got up 7.00 after 6 hours sleep. Physics – Hayward was in a mood – we had a go at each other. Saw Liz holding on to (?) hand tightly. Maths – me and Mandy were talking about Wednesday’s party. Chesh, (?) and Nick had some dope, so I had some. Bought a stick off Chesh. Social Studies – pretty boring. H.E. found out more about (?). Got home. Rang Justin – told of the new group name – he liked it. Aischrolateria. Smoked the dope – and fuck all. Did some Maths. Saw an ace film. Bluebird and Dirtwater Fox or something. Goldie Hawn was in it – hmm. Found out Kathryn’s got a boyfriend. Did the stars say this would be a romantic month – we’ll see.

9th June 2023 – looking up this morning, it’s called The Duchess and Dirtwater Fox. Guessing I was liking it because Goldie Hawn was looking hot in it.

28th February 1984
R.E. did a bit of Maths. PSCE had a propaganda talk from an army cunt. Maths – talking to Murray about the system – he’s caught. Business Studies – did fuck all. Told Chesh I wasn’t gonna give him my money for the dope. Teach him a lesson. English – had a chat about power and video. P.E. Basketball was a laugh. Chesh had a joint nicked and looked very upset. FUCKIN’ HA HA. Chris was following the bus so everyone ignored him. Giving Kathryn a quid to see the Thompson Twins. Went to see Dandy to confirm if Kathryn hasn’t got a boyfriend – yet. God – I hate war.

29th February 1984
H.E. not too bad. Physics – ok, actually did some work. Chesh is not threatening me with violence. HA FUCKIN’ HA. R.E. – boring. English – not too bad. B.Studies – fuckin’ shit. Maths – shit. Getting on with all the girls so maybe it is my romantic month. Was expecting Jim to come round but the bastard didn’t turn up. Watching football instead, England – France 0-2 last I heard. Thinking about things. Julie reckons she’ll go down Poole with me one day.

1st March 1984
I hear Kathryn got off with Chris. Oh well. Cracking up at Martin all day. Art – not too bad. P.E. – ok. Social Studies – ok. B. Studies – boring. English – quite good. Spent my fuckin’ dinner money on sweets today – pissed off about that. Went on run round school with a fag. Had a laugh with a Tampax. Got my driving licence – just need tax, MOT and servicing. Rang Justin – we may have a practice Sunday 11th. Jim had to stay round last night cos he was giving Lorna some jip.

2nd March 1984
Assembly by Crud. Yawn. English – ok. Pissed off for some reason. H.E. – ok. Maths – shit. Didn’t do much at lunchtime. Bernice admitted to having it 23 times with Jim. Art – ok. Martin was hanging around me at break. B. Studies – DM – no homework – oh dear. Physics – bit of a laugh. Went down to the chip van on ‘ped – saw everyone. Beki’s going to get fucked by James Dean tomorrow night. Went to Muz’s – played The Gate and few other things. Came back. Didn’t see the cat at all – bit worried.

3rd March 1984
Cat came in happy – not even limping. Took moped to Wimborne for MOT. Went to Poole – bought Chunks and Bad Seed. Tara gave me the book. Saw Justin. Went on up to Pam’s. She seemed alright. Dusty came along – told me what he’s been up to. We had a chat about religion and good and evil. Walked back to Poole. Simon and Ratty. Ratty said he can’t practice on Sundays. Caught bus back. Met a nice girl – Nicky Miller (Midge) and had a chat. Rich got on in Wimborne – said Kris got sent off in football for scrapping. 2-2. Got home – disappointed with Chunks. Bad Seed’s good though.

4th March 1984
Got up 11.30. Didn’t do much. Had breakfast. Had dinner. Went to Murray’s – he’s gone fishing. Came back. Had a wank. Played some records. Had a bath. Started painting backdrop yesterday, did some more on it today. Going to Simon’s tomorrow to have a practice with him and Ratty. Went down to see Murray. Me and Graeme got chucked out cos his grandad died. What a wonderful world.

9th June 2023 – You can see from the picture that it’s no surprise that it took me more than an hour to decipher this. I was writing more words than ever before but nothing much of any substance but at least, thankfully, some reminders of events.

Just a matter of time, how when and where – 17th December 1983

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Me and Thoms pissed around in Poole
‘The Devil Rides Out’ was on – ok
Crucifix – Dehumanization
Apostles – Rising From The Ashes

10th Mar 2023 – Thoms! Who was he? I’ll ask Rupert. I think he will remember. ‘pissed around’ – not exactly detailed but in my mind this phrase indicates that it was some kind of useless fun.
Reading the plot online of The Devil Rides Out doesn’t trigger any memories either. Sometimes I consider rewatching some of these old movies I used to enjoy but the pleasure is not so much in the movie but the nostalgia it brings. There are not many movies that really stand the test of time. Entertainment has no depth.
I was thinking about the Apostles and Six Minute War the other day because I was playing guitar and understanding that I will never be a great player but back in the early 80s bands like those mentioned were terrible players too. Maybe not players but their ideas (probably limited by skills) were dull and boring. But that was the essence of punk rock – anyone can do it and they did. That doesn’t necessarily mean it stands the test of time except, as above about movies, it is just for nostalgia.

Annihilation – 14th December 1983

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

If we are a new breed
Then we should stick together
We should fight the system
And not fight each other
Annihilation of self
Annihilation annihilation
Annihilation of wealth
Annihilation annihilation
This is the end
And I’ve heard it before
And so have many of you
And many many more

17th May 2023 – By this time punk rock was fracturing into factions and I was frustrated with that.

Mess – 3rd August 1983

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Some people say you look a mess
But I don’t care how you dress
I think those people dress pretty bad
They look pretty silly in last year’s fad
Mess mess mess
Dress dress dress
Fad fad fad fad – had!

27th Apr 2023 – It never occurred to younger me that the 2nd and 3rd lines contradict each other but the meaning was more along the lines that I don’t care how you dress, that it is neither good nor bad.
At this time the word ‘trendy’ was becoming popular and kids started dressing smart to impress girls and (when older) go clubbing etc. I found it very dull and uninspiring.
The way I dressed was messy and in a generic punk style. In another way, I did care how people dressed because it was very easy to identify people to avoid and people who would be allies. Our tribes were easily identifiable in these times before all cultural fashions became appropriated (except perhaps for the metalheads). Meeting people wearing shirts or badges with bands from our subculture gave comfort and solidarity. We knew we were on the same side.