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The more I listen to The Nipple
Erectors the more I love
them though you never know what version you are going to get. Formed by the gorgeous
Shanne and Shane towards the latter days of The Roxy. Shanne (later
called Dragonella to avoid confusion with Shane !) was originally
taught bass by Captain Sensible and played in a band called The Launderettes.
She again was involved with the punk scene from the very start
with the Pistols and Damned. It was she that came up with the name
Nipple Erectors for the band (see interview as to why). The
toothy challenged Shane McGowan writer of 'Bondage' fanzine was a well
known face on the scene and indeed appeared on the front cover of Sounds with the
caption 'The Face of 76.
He's also there in Don Letts' 'Punk Movie' in the union jack blazer
pogoing and bashing on the Jams
drum kit. |
Shanna and Shane.
Photo
Erica Echenberg
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Both were original Pistols fans but
managed to come up with something completely different. They had their problems
though; fluid personnel, constantly changing style as per 4 singles,
limited reaction on Chiswick who couldn't afford to promote heavily
and last, but not least, their very name which they reluctantly changed. They sort
of occurred as punk was changing so they had to change to avoid being dated and
they toured with a wide variety of acts from The Dammed to mod acts like The
Purple Hearts to Dexy's Midnight Runners ! They played everywhere (played the
Roxy a couple of times on audition night) and with everyone. |
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Numerous
people passed through their ranks; Grinny
from Screwdriver ( he just disappeared !!), Phil Rowland from Eater, Gerry
McIlduff - original drummer with the Pretenders and Mark Harrison from
the Bernie Torme Band. Paul
Weller of the Jam was a big fan and produced the last single Happy
Song. Between them Shanne and Shane
appeared to argue and
constantly disagree but hell so what. So what was the music like then.. Early stuff like
Nervous Wreck, Stavordale
Road and
So Pissed Off are your classic 2nd division punk and should be in
everyone's collection. All The Time In The
World is souped up R&B. Later tunes like
Gabrielle and
Happy
Song go more
poppy . Eventually it all just fizzled out. Shanne would go onto greater glory with
The Men They Couldn't Hang while for Shane the dizzy heights of The
Pogues and alcohol abuse! God bless them both. |
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