If Billy could have been bothered to play the game or had 10% of Bono's ambition the word would be a different place..Billy moved to his own drum and all he needed was the love of his whippets,his mother and Dundee.He left behind the most original template of what the eightiess could promise..few got close to the masterpiece of Sulk,and the fact it could never be imitated speaks volumes for how far ahead the associates actually were.The early death of his mother killed Billy.A year later he died of a broken heart.
Why do you mention that arse of a man bono or boner beside a man who had real genuine talent bono is for the easily led and easily had morons of this world gullible celtic fans are this odious mans fanbase A truly awful band and the messianic boner!!!!!!!!¿
People can only be what they are. For all the attention-seeking slagdonnas, Kylies, Pariah Careys, Michael Jacksons, Aguileras, Oasis shit etc. all out there, there are the modest Sparks brothers', Kim Wildes, Sandras, Alphavilles, China Crises, Big Countrys, Kirsty MacColls of this world who do things their way and people ignore the sensible that's their problem. Billy McKenzie was like this and good on him. Ambition goes too far, especially when people can only accept the narrow always.
Problem is, when you say you like 80s music, like I do, people seem to think you mean all the cack that was in the charts e.g. Stock, Aitken and Waterman, the throwaway pop etc, rather than the incredible stuff from people like The Associates, Magazine, The Teardrop Explodes and a load of other great acts who basically came out of the punk scene in the late 70s.
The genius and madness of Alan Rankine and Billy Mackenzie. Without a doubt the most interesting pop band of the early eighties. The first 3 albums are truly amazing. Fourth Drawer Down my favourite.
Never ever tired of listening to The Associates in any form or lineup. Every time I walk past someone walking with a whippet I tell of Billy's love of the breed ❤
Michael Dempsey was definitely the ideal bassist for Associates, and even though the footage does not accurately allow it, the drums and cymbals seem to be very well taken care of, by the late John Murphy, (at least in studio, he still played on this 1982 album). I know that Murphy, by the time Sulk was made, was thinner and obviously much younger looking. In a nutshell, he also deserves our credit.
Karl Lux Lusitania This is not John Murphy here, as he already left the group just with the release of Sulk, but Steve Goulding, who took over for the 18 Carat Love Affair single and all the tours and TV shows in 1982/83.
The Associates, looking like Billy, Martha and their backing band at this point. Utter remarkable, completely unforgettable. And the absence of Alan Rankine is noteworthy.
I am a musician Bla Bla Bla I wish i could describe how complicated this is. Especially the chord sequences and vocals in the last 30 seconds Uniquely talented band . Way ahead (generally) of the record buying public at that time.
There's some Rankin videos, apparently even more ahead of their time, at least two of their hits were written late 80's and it was decided to keep them in the locker for when they had a chance.
I remember a review, I think in Record Mirror, at the time, saying the Associates pissed all over everything else in the charts from a great height. It was the first time I'd ever seen the phrase and I and my friends found it very funny.
@@wattage2007 Oh no...his brothers as well, how awful. I remember hearing that Billy was struggling to come to terms with his mother's death, and was depressed. His voice is so amazing, it reminds me of my life in London in the eighties... Just looked it all up and his sister died in an accident in 2013 as well...omg. Very tragic family 😢
@@biegebythesea6775 No, Jimmy had developed a drug problem and died of an overdose in the early 2000s. John died in 2010 from a fire in his house. Such a shame, they were both real lively and likeable characters.
@@wattage2007 Sounds like Jimmy also had depression then. Addiction is slow suicide. John situation was bad luck. That's a real shame. Thanks for the insight.
My favourite Associates track - just incredible. Loved it the first time I heard it in 1982 and it still sounds utterly mesmerising today. Thank you so much for posting this - the whole band were just brilliant and it's a joy to see this footage.
I had this album Sulk' in 82 thrashed the grooves out of it on wet gloomy Wellington Sundays. The trippy flick' bass and drums with a fantasy world electronics reminds something from lost in space' OH Billy Boy you were amaverick!!
I used to listen to them back in the 80’s, some friend had taped their records for me. I had no idea he was so handsome, it’s incredibly painful to watch, thinking he took his life off.
I can’t get over how phenomenally outstanding this song is. It grows on you until you realize it’s beautiful brilliance-and then you’re just stunned and addicted and in AWE. Also this is 1982! Wha!?! I’m not sure if it’s McKenzie’s artful presence and masterful voice or the quality of the music composed and preformed by the rest of the band. Everything is just fantastically perfect. Unassumingly humble yet superiorly outstanding.
Some of the most inventive music ever to come out of the UK was between 1977-1982. Seems like bands were allowed to explore and experiment rather than have to adhere to some pre defined corporate template. The music sounds even better now
@jgmccabe, It’s probably just me…. I have a weird way of falling in love but not realizing it until it punches me in the head a bit later. First time I heard this song my censors were definitely on it. Real art is nourishment!
Cool reference to Berlin. John Crawford is a good dude. Sexy Terri Nunn always looks you right in the eye ! No is my favorite Associates song. Sulk A Desert Island Disc .
Thanks for your Inventiveness Style Originality Uniqueness Combining Music with Art. Hope you're Happy wherever you are Billy and reunited with Mammy and other members gone since your passing.
I've always loved how Billy's vocals start so subdued at the beginning of this song but he builds up to that burst of his trademark operatic style towards the end.
Good question. They finally got their big break with a 1.5 million dollar advance from a record company with the successful release of "Sulk" - but, Billy McKenzie did not want to go on their first American Tour. So, that is why they did not make it big ! All according to an Alan Rankine interview.
Heel veel dank om dit hier neer te zetten, Richard. Prachtig nummer, dit is 1982. De VPRO was zeer goed om dit op te pikken en ze naar de studio te halen.
Ski-PENG!!!!!!!!.. I can't get enough of the last 1/3 of this tune - the Assoc' best IMHO.. PF2 & Love Hangover got me into them back in the day but this is just fucking divine..
One of my favourite tracks (among oh so many) from one of my favourite albums. Billy Mackenzie was too good for this world, rest his soul. As a teenager and a fan of this band, I was definitely in the minority among my friends, but over the years, I've found that every time I meet someone of about my age who genuinely gives a damn about pop music, they're almost certainly an Associates fan.
bought the album when I was revising for my "o" levels in 1982, was mesmerised by it, such a brilliant album couldnt stop listening to it....needless to say i failed most of my "o" levels that year!!😂🥰😍
Yes very unique sound. He was also in The Lotus Eaters ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-waTkfGhGkUUa.htmlnd in this Roxy Music video although he didnt play on the recordingru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bpA_5a0miWk.html
IMHO, Hayden Thorpe from wild Beasts was clearly inspired by Billy's incredible sound. There was no other band like them though. Capable of deep madness and beautiful, sublime euphoria in sound and imagery. Utterly brilliant and everything that music today lacks.
