I don't think many people realise just how big Creaming Jesus were for a while in the late 80's and early 90's. They got front covers on some of the metal magazines (such as RAW whom also gave them single of the week at one point), their albums haunted the Top 10 of the Indie charts for months after release and they were played on national music shows when the majority of the UK only had four TV channels.
I spent much of my formative years lying under a mass of bodies or being bounced around what was, possibly, one of the most violent-friendly mosh pits in existence at that time. I had all their vinyl (singles and albums), a t-shirt or two and used to see Andy (the lead vocalist) out clubbing or in Forbidden Planet or Orcs Nest a fair amount.
Their thrash-goth sound was pretty unique at the time and combined with some great original songs, as well as some irreverant covers of goth classics such as the brilliant Temple of Shite (a great rendition of The Sisters of Mercy's Temple of Love) and their crowd pleasing cover of The Cures 'A Forest', they put on some of the best shows I'd ever been to and still rank way there in my books today.
The community that surrounded them was very friendly - which surprised a lot of people who may have been on the fringes looking at the force and verocity of the pits at their shows. They also looked after their own which a 16-year-old me was very thankful for as I got adopted fairly early on after joining one of the pits at a show (possibly at the then Camden Palace) and being picked on by a much older and bigger bloke who was not pulling punches and seemed to be aiming them largely at me. After the third time I was propelled across the floor a bunch of the core Creaming Jesus fans picked me up and as soon as the guy started coming for me again they, and several of their friends, pretty much formed a barrier between us and then sent him flying in return - which was the last we saw of him and I'd become part of the family by apparent default of not scapering after the first punch and staying on the dancefloor. Possibly a slightly bruising initiation but I honestly didn't care as I was there for the music and everything was part and parcel of that.
Anyway, on my journeys through the land of Itunes I've discovered most of their back catalogue (having only one CD of theirs as the rest is on aforementioned vinyl) and took a trip down memory lane.
I also found a video of them perfoming 'A Forest' on Youtube but unfortunately it has embedding disabled. So if you want to listen to a great thrashy-goth cover please head over and check it out through this link.
I also posted their 'Lillies' video over on my
radio_infinity blog.
They'd be in my Top Ten bands I'd love to reform so I could see them again...
Actually that could make a good post sometime...:p
I spent much of my formative years lying under a mass of bodies or being bounced around what was, possibly, one of the most violent-friendly mosh pits in existence at that time. I had all their vinyl (singles and albums), a t-shirt or two and used to see Andy (the lead vocalist) out clubbing or in Forbidden Planet or Orcs Nest a fair amount.
Their thrash-goth sound was pretty unique at the time and combined with some great original songs, as well as some irreverant covers of goth classics such as the brilliant Temple of Shite (a great rendition of The Sisters of Mercy's Temple of Love) and their crowd pleasing cover of The Cures 'A Forest', they put on some of the best shows I'd ever been to and still rank way there in my books today.
The community that surrounded them was very friendly - which surprised a lot of people who may have been on the fringes looking at the force and verocity of the pits at their shows. They also looked after their own which a 16-year-old me was very thankful for as I got adopted fairly early on after joining one of the pits at a show (possibly at the then Camden Palace) and being picked on by a much older and bigger bloke who was not pulling punches and seemed to be aiming them largely at me. After the third time I was propelled across the floor a bunch of the core Creaming Jesus fans picked me up and as soon as the guy started coming for me again they, and several of their friends, pretty much formed a barrier between us and then sent him flying in return - which was the last we saw of him and I'd become part of the family by apparent default of not scapering after the first punch and staying on the dancefloor. Possibly a slightly bruising initiation but I honestly didn't care as I was there for the music and everything was part and parcel of that.
Anyway, on my journeys through the land of Itunes I've discovered most of their back catalogue (having only one CD of theirs as the rest is on aforementioned vinyl) and took a trip down memory lane.
I also found a video of them perfoming 'A Forest' on Youtube but unfortunately it has embedding disabled. So if you want to listen to a great thrashy-goth cover please head over and check it out through this link.
I also posted their 'Lillies' video over on my
radio_infinity blog.They'd be in my Top Ten bands I'd love to reform so I could see them again...
Actually that could make a good post sometime...:p
- Current Music:Creaming Jesus
Profile
- angusabranson
- Angus Abranson
- Chronicle City
Comments
I'm getting a tad sick of so many bands trying to recapture their past, or try to cash in on previous success (?)
Creaming Jesus was indeed a great time of my life and I wouldn't trade my experiences at their gigs for anything, from my first appearance at The Marquee (billed as Creemin' Jesus as support to Dawn After Dark on 24.5.89) to their couple of gigs in my hometown of Luton, to their last New Cross gig.
I think part of the whole reform thing is just my desire to see them again - so much more of a selfish Angus reason than any commercialism from the band :p
I've enjoyed a few 'reformed' shows - especially Pop Will Eat itself a couple of years ago who were fantastic. The Carter reunion gig last year was alright but when they announced another this year it kind of turned me off and certainly felt a lot more 'we like the money' than a random get together for old times sake.
Edited at 2008-12-23 11:08 am (UTC)
I think the band might do quite well if they reformed now. Today's musical climate would probably be quite sympathetic to a bunch of crusty old punks brewing up a noise-riot. Their time may yet come!