Richard Strange

Richard Strange (born January 1951) is a British musician, actor, writer and composer. In 1975 he fronted the protopunk rock band Doctors of Madness. Strange has made films with Tim Burton, Neil Jordan, and Martin Scorsese, and appeared in several episodes of the successful comedy Men Behaving Badly playing the part of Neville the stoned hippy.

In 1981, Strange released the album "The Phenomenal Rise of Richard Strange" on Virgin Records.

In 1986, another song, "Damascus", got first released on 12'' maxi vinyl on both the Belgian Another Side and the German WEA labels.

In 2002, Strange’s autobiography, "Punks and Drunks and Flicks and Kicks" was published. Strange played the role of an Abraham Lincoln impersonator in Harmony Korine's 2008 film, Mister Lonely. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_strange)

Scheduled

Line up

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Strangest thing

Strange visited Cambodia in 2008 but I didn't get to meet him...

Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey is the co-founder and singer of rock band The Saints. He was born in Nanyuki, Kenya in 1959 to Irish parents. Bailey grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland until the age of seven, when his family emigrated to Australia. The Saints were formed in Australia in 1974. Their first hit was in the UK with the classic punk anthem "(I'm) Stranded". The band slowly evolved toward a more sophisticated sound on their next few albums. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Bailey)

Scheduled

Line up

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

The 77's

The 77s (alternatively spelled The Seventy Sevens or The 77's) are an American rock band. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_77s)

Scheduled

Line up

Michael Roe - vocals, guitar; Mark Tootle - keyboards, guitar; Jan Eric Volz - bass; Aaron Smith - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info


Article from festival booklet

The group's video (and future show stopper) Mercy Mercy was aired on MTV. In Europe, where Polygram released the album, the group played festivals and showcases like the Pandora's Music Box festival, and videos aired on Music Box, the continent's equivalent to MTV. (http://www.shoutlife.com/the77s)

Shockheaded Peters

Shockheaded Peters revolves around Karl Blake (born: December 5, 1956; Reading, Berkshire, England), vocalist, bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work with The Lemon Kittens, Danielle Dax, Sol Invictus, Current 93 and Gaë Bolg. Other past projects include Alternative TV, The Underneath, Evil Twin, British Racing Green, Blake Sabbath and solo work. Most of his work can be described as progressive-experimental and sometimes psychedelic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Blake)

Scheduled

Line up

Karl Blake - vocals; Simon Moon - guitar; David Cadbury-Knight - guitar; Simon Shearston - bass; Trevor Reidy - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet




Article from Oor (1985-20)

24 years ago this month at Pandora's Music Box 1985 - Rotterdam. I was the bassist in "Shockheaded Peters". Got drunk with many of them that weekend - we were all in the same hotel. Met some very nice people in Sonic Youth, The Cult and Nico. A great memory. Anyone remember some of the legends in this line-up? (Escribano, http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=117975&appid=8&p=&mpage=1&key=&tmode=&smode=&s=#118903)

Screaming Blue Messiahs

The Screaming Blue Messiahs were a rock band, formed in 1983 in London by Bill Carter, Chris Thompson and Kenny Harris. The three had played together previously as The Small Brothers, and Thompson and Carter had formed part of Motor Boys Motor, together with Tony Moon on vocals, recording several tracks under that name on 24 August 1981 for John Peel's show on BBC Radio 1. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screaming_Blue_Messiahs)

Scheduled

Line up

Bill Carter - vocals, guitar; Chris Thompson - bass, vocals; Kenny Harris - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info


Article from festival booklet


Billy Carter on stage at Pandora's 85 (http://www.itlooksdifferent.com/index.cfm?id=78)

Yeah, they were great. If I recall, they went on just before us - which helped to warm the place up. (Escribano (bass player with Shockheaded Peters), http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=117975&appid=8&p=&mpage=1&key=&tmode=&smode=&s=#118903)

Tickets 1985

Used ticket for Friday night (thanks Surfling)


Unused Press and Guests ticket for Friday night

And another unused Press and Guest ticket for Friday Night

Used ticket for Saturday night (thanks Surfling)


Unused ticket for Saturday night

The Legendary Pink Dots

The Legendary Pink Dots (LPD) are an Anglo-Dutch experimental rock band formed in London in August 1980. Although far outside the mainstream (in terms of their music and career path), LPD have released more than 40 albums, have a devoted worldwide following, and tour frequently. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_Pink_Dots)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Small Hall", 22:25 - 23:10

Line-up
Edward Ka-Spel – vocals, keyboards; The Silverman (Phil Knight) – keyboards; rest unknown

Set list

01 The heretic

02 Mmmmmmmm

03 City ghosts

04 Femme mirage (feat. Julia Niblock)

05 I am the way, the truth, the light

06 (early cut)

(http://people.zeelandnet.nl/sveingold/boots/)

Recordings
A recording exists. I've seen it being listed twice, possibly because of late start:
10/11/85: Rotterdam / De Doelen
10/12/85: Rotterdam / Pandora's Club

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Tickets 1984

Used ticket for Friday night


Unused ticket for Friday night (can you imagine: unused!)


Unused ticket for Saturday night

Tex & the Horseheads

One of the wilder exponents of cow-punk, Tex and the Horseheads are spiritual kin to the Gun Club. And while they lean towards a very punky image (lead singer Texacala Jones dresses like a female Stiv Bator; on the first album, the bassist's name is Smog Vomit and the drummer is Rock Vodka), their playing is fairly coherent. Mixing mutant blues (even a cover of Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man") into the first album's punk-country-rock blender, Tex and the Horseheads have a convincingly strong sound, but are a few pints short on material. (http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=tex_and_the_horseheads)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 24:00 - 01:00

Line up
Texacala Jones – vocals; Mike Martt – guitar; Greg "Smog Vomit" Boaz – bass; Rock Vodka – drums

Set list
Unknown

Recording
Unknown. The album Tot Ziens - Live in Holland (Enigma, 1986) was not recorded at Pandora's Music Box, although the picture on the front cover was taken there.



Other info

I was in the eightys at pandoras box in netherlands, huge lots of bands playing there, we looked in the program and saw - Tex and the horseheads - I haven´t known before something from these band, so we go for have a look.IT WAS THE BEST GIG on the whole festival. A concert I will never forget. Fuckn Great...!!!
The greatest gig coming out of hell on pandoras box doelen.That was fun pure (confetty, http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=27534331&albumID=0&imageID=1419076)


Article from festival booklet


Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11)


Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 with the Legendary Stardust Cowboy watching from the side (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11)


Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (Oor magazine, 1985/21)


Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo: Lex van Rossen). This picture was used on the front cover of Tot Ziens - Live in Holland.


Photographer Lex van Rossen posing in front of his favourite concert picture, showing Tex on stage at Pandora's 85.

"Nee, ik heb geen moeite mijn eigen favoriet aan te wijzen. Ik hou van deze foto van Tex and the Horseheads. Toen ik haar zag was ik meteen verkocht. Het was heel aandoenlijk: ze was heel erg dronken. Ik vind de vormen mooi: die kronkel in het snoer en die vlek op het podium. Voor mijn gevoel heb ik The Beauty en The Beast in één foto weten vast te leggen."
Erik van den Berg (OOR): "Ik heb Tex een aantal keer gezien. Dat geeft de foto voor mij een meerwaarde. Het lijkt wel of ze poseert. Maar ze ligt gewoon op het podium. Toch is het een intiem moment. En die vlek is heel rock 'n' roll. Ik vind het een sexy foto." (Lex van Rossen, http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/22455643)


Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo Cor Jabaaij, http://www.corjabaaij.nl/)

John Martyn

John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy on September 11, 1948 in New Malden, Surrey, England) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martyn)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 22:30 - 23:30

Line up
John Martyn – guitar, vocals; Foster Paterson – keyboards; Alan Thomson – bass

Setlist
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info


Article from festival booklet

Billy Bragg

Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is an English musician renowned for his blend of folk, punk-rock, and protest music, and his lyrics dealing with political as well as romantic themes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bragg)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Mini Box", 22:15 - 22:45

Line up
Billy Bragg - vocals, guitar

Set list
01 Like soldiers do (3:35)
02 The man in the iron mask (2:48)
03 The Saturday boy (5:34)
04 The milkman of human kindness (3:25)
05 Bad summer (1:33)
06 A new England (3:07)
07 Island of no return (3:59)

Also performed:
00 Richard (3:13 - performed some time before The milkman of human kindness - judging from other BB shows around this time, it's likely to have been straight after The man in the iron mask)

Recording
Two recordings are reported. The first (shortest) one is Richard plus tracks 04, 06 and 07, total time 12'58". It's released as the bootleg Pandora's Box 1984, which is most likely a CDR and not a silver disc. (http://www.braggtopia.com/musicxchange/1984-09-21-Tracks.htm)



The second (longer) recording of tracks 01 - 07 is more common, but misses Richard, total time 22'35".

I have both sets as lossless (flac) recordings taken from radio broadcasts. Combined they run close to the 30 minutes alloted to Bragg, although it's hard to believe he came out to play only 8 songs...

Catch the stream for the longer one here: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/programmas/afleveringen/7733401

Other info


Article from festival booklet


Billy Bragg on stage at Pandora's 84. Unmistakable, even without his head pictured... (Oor magazine 1984/20)

Lyres

Lyres (sometimes miscredited as The Lyres) are a Boston-area alternative rock musical group led by Jeff "Monoman" Conolly. Lyres were founded in 1979 following the breakup of DMZ. Their most popular songs included "What A Girl Can't Do" and "Help You Ann". The original lineup of the band featured Rick Coraccio (bass), Ricky Carmel (guitar), and Paul Murphy (drums). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lyres)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 00:30 - 01:15

Line up
Jeff Connolly – vocals, organ; Dan McCormack – guitar; Rick Coraccio – bass; Paul Murphy – drums

Set list
01 Unknown track

02 Stacey

03 Stop, take a look at me

04 Help you Ann

05 Soapy

06 Nobody but me

Recording
I have a lossless (flac) recording of the above 6 tracks, taken from a radio broadcast, about 23 minutes in total.

The Orson Family

Short-lived gothic rock band featuring sibling vocalists Vernon, Ruby and John Orson, who also played guitars and were backed by Vincent (bass) and David O. (drums).
(...) The Orson Family wasn't really a family. They were formed around 1982 in England. Vernon and Ruby lived together (they were engaged but never married). Brewster and David O. are actually the same person. They soon added a trumpet player called Kevin but nicknamed Elmer. They quoted Hank Williams, Link Wray, Bunker Hill, Vincent, Cochran, Lou Reed, The Jam as influences.
They records a self released 3 track EP, a six track mini LP The River of Desire, the 12" No-one Waits Forever, a live LP Bugles, Guitars & Amphetamine and another single The Sweetest Embrace but with another singer as Skully left/was fired soon before. (http://rideyourpony-twighlightzone.blogspot.com/2006_09_03_rideyourpony-twighlightzone_archive.html)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 23:15 - 00:00

Line up
Probably: Skully - vocals; Vernon - guitar; Ruby - guitar; Brewster - drums. Possibly with Kevin (aka Elmer) - trumpet

Set list
00 No-one waits forever

Recording
Unknown

Rose of Avalanche

Formed in Leeds, early 1985, the original line up was a group of school mates, raw and wanting to take over the world with one chord songs. The name was a representation of the power and beauty of the songs. At this stage there was no drummer, just a beat box. From an early stage The Rose of Avalanche picked up a Goth tag from the UK's music press. It was some way off the mark, but it's understandable:
The Rose came from Leeds in the mid 1980's (along with the Sisters of Mercy, Mission, March Violets, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Salvation, and the Skeletal Family in near by Bradford). They started off with the standard Goth drum machine backing, and their first two singles have swirly art work covers. (http://www.geocities.com/~jamesparton/biog1.htm)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Mini Box", 21:45 - 22:25

Line up
Phil Morris – vocals; Paul James Berry – guitar; Glenn Schultz – guitar; Alan Davis – bass; drum machine (Mark Thompson joined the band on drums shortly after this gig http://www.geocities.com/~jamesparton/biog2.htm)

Set list
Unknown

Recording
No recording is known to exist according to the Rose of Avalanche site.

Other info


Article from festival booklet

Paleis van Boem

Het Paleis van Boem bestaat uit Martin Vonk en Jaap de Weijer. Martin werd op 16 januari 1959 geboren in Rotterdam en volgde de klassieke opleiding slagwerk aan het Rotterdams Conservatorium. Jaap werd geboren op 20 mei 1959 in Wageningen en volgde de opleiding slagwerk lichte muziek aan het Rotterdams Conservatorium. Het duo heeft muziek gecomponeerd voor uiteenlopende media: toneel, dans, film, radio, televisie, maar ook voor commercials, exposities, enz. (http://www.score-magazine.nl/modules.php?name=topMusic&op=artist&idartist=38)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Small Hall", 21:00 - 21:45

Line up
Martin Vonk – drums, percussion; Jaap de Weijer – drums, percussion

Set list
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info




Article from festival booklet

Niew Hip Stilen

Tegendraadse Rotterdamse jazz/popband die in de eerste helft van de jaren tachtig experimenteert met samples en computers op het podium en verschillende stijlen als jazz, punk en new wave met elkaar combineert. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/niew_hip_stilen.6186.html)

Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Feestzaal", 01:15 - 02:00

Line up
Maarten van Gent – bass, drums, guitar, percussie & vocals; Jan Willem van Mook – bass, sax, keyboards, percussion & computer; Rutger van Otterloo – sax, drums & percussion

Set list
Includes
00 Blues
00 Ice man
00 Raw beat
00 Relax yourself

Recording
Henk Madrotter sent me 12 tracks of this gig as mp3's, most of them untitled, total time 60'. This recording is longer than the allocated time for Niew Hip Stilen at Pandora's. It's unknown if this is from a radio broadcast or recorded directly from the soundboard. The audience sounds very distant, which leads me to believe it's a soundboard.

Other info
De groep staat in september op het programma van het groots opgezette festival Pandora's Music Box in de Doelen te Rotterdam. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/niew_hip_stilen.6186.html)

Frontman of this band was Maarten, the bald one, who used to play guitar with the legendary communist Rotterdam punkband The Rondo's... I saw Niew Hip Stilen perform live at one of those Pandora Festivals and still have the (pretty good) recordings of that.
(Madrotter, http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/09/niew-hip-stilen-heartsounds-murmers-lp.html)

Yeah, I have those recordings. Niew Hip put out a tape with those recordings along with some other material, I was actually standing in the front at that concert... I just send those recordings to the mutant-sounds blog, don't know when he (Eric) will post 'em but the sound quality was still pretty good... Frontman Maarten from Niew Hip used to play guitar in legendary Rotterdam punk band the Rondos, I still have that album, anybody still has their singles?
(Madrotter, http://433rpm.blogspot.com/2007/09/effenaar-7-compilation-1982-niew-hip.html)


Article from festival booklet

SPK

SPK, formed in 1978 in Sydney, Australia, was a 1980s and early 1990s industrial music and noise music act featuring Graeme Revell, who would later go on to become a successful Hollywood movie composer. The group was formed when Revell (aka Operator) met up with Neil Hill (aka Ne/H/il). The meaning of the SPK abbreviation is deliberately unclear; the album covers suggest several different alternatives. The most well known is Sozialistisches PatientenKollektiv, but there are also others, such as Surgical Penis Klinik, System Planning Korporation and SePuKku. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPK_(band))
Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Feestzaal", 23:45 - 00:45
Line up Sinan Leong – vocals; Graeme Revell – vocals, synthesizers, electronics, metal percussion; Derek Thompson – trumpet, keyboards, metal percussion
Set list
01 Napalm 2
02 The sandstorm method
03 Metal field
04 Metal dance
05 Walking on dead steps
06 The kill
07 Will to power
Recording A radio recording of tracks 01 – 07 exists, approx. 45'. I have 03 and 04, 11'18". Get them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070908-203849
Tracks 01, 02 and 06 were officially released in 2008 on the "Dokument III0 1979 - 1983" box set. Other info

SPK live at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl 1983/9)

Oil drum/instrument (Vinyl 1983/9)

SPK photo shoot, backstage at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl 1983/9)

Article from festival booklet

Green on Red

Green on Red were an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground. Earlier records have the wide-screen psychedelic sound of first-wave desert rock, with occasional impulses toward pop mitigated by the limitations of shambolic vocalist Dan Stuart. Later records suggest a kind of broke-down American Rolling Stones. Others have called them the bastard children of Neil Young. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_on_red)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 3:20 - 04:20

Line up
Dan Stuart – vocals, guitar; Chuck Prophet – guitar; Chris Cacavas – keyboards; Jack Waterson – bass; Keith Mitchell – drums (drummer Alex McNicol had quit on the eve of the fall ’85 tour, http://guitarbands.de/greenonredhistory.htm)

Set list

01 (Ain't It) Funny How Time Slips Away

02 That's What Dreams Were Made For

03 Black River

04 Sixteen Ways

05 Down To The Bone

06 Sea of Cortez

07 Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

08 No Free Lunch

09 Honest Man

10 This I Know

11 We Shall Overcome

12 Hair Of The Dog

13 The Drifter

14 Everybody Loves To Play The Fool

15 Down By The River

16 Gravity Talks

17 Cheap Wine

18 5 Easy Pieces

They joined the Rain Parade on stage at the end of their set.

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) audience recording.


Fragment of Green on Red joining the Rain Parade on stage for the finale of their set at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by user waaghalsrecords.

Other info

Garage box

The first night of Pandora's 1984 had a room reserved for garage rock.

Line up
21:15 - 21:45 Claw Boys Claw
22:45 - 23:30 Scientists
23:15 - 00:00 Orson Family
00:30 - 01:15 Lyres
01:45 - 02:30 The Nomads
03:00 - 03:45 Dream Syndicate

Other info
Bij de 2e editie, ter gelegenheid van de garagebox, verscheen er bij de Oor (?) een bijlage over garage muziek toen en nu, met een uitputtende opsomming en beschrijving van bandjes. Deze bijlage werd al gauw 'de garagebijbel' genoemd, en was de bron van vele ontdekkingen qua sixties garagerock. (Gerdou, http://www.wiels.nl/blog/comments.php?y=07&m=10&entry=entry071025-001000)


Review Garage Box (Oor, 1984/20)

Garage listening test with Claw Boys Claw, from festival booklet

The Dream Syndicate

Dream Syndicate was an early alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California that was active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Syndicate)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 03:00 - 03:45

Line up
Steve Wynn – vocals; Karl Precoda – guitar; Mark Walton – bass, vocals; Dennis Duck – drums

Set list
01 Halloween
02 Daddy's girl
03 Burn
04 Sure thing
05 When you smile
06 The medicine show
07 J.C. Stereo blues
08 Still holding on to you
09 Sweet home Alabama

Recordings
According to the Steve Wynn Archive, the whole set was recorded from the audience, and tracks 03 - 06 and 09 (cut) were professionally recorded and broadcast on radio. I have both recordings in lossless (flac) quality. Get them in any file format you can imagine here: http://www.archive.org/details/ds1984-09-21.flac16