I always love to read your articles because I always learn something interesting. I only wish you could somehow tie your stories and interviews back into the stream of consciousness that made you start this ongoing project in the first place, and that is your research on Giorgio Gomelky's influence and productions of the late 70s and early 80s. I knew that it would be difficult after a while, and I believe that I told you so when you started, and I hope that you have not come to a point when you realize that it will be almost impossible to dig deeper into the GG universe of that era. I remain optimistic that you will find more, and that eventually your book will materialize out of it.
There's plenty more in the GG universe to write about. In my next story I talk to Chris Cutler about his Henry Cow days and meeting Giorgio in France and NYC.
I suspect you have things a little backwards on the genesis of the Slits-Cherry connection, which, AFAIK, ultimately was Vivien Goldman, who was a friend of the family. When Neneh left home to come to the UK, it was Vivien who set her up with lodgings with Ari and Nora, after which they became fast friends. Don would show up from time to time to try to persuade Neneh to return to the fold, but, I guess, eventually decided, if you can't beat them, join them. Neneh ended up marrying Bruce Smith.
PIL used up some spare studio time for ‘Flowers of Romance’ so Vivien Goldman could record a single, ‘Launderette/Private Armies’, released on Rough Trade in 1981. (I remember buying it…) The musicians included VG on vocals; Vicky Aspinall (The Raincoats) on violin; veteran free-improviser Steve Beresford (who also played with The Slits and their spin-off, New Age Steppers) on bass and piano; Keith Levene on guitar and bass; George Oban (African Head Charge, New Age Steppers) played bass and co-wrote the title track; Robert Wyatt played percussion. It was produced by John Lyndon and Keith Levene (‘A’-side) and Adrian Sherwood (‘B’-side - and its dub). This 7-inch single joins up more supposedly disparate scenes than you’d think possible; it, and the slender amount of Goldman’s other ‘80s work, is collected on a CD, ‘ Resolutionary’, which came out in 2016. Run, don’t walk.
I think you are correct as it looks like Neneh performed uncredited backing vocals on the first Slits LP which came out before this tour. Viv's book is not always clear on some details, but she was very clear about the Pop Group turning them on to Don Cherry's Brown Rice LP. Thanks for the comment.
I always love to read your articles because I always learn something interesting. I only wish you could somehow tie your stories and interviews back into the stream of consciousness that made you start this ongoing project in the first place, and that is your research on Giorgio Gomelky's influence and productions of the late 70s and early 80s. I knew that it would be difficult after a while, and I believe that I told you so when you started, and I hope that you have not come to a point when you realize that it will be almost impossible to dig deeper into the GG universe of that era. I remain optimistic that you will find more, and that eventually your book will materialize out of it.
There's plenty more in the GG universe to write about. In my next story I talk to Chris Cutler about his Henry Cow days and meeting Giorgio in France and NYC.
I am very happy to see that you manage to keep the flame alive and that you are still digging in the right mine.
I suspect you have things a little backwards on the genesis of the Slits-Cherry connection, which, AFAIK, ultimately was Vivien Goldman, who was a friend of the family. When Neneh left home to come to the UK, it was Vivien who set her up with lodgings with Ari and Nora, after which they became fast friends. Don would show up from time to time to try to persuade Neneh to return to the fold, but, I guess, eventually decided, if you can't beat them, join them. Neneh ended up marrying Bruce Smith.
Launderette
PIL used up some spare studio time for ‘Flowers of Romance’ so Vivien Goldman could record a single, ‘Launderette/Private Armies’, released on Rough Trade in 1981. (I remember buying it…) The musicians included VG on vocals; Vicky Aspinall (The Raincoats) on violin; veteran free-improviser Steve Beresford (who also played with The Slits and their spin-off, New Age Steppers) on bass and piano; Keith Levene on guitar and bass; George Oban (African Head Charge, New Age Steppers) played bass and co-wrote the title track; Robert Wyatt played percussion. It was produced by John Lyndon and Keith Levene (‘A’-side) and Adrian Sherwood (‘B’-side - and its dub). This 7-inch single joins up more supposedly disparate scenes than you’d think possible; it, and the slender amount of Goldman’s other ‘80s work, is collected on a CD, ‘ Resolutionary’, which came out in 2016. Run, don’t walk.
I think you are correct as it looks like Neneh performed uncredited backing vocals on the first Slits LP which came out before this tour. Viv's book is not always clear on some details, but she was very clear about the Pop Group turning them on to Don Cherry's Brown Rice LP. Thanks for the comment.