In this very last issue of music fanzine, Cranked Up, main man Jock Ferguson reaches the end of his tether and he puts the boot into those he sees as the major factor to blame for the lack of enthusiasm towards the alternative music scene in Dundee. He blasts out at the likes of Radio Tay, big brewers, DC Thomson, the Council and Dundonians in general, and as the cover depicts, renders them all brain dead!!Even contributors to the mag don't escape his wrath as Scrotum Poles, Craig Methven, who wrote for Cranked Up under the name Fabian Bell, also gets on Jocks hit list!
It's not only Jock having a work-out at the punch bag, another Scrotum Poles member who contributed to C.U, Sid Gripple, has a pop at Billy Mackenzie for being "pretentious" and "nauseous"!!
But once the backlash has settled, here's what we find inside.
Bands who get a mention are - SYNTHETIC DREAMS - THE BLUSH - THE GRIP - PARADES - THE JUNKIES - AAGA - HEY ELASTICA - LITTLE WOLVES.
Places that are mentioned are - I&N - ROCKPILE - BRUCE'S - TAYSIDE BAR - OUTPOST - WINDMILL BAR - THE UNIVERSITY.
A candid little snapshot of life in Dundee '82.
Why specifically did he have a go at the people and organizations you mentioned? I was only a 6 year old Dundonian at the time, so I hope I wasn't included... Hopefully you can let us in on the secret, or is it still a touchy subject 27 years on?
ReplyDeleteI remember buying one or two (mainly football-related) fanzines just before websites took over, but sadly this one was a bit before my time.
He says 99% of Dundonians were at fault for "accepting trash continually served up as entertainment".
ReplyDeleteYou'd be in the 1% who were spared !!
Radio Tay, he said was "aimed at the housewife".
Big brewers "financed social clubs that spawned bingo goers"
The Council were full of "fat forty year olds" and basically DC Thomson were none the wiser!.
He he he... I think most of this still stands 27 years later! Cranked Up was a great fanzine and at a time when Dundee had a REAL indie music scene. The much touted live music scene in Dundee the past few years (brought on by The View etc) doesnt come close, unless, of course, your idea of good music scene is a dozen bands all trying to look and sound like Liam / Oasis...
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you, Anon - at one time, "indie" stood for "independent", both in terms of being independent from the major record companies, and in style - hence, many different, unusual and erstwhile unknown styles of music fell under the "indie" banner.
ReplyDeleteThese days, by a twist of fate and through lazy journalism, "indie" is basically a pseudonym for "dull as dishwasher music with guitars by lads who never smile".
Ach, sometimes its good to leave with a bit of dignity.
ReplyDeleteCraig
got to agree on the "indie"tag comment, years ago the bands did everything themselves without the mass media coverage they get today, the record companies now will throw money at young bands if they think they will get a good return, its good buisness but has no soul!
ReplyDeleteThere was a brilliant wee punk band called The Noise that used to play the Tayside Bar, think they were fae Fife if I remember rightly, also there were many punk nights down there from 78 onwards. Brian the owner must have had the constitution of a saint with all the leather jacketed, spiky haired lads maybe buying a pint between them. Great memories, great website
ReplyDeleteThe Noise were in fact from Newport. The line up consisted of Sid, Vince and Spex if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteI drew that cover. I drew the back cover too, it was a skull with a "lipsmakin'thirstjumpin'acelookin'good, walkin'high etc" piss take on Dundee. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought it was funny. If you can't laugh at yourself!
I remember people in Rockpile pissing themselves laughing at it, too, although some found it offensive. They still bought it though!
Brian