Thursday, June 18, 2009

THE RINGS (I WANNA BE FREE)

In true Chiswick fashion, we have here another 1977 pub/punk rock stomper. It may be a little light on the lyrics, but that never bothered me, It's still a cool record. The Rings were formed by Twink (real name John Alder) veteran of many psychedelic bands including Tomorrow and The Pink Fairies. While primarily a drummer he took on the role of front man in the band while Alan Lee Shaw played guitar and wrote the songs. Songs at the time included a mix of originals and Fairies numbers. Rod Latter played drums (later to join the Adverts). The band was completed by Dennis Stow on bass. A one off deal with Chiswick brought the excellent single I Wanna Be Free / Automobile in May 1977. Band played all the usual 'toilets' like the 100 Club and Roxy. "When your health is so shot that you don't look at the bar for fear your liver might explode, an ex hippy and pink fairy fronting a ...new wave band is not even funny. Twink and his band juggle superb old Fairies numbers with transparent new songs: 'Chelsea 77', 'Teenage Rebel...Are the boys surprised the audience scream for a bucket when they round off the set with 'I Wanna Get High' Which bus to Woodstock mate." Live Music Machine Sounds 28.6.77 Jane Suck
Soon after, depending on what version you believe Twink either supposedly tired of being gobbed at or was ousted by the band as the incoming replacement for Dennis Stow, Robert Crash and the rest formed The Maniacs almost overnight in August 1977 minus any
hippies. The truth is probably somewhere in between if this quote from a live
review is anything to go by: ..."a fine band. Except for the singer...Most of the set he
spent at the back of the stage trying to evade the gobbing...surely within
reason one should take it? He didn't."
Twink kept The Rings going for a while calling on old Fairies cohorts and even playing the Mont Marsan Punk Festival on the same bill as The Maniacs. A follow up single was announced in
Sounds 22.10.77 as being called Psychedelic Didgerdoo and the precursor to an album ! It never happened at least not as The Rings.
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REFERENCES - THE RINGS http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/rings.htm
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CHISWICK RECORDS 1977
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1. I WANNA BE FREE
2. AUTOMOBILE
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***DOWNLOAD***

12 comments:

Mike said...

Nothing like the Rings!
Cheers mate!!

Anonymous said...

Do you want The Rings Live '77?
Let me know.

Frank Miller said...

That would be great, thank you!

Anonymous said...

The Rings recorded at The 100 Club, London, England on April 26th 1977.
Ripped @ 320.

http://www.mediafire.com/?bd8w2c226ym3tiy

Tracks:
1. I Wanna be Free
2. News of the World
3. Kick out the Jams
4. The Snake
5. Do It
6. Teenage Rebel
7. Shoot you Down

The Rings are:
Twink - Vocals
Allan Lee Shaw - Lead guitar, Vocals
Rod Latter - Drums
Dennis Stow - Bass

Frank Miller said...

Thanks alot, I never heard anything live from them before. Sounds like a solid show.

styreneboy said...

This live set has been deleted. Any chance of posting this yourself, Frank? It would be much appreciated.

Frank Miller said...

I would share it with you , but I had some computer problems a few months back; and unfortunately I lost it, along with a bunch of other stuff that I didn't have backed up. Maybe someone else might still have it, sorry.

styreneboy said...

Oh well! Thanks anyway... I'll no doubt track it down at some point.

Anonymous said...

Here ya go - The Rings Live '77

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G0JY3KM9

Frank Miller said...

Thank you for reposting a link for the show.

Phushion Magazine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
styreneboy said...

I can only add my thanks, too.