FORGOTTEN MUSIC:BASCZAX
I’m not 100% on this but think the first time I saw Basczax they were supporting either Cowboys International or The Damned at Middlesbrough Rock Garden in 1979.
They were great – a cracking mixture of punk, art rock and glam - and me and the Hartlepool crew made regular visits to the big city -Stockton- to see them play at The Teesider pub every Friday night, and wherever else they played for that matter. I even supported them a couple of times when I played in the band Halcyon Days.
As Wikipedia says:
'Basczax were a British post-punk band that was formed in Redcar in August 1978.
The band was formed by Mick Todd (bass), who recorded a demo of "Karleearn Photography", which convinced Jeff Fogarty (saxophone) and Alan Savage (guitar, vocals) to join. The line-up was completed for early performances by Nigel Trenchard (keyboards) and Cog (drums), but these were soon replaced by former Blitzkrieg Bop members John Hodgson (keyboards) and Alan Cornforth (drums).
Starting out as an anti-punk, almost anti-music noise band, they supported the Gang Of Four, amongst others in the early days. Basczax's first released material appeared on Fast Product's Earcom 2 mini-LP in 1979, alongside Joy Division.The band also released a 7" single on the Pipeline label: "Madison Fallout"/"Auto Mekanik Destruktor" (1979), which reached #48 on the UK Independent Chart.
Basczax toured with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and appeared on the Check It Out TV show in 1980, performing "Ego Therapy". ’
I can’t remember how many times I saw Baszczax but they were always a pleasure and never a chore and I’m sure a strong influence on me in many, many ways. Singer Alan Savage was one of the first people to encourage me to write, lyrics in this case.
And the good news is that thirty years after splitting up Basczax are BACK!
Their website gives you details of what they're up to as well as links to some of their splendid songs such as Neon Vampires, Madison Fallout and Young Hearts Wear Scarlet.
Basczax also have a Facebook page with lots of links and information.
And here's NEON VAMPIRES from the new LP.
There is MORE FORGOTTEN MUSIC today at SCOTT D PARKER's smashing blog here
There is MORE FORGOTTEN MUSIC today at SCOTT D PARKER's smashing blog here
4 comments:
All of these are not only forgotten but never known to me. Wow!
Good stuff. I spent several days in Middlesborough a dozen or so years ago. Didn't strike me as a rock 'n roll town.
What's interesting in listening the "Neon Vampires" is to hear the sound from 1979 filtered through thirty years of life experiences. You can tell it's the same band, but more in an echoing style. Loved how the guitar string (in the first video) was not cut and just hanging around. Never heard of this band before.
Patti, I think that there are loads of bands over the years who you could imagine making it big but never did.
Evan, you in 'The Boro?'! Why?
Scott, really good points. If you compare the early version of Neon Vampires with the new one it really does sound like a 'lighter' version.
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