Meanwhile the remains of New York Doll style shock rockers
Hollywood Brats, Casino Steele and Andrew Matheson, are brought to
the attention of Malcolm McLaren who had managed the Dolls before
they imploded. Mick Jones can see the potential of a link up
between the London SS and Brats. The remains of the Brats however
just wanted Matt Dangerfield and Wade who jump ship.
Matt
Dangerfield: When I left the SS to join up with Cass and
Andrew who were remnants of the Hollywood Brats Bernie came
round to ask me to reconsider but I’d made my mind up. The
Brats had already made an album and I thought the songs were
great . I had a lot of respect for Andrew Matheson and Cass as
songwriters.
When Matheson
returned to Canada and didn't come back Honest John Plain a
friend of Matt's was drafted in. Originally calling themselves
the Choirboys they shortened their name to the Boys. |
The Hollywood Brats |
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With James back the
band set about more auditions. Between July and December 1975 the
band advertised every week for a drummer and singer and they
auditioned shed loads of people.
Songs being played at the time were Protex Blue (later by the
Clash), Portobello Reds (later by the Damned but called Fish) but
then called, and covers of Slow Death (Flamin Groovies), Rambling
Rose (Mc5) and Night Time. A tape was made with Roland Hot
drumming though this has never surfaced. |
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The contenders |
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Paul Simenon - tried
out as singer and sang Roadrunner but was rejected through lack of
stage presence. Ended up in the Clash |
Terry Chimes
answered the ad and was turned down but later ended up in the
Clash not just once but twice at the beginning & the end. |
Nicky Headon passed
but turned them down as he was already in a band with better
prospects. Later ended up in the Clash |
Steve New - Whizz
kid 15 year old who tried out for a few rehearsals. Ended up in
the Rich Kids - not the Clash |
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Rat
Scabies auditioned and he was rejected as well. However Bryan James had
tired of endless auditioning.
I'd been
in London SS for about 3 months and all we did was audition all
these idiots who had no idea at all...and then Rat came along. Mick and
Tony didn't like him, but I did - and I decided to do something with Rat
because I got on better with him. Rat knew Captain Sensible...so he came
to play Bass with us - and then a bit later we met Dave. So the Damned
were born.
So by
January 1976, 9 months after a zillion auditions, they were back to a
two piece and decided to split.
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Bernie
Rhodes saw it differently
Bernie
Rhodes: The London SS were 3
guys, Mick Jones, Tony James, and Brian James. I got them in a rehearsal
room and watched them for two weeks, and I said "You can fuck off but
Mick can stay"...at one time Rat Scabies was in too. The London SS was a
load of bollocks. Negative Reaction Fanzine No5 Feb/March
From
then on Rhodes and Jones acquired Strummer, Simenon and then Chimes to
form the Clash, Tony James got a job before
meeting Billy Idol and joining Chelsea before they split to form
Generation X. Matt Dangerfield and Casino Steele formed the Boys and
Steve New would end up in the Rich Kids.
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