I'm not afraid to say that I think Band Aid was diabolical. Or to say that I think Bob Geldof is a nauseating character.
Morrissey, 1985
Despite strong, sinewy songs, like their masterstroke, "Elephant's Graveyard", the Rats commercial fortunes nosedived in the early 80's. It took an unforeseeable turn of events to brand Bob Geldof onto the world's consciousness.
That era-defining change was of course the combination of the 1984 Band-Aid single "Do They Know it's Christmas" and the follow-up Live Aid concerts to raise money for Ethiopan famine. Critics, from Moz (see above) to Chumbawamba to that guy you knew who said that the famine was just population re-adjustment, often zeroed in on "Saint Bob" and his"punk diplomacy". But say what you will about the the man, if punk rock really was supposed to change the world, he's the person with the best claim to have done so. And plus the tunes always rocked.
Live at the Hammersmith 1982 link is in the comments
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DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A LITTLE COMMENT BEHIND.
http://www.mediafire.com/?3wtoonmv0ry
Thanks for all the live Rats... they were one of my favorite bands in the early 80's and I'm enjoying the nostalgia of hearing these songs done live.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the entire band in a episode of SCTV. There was a skit in a classroom where they where students. Looked like a takeoff of The Concrete Jungle. Me thinks they also did the segment "The Fishing Musician" with John Candy. Miss the Rats!
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*Thanks for the show too!!!
Thanks for all the Rats shows. Been looking for the Hammersmith Show for some time (played my "taped off the radio" cassette until it broke). Awesome to find it. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Geldof's work with the Rats and the charity work should be seen as separate things, but without the success from one you wouldn't of had the later.
ReplyDeleteThe last album the Rats made "In The Long Grass" was full of brilliant pop songs but was left in the shade by Live Aid a real shame as there were some great tracks on it like "Drag Me Down", "Dave" and "A Hold Of Me".
As for that Morrissey quote it wouldn't be the first stupid thing he's said for effect now would it.
Marky, In the US "Dave" was released and resung as "Rain". "Rattrap" was changed in the US also. The line "...and puss and slime ooze from the scab crusted sores" was instead garbled.
ReplyDeleteReally.
Brian
California
Brian,
ReplyDeleteYeah I was aware of both those facts and the same line was also removed here in the UK. Although the line isn't garbled just difficult to hear as sung by Geldof "an' death n' tears pour down the drains n' the sewers".
The only thing I haven't seen mentioned here is where the band got their name which considering Jeff's love of Guthrie, Dylan, Bragg etc is suprising. Guthrie's autobiography "Bound For Glory" is the answer. So much better than "The Nightlife Thugs" although that's even better than the earlier suggestion of "Mark Skid & The Y Fronts".
Brian,
ReplyDeleteBy the way it's ...and puss and GRIME ooze from the scab crusted sores" and not SLIME, cheers.
Big thanks
ReplyDeleteThe first time I ever heard of the Rats was on the old SNL ripoff show on ABC called Fridays, and the next day, I was at our local record store grabbing my first copy (I think I have owned 2 LPS, 1 cassette and 2 CDs of it overall) of The Fine Art of Surfacing. Thanks for putting up the live stuff. Not enough Rats available anymore.
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ReplyDeleteYeah Friday's openness to "New Wave bands (Devo, Rats, Clash etc) influenced my taste more than any other TV show.
Saw the Rats live twice back in the day, great live band.
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