You obviously didn't like the scene in England which is a bit odd seeing as your music slotted in perfectly with that emerging punk scene. What looking back on it now was your impression of the English Punk scene (the bands, clothes, attitude.) How did the music scene here differ from back home ?
**** I have never been over fond of scenes anywhere, it wasn't that I wasn't enamoured by the notion of "punky rock a la anglaise".... it was just that most aspects of the "movement" that I encountered were just a tad too 'careerist' for my simple country tastes. I know we were signed to EMI & all.......& had taken the "capitalist dollar".....! but..... I still had a few teenage delusions left by the time we got to blighty. They didn't last long. As to the difference between The UK & OZ at that time........mmm? Size darling..! & not a lot else. You must remember that in '76 "punk rock was yet to become a 'marketing exercise' down south.

Were there any bands you liked then and why ?
**** I am sure there were.....& probably for the simple reason that I liked them. The dammed spring to mind.

What was your memories of the Hope and Anchor Festival that you have Demolition Girl featured on ?
**** A less than pleasant pub basement with too many blokes that probably would have been happier in a turkish bath. With the exception of a pair of rather busty girls who looked liked extras from a reject episode of Benny Hill & had me enthralled for the evening.

What was reaction from bands and crowds to you as an Australian band ?
**** Kangaroo, was heard once or twice......... There was a general sub Barry Mckenzie/ Edna Everedge aspect to the press reaction after the initial ooh aah!.....which I took to be humour...? Live audiences seemed oblivious...which is I guess how it should be.

In the time you spent here surely something funny happened to you/the band. Anything ?
**** I lived in London on & off until the end of the eighties....... I think that is pretty funny...!

What was the worst thing that happened to you/ the band here ?
****A) East Croydon.......as in getting to know it...! & a period of strange sexual exploits in bathrooms that I would rather forget.

You say the record company seemed suprised by horns on Eternally Yours and the parochialism of the English punk scene which suprises me  a little. English punk threw up the Stranglers with Organ, saxophone and  whole albums of melodic intricate music. The Clash had dub reggae and rockabilly. This is just to name but  two. I can't think of when a time in music has thrown up so many diverse sounding bands from a common root. Anyway that's my opinion.
I was quoting an EMI. A&R man when I made the comment re: horns on the second LP. As for that era being more diverse than any other...mmm I don't really think so. When I take a look at what you call "the punk era" I fail to see a "common root"....I acknowledge that rock music had become a but stodgy & deserved a good kicking. Pop seems to be remarkably unchanged (despite technology) I can see for a time that you couldn't get a gig if you didn't look a certain way......hence the "image" of the Stranglers et all...the jam would be the youthful who ( very threatening etc etc ) & then came mod & power pop then new romantic & christ knows what else..... in the process some fine sounding noise no doubt.....but at the end of the day it all became Showbiz rather too quickly. In my opinion the "punk era" is more a testimony to fashion than music. Which reminds me I do have a fondness for "Oh Bondage up yours" by the Xrayspex by the way.

What are the first two lines of Do The Robot ?
**** Fucked if I know...........
.......& thank you

bailey

I then sent an email thanking him.

Thanks for the answers. You made me laugh and your comments will be added to the Saints section . . . I take it a saints reunion with all your pals and playing all the charming fleapits you originally played in for a live album 2000 on EMI is out of the question ? Paul.

***************************************************************************

Hi, Glad to be of service.....if there is any justice in the world ( & I doubt if there is this from time to time ) then NO!!! there will be no "saints a go go 2000".

Bless him eh ?