Never Tell - Violent Femmes - La Edad de Oro - Madrid April 2, 1985 

As someone who's played bass since his highschool days (Over a decade now) this is one of my all time favourites. It's almost criminal that people aren't aware of it. Also a shining example of how great a bass played with a pick can sound.

Brian Richie does not get enough acclaim. That is some TASTY bass! Wow!

Never Tell should be up there with Stairway to Heaven and Hey Jude. So epic.

Wow. A live version of this. Brian Ritchie is grooving the fizznuck out of that bass! Gano’s lyrics are terrifyingly psychotic.

This has got to be one of the best songs of all time

One of the best bass lines I’ve ever heard in my lifeeee!! I came here to see if he could nail it live and just whoaaaa

Once a year or so I revisit all their albums. They never get old. I have vivid memories of the two times I saw them live back in the day.

Can't believe only 5000 people have viewed this. One of the best Femmes' songs. I saw these guys in 1983 or 84 at University of Missouri-St. Louis. They played in a classroom in which I took many classes and, eventually, the LSAT exam. One of the best concerts of my life and I've seen hundreds.

That bass though..

Great song!!!! I played this constantly on my college radio show back in 1984! Fantastic!! Thanks Femmes!

best song by Violent femmes

This is the Stairway To Heaven of the 80s. Epic masterpiece.

It's 2021. I've seen tons of bands...The Ramones, R.E.M., Beastie Boys, Jane's Addiction, Primus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jethro Tull, Bloodhound Gang, Beck, Greatful Dead, Smashing Pumpkins, Ministry....TONS more.....I've never saw Violent Femmes live. Before I die, or before Gordon does.....I need to see them.

Greatest song of all time. Loved watching this live, they never played it the same way twice.

this might be one of their best live performances

This has been in my top 5 songs of all time since the late 80's and I listen to and love a ton of music. Always come back to the Femmes first 3 albums.

Wow, so young. Maybe our most underrated rock n roll band. Scary talent.

This song is unreal.

they were so original. Honestly I wasn't sure If I liked them or not at first in the early mid 80s. they grew quickly up into my top 20. Wasn't sure to catalog them as Progressive, Post Punk, some new kind of folk genre I wasn't used to. they're such a cross over band. they could open up for lots of different bands. Pretenders being their first??

This band changed my life when they came out. Amazing live stuff here. Thanks for posting.

One of the best bass works ever !!

You Can Not Fuck With This Band!!!!

This band is so under rated!!!!

Best band hall of fame. Love you always forever. Sinds discoveryou in the 80 s but what is this song about. It makes me emotional ❤❤❤❤🔥🙏🤟🦋🕊✌

Brian Ritchie can hold his own with the best of them. I dont see him enough in the conversations about the best bass players. He's up there with John Entwhistle and Victor Wooten.

FKN AWESOME!!!! def their best song..the bass in this song is amazing :D brillant bassist

@olddude1800 I was not there becauce I was underage. but I saw it alive in tv. It was the last "la edad de oro" program and, believe it or not, as a present VF played not one but two gigs with a break in the middle for the news, I was speechless and still I am after so many years watching it again.

That bassline is just off the scale sick!

This is required listening.....one of my favorite songs of the 1980's....total deserted Island choice. 80's version of the Doors "The End"

I set myself the challenge of learning this bassline. There are no tabs anywhere on the internet. No videos of other people demonstrating it. Fuck.

What bothers me is NOT that Brian Richie is not well known, it's that he's not well known among BASSISTS

Hands down the best version of this song

This is my favourite song of theirs

Hey, sister, have you heard? Some people stand like trees without a word, And what that means is that some people don't talk. Oh, please, pardon me, mister. You know I just didn't hear you that first time that you said that, But now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can. You know I'm going to do what I can, do what I can, do-do-do-do what I can. Gonna do what I can, do what I can, do-do-do-do what I can. But no more, you understand? Oh, please, pardon me, father. You know, I just didn't hear you that, that first time that you said th... Help me, help me, help me, help me, repeat it, repeat it, repeat it. I'll be sure to do, do, do what I can. Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can, But no more, you understand? It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volatile substance. I had so much on my mind. I was so glad when I died, oh... Listen to me, baby, can you keep a secret for me? Make sure no one finds out, 'cause then the lights will go out. And I will find you out, and I will cut you up. Uh-hmm, don't ask me why because I said I'm gonna do what I can, Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. But I'll have none of that, you understand? Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone. What you going to do? Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink? What you wanna do? Do want to see, do you wanna see what it's like to sink? Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river. Sink down, sink, sink down, down, down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down, sink. Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river. Sink down, sink, sink down, down. Down, down to the bottom of the river. Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh. I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell. I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell. Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell. I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell. Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell. Ah...

best bassist ever

Waking up with the Femmes❤

Truly amazing footage! Thanks for posting!

perfect. one of my favorite songs. I would like some more distortion on the guitar tho or more volume.

Got to love that bass solo.

Fookin love these guys.......

This song is amazing.!!..

Fantastici ❤❤❤

Brian Ritchie is fucking amazing.

Way ahead of thier time

thanx 4 sharing. gordon looks smart which is unusual. they really look like they're having fun. the passion still makes me shiver.

Siento responder tan tarde, el DVD hace mucho que está en la web kigonjiro. I´m sorry for my late answer, the DVD with the whole show is available at kigonjiro´s web site.

When we played the Femmes, my friend’s mom always thought it was just us messing around with a tape recorder. She didn’t believe it was a real group.

Best bass player in the history of punk

best song

@OriginalRubberJesus Great eye man! I would have never seen that, YOU ROCK.

I need someone to tab the bass out lol I'm trying to do it by ear and it taken me a while.

I love

Not sure why Gordon plays that weak-sounding Strat on this tour instead of the semi-hollow Tele, but Jesus...easily my favorite femmes tune on my favorite femmes album. Brian is on fire.

this is definately a psychedelic song. only 3 people fill up the stage. and of course bass is killing.

Just my kind of chaos

Yea. Without those basslines carrying the songs. It'd be very different band. No diss on rest of femmes , but. Amazing melodies on that bass.

Can’t believe these guys are still playing together these days. Well, not Victor. They got some other drummer now.

There is an acoustic version of this song, where the sing does a vocal jazz solo. I can't find it, can anyone point me in the right direction?

If you like this mid 80s "college rock" vibe you should check out the album Meat Puppets 2

@agk971 now i've learnt the whole lot but I'm crap at it :L

pure folk punk !!!!

Christ you can't even pinpoint Brians style of music.

@agk971 so far i've got to just after 4:20

Unique combo of best bass player ever/worst guitarist ever

Sounds 100% like the song on the album. Nice try though.

I'm scizophrenic

When Gordon solos, no one really cares

I still have no effing idea what Victor is using to trigger the bass drum hits when he is doing that little dance. There are no triggers on his shoes, he isn't hitting his body, they aren't using a drum machine or a tape, Brian isn't standing near the kit... the only thing i can think of is maybe the soundman is triggering it.