Μετά τους Damned της gothic περιόδου, ένα punk τρίπτυχο από τα late ‘70s, τρία τραγούδια από ισάριθμα σχήματα. Ένα μόνο (Buzzcocks) κατέκτησε “θέση στην ιστορία”, εξακολουθεί δε να υπάρχει με κάποια μορφή μέχρι σήμερα – μοναδικό original μέλος των Mancunians ο κιθαρίστας Steve Diggle. Οι Chelsea, πολύ λιγότερο γνωστοί, ξεχασμένοι σήμερα …συνεχίζουν επίσης, με μοναδικό αρχικό τους μέλος τον τραγουδιστή Gene October (αριστερά). Προσωπική μου προτίμηση απ’ τα τρία τραγούδια είναι το ‘Don’t Ring Me Up’, των βραχύβιων, αξιαγάπητων Protex απ’ το Μπέλφαστ : διαλύθηκαν το 1981 μετά από κάποια singles, χωρίς να έχουν κυκλοφορήσει άλμπουμ – μόλις έμαθα ψάχνοντας ότι …επανιδρύθηκαν πρόσφατα, με άλμπουμ και περιοδείες! 🟡 🟡 After the gothic-era Damned, a punk triptych from the late ‘70s — three songs from three different bands. Only one of them (Buzzcocks) secured a “place in history” and still exists today in some form – guitarist Steve Diggle is the sole remaining original member of the Mancunians. Chelsea, far less known and largely forgotten today …also continue, with singer Gene October (left) as their only original member. My personal favourite of the three songs is ‘Don’t Ring Me Up’ by the short-lived, lovable Protex from Belfast. They disbanded in 1981 after releasing just a handful of singles and without ever putting out a full album – searching, I just discovered that they have recently reformed, releasing new albums and touring again!

00:00 Protex : Don’t Ring Me Up (1978) 02:38 Buzzcocks : Sixteen Again (Love Bites – 1978) 05:56 Chelsea : All The Downs (Chelsea – 1979)

PROTEX : DON’T RING ME UP
I’m so tired of hearing your voice in the phone
I wish you’d go away and leave me and my family alone
All the things you say have no interest to me
I’m just waiting for you to go to sleep
Aye, aye, aye
So, don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up anymore
The things you say are all too much in my head
I’d rather watch the TV or hear a good record instead
You said, “I’ll ring you up at six, is that okay?”
But you never wait for the answer I have to say
Aye, aye, aye
So, don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up anymore
[Instrumental]
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up anymore
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up
Don’t ring me up anymore

BUZZCOCKS : SIXTEEN AGAIN
Feeling like I’m almost 16 again
Layin’ ’round, doing nothing like all my friends
Play it cool, don’t get angry, count up to 10
Just like I was 16 again
No one gets the lowdown right from the start
Everybody gets the showdown, right from the heart
But that’s all that’s on the menu, and life’s à la carte
I don’t know
Things in life are not played for keeps
If it makes you happy, it’ll make you weep
And if you want some more practical advice
If you can’t think once, then don’t think twice
‘Cause things won’t seem so nice
You’ll wish you were 16 again, oh no
Feeling rather strange when you’re 16 again
Things don’t seem the same, the past is so plain
This future is our future, this time’s not a game
The time you’re 16 again
Always on your own when there’s nobody else
Asking myself “Would I be someone else?”
But after all, life’s only death’s recompense
I don’t know
Things in life are not played for keeps
If it makes you happy, it’ll make you weep
And if you want some more practical advice
If you can’t think once, then don’t think twice
‘Cause things won’t seem so nice
You’ll wish you were 16 again, oh no
Look at me, here I am for your eyes
Mirrored proof of what you recognize
I know I never will feel quite like you
And I know you won’t treat me right till I do
But at least we’ll know it’s true
That I’m 16 again, oh no
Feeling like I’m almost 16 again
Lazin’ ’round, doing nothing like all my friends
Play it cool, don’t get angry, count up to 10
Just like I was 16 again
Always on your own when there’s nobody else
Asking myself “Would I be someone else?”
But after all, life’s only death’s recompense
I don’t know
Look at me, here I am for your eyes (16 again)
Mirrored proof of love’s suicide (16 again)
I know I never will feel quite like you (16 again)
And I know you won’t treat me right till I do (16 again)
But at least we’ll know it’s true
That I’m 16 again, oh no (16 again)
16 again, 16 again