August 4, 2006

Screwed Up in the Street

My old pal Squeaky turned me on to Menace a long while back by playing me one of their songs and then pointing out that I already had it on a Link Records 1987 comp called Oi! The Picture Disc. Menace are definitely on the oi end of the punk scale, and their catchiness opened up a whole world of English streetpunk and oi that I’d been ignorant of. Later on I got the “Screwed Up” twelve-inch single, and that song has since been a practice staple of every band I’ve played in. Menace’s lack of commercial success must’ve somehow rubbed off.

This awesome band has been blogged before, and probably by better than me, but what the hey. They were part of the 1977 generation of punk bands, yet somehow stayed in the minor leagues (even though John Peel touted them on his show), but were later seen as very influential among the kids (and the aging kids). I wouldn’t know about that, being a johnny-come-late and everything, but I know “G.L.C.” has a fist-friendly, bouncy rhythm that’s just as crowd-pleasing as the best of Sham 69’s stuff. Dig this liberal reworking of Cliff Richard’s hit “The Young Ones” and the poor-but-proud anthem “I Need Nothing.” This is message music, but without a lot of preachifying. The original Menace lineup recorded only eleven great songs before they split up in ‘79.

Vocalist/frontman Morgan Webster had a tuneful, hoarse streetpunk shout that I find supremely satisfying. He apparently died in 1991, perhaps of an O.D., although the internet couldn’t supply me with a credible story.

The original rhythm section of Noel Martin and Charlie Casey has kept the band going through various incarnations over the years. They have a cool website with newer photos and interviews plus some good nostalgic material, and a MySpace page. If you ain’t heard of ‘em, best git y’self told.

Menace - “G.L.C.”

Menace - “The Young Ones”

Menace - “Screwed Up”

Menace - “I Need Nothing”

Rick at 10:57 pm

1 CommentÈ

The (Canadian) Subhumans did a decent cover of Screwed Up on their second LP No Wishes No Prayers.

Comment by Ollie Stench Ñ August 10, 2006 @ 12:31 pm