cbs records

Anyone remember the band called ‘The Lou’s’ on CBS Records?

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autographed poster from Hastings Pier gig supplied by Peter Houghton

Pete saw them on Hastings Pier but can’t remember who they supported or any other information. Anyone help?

Tony Ham… As they were on CBS, The Clash possibly? Can’t find any mention of them anywhere.

Peter Houghton…  I have found them they supported Richard Hell and the Clash they was an French Punk Band members Pamels Pola Sacha Dejones Raphaele and Tolim Toto

Mark… they supported Richard Hell and The Clash in Bristol about 1978-9

Pete Fairless… They supported the Clash.

Simon Lokes… Yes i saw them at Hastings pier pavilion Nov 1977, 3rd on the bill behind The Clash and Richard Hell, also remember seeing Billy Idol hanging around after the gig.

Petrel41… See their bio at https://www.last.fm/music/Lou%27s

David Kent… All I know is the guy on the far left must have been a GP because he seems to be giving his bandmate a prostate exam..

Simon Lokes… Remember seeing the Lou’s Hastings pier supporting The Clash and Richard Hell think it would have been Nov 1977, slept in a phone box outside Hastings train station as no trains back.

Petrel41… Today, the Dutch drummer of this otherwise French band got a reconstructed 1977 Lou’s badge. See https://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2020/11/26/pioneer-punk-drums-woman-gets-badge-back/

Robert Furnace… I saw the Lou’s at Castaways Club ,Union Street, Plymouth, late 1977. supporting the Clash , along with Richard Hell and the Voidoids the gig sticks in my memory not only for the fantastic line up but also watching live my first female punk band( The Lou’s ), i have tried to find this gig on setlist etc, there is no mention, or on the Clash out of control tour either, perhaps this date may have been added to the tour after the publicity information had already been distributed ? can anybody help please ?

Petrel41… Yesterday, French researchers announced there should be more research on women in French punk, including the Lou’s https://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2020/12/06/french-punk-women-getting-more-research-attention/. 

Petrel41… On https://www.bacteria.nl/cheapnnasty-flyers-articles/ scroll down a lot, there is now the poster of the first concert of Lou’s drummer Sascha de Jong’s new Dutch band, the Miami Beach Girls, in the Jam in Leiden in May 1981; supporting Cheap ‘n’ Nasty. The last line on the poster, in blue, says, translated: 1st concert (includes ex-drummer of the Lou’s).

Paul Gilbert… I played guitar with verdict the band sacha and then raphael joined after the demise of the lous

Petrel41… Hi Paul, great to hear from you! I recently put an extensive Lou’s biography at https://www.bacteria.nl/tag/the-lous/ including a link to live video of the Lou’s playing at the 1977 Mont de Marsan punk festival.Sacha de Jong in 1981 came back to her/mine hometown Leiden in the Netherlands. She helped record the EP of our band Cheap ‘n’ Nasty https://www.bacteria.nl/cheap-n-nasty/. Raphaelle Devins also came to Leiden and became our saxophone player. Pics including of Raphaelle are at https://www.bacteria.nl/cheapnnasty-pictures/ Sacha founded the Leiden Miami Beach Girls: https://www.bacteria.nl/miami-beach-girls/ Sacha is now in isolation a kilometer away from me because of COVID-19 risk. Her only outside contact, bringing her groceries, is Heleen, bass player of both Cheap ‘n’ Nasty (1981-82 line-up) and Miami Beach Girls. Her photo is #6 of 11 at https://www.last.fm/music/Cheap+%27N%27+Nasty/+images/cf3b22240cb8558ab8b5a13167f9e49csecond from left. I and the Punk Girl Diaries site and the Punk Scholars Network have been searching everywhere on info about your band Verdict, but found only your article on the 1979 Rock against Racism festival. With a non-working link to your site. Nothing on, eg, last.fm. Please contact me at hde_tollenaere AT zonnet.nl. I, and maybe you, would like to know much more. Cheers, stay safe!

Claude Picard… Hi Paul, I work on a lot of French groups. I’m going to release a LOU’S band record, and I would like to tell a bit about the story of VERDICT you were in. I don’t know what the other person is saying, but Sacha has been dead a long time ago, sorry to tell you and Raphaëlle. I am in contact with the 2 others of the group for the project of the record. You contact me directly via my website by clicking on CONTACT, here 45vinylvidivici.net Thank you for your help.

David Fern… Yes I saw them at Derby Kings Hall on that tour with the Clash. They were better than the Clash but Not as good as Richard Hell

Petrel 41… Hi David, that must have been 1977.11.03 King’s Hall, Derby UK (+ The Clash, Richard Hell & The Voidoids) in my band biography https://www.bacteria.nl/the-lous/ Another spectator at another gig wrote they were better than Richard Hell. A 1978 Sounds report wrote the audience were more enthusiastic about them, 2nd band on stage, than about the Mekons, 1st band on, or Subway Sect, headlining.

Chris Farrall… Great band saw them in 79 at Sheffield Top Rank

Colin Passfield… I got arrested with two of the Lou’s during an out of control party in Paris after Siouxsie and Banshees played at Le Palais – February 1979?. I wasnt charged, nor they in the end, wrong place at the wrong time. A crazy weekend.

Petrel 41… Colin, Le Palace, Paris, FRA 4.7.79 according to https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/Siouxsie_and_the_Banshees In 1981 i went with the ex-Lou’s, the n Miami Beach Girls, drummer to the Banshees open air concert in Tiel, see https://www.bacteria.nl/pin-4-english-edition/

John McGerr… How odd! I just googled The Lous for the first time ever and found this site! I saw them supporting The Clash at Queen’s University Student Union Belfast, late ’77 I think. They were an all female French punk band??? The Clash were supposed to play two gigs that day/night. I had a ticket for the earlier show, which didn’t materalise. I hung around with my two friends but we didn’t get to see The Clash because we lived in a small town outside Belfast and had to leave to get the last bus home at 10pm. Can’t remember much about the Lous, my only real memory of the gig was that I saw Mick Jones leaning against a wall watching their set and I asked him what time The Clash were coming on as we had to get home. He was quite stand-off-ish I remember, and wearing a pair of pink baggies. I was 13 years old FFS! Did get to see The Clash in Belfast in 1978 though at the Ulster Hall.

Petrel41… (In reply to John McGerr) Hi John, the Lou’s band biography is at https://www.bacteria.nl/the-lous/

 

 

SMART SOUNDS by Colin Bell reviewing Truth – The Columbia Recordings 1969-1970 by The Flock cd

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TRUTH – THE COLUMBIA RECORDINGS 1969-1970   The Flock

I’m guessing that most readers first heard The Flock on the famous CBS ‘sampler’ album ‘Fill Your Head With Rock’ in 1970 (an album that’s been discussed on SMART elsewhere), its where I first picked up on them with their electrifying cover version of The Kinks ‘Tired Of Waiting For You’. Indeed the front cover of FYHWR shows Jerry Goodman of The Flock hair streaming playing like the devil on his electric violin. The Flock hailed from Chicago and had been around since 1966 (as The Exclusives) releasing several singles before recording their eponymous album in 1969 and the following years ‘Dinosaur Swamps’. Both these albums are contained on this new release plus rare and unreleased tracks new to CD. Signed to CBS this hugely musically talented band were part of the jazz/rock scene along with labelmates Chicago (or Chicago Transit Authority as they were then) and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Now both those bands went on to have illustrious careers as we all know. The mystery is why TF didn’t and by 1971 had all but broken up. They don’t know and neither do I. John Mayall saw them play in America in 1969 and told the press ‘The Flock are the best band ive heard in America’ coming from one of the founding fathers of the British music scene this was high praise indeed. Their debut album is so musically innovative its unique fusions of jazz/rock/blues and quality of musicianship is awesome just listen to ‘Introduction’ ‘Clown’ ‘I Am The Tall Tree’ and the aforementioned ‘Tired of Waiting’ and its clear these are guys at the top of their game.  I suppose because they weren’t ‘commercial’ or necessarily airplay friendly in the way of their contemporaries therein lies a large part of why they lost out on the big time. I think they are a musicians band lauded by their peers if not the record buying public. If that first album wasn’t great enough the follow up ‘Dinosaur Swamps’ was if anything even more accomplished ‘Big Bird’ should have been released and promoted as a single it certainly knocks spots off Chicago in my book, ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘Crabfoot’ are just two more highlights of creativity. Jerry Goodman’s violin and Fred Glicksteins vocals and lead guitar work together so perfectly. After the break up Goodman went off to the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the others went their separate ways. About 10 years ago their was a limited release of some Flock material and I managed to get in touch with Fred Glickstein and had a very interesting chat about the whole Chicago scene, I brought up another favourite of mine The Ides Of March, only for him to say they were good friends of his and they had shared the same bill often! He sent me some photo’s which hang on my wall. Great guy, great musician. This 2CD release has been remastered from the original masters and sonically sounds amazing and is certainly a definitive package with new liner notes by Fred. Anyone who has any interest in jazz/rock and hasn’t got into The Flock you are missing a rare treat. Well done Esoteric Records for a fine and much welcome package. Enjoy.

For more information go to https://www.cherryred.co.uk

Til next time…….Colin

 

Terry Pack… Great piece, Colin

Peter Howard… My mate John at djtees does a fill your head with rock album cover tee. Pretty cool and it attracts only interesting strangers, who instantly recognize it .

Pete Fisher… remember listening to Fill Your Head With Rock back in 1970 with Bernard Jeffrey at his place.

Steve Reents… I had this album. Interesting fusion of jazz and rock.