Pretty Vacant

LETTER FROM BRITAIN

Pretty Vacant

Simon Frith

To tell you the truth, nothing at all happened this month. I didnt go to any gigs—none I can remember anyway— and I cant get worked up, like the rest of the rock press, about the Summer of Hate—new wave groups and fans getting beat up, etc. All thats happening, that I can see, is that the papers are reporting little local difficulties rather than concentrating on the superstars like they usually do. And at the little local level rock n roll has accompanied people being beat up for as long as I can remember. Part of the frisson of a rock show for a nice boy like me is the possibility of trouble as the drink and sweat pour into the maelstrom of macho obstinacy. Waiting at the stage door for the bands to come out to get done over (unless the roadies get you first) is part of the grand tradition of provincial dances, and to stride the streets as a punk in 1977 is no more risky than having long hair in 1964, short hair in 1969, green hair in 1973 or a black skin any time. The drunken Englishman is a pretty nasty fellow and always has been (though not as nasty as the drunken Scotsman). Enough said.

The sun hasnt shone much either and all theres been to do is listen to records and try to sort out What It All Means. What it all means, Im glad to say, is that the new wave is here to stay—the best records of the year as well as the best news have come from various descriptions of punk. Here, then, are ten groups for the summer of 77.

(Aside: blaming it on EMI. As theres a hundred new bands Ive never heard because they come tumbling out all sounding the same on obscure labels without press people and I dont know which ones to buy, this isnt a real good guide and as EMI, fresh from their triumphs with the Pistols, have just released Live at the Roxy—an instant anthology of all the best known London gigging punks—but not sent it to me [and if its anything like Live at CBGBs or whatever that record was called, itll only prove again the old hippie adage that the best bands get the best contracts and screw the rest] and as the man from Capitol [same company, different phone] couldnt think of any reason why he should send me [in England] Mink De Ville, an American record [of which some people say good things and some people dont] to write about in CREEM [an American magazine], I say screw it too and remember another old adage: if I havent heard it, it isnt any good.)

1, 2 & 3 : The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Chelsea.

In as far as there is a single British punk sound, it is the one made by the Pistols and the Clash. Its essential components are tone of voice and a chorus. Musically theres little more than a cacophony of aggressive noise, melodically there is nothing much to hum, and even by rock standards these boys cant sing. The buzz—and its a big buzz—comes when the snarled anger, frustration and adrenalin of the vocals matches the snarled anger, frustration and adrenalin of the chorus. Theres no doubt that this is a form thats made for tedium—unless the chorus is catchy theres nothing but noise, and its a thin line between real and posed anger. Most punk records dont bear listening and the Pistols and the Clash are awesome just for the if strike rate—they consistently manage the match of three minute form and content that has always been the essence of good rock n roll and, even better, their best records are their most recent: The Clashs “Capital Radio" (sorry about this—its one of those obscure fans singles you had to get by sending in a fed sticker and a form from the NME) and the Sex Pistols “Pretty Vacant," with its precise lyric— We re sp pretty, oh so pretty—vacant!"

Of the second generation (already) new wave of new wavers that Ive heard, only Chelsea, with singer Gene Octobers “Right To Work," have got the formula so good. And when was the last time Pete Townsheiid wrote a song about the unemployment line? These boys sound communal, whatever sort of jerks they may be in private.

4, 5 & 6: The Ramones, Blondie, The Dictators.

In as far as theres an American punk sound, I guess its the one made by these New Yorkers and its not so much a sound as a sensibility. I havent seen the Dictators but the others are more convincing on record than on stage and all of them are addictive—their LPs get better as they play on (unlike the British bands, for whom three minutes at a time is quite enough). They are also all funny, clever and kinda fake—I mean, they come on so nasty, and come out so nice. Fine pop groups, all three, and the opposite, dead opposite, in every respect, to the British punks. Its the difference between fun and fury and fun lasts longer but furys more correct and what a good summer when weve got them both in such hot form.

7,8& 9. Dave Edmunds, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Elvis Costello.

It isnt fashionable to like Eddie and the Hot Rods anymore because really they just play that old rhythm and blues very fast. But then they always did and they still do it bloody well and the live EP, At the Sound of Speed, is as bouncily exhilarating as a July record should be. Ditto for Dave Edmunds. Get It is another sharp album of old TURN TO PAGE 71 rock n roll and if Dave Edmunds isnt exactly new wave, hes still newer wave than boring old bands like Southside Johnnys and he has got Nick Lowe in his band on bass and Nick Lowe is the spider of this whole web, moving easily from Brinsley Schwarz and pub rock to Stiff records and punk rock, and at the same time producing an eccentric singer, Elvis Costello, whos no punk but one of those pop obsessives (like Jonathan Richman) around whom cults gather. I havent a clue what “Less Than Zero", his first single, was about but it sounded like an important debut; and “Alison", his second single, is pretty neat too. Elvis is our summer charmer.

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10. Bob Marley.

Punks still like ^reggae, 1 still like reggae', Bob Marley still likes reggae. Exodus is a good enough reason for all of US.