Heartland

jonlangford.de wrote:Three Johns (very short) biography

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From "Post Punk Diary, 1980-1982" by G. Gimarc:

February 5, 1982 Friday:
Sisters of Mercy are seen playing live by X. Moore, who writes up a description of the goth band for the readers of NME. "This is York. City of red skins and blue collar rockers. This is a gig to be part of. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds. We wait for the little terror at the University. He looks about seven and the singer looks great. The bassist smells like he's just come from the 3 Johns. Spot the Mekon! Spiggy sings sommat about '69. Northerner takes detour through Detroit. This the MC5 of what? The Sisters go funky, Spigg hangs on like an unwanted junkie - some f**king nun! The music is all broken guitar strings and cracked voices. Pop! This is rock and roll insecticide. Skinny rent boys play scratchy guitar. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy slap and slam, the audience clap and cram the dancefloor. The Sisters whip out the single ("Body Electric"), flash both sides ("Adrenochrome") and the dancers call for more poison."

May 25, 1982 Tuesday:
The Three Johns make their vinyl debut with the single "English White Boy Engineer" and "Secret Agent" on the CNT Records label from Leeds. The 'a' side is a song that guitarist Jon Langford wrote while he was with the Mekons last year, a track that he has played solo for a John Peel session that aired several times since the Mekons recorded it in January of '81. The two other "Johns" are vocalist John Hyatt, a former member of Sheeny and the Goys and bassist John Brennan was in 25 Rifles. Even Jon Langford has another past experience besides the Mekons. For the wink of an eye, he was a member of the Sisters of Mercy.

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jonlangford.de wrote:Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds.

markfiend wrote:

jonlangford.de wrote:Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds.

I assume this means Ben. Was he really still at school?

Or is it a joke?

mh wrote:Aye, young Gunn Minor may have been a terror for skipping double Chemistry, which as we all know would be a cardinal sin in the Sisters.

Joking aside, I believe he was 17 (or maybe even 16) when he joined.

Planet Dave wrote:Nice review. You don't read that sort of thing much these days do ya?

You tend to get this....

http://eatyourgreens.org.uk/archives/20 ... _nine.html

but also

(apologies if this has already been posted).

ormfdmrush wrote:

markfiend wrote:

jonlangford.de wrote:Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds.

I assume this means Ben. Was he really still at school?

Or is it a joke?

Christo?

Quiff Boy wrote: February 5, 1982 Friday:
Sisters of Mercy are seen playing live by X. Moore, who writes up a description of the goth band for the readers of NME. "This is York. City of red skins and blue collar rockers. This is a gig to be part of. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds. We wait for the little terror at the University. He looks about seven and the singer looks great. The bassist smells like he's just come from the 3 Johns. Spot the Mekon! Spiggy sings sommat about '69. Northerner takes detour through Detroit. This the MC5 of what? The Sisters go funky, Spigg hangs on like an unwanted junkie - some f**king nun! The music is all broken guitar strings and cracked voices. Pop! This is rock and roll insecticide. Skinny rent boys play scratchy guitar. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy slap and slam, the audience clap and cram the dancefloor. The Sisters whip out the single ("Body Electric"), flash both sides ("Adrenochrome") and the dancers call for more poison."

Hom_Corleone wrote:

Quiff Boy wrote: February 5, 1982 Friday:
Sisters of Mercy are seen playing live by X. Moore, who writes up a description of the goth band for the readers of NME. "This is York. City of red skins and blue collar rockers. This is a gig to be part of. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy's rhythm guitarist is in detention at school in Leeds. We wait for the little terror at the University. He looks about seven and the singer looks great. The bassist smells like he's just come from the 3 Johns. Spot the Mekon! Spiggy sings sommat about '69. Northerner takes detour through Detroit. This the MC5 of what? The Sisters go funky, Spigg hangs on like an unwanted junkie - some f**king nun! The music is all broken guitar strings and cracked voices. Pop! This is rock and roll insecticide. Skinny rent boys play scratchy guitar. Nice one. Sisters of Mercy slap and slam, the audience clap and cram the dancefloor. The Sisters whip out the single ("Body Electric"), flash both sides ("Adrenochrome") and the dancers call for more poison."

God - I can remember that word for word from back in the day when I used read and re-read all the cuttings. Originally printed in Sounds I think Them were the days.

Ozpat wrote:

ormfdmrush wrote:

markfiend wrote: I assume this means Ben. Was he really still at school?

Or is it a joke?

Christo?

In 1982...

mh wrote:Out of interest, do any photos of the Langford-era Sisters exist?

bismarck wrote:

mh wrote:Out of interest, do any photos of the Langford-era Sisters exist?

Yep, there's one printed in 'Romance + Assassination' - a US fanzine from 1985. But its a photo from a UK paper. Just can't quite remember which one or what date. John Langford and Eldritch wearing a bullet belt. 'tis a cool pic. Will post if I can find.

Joy wrote:The original article (NME 20/02/1982) is somewhat longer...