The Saints - Live At Paddington Town Hall part 1 (1977)

[adolfGoooglification]

Cameron Ling on bass.

[DKashman]

The Saints and The Radio Birdmen where the real thing as far as Punk or indie music goes, Ramones were good yes Sex Pistols where all about shock, but the Saints were the real deal, it is just that we had this other image in Australia. If any one wants to hear some good guitar thrashing look up Lobby LLoyde and the Coloured Balls (Yes Coloured)

Long Live Aussie Rock.

[therotatingchinmen]

@DKashman the pistols weren't just "all about shock" they were a shit hot rock 'n' roll band, as were the mighty saints!

[albatross1977]

Whoever recorded this did a good job of preserving it. The quality is really good for being more than 30 years old.

[tjmacjee]

Best punk record of the year, and that's going some

[Lieu3C4]

Back when you still had to fight, whereas today they tend to deny it and just fit in with the lowcall sin.

[bullyrotten]

hey nzoz....do i know you?

[nzoz1977]

@bullyrotten I dunno bullyrotten... do i know you?

[YearZeroRecords]

The saints made intense rock and roll,at least two great lp's,and were the real thing.Why were they ignored? I have to say its in the performance, mostly just standing there...but at least they concentrated on producing a wall of sound Live!

Also the shallow public didn't like the fact that they looked crap......something I love 'em for.Not sheep weren't the saints.

[dramone100]

hey nzoz1977, i love this video and the videos of radio birdman from the same show...do you have any idea if the complete concert recording is available anywhere? i would love to have it.

[nzoz1977]

@dramone100 it's most likely existing in the Australian Film & Sound archive, gaining dust and earning no money...

Should be released on DVD, but the powers to be....

[dramone100]

@nzoz1977 this is like The Beatles at Shea Stadium or Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show or the Ramones at the Roundhouse in London. it's fucking rock history.

[nzoz1977]

@dramone100 that be

[nzoz1977]

@dramone100 I know, I know... i'm sure it was a wonderful night! Unfortunately, I missed it, due to being too busy growing inside my mother's womb and other commitments. I have not seen both concerts in full - although I do believe this gig had gotten a VHS release during some time in the 1980's... again, it's up to the powers to be....

[dramone100]

@nzoz1977 haha well i was born in 90, so my generation got shit on when it comes to rock music haha

[nzoz1977]

@dramone100 I first saw this live concert on 'rage' back in 1990 and I was 12 and felt back then that something big was happening on that concert... believe me, the late 80's and early 90's was pretty shit, apart from a few things in the indi-circles... I didn't like the grunge thing

[dramone100]

@nzoz1977 i was into the mainstream 70s rock for awhile, like Zeppelin and Skynyrd, but then i found the ramones and they led me to the dictators (another new york punk band) and then radio birdman and the saints..."what gives" by radio birdman is easily my favorite song ever haha

[nzoz1977]

@dramone100

70's Australian Rock music was quite rough and raw and very talented. A lot of the musicians (like AC/DC) had been playing around for years before they got their break (note: Bon was 30 when he first sang with AC/DC) and although we had a lot of safe-playing music, there was also a lot of tough stuff, with a good Australian perspective. Try The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs... they're nearly as raw and nasty as the punk stuff, and its where AC/DC came from.

[67675656565655656565]

raw as fuck and dont give to shits about appearance thats what alot good music is all about

[clockwolf]

Awesome.

[MrAcido55]

Quite astonishing performance - been a browser on youtube for a few years but this has inspired me to sign up and comment .Loved them at the time and still amazed to think that these guys were doing this so far from the so called epicentre of punk.Blows away anything around nowadays.

[slideharp1]

The Pistols were clothes-models for Viv Westwood - they would've had no music to play if they hadn't heard The Ramones - thru' Malcolm McLaren. They weren't even exciting live and didn't produce a single memorable song (novelty songs don't count) In addition to great music and musicianship, The Ramones and The Saints also had something the Pistols never had - a singer who could sing.

[nzoz1977]

@slideharp1 thanx for spearing the consideration for The Saints... I'm proud and glad that they're from my country...

The Sex Pistols ended up on a very different mission to The Ramones and The Saints and everybody else. They were their own group and I've figured a long time ago that it's best to ignore their clothes and look past the hype. They sang about the things that were a genuine concern in England at the time.

[HotGeneration100]

Brilliant. Australia had the The Saints. The USA had the Ramones. Both these bands were far superior to the Sex Pistols.

[nzoz1977]

@HotGeneration100 Sex Pistols are a different sentence and not worth the comparison. I am not a fan of Pistols, but I don't think the comparison is fair; because the Pistols ended up being on a completely different mission to the Saints, Ramones, etc.

The buck doesn't just stop with The Saints. We also had Radio Birdman and even more fucked-up punk bands from Brisbane (see 'Brisbane Bands' on nzozdocumented)... 70's Australia - so much agro!

[jahewangi1]

I heard recently an interview with Henry Rollins where he mentioned he copied (from cassette) some Saints stuff from the 70s from Ian McKay which he then played on Australian radio. So what?

[coughcool72]

good on ya nzoz for uploading, this awesome footage is on one of my old "Rage" comps I used to tape on VHS - the sound is incredibly good and fresh I suppose a credit to the sound system at the gig and the live recording. did I say this friggin rules?! just think, you would have uttered your first screams around the same time this blared in paddington town hall, are you from sydney?

[coughcool72]

that sure is a gnarly and full sounding guitar for live in 77, pity i couldn't be there, only 5 years old at the time! aussies rule and this blows away any of the uk punk i've heard from the same era in terms of speed and power and riffs. this is the forerunner of hardcore imo. the change at 6:40 is the best riff!! many thanx to the uploader!!!

[TrickInsult]

Always thought there where 2 guitars because of the wall of sound.

Yes they would have mopped the floor with most Brit bands at the time.

Thanks for the word on the PA amp. Clean, yet full and noisy.

[waistofhumanspace]

@TrickInsult DAVE SHEELER (231) 744-2066 YOUR A JAIL HOUSE SISSY TALLENTLESS WOULD BE BASS GUITARIST THAT CANNOT HOLD RYTHEM!

[ehrendal]

this band rocks tehe jam out of most band s today!

[joereyna68]

this the best ...it s all i listened to in highschool.....well this and maiden...

[strangefacekid]

Never mind the Bawbags, here's the Saints.....

[davideastwood]

Trivia: I was at this gig, april '77. the only time The Saints & Radio Birdman EVER appeared on the same bill. It was a big night...

[bonedry138]

One of the best debuts in punk rock was 'I'm Stranded' by The Saints.They kick ass.

[vintagezigg]

One of the best videos on the tube. Chris Bailey KICKS ASS !

[saintandrews85]

Any chance of posting "do the robot" hit .

[ozseppo]

Birdman and Saints, same gig!

I've had the audio for a while....it's out there...

[deeder2000]

This sounds and looks so unbelievably contemporary! Amazing, they could be a band from now!

[pronchias]

So true. As much as I enjoy the White Stripes, they do sound like a disneyfied version of The Saints. I doubt if even many of the 'out-there' music folks in the 70's knew what to make of these guys.

[FunkyCustard]

just moved new area

lets chat pF

[jp28hc]

All things considered ,fuck New York City and London. Too much fashion, not enough music!

[the13thmoon]

what is this song?

[RamonesKaraoke]

Correction to the above post - the British media were very supportive of The Saints, as were the British public - we thought these guys totally kicked arse. And of course their T.O.T.P appearance for Perfect Day was legendary - Bailey supping on a pint while singing. Genius, and we totally appreciated it.

[nzoz1977]

Don't get me wrong. They did make an impression in the UK, but they still had long hair and they were from Australia... which were, two things that did go against them in the UK during the 70's. Even The Birthday Party were struggling to get gigs in the UK because of their nationality.

[sheilajools]

So I've seen you as nzoz 1977 and 1978. Who's lying about their age then???

[nzoz1977]

I am is 32 years old. My little brother nzoz1978 is 31 years old. Neither of us lie about our ages.

:-)

[nzoz1977]

I am (minus 'is')

[joesith12345789]

Every know and again, I come across an absolute gem on You Tube. This is one such example. Thanks for posting.

I was 13 and in the UK when I bought I'm Stranded and I still listen to it today. Hindsight is a great thing, but I reckon most people viewing this page will agree that the Saints were true mouldbreakers The guitar work is absolutely spot on.

Do u have the rest of this gig, or this doc that was aired on SBS, August 2007:-

[Fioneenacockeen]

truly the dogs nads =) nice one

[thenativehipsters]

the best punks in the world!

[67675656565655656565]

these guys were more of a punk band than the sex pistols were

[tubbythug92]

@67675656565655656565 Both bands are great. Sex Pistols made one of the best albums in punk rock and rock n roll history.

[Wehategod]

Truly an underrated Punk band from the 70's

[nzoz1977]

and just think - the British media at the time dogged this band with references to kangaroos, boomerangs and other cheap-shots over the country they came from. To us, they were a great Rock band - to the British media they were a novelty-punk band from Down Under. Where do they get off...???

[67675656565655656565]

the sex pistols were manufactured by malcolm mclaren and sid vicious was a fan of abba.

[lawlers69]

Isn't that the truth

A rock band that happened to have talent and more credence than some of the more well known Brit bands at that time

Its always easier to run someone down than give them the dues they deserve

[67675656565655656565]

who cares what they look like these guys are punks

[CRAWBURGER]

Fuck the clash

UP THE SAINTS

[67675656565655656565]

dam straight

[departments2006]

I saw The Saints supported by Wire at The Marquee in '77. Wonderful times. Great clip. I wonder if the whole gg is available on DVD...

[Sagess]

Best buzzsaw guitar sound ever!!!

Great recording. thanks.

[Aknepoppii]

i agree with that buzzsaw guitar sound :D how to get my guitar sound like same? :DD

[TheRelicsKickAss]

SiK! Thank doG we have these moments! the best at their best. thnk u thnk u thnk u.

[cliffburton12]

were did u get this show

[nzoz1977]

Rage

[cliffburton12]

Dose anyone know were u can find these guys album or mp3s

[nzoz1977]

The Saints are easy to download on Limewire and much of their releases are on CD. Just do an amazon search.

[dratsumx]

iTunes also has an album or two.

[fulltimepunk]

I agree with LilacMcNell about the audience, there were lots of gigs like this. Thankfully people had to find out for themselves in those rarefied times.

[LilacNell]

Fantastic band. Saw them later that year in Birmingham...

[dragonbalm]

my favourite song of the saints, and certainly one of the best punk song

[zmerlinz]

ahead of there time

[elmstreet158]

I was at this gig - it was wonderful -they are magic!

[PAULLONDEN]

The Saints were a fine band but....

they could have done with a little

charisma overload though.

Lame crowd

[LilacNell]

Nah, not lame, just surprised and unsure. Remember, everything was changing so fast... people didn't know how to respond sometimes.

[newdamned]

great band put it on my favorites

[Ninyae1]

Loved the way they dressed, no poseur stuff.

[stakka79]

1-2-3-4 EP is one of the best singles of that era....Ed Keupper is shit-hot.What a sound!

[tapi20]

grandi!!!!!

[momper]

thx for this. !!! rocks!

[terraf0rm]

Anyone know what that amp is that Ed (the guitar player) is using?

[Harpooner1830]

it's a PA system!! Brad Shepherd from the Gurus realtes in the Great Australian Albums program for I'm Straded that he once tried to play his guitar through it and couldn't control it

[Harpooner1830]

Just to clarify - Ed Kuepper's amp was from a PA system which gave it a sound that was simply amazing - I was at this gig as a Birdman fan and still think they are great but the Saints were simply awesome that night - watch Nights in Venice from the same gig

[richardnixon17]

Found it.

[richardnixon17]

Where's the rest of it??!! I would've given both left and right testicles to have seen these guys circa 77' (esp. Nights in Venice). Best Punk-era band by so far its ridiculous. (Although bass player looks like he shoulda been playing in Led Zeppelin...)

[bloater999]

Excellent - how on earth did you pick this one up?!

[nzoz1977]

It's played on Rage (Aussie music program) on a few occassions during the early 90's. I first saw it on Rage back in 1990 and again in 1992 - I recorded both.

[bloater999]

Well thanks - it's much appreciated that you did! I've some old stuff in the loft but it's all on bloody Betamax! One day I'll sort it out

Cheers

[librarianeric]

I saw Radio Birdman last night in San Diego. I thought they were amazing. Wish they had played a few songs that they didn't, but I can't complain. They were great! Plus, covers of the Who ("Instant Party/Circles"), the Kinks ("Til the End of the World") and Blue Oyster Cult ("Hot Rails to Hell"). Fucking amazing. Wish to hell the Saint - whatever lineup - would come to town! Goddamn, what I'd pay to hear "Know Your Product."

[nzoz1977]

I think it's the 'I'm Stranded' line up that's playing one show in their home city of Brisband. I hope to do consider the rest of the world, cause I'd really like them to come over here to Sydney...

[buzzzcreator]

I know Jim Dickson, bass play with Birdman. I've worked with him for over 10 years. When he's not touring he's a mid mannered Tour Guide in the Blue Mountains, 1 hour west of Sydney. He's not the original bassist obviously, but he played bass in Deniz Tek's band for many years....I've been to San Diego, it's very very similar to Sydney..Cheers.

[DemolitionGirl77]

Tour guide in the blue mountains.... how depressing.

[buzzzcreator]

What's more depressing, sitting in the same office every day surrounded by dick heads and artifical lighting or walking around in the wilderness and getting paid good money? Shit that's a hard one to work out!

[DemolitionGirl77]

Who's doing that??????? The guitarist????

[buzzzcreator]

Jim the bass player

[scoutthedoggie]

In 1977 The Saints must have been one of the most powerful live performers around. Their "Perfect Day" performance on BBC TV Top Of The Pops is stunning probably one of the best ever on TOTP.

[nzoz1977]

I checked out camznow and it's kinda crap.

[tonymaka]

I used to like playing the track 'Erotic Neurotic' with the treble on full pelt, the sound was so raw and it felt like it was ripping my ears apart. The Saints were a great band and the best to come out of Australia.

[nzoz1977]

Australian rock is quite vast and different camps can say different things. Fair enough if the Saints were the best 'punk' band to come out of Australia, but the best to come out of Australia, above AC/DC or post-punk The Birthday Party... the buck doesn't just stop with The Saints.

[davideastwood]

I hear it's just a one-off

[davideastwood]

This gig was the only occasion the two bands ever appeared on the same bill, April 1977, I was there. Awesome, and still fresh in the mind 30 years later.

[nzoz1977]

The Saints are reforming!

No, not just Chris Bailey and a few nobodies; but this very band!

[auskadi]

and i love chris thanking the local chapter of the hitler youth - ie radio birdman!

[nzoz1977]

Damn, I speculated that it was a jibe at Radio Birdman; but was never sure.

[krazynite]

Sex pistols stole from them!!!

[theonlytruepunk]

Chris still went under the name the Saints, which to me was not even close. I do like the later stuff a little bit, especially when I am in a mellow mood...just not the same. Thanks for the post.

[nzoz1977]

No worries... Ed Kuepper also has a solo career, much different to their 1977 glory.

[theonlytruepunk]

I suppose it would get tiresome playing the same fast songs for your whole musical career. I give them credit for expanding and changing.

[theonlytruepunk]

This band was most incredible for the first two albums. After that they should have broken up.

[nzoz1977]

They did!  It was Chris Bailey that continued the band's name, much like Chrissie Hynde continued the Pretenders. Still, I don't mind Chris Bailey's 80s incarnation - not quite punk, but still very good songwriting in a more heartland tone.

[Motorsex]

Fucking powerful band... faster than The Ramones