Sub Pop
Sorry this is one is just for me. Reminiscing recently about the American alternative scene of the late 80s and early 90s. If you ask most people whether they were into a scene from a particular era, the reply is often that it just passed them by. I missed punk by about 2 minutes unfortunately. Metal was ok for 5 weeks then I left school. Thrash was good in places but I really goofed up on the metal speed solos. 80s Goth [Mary Chain, Cult, Sisters etc] was pretty but my hair was too mullet to be really ‘in’ with that scene. Fortunately the American alt punk metal indie hybrid scene kicked off and gave me something to really cream about.
John Peel personally introduced me to the Pixies and Sonic Youth [in ‘88 I think] and then a mate of mine discovered Dinosaur Jr & Mudhoney in early ‘89. The rest is history [300+ records later]. I think some of it still sounds great today although you would be forgiven for thinking that the scene didn’t exist before Nevermind if you listened to the musoes. Believe it or not I first got some Nirvana stuff in late ’89 [Blew 12” and the Bleach album] and hated it. I kept hold of them as they were purchased in the month they were released, October 89. This was a full two years before Nevermind and I still have the original receipts. Lucky me! But don’t mention the Bleach green vinyl, which I bought for £3 and then gave away to Jo Menendez because I wanted to get in her knickers. Well I didn’t but she ended up with an album worth over £200 nowadays. Might give her a call. I want my £200 shag Jo. I’ve never had one of them before.
Fave Songs [probably missed a few!]:
1. Hate the Police [Mudhoney covering the Dicks]
2. Halloween [Mudhoney covering Sonic Youth]
3. Revolution [Mudhoney covering Spacemen 3]
4. Into the Groove [Sonic Youth covering Madge]
5. Major Label Chicken Feed [Sonic Youth demo via John Peel]
6. Beauty Lies in the Eye [Sonic Youth]
7. Bulbs of Passion [early Dinosaur Jr 7” from ‘85]
8. Chunks [Dinosaur Jr]
9. Hate Your Friends [Lemonheads, doin’ punk]
10. Arizona Garbage Truck [Steel Pole Bath Tub]
11. Shit for Brains [Bastards]
12. Pittsburg to Lebanon [Butthole Surfers]
13. Cherub [Butthole Surfers]
14. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter [Nirvana]
15. Aneurysm [Nirvana]
16. Sex God Missy [Tad]
17. Shove [L7]
18. Vomit Heart [Babes in Toyland]
19. Tame [Pixies]
20. Gouge Away [Pixies]
Fave Gigs [definitely missed a few!]:
1. Dinosaur Jr & Lunachicks [London ULU, May ‘89]
2. Faith No More, Pixies & Mudhoney [Reading Festival, Aug ’90]
3. Janes Addiction & Primus [Bristol Studio, March ‘91] [Best ever!]
4. Mudhoney & Hole [Bristol Bierkeller, Aug ‘91]
5. Nirvana & some weird Jap girl band [Manchester Academy, Dec ‘91]
6. Dinosaur Jr, Jesus and Mary Chain & My Bloody Valentine [Plymouth Pavilions, May 92?]
7. Dinosaur Jr, Lemonheads, The Breeders & Rage Against the Machine [Reading Festival, Aug ‘93]
Retro Wish List:
Wish I had bothered to see Mudhoney and Nirvana in ’89. I had a lift and I turned it down. My mum always said I was a twat!
John Peel personally introduced me to the Pixies and Sonic Youth [in ‘88 I think] and then a mate of mine discovered Dinosaur Jr & Mudhoney in early ‘89. The rest is history [300+ records later]. I think some of it still sounds great today although you would be forgiven for thinking that the scene didn’t exist before Nevermind if you listened to the musoes. Believe it or not I first got some Nirvana stuff in late ’89 [Blew 12” and the Bleach album] and hated it. I kept hold of them as they were purchased in the month they were released, October 89. This was a full two years before Nevermind and I still have the original receipts. Lucky me! But don’t mention the Bleach green vinyl, which I bought for £3 and then gave away to Jo Menendez because I wanted to get in her knickers. Well I didn’t but she ended up with an album worth over £200 nowadays. Might give her a call. I want my £200 shag Jo. I’ve never had one of them before.
Fave Songs [probably missed a few!]:
1. Hate the Police [Mudhoney covering the Dicks]
2. Halloween [Mudhoney covering Sonic Youth]
3. Revolution [Mudhoney covering Spacemen 3]
4. Into the Groove [Sonic Youth covering Madge]
5. Major Label Chicken Feed [Sonic Youth demo via John Peel]
6. Beauty Lies in the Eye [Sonic Youth]
7. Bulbs of Passion [early Dinosaur Jr 7” from ‘85]
8. Chunks [Dinosaur Jr]
9. Hate Your Friends [Lemonheads, doin’ punk]
10. Arizona Garbage Truck [Steel Pole Bath Tub]
11. Shit for Brains [Bastards]
12. Pittsburg to Lebanon [Butthole Surfers]
13. Cherub [Butthole Surfers]
14. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter [Nirvana]
15. Aneurysm [Nirvana]
16. Sex God Missy [Tad]
17. Shove [L7]
18. Vomit Heart [Babes in Toyland]
19. Tame [Pixies]
20. Gouge Away [Pixies]
Fave Gigs [definitely missed a few!]:
1. Dinosaur Jr & Lunachicks [London ULU, May ‘89]
2. Faith No More, Pixies & Mudhoney [Reading Festival, Aug ’90]
3. Janes Addiction & Primus [Bristol Studio, March ‘91] [Best ever!]
4. Mudhoney & Hole [Bristol Bierkeller, Aug ‘91]
5. Nirvana & some weird Jap girl band [Manchester Academy, Dec ‘91]
6. Dinosaur Jr, Jesus and Mary Chain & My Bloody Valentine [Plymouth Pavilions, May 92?]
7. Dinosaur Jr, Lemonheads, The Breeders & Rage Against the Machine [Reading Festival, Aug ‘93]
Retro Wish List:
Wish I had bothered to see Mudhoney and Nirvana in ’89. I had a lift and I turned it down. My mum always said I was a twat!