|
Record
Mirror 23.12.78 |
"Kris - I was happy to
be cavorting around fronting a punk band, Colin was the musical backbone.
Colin - I loved it all.
Kris - We simply conformed to the maxim that anyone can form a band!"
Trakkmarx.com
The Vice Creems,
originally the Aylesbury Bucks, formed
in Aylesbury in around mid – late 1977. They were basically the vehicle for Zig-Zag
Magazine editor (& former teenage president of the Mott The Hoople fanclub)
Kris Needs (vocals), his best mate Colin Keinch (guitar) & assorted mates
from the pub. Following sparodic gigging throughout late 77 – early 78, they
made their vinyl debut with a fairly typical punky track
"No Passion"
on the
"Aylesbury Goes Flaccid"
local compilation LP.
|
Sounds
16.12.78
|
 |
Shortly afterwards (June
78) they recorded two tracks
"01-01-212"
and
"Won't You Be My Girl" on studio down-time during
a Flaming Groovies album tracking session (obviously due to Needs'
connections!) which was released shortly afterwards as their debut 45 on
Tiger Records (the sleeve lists the line up, in addition to Needs & Keinch
as Nigel Birchall – guitar, Chris Lugmayer – bass, & Martin Godfrey –
drums). Following more gigs (including dates with The Adverts & The Lurkers), on the eve of returning to the studio to record a Mick Jones
produced second single, Birchall, Lugmayer & Godfrey quit the band. Jones
said "don't worry" & offered to get Needs & Keinch a band for the session,
which he did :- The Clash's Topper Headon on drums, Generation X's Tony
James on bass & Jones himself on guitar! (& apparently Billy Idol is in
there on backing vocals too!). The
recordings materialized as a single
"Danger Love" / "Like A Tiger"
on ZigZag Records shortly afterwards, with (for legal reasons) Jones credited
as "Michael Blair", Headon as "Nicholas Kahn" & James as "Anthony Ross"!
|
|
"Kris - A guy came
in with money via Zig Zag & we were gonna launch Zig Zag Records. Only
problem - the band split up the week before - leaving just me & Colin. I
phoned Mick Jones who’d already agreed to produce the record & told him I
had Olympic Studios sorted but no band. Mick said he’d get a band & told
me to be there. We showed up - 1st thing we see is Johnny Green & the
Clash gear & flight cases. We realised our backing band was gonna be
Topper, Mick & Tony James. We had a warm up jam. It was surreal."
The Vice Creems
were never able to find a steady line up, & called it a day shortly
afterwards but not before a prestigious support slot to The Clash & Ian Dury & The Blockheads at Aylesbury Friars.
In all the singles were fairly well received though Needs and the band were
never viewed as serious contenders more a journalist playing at being a
rockstar.
After quitting Zig-Zag Magazine in the early 80's, & following several
years in New York (along with picking up a heavy heroin habit), Needs
cleaned up, returned to the UK in the early 90's & has since become a
major figure in the UK underground dance scene, both as a dj and as a
recording artist! |
 |
Back
To Top
Interview
excerpts fom
Trakkmarx.com
and words from David Newton
|