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Ooer missus
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Walking Wounded continue to limp along through the
ashtrays of the musical perimeter. Not for them the perils of becoming
balding ageing saddoes still looking for that "last big push"
into stardom and the world of fame, fortune, spin-doctored age admission,
soft-focus photography and detox clinics.
For most of these survivors/casualties that "difficult 40
plus age" has already faded into pre-Alzheimer haze. The band
is built around human rights activist and author on the Balkans
and Turkey Hugh Poulton - a singer, guitarist, and serial songwriter
whose addiction for new material has been forcibly stabilised to
about one album a year. These feature original pieces written in
a myriad of styles: acoustic rockers and ballads with varying tinges
of Balkan, reggae, Celtic, ska, Blues, acoustic-techno (?) and yes
even the odd jazz feel, complimented by cutting lyrics culled from
decades of failure and frustration. The live line-up often varies
depending on commitments (i.e. financial moonlighting with other
bands), hospital appointments and councelling sessions, but the
'full monty' comprises of the old egomaniac himself plus: Thames
water professional (all those in the London area have been warned
- stick to the booze) harmony singer and harmonica dribbler extra-ordinaire
Jonny Owen; internationally renowned animator (that's cartoonist
to you and me) Richard Burdett on mandolin and bodhran; lawyer (sue
us at your peril) Adam Griffith on banjo, mandolin and that tricky
3rd part harmony; pensioned-off-sick ex-gardener Adrian Teasdale
(age, current occupation, gender preference and everything else
somewhat indeterminate) on bass (and how); 'youthful' ex-school-phobe
and terminally work shy Bill Austin on percussion; and the even
more youthful (incredibly so in comparison to some/most of the above
derelicts) human rights activist and token viol player/lesbo/Jew
Ilana Cravitz on fiddle. (She recently replaced classical karaoke
casualty Dee-(ranged) James who moved and joined the Bristol symphony
orchestra - what a waste). What makes these deadbeats willing to
give up relatively successful careers for the vagaries of professional
musicianship? What conceit makes them think they have anything at
all to offer? What drives these losers on? Hear for yourself on
their last four albums: The Time of Our Lives; Get Even; Care in
the Community; and Fourthcoming; and look out for their latest,
Live Support System, available in early 1999 - a live album of new
songs (a live album of new songs!? What arrogance) recorded at The
Samuel Pepys in the heart of Hackney. Carefully touched-up photos
available on request.
Some selected quotes:
"...London is a hotbed of undiscovered talent judging by the
Walking Wounded's wry lyrics..."
(Evening Standard, London)
"..Hackney's Magnificent Seven" (Acoustic Review, http;//www.csed.co.uk/ac
lon.htm)
"Walking Wounded are a band with roots, rhythm, rock and a
conscience."
If there was a public execution on TV, would you watch it?
Probably (I am ashamed to say)
Would you be willing to give up sex for five years if you could
have wonderfully sensual and erotic dreams any night you wished?
No (I dream too much as it is)
What's the worst psychological torture you can imagine suffering?
Torture is torture is torture - in the end its all the same
How do you picture your funeral and which songs would you like
to be played?
Big party / jam session of all my (remaining) friends. Loads of
my songs + 'Its all over now baby blue' (Bob Dylan) + 'Gimme Shezter'
(By The Stones)
Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you
ever wished you were of the opposite sex?
Neither Yes
If god appeared to you in a series of vivid and moving visions and
told you to leave everything behind, travel alone to the Red Sea
and become a fisherman, what would you do?
Stop taking the tablets for a bit
If a flying saucer arrived and aliens invited you to visit their
planet for five years, would you go?
Of course
How would you react if your boyfriend told you he'd had a lover
of the same sex before you knew each other?
Be interested
Would you be willing to go into a slaughterhouse and kill a cow?
Yes
What are your most compulsive habits? Picking my nails +
writing new songs
If you were to discover that your best friend was a heroin dealer,
what would you do?
Disapprove (But that's about as far as I'd go)
How many times during the day do you look in the mirror?
Too often
Do you enjoy sleeping in physical contact with your lover? No
Do you suffer fools? Superficially
When was the last time you were in a fight? Never
WALKING WOUNDED are a seven-piece Hackney band that defies simple
characterisation. With echoes of REM, The Levellers, Dylan and others,
they play a wealth of original material with cutting words, catchy
tunes, driving rhythms and haunting melodies performed in a variety
of styles; from rockers to ballads, country to reggae, ska to jazz
to Balkan rock. Hugh Poulton is a prolific songwriter and forceful
singer/guitarist in the classic rhythm guitarist rock/pop mould.
His diverse material is given the WALKING WOUNDED power treatment
of incisive three-part harmonies and virtuoso instrumentation of
Dee James on violin, Johnny Owen on harmonica, Richard Burdett on
mandolin and bodhran, Adam Griffith on banjo and mandolin, Adrian
Teasdale on bass and Bill Austin on percussion. The whole adds up
to the highly distinctive WALKING WOUNDED sound. Above all they
are an acoustic band that really rocks.
"..London is a hotbed of undiscovered talent judging by the
Walking Wounded's wry lyrics..." (Evening Standard, London,
21 March 1997)
"one of East London's best kept secrets..."Hackney's
Magnificent Seven" (Acoustic Review, http://www.csed.co.uk/ac_lon.htm)
Their first album, The Time of our Lives featuring 12 original
songs, came out in 1995 on the independent BUM label to instant
critical acclaim:
"Walking Wounded are a band with roots, rhythm, rock and a
conscience. When they are not singing about the disenfranchised
under class of Hackney (with lyrics reminiscent of The The's Beaten
Generation), they span the world with heartfelt tunes about former
Yugoslavia. Delivered in a style similar to the Levellers, i.e.
full blast, the Walking Wounded are singing honest, loud and live.."
(Detour, London, 1995)
Their second album GetEven (13 songs, 12 of them originals) came
out in 1996 and was similarly well received, as was their third
album Care in the Community in 1997 featuring 16 more original songs:
"We usually give this seven strong Hackney crew good reviews.
No exception here then. Looking for some good folky acoustic sounds,
here it is. Favourite tracks are 'Mary wants to be a rock'n'roll
star' and 'Monday Monday' both good foot tappin' tunes." (Detour,
London 1997)
In 1998 they released their fourth album Fourthcoming - 12 more
originals with a strong Celtic/Balkan flavour.
Feel free to contact any of the bands at
25 Records anytime for interviews/Band features/ gig info etc. at:
25 Records 60 Tollard Close, Poole, Dorset, BH12 2AU, England.
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