Now this is one from way back. So much way back that most of you kids today won’t recognize this as “punk” – but hey, also AC/DC appeared in my fav record shops back then in the “punk” bin…now, this is straight from June 1977, straight from the action (London) and done by 16 year old lads – and it is a classic!
Lets see:
1977 – tick, this is June 1977!
published by a cool lable – ticked, The Lable (run by David Goodman) was something back then
found in a cool shop – ticked, found in the early 80ties in this small shack in Barmbek run by Stoney (a used comic and records outlet)
catching sound – monster reverb, catching chorus hockline
not too bad words – no-nonsense write up of a day in the life of Eater and their aspiration: getting over to the USA (and make it big)
collectors value – quite some, i have the version with the wrong publishing credits later corrected. but the bible (45 Rev) says it not worth it…do i fucking care?
Eater! You gotta fucking love’em….you gotta hate them the lucky bastards! Mark P called them ‘totally devoid of musical ideas’. John Savage, journalist of the time, summed them up as ‘Youth by itself is not enough’. What do they know? Eater called Johnny Rotten ‘too old’. That’s about right… Average age 16, chicks, rock’n’roll, part of the greatest musical era ever, and a fistful of songs to stand the test of punk time. (Paul@Punk77)
And the words are a nod to their musickal roots:
Kicking up dust on an empty street Waiting for John, Brian and Liz I've already been stopped by the police They're getting kicks, I'm feeling sick Chorus. And I'm thinking - thinking of the USA Thinking of the USA Dreaming of the USA 10.30 and the band is still not on the stage The kids are getting restless but all have to be paid I really think that I should not stay I need a rest .I need a drink Chorus. And I'm thinking - thinking of the USA Thinking of the USA Dreaming of the USA 12.45 at the Roxy Club And I'm tired of just hanging around I need some sleep, I am so tired All these people making crazy sounds USA-USA-USA-USA Walter Lure comes from the USA Lou Reed comes from the USA Richard Nixon comes from the USA Gary Gilmore came from the USA (c) 1977 A. Blade / I. Woodcock
What else is worth to note? Did you know that producer Dave Goodman soon moved to Malta (of all places), enjoyed the sun and died from a heart-attack in 2005. What happened to the lads of Eater? No carrer, no USA – into work.
See 14 year old drummer Dee here (remembering it all in 1997):
And here is is in all glory: