November 1980, Where's the Local Rock

It seems I've strayed away from the local scene . I can't tell you why, maybe I was too broke to go out and see it. There's a benefit for WICN with The Scam and Aunt Helen. Who the hell were they?
The Clash release the Black Market 10". Roy Orbison at Berkley. XTC sell The Black Sea. Avoid paying $9.75 to see The Police. And Ronald Reagen was elected President of the USA. That was only the beginning of our problems.

October 1980 , Eat at Ralphs' , Live Forever

It's the first mention of Ralphs. That place turned into my home away from home. So many great shows over the years, and still going strong in 2008. XTC, Psychedelic Furs both played Boston.
Still couldn't get bands like that in Worcester. Nervous Eaters line up change, and The Gremies tell us there's "No Surfin' in Dorchester Bay". And as a bonus there is another issue marked October 1980, but again, don't remember if it ever made it to press. One highlight is The Vejtabils receiving airplay for their song"Ed King", our governor at the time. Anybody got a copy of that? I don't.

September 1980, Twice the Fun

For some reason, there are two issues this month. The Clash sell out! The Blue Moon Band release a new 45, "Hate You,Want You" bw "Wild Weekend" They were one of the first Wormtown bands, and this record was their best ever. Also two new 45's by Willie Alexander. I used to love getting new records. Cd's just don't hold the same excitement as a slab of vinyl. And The English Beat were coming to Boston. They are coming to The Somerville Theater soon , but it's not the same as before. Dave Wakeling, without Rankin Roger. I heard last time they were here it was a good show.

July 1980,Cheap one sided issue

Must have been a slow summer. News of Paperback Booksmith ceasing to sell records, The Bad Habits in the studio, radio news you can use, and The President bringing back the Draft? Who were the "Wormtown Ten"? Boy , they say the first thing to go is the mind........

Corporate Sellout

We interrupt this blog for an important announcement.
Wormtown has sold out!
Narragansett Beer, official sponsor of The Wormtown 30th.

June 1980 a rehash?

Looking at this issue, I'm not sure if the May issue was ever published as this contains some of the same info. Like that senseless murder of the WAAF Giraffe. But it has the Bad Habits, news of a new Willie Loco 45, and news that WCUW will be moving, I assume from Clark U to their home on Main Street. And a plug for my WICN radio show. That was when they were on Faraday St. which is now a vacant lot across from The Courtyard Hotel. They have moved twice since then and also did away with all rock music programing. BASTARDS!

May 1980 , 2nd Anniversary

I had my debut on radio on WICN 90.5fm. And still doing it today. There was wicn, wcuw, wdoa and now wurn. Also in the news, PILs' infamous appearence on American Bandstand. If you have not seen it, check it out here.................... http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/10/pil_on_american.html In other news, The WAAF Giraffe was found hanged in a downtown alley. No other information was available. Oh and we were eagerly awaiting the movie "Rude Boy" featuring, you guessed it, The Clash! What a surprise!

It's April, Fool 1980

This was the month I was suppose to start my radio career, but due to an printing press accident I was out of luck. And on workman's comp all summer long. Recovering. So this issue is especially messy since I could barely write. But the press must go on. J Ivan reviewed PIL in Boston for me, The Bad Habits (later known as The Odds) rocked Clark U. Strawberries Records told me to stop mentioning them here. Look where they are today. And I even got a little political concerning the country of Iran. And look where THEY are today. And The Clash made their national tv debut on abc's Fridays. Was there ever an issue where I did not mention them? Only time will tell.

March 1980,

The Clash fight the Law.
Wormtown Battle of the Bands line up.
The Troggs are coming
The Boomtown Rats sell out.
And our arch enemy WAAF try to host The Ramones, cashing in on the music they never played. I use to call them and request new music, and I was told, "We don't play that crap"

Underground Radio Part 2

February 1980. Interview with Brian Goslow of WCUW
Interview with Boston Rock n Roll Legend Willie Alexander.
The Ramones in Wormtown????
And the first Wormtown Battle of the Bands.
I wonder who will win.

Jan. '80 , It Came From The 80's!

First issue of the new decade. Part one of Underground Radio in Worcester featuring an
interview with Bob Mercer of WICN, he was the one who gave me my shot on the radio.
He's no longer with us.
New music from the UK, The Specials, Undertones ,The Pretenders, and more. New 45 from The 'Hoods, Nervous Eaters sign to a major label.
All on pretty yellow paper.
You'll have to turn your computer upside down to read it all.

Leftovers again ?!?

I was all ready to jump into the 80's and while going through the archives I found these. One is a review of The Clash by Brian Goslow, the other is just a regular cut and paste job. I don't think either was ever published, for whatever reason. It was 29 years ago, and sometimes I don't remember what I did 29 minutes ago.
But thanks Brian, sorry if it never got to press.

It's The End, The End of The 70's

December 1979. The world was wide open. Everything was changing.
Coming down the road were ATMs, CDs, Cable TV, and one innovation that would change the landscape of the music forever, MTV. As much as the world changed through the 1970's, nothing could compare to what was awaiting us in the 80's.

November 79, I Don't Like Mondays

Remember when The Boomtown Rats caused a fuss?
Remember The Boomtown Rats?
Also in this issue, bad local rock.
Bob Mercer of WICN gets a nod,
The Ramones, The Clash, The Jam,
and I review the Telegrams' review of Ultravox.
It's a very sloppy written issue.
Wonder why?

The Great Clark Swindle

So, there I was in line to see The Clash. A light rain was falling, and some poor kid was looking for a ticket. I had an extra one in the car and I went back to get it. When I got back to Atwood Hall, I was told I couldn't enter due to the show being oversold. Seems they panicked that the show would not sellout and moved it from the original location to the smaller Atwood Hall. I proceeded to the ticket window and got my money back for the five tickets I bought. The nice girl at the window felt so bad for me, she gave me her Clash button she was wearing. (It's on the issue)
Me and my friends went and bought some beer, went down to the print shop where I wrote and printed this edition. We drank some more beer, went back to Clark and put them on all the cars parked near the show. As we approached Atwood Hall I saw the doors were wide open and went in and saw the last four songs they played. The Clash wouldn't go onstage until the powers that be let in all the people who were shut out. All I had to do was stand in the rain for 2 hours and I would have been all set.
Instead, this is what you get.

Sept '79 Punk Rock Dream Come True

Yes, it was THE CLASH coming to Worcester to play at Clark U.
What could be better?
Not only were my heros coming to Wormtown,
two students from Clark came in the shop and wanted me to print the posters for it.
This was it. Show of the decade. What could possibly go wrong.
See tomorrows post to find out!

On a related note, I just finished reading
"Redemption Song, the Ballad of Joe Strummer" by Chris Salewicz.
It's an exhaustive biography of the man who led the only band that mattered.
I highly recommend you read it too.

August 1979 The Music Must Change

Celebrating the fact that the mainstream is catching up with the alternative!