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This is a collection of songs that was part of our fast evolving world at a time of great social change and musical revolution. The songs also have a deep connection with the Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline, which was both a live venue and a more traditional Disco. On a Thursday night they allowed us young punks to play our new music after listening to old hippies playing sad variations of Stairway to Heaven. On a Friday and Saturday the Ballroom attracted every gang in Fife and beyond and was the scene of many badly dressed men fighting over who had the best moustache. It was also the place where Skids supported The Clash and heard them play Complete Control. We went onto have many memorable nights headlining the Kinema to sold out crowds of young fans who had seen Punk as a way out of the macho gang land stupidity. There will be a few raised eyebrows at our choice of songs such as Rock On and Back in the New York Groove. But they were part of our rites of passage in this amazing venue. Rock On was the theme song for the notorious local gang The AV Toi. When you heard them sing the chorus you knew it was time to run. NY Groove was a song we covered punk style as foot-stomping camp glam. It was hilarious live. I remember hearing The Light Pours Out of Me by the band Magazine being played in the Kinema for the first time. The incredible guitar playing of John Mcgeoch was a game changer as far as the new wave of music was concerned. He was to become a great friend and we eventually started a band together, The Armoury Show. Gaye Advert was my first love. I saw her playing bass with The Adverts and was smitten. She told me I was too young and to come back when I was bit older. I think I got there, older I mean. John Foxx of Ultravox was cool, handsome and wrote poetry rather than lyrics. He made it Ok for the rest of us to be a bit Arty. Young Savage was a massive hit in the Kinema. Submission has always been one of my favourite Sex Pistols song. I saw them with Sid on Bass and to this day I have retained my friendship with Paul and Steve. John is a talented tosser Mott the Hoople are a bit of a guilty pleasure. lan Hunter was cool but the band looked like total twats. None the less, Violence is a gangland classic much loved by the Tiny Sally and The Young Cowdenbeath Boys as well as Bill Simpson and the Young Lochgelly Mental - some of the most violent gangs in Scotland. They found their natural home in the Kinema Ballroom. Scary. Nick Lowes, Heart of The City, was an early purchase and my feelings for this song have never changed. It's a full blown attack on the senses that made the transition from pub rock to punk with ease. It was always the first track we played when we took over the Kinema on a Thursday night - after we had kicked the smelly old Zep fans out. The Skids played 35mm Dreams by Garland Jeffreys as an encore on the night we headlined The Kinema Ballroom for the first time. Nobody had ever heard of him but it didn't matter the whole audience gobbed on me anyway. Yes, as they say, those were the days. Both Into the Valley and The Saints are coming made their debuts at the Kinema and were regarded as instant classics. We thought they should be in there with the rest as The Kinema was their natural home. I've loved working on this album with Bruce who was bit younger but still part of the scene. It also reminded me of those early cathartic days, and of course where I came from. The place that made me what I am. I would like to dedicate the album to all of the Punks and Ghosts from the days of The Kinema who like me had their life transformed through a love of music. |
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CLEOPATRA SKIDS Songs from a Haunted Ballroom CLO 2286 YOUNG SAVAGE Produced by Bruce Watson and Liam Saunders Richard Jobson, Vocals Additional musicians Scott Whitley, Bass Hamish Ward, Studio Assistant Artwork: @workspacedunfermline © Ⓟ 2021 CLEOPATRA RECORDS, INC. 1. YOUNG SAVAGE (Dennis Leigh / Steven Shears / William Currie)
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CLEOPATRA SKIDS Songs from a Haunted Ballroom CLO 2286 SIDE B Produced by Bruce Watson and Liam Saunders Richard Jobson, Vocals Additional musicians Scott Whitley, Bass Hamish Ward, Studio Assistant Artwork: @workspacedunfermline © Ⓟ 2021 CLEOPATRA RECORDS, INC. ● 11041 SANTA MONICA BLVD #703, LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 ● WWW.CLEOPATRARECORDS.COM SKIDS 1. YOUNG SAVAGE (Dennis Leigh / Steven Shears / William Currie) SIDE A 33 1/3 RPM 4. HEART OF THE CITY (Nick Lowe) BMG PLATINUM SONGS ---------------- SKIDS 1. ROCK ON (David Essex) MUSIC OF STAGE THREE SIDE B 33 1/3 RPM 4. NEW YORK GROOVE (Russ Ballard) BMG GOLD BONUS TRACKS: © Ⓟ 2021 Cleopatra Records, Inc. All rights of the producer and owner of the work reproduced reserved. |
