On this day, 43 ago, The Sex Pistols released their one and only official studio album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols’. It was released by Virgin Records on 28 October 1977. The album has influenced many bands and musicians, and the industry in general. In particular, the album's raw energy, and Johnny Rotten's sneering delivery and "half-singing", are often considered game-changing. It is frequently listed as the most influential punk album, and one of the most important albums of all time.

By the time of its release, the Sex Pistols were controversial, having sworn on live TV, been fired from two record labels, and been banned from playing live in some parts of Britain. The album title added to that controversy, with some people finding the word "bollocks" offensive. Many record stores refused to carry it and some record charts refused to list its title, showing just a blank space instead.

Due in part to its notoriety, and in spite of many sales bans at major retailers, the album debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts. It achieved advance orders of 125,000 copies after a weeks of its release and went gold only a few weeks later, on 17 November. It remained a best-seller for over a year, spending 60 weeks in the top 25. The album has also been certified platinum by the RIAA. It has seen several reissues, the latest in 2017.

In 2006, it was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 greatest albums ever.

Never Mind The Bollocks (12 Track UK edition)

A1. Holidays in the Sun 3:22
A2. Bodies 3:03
A3. No Feelings 2:53
A4. Liar 2:41
A5. God Save the Queen 3:20
A6. Problems 4:11

B1. Seventeen 2:02
B2. Anarchy in the U.K. 3:32
B3. Submission 4:12
B4. Pretty Vacant 3:18
B5. New York 3:07
B6. E.M.I. 3:06

Note: "Submission" was included with most, but not all, copies of the 11-track as a one-sided seven-inch single.

DISCOGS

Today it is exactly 32 years since the Belgian Goth-fathers of the EBM (Electronic Body Music) released their fourth studio album Front By Front (PIAS / 28.10.1988). An album that came only one year after Official Version (1987) and with which these gentlemen managed to refine the EBM recipe almost to perfection. Front 242 was clearly on the roll and Front By Front contained, just as its predecessor, a lot of dance floor fillers and also classic tracks, like Until Death (Us Do Part), Circling Overland, Im Rhythmus Bleiben, Welcome to Paradise. And of course maybe one of their most famous and successful singles / songs until this day, Headhunter. Front By Front is therefore considered one of the best Electro / Industrial albums ever made, not only by fans but also by critics around the world. Headhunter's remarkable video, filmed and directed by the well-known Dutch director / home photographer of Depeche Mode, U2 and Joy Division, Anton Corbijn, received heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels of that time. Due to the remarkable presence of eggs in this video clip, the song soon acquired the nickname 'Egg Hunter'. Despite these seemingly successful releases, Front 242’s home label and distribution partner Red Rhino Europe went bankrupt the same year and was taken over by PIAS (Play It again Sam). After the release of Front By Front, it would be a 3 year long wait for the fans until the follow-up album Tyranny> For was released. In 1992, the Front By Front album was remastered and was put in a new jacket for the re-release on the American major label Sony / Epic.

DISCOGS

On this day, exactly XXXYEARS years ago, Nitzer Ebb released ‘Control I’m Here’ (MUTE71). It was the first single taken from their second and upcoming studio album ‘Belief’ (STUMM 61- release date: 09.01.1989).

It reached position 100 in the UK Single Chart and position 14 the US Dance chart.

Control I’m Here (CD) - Tracklist

Control Im Here (Zero Option Mix)
Control Im Here (Instrumental Club Mix)
K.I.A.
Control Im Here (Hardcore Mix)

Control i'm Here - Lyrics

we close our eyes
close them in your dreams
close them in your home
i'm here to stay
i won't go away

you don't need me i'll slip away
you can there me i'm not to say

you'll hopin that i'll buy you
i'll slip into your open mouth
shut the door

control i'm here

Songwriters: McCarthy / Halford

DISCOGS

On this day, 0 ago (23 October 1980), UK industrial music pioneers Throbbing Gristle released simultaneously two 7” singles, Adrenalin/Distant Dreams (Part Two) and Subhuman/Something Came Over Me. They were both Sold in camouflage printed plastic bags.

‘Adrenalin’ and‘ Distant Dreams' might well be some of Throbbing Gristle's more accessible songs but still features weird tape loops and odd lyrics by Genesis P. Orridge’. So in the musical context of 1980, these songs was still a long way off from mainstream music.

Worth noting, the 7" version of "Distant Dreams (pt. II)" has a different mix comparing it to the one made available as bonus on later Grey Area CD editions of "Mission Of Dead Souls”.

The Subhuman/Something Came Over Me single was everything but accessible for the mainstream music lovers with Subhuman being more of a soundscape of scraping metalics while Genesis screams and shouts his lyrics over them. However ‘Something Came Over Me’ definitely has the most pop/rock song elements and melodies, however they are countered by Genesis P. Orridge undisguised ode to a white sticky substance.

The artwork features the painting Apotheosis of War by Vasili Vasilyevich Vereshchagin on the front cover and a canal bridge underpass.

Both singles entered the UK indie charts peaking at 23rd (Subhuman/Something Came Over Me) and 26th (Adrenalin/Distant Dreams) (Part Two)) position.

Subhuman/Something Came Over Me ( 7" IR 13)

A:Subhuman" – 2:53
B: Something Came Over Me" – 3:43

Adrenalin/Distant Dreams (Part Two) (7" - IR 15)

A: Adrenalin" – 3:59
B: Distant Dreams (Part Two)" – 5:30

In 2020 Angels & Agony has existed for 25 years and to celebrate this special anniversary the band had scheduled several shows at places they have been playing earlier during the career of the band.

"Due to Covid-19, we did not get the chance to do this so we want to give you a little present: a friend of ours made a special lyric video clip of "Forever" with exclusive Angels & Agony photos from the past. We hope you'll enjoy it! Love & Light..."

- Reinier & Marco -

Please watch and like the Angels & Agony video "Forever" below!

Angels & Agony is an electropop band from Holland formed in 1995 and released four full-length albums via Out Of Line Music.

www.facebook.com/AngelsAndAgony