Spear of Destiny

Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1983 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon (born on 3 August 1956, in Westminster, London) and bassist Stan Stammers (born on 19 May 1961). It had an ever-changing line-up through the years. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_of_Destiny_%28band%29)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Grote Zaal", 21:30 - 22:30

Line up
Kirk Brandon – guitar, vocals; Stan Stammers – bass; rest of line-up uncertain.

In early January 1983 Kirk and Stan set out to find new band members, they came in the form of Chris Bell on drums and Lascelles James on sax. (http://www.stanstammers.com/bio3.html)

Arising from the grave of bleak post-punkers Theatre of Hate, Spear of Destiny was formed in 1983 by Hate singer/guitarist Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers, also including drummer Chris Bell and saxophonist Lasettes Ames. (...) Following the group's debut, Grapes of Wrath, Bell and Ames both left, mostly due to differences of opinion with Brandon over religious issues. Two former Theatre of Hate members served as their replacements -- saxophonist John Lennard (also formerly of the Diodes) anddrummer Nigel Preston (ex-Sex Gang Children). Unsurprisingly, this lineup quickly self-destructed, just as it had with Theatre of Hate; the band was reconfigured with Brandon, Stammers, additional guitarist Alan St. Clair, drummer Dolphin Taylor (formerly of the Tom Robinson Band and Stiff Little Fingers), and keyboardist/saxophonist Neil Pyzor (formerly of Case). This lineup recorded One Eyed Jacks in 1984, which is generally regarded as their best work. (http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Spear%20of%20Destiny:1927016803:page=biography;_ylt=AuoRmCR9Y4_QpPYocjkmz.YJGbgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjE5YXBsBHNlYwNiaW8-?)

Set list
01 Forbidden planet
02 Everything you ever wanted
03 (Do you believe in the) Westworld
04 Rosy

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 - 04. Get them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070724-184639

Other info

Kirk Brandon live at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl magazine 1983/9)

Brandon used to be in Theatre of Hate with Billy Duffy who played Pandora's 83 with Death Cult.

It's possible that Spear of Destiny's line up at Pandora's included Nigel Preston on drums. He would go on to join the (Death) Cult shortly after Pandora's. According to http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Cult-Biography/566B4CAC061246AE48256B060007DC0D, Preston replaced Death Cult drummer Ray Mondo after the Futurama gig (Sunday, 4 September 1983).


Article from festival booklet

Death Cult

In April 1983, Astbury teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy and formed the band "Death Cult". Duffy had previously been in The Nosebleeds, Lonesome No More and then Theatre of Hate. In addition to Astbury and Duffy, the band also included Jamie Stewart (bass) and Raymond Taylor Smith (later known as Ray Mondo) (drums), both from the Harrow, London based post-punk band, Ritual. Death Cult made their live debut in Oslo, Norway in late June 1983 and released the Death Cult EP in July 1983, then toured throughout Europe. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cult)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September, "Feestzaal", 21:00 - 22:00

Line up
Ian Astbury – vocals; Billy Duffy – guitar; Jamie Stewart – bass; Ray Mondo – drums (According to http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Cult-Biography/566B4CAC061246AE48256B060007DC0D, Mondo was replaced by Nigel Preston after the Futurama gig)

Set list
01 Ghost dance
02 Too young
03 Brothers Grimm
04 Butterfly
05 The waste of love
06 Christians
07 Gods zoo
08 A flower in the desert
09 The resurrection song
10 Horse nation

Recording
A complete audience recording of tracks 01 – 10 exists.

Other info
I seem to remember hearing that there was some confusion about who played. They were announced as “Southern Death Cult” and performing as “Death Cult” or announced as “Death Cult” and performing as “Cult”. I may have the recording somewhere and need to check if Astbury mentions this.

Duffy was previously in Theatre of Hate with Kirk Brandon, who played Pandora's 83 with his new band Spear of Destiny. It's possible that Spear of Destiny's line up at Pandora's included Nigel Preston on drums. He would go on to join Death Cult shortly after the Futurama gig (Sunday, 4 September 1983).

Death Cult also played Pandora's 85 under their new name the Cult, and (maybe) Pandora's 84. I'll get to the disputed 84 performance later on.


Article from festival booklet

Article from Zig Zag magazine (1983/11) about the fall tour through Europe. Describes Pandora's (and it's Belgian counterpart Futurama) quite extensively.

The Armoury Show

The Armoury Show was a band of the 1980s. The band was named after the Armory Show, a famous 1913 modern art exhibition in New York. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Armoury_Show)
Jobson took some time to join with Russell Webb (ex-Skids), John McGeoch and John Doyle (both ex-Magazine) to form the short-lived Armoury Show, a band whose resemblance to Big Country didn't escape notice. Waiting for the Floods is not a bad album, it's just a shame Jobson had to take such a long way 'round to get back to where he started. (http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=skids)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Kleine Zaal", 22:45 - 23:45

Line up
Richard Jobson (The Captain) – vocals & guitar; John McGeoch (The Legend) – guitar & vocals; Russell Webb (Universe) – bass; John Doyle (Doylie) – drums

Set list
01 Jungle of cities
02 Still the land remains
03 Higher than the world
04 Nineteen hours
05 Ring those bells
06 The glory of love

Recording
I have a lossless (flac) radio recording of tracks 01 - 06, 26'33". Get mp3's of them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070713-180354

Other info
One of the key bands of Pandora's. Jobson and Webb were both in the Skids with Stuart Adamson who played Pandora's 83 with Big Country. McGeogh and Doyle were in Magazine with Howard Devoto (also at Pandora's 83). Whilst still a member of Magazine, McGeoch had played with other bands such as Generation X and the (also) Skids. After Magazine McGeogh had played with Siouxsie & the Banshees (also at Pandora's 83).


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

Psychic TV

Psychic TV (sometimes spelt Psychick TV) or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music. The band was formed by performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and video director Peter Christopherson (after the break up of Throbbing Gristle) with Alex Fergusson, musician and producer (a key member of Alternative TV for whom Genesis had played percussion). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_tv)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 21:15 - 22:00

Line up
Not sure, but this line-up is from April...
Genesis P-Orridge – vocals, guitar; Paula P-Orridge – tapes, percussion; Alex Fergusson – guitar; John Gosling – tapes, guitar, vibraphone, percussion; Monte Cazazza – vocals, guitar? Also mentioned: Geff Rushton and Paul Reason

Set list
01 Southern comfort
02 God star
03 Unclean
04 Ov power
05 Alright
06 Jungle

Recording
Tracks 01 - 06 have been recorded, most likely from radio, and released as the bootleg LP Unclean (Paradox Records, PTV4828). (http://www.discogs.com/release/1236730)



Psychic TV RARE 12" vinyl LP: Unofficial release on 'Paradox Records' featuring live recordings of Psychic TV at 'De Doelen' Rotterdam on September 22nd 1984. Autographed by Genesis P-Orridge on front sleeve and bears embossed mark of authenticity from Genesis P-Orridge on front sleeve. Side 1: Southern Comfort, Godstar, Unclean Side 2: 'Off' Power, Allright, Jungle featuring: Alex Fergusson, Geff Rushton, John Gosling, Paula P-Orridge, Genesis P-Orridge (http://www.23net.tv/news+article.storyid+50.htm)

Dutch cassette label Korm Plastics also released tracks 01 - 04 as Live at Pandora's Music Box (Archives-2), "total playing time 30 minutes". (http://www.discogs.com/Psychic-TV-Live-At-Pandoras-Music-Box-22-09-1984/release/1500223)

I finally managed to download tracks 1 - 4, taken from the album Paramartha (Solide Sentimental 023), total time 27'44". Get them here: http://theebradmiller.blogspot.com/2007/11/psychic-tv-paramartha-1984.html

Also mentioned is a bootleg LP called Ov Power, featuring tracks 01 - 04.

Other info
... Psychic TV die voor het concert buiten voor de deur in indiasche gewaden hara krishna liedjes zongen... (Henk den Toom)




Article from festival booklet


Psychic TV live at Pandora's 84 (Oor, 1984/20)








Psychic TV live at Pandora's 84 (photo's from eBay seller wooden_dream)

Reviews 1984

Review from German fanzine Bierfront (1985/1) - many thanks to Klaus!

Review from het Vrije Volk (24 September 1984, taken from KIEM website)

Review in Algemeen Daglad ( 24 September 1984, taken from KIEM website)

Review from Oor magazine (1984/20)


Review from Sounds (October 1984)

Apparently, there was also an article about Pandora's in the November issue of German magazine Spex. A websearch turned up mentionings of the Gun Club, Lyres, Nomads, Dream Syndicate, Matador, Psychic TV, Jah Wobble/Insane Fame, Opposition, March Violets and Pete Shelley. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the magazine or scans thereof. If you do, please drop me an email.

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

The Long Ryders

The Long Ryders were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s and originally associated with a movement sometimes called the Paisley Underground. With a sound reminiscent of Gram Parsons-era Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Flying Burrito Brothers, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade.

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 22:20 - 23:20

Line up
Sid Griffin – guitar, autoharp, bugle; Stephen McCarthy – guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo; Tom Stevens – bass; Greg Sowders – drums

Set list
01 Run Dusty run
02 Lights of downtown
03 Southside of the story
04 Wreck of the 809
05 Time keeps travelin'
06 Sweet mental revenge
07 Mason/Dixon line
08 Two kinds of love
09 Capturing the flag
10 I had a dream last night
11 Ivory tower
12 Final wild son
13 You just can't ride the boxcars anymore
14 State of my union
15 Tell it to the judge on Sunday
16 Lookin' for Lewis and Clark
(http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=263116)

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) soundboard recording. Dutch radio broadcast some (maybe all) of it shortly after the festival.


Fragment of the Long Ryders at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info


Article form festival booklet

Butthole Surfers

Butthole Surfers are an American rock band founded in 1981 by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas. The Surfers are best known for their black humor, a sound that incorporates elements of punk rock, psychedelia, heavy metal, noise rock, and electronica, as well as their use of sound manipulation and tape editing. Acclaimed for their chaotic live shows, the Surfers have a well-reported appetite for recreational drugs, particularly psychedelics, an evident influence on their sound. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butthole_Surfers)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 01:40 - 02:40

Line up
Gibby Haynes – lead vocals, guitar, saxophone; Paul Leary – guitar, vocals; Mark Kramer – bass; King Coffey – drums; Teresa Nervosa – drums

Set list
01 Suicide
02 Graveyard
03 To parter
04 Gary Floyd
05 Cherub
06 Butthole surfer
07 BBQ Pope
08 Moving to Florida
09 Lady Sniff

Also performed:
00 The Shah sleeps in Lee Harvey’s grave
00 Hurdy gurdy man (Donovan cover)
00 Come together (Beatles cover)

Recording
A radio recording of tracks 01 - 09 exists (approx 25'). Also broadcast were interview segments with Gibby and Teresa.
I have a lossless (flac) recording of track 06, taken from a radio broadcast. Both beginning and end are cut, total time 3'39".


"Highlights" from the show as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info
Het beste optreden dat ik mij nu kan herinneren is van de Butthole Surfers op Pandora’s Music Box. (John Cameron of Claw Boys Claw, http://www.musicfrom.nl/magazine/interviews/27514/john-cameron-over-de-nieuwe-claw-boys-claw-optreden.html)

Article from festival booklet


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






Interview at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/12)