Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Emotive Targets

I've got to be honest from the outset, I haven't stumped up here tonight to see SLF, oh no. I've come over to DECO WORLD AKA The Assembly Leamington to see Penetration. But already I feel like an AWAY supporter in the HOME end, there's a gaggle of SLF supporters around me wearing their Fingers shirts and talking about previous encounters; I must remember not to jump up and down when Penetration score - I mean come on stage.

Anyway while waiting for kick off, and for the enlightenment of those of you who were looking the other way at the time, this is how it was: In the beginning there were only three different points of view and it came by way of the holy trinity: Pauline Murray / Penetration; Siouxsie Sioux / The Banshees; and Poly Styrene / X Ray Spex. Hey don't anyone mention Patti Smith here, cos if you do you better prepare to defend your gonad region - Patti Smith has nothing whatsoever to do with PUNK, NEW WAVE, ENGLAND or ANYTHING - a few dick head journos were hoodwinked back in the day (mainly at Melody Maker) and it stuck - so shut your yap and let's crack on.

As I was saying, in the beginning there was the holy trinity of: Siouxsie, Poly & Pauline. What about Lene Lovich? (John) Yeah ok John, and of course Lene. And what about Gaye Advert? (John) OK you're right, Lene & Gaye. And the Slits, don't forget the Slitsy girls.(John) Yes ok, so in the beginning there was Siouxsie & Poly & Pauline & Lene & Gaye & Ari & Tessa and..... So it can't be a trinity then can it! (John)

Look John whilst the roadies are setting up I'm just trying to put things into a historical context for those who weren't there at the time, and anyway you're not even here, so shut up and piss off. Look just say something like: where are all the gritty girls with something different to say nowadays, and then just get on with it. (John) That's just what I was going to say before you……………..shit they're on and I haven't finished my preamble - I'll be quick - Yeah.

This is my first time revisiting the "reanimated" version of Penetration; I've been putting it off, cos the last thing I want when revisiting the past is to have my rose tinted memories well and truly shitted on by the present. And let's be frank here people there are "quite a few" reunified bands out there that aren't worth JACK (obviously I'm not going to name names, but they know who they are) . So let the revisiting begin, time for fear to grip the soul.

A tambourine rattled; machines either side of the stage squirted out smoke uncontrollably; the crowd fidgeted forward; and Penetration set about their work.

They gave us: "Future Daze" and "Life's a Gamble" from their much cherished debut LP "Moving Targets"; a couple of new tracks "The Feeling" and "Guilty", which sounded pretty damn good and are soon to be released courtesy of Damaged Goods Records (CLICK TO BE DAMAGED).

The seminal punk classic (and personal life changer) "Don't Dictate" was given and greatfully received, as too was "Come into the Open" from their second and final studio album "Coming Up for Air". To close they played their version of Pete Shelley's "Nostalgia" - Pauline Murray belted out "So I look up to the sky and I wonder what it'll be like in days gone by" her left arm outstretched, her hand solidly clutching the top of the collapsed mic stand; the voice and the old mannerisms were intact and the reanimated boys in the band played as tightly as a ducks do da. Thirty odd minutes and thirty odd years had crystallised and sublimely flitted by; the reason why I'd put off revisiting Penetration for so longm, now, most definately, eluded me.

[Playing - "Movement" recorded live in Newcastle 78 from the postumous BOOTLEG, "Race Against Time"]

So how did Penetration fundamentally change my life?
Well back in '78 I bought this box Bush record player from Lance O'Regan's second hand shop in Chapel Ash Wolves (Why were the police always in there Mr O'Reagan's shop?). Now somehow I was allowed to take this record player on our annual family holiday, but due to a major cock up I only took three singles with me - the only three that were on the stack when the player was packed. The three bits of plastic were "Don't Dictate/Money Talks" by Penetration; "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo" / "I Am A Poseur" by X Ray Spex; and Regulations / Venus Eccentric by Neon Hearts.

So there I was 14 years old on holiday in bleedin' Wet Welsh Wales the rain beating down on the caravan with two parents and two siblings - without being able to play "Don't Dictate", "I'm a Poseur" and "Regulations" on a constant repeat for the whole two weeks I would still be inside now, serving a quadruple life sentence for murder!