'Oh you know her,Miss Groupie Supreme,Yeah you know her,Vera Vogue on parade,Red eye shadow,Green mascara Yuck,She's too much' - Blondie - Rip her to shred's
My favourite bands of the time were The Clash, Buzzcocks, Generation X and The Rich Kid's. we certainly made ourselves known to them all! These are some highlights of the diary entry's of our connections to the bands.
The Clash in Manchester at The Apollo (we were hiding on stage behind the curtain, at the side of
Johnny Green, later throwing Clash badges out)
Step lightly...stay free - R.I.P Joe Strummer
THE CLASH - Oct 22nd 1977:My first Clash gig, it was a fantastic night. The Toilets supported (later they were The Alarm).We got into the dressing room very easily; no one else was around, especially no girls. Paul was lying on the bench with his trousers zipped right down and no shirt on he was rather ignorant, seemed to have an attitude, we were scared to approach him. I do remember asking him where he lived in London he muttered ‘Brixton’. I was dumb struck and unable to speak here was my heartthrob in person, with his pants almost falling off him. They were his white zipped pants, now hanging up in Barcelona’s Hard Rock café (I took a photo on a visit there) On another Clash night I recall a huge bouncer called ‘Tiny’ belonging to either Eric's or the Clash, stood in the dressing room doorway. He was initially being nice to me , telling me he loved my hair & he loved me (had it all plaited all over) then he became really nasty with me after I rebuffed his advances then telling me not to piss him about, he was basically after sex. JohnnyGreen tour manager also commented on my hair style and was quite friendly. This time the dressing room was quite full we again approached Paul he was a lot more friendly although it might have something to do with his snorting cocaine ,when I asked Paul “What was that” he replied something along the lines of “It’s salt” and laughed. JoeStrummer told me that night he had been singing to me, that made my night, although I felt embarrassed cos he said it in front of other people. I always thought of Joe as a lot older than the other Clash members. He later went to the Swinging Apple, and hung around there without the others in tow.
Dec 10th 1977: Eric's - The Clash, supported by Spitfire Boy's. We met a guy called Kenny, he reckoned he knew anyone who was anyone. We knew The Clash was going back to the Swinging Apple so we tagged along behind them. At the club we got told it was full, the guy who drove us there told the bouncers we were groupies but we still got no entry and we left disappointed.
July 22nd 1978 -Eric's - Great gig, got invited backstage by Mick Jones who asked were we coming in for a chat
This photo (below) was taken of me on route to The Anti Nazi League Festival in London 1978, wearing my hand made florescent holey long jumper, tuxedo and baggy pants, crimped hair and the usual bright make up. This was taken around Chelsea area where we had walked from the long coach journey not knowing really where we were. Went to visit my Aunties in Battersea for a few hours we had a great day out and remember posing for a lot of photos and filming, wondered if we would be in 'Rude boy' must of edited out. I do remember bootlegging it and hearing someone shout "he's having a piss" this is on the movie and on my tape.
Fond memory of the Buzzcocks during late 1978 & 1979 period, saw them play many times and met all the band in and around Manchester, some highlights.... 1979: Feb 12th -sent a valentine to SteveG – Blondie at no 1 March 22rd - Buzzcocks on TOTPS Pete Shelley had £1.00 notes hanging out of his pockets March 23rd - Buzzcocks gig at Belle Vue went backstage, S.G surrounded by girls, all there family’s were there. Diggle talking to his sister about the front door key. Highlight from a Gig in Manchester I give you THE BUZZCOCKS .......
Letter from a Buzzcock
I once wrote to SteveGarvey (big crush of mine)on Nov 21st 1978 of The Buzzcocks via ‘New Hormones’ Manchester and unexpectedly got a reply back. He told me that his first gig with The Buzzcocks had been in Nottingham but he went to see The Rich Kids first gig at Eric’s although don’t recall seeing him there or any of the other Buzzcocks. I met SteveGarvey a few times and used to speak with him on the phone as I managed to find his number in the phone directory, from finding out he lived in Prestwich it was easy to try all the Garvey’s in the Phone book. He was happy for me to chat with him and write as long as I didn’t distribute his number to everyone, which I didn’t, I also found out SteveDiggle’s in the same way and once spoke to his brother who told me Steve was out and his room was locked as he kept his guitars in there. I’ve since been in touch with SteveGarvey via e-mail he now lives in Pennsylvania for the past 24 years and is producing bands.We saw Diggle and Garvey a few times at clubs around Manchester, notably Apollo watching the clash. Ha ha - my claim to Buzzcock fame is snoggin Pete Shelley on Nov 12th 78 on the way out on the famous Apollo stage, always wondered what it would be like centre stage I got to find out. I went to see them on Dec 1st 2006 at Manchester Academy. Fantastic gig took me back in time, needless to say Pete had forgotten me ;-( lol
Generation X with Billy Idol
Generation X we saw & met the the band many times. I once got a personal letter from Billy and he signed it 'Kiss me deadly next time I see you, title of one of his songs which happened to me my favourite track.I lost this whilst working at a warehouse, or it was stolen !
Met the band many times on the road at various locations in the North West once they invited us back to there hotel from the Sheffield 'Top Rank' club. we first went to a nightclub with them then they offered us a room in the hotel.The highlight to meeting Billy Idol (William Broad) was sitting on his lap after a gig at Eric's whilst he stroked my thigh. Some diary events.......
Aug 27th 1977: Generation X (support Big in Japan) The first time we saw Generation X we met the band by accident in a nearby rough old pub, The Grapes. We walked to the toilets and saw the most breathtakingly gorgeous blond guy. In the toilets I said to Vanessa I am sure that is the band outside - when we came out they said “Hey, punk rockers” and we tried to act cool. Billy came to the bar when we stood there and we asked him was he BillyIdol, and spent some time chatting. They invited us back to a 'party' on a few occasions when we met them (we always had to get home early) we always wondered what we missed...
March 9th 1978 Generation X support was Torchy & The Moonbeams, also Dec 16th 1978.
Aug 10th Got an Billy signed autograph from Gen X fan club
One night Billy was at Eric’s with a very attractive girl from Sheffield (I seem to recall her name being Anna) who told me she was touring around with Billy. She told me she had been sleeping with him. I was so envious; she suggested we came back to the hotel with them!
Feb 20th79– Sheffield Gen X – roadie recognized us let us backstage, TonyJames took photos of us, chatted to mark laff. Went to the Limit club afterwards with mark & Tony, Billy was ill, Derwood with a girl. Had buttys and tea at the hotel. Dec 20th 1980 Our last time at Eric’s (now renamed ‘Brady’s’ ) was to see Generation X, this time they had a new line up, gone was Derwood and Mark Laff. I sneaked my camera in my make up bag as cameras weren’t allowed, they searched my bag but of course found nothing. The band were really rocking the house, Billy appeared to of gained a lot of confidence and cockiness onstage. I recorded in my diary what he said on stage whilst waiting for the tuning up “we may as well have a wank while we are waiting” We again went backstage to meet them , it seemed to be harder to get backstage as they were more famous now. TonyJames and JamieStevenson were there with a new drummer whom Tony had introduced me to before the gig. PeteBurns & PeteWylie (now with Wah heat), BetteBright were all there for the gig. I asked Billy for a photo taken with him he asked me to sit on his knee, then when I got off he patted my butt and I said ‘thanks’ and smiled. Little did we know we would never grace this place again?
Rich Kids
We went to one of there first gig's in the North West, I was excited to be seeing the original 'Pistol' they didn't disappoint .We went to see them all over Manchester & Liverpool and went backstage or had a drink with them before the gig. They let us stay over one night when they stayed at The post house hotel in Manchester.Just some of the gig's..................
Nov 8th 1977: Rich Kids gig, support was Big In Japan. Enrico & BetteBright were in the house. I recall being let in early for the band’s sound check. We got chatting to the band, Vanessa 'tapped off' with SteveNew, he told her she was beautiful and gave her his address and telephone number to contact her. Jan 13th Rich Kids at Rafters - Went back to the post house in Manchester, spent a while talking to Midge Ure (see Photos) found out he was 24 ( noted in diary that was old) slept on the sofa bed. Feb 4th 1978Rich kids gig also July 15th 1978 Met the band before and after the gig (photo taken at Eric's with Glenn) Jan 22nd 1979– we rang Steve New his mum said don’t live here any more and I don't know where he lives as he moves around a lot March 15th 1979 - Rich kids split – Glenn touring with Iggy pop, Steve with Patti paladin
My favourite bands of the time were The Clash, Buzzcocks, Generation X and The Rich Kid's. we certainly made ourselves known to them all! These are some highlights of the diary entry's of our connections to the bands.
