CLUBS, PUBS AND OTHER PUNK PLACES in which to be 'scene' ---

The places where the new ew bands play are as important to the spreading of a cultas are the people who go there ... in fact they are created out of each other so to speak.

When punk rock first got off the ground, very few venues gave it leg room but the revitalising effect it has on the face of the music industry has also so ha happened to the tired old scene of the club circuit.

London, the Jeading capital in the whole caboodle, has sprung into action once again and places like THE MARQUEE the stomping ground of many pre-stardom attractions in its early days has once again become a good place to go for a glimpse of some of the ace punk bands. THE NASHVILLE, once the home of good old blue grass and the like, has nourished a few nights of revelry since it first allowed the punks in through its doors. And such stalwarts ar DINGWALLS and the re-established RAINBOW (recently ripped apart by over-excited punk followers on a special punk night, but none the worse for wear now), have harboured their share of the takings..

Plenty of small clubs, and down the country actually admitting to the rise in punk popularity and now have certain nights reserved. for a punk band only, all very optimistic stuff. It's very good news to see a sudden flux of of places to go where you can find rocking good bands being given the chance to "rip it up" once again (though not too literally, of course), where the customers are getting what they want and not what there is available within the limits of unambitious music.

THE ROXY, THE ROCK GARDEN, The Rainbow and The Marquee and the new MUSIC MACHINE are all such places in London alone and that's not including pubs such as The Nashville and HOPE AND ANCHOR. THE ROUNDHOUSE, too, has its share of the scene's happenings and outside the ry's capital there are no doubt endless lists of places where it is now possible to boogie to something other than black soul music.

Let's hope it lasts and that the good get ahead and the rest just keep on trying to Whatever else it's done it's certainly shaken us out of our lethargy and that has to be a good thing.

Written by Pat Johnstone Editor John Barraclough Published by TAA. Ltd 360 South Lambeth Road, London SW8

Typesetting by thorm Photosetting Cardiff Cofoundy Chromoscan Ltd. 3ton, Wootton Bassett Wilts Printed in England

THE PUNK SCENE

JUBILEE YEAR, ENGLAND 1977. The monarchy’s finest hour, a year of national pride, patriotism, and PUNK ROCK.

The latest craze of that ever commercial beast the music biz, first reared its rebellious head approximately six months ago and no one but the punks themselves really believed that it was anything more than a passing phase. With Stevie Wonder still singing songs about the ghetto, having just acquired the biggest ever record deal involving a solo artist, 13 million dollars worth in fact, and Rod and Britt taking over from Mick and Bianca in the Taylor/Burton tradition. rock and roll ain't exactly what it used to be. Led Zeppelin now make movies of their music and Queen went a whole year without a Tour in their homeland and Bert Weedon made it into the charts again. When the essence of rock is its closeness to the kids this makes things a wee bit off key.

The Hollywood glamour days have transferred all their dazzling ways onto the guys who once reflected the rhythm of our lives, and its left us with very sorry substitutes for the real thing. Those who have not succumbed to the limbo and the laser beam are few and far between, the dollar sign has tempted too many into tax exile. Though they still pull in the punters and turn record releases into gold and silver wall decorations, rock has been in need of some good old shake rattle and roll for quite some time.

Jagger spat his songs out all the way from middle-class Richmond to high finance and Fortnum and Mason but for a while there he was, the Devil incarnate to every law abiding parent and God in disguise to every bored body under 20 years of age. Now he and the others of that era are no longer in control or even for that matter in touch, with what is really happening down on the streets.

No one would deny our superstars the right to have their privacy but it's a slightly different matter when they become so remote that it's easy to forget what they look like and hard to remember what it was that first made you adore them.

But even punk rock isn't new and hasn't just been born. It's been there all the time. Now though it's not just a rock revival but a whole new generation's attitude to it... a rock revolution. No matter how things may change elsewhere in the music business there will always be bands who are willing to trek up and down the country night after night. playing their own music in country pubs and small-time clubs for fees that barely cover the costs of their expenses. Some of them are lousy, some are good, some" are nowhere at all and some have that raw touch of genious that gets lost in the cry for last orders. Many give up along the way, but stick it out or not, these are the bands that keep rock and roll alive.

Punk rock isn't only crude in fact some "Carry On" movies have more to answer for than that... but it is positive. Whatever they may say (or believe in at the moment) those involved in punk rock are hyping us again if they insist on an anti-establishment stance. It doesn't quite ring true to stick two fingers up to it all and then sign a deal for thousands of pounds. It will be interesting to see how long they last as the darlings of the scene and since only time and talent will sort that one out, pin back your ears, pass the glue and let's have a closer look at the new wave/punk rock who's who...