Crass: C or D?

Everyone should own the vinyl edition of Christ The Album/Well Forked...But Not Dead. Viva materialism!

Their outlook was probably far too situationalist to carry them too far though. If you put them out now as a band/concept I guess it would do well. It was never really about good music. Although good songs were a by product of their anger

Bird's put the turd in custard, but who put the shit in number 10? Wasn't me I was far too young?

Penis Envy was pretty good, an underrated postpunk record, especially "Poison In a Pretty Pill" and "Berkertex Bribe." "Yes Sir I Will" is cool too. I like how the multi-tracked screaming gives way to that piano ballad. Some of the tape-collage stuff is decent. "Nagasaki Nightmare" was OK. Destroy: anything with male vocals.

Search: later artier Crass

Destroy: well, bad punk bands who think Crass is just about "DO THEY EEW OSS A LAVANG! (OKOSSDEDU! OKOSSDEDU!)"

Best under $5 live album ever.

Crass: total, absolute, complete and utter classic.
Crass's music, particularly live, mostly dud unfortunately.

Destroy Chumbawamba my arse!

KOSSDEFUCKINDU!

Nothing else to add.

Anyone dig Schwarzenegger?

he had won the LPs for a design-the-next-beatles sleeve comp

is cavanagh right? is it really penny rimbaud? this is too good a story and i am suspicious

I always felt it was more like an artist's impression of what they thought upstart working class people might do if they tried to do art; if that makes any sense to anyone?

one of my favourite crass memories is when 'christ - the album' entered the album chart around number 22 and kid jensen (then doing the album chart show on radio one) simply said '...and at 22 there is an album by a band who as they haven't sent us a copy we are unable to play'. no mention of the artist or title!

I saw a photo of this.

haha, this still kills me. some of the greatest rock production of the last 30 years. or ever, really.

"Sentiment (White Feathers)"
"Rival Tribal Revel Rebel"
"Shaved Women"
"Do They Owe Us A Living"
"Reality Asylum"

i've just done a mix for radio one's essential mix that includes 'bloody revolutions'.

http://www.minimovies.org/documentaires/view/crass/full%20movie

of course all it does is make me want more more MORE. so much info left out. so many people. so many other bands. john loder. the label. gigs. and on and on and on. and eve. come on, eve. why so shy? i want a ten hour mini-series, basically. these people are still alive and kicking and eventually none of them will want to talk about it anymore. and all the home movie footage and photos...and live show video...*sigh* i'm just greedy. (maybe a dvd release will have extras and a photo gallery...)

thanks for the link scott. will tune into that later this evening. what a frigging classic band.

Todays Metro, page 42 (recreated as I can't upload pics here)

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2010/11/29/article-1291044252286-09BC2652000005DC-822134_466x448.jpg
Crass: Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis

I agree, Crass are totally classic. Your mother needs to be forced to listen to Crass. I think that even they rejected their extremism - also totally classic. No one owns you.

"Steve Ignorant's Crass" is playing here in March. Tickets go on sale Friday. I will prob. buy one…

Oh god, has it come to that?

It's been to that since at least 2007.

http://www.punk77.co.uk/anarcho_punk/steve_ignorant_interview_2007.htm

Better Steve fronting a Crass covers band than nobody from Crass doing the same. I was ~15 and probably grounded/broke/had no ride the last time Stratford Mercenaries came through SoCal.

is it better? really?

i don't think its better. even had my qualms about that double live conflict album way back when. they did crass songs with steve on that. didn't they? but, you know, whatever, my standard line is that people, obviously, can do whatever they want. didn't see any of the subhumans reunion shows either. i'm sure its all fun for people.

You mean Turning Rebellion Into Money, yeah they did Crass songs on that. Steve Ig was in Conflict at the time.

I don't really see what the problem is tbh. He isn't performing *as* Crass. They're (partly) his songs and he can do what he wants with them afaic.

I mean over the last decade have been to Conflict, Subhumans, Flux Of Pink Indians, Disrupters, Zounds, Rubella Ballet, Lost Cherrees etc etc reunion gigs and will probably end up going to this as well.

his other band played live, right? scharzenegger? i'm sure they must have done crass songs in their set. see, that seems perfectly fine with me. like if dick pulled out some subhumans songs at a citizen fish show.

love steve in the pub in that crass documentary. love him, in general.

co sign

i think if you are into it, it's fine. its not like i have a big problem. i went and saw the pretty things and mission of burma and chameleons over the years. it's just...you know, crass ended things so poetically. and they are crass. its just kinda anti-crass.

do they owe us a reunion?
course they facking do

i like steve in that too but i side w/ penny rimbaud on this in that its pretty lame. reminds me of the d.k. tour sans jello or jerry only's misfits

maybe ending things was un-crass-y tho, like crass is a feeling and it can just carry on at will?

i sang tube disaster on stage with nausea once. thats as close as i came to a flux show.

I think Stratford Mercenaries did a couple of Crass songs, the band he had after Schwarzeneggar.

Citizen Fish and the Subhumans are pretty much the same band! One different member iirc?

Anyway we are ignoring the big anarcho issue at the moment, which is Colin Jerwood allegedly ripping off royalties from Crass via the above live album! Ooh err.

i just want PENIS ENVY: THE MUSICAL

lyle preslar's minor threat

left wing SBs right wing SBs all the fucking same

I nearly went to see Springa Sings Decontrol a couple of years ago but that tour got cancelled.

what was the thing in the crass doc about celebs wearing bootleg crass shirts? was it beckham? that was funny but kinda sad

i still have a crass shirt from the 80's. dunno if its legal. probably not.

Pretty sure any Crass t-shirt is a bootleg

oh right they would be...

plus i always felt kinda funny wearing it back then anyway. cuz it says jesus died for his own sins not mine. which isn't something i ever really thought or cared about. and its not something i would want to get into a fight about.

its funny that they created a brand and logo that was so enticing to people that people would buy ANYTHING with the crass name on it. or ironic or whatever. they were amazing advertising/marketing people. they could have made millions.

hey, POO, click on the 24 HOURS OF HARDCORE link:

http://www.americanhardcorebook.com

i gotta devote a day to those MP3s!

Pretty sure any Crass t-shirt is a bootleg

Weren't they always about the "make your own"?

As opposed to "make loads then sell them, loadsamoney" obv.

Well yeah, I meant any Crass t-shirt that someone buys, not made their own.

I know, it was more that at the time, they couldn't be seen to be profiting from "fan worship" i.e. T-Shirt sales. LP sales/ticket sales are a different matter, however...

POO, did you check that link out?

its funny that they created a brand and logo that was so enticing to people that people would buy ANYTHING with the crass name on it. or ironic or whatever. they were amazing advertising/marketing people. they could have made millions.

^this x [some big number], see also Black Flag - have been saying this for quite a few years but yeah I think anyone who is *surprised* that bands like this and a lot of general HC/anarcho iconography ends up in large clothing stores etc isn't really thinking hard enough

I think if you'd told them *at the time*, they'd have thought you mad. But when you'd convinced them, they'd have been stuck as to what to do about it.

Scott - yeah I did, hadn't seen that before (although I have watched the movie) - tbh I have 4 days of hardcore on my ipod, bunch of amateurs if you ask me.

what was the thing in the crass doc about celebs wearing bootleg crass shirts? was it beckham? that was funny but kinda sad

Think I've seen a picture of Angelina Jolie in one.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DTzg0q3TE0E/S1CmqAP2hqI/AAAAAAAAAPs/7NdMxR_1O0A/s400/jolie2pt.jpg

You've not heard her version of "Fuck is wimmin's money" then?

I still have the free sew-on patch that came with "Nagasaski Nightmare". I wimped out of getting my mum to sew it on my jacket.

Sometimes I miss Crass.

Christ: The Album is classic

and, fittingly it was Ned's review of it that caused me to get it in the first place...

Gotta start somewhere.

:)

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2011/07/23/alg_theroux_aniston.jpg

i pity the fool that dismisses Crass

BEG THE QUESTION
BEND THE TRUTH
BAIL OUT THE BASEMENT
WHILE THERE'S HOLES IN THE ROOF

Yes Sir, I Will is seriously criminally underappreciated as a piece of weirdo avant-noise-collage whatever the fuck you wanna call it. It's almost Boredoms-y

As is 10 Notes on a Summer's Day.

Steve Ignorant being interviewed by John Robb about his life, his music etc.. http://vimeo.com/31018480

you lost me at John Robb

anybody picked up those reissued CDs? I'm curious about the sound and the liner notes. They're a little, uh, pricey for what I associate w/this band.

http://www.anarcho-punk.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&p=61407

Sigh

Crass 1 Wankers 0

I was listening in on a phone call between Penny Rimbaud and a band who'd released something which was kept in print for years - with nary a royalty paid. The band was demanding the return of the masters, to which they would create a new release, augmented with unreleased stuff, packaged better and generally improved in every way. They were "accepting" of the fact that Crass had never paid royalties (in other words, they didn't make demands or threats or anything about the great deal of money they'd lost.) They just wanted the tapes that *they owned* and that *they had paid for* to be returned to them.

Penny went ballistic, saying that he would sooner burn the tapes in a fire pit than return them and that "he needed to make money to survive." Then he slammed the phone day. I always thought Crass were too strident and dogmatic and finger-pointing (despite half-hearted protests to the contrary) to be taken very seriously. And I always thought that their records were pretty weak. But even I was shocked at the petulant quality of his outburst. Things were eventually resolved to *some* satisfaction of the band (legally, they did own the tapes, but they couldn't afford to fight it.

Anyway, none of this crap surprises me. Crass always gave the Clash shit for their supposed "sell-out" commercialism, but knowing Joe and Mick and various others in that gang, I find it funny to know how much (unannounced) good work Joe used to do for people - myself included - and how much time and energy even "rock and roll Mick" devotes to fund-raising and charities, and how, despite some acrimony during the original band's break-up, they mended fences, took care of business, agreed on some counterintuitive things (like not having reunions) and helped each other out quite a bit behind the scenes. When you compare this to the behavior of most Crass members in recent years - despite their relatively small pile of loot to fight over, it's hilarious. Pathetic,

The Takedown of the 3000

That's a fascinating post! (xp) I mean, never trust a hippy, right? He (P. Rimbaud) lives across the road from a pub I frequent, don't know if he comes in though, wouldn't know him from Adam anyway. (By the way, re the Clash, I don't think any wealthy bastard deserves a medal for 'fund-raising and charities')

good for penny. fuck those crybaby assholes. more like anarcho-fart.joke

(By the way, re the Clash, I don't think any wealthy bastard deserves a medal for 'fund-raising and charities')

an unnecessarily meanspirited aside serving no purpose as far as I can see - the notion that nobody should commend anybody for doing charity work because after all, they're rich, they should do lots of fundraising: how petty and small. people who get rich tend to realize quickly they're not obligated to do jack shit; putting in a day's work for no pay in order to help others is a nice thing to do; upbraiding somebody for giving props to a guy who does some charity work seems pretty sad to me

have you noticed that i'm STILL waiting for that radio station that joe strummer said he was gonna start?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIVCneVSvIM

aero otm. sneering at the charitable actions of others is nagl. even if they have committed sins of wealth-having.

Even if they did nothing other than play on Honey Bane's "Girl on the Run," classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7sPZvLRTFI

I was listening in on a phone call between Penny Rimbaud and a band who'd released something which was kept in print for years

― crustaceanrebel, Monday, July 23, 2012 1:51 AM

no u weren't

good for penny. fuck those crybaby assholes.

OTM. Whiny, entitled pricks. Crass's never said "Pay No More Than Zero".

no u weren't

― am0n, Monday, July 23, 2012 2:47 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink'

Well, yes I was. Still have Penny's number, in fact!

As far as the Clash goes - I worked with several of them - it's not widely known what catastrophic financial position most of them were in for years after the break-up. Joe really didn't see more than enough to survive on a basic level until the mid-90s, when the band's massive debts to their label (you didn't get low-priced albums like "London Calling" and "Sandinista!" without the band taking reduced royalties) and other parties were paid off. Even at the height of the band's popularity, he couldn't get a loan to buy a decent flat. He makes more money now than he did while he was alive. Topper was reduced to terrible financial circumstances (and not because of heroin, doubters) for years. Yet still, all these guys were generous with their time, energy and talent. And that may not seem like a lot, but that's because quite a lot of what they did they never announced and often refused to publicize. Mick, who's probably the most well-off in the band, being (roughly) 50% of the songwriting team, with post-Clash success and an incredible work ethic, still isn't as rich as you think.

You'd be surprised how little many "wealthy bastards" in punk actually make. Or made. Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian, members of the Damned from the beginning (for the most part), have incomes most people would consider very low middle-class, despite many hits in the UK and strong catalog sales of their 35 years worth of recordings. Guys like John McGeogh, who played with Magazine, Visage, Public Image Lts and the Banshees and had hits with most of them, barely scraped by. I could tell similar stories about loads of people from that era whom many would think would be wealthy. They rarely are very comfortable. But few of them act as ungenerously as Penny and various Crass members.

http://www.ni-dieu-ni-maitre.com/ngnmbanner.gif

sneering at the charitable actions of others is nagl.

Probably not but I'm somewhat embittered having worked in the charity sector for a long time (thankfully no more, fuck that shit) which was largely reliant on City of London types for fundraising, y'know those guys who've fucked up the world economy and earn more in a week than you earn in a year and pay less tax than the people who clean their offices? Still they some give crumbs off their table to some poor people (but only if they live a LONG way away from them), so well done chaps. But, yr right, it was a stupid spiteful stab at the Clash, who all seem(ed) like good blokes. Apologies.

Cheerfully accepted, thanks Tom D.!

You'd be surprised how little many "wealthy bastards" in punk actually make.

Has anyone actually made serious money from punk other than Brett Gurewitz and Green Day?

ian mackaye? or fugazi probably. or whoever owns dischord with ian. they sell a lot of records and those guys get to keep all the money. though i guess they aren't "punk". they came from it though. maybe not serious serious though. they like to keep things cheap.

During the summer of 1990 MacKaye formed the corporation Lunar Atrocities Ltd in order to shield his own and his band mates' personal assets from the threat of lawsuits. As Mr. Seth Martin, MacKaye’s financial advisor explained to the Washington Post in a 1993 interview: "protection from liability is the main reason to form a corporation, and for these guys it makes sense. If someone got hurt stage-diving and decided to sue, it would be a little harder to go after their personal assets.”

how many fugazi albums you think they've sold? millions probably. i would hope that they had some money!

you would think you could get rich just selling hatebreed t-shirts, but i've come to the conclusion that nobody in music is rich except for elton john. and rod stewart. and the rolling stones. that's it. and the 2 beatles. that's really it though.

and lionel ritchie. and mariah carey.

but that's really it.

Does Urban Outfitters owe them a living

they want HOW MUCH for that thing

Yes but remember!

Crazy awesome vintage moto leather jacket from the 1990s. Topped with hand-painted punk logos at like Sex Pistols and Crass. Excellent vintage condition. We only have one, so get it or regret it!

It's MARKET FORCES you see.

pinched it and put it on this thread too cheers ned!
Post pics of the best/worst Battle Jackets and ILM will mark them out of 10

"Read Reviews (1)"

Can't read it on this.

Warning(September 23, 2013)
"Cons: I guess I didn't notice it at first but this jacket says A*S*S* on it really huge on the back.
All the kids at school made fun of me.
Pros: Warm, waterproof (kinda).

Proper Punk(September 23, 2013)
"Represents true punk spirit. Well worth the money to be part of the proud history of people like Johnny Vicious

am impressed at the very neat handwriting(September 23, 2013)
"The jacket is so neat. I bet the person who made it was an A+ student. The perfect handwriting on this garment has really helped me to get in touch with my punk side. Rebel! Be neat! Smash the system!

Plastic PUNX(September 23, 2013)
"This is the ideal leather for every plastic punk that knows nothing about punk and at an amazing price!

Well worth the money...(September 23, 2013)
"NEVER has anarchy been so easy to buy, or easy to sell in such a convenient, white-washed form! I bought three, and bought one for my dad for christmas, even though he'll never understand me...

RIP Crass logo designer David King
https://www.kqed.org/arts/13868611/david-king-san-francisco-artist-who-designed-iconic-crass-emblem-dies-at-71

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS-mzQl2Ra0

Awesome.

anybody picked up those reissued CDs? I'm curious about the sound and the liner notes. They're a little, uh, pricey for what I associate w/this band.

― sleeve, Monday, October 24, 2011 1:32 PM (eight years ago)

Crass are/were classic, but these CD reissues are terrible (and remixed). Avoid.

Yep. This guy knows what he's talking about

One of them i think it's the feeding of the 5000 reissue has some demo tracks which aren't officially available elsewhere in studio versions, so if you're a conpletist, the Heartwork of the Mortuary is a good song, but other than that I'd avoid them

It is that one and it's Heartbeat not Heartwork obviously although I swear I've seen it listed as the latter somewhere time. Anyway the pre-Feeding demos are the only songs worth hearing

It's "Heart-throb of the Mortuary" ffs!

(It's about Tony Blackburn). I enjoyed Penny Rimbaud's explanation that the hippie-producer bloke liked reverb so doused the tracks in plenty, and that the songs ended up sounding like "Donegan on Mogadon"

I liked the "remix" versions, so hey.

It's called Heartbeat on the Feeding of the 5000 reissue. Heart-throb on Well Forked But Not Dead

xp you fucking would, wouldn't you, tin-ears? so how much did you get for the old ones on eBay?

I believe there was a certain amount of re-titling of the remasters for a "laff", Steve definitely sings "Heartthrob" anyway.

I didn't sell the old ones - I did sell the new ones though. Still waiting for the new release of "Best Before" with the extra disc - I think it's delayed until next year.

https://mailchi.mp/5613f3658ef2/feeding-of-the-five-thousand

FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND

- here's the loaves and fishes - make a meal of it – mincepies optional -

As a special seasonal gift, we are making available as a free download the original track stems of Crass' seminal album, 'The Feeding of the Five Thousand', separated to the premix state of the original sixteen track recording; naked, raw and uncooked. Yours for the taking, yours for the making.*

First released in 1978, 'The Feeding of the Five Thousand' pre-empted rap and grime in its hard on the beat, fast fire, uncompromising lyrics. Now's your chance to download the original tracks, do the remix of your dreams and tell it as it is; the message is DIY like it never was before.

Having made your mixes, you are encouraged to send files to us at Crass Records where we will select the most suitable for a 12" vinyl pressing with the current working title of 'More Tea, Vicar?'. All profits will be donated to charities of choice. You do it, we'll stew it.

GET MIXING, AND DON'T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR WISH.

AND A VERY MERRY CRASSMAS TO Y'ALL.

Download stems: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0r0drirt7utf58r/AADYUWf5f3tSns0n7HdQ2z3Wa?dl=0

anyone who is anti religion has got to be good.who cares what the music is like. anti religion is the only way for humans to evolve.
― del a robbo, Saturday, May 4, 2002 8:00 PM bookmarkflaglink

just realized I'd never heard Stations of the Crass, just Feeding and Christ: The Album.

enjoying this on first listen.

it's so good

Penis Envy is still my fave though

acquired that one too. it's really catchy! I enjoy that it's just the female vocalists too.

the first time I heard "Asylum" spoken word intro to Feeding, I practically screamed in excitement. "Jesus died for his own sins, not mine!"

<3

Seminal Punk Artists CRASS to Release Crassical Collection Featuring Collectible Editions of Classic Albums via One Little Independent

All Crassical Collection Releases to Include Remastered Audio, Rare Tracks, New Art and Comprehensive Liner Notes

One Little Independent Records has revealed details on the Crassical Collection, a collection of seminal avant-punk collective CRASS’ legendary albums, restored from the original analogue studio tapes.

Set for release in North America on October 30, the Crassical Collection includes Stations of the Crass (1979), Feeding of the Five Thousand (The Second Sitting) (1981), Penis Envy (1981), Christ – The Album (1982), Yes Sir, I Will (1983), Ten Notes on a Summer’s Day (1986) and Best Before 1984 (1986). Each of the records have been repackaged and bolstered by rare and unreleased tracks, and stunning new artwork from Gee Vaucher, who has lovingly created what could only be considered a true artifact.

The first six albums include two CDs, with the first disc being the main album remastered by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios and the second being a mixture of rare live and remastered studio recordings. Each package also includes a fold-out poster and a high-quality 60-page booklet featuring all lyrics along with extensive liner notes from band members Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant, which shed light on the making of the records.

The Best Before 1984 Crassical Collection is brand-new and has also been remastered and features five fold-out posters and a 52-page booklet.

Pre-orders for the seven releases are available now via Amazon.

CDs are $24? Gah!

those remasters are a travesty, see above

also, this is very confusing. these revamped "Crassical" versions have already been put out once by Southern?

I've had the 2cd "Best before" on order for a year or more, fortunately they are honouring all the previous orders at the old price.

Will let you know if the extras are worth it..

the band writes a guide to their albums on Bandcamp

https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/crass-discography-list

I emailed OLI to find out when "Best before" was coming out. Ten minutes later, it arrived on my doorstep!

It's a similar package to the other "Crassical" cd's, two discs and booklet, plus copies of every foldy single sleeve, in miniature.

I've not played it yet, but I'd call it a bargain at the price I paid. Whether its worth £22 is up to youse, but.

This doesn't seem to have been mentioned here before. Click the "Crass Journal" link at the bottom of the page for an exhaustive 169-page chronicle of the disagreements between ex-members concerning the reissues. Essential reading for interested parties, I'd've thought.

http://www.crassicalcollection.com/

I think they're doingthem at £17 from the site plus p+p aren't they?
Was just looking up what people thought of the current batch before checking out where to start.
I hope this is the definiteive cd version now and there won't be another rejigging, but may be different medium in another few years anyway. Had meant to get the last batch of cds so I guiess getting a 2nd disc and possibly better packaging is a bonus.

Yes Sir, I Will remains to this day an unbelievable, relentless and inspiring record. i need to correct the fact that its the only one i actually own :-(

This has been doing the rounds on acid techno FB today - a great long read on the links between anarchism-punk and dance music, centred around Crass:

https://undeleted.wordpress.com/crass-go-disco/

Damn autocorrect… anarcho-punk even

amazing oral history, thanks for the link. I would buy that as a book.

at what point should you go to bed? is it when you're yelling "of course they do of course they do" at your elderly cat? he doesn't seem to mind

4 of Crass did a talk somewhere in London this week which I didn't go to. did anyone else?

I also noted that Eve Libertine did a performance this week with a trans musician backing her. I know it shouldn't be that notable but at the moment I will grab onto any kind of trans-positivity as a sign that not everyone my age and older is a cunt.

good on her, would love to hear about the talk!

i want that new book so bad! but it is $$$ and i think i have to get it from the U.K. only? which means extra shipping $$ too.

my friend who is an old boston skin went to see steve play in Boston not too long ago. he said it was awesome. i was a little jealous. he got a nice photo with steve too.

xp ooh I hadn't heard about that, looks awesome, and yeah UK shipping will be a lot

this episode of the digging with flo podcast is a great listen, a chat with penny about gardening and other things at dial house:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digging-with-flo-penny-rimbaud/id1692225522?i=1000644324800

it's on Spotify etc too btw

!!!!

https://soundcloud.com/cratss/sets/cratss-does-crass?si=a118767463404ded803e24617556ed92&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

This...is something.

What the.....?!

haha, they are funny! and i am as big a crass fan as anyone.

https://soundcloud.com/cratss/05-how-does-it-feel-to-be-the

omg Do They Owe Us A Living

"Shaved Women", I mean...

"Securicor" could be a hit for Beyonce !

Now I've got that vers of Do They Owe Us a Living? stuck in my head

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/10/eve-libertine-interview-anarcho-punk-pioneers-crass

thank you so much, my favorite Crass member

this rules

https://calibansounds.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-horse-hospital

I'd been hoping something gets released from that. I didn't go but I heard it was great. I'm going to see Eva's band Traidora in a few weeks, seen them a few times now, ferocious crusty punk