Punk and Disorderly.
The situation was no different in Northern Ireland except that whereas
the Sex Pistols were singing about Anarchy we were experiencing it on a
daily basis. We were lucky. We had a musical and a political revolution
taking place at the same time.
Indeed Derry must have seemed like a grim place to the outsider as images
of street violence and bombings were beamed around the World. As a teenager
it would prove nigh impossible not to affected by this in some way or other.
Even a visit to our local football team was no longer possible as a Saturday
afternoon escape, the team having been banned from the league following
an attack on a rival teams coach. Thankfully they are now back in action
and as football is supposed to be the new Rock and Roll you can find our
more about the team at: Derry
City FC The arrival of punk provided an escape route for many who could for a
few hours on a Friday or Saturday disappear into the dingy recesses of Another venue that deserves special mention is the Orchard Gallery. Run
by the forward thinking Declan mc Gonigal it was made available for various
gigs by bands like the Undertones and the Moondogs and it is with great
thanks to Declan and Willie Doherty that we were invited to gallery openings
and introduced to the world of Modern Art. The fact that free wine was provided
played absolutely no part in the attraction. The most memorable of events
here was the "Come and Feel the Noise" festival held over three days in
July 1979 and ending with an unannounced, (but everyone knew), performance
by the Undertones.
? Declan went on to be a renowned curator of some of the most famous museums
including the ICA in London and the Irish Museum of Modern art. Willie went
on to be a successful artist who in 1994 and again in 2003 was shortlisted for the Turner
Prize. You can read more about him at
the-artists.org
As far as fashion and style were concerned then Paris it certainly was
not. Most wore what they were given or what was handed down. Local gangs
dressed in regulation Crombie, Doctor Martens or Oxford brogues, with matching
tartan and Alsatian. Other than that there were the Bikers, perfectly greasy
with cool bikes they roared and patrolled the City. The Scene musically was dominated by the then unknown outside of Beechwood
Avenue and Broadway: The Undertones belted out original songs mixed with a few classic cover
versions at a frantic pace. The excitement and energy generated was electric.
A real sweat soaked adrenalin buzz.
Derry 1977 was a special time and place. Though 25
years have passed and a lot has changed the fact that you grew up in Northern
Ireland during the seventies still holds a facination for many people. Some
react with a "that must have been awful" others are intrigued and want to
know more, some go "Wow! that must have been interesting". The reality for
most who lived there is I guess a mixture of all these. No matter where we
come from we can all look back on our teenage years and have good, bad and
bittersweet memories. For those born in Northern Ireland some memories are
bleaker but what always shines through is a unique sense of humour, a sense
of living for the moment and a down to earth demeanor.
In
the Seventies as Northern Ireland burned and descended into Anarchy, across
the UK a new musical phenomenon was taking root, soon to explode into the
most important musical and social revolution the UK had experienced since
the sixties - Punk Rock. In every town and city Anarchy and Chaos were the
key words for the unemployed youth. Bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols,
taking their lead from the Ramones and The New York Dolls in New York were
creating musical havoc. Nothing like this had been seen before and "Authority"
was at a loss as to how to cope. As kids took on the "I can do that" attitude
and proceeded to learn three chords on the guitar every town would go on
to produce its own Punk heroes. Some would go on to fame and fortune and
to make dodgy records - Billy Idol - most simply enjoyed fifteen famous
minutes.
Typical street scene in Derry on any given afternoon
in the Seventies.
The Casbah and the 
Rock Club, two local bars that had become synonymous with the city's more
colourful characters. It was in these two bars that the fledgling Punk Scene
found a haven and where new bands were given the chance to play their own
songs to an ever growing audience. The alternatives musicially were the
dancehall scene where top class musicians perfected cover versions of the
latest chart toppers or the bars where local bands like King Rat played
covers of Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynrd and the like. I'm old enough now to
admit to having enjoyed their version of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak.
.JPEG)
For
the local youths the sight of punks was strange but compelling, it was either
kick them or join them. Most wanted to kick them but slowly a steady band
of followers began to appear and as more and more students returned from
the Universities in England with tales of having seen the Buzzcocks or the
Jam the scene became more accessible, (even if the chances of buying a punk
record in Paddy Rices didn't improve). Younger siblings began copying big
brothers and sisters and the sales of Peroxide and dog collars went through
the roof. Copies of Talking Heads 77 and The Ramones LPS were replacing
Status Quo and Thin Lizzy on sixth form turntables, School ties were tied
tighter trousers worn straight not flared and ear rings became the norm.
While
in many other cities across the UK Mods were fighting Rockers and Rockers
were slashing Punks the closeness of the community and the siege like atmosphere
that existed meant that all these groups found a way to coexist in The Casbah
and The Rock Club along with of course the Hippies, Moonies, Lefties, Prossies,
and others who defy description. Why? because this was not some manufactured
scene this was real escapism from the daily violence and from "normality".
A normality that was peculiar to those living there.
Following
close on the heels of the Undertones were 
who provided a healthy support for the Undertones on many occasions indeed
sometimes blowing them off the stage. If you have never heard "She's Nineteen"
go and find a copy. A punk pop classic!. Both The Undertones and the Moondogs
enjoyed success outside Derry but let's not forget the contribution to the
local scene made by Dick Tracey and the Green Disaster, Idle Threats, The
Sect, Grafitti and The Corner Boys.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE BOOTBOYS
GONE?
