28 Inches of Punk Rock Part 2 (4x 7” Vinyl)

12-28-2024: Originally these four 7” EPs or Singles were posted separately between August 26 and September 2 back in 2014. While updating the entries from my original blogspot I thought it would make much more sense to combine them into one entry and call it 28 Inches of Punk Rock, something I shall continue in the future.

Malinheads - Probegepogt aus Spandau EP

Label: Pogar; Year: 1983; Format: Vinyl 7"

The Berlin based label Pogar released between 1982 and 1987 fewer than twenty records with a good number of them being absolute highlights when it comes to international hardcore punk. This 3-song EP by Malinheads from Spandau/Berlin is probably one of the Top 5 German hardcore punk releases as the band delivered these songs in a manner easily catapulting the band the the level of Scandinavian heavyweights such as Anti-Cimex, Rattus or Headcleaners. I heard the song 'Wargames' from this EP for the first time around 1986/87 when a friend of mine made me a mix tape of various bands from around the world. The Malinheads song was one of the highlights on said tape and stuck with me forever, hence I had to get my hands on a copy of this EP one day which wasn't until at some point during the '90s. What you get here is Scandi/Discharge influenced hardcore punk at its very best, brutal in delivery, and in my opinion unique when it comes to bands from Germany. While it is not easy and cheap to track down an original copy of this, Thought Crime Records reissued this classic in 2010, so no one needs to spend big bucks to get this must-have.

Negativ - Glitter Hair Cream/Terrorist 7" Single

Label: Self-Released; Year: 1982; Format: Vinyl 7"

Negativ hailed from a small village just outside the Basel/Switzerland area, and included in Martin “Herzi” Herzberg one member from somewhat better known local punk/powerpop band Vorwarts. This single is their only release, and it’s safe to assume that the first time a wider international audience got to hear about this band was through the 'Back To Front' compilation series in the '90s. Both songs on this self-released 7" are upbeat 77 punk smashers with good hooks and choruses. The production could have been louder, and would have enhanced the quality of both songs, but this is definitely worthwhile tracking down albeit certainly not easy or cheap. As with many other sought after international punk records there is usually a good story behind the fact why it is so hard to track down a copy. Apparently about ten years after the release “Herzi” decided to get rid off of a large part of the unsold copies as the initial run of 1000 copies was not selling as well as expected. On another interesting side note Negativ played one of their last gigs at the “Live Punk From Five Countries” Festival in Wetzikon (nearby Zurich) in 1982, along with Insane (UK), Napalm (Germany), Micky und die Mause and Null Komma Nichts (Austria).

Update December 2024: The two songs from the single have been reissued on a compilation LP collecting old Swiss punk on Spanish label Beat Generation. Further to that the good folks running the swisspunk website have assembled a more detailed history of Negativ should you understand German to be found here.

GG Allin & The Jabbers - Occupation EP

Label: Blood2000 Records; Year: 2000; Format: Vinyl 7"

Who really needs an introduction to GG Allin, a true rock'n'roll animal from New Hampshire who would have turned 58 years of age yesterday. A lot of people will associate GG with his musical output and especially his antics from the latter stage in his career, the years leading up to his death in June of 1993 in New York City. A growing number of music fanatics will never the less know that in his early days GG produced some great '77 punk inspired punk'n'roll songs. This weird EP (bootleg?), apparently limited to 302 copies, is home to one rare track that was in the vault for nearly twenty years before this EP came out. 'Occupation' was recorded with MC5'ers Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson and was originally planned to be included on the 'Gimme some head' EP. Needles to say that the song is an absolute scorcher and testament to the greatness of the MC5. On the B-Side of this you'll find a decent live version of 'You hate me & I hate you' and a filler in the form of 'Pills', also live. Both sides also contain a few seconds of GG talking, but that's not what you need this EP for. 'Occupation' alone is worth tracking down this record, although it is scarce and probably not cheap. I would presume though that the song can be found on another GG record...?

Nervous Eaters - Just Head/Get Stuffed 7" Single

Label: Penniman Records; Year: 1999; Format: Vinyl 7"

The Nervous Eaters from Boston, MA were one of the earliest punk'n'roll outfits emerging from the 'Rat-scene' in Boston. Steve Cataldo on vocals/guitar was the main force behind this band, and originally this two-song gem was released in 1979 on Rat Records. Neither of the two songs should be labelled pure '77 punk but rather a mixture of the punk-energy driven rock’n’roll mixed with the raw sounds of early '70s hard rock and glam rock resulting in two hook-laden killer tracks that will blow your speakers and your ears alike. This is one of my favorite late '70s releases from the US, and everybody that equally loves the Real Kids or DMZ needs to have this in their collection.