Monocled Alchemist

Article published in Sounds, 30th October, 1982

One Way System | Don’t Knock The System | ONE OF my favourite tracks on No Future’s ‘Country Fit For Herberts’ EP was ‘Jerusalem’, by One Way System, a four and-a-half piece band from the Fylde area. In this raucous sing-along they liken their base town of Blackpool to the equally gaudy holy place of Jerusalem with astute cynicism.

Each time I see the band I become more impressed by their set, which is better than anything they have on record. Musically they are growing in confidence and power and can now safely hold their own against their more experienced adversaries, as they showed earlier in the month at Hammersmith with Blitz and the Test-Tube Babies.

A feature was obviously called for and, after several phone calls to bassist Dave Ross‘s mum, I wazzed up to Blackpool and, wending my merry way through the town’s lights, action and plastic gypsies, tits and hospitality (delete as applic) and the seaside aromas of candyfloss, beer, vinegar and horse shit, I eventually reached the bus station where I met Dave, a lanky Sid look-alike, and Gav, Gaz and Tom, three other members of the band (Craig being left in Poulton) and roadie John, who sat drawing willies (playschool nice talk) in the sand.

The band were formed two years ago when Gaz, the bassist, who does most of the talking, and Gav, the singer, a walking tattoo with a cute grin and a line in inane comments, left school.

Gav: “After we left school and were getting money on the dole we got some gear. We’d had the idea a while though”.

Gaz: “We’ve got lots of gear now, it’s took a lot of slog, ’cause we bought it all ourselves.”

The line-up changed about six times to produce the hardcore of charisma and energy they have now. Changes like bringing Dave in and the oscillation of part-time guitarist Craig.

Gav: “We done three gigs last week and he was only at one coz he worked”.

One Way System | Don’t Knock The System

They’ve also had the traditional problem of disposable drummers, Bob was on ‘Jerusalem’ and Tez, whose name promotes cries of ‘Fag’ (an adjective attached gleefully to many of the names that cropped up in conversation), was on ‘Stab The Judge’.

Tom: “But now they’ve got good old me”.

Yup, but what do they say about you behind your back?

Gaz: “We don’t say nowt behind anybody’s back till they leave!”

Future plans?

Is this the final line-up then?

Gaz: “We’ve got our shit together now, like. If we had anyone else it would start to go bad. As long as Dave’s in the band I can learn bass and this band can progress to different things.”

Like what? Will you still be playing the same things in a couple of years?

Tom: “We’ll play it as long as we need to play it”.

Gav: We’ll go like the Rejects — grow our hair”.

Gaz: “We’re a 1-2-3-4 f”**ing punk band and when everyone else starts to go west well change. But whatever we play, it’ll still be punk, punk’s an attitude.

ARMED WITH two new managers and a single in the Indie Chart at No 18, they have signed to Anagram for another single and their debut album, both being recorded in October. The album, hopefully released in November, will contain 14 songs.

Gaz: “We’re getting in Mike Stone of Clay for the last couple of days for the mixing. We haven’t brought out anything before that has Tommy drumming on it, so everything that’s going on the album, we’re doing again. Were doing all our songs except ‘Stab The Judge’ because that’s been out too many times”.

The single should be ‘Jackie Was A Junkie’ and ‘Jerusalem’.

Dave: “Punks listen to B-sides, so it’s got to be as powerful as an A-side”.

Where did you get the idea for ‘Jackie Was A Junkie’?

Gaz: “I seen a film called Panic In Needle Park about a bird who goes to America and gets in with this bloke, but to get in with him she has to do the drug scene, so she does. I had it on my mind and I just sat down one night and wrote about it.”

Dave: “A few of our songs are about drugs.”

Gaz: “But they don’t say I take drugs line after line. I try and hide behind lines . . .”

Gav: “Tom doesn’t take drugs since his mushroom do, when he pissed himself!”

Tom: “They’re lying!”

The album and singles release should coincide with the band’s dates on the Upstarts tour. Although Blackpool and its numerous discos may be perfect for a night’s supping and perchance a fumbled copp, it isn’t exactly overflowing with places for the many local bands to play. The last hall, The Venue, was closed after three dates and the resident students union seem oblivious to the fact there are local bands, most of whom have a large following at Preston Warehouse (the nearest venue).

What other gigs would you like to do?

Gaz: “I’d like to play with people in our own category, a bit younger, like Abrasive Wheels, Sex Gang Children, because we can learn off each other. We’ve got the ability to go further.”

And that’s a sentiment I can only agree with. (JAI)