4 July 1977 – London Punk Club ‘The Vortex’ opens

A raft of ‘punk’ bands who had appeared in High Wycombe earlier in 1977, were set to appear at a new club in London dedicated to the rising scene.  ‘The Vortex’, situated at 203 Wardour Street in London, opened after the relatively nearby ‘Roxy’ shut its doors to punk as a result of the landlords jacking up the rent in an effort to cash in on the punk explosion.

Flyer for the opening night of the Vortex – 4th July 1977 – featuring Buzzcocks, The Fall and John Cooper Clarke

‘The Vortex’ was the punk night at what was generally known at the time as Crackers Disco.  The opening night on Monday 4th July 1977 saw three Manchester acts take the stage. Headliners, were  Buzzcocks – band members Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto had formed the band having seen The Sex Pistols for the first time in High Wycombe in February 1976.  Support came from The Fall and punk poet John Cooper Clarke.

Johnny Thunders and his Heartbreakers also semi-gate crashed the gig, playing two songs after Buzzcocks had finished their set.  Thunders had appeared at The Nag’s Head in March 1977 but was set to deported from the UK.  Reports suggest their appearance didn’t sit nicely with Buzzcocks. Garth from Buzzcocks was apparently thrown out of the club after throwing things at The Heartbreakers.

Further gigs were quickly arranged at The Vortex.  Acts to follow in the coming weeks included Siouxsie and The Banshees (11th July 1977), Adverts (25th July) and Generation X (1st August 1977).  All had appeared at The Nag’s Head at least once earlier in 1977 at The Nag’s Head – they were all now drawing packed out venues in the capital.

‘The Vortex’ became notorious for attracting violent crowds.  Events at the club subsequently inspired The Jam to pen ‘‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street’, with the lyrics name checking the venue.

I’m stranded on the Vortex floor,
My head’s been kicked in and blood’s started to pour
Through the haze I can see my girl
Fifteen geezers got her pinned to the door
I try to reach her but fall back to the floor
‘A’ bomb in Wardour Street
It’s blown up the West End, now it’s spreading throughout the City,

The venue would eventually close to gigs in March 1978.

This is the Adverts filmed live at The Vortex in 1977. Note the audience – a mixture of short and long hair but no ‘punk’ mohicans. Very typical of the time and before ‘punk’ was dragged through the commercial grinder and end up as Kings Road tourist attraction in the early 1980’s.

References:

http://www.punk77.co.uk/punkhistory/vortex_history.htm

1 July 2017 – Stereophonics bassist at Radnage Beer and Music Festival

There was a surprise appearance at the Annual Radnage Beer and Music Festival that took place over the weekend of 1 and 2 July 2017.
Joining covers band Hustler for their rendition of Stereophonics song ‘Dakota’, was bassist Richard Jones from the Welsh band.

Radnage Beer & Music 2017 – poster

Jones, a member of Stereophonics since their formation in the early 1990’s, lives in Buckinghamshire and accepted the invitation to take the stage and join in on bass for the one song.

Stereophonics’ bassist Richard Jones joins Hustler on stage at Radnage Beer and Music Festival – 1 July 2017

The two day event was held at The Crown in Radnage (8 miles from High Wycombe).  The festival has expanded to host ten acts on the Saturday (afternoon and evening) and five more on the Sunday afternoon.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Radnagebeerfestival/

1 July 1977 – Sex Pistols release Pretty Vacant

The third single by The Sex Pistols was released on Friday 1st July 1977Pretty Vacant was a crowd favourite and a song dating back to their early gigging days in 1976.  After a gap of close to six months between their first single [Anarchy in the UK] and their follow-up [God Save The Queen], release number three came just five weeks after their controversial Jubilee effort.

Poster for Sex Pistols third UK single, Pretty Vacant

The song, with lyrics penned by front man Johnny ‘Rotten’ and music mainly by departed bassist Glen Matlock, is said, by the latter, to have its main riff inspired by hearing Abba’s SOS.

The single went on to reach No.6 in the UK charts.  Sadly gigs were few and far between and there was no sight of a return to High Wycombe.  The band had played just three dates in the UK during 1977 at the point of the release of Pretty Vacant and all of those had been pretty much reserved for friends of the band.  They would eventually return to the UK for an August 1977 ‘secret’ tour but it proved to be the beginning of the end for the punk pioneers who were now household names.

Here’s the official video that was shown on Top of The Pops on Thursday 14th July 1977. Apparently it was recorded on the 11th and 12th July at ITN studios in Wells Street in London.  The band threw a can of lager over a cameraman on the 11th but came back the following day to finish the recording.

30 June 2017 – Public Service Announcement/The SD5 – Phoenix Bar

Former members of Basta Roc took new band Public Service Announcement for a live airing at The Phoenix Bar (Bridge Street, High Wycombe) on Friday 30th June 2017, with support from The SD5.

Public Service Announcement/The SD5 – Phoenix Bar – Friday 30th June 2017

PSA, who include former Basta Roc members Pete Colverd and John Fleming, played a short set at a charity gig in April 2017 in memory of Basta guitarist Gareth Jones.  The band is completed by Al Lane (drums) and Dan Comben (bass).

They say they will be: ‘Featuring songs of Basta Roc, stripped down and lovingly restored as well as new compositions and classic songs for your musical pleasure.’

 More info at: https://www.facebook.com/PSAPUNK/

Support came from The SD5 – London based and according to their Facebook page, are: ‘Purveyors of fine garage rocking psychedelic beat grooves.’

More info at https://thesd5.bandcamp.com/

Facebook event page:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/events/684242595118743/

 

 

24 June 2017 – No More Heroes III – Phoenix Bar

High Wycombe punk legends The Xtraverts opened the third ‘No More Heroes’ all-day event at The Phoenix Bar in High Wycombe on Saturday 24th June 2017.  They played a short set as a way of thanking the other bands for helping to celebrate lead singer Nigel Martin’s 60th birthday.

Nigel Martin’s wonderful birthday cake on show at No More Heroes III on 24 June 2017 at The Phoenix Bar

Also scheduled to be on the bill were:

  • Satellites
  • Rebel Station
  • Feckin Ejits
  • Ambition Demolition
  • 5 Go Mad
  • Acid Attack
  • Shag Nasty
  • Nuffin’
  • Murderball

 

No More Heroes III – Phoenix Bar – High Wycombe – 24 June 2017

The event follows two previous successful No More Heroes events promoted by Nigel Martin. The two day 2016 bash included Xtraverts, Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons, East Town Pirates, Dragster, Rage DC and Healthy Junkies.

The 2017 event saw The Xtraverts take the stage at about 1.30pm (yes, in the afternoon!). After a short rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ by the other band members, Nigel took to the stage as the band crashed through four numbers – old favourite, ‘Police State’, plus both sides of their new single (’21st Century Motorbike’ and ‘Wild Boys, Wild Youth’), before finishing with their classic, ‘Speed’.

If you have any pictures or videos from the day, you are welcome to post them in the comments section below or send links via email.

23 June 1977 – Clayson and The Argonauts – Nag’s Head

Clayson and The Argonauts made their second Nag’s Head appearance of the year on Thursday 23rd June 1977.  It appears the band were making every effort to ride on the coat tails of the ‘punk’ and ‘new wave’ explosion happening in 1977 but it never quite happened.

Nag’s Head gigs June 1977 from the Bucks Free Press plus some alternative entertainment at Cressex Community Centre

However, Clayson went on to become a well respected music journalist and author.  One of his most famous books, being ‘Backbeat – The Story behind the Lost Beatle’.

The band had appeared at The Nag’s Head in January 1977 and their popularity may have prompted promoter Ron Watt’s to bring them back to the London Road venue.   A 2007 entry on Alan Clayson website recalls that Watts had once offered his ‘services and manager’ to Clayson and The Argonauts following this earlier Nag’s Head show plus an appearance few days before at The 100 Club.  Clayson recalls: “I can still see him now, at the rear of the mob, eyeing a biscuit tin of coins and then us on the boards, fingering his moustache with sly satisfaction.”  Clayson goes on to bemoan the fact that Watts didn’t feel it worthy of mentioning The Argonauts in his ‘Hundred Watts: Life In Music’ autobiography.

Clayson and The Argonauts – 1977

The band split up in 1986 but reformed in 2005 and at the time of this post (40 years after this 1977 Nag’s Head gig), Clayson and The Argonauts were still on the road in the UK.

This is Alan Clayson and The Argonauts performing ‘The Rakes Progress’ during one of their performances following their reunion in 2005.  He mentions High Wycombe in the introduction?

References and further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Clayson

http://www.alanclayson.com/

22 June 1977 – Talking punk on the streets of High Wycombe

High Wycombe’s local paper, The Bucks Free Press, took to the streets in June 1977 to find the views of the growing punk scene.  A “Speakers’ Corner” article written by local junior journalist Janice Raycroft, with photos by staff photographer Bob Mead, was published in the Midweek Bucks Free Press on Wednesday 22nd June 1977.  It discovered views on the punk movement that were more or less reflective across the entire UK at the time.  ‘Rubbish’, ‘Noise’, ‘Not up to much musically’, ‘It’s just a phase’ and ‘a disgrace’, were just some of the comments printed.

Bucks Free Press Midweek – 22 June 1977

Janice Raycroft had been lucky enough to witness The Sex Pistols appearance at High Wycombe College in February 1976.  Her review of the gig, under her maiden name, published a few days later in the Bucks Free Press Midweek is thought to be only the second ever live review of the Sex Pistols.  It was the 40 year anniversary of the February 1976 gig that provided the inspiration to start the research for what became wycombegigs.co.uk.

Although High Wycombe had gone on to host several ‘punk’ gigs between February 1976 and June 1977, the local punk scene was still very much in its infancy.  Many of the ‘punk’ gigs had been played out to just a handful of people and the musical output had yet to make any serious impact on the UK charts.

However, that was beginning to change following the release of Sex Pistols second single ‘God Save The Queen’ in May 1977 and its subsequent air time ban by the BBC.  Intentional or not, the ban lifted sales to an estimated 20,000 copies a day and it peaked at No.2 in the charts during the week of 5th June 1977 – sitting behind Rod Stewart’s ‘I Don’t Want To Talk About it’ – an ironic title considering that the chart compilers ‘didn’t want to talk about’ allegations of possible manipulation of sales figures to ensure The Sex Pistols didn’t reach the top spot.

But what did the High Wycombe public want to talk about at a time when The Pistols shared the top ten with the likes of Kenny Rogers (Lucille), Barbra Streisand (A Star is Born), Joe Tex (Ain’t Gonna Bump No More) and The Jacksons (Show You The Way To Go)?

Secretarial student Iona Crichton said of the Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save The Queen’:

“It’s a load of rubbish really.  A lot of talking and noise.  You can’t really seem to dance to it but the punk rockers seem to like it.”

Apprentice Engineer Maurice Fish went on:

“Punk will probably be like other crazes and die down when people get bored with it but there are more [punks] appearing in High Wycombe at the moment.”

Interesting to note that both of the first two people interviewed had heard the single played on the jukebox in the Coach & Horses pub in the High Street in High Wycombe.

22 year old motor mechanic Edward Wright added:

“It’s just a phase like all the others. When I was at school it was skinheads or greasers.  You grow out of it.  When people get bored with this punk rock stuff something else will come along.”

He continued

“It won’t last because the music will not appeal to enough people.  I don’t take any real notice of it.  Tamla Motown and The Beatles are much better to listen to.”

 Another 20 something, Peter Seymour of High Wycombe, was far more upset.

 “Their ‘God Save The Queen’ is a disgrace to the Queen.  I can’t understand why they picked on the Queen. If you are going to do that there’s a lot better people to pick on.  She has done no harm and can’t answer back.”

The final word went to Rosemary Dawson who travelled five days a week to work in London where she had noted the rise of punk rock fashion on the streets.  She said:

“The music has nothing to offer me.  There is no musical ability involved and the result has no artistic merit.”

A closer look at the Bucks Free Press from 22 June 1977

Looking back on this piece some 40 years later, it’s a shame there was nobody even remotely ‘punk’ looking interviewed for the piece and there was literally not one good word said about a release that went on to be set in stone as an iconic piece of punk rock.  However, that is probably more reflective of the slow up take of punk in both High Wycombe and the nation as a whole, rather than a deliberate ploy by the journalists to suppress alternative viewpoints.

The outpouring of negative and prejudice views on punk rock are also typical of the time.  Dressing as a punk and/or simply just liking punk music during the first half of 1977 would have you labelled as a freak.

But after ‘God Save The Queen’ become the first truly punk single to make the top 10 of the UK charts, it set the scene for several more ‘punk’ singles to break into the charts.  The Stranglers, Peaches followed shortly afterwards, while The Sex Pistols’ third single, Pretty Vacant, released in early July 1977, also burst into the top ten during the summer of 1977.

The High Wycombe punk scene also started to explode during the summer of 1977.  In July 1977 there was a first ever local punk band night down The Nag’s Head, while promoter Ron Watts started putting on gigs at The Town Hall to cater for the growing demand for the punk and new wave scene.  Keep an eye on wycombegigs.co.uk for details of those gigs – and, of course, if you have any memories, memorabilia or just a screwed up gig ticket, please get in touch.

16 June 1977 – Generation X – Nag’s Head

It’s a busy Thursday night at The Nag’s Head on 16th June 1977 as Billy Idol’s Generation X return for their third appearance at the High Wycombe venue since forming in London at the tail end of 1976. They had previously performed at The Nag’s in January 1977 and March 1977.

Nag’s Head gigs June 1977 from the Bucks Free Press plus some alternative entertainment at Cressex Community Centre

By the time of their June 1977 appearance they had replaced drummer John Towe with 18 year old Mark Laff.  He had been recruited after the remaining members of the band had auditioned more than 20 other drummers.  Laff (AKA Mark Laffoley) had previous drummed with Subway Sect and joined Generation X following the completion of a support slot on The Clash’s nationwide tour.

The new look line-up is the final piece in the Gen X jigsaw and record companies are now starting to take note.  They will record a John Peel session on 12 July 1977 and sign a long-term deal with Chrysalis Records the following day.

The band would return for another appearance at The Nag’s Head in August 1977 before releasing their debut single, ‘Your Generation’ the following month.

References:

Generation X – Day by Dayhttp://www.nemsworld.com/genx/

9 June 2017 – Xtraverts release first single for 36 years

High Wycombe punk legends The Xtraverts released their first single in 36 years on Friday 9th June 2017.  The re-energised version of the band, with roots dating back to 1976, blast out two new tracks, ‘21st Century Motorbike‘and ‘Wild Boys, Wild Youth’ that manage to capture the energy of their live performances at least as well as any of their previous three singles.

The limited edition release comes on purple vinyl and is available through the band’s website, with quantities also distributed through local record shop outlets – The Record Shop, Amersham and Sound of the Suburbs, Ruislip Manor.

Xtraverts single 2017 – nice coloured vinyl!

For those keeping a list, The Xtraverts’ first single was released in 1978 – ‘Blank Generation’ and ’A-Lad-Insane’ both being live favourites.  A year later they shared a release with fellow Wycombe punk outfit Plastic People – Xtraverts contributing ‘Police State’, with Plastic People delivering ‘Demolition’.  Completing the trio in 1981, of what are now hugely collectable punk vinyl releases, was ‘Speed’ backed with ‘1984’.

The Xtraverts – single collection 1978 to 2017

Line-up of the band at the time of the 2017 single was Nigel Martin (vocals), Poe Diddley (lead guitar), Nick Chapman (rhythm guitar), Andy Chalk (bass), Reg Charles (drums).

Postscript: The Xtraverts played both sides of the single during a short afternoon set to mark the opening of Nigel Martin’s 60th birthday bash at The Phoenix Bar High Wycombe on Saturday 24th June 2017.

7 June 1977 – Sex Pistols joined by Ron Watts and Co for River Thames trip

The Sex Pistols hit the headlines again on Tuesday 7th June 1977 after a publicity stunt promoting their new single, ‘God Save The Queen’, attracted the attention of the police.  This was the occasion that The Pistols and their entourage launched their very own Silver Jubilee celebrations on a boat down The River Thames.

Nag’s Head promoter Ron Watts and his right hand man ‘Bruv’ were invited to the boat trip.  The event has gone down in punk folklore alongside the infamous Bill Grundy evening in December 1976.

Here’s Johnny on the river boat – 6th June 1977

Various versions of the events that day have been recollected.  Julian Temple’s film record gives a visual reminder, while Ron Watts recalls the day in his autobiography [100 Watts – A Life in Music], saying:

“It was all a big fuss about nothing but the tabloids had their headlines, another fire of moral outrage was fuelled and the public got their ration of scandal.  Just another day at the office, but it was to prove the last time I ever saw the Pistols play live.”

This is some fairly decent quality footage of the afternoon from YouTube.

Pretty Vacant

Anarchy in the UK

Problems