I have already reviewed the gig that the DVD shows but the DVD does more than just play the short but great set that was PAUL FOX'S 'living wake gig', you also get the entire nights line up and an extra DVD of interviews with members of all the bands that played that night plus others who were not on the line up like BAD MANNERS BUSTER BLOODVESSEL talking about the RUTS and PAUL FOX, it is an interesting DVD that also has some funny anecdotes, for example: the one about the time the RUTS tied ELVIS COSTELLO'S shoe laces together and set his trousers on fire (couldn't happen to a more deserving fella).
On DVD one the gig was started by JOHN OTWAY who played his 1977 'hit' single, both the 'a' and 'b' side's, after that OTWAY played a brilliantly shambolic version of THE SWEET'S 'ballroom blitz' before running off stage to make way for the next 'act' on stage who was TENPOLE TUDOR. 'tadpole' played a semi acoustic set of his own 'cowpunk' tunes in a set that was as enjoyably shambolic as OTWAY was previously.
Tadpole was followed by TV SMITH who rushed on stage and with the help of the 'all star' PEAFISH HOUSE BAND (featuring ROWLAND RIVRON on drums) blasted away with great versions of 'one chord wonders' and 'Gary Gilmore's eyes' before running off stage again, this rush job confused the compere, one JOHN ROBB. The latest in a long line of talking head TV punk 'scholars' (ahem) but ROBB was only fazed for a short while and he was soon giving it the large one and announcing SPLODGENESSABOUNDS. After SPLODGE (with WURZAL from MOTORHEAD) had run through some of his 'greatest hits' that included the funny 'i fell in love with a female plumber from harlesdon NW10' (oddly enough i used to honestly work with a female plumber from w10 which isn't the same but near, and she used to be in the same class at school as ARI UP from the SLITS, hows that for a brush with fame?!).
Also on the bill was the 'CROSBY STILLS AND NASH' of punk with three stools lined up for TOM ROBINSON, A BLOCKHEAD and another fellow who ive momentarily forgotten -oops!! Who did TRB'S 'up against the wall' among other things (sorry about the bad memory chaps and i cant check the DVD at the moment because someone has borrowed it).
By now it was starting to become obvious that we were only going to get short sets from the bands because of the time limit of 10 fucking 30pm -we must all be home for our beauty sleep after all! But the UK SUBS were on next and as I'm easily pleased by old MIGUEL HARPER i haven't a bad word to say about their short but great set, and the new guitarists 'axe wielding guitar hero' antics were as amusing to watch on a TV screen as on the night its self. then on came the DAMNED, the thing that struck me most about the DAMNED that night was the resemblance between DAVE VANIAN and RICKY GERVAIS, are they both the same man? 'questions in the house' need to be seriously asked about that. After that there was a change of pace as MISTY IN ROOTS came on and played some 'fine fine reggae choons' which made the 'potheads' in the audience brave the bouncers and light up their joints (but not too openly).
Then it was the turn of the RUTS, even from the film it is easy to see how much the crowd was eager for the band, after all it had been almost thirty years since they had played and the prospect of seeing them with HENRY ROLLINS singing was so exciting that you could of scooped up the atmosphere with a spoon and put it on a plate, the venue's roof almost flew up when the band took to the stage and tore into eight or nine of their songs. And despite the grim reaper hanging off PAUL FOX'S arm, it didn't stop the set being brilliant (see review of the gig below).
sadly the whole night seemed to be over really quickly but thankfully someone had the idea to record it because the night was so ... exciting! (and i thought i was too old to get excited!)
On DVD2 were the many interviews with PAUL FOX himself and also many well known faces who all had something amusing or interesting to say. It wasn't as bum licky as you would expect and there wasn't any 'schmaltzy' music in the background as people spoke about memories of the RUTS and PAUL FOX (maybe I've watched too many American documentaries), it would be hard to say too much without just re-telling the tales on the DVD but if you have an interest in the RUTS or punk in the late seventies/early eighties then this will be of interest to you.
this DVD package is the most entertaining and interesting 'punk' DVD set that has come out in a while and is one that is worth getting if that is your sort of thing, it is a good farewell and end to one of the best and most musical bands of the late seventies and shows that the music of the RUTS hasn't dated at all and is just as good and fresh as it was when it was first released.
To get a copy of the DVD you will have to look online, try typing in 'peafish promotions' and you will be on the right track (i got mine at the preview so I'm not certain of the address, sorry)
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