aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
‘GIGS FROM YESTERYEAR, WHEN I WAS YOUNG + PRETTY AS A PICTURE’
# 13 The Hotknives & The Quicksteps, AZ Aachen (April 1996)
Right friends, back to business after a joyful month of glorious tunes all chosen by JC – and what fun it was, to be sure!
I’ve always been a great admirer of Ska in all its “waves”, as some people like to style it: be it original Jamaican Ska from the 50’s/60’s, the second wave from around 1980 (The Specials, The Selecter et al), but also the third wave, which, to my understanding came even later.
The Hotknives from Horsham in Susssex came together in 1982, but their first output was a mini album which was recorded live at The Boatman in London in the April of 1988 … which makes them “third wave” for me, not that these details matter anyway.
Thing is, you see, this mini album is so awesome, all eight tracks on it! I am by no means a dancing man, believe me – normally you will only see me on the dancefloor when I’m crossing it on my way to the bar – but what The Hotknives managed to record here is so outstanding, one simply HAS to move his or her feet.
I was so taken aback when I first heard it, I took every chance to a) witness the band live and b) to eagerly wait for a follow-up record. As for b) there was no problem, another live album was issued one year later, an ’89 show from the Hurst Road Youth Club in Horsham. ‘Live & Skankin’ the LP was called and it’s not one iota worse than the debut.
But what made The Hotknives so special? In my eyes the reason was that originally there were eight members: Gary Marshall (vocals/guitar), Mick Clare (vocals), Mick Matthews (sax/vocals), Dave Clifton (guitar), Jim Mills (keyboards), Mick Merritt (bass), Nigel Clements (drums) and Kev Clements (trumpet). And each one was great in his role, as simple as that. Probably though it’s fair to say that Gary Marshall and Mick Clare were the key elements in the band, mainly because most songwriting credits are theirs. But ALL of them were great blokes – and I can tell because (coming back to a)) I did see them quite often, got to know – and drink – with them and even stayed with Gary Marshall and his (then) girlfriend Jan at his home in Brighton for one or two nights.
Well, the original line-up existed until 1993, and it went a bit downhill from then, as these things tend to do. There were four more albums until 2010, but they did not come close to the both mentioned above. One reason, for sure, is that it were all studio albums, another one was that the band more and more diminished itself. Understandably so, I mean the third ska wave was long drained away in the dunes by then. Nevertheless, they are still going and if you have the chance to see them, do so. As far as I know none of the founding members are left, but I’m sure the new lads will play some of the old tunes. And those are nothing less than excellent, especially in the versions recorded live:
• ‘W.L.N.’ (Boatman)
• ‘Don’t Go Away’ (Hurst Road Youth Club)
• ‘Dick Barton’ (Hurst Road Youth Club)
• ‘Turkey Stomp’ (Hurst Road Youth Club)
• ‘Skin Up Harry’ (Boatman)
• ‘Doing Alright’ (Hurst Road Youth Club)
• ‘Driving Me Mad’ (Boatman)
• ‘Holsten Boys’ (Hurst Road Youth Club)
As I mentioned, I have seen them so often, I cannot remember details of the specific gig Little Loser chose. I think it may well have been The Quicksteps‘ first ever gig, they were an Aachen band which included two chums of mine. They, too, are still going, all these years later. Quite impressive, I must admit!
Great times indeed!
Until then, enjoy,
Dirk
I do like a bit of ska but have never heard of Hotknives. Live LPs instead of expensive studio costs – a wise move.
Flimflamfan