Mojo CD: Trash! The Roots of Punk

The June issue of Mojo takes a look 30 years back, at the "the secret history of punk", "starring" The Clash, Siouxsie (but what of the Banshees?), Sex Pistols, The Damned, and New York Dolls. The cover of the magazine is even stamped "Top Secret". What's the secret? A number of musicians "come clean" about who inspired them. Juicy, eh? If you have trouble finding this issue at your local newsstand, politely inquire about it in a stage whisper. Your newsagent might be keeping the June Mojo behind the counter because of the scandalous secrets contained therein. More on the June Mojo later. I think we all need time to prepare ourselves for what secrets it might contain. Naturally, I'll try to only give away a few.

Alright, let's take a peek at just one "secret".

Generation X's Tony James says: "I <3 Deep Purple" and confesses his love dates back to the age of 14. His "essential guilty listening" is the band's Machine Head.

And that's about it. He didn't kill a man just to watch him die while listening to Deep Purple or anything. Top secret eh? That's what passes for a punk rocker's top secret in the UK? It's not as though he confessed to really not being all that fond of tea.

The CD included with this issue honors "the roots of punk" -- "a vast array of bands whose impact on the Sex Pistols, The Damned, The Clash, the Banshees" -- not Siouxsie, then? -- "et al is immediately audible."

So this is a disc of non-secret influences. Feel free to listen without blushing, tell others what you're listening to, or even let them have a listen, if you're feeling generous.

Mojo's Trash! The Roots of Punk Tracklisting:

1. New York Dolls - Personality Crisis (available on New York Dolls. Mojo: "an eternally gonzoid track in which you can hear the future sneers of the Pistols, The Damned, et al.")
2. T.Rex - Calling All Destroyers (available on Futuristic. Mojo: "the likes of Siouxsie Sioux and Billy Idol admit their debt to T. Rex.")
3. Hollywood Brats - Sick On You
4. Jook - Watch Your Step (Bobby Parker cover, available on Different Class. Mojo: "high-octane, white-boy R&B... Jook never bothered the charts, but have more recently been hailed as a prime proto-punk outfit.")
5. Count Bishops - Teenage Letter
6. The Hamersmith Gorillas - Gatecrasher
7. Kilburn And The High Roads - Rough Kids (available on Handsome. Mojo: "Formed in 1970 by the then 28 year-old Ian Dury, Kilburn And The Roads became one of the most respected bands of the pub rock era.")
8. Dr. Feelgood - Riot In Cell Block No. 9
9. Eddie And The Hot Rods - 96 Tears (? And The Mysterians cover, available on Do Anything You Wanna Do. Mojo: "bridges the gap between '60s garage, pub rock, and punk.")
10. Mott The Hoople - Thunderbuck Ram
11. Hawkwind - Motorhead
12. CAN - Mushroom
13. Be Bop Deluxe - Sound Track
14. The Groundhogs - Cherry Red
15. Iggy And The Stooges - Search And Destroy