Not sure how I missed this news – other than there is simply too much news. Too much. But did you know – The ‘Godfather of Punk’ is dead. Sad. 64 years old. Cancer victim.
Me, never a big fan of the Sex PIstols. Maybe I was too old. No. Actually it was (to my simple mind at least) just not good to listen to. I do know that punk was forged out of a ‘rebellion against the pomp rock stadium bands’ that had become prevalent in the 70s – but to position themselves as ‘the real deal’ – because they ‘told it as it was’ – don’t buy it.
Compare and contrast, some selected lyrics from The Sex PIstols in 1977:
God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bombGod save the queen
She ain’t no human being
There is no future
In England’s dreamingDon’t be told what you want
Don’t be told what you need
There’s no future, no future,
No future for you
Same Year – 1977 – PInk Floyd : Dogs:
Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I’ve looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.What do you get for pretending the danger’s not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we’ll make the bugger’s eyes water.Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you’re told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.
The message from both bands was equally anti establishment – its just that you kinda had to spend time with ‘Syd’s Boys’ – but the Pistols – 3 minutes – tops – they were done ! (BTW – NIck Mason produced the Clash’s second album in the very same Pink Floyd owned studio in Islington that they recorded Animals – ironic?)
Anyway – back to Malcolm. Accepting that he obviously had a big hand in the PIstols sound – which wasn’t my fave – I was a BIG Fan of his solo work around the 84 to 94 time slot – specifically …. (I still wonder whether the Pistols songs were so short because .. ok – not going to go there — different story. Meanwhile – do -if you have time – check out :
- Fans
- Waltz Darling
- The Largest Movie House in Paris
As I wrote to a friend recently – all are such cornerstones of my Music Collection that they LIVE on my IPOD 
Oh well – little point me writing an OBIT – when The Independent did such a great job, and more on his life here.
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