Vive Le Rock CD Review

First posted on March 12th 2012

Trash – This Is Complete Trash! (8/10) Spasms – Return of the Spud Gun Kids (7/10)

Only Fit For The Bin Records

A fan of obscure late 70s lost punk rock oddities? Two previously unacknowledged discoveries here via Bin Liner Records, each accompanied by arch sleevenotes that demonstrate the participants weren’t entirely blinded by ambition, nor have their memories been too cruelly scalded by regret. Naturally then, it’s going to be low-grade, clueless bedroom thrashing that was never released for a very good reason. Well, no. The Spasms disc, despite the graffiti’d brick wall cover, is far more expansive than you might imagine. There are evident post-punk influences (especially on ‘The Guilty Go Free’ and the excellent ‘The Stranger’), and some unexpected playfulness in terms of both lyrics and rhythm that place them, occasionally, somewhere between Squeeze and the Members. Trash are slightly rockier, absolutely in the best traditions of the New York Dolls, and more than competent at it. Their Polydor singles ‘Priorities’ and the Shel Talmy-produced ‘N-N-ervous’ are included, alongside an unreleased third; the genuinely enthralling ‘In On All The Secrets’.

Alex Ogg, written for Vive Le Rock magazine

First posted May 27th 2011

Record Collector CD Review

http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/this-is-complete-trash

 Trash – This Is Complete Trash!

Take no notice, they’re just being modest

Trash formed in October 1976 by students at the Food Technology College in St George’s Hill, Weybridge. As singer Simon Wright says in his sleevenotes, “The Food Technologists would have been a great name for a band,” but they went for Trash “partly because of the New York Dolls song, but possibly because we thought it would put us beyond further criticism.” How wrong they were.

Trash discovered punk when Wright and Jane Wimble, who shared lead vocals in the early days, caught the Pistols playing one of their infamous “unannounced” support slots at one of their college dances – and the die was cast. John Peel’s manager, Weybridge resident Clive Selwood, secured the band a deal with Polydor, and the label released Priorities in November 1977. N-N-E-R-V-O-U-S, produced by Shel Talmy, followed in June 1978, but when neither single sold (despite airplay from a “gerrymandered” John Peel), Polydor dropped them.

It was a shame, as Trash’s combination of punk, pub-rock and NY sleaze deserved a better crack of the whip. Rescued from the bin, this collects both singles, previously unreleased studio and live tracks, and a 1977 interview on Radio 210.

Only Fit For The Bin | OFFTB 013

Hyped2Death CD Review

http://hyped2death.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=208

TRASH -This Is Complete Trash! CD (OFFTB 013)

H2D: Their classic first 45 (‘Priorities’), a less-impressive second, a fine, melodic, neverbeforereleased ’79 session, and some good-to-generic live tracks. None of it’s terrifically original, but who cares when the touchstones are the Heartbreakers, Saints, Birdmen, and various punky 60s sounds… 12 tracks and an informative 12-page booklet.

Amazon User Reviews

http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Complete-Trash/dp/B004JXMSLI

Bucketfull Of Brains review

From Mick Brophy

Hi Simon,

You’ve done a great job on the MySpace site!

I think Keith’s wrong and John the Finn did not commit suicide, rather he was pushed under a train at Birmingham New Street.

When The Cheaters were about to do our first tour of Scandinavia, we though John, with all his languages, and being a seasoned crew member for all sorts of 70’s bands behind the iron curtain, would be perfect. I contacted Brian Devoile, who then tried to contact John for me. He was put through to the Police and given the 3rd degree, John having just died. Brian was seriously shaken about this – not just John’s death but the manner in which he was quizzed.

OK, maybe suicide. However John had friends in Turku, Finland, a band call The Fabrics who we tried to help out. The Cheaters did our first gig of the Finnish tour at Turku and the Fabrics came to say thanks. They told us his body had been returned to Turku for burial and expressed utter astonishment that we did not know of his clandestine political activities. Quote “Didn’t you know (impleid: he was a spy)”?

As soon as they said this you re-run what you know about the guy. Trash backdrop – revolutionary art – picked by John. The guy had no material needs whatsoever (he lived in our cellar for God’s sake). Brilliant linguist – fluent in many East Bloc languages. Went from East to West at random in vans full of difficult to search band and PA gear. And not forgetting Finland was THE cross-roads for spys of both sides during the cold war – the government ran a tightrope of pleasing both Russia and the West.

My guess – he was a courier. But for who?

Can anyone offer any further information ?

Cheers

Mick