Teardrop Explodes: Like Leila Khaled Said

oneallanclarke

Wilder or Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro or Wilder? A near-impossible choice, like being to asked to choose your fave child. I’ve pjayed them both continually since they came out and think they’re the best albums of that post-punk startof-the-80s era, ahead of Joy Divsion and the Bunnymen. Leila Khaled Says is a brilliant tune inspired by an intriguing but not necessarily very pleasant woman.
I saw the Teardrop Explodes at Tiffany’s on the same tour right at the start of 82 The day of the gig they did a signing session at the old HMV next to where the Ostlers was. Copey and the band members were on top form, clowning around signed my copies of the two albums, put me and my mate on the guest list for that night. I fancied myself as a would-be music journalist and scribbled down answers to questions for a fanzine that existed only in my head.
I’ve followed JC’s career ever since those years but he’s never topped Kilimanjaro and Wilder. They should be as well known as Unknown Pleasures and Closer

Anchor

oneallanclarke did you not like any of the 1991/92 output?

Foxy_Dread

Jon not yet, will be a Xmas gift I hope.

Anchor

The second CD/album on Copes 2012 double Album Psychedelic Revolution is called Phase of Leila Khaled

His 27th Solo album. Not one of his best mind.

oneallanclarke

Anchor Peggy Suicide and, especially Jehovahkill are really good, as was Fried before them but for me JC’s clear creative peak was with the Teardrops. I can go years without playing one of his solo albums but I go back again and again to those first two albums. Do you see the 91/92 records as being as good, or better?

Jon

oneallanclarke for me JC’s clear creative peak was with the Teardrops. I can go years without playing one of his solo albums but I go back again and again to those first two albums

👍

Anchor

oneallanclarke Better but that is an age thing. I was in my late teens/early twenties for Jehovahkill/suicide so more my pomp. Teardrops I was piggybacking my older sisters taste. I liked it but it wasn’t my era really.

fulmine

Sorry, this is bad of me, but thought this is as good a place to post this as any other. Spam ahoy! I’ve created a fanzine-style pdf made up of interviews from a couple of years back with Will Sergeant, Paul Simpson and Mick Houghton (former Bunnymen, Teardrops, etc publicist) for an article about late 70s-early 80s Liverpool, Zoo Records, etc that for various reasons was never published. I just thought there was some really good stuff in there (it’s 60 pages long) and that it should see the light of day, somehow. If anyone wants a copy of the pdf message me and I’ll get one to you. Thanks

Foxy_Dread

fulmine thanks Fulmine, I’m going to print mine off and read it travelling.

Anchor

fulmine yes please. 👍

oneallanclarke

fulmine
That was a great read. It deserves a wider audience.

Mega_Armageddon_Chickens

fulmine
Er somewhat belatedly yes pleased

CBIT

yes please

Flaneur

I’ve played Wilder earlier and I’m now listening to Kilimanjaro now.

Feels like he sings “Ba ba ba ba ba” a lot.

Foxy_Dread

Flaneur and it’s fucking brilliant ,😂

Jon

Flaneur All those bah, bah, bahs and la, la, las fit perfectly. I can’t think of anything he could sing that would fit better.
Loads of bands I like have shit lyrics at the best of times. I never really pay lyrics that much of a mind anyway most of them mean nothing to me. How they are sung just adds to the overall sound that I enjoy. Dylans, Frames and MacGowans are few and far between.

And @fulmine this might just might be the best thing that’s come out of OMJs in a long while. Thank you for sharing.

DHM sent me Will’s second book after helping him prep for an In conversation with event.

He’s right about No Bleeding.

Travis_Bickle

Always got ‘dodgy drama teacher’ vibes from him. I remember blokes that looked and sounded like him from CND meetings. Just a few too many years older than everyone else.
I’ve never understood the adulation. His eccentricity wears a bit thin after a while. I know we need people like that in music but that’s as much as he’s getting from me by way of praise.

Foxy_Dread

Travis_Bickle early Teardrops has nothing to do with his persona it’s the music. To me it’s about as perfect as pop gets.

Travis_Bickle

Foxy_Dread it’s not his persona alone. It’s just not perfect pop for me.

fulmine

Jon Oh thank you!

fulmine

Anchor Of course, message me your email address and I’ll get one over to you.

Harvest

I’m staying out of this one. I’ve slagged off enough national treasures in the last few days.

CBIT

Thats a really good read @fulmine , cheers

fulmine

CBIT Thanks mate, really pleased you like it.