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They brought to Punk something nobody
else had managed or dared to attempt: Compassion...they brought a naked emotion and undeniably trustworthy fury. In refusing to adhere to a strict, severe musical policy, striving for the
expansion of their ideals...they came up with the most advanced debut album
to come out of the initial punk period." Mick Mercer
| High praise indeed though I should qualify it by saying that
Moving Targets
was released in October 1978 as punk was virtually coming to an end and
not the initial punk period. The
Pistols had split and may bands had mutated from the initial punk sound. Bands
like The Clash, Stranglers, Adverts and Wire were already changing their sound and
outlook and getting more adventurous. Magazine had issued their stunning
debut album and Joy Division were getting ready the seminal work Unknown
Pleasures.
Penetration like may other bands were on the horns of a dilemma .
Punk was dying and a new sound was needed to carry Penetration forward but in
what direction ? Much had changed in the two years they had been together.
Observe their clothes. At the Vortex its all Bondage strides and leather.
Mid 78 headbands and big shirts are in operation. |
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"...I
bought all those Seditionaries clothes before I was in the band. They
were comfortable on stage but I don't wear them anymore."
Pauline Zigzag June 78 |
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Virgin had
already dithered after their first single option over whether to sign or release
Penetration ! Only when the album was recorded did they sign the band one week
before the option ran out !! Pauline was glad about it ;in fact the band
thought the lack of press and contract something in their favour. Perhaps
another thing that didn't help was their manager was also Pauline's husband
"I think its better now that we didn't sign a big deal last year when
everybody else was signed up." Zigzag June 78. The
fact was that they had missed the moment and as Punk became the past Penetration
became stuck in a musical no mans' land totally dependent on their record
company who didn't view Penetration as a long term investment and the band in a
process of recording, touring and promoting. Years later in 'England's Dreaming'
Pauline admitted "We
were so naive."
| I'm
prepared to wait . We're probably not ready yet anyway ..but we
will be." Pauline asserts that the groups that take the
longest to 'make it' also last the longest. NME 10/6/78 |
| "In
the beginning we tended to be ignored by the rock press, and it
used to get a bit annoying..But in the long road its worked out
well, because a lot of bands who got coverage very early on in
their career have burned themselves out straight afterwards."
Pauline NME 11/11/78 |
| "
Pauline's best bet would be to take her musicians out of
circulation for a year or two until punk is nothing more than
nostalgia music, and then display that extraordinary soaring,
searing voice to the public afresh." Rare praise from
Burchill & Parsons. 'Boy Looked At Johnny' 1978 |
| Moving
Targets. A questing, arresting collection which ignored the first
two singles and plunged straight ahead with the
breathtaking sensurround sounds of Future Daze, Life's a
Gamble .....and a cover of a Patti Smith song Free Money.... all
interspersed with unpredictable, slower material that sucked you
in." Mick Mercer |
| "We
don't want all the songs to be wallopy loud bangs," grins the
stocky Gary....We try to complement Pauline's singing in our
playing by not being too heavy..." A lot of groups do
different paced songs, but usually it sounds forced." adds
Robert 12/6/78 NME |
At times
Penetration seemed for want of a better word impenetrable and verging
on meaningless. Pauline defends it " I don't think ours
get to the meaningless stage. They're not that abstract, I like people to read into songs
themselves. It doesn't always have to be laid straight on a plate..."
10/6/78 NME
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Penetration had true punk qualities; they were
both idealistic and naive
. At the same time this proved to be their down fall. "I'd rather
live outside London. I think it helps you work better...it means you really have
to prove yourselves. There's a bit of prejudice against against the bands from
outside London...But it definitely gives you time to sort yourselves
out." Zigzag June
78 .Their naivety shows though.
Pauline refused to use her sex as a selling point or focus so the record company made their own and to be honest I
remember more about the furore of this than the album. 'Don't Dictate'
they sang on their first single and it seemed like they were singing it to
their record company all the way to the end. Pauline."
Anyone
who claims to have complete artistic control is telling fibs." NME
11/11/78
"I'm always aware that people see a girl singer as an obvious attraction
. Its up to me to show it isn't like that...I don't think I
flaunt myself for instance" Pauline Zigzag June 78
So Virgin pressed the album on luminous vinyl that was supposed to 'Glow in
the dark.' It didn't do but what it did do though was crackle and irritate. The band wrote
letters to the music press advising buyers to return copies and ask for black ones.
Virgin weren't amused . Life's a Gamble and Danger Signs were released and
reached the lower edges of the top forty.
 |
Click on image
left
to view larger image |
And off they went like
any other rock band to tour the States and promote an album except they hated it and Virgin
dropped them. Pauline "
I'm pleased they didn't keep us...Why am I doing this ?..Why am I miserable
? ..What's the point ?..it brings it down to the level of having a
job." Mick Mercer Spiral Scratch April 1990.
And so Penetration ceased.
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| I think
uncertainty, naivety and vulnerability was the name of the game for
Penetration.
Unstable record company interest, a girl singer that didn't want to be exploited
ie this was a band, long period of time between starting and recording, oblique
lyrics and musically hard to place in the punk music they evolved from all didn't
help. Years
later in the eighties other bands would follow the same route but this
time in vogue. To fans of the band they will always will be heroes and
there's nothing
wrong with that. I've just always thought they missed the mark in a lot of
respects but that's just my
opinion.
In terms of women in punk
Pauline's another side to the debate and another
option for women in rock. A virtually asexual image and I don't mean that
negatively. No sexual aggressiveness. Pauline was an equal member of a band of
musicians taken and assessed on the same terms. The band also received a very
fair reception from the music press at the time.
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The last three photos on this page are
courtesy of Mick Mercer. A link to his website is on the first page. The
Penetration photos from the Vortex gig are among the best live photos I have
ever seen.
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