King Sound, 15 July 1972

Excerpted from the unfinished Stooges book project, circa 1993 - on the KING SOUND (I guess was the name of King's Cross Cinema, at least temporarily), 15 July 1972. Nothing really new - Per Nilsen:

Finally giving in to Iggy and the band’s requests for live work, Defries arranged a concert for the band at King Sound, a new venue utilising the old King’s Cross Cinema, on Saturday July 15th 1972. Billed as just Iggy Pop, it was the only concert the band played during their stay in England and it was to be their only show outside America. Defries had flown in a dozen American journalists to see Bowie perform at the Aylesbury Friars earlier in the evening. The journalists would spend a weekend at the Inn On The Park in London and have an opportunity to meet Bowie, Iggy, and Lou Reed. Buses carried the journalists after Bowie’s concert to London to watch Iggy and the Stooges’ comeback concert, starting at midnight.

Iggy lived up to his outrageous reputation, dressing in silver leather trousers, with matching silver hair, black lipstick and made-up eyes. After lurching and prowling over every inch of the stage in the first two numbers, he decided to wander into audience, followed where possible by spotlight. He stopped occasionally to stare deep into people’s eyes, talking about wanting to find something “interesting” and calling the crowd hippies that didn’t inspire him. The concert was attended by a group of noisy skinhead types, who voiced their impatience during one of several breaks due to technical problems, which caused Iggy to respond, “What did you say, you piece of shit,” as he advanced threateningly across the stage. The cat-caller’s memory suddenly failed him as he melted back into the crowd. During another break, when his microphone broke down, Iggy delivered an impromptu version of Frank Sinatra’s “The Shadow Of Your Smile.” After the microphone was fixed, the Stooges commenced another song but halfway through one of the amplifiers broke down, causing a long delay. Later in the show, the leader of the skinhead gang went down to the front of the stage to shout obscenities. This time, Iggy went berserk, leaping across the stage to aim a boot in the guy’s face. Roadies pounced on the guy and bundled him out of a side exit; the rest of the mob shut up completely.

The Stooges’ brief 30-minute set at King’s Cross Cinema was comprised entirely of songs they had rehearsed and recorded in London during June and July, including “I Got A Right,” “Gimme Some Skin,” and “I’m Sick Of You.” According to James, they may also have played “Fresh Rag” and a few others. In attendance at the King’s Cross Cinema were several aspiring musicians, who would go on to become highly influential in the British punk rock movement which exploded a few years later, including Joe Strummer (the Clash), Johnny Rotten (the Sex Pistols), Brian James (the Damned), and Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees). The concert has been called the birth of British punk rock. “That show changed the history of English music, because of who was there,” notes Iggy. “People checked us out and realised we had changed the playing field for what was possible.”

The Stooges drew predominantly positive reviews, although it was obvious that they made the British critics somewhat uneasy. “The total effect was more frightening than all the Alice Coopers and Clockwork Oranges put together, simply because these guys weren’t joking,” said Nick Kent in New Musical Express. Michael Oldfield of Melody Maker felt Iggy and the band were on the verge of the dangerous, “It’s like a flashback 200 years, to the times when the rich paid to go into insane asylums and see madmen go into convulsions.” Mick Rock admitted that he felt “distinctly intimidated” as he photographed the show.

woaw, great, cant believe they played Fresh Rag, we were debating what they played on another thread recently, so thanks for clearing that up Per!

hmmm - seems like they really scared people???
thanks again Per. Interesting, the 'direct' link to British punk rock!

Where did you get your information on the attendees Per? I've heard Lydon was at the gig and Mick Jones but I can't remember hearing about the others.

Info is from various interviews; cannot really recall any longer where specific details came from. I wouldn't have written it unless I felt I had a reliable source of information, though. By the way, compare this gig w. Ungano's Feb 1970 engagement, which seemed to attract the NY people who would go on to form bands. The Stooges' impact cannot be underestimated.

Per

In John Robb's book Punk Rock, which is like a UK version of Please Kill Me, Mick Jones claims to have been at the gig and Nils Stevenson reckoned that he went but disputes Lydon's attendance. I would be very surpised if Joe Strummer was there or Siouxsie but you never know.

I'm pretty sure Lydon was there. Its been mentioned several times and hes a big Stooges and Iggy fan.

G, F#, E wrote:

I'm pretty sure Lydon was there. Its been mentioned several times and hes a big Stooges and Iggy fan.

that's why The Pistols covered 'No Fun'!

Yeap. Lydon mentions "Fun House" several times in his autobiography and says:

"No Fun is a song I love. We made up our version on the spot. I always wanted to do it."

Hi, I used to play bass with Brian James, and he told me he never saw the Stooges live..!!

always wanted a recording of this gig. does anyone know if audio and video recordings exist?

There is a recording of the Lou Reed concert from this period that emerged recently so one would hope that Iggy's was also recorded.

Perhaps someone close to the band recorded it?

never heard of anyone having a recording of this

I think King Sound were the promoters at the Kings Cross Scala Cinema.

Hi, everyone.

Just thought I'd add a couple of minor bits and pieces.

Re the Inn On The Park. Has anyone ever wondered about Iggy's choice of apparel? In the best known photo from the event you've got an extremely pissed off looking Bowie on the right, a smirking Lou Reed on the left, and in the middle a grinning Iggy, pack of Lucky Strikes clenched between his teeth, and an arm round each of them, proudly displaying his ... T.Rex t-shirt. It's well documented that Bowie had a very competitive relationship with Bolan, especially during this period, to the point where Mick Rock is on record somewhere as saying that Bolan was the only person from London that he didn't photograph, because it was understood that if you worked for David you didn't work for Marc. I know that the band were into T.Rex, but Iggy doesn't really strike you as someone so socially inept that he wouldn't see the potential for annoying and/or embarrassing Bowie by wearing it on his big day. Take another look at the picture, body postures/looks on faces, and tell me what you think.

Re the Kings Cross show. It was billed as "Iggy Pop" but with, in very small letters, "ex Iggy & The Stooges" underneath. Bet that was a cheery sight for Ron and Scott. Though DMA already had them on their client list as "Iggy Pop" by '71.

Rotten/Lydon has made reference to seeing this show many times over the years. I seem to remember him describing them as having been pretty bad. Also, as having started and stopped "Sick Of You" over and over again. Per's equipment issues, maybe? I've also seen him hold up Fun House as en example of an album that has "everything". Finally, Rotten wise, if you can find a shot from an early '76 Pistols show, can't remember which one off hand, where he's wearing the granny glasses and a blue drape jacket you'll see that underneath he's got on an Iggy/Stooges t-shirt. His only "product placement" that I'm aware of (other than the odd badge).

Legend was, back in the eighties, that the show was filmed by the BBC for The Old Grey Whistle Test. But for a variety of reasons that seems unlikely, though not impossible. I was once handed a video sale list, funnily enough right outside the Scala itself, that had "Stooges - Scala" or similar on it, but I figured it was a scam, and as many, many years later it still hasn't shown up anywhere else I'm assuming/praying it was.

As for the impact of the Stooges on U.K. punk, it was enormous! Especially, but not solely, the Raw Power album. There are any number of small label 45's from that time by bands who's whole grasp of music seems to be based on the chord changes to "Raw Power" and "Search and Destroy". Some of them are great, nowhere near as good as The Stooges, but pretty damn good for what they are.

Finally. Birchy, if you're still in contact with Brian James can you ask him how he came by James Williamson's shirt ?

Paul

Hah, somehow I'd never noticed the T-Rex shirt before! Don't know if Bowie looks particularly pissed off though, he just looks like Bowie to me!

How amazing would it be if a wonky VHS of the King Sound gig showed up after all these years...

contact details for brian james http://studio284.tripod.com/

Can't argue with that Mark. Grinding his teeth or sucking his cheeks? Only you the viewer can decide. Cheers for the address Dynamite, I may well drop him a line!

i remember the stories about OGWT filming the Scala show, again not seen it on any list.

in 1972 when the stooges were in london ogwt broadcasted the well known ciccinatti 4minutes

Aha, that would make sense. Someone obtains tape of Stooges on OGWT in 1972 -> assumption that the footage came from the gig they played in London at the time.

The rumour was that the BBC had filmed the Kings Cross show, but no footage was ever broadcast, and that the footage had been gathering dust somewhere ever since. Though as I said, it's really very, very unlikely, in the cold light of 2009, that they ever even filmed it in the first place. The wish being father of the thought, is my guess. The Stooges were a band with no record to promote, and no following to speak of in the U.K. Excepting a handful of taste makers and some soon to be Punk Rock stars. Though believe me, even the thought of "Whispering Bob" Harris having to introduce the boys is worth it's weight in gold! This being the same bearded fool whose words of introduction when the Dolls appeared on the OGWT were "And now for a band who are to The Stones what the Monkees were to the Beatles ... a pale and amusing dirivative", finishing off after "Jet Boy" with the immortal words "Mock Rock". What a total w*nker.

Oops, just noticed your post Neven! Is that for certain?, is that a personal recollection, or something you've found a broadcast date for? I'd be fascinated to know.

I'd love to see how the Cincinatti clip was introduced. Although there was a fair bit of crap the OGWT did have some great music on it.

pernil wrote:

In attendance at the King’s Cross Cinema were several aspiring musicians, who would go on to become highly influential in the British punk rock movement which exploded a few years later, including Joe Strummer (the Clash), Johnny Rotten (the Sex Pistols), Brian James (the Damned), and Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees). The concert has been called the birth of British punk rock. “That show changed the history of English music, because of who was there,” notes Iggy. “People checked us out and realised we had changed the playing field for what was possible.”

Sorry Pernil, I believe you're way off balance claiming this gig as the "birth of British Punk Rock". In fact, you're the first person I've ever heard refer to it in that manner.

I don't doubt Mick Jones attended, but he was already a Stooges fan by that point. Same for Brian James and John Lydon - but, take note, Lydon had no interest whatsoever in forming a band prior to the gig or afterwards. He ended up in the Sex Pistols 3 years later simply because he was asked to audition because of the way he looked after being seen in Malcom Mclaren's shop.

Joe Strummer? It's very doubtful he was there. If he was it would have more likely for the Flamin' Groovies who were on the same bill. And if he had seen the Stooges, they didn't seem to have any impact upon him.

In 1972 Strummer (who wouldn't meet Mick Jones for another 3 or 4 years - so if they had both attended this gig one would expect it to have been well recorded in Clash lore, which it isn't) was preparing to move to Wales and change his name to "Woody" in honour of his then-hero Folk musician Woody Guthrie.

And Strummer himself has been quoted many times as saying the gig that blew the scales from his eyes and made him realise "Punk" was the way forward, was the night he first saw the Sex Pistols supporting his own band the 101-er's in a London pub in 1975. As a direct result of which he shortly afterwards left his band and took up an invitation to join The Clash.

And there's zero evidence to suggest the Sex Pistols were in any way influenced by the Stooges Scala gig, even though 3 years later they began to cover No Fun live (and eventually, on record).

Just check the facts. The nucleus of the Pistols formed approximately one year after the Stooges played Kings Cross, and their repetoire for the following couple of years consisted largely of covers, not one of which was a Stooges track. They were mainly playing material by bands such as The Who, Creation, Small Faces and The Faces. If you read up on the history of the band those are the influences, along with (David Bowie and Roxy Music) which tend to get prominent mention by the pre-Lydon members.

I did once read a contemporary interview in which guitarist Steve Jones claimed to have taught himself to play guitar by shutting himself in a room for a week with a handful of amphetamines and a copy of Raw Power, but that makes no sense because his guitar style of the period showed no hint of James Williamson - which it undoubtably would if he'd learnt to play as claimed.

If any direct influence can be heard in the Pistols guitar work it's Johhny Thunders of the New York Dolls. And referring back to an earlier paragraph, if Jones had taught himself to play with a copy of Raw Power, why during that pre-Lydon covers period, did the Pistols not play one track from that album? Odd, don't you think? I'm sure anyone who's been in a band would consider it so. Playing covers of your own choice, but not playing the covers you've currently chosen to learn to play the guitar with?!

One has to take into account the almost Stalinistic unwritten "rules" of Punk demanded that one acted and spoke in the "right" way. That was the paradox of the movement. Just a couple of years ago on his LA radio show Jones admitted that in Punk-era interviews he'd often slag of the band's considered "uncool" by Punks, then go home and Listen to an LP by Boston.

But enough digression!

In closing, I would argue if you wanted to track the history of British Punk back to it's literal "birth", it developed relatively organically after the Sex Pistols had begun to create their own scene - which is where the likes of Joe Strummer, Sixousie Sioux and Brian James took an almost immediately direct inspiration.

When those people saw the Stooges at Kings Cross, they watched a band perform of whom they were fans. When they saw the Sex Pistols, they got off their backsides and formed bands. Therin lies the difference.

The Stooges Kings Cross gig seems to have developed a level of importance in hindsight which doesn't reflect too accurately upon the reality of how the situation was, and no favours are done by perpetuating that myth.