The kids want no monarchy

I know nothing about pre 90s punk/hardcore in Belgium except for this one band. Maybe that's because europe didn't have a lot of bands that were on the same level as their peers from across the ocean. Besides some finish, german, italian and of course a shitload of UK killers. Then again maybe I just don't know about those tons of classic european bands that actually can hold a candle to the Necros, SSD, Minor Threat, Ramones, Stooges, Abused, Fear, X, Avengers, Agent Orange, Germs, etc. But, honestly, I doubt that.

The Kids though, being that band from belgium I do know, do not have to hide behind any of their contemporaries. Their debut LP from 1977 is one of the best punk records ever.

A few years back when Dead Stop, another one of those legendary bands from that small country, were still around, me and some friends went to see The Kids play a show together with Dead Stop which was very special to all of us who went there. One of us even ended up being interviewed by a belgian tv team that came out to the show. I think it was some kind of an anniversary gig. No idea though if they filmed any of the action.

I always wondered how these two bands got to play a show together. Of course Dead Stop got on first and quite a few of the kids who thrashed, slammed and stagedived during their set stuck around to see The Kids but a lot of older folks rushed in afterwards just to see their old time heroes. Which is why it kinda felt like two different shows. I could have asked the DS guys when I still saw them quite often but for reasons unknown to man I never did.

But then I set up a show for The Kids at the AK47 in Düsseldorf, Germany and used that opportunity to ask them. Unfortunately no one of them even remembered the gig that still is so special to me. And the original members didn't even remember ever having heard of that other band. Only their drummer who is quite a few years younger knew Dead Stop but couldn't shed any light on the matter due to not having been in the band at the time. So again I didn't get an answer but I got this:

 

The Kids - no monarchy 7" 2013 Reissue, Danger Records DR-004

It's the 1978 follow up release to their first LP and still slays

The show was wild though. They ripped through their set of one classic after the after without a break and still played for about an hour. I think I've never seen anything like that before.

If I would ever forget about that show this record would always remind me of it. But then again I most likely never will.

It was a great day and I even got this awesome record. Definitely a time I'll remember.

A Minority Unit for a Cold World

Minority Unit is one of my favorite bands from the last few years. That first 7" is all time classic material. And the 2nd one was great too, yet it didn't get up to par so I think they called it quits at the right time. Perfect! Still they don't qualify for being seriously collected by me. Somehow I cannot be bothered anymore to hunt down multiple copies of a record that was originally released after 1998/99.

But despite that I'll pick up doubles or variations to make nice pictures and then trade them for stuff I slept on or just never had the chance to buy.

As was the case with my 2nd Minority Unit - s/t 7" and in late December early January it paid off. I posted my deadformat list in several facebook groups and was approached by someone about the above record which resulted in me finally getting my hands on this little beauty:

 

Cold World - ice grillz 7" Lockin' Out LOR#015

Somehow I only ever saw the CD version for sale at the time it was released. Don't ask me why. I can only guess why. Probably because at the time I didn't check out too many news bands and once I got wind of how good they are it was already sold out. Ten years down the road and that gap is finally closed.

Now I need that first 7" so I can finally sell another one of those dreaded CD releases.