November Deadbeats - 1982 - 1985 - Fanzines, tapes and singles as the clocks go back

So many bands, so many years, tears and putting back the clocks! In OCtober when the clocks go back it should help us get out of bed easier, but for me it was just an excuse to have another 3 pints, roll another joint or find the pernod I'd hidden from the flatmates on my return from France. Jim, Si and I famously went to Paris and the year earlier I'd been lucky enough to go backstage to see the Clash after we'd met the road manager aloft the Eiffel Tower. A few fun size mars bars later he got us backstage passes for a sold out gig I thought we had no chance of getting into. Backstage the buffet was temendous. There were only 8 of us and as 4 of them were the band and they looked fucked after a 2 hour set, I ate my fill and left. Later, when Stu the roadie would tell us it was all sex'n'drugs'n sausage rolls after Aztec Camera at the Dundee Dance Factory, I got to embellish the story. My mum always said, never let the truth get in the way of a good story. So 13 November 1982, issue #5. Roddy and Campbell on the cover. Interview with Roddy inside. It was one of those nights you never forget. A great gig with my favourite single at the time, "Pillar to Post" ringing in my ears. "We could send letters" dripping off the end of every sentence as my pinkie tried to reach those chords. I never could play guitar. I could play the bit that created that sense of anticipation. Somehow, those 6 or 7 bits of strumming just before the chorus. Yep, my guitar prowess almost lasted 4 seconds. Our interview lasted nearer 40 minutes. Roddy was very generous with us. Let us talk nonsense and forget that we were supposed to listen to his answers and not interrupt. Worse still was when you felt you were advising George Best on how to dribble. Luckily no offence was taken and we said our thank yous and nashed off. It was our first interview and how lucky were we. November 1983 and it was Kirk Brandon on the cover of #19. The Invitation & Alarm were also interviewed and the brilliant Rutkowski sisters, Sunset Gun were reviewed.

The Bluebells and Hey! Elastica were playing the Queens Hall for a Radio 1 gig on October 22nd, Friends Again were releasing "State of Art" and one year down the line Roddy had moved to WEA who were about to re-release "Oblivious". It was action packed was #19, a five week issue from Oct 18-Nov 22 there are clear signs that the Deadbeat tape release was a tad time consuming. #19F was a free sheet. Had to advertise the Deadbeat tape.

#20 would be dated Nov 22 - Dec 20 while #21 just described itself as Dec-Jan 84. We need a rest and none was coming. The tape did well. We took it to A & R guys who were less receptive but I still love it. The Stawberry Tarts songs are epic and the missing link between Sparks and Franz Ferdinand is right there. Its the second track. Its superb and I listen to it at least once a week. "Walking in a straight line". Proper, aggressive, electric pop. Played with painted faces and feather boas to make TREX weep!

#28 had Twisted Nerve on the cover. Never understood why to be fair. I think I was so blasted that we hadn't put an issue out for a while and the guys gave me a picture I thought would print ok. it was November 1984. Caig had that great Robet Pant story from the service station. The one with the £50 note and the long queue. Ionic that old BIG LOG Robert should have a picket line form in a service station.

It was a strange time for me. I was still arguing with St Andrews Uni over whether I had a degree. It was a shabby dialogue with the Geology department over my pass in the first year exam, I'd done for the 4th time. I chose Geology because it was easy. Apparently if you went to lectures or field trips it was. Simon had proved it by passing 1st and 2nd year. My problems were that field trips coincided with Dance Factory days and so I never went on any. I also rarely attended lectures as it wasn't really my thing. When I finally got confirmation I'd passed it came with the barbed comment that I'd put my additional paper inside the back cover of my first paper, not the front cover. I decided that only in Geology would that be the triassic not the jurassic part of my answer paper. They liked to layer it on thick.

Back to the issue, #28, and I just noticed the back page was dedicated to the FRONT. A new venture, but without a location. The miners strike is really biting and TEST Dept get a mention. Also EMF offer to do some creative work, presumably for bands as it does mention covers. I need to read this afain I've no idea what was happening in 1984. Did I stay at your house? Please let me know! Deadbeat Tape 2 is advetsied as is a compilation album THE STAND. featuring All the CATS, Neon Barbs, Carole Jenner and Radio Cairo it gets a review. GETTING THE FEAR are interviewed as well as the Twisted Nerve. Roddy gets the usual mention, it is November after all. 1985 would come along a year later. Now I really dont know whats happening!! Its the last issue of Deadbeat, I just didn't know. Each day would go by and we'd print a couple of pages. It was a lot of analysis paralaysis. One to finish later! I need to read these issues if I'm going to have a chance to remember......ok where's the light switch....