A new vinyl album is about to be released almost 40 years after the band last played to packed audiences with their unique brand of keyboards-based music.
The album, by Punching Holes, entitled “The Ghosts of Pilgrim Street,” has opened up a musical time capsule and resurrected memories of Newcastle’s post new wave scene. It also reunites a wealth of musical talent following the discovery of a long lost tape containing demo songs from a recording session at Spectro Arts Workshop which was located just off Pilgrim Street in the city.
Formed in 1980 in Newcastle by vocalist Brian Bond in the aftermath of his departure from John Peel favourites, Punishment of Luxury, Punching Holes rapidly became one of the leading bands on the North-East post- punk scene.
Punching Holes were created when singer Brian Bond (Brian Rapkin) left established Gateshead band, Punishment of Luxury to pursue a new musical career. Teaming up with ex-Neon guitarist, Tim Jones, ex-Big G’s Norman Emerson, Sid Smith and Steve Cowgill, the band fused catchy melodies with interesting lyrics about blind albinos, nuns, crocodile birds and life in a zoo.
Following a number of line-up changes, the band rapidly gained a good following and regularly featured on TV and radio. Their one and only single, a cover of Charles Trenet’s, “La Mer” was Noel Edmunds’ Radio One record of the week and was then played by Terry Wogan eventually rising up the charts to attain a respectable number 27.
The band recorded a number of demo tracks in the now long gone Spectro Arts Workshop in Bells Court Newcastle. Titles recorded include Mad Mother, Joke Elaine, Spots on the Sun and the “haunting” Ghost of Danube Street.
Now some 39 years later, the tapes have been found and a new 12-inch vinyl offering is about to be released bringing back to life the electronic new wave music of the early 80’s.
Although there are currently no plans for the band to reform, a video to accompany the song, “The Ghost of Danube Street” has been made to promote the vinyl release.
“The video to accompany the song really is a family affair,” said Brian.” My wife Kath plays Dora, I play the narrator who tells two passers-by my story and my son Max plays a younger version of me. We’ve lots of other friends and family in there as well with appearances from Steve Cowgill, the Punching Holes keyboard player and Tim Jones who is shown doing a guitar solo.
“The whole project has taken me back in time and I’m sure that it will rejuvenate memories from a very important period in a lot of people’s musical history. It’s like going back in time as the tracks all sound so fresh and I really think they have stood the test of time.”
The eight track 12 inch vinyl is available from 17th April and can be pre-ordered here:
https://burningshed.com/punching-holes_the-ghosts-of-pilgrim-street_vinyl?
Ends
Photo of Band by Rik Walton
Photos of Brian – For You Photography
The video can be viewed here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCH6yWRux3Q
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