Marsh

Helmet fuckin rock. I only got into them a couple of years ago, but I really like them. they have gargantuan riffs, don't they! To me they are like an uglier, more brutal Husker Du (not to diss the Huskers - they are pure genius) And Page Hamilton was a brilliant lyrics man. Criminally underrated band, I think. It always pisses me off that bands as genuinely ace as helmet get nil recognicion in the "mainstream." Who cares, we know better, eh? Will have to get tix sorted out - It's on a Friday - rejoice.

Ahhhh, thir rubbiss!

Hey, I've been a fan of the 'Knot since day one and think they are all ace in their own way. But Craig would not be missed if he left the band. When you watch the DVD with that camera feature, Craig does seem to spend a vast amount of time simply furiously headbanging and not "playing" his instrument. I know he does a lot of those unsettling rumbly noises and samples, but not so much that a casual punter would notice. Sid's fucking mental and gets the crowd going all the time. He has about as much musical input as Craig does when you see them live. You occasionally hear the odd sample or weird noise, but to be honest, they are nae really that high up in the mix. The core of the band is obviously Jim, Mick, Joey, Corey and Pigboy. I don't think "wanky nose" Chris or Clown can even play those tin cans, sorry, drums. The others are there to create choas and are more "visual" to the whole vibe of the band. With the exception of Craig, who just stands there headbanging and never interacts with the "maggots". Sid could do his parts in the studio. I don't think Craig could be classed as a "key" member of Slipknot at all. (Apart from the fact they would no longer be the "18 - legged hate machine." And they wouldn't have a gimp in the band any more. Oh, and they've been doing the "sit down" thing on Spit It Out for years now - Time for a new gimmick, I think...........

Well played, Andrew. An impressive tally. Seems like only yesterday Ant, Ash and I were watching you in old Drakes for your first one over here (complete with Cormak, The Baron and the Steve Jones) It's gradually got better, louder, faster and more rock n roll. Big thumbs up to the band who give me a better, less pointless life. See you soon for more of the same, you wretch. (And you can play Glitter Song for a "post 500 - gig" special treat) Marsh.

I used to love them, but like a few others I think it just ain't the same anymore - The songs sound really weedy live nowadys and they completley lack the punch they used to have. I've seen them a fair few times, from '95 including a few festival appearances and they have been worse every time (apart from T In The Park 2001, I think it was - when Wire was drunk and they ran on going "arrrghgh!" and melted "Faster" That was good, maybe they should drink more? Holy Bible and half of Generation Terrorists (have you ever heard an album "tailing off" towards the end more?) are still two of my fave albums and I love Everything Must Go, but it's been a slow decline since then. Some good singles off "Truth" and a couple of good album tracks but nothing to equal the ferocity of the earlier stuff. I know they've grown up / matured or whatever, but it just ain't what i'm looking for anymore. James still has a great voice - he should go solo and do improtu acoustic gigs like Ginger from the Wildhearts - I think that would suit him - He seems to like smoky pubs and getting close to the fans. Wire can stay at home, write books and do his housework which he oh so loves and which is oh so unfunny. The drummer can do what he's always done and stay anonymous. It is pretty crap when you go to a gig just for "the oldies" though, innit? You kinda know you're onto a loser. Bands need to move on - It's nice to hear a few old faves, but hey, they'll be touring their new album, still trying to sound relevant and all that. Would be good to hear back from the folks who are seeing them for feeedback. Sorry, I went on a bit there. I'm turning into Nick Jones...........

Good answer, lad. I'm sure Faither Fiend would agree!

Faith no More V Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us (Not strictly a cover, but truly ace!) Rob Zombie - Blitzkreig Bop (Ramones) (Sounds nowt like original, but is amazing) Dangerfields - R.A.M.O.N.E.S. (Mothorhead) or AstroZombies (Misfits) (A zillion times faster than the originals - just the way we like it) Everclear - Sin City (AC/DC) (By rights you shouldnae touch Bon's songs, but I think this is really rockin'!) Karloff - Jezabel (so ancient I canne mind) (Ant should give the finger more often rather than doing the "fist in the air thing" at the drum break, don't you think?) Loads and loads more - I could talk about this all day - I love cover versions, I cannae remember all the ones I have off the top of my head!!

I would say Rage Against The Machine (I presume they count as being from the last decade? They were still together up until 2000) - They started the whole rap / rock thing in earnest (I know Faith No More were as well, but they are very quirky and off - the - cuff. Rage were direct and to the point.) - Loadsa bands try to sound like them - Never off "rock" jukeboxes - Most popular t - shirt at music festivals - Without them we wouldnae have that whole "Vrrrrr-de-deeeee-deeee-vrrrt" guitar sound! - Fuck you I won't do what you tell me. In general, I would say that is the defining statement in Rock from any band from the last 10 years - Okay it was recorded in 1990, but they played it live right up until they split up. - Ask most folk and they'll say they like them (Obviously someone's gonna reply and say "I dinnae like them" now.) - They dancefloor always fills up no matter where you are when they are played (Anyone remember the Palace dancefloor filling up in 2 seconds when Killing in the Name or Bullet in the Head came on!????) Everyone's got their own most important band of the last decade, but I think if you did a poll loadsa folk would mention Rage.

It was fuckin amazing! It was amusing when they messed up Spirit of Radio, but they recoverved like true pros. We almost got chucked out for refusing to sit down - Bloody Nazi bouncers who hate seeing folk actually enjoying themselves. Did anyone else feel the heat from the flames? They were soooooo hot - I thought it might have been a trick, but hell no - real flameage. Incredible. Unfortunately I was so drunk I cannae mind the whole show, but what I remember was ace. They should leave out the Who covers, though. That was not on. Amazingly, it was 200 for a leather jacket (which looked utterly revolting) What a rip - off. I bought a dodgy t - shirt outside for a fiver! It's rubbiss as well, but at least it was cheap! All in all, a classic gig. Glad I saw them, but it did last too long. That drum solo was never ending. You dinnae realise how ace it is seeing punk bands that are on for 30 mins until you are in the 3rd hour of a Rush gig........ We went to the Moorings afterwards - I was so drunk I can't remember a thing - Glorious.

I was at the last Assert gig at Old Drakes and Britt, the singer, was a smashing guy. I remember shouting into the mic when it was offered to me and thinking it was a fantastic gig. Their drummer died about a year ago so their whole attitude might have gone either way - Pissed off or a bit more pragmatic. Anyways, they have killer tunes and I cannae wait.

I was referring to the musical side of things, guys. In other words, I like the music I like and don't care what it's classed as. Politics, racism etc is a completley different matter. I don't wish to discuss that here - I thought we were talking about new / old punk. I was saying (albeit in a roundabout way) that it shouldn't matter if a band are classed as "new" or "old" punk - If you like it, you like it, and that's all that should matter.

It was a really great gig and it was great to see loads of new faces and so many kids in Karloff t - shirts (Don't mean that in a G. Glitter type - way) Sid puking on stage beats any prop Ghoulmore has ever used! Best 'Fields gig I've ever seen (and i've been at every gig they've ever played in Aberdeen, bar two or three) and the best i've seen the Loff as well. Are the CD's selling well, Rob?

As far as I am concerned (and was this not the reason punk started as a movement) is the first rule of punk is that there are no rules. It's fucking ridiculous that every band is categorised. Like what the hell you like and don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks. That's real punk.