I got some bits of issues 1-4 (from Dirk Michiels Punk Etc) of what was probably the first punk zine in Belgium. Bobel Simplex editor Stéphane Maes (who also donated #3-5) informed me Zip Vinyls was done by P. Sarfatee (Patrick Sarfati), ‘Krom’ Patrick Van Crombrugge (pseudonym ‘Morny Grave’?) & ‘Klaus Milian’ Etienne Verwilghen [later Romantik recs]), in 1977. The www mentions the zine (from Brussels) was written by Mark Loge and P. Sarfatee, both “based in London” (?)…
The five pages of #1 (Feb ’77) reviews the ‘Ramones’ Leave Home album and more vinyl, gives info on Joe Strummer, reports on live shows (e.g. ‘Chainsaw‘). #2 (Mar ’77) features ‘The Adverts’, ‘Iggy Pop’ & ‘Eater’; there’s reports on a couple of London punk shows and vinyl-reviews. #3 (Apr ’77) has a cover that exemplifies the editor’s love for ‘The Clash’; there’s bits of an interview with Klaus & Jerry of ‘X-Pulsion’ (or does that come from another zine?) and a feature on ‘The Jam’. #4 (May ’77) contains a talk with ‘Brian James’ and ‘Dave Vanian’ (‘The Damned’), lots of reviews and an item about ‘The Saints’ vs ‘ Eddie & The Hot Rods’. #5 (Aug ’77) was finished with P. Sarfatee and starts of with a column on “the new era” of punk (demise of the ‘Sex Pistols’). There’s also an interview with ‘Television’ and a lengthy piece on ‘Yank versus Brit’ punk.
Brob
I’ve been living near Beer-Sheva in Israel since 20 years…
The editors…? ‘Morny Grave’ was a very active writer and lover of London gigs (mid-1976), he lived in Schaarbeek (avenue du Diamant) with Nénène. I haven’t seen him in years. Mark Loge is a radiologist (no joke!) nowadays.
You can see Patrick Van Crombrugghe a.k.a. Morny Grave, among others, in a video presenting a very interesting documentary [Gisteren Zullen We De Pogo Dansen; 1978] in Klaus Milian’s recordshop on Rue Van Artevelde in Brussels, where there was a 4-metre high poster of Johnny Rotten…
When Californians started to produce, let’s say, nervous music, I wondered how a bunch of tanned people could have committed this kind of reaction in 1977. After the first album by ‘The Clash’ (and other bands from that time), I mainly listened to reggae (which I still do today), not electronic music [like many Brussels ex-punks] or hardcore punk!
Mick Jones, guitarist of ‘The Clash’ most certainly has a copy of the fanzine (as wel as many others). It’s probably in Mick Jones’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Public Library…
Patrick Sarfati
‘Brian James’ and ‘Dave Vanian’ of ‘The Damned’ were interviewed in London…
[Translation below]
Brian ‘James’ [Brian Robertson; guitar] and Dave ‘Vanian’ [David Lett; vocals] wellcomed us in their room, ready for an interview. ‘Rat Scabies’ [Chris(topher) Millar; drums] isn’t there (We’ll see him later.); ‘Captain Sensible’ [Ray(mond) Burns; bass] still has to return from Amsterdam with the equipment. Dave is all in black, as usual, very calm, almost arrogant. Brian is the one who will answer our questions most often, ‘Vanian’ approving what he says. By the way, rather than a real interview it’ll be a discussion, We find the questions to be the usual ones, too trivial, Everybody knows the facts and gestures of ‘The Damned’, their debut…
How was the Anarchy In The UK Tour for you guys?
Brian: Very bad and very short. You know, Malcolm McLaren (‘Sex Pistols’ manager) is a jerk. Initialy this tour included the ‘Pistols’ and the ‘Ramones’. Malcolm asked us to participate too and we accepted. (Subsequently, ‘The Heartbreakers’ and ‘The Clash’ were also scheduled.) Then, before the first tour-date, there was this TV-show with Bill Grundy – You know about that? – so, after that scandal, the ‘Pistols’ made it to the frontapges of every newspaper, a lot of publicity… And then McLaren didn’t need us anymore and kicked us out. We played with them just one time. The tour didn’t last very long anyway. The ‘Pistols’ are great you know, but their manager is a real jerk. I believe that al London managers are more or less jerks, too much business. They don’t like other bands than their own, while us musicians, we do like other bands. Look at Paris: we played with ‘The Clash’, in a small club, late at night; it was good.
What d’you think of U.S. bands now that you just completed a tour there?
Brian: The scene in the States is very different than in the U.K., it’s much more underground. Talking about ‘Blondie’: I find Deborah [Debbie Harry] very good but the band is not up to it. As for ‘Television’: on stage they’re boring, yet I love the LP. They played Satisfaction [‘Rolling Stones’ song] and Bob Dylan stuff; horrible! The ‘Dead Boys’ are nice though. Big fun, they’re are already more like English bands. As a matter of fact, the reactions of the audience there, as in France, have been very good. In Paradiso (Amsterdam) aswell; although it was full of hippies. You know, in England we encountered a lot of violence at our concerts, especially in universities. We got glasses, beercrates etc. thrown at us… Especially in the beginning, it was terrible; we don’t like that.
How do you think new-wave will develop?
Brian: Towards more fun, I believe. We are a fun band you know. We don’t care about politics. Other bands do what they want, like ‘The Clash’ who try to change the world by being political. We just want to make music. The new-wave of ‘77 is a little like the mid-sixties, when ‘The [Rolling] Stones’ wanted to change the music.
You are the new ‘Stones’?
Brian: We are ‘The Damned’.
What d’you think of ‘The Stones’, ‘The Kinks’?
Brian: They don’t do anything nowadays, they’re relying on their reputation. I love the early ‘Kinks’.
How’s the atmosphere at Stiff [record-label]?
Brian: Siff Records is a small company, there’s a lot of work. It’s also very different than E.M.I. or any other major label. We do what we want, the people in charge too. If you want to go for a drink, you go. It’s very nice…
Your projects?
Brian: A single soon: Stretcher Case Baby, which we’ll play tonight; and on the B-side: Picking Spot. And within two months an LP.
After this interview, ‘Rat Scabies’ and ‘Captain Sensible’ joined us. They threw themselves on the copies of our zine we’d brought – an example of their flair.
(Below: ‘Billy Idol’ as seen by ‘Captain Sensible’.) We kept talking and ‘Rat Scabies’ came back to review some singles for us.
The ‘Sex Pistol’s God Save The Queen (Virgin?): it’s the first time I hear it. I like the ‘Pistols’; it’s a good single.