Slaughter & The Dogs … that is memories, specifically their biggest and epic hit “Where have all the Bootboys gone?” (thanks to Decca records 1977). But not only that: They hail from Whytenshawe (dubbed “The Skinhead Capital of the North“) and that is not only part of my work history ( i have spend quite some weeks over the years in a bunker like office on Rowlandsway) but also a troubled large council estate (“extreme pocket of social deprivation and alienation” was a line from a non-UK paper).
My memories are not that bad: A tough area with quite some street crime but also friendly people and some nice (though maybe dodgy) pubs.
Nevermind, it was Wednesday and them Dogs made one of their few strolls to Hamburg and it was in my preferred Club downhill so i was on. On too (and providing some of the backline i believe) where the Cock-Ups from Hamburg. They faced the fate of all local support bands – a rather empty space in front of them.
Cock-Ups (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.03.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
Did i like the Cock-Ups … mmmmhhh. They had some moments where the sound made sense but by and large it was not really working out for me. The vocals where a quiz (German? English? Polish?) and the sound was too much “bumpy“. Sorry lads! They though did their best and in all fairness the longer they played the better it sounded. One mate mentioned “… are they allowing on stage practise again?” – sounds harsh but holds some thruth i’d say.
And next Slaugher & The Dogs and they kicked off like this:
Now we where definitely in a different territory: Professional musicians with a style shaped over many years. And let’s be frank: Their early hits like “Cranked up really high” and “Where have all the Bootboys gone?” are not representative of their distinct style – i heard someone calling it “Glam Street Punk” (a new niche as far as i am concerned but who am i?).
Slaughter & The Dogs (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.03.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
The setup on stage was by coincidence just like with the Avengers: Vocals and Guitar from the original line up (and that goes back to that infamous 20th of July 1976 when them Dogs where part of that famous bill at the Lesser Free Trade Hall) and younger drum and bass providing the drive.
They did not do a lot of talking but they did their best to keep the audience engaged, had smiles and thank you’s for the audience and – nice gesture – had a song for the the guy in the wheelie. Nice one!
Slaughter & The Dogs (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.03.201717) (c) gehkacken.de)
And with their set finished on time the question was would they come back to the stage? I heard a couple of bets and to be honest most of them where wrong – no messenger was needed to get them back and crank another one out (that even got the real oldpunks in attendance to shake off their 60+ year old bones and fists!)
There was one caveat though – it was surprisingly empty down at the Hafenklang. I’d say it was down to weekday, support and the fact that them Dogs continue their style, which emphasises the R in Punk Rock. But that they do quite well and to no surprise some people even took their new LP home – i’d rather took the latest Career Suicide 7″ home that an ever friendly mate got me!
And those others?
Where either happy or almost happy (up there is happiness, down there are happy sunburned faces of people just back from sunny holidays away from cold Hamburg).
What was missing though was the smile of one absent mate, who unfortunately now is absent forever. Seeing shows with him since early 80s has now come to hard stop, a stop that provided a lot of tears. And thus the biggest hardship was for those attending the show and knowing that they where to attend the funeral next day. We will never forget you mate!