At least that's the way it looks to me.
Does Gavin Friday and his former band, the Virgin Prunes, have any redeeming features?
― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
The rest of the Virgin Prunes output is pretty patchy (as they were really more of a 'performance art' troop than a real band.) Gavin Friday's solo material (well, with Maurice Seezer) is pretty brilliant, if you ask me, the best probably being his debut, EACH MAN KILLS THE THING HE LOVES, which dips handily into the darl cabaret bag ala Edith Piaf/Jacques Brel (whom he covers here), but often ends up sounding like a slightly campier Nick Cave. Some great moments overall, though.
ADAM & EVE (his second) had some worrying Europop moments (notably the dancey single, "I Want to Live," later covered worryingly by irritating supermodel and one-time Adam Clayton wife, Naomi Campbell). There are some nice tracks, but not his finest hour.
SHAG TOBACCO (the third and last, not counting Friday & Seezer's score to "The Boxer") is a deft meshing of his histrionic cabaret stylings mixed with elements of glam stomp and svelte pop. Not quite as cohesive as EACH MAN..., but a fine album.
Onstage, Gavin Friday is both compelling and hilarious (sometimes unintentionally). He is also guilty of encouraging his ol' buddy Bono into all that cringe-worthy MacPhisto shtick (which Friday probably could've pulled off with style and aplomb, but at Bono's hands just turned into an embarassing display of ludicrousness).
Anyone who picks up either a Virgin Prunes disc or a Gavin Friday disc hoping to hear something simillar to U2 will be sorely mistaken and surprised.....and probably not pleasantly.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
Also, for anyone who is already a Gavin fan, I would recommend you seek out The Boxer for the opening track, which is one of two vocal tracks on the soundtrack. It's really great.
I always loved the title track from the In The Name Of the Father soundtrack (duet with Bono), but only for Gavin's part.
― Jonathan, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:33 (twenty-one years ago) link
Never heard "the Boxer." Must seek that out.
He's not been up to too much lately, has he.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
http://www.gavinfriday.com/
seems pretty up to date on his career. I don't know that there is a new solo album in the works, but the recent news mentions, among other things, a collaboration with Bono on a song for the movie In America, and something about Gavin covering Coldplay's Yellow.
― Jonathan, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:54 (twenty-one years ago) link
― kate, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yeah, Googie (Guggi?) was the other one. He's a painter now.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
In theory I should hate this...ex performance trouper does campier Nick Cave with Wilde pretensions...but its a record I played over and over when it came out and still really like (first side especially) I think the reason is: Its. got. tunes. Nagging memorable ones at that.
― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Gav & Guggi (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 23:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD?
This sad monstrosity aside, an absolute genius in and out of the Prunes. Recently saw a videotape of the VPs -- Sons Find Devils -- and I was happy indeed.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 00:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― stirmonster, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 01:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 18:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
It´s pretty OK now, a lot better than most of the music i listened too.
― Jens (brighter), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 19:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
Mute records report: in Mute News that Virgin Prunes reissues are on the way, in September.
<em>The Grey Area of Mute is pleased to announce the release of 5 remastered CD albums by the truly inspirational and often controversial Virgin Prunes on September 27th. This will be the first time most of the Virgin Prunes catalogue has been officially available on CD.</em>
The official Virgin Prunes website will be previewing the new front cover artwork over the next few weeks.
― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:19 (twenty years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:49 (twenty years ago) link
― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:52 (twenty years ago) link
― chuck, Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:25 (twenty years ago) link
-- shookout (shookou...), June 21st, 2004.
heh. i was at that show.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:32 (twenty years ago) link
So, I was forced out of the apartment today for the very last visit from our nanny (she got a full-time job). I ran out of practical errands, so found myself needlessly visiting disc shops (though I'm currently on a self-imposed quasi-moratorium, being that I'm trying to get rid of discs instead of acquiring more. Despite this, I spotted the Virgin Prunes re-releases (overseen by Gavin Friday this time). While I surprisingly wasn't tempted to buy If I Die I Die for the third time (I have both the Rough Trade edition and the New Rose edition...do I really need a third?), I was sorely tempted to pick up the 2-disc unreleased/rareity compilation, Over the Rainbow. Then I thought, do I need more music from this band? I mean, there are a clutch of intensely great tracks on If I Die.., but a lot of grating chaff as well (by design, I'd imagine). Do I need to purchase yet another disc that I'll only give the odd cursory spin?
I left it there, but someone convince me that I made the right/wrong choice. And cite reasons.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 00:12 (nineteen years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Thursday, 13 January 2005 01:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 04:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 January 2005 04:06 (nineteen years ago) link
As far as the CD, I don't know what to tell you. Usually when I'm in this situation I end up going back to the store the next day. But I think you made the right decision because you can already forsee ahead of time that it's basically going to just sit there once you have it. I tend to see that as a good (and unusual!) omen that you're (I'm) on the right track in avoiding it.
But I also think it's likely that if anyone tries to talk you into going one way, you'll naturally want to go the other!
― Bimble... (Bimble...), Thursday, 13 January 2005 05:59 (nineteen years ago) link
― shookout (shookout), Thursday, 13 January 2005 14:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― thomas, Thursday, 13 January 2005 15:36 (nineteen years ago) link
Probably won't be going back for the `Prunes reissues. There's just no need, really. I dialed up "Pagan Love Song" and "Baby Turns Blue" and was satiated. By the time I got to the purposely cloying "Down Memory Lane," both my ears and my wallet thanked me profusely for not buying them.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 January 2005 17:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 13 January 2005 18:01 (nineteen years ago) link
― Scott McFarland (Scott McFarland), Thursday, 13 January 2005 20:27 (nineteen years ago) link
― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 13 January 2005 20:47 (nineteen years ago) link
I succumbed. I caved in and bought the above `Prunes "rareities" compilation (after reading interviews with Gavin at www.virginprunes.com, I couldn't resist). Am happily not disapointed. Instant indication of quality: whilst blasting "Moments'n'Mine" here at work -- and mistakenly thinking everyone else had left -- a researcher from down the hall came in with a look of abject disgust and said: "What on earth are you listening to?" Heh!
Supposedly, all the re-issues have been sonically "baked," and the sound quality is light years better than the New Rose releases of a few years back. I was even tempted to buy If I Die, I Die.. for a third time. But wisely demured. Over the Rainbow is also appended with some archival photos, which is nice (if you care about such things). Hard to believe from listening to these recordings that they were so buddy-buddy with U2.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 February 2005 07:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 4 February 2005 09:27 (nineteen years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 4 February 2005 09:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 February 2005 15:33 (nineteen years ago) link
Hadn't realized Gavin had spinal surgery a couple of years back! My slight petulance over his seeming musical disappearance is now disspelled.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 1 May 2005 16:44 (nineteen years ago) link
NED: Where the hell have you been? Sorry, but I need new music, and I need it now. I'm tired of waiting.
GAVIN: I can't feel me legs.
NED: Fair enough.
FADE TO BLACK.
― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:43 (nineteen years ago) link
Wow. I didn't know that either. Certainly explains a lot.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 20:36 (nineteen years ago) link
― todd (todd), Sunday, 1 May 2005 21:41 (nineteen years ago) link
Well, yes and no:
http://www.virginprunes.com/archives/20040929sisterrayfans01.html
Yes, that's Gavin with the massive muttonchops -- and yes, that's Guggi next to him.
The three part interview on the virginprunes.com site starting here, which talks about the remastering/rerelease deal and so forth, is well worth a read.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 1 May 2005 22:00 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 22:01 (nineteen years ago) link
He looks like a Rock Star out of a movie.
The way rock Stars should look.
― David N (David N.), Sunday, 1 May 2005 23:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 1 May 2005 23:23 (nineteen years ago) link
Also, much to my amusement, trawling around the main fan site turned up this news item from last June:
http://www.virginprunes.com/news/prunes_at_i_love_music.html
!
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 May 2005 00:40 (nineteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 3 June 2005 21:43 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 3 June 2005 21:47 (nineteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:54 (nineteen years ago) link
― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 6 June 2005 19:00 (nineteen years ago) link
Dude, the live album (The Hidden Lie, I think it's called) is my favorite thing by them. Got it in the cut-out bin years ago, was totally blown away. Lost my records in a devastating home situation and I truly miss this.
― Seething, Pathological Hatred of Oldies Radio (I M Losted), Saturday, 24 August 2019 20:18 (five years ago) link
Have to admit I was getting nervous at remembering the song titles "Caucasian Walk" and "White History Book" but the former seems to be a dystopia in which black slavery is allowed and there isn't much I can read into the latter song.
There's a quote here that suggests the former song doesn't really mean much at all...https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858552956/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 24 August 2019 20:19 (five years ago) link
i played "Caucasian Walk" in a disco last week for the first time since the 80s. it sounded incredible. i have never understood the lyrics so figured it was ok to play.
― stirmonster, Sunday, 25 August 2019 04:17 (five years ago) link
Some amazing stuff on Over The Rainbow (2 disc version). Gavin's voice in "King Of Junk" is hilarious, "Greylight" is beautiful, "Revenge" is a great horrory track.
But what on earth is that secret track after "Love Lasts Forever"? Cant find anything about that. Gorgeous song that must have been from Moon Looked Down And Laughed era.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 21 September 2019 13:41 (five years ago) link
Some real surprises in Gavin's discographyhttps://gavinfriday.com/discography/score-get-rich-or-die-tryin/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 21 September 2019 13:42 (five years ago) link
Classic. This almost went in The Irish thread.
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/0916/1076206-virgin-prunes-theme-for-thought/
― Let them eat Pfifferlinge an Schneckensauce (Tom D.), Sunday, 6 October 2019 15:26 (five years ago) link
Nice
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 6 October 2019 16:23 (five years ago) link
their glory days, it just wasn't the same without Guggi :(
eons ago in college a friend had a bootleg cassette tape of a show where they did "Moon Looked Down And Laughed" tracks but with the 5-piece (6 if you count Dav-Id) lineup, wish I could find that somewhere
― sleeve, Monday, 7 October 2019 20:47 (five years ago) link
(sorry for revive, no news) How is there so much 1983 live footage from them on Youtube? Not complaining though, amazing
― StanM, Wednesday, 12 May 2021 17:36 (three years ago) link
Ohohoh! Seen an expanded remaster of If I Die, I Die today! I think that's the only album reissue so far, some vinyl single reissues, and seemingly everything is available digitally.
Lots of new stuff on youtube, mini podcasts and video projectshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdvpXJq5vis
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 12 November 2022 20:27 (one year ago) link
thanks!
― sleeve, Saturday, 12 November 2022 20:34 (one year ago) link
"2022 remaster" - I have no problems with the 2004 remaster?
― StanM, Sunday, 13 November 2022 00:02 (one year ago) link
I liked it too, but it was very clipped and Sleeve didn't like it, so I'm curious about what people say and if the extras are noteworthy
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 13 November 2022 02:08 (one year ago) link
lol yeah don't get me started on those botched Mute CDs, more clipping than I have ever seen anywhere else ever
― sleeve, Sunday, 13 November 2022 15:03 (one year ago) link
oh I see - yeah, the new remaster fixes that.
― StanM, Sunday, 13 November 2022 15:26 (one year ago) link
yeah this new LP remaster sounds great, can confirm
it's such a bummer that all the original artwork from this era seems to be lost, but there are tons of super cool new photos from the era that are used here to great effect, I'm still keeping the 1982 Italian Base pressing that I've had for decades because the art is all different but this is a worthy reissue and highly recommended
this is also available as a double CD with bonus tracks on the 2nd disc, I can't comment on the mastering here but I assume it's better than previous CD iterationshttps://www.discogs.com/release/25162990-Virgin-Prunes-If-I-Die-I-Die
― sleeve, Monday, 28 November 2022 23:35 (one year ago) link
I can really hear the remastering details on "Bau-Dachong" which is my fave, I am thrilled
― sleeve, Monday, 28 November 2022 23:37 (one year ago) link
It would appear that "Fádo" from the 2004 reissue is different than "Fado (rough mix)" on the new release. The piano-driven second half of the former in particular doesn't appear in the latter.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 8 December 2022 03:50 (one year ago) link
Enjoyed that youtube series. I learned there's another 2 parts of A New Form Of Beauty that might yet be released (Gavin wouldn't tease us without delivering would he?), I was surprised that his favorite release was Heresie
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 24 December 2022 17:16 (one year ago) link
If you can, find "The Hidden Lie".
It's a live album that I picked up at the old cut-out store in Old Town in Chicago.
It's my personal favorite Prunes album. Beautiful sound quality.
― Picture of Chairman Mao (I M Losted), Tuesday, 27 December 2022 03:03 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9s85pTlz0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEbSSn2meuMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujlhMEHLrsE4 part doc, on a channel with a treasure trove of Prunes/Gavin Guggi videos
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Tuesday, 27 December 2022 22:47 (one year ago) link
thank you! gee I'd love to hear those other New Form parts before I die, or Gavin dies...
― sleeve, Tuesday, 27 December 2022 23:19 (one year ago) link
but hey, if I die, I die, right?
Okay, that documentary is badly cropped so I can't see the names of some of the speakers and there's more parts that I can't find, it obviously had longer to go
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 28 December 2022 01:15 (one year ago) link
Revive! what I’ve heard from his upcoming album sounds devastatingly excellent.
― omar little, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 15:30 (one week ago) link
thanks, Alex in NYC
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 15:33 (one week ago) link
the album, Ecce Homo, is out this Friday - I was just coming here to post this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqmKmCIvSZU
― StanM, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 15:37 (one week ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F68NB7LIRTw
― StanM, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 15:38 (one week ago) link
Ecco Homo—Lyrics are great, the music is kinda ehhhh…
― Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 15:42 (one week ago) link
How dare you
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 16:03 (one week ago) link
could never ever connect with this guy solo, what a great band they were though. pretty much my same take on Marc Almond (sorry Ned), great guest spots with Coil but the solo stuff is way too cabaret/arch for me
― go polish your nose ring (sleeve), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 16:06 (one week ago) link
― Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, October 22, 2024
The beats are the best part!
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 16:11 (one week ago) link
Oh shit
― DJP, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 16:13 (one week ago) link
I always come back to this live footage - totally unhinged - smoking ciggs, drinking wine and being FABULOUS all in the daylight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXn4zwsrGhg
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 16:35 (one week ago) link
yeah that's the stuff
― go polish your nose ring (sleeve), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:05 (one week ago) link
pretty much my same take on Marc Almond (sorry Ned)
TSK, etc. Anyway you will all come around on Gavin, so.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:11 (one week ago) link
I don't hold his bestie relationship with Bono against him.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:15 (one week ago) link
I really liked hearing about that whole group of friends, especially the way they could get together after a long absence and make art in a room together
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:37 (one week ago) link
Eno said once that Bono's secret sharer isn't Edge or the other U2ers, it's Gavin Friday.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:39 (one week ago) link
Once I heard Gavin Friday, Bono’s entire vocal style shift in the 1990s made perfect sense. Hearing next to them on the title track to In the Name of the Father was a bit uncanny.
― omar little, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:45 (one week ago) link
*them next to each other!
I know how to construct sentences, but my faulty voice text does not…
― omar little, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 17:46 (one week ago) link
The beats sound totally 1997
― Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 19:31 (one week ago) link
That is why they rule
― DJP, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 19:31 (one week ago) link
Yeah I'm gonna say, as someone who loved the Tim Simenon-produced Shag Tobacco out of the gate almost thirty years back, play to strengths here.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:21 (one week ago) link
lol I knew DJP would dig this b/c of that sound and the retro beats
― go polish your nose ring (sleeve), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:25 (one week ago) link
this honestly sounds quite like the time i asked an ai to make an electroclash track about the ulster unionist terrorist turned artist named michael stone.
the combination of the sort of vaguely portentous lyrics and the not really here nor there beats have a definite ai feeling.
other than that not bad tho.
― LocalGarda, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:33 (one week ago) link
heh, Gavin Friday is never vaguely portentous, he's unabashedly so.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:34 (one week ago) link
I like Shag Tobacco. I love the Prines though, but you can’t go back.
― Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:37 (one week ago) link
Prunes
― Booger Swamp Road (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:38 (one week ago) link
The new GF album is entirely excellent from start to finish. Go get it.
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 30 October 2024 17:42 (three days ago) link