Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, October 1, 8-10pm) include Spirit, Ohio Express, Bay City Rollers, Planet Gong, Incredible Kidda Band, Wire, Scientists, Malaria!, Rheingold, Stereo Total, lots of new music, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
COVER ART OF THE WEEK: The Scientists are a rock band from Australia that started out in the late 70s as a melodic punk band. Led by vocalist and guitarist Kim Salmon, the band evolved in the 80s, incorporating a darker mid-tempo sound into their music. One of their first releases from their “swamp” phase was the incredible “This Is My Happy Hour” single backed by “Swampland,” both killer tunes. It was released in 1982 on the Australian label Au-Go-Go and featured a dark, brooding photograph of the band by Joe Murphy. The cover layout is credited to Electrode. The first pressing had red lettering while subsequent pressings had different colored lettering. This copy, the fourth pressing from 1982, came with bronze lettering and greenish marbled vinyl. Click on image to enlarge.
DUSTY DIAMOND OF THE WEEK (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): Loose Lips were a punk and roll band from South San Francisco that included members from the Rip Offs and Infections. They were active from 1999 until 2002 and released a full-length album and two singles. “Two Time Loser” is an upbeat burner channeling the energy, riffs, and attitude of mid 70s rockers Hollywood Brats. It appeared in 1999 on a 7” EP on TKO Records. Listen to it here:
Promo art from Wire’s 1977 “Pink Flag” album on Harvest. Original sleeve concept by B.C. Gilbert and Graham Lewis. Photo by Annette Green.