Punk memories

[Lee Drury]

Maiden and Motorhead cannot be lumped in with the rest of the NWOBHM. I saw Maiden play loads of times and never had to pay to get in. Likewise with Motorhead who were supporting the Damned the 1st time I saw them play.
My dad fitted a gas fire in Maidens flat over Stoke Newington way in the early days. He came home all exicited telling me about loads of girls in leather and men with guitars! In the end we worked out who it was and I wasnt impressed. I can remember we went to see Mr Diannos new band play the Music Machine just after he left Maiden and I liked them better. Wonder what happened to them?
One night in late 79 or 80 I was propping up the Music Machine bar with Lemmy. We were discussing german medals, the state of our teeth etc when he announced that he had to leave early as he was going to see Saxon. I asked him if he was joking. He asked me why and I said that they were dodgy and Biff had the worst mullet that I had ever seen. He laughed out loud and said what about Wheels of Steel or some other song? I told him that one song doesnt make a good gig and I didnt think that he would like their stuff knowing his musical tastes.
He told me that he was getting in for nothing and that he needed to be seen at certain places. That was fair enough.
He told us about the secret (Iron Fist) gig and me, Ken and Andy turned up to see them. It seemed like I was the only punk in the place and I was getting some heavy looks untill Lemmy saw us at the bar. He came over and put his arm round me and gave me a can of beer. The looks on the faces of the heavy metal henrys was priceless. He was supposed to be wearing a Wasted Youth leather patch that I had given him earlier as I was still the singer at that time.
He never did sew it on his jacket and I never did play with Youth due to musical differences.
Years later at a gig that Terry has mentioned Lemmy came along and asked me what had happened to Youth? He thought that they were going to be some kind of crazy tripped out punk band and I said so did I!
He asked me if I was still speeding and I nodded. He said come with me and we went right up into the gods where there were no other people around. He pulled out a massive knife and I thought that he was going to stab me or something! I needent have worried. It was his way of dispensing just the right amount of sulph on the tip of the blade. A rock n roll moment.
I never saw him again as he went off to live in California.
Lee.

[Dagenham Dave]

The last I heard of Paul Dianno he was living in Salisbury and had another band but I aint got a clue what they're called, apparently he has a son who plays in a band as well now.
You're tales of Lemmy have reminded me of one too. In 75 our regular Saturday night haunt was the Dagenham Roundhouse, partly because we never got any trouble there in spite of our long hair and leather jackets but mainly because I was 18 and the place had loads of girls going who didn't run off at the sight of us so we weren't usually bothered which band was playing. I hadn't taken much notice of the fact that Motorhead were playing their first gig there as I was far more interested in pulling a young blonde who I'd been pestering for a few weeks so when I saw her near the bar that's where I went. She kept telling me that she could never go out with me as I was normally pretty drunk by closing time, I was insistant that I was really quite a sober chap but she wasn't having any of it.There was this bigger older chap in a studded leather similar to mine standing right next to us who decided to join in and help me chat her up, this went on for some time and he had us both laughing and for some reason we ended up having a competition as to who could stand on one leg the longest. It was part way through this that some other bloke hauled him away and a few minutes later we saw him come on stage with his bass-I did eventually get the girl and I bet it's not many people who can say they got their first serious girlfriend with Lemmy's help 

[Baztac]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the cool stories. Without wanting to change the name of the thread I thought you might appreciate some quotes from Lemmy.

"Hopefully I'll die onstage like Tommy Cooper. I always thought that he went out really well - to the sound of laughter.
I am going to hell, though. That's where all the pool tables are."


"A French magazine printed my obituary. How did I die? I dunno, it was in French."


"I still use it, now and again. If Percy isn't pointing at the pulchritude then he needs a bit of a push. What's wrong with that?"
on Viagra

"I love women, they should be naked backstage all the time."


“The secret of our success is pork scratchings in the trousers.
It makes you jump about a lot onstage.”


“Face down in a pool of vomit.”
when asked how he sleeps

[Lee Drury]

Anyone who has spent some time with Lemmy will tell you that he lives up to his expectations. It was great to drink with him at the Music Machine as people would keep coming over and giving him cans of colt 45. As soon as they were gone he would give them to me. He didnt drink beer, just double vodkas. No ice (dont wanna water it down!) he would say. We also used to see him regularly in a pub called the Earl of Lonsdale (I think) down the Portobello Rd every saturday afternoon. He loved studded leathers, the Ramones, and could talk about punk music all night. My kinda drinking buddy.
May he live for ever.
Lee.

[Lee Drury]

One saturday in the early eighties we set off on the 1st leg of a northern tour. It was soon after the ill fated Rejects tour when it all went wrong in Birmingham. How anyone didnt die at that gig still remains a mystery and Mick still has a fred perry scar on his forehead.
Our first gig was to be at the Vine club in Stoke, then on to Liverpool. We all met up at East Ham town hall and we had an 80 seater coach and about three vans full of West Ham herberts all geed up and ready to go.
We got there ok, set up the gear and began the soundcheck. The manager asked what he should do with all the 100 or so people who had come with us. I said cant we have an early lock in and he went for it. The drinks began flowing and after a couple of hours he said that he had never took so much money in such a short time and that we were welcome back every week!
Then it all went wrong. Apparently Liverpool were playing away at Stoke that afternoon and they had a plan that involved sorting us lot out after the match. A gang of blokes turned up and announced that they were cousins of John Conteh the boxer. They were very flash and it didnt take long before Pompey hit one of them, as he had insulted all cockneys (Pompey wasnt even a cockney but he did the right thing and chinned him!) It all went off big time and the whole club was trashed. The manager got a stool over his head, every optic was smashed as were all the leaded light windows. It looked like a bomb had gone off. I dont think that the gang had realised that we were all together.
The police turned up and told us to pack away our gear and leave. Me and Trigger began to protest as we had payed over a ton for the coach and needed our gig fee to pay the coach company. I wondered why they didnt want to arrest us all as the club was wrecked, and there were people unconscious all over the floor.
The head copper kept on telling us to leave and we kept telling him no, when he announced that 350 scousers were marching thru the city centre as we spoke and that he didnt have enough men to stop them. Trigger said what has that got to do with us and he said that they are coming here to do you. Trigger began throwing his drums in the van without even putting them in their cases! We had a meeting and I said im not going to Liverpool, im going home on the coach with all the others.
We managed to get out of Stoke ok and when we got back to the town hall the old bill were waiting for us there. They got on the coach and arrested some Becontree skins, and took them straight back to Stoke. They ended up going to prison and the Vine club never opened its doors again.
That was that with going up north as far as I was concerned. They all seemed to have a massive chip on their shoulder and we were never made to feel welcome. We had been tarred by the east end, West Ham thing that the Rejects had started.
All the northern punks seemed to sniff glue, rather than drink and enjoy themselves. It was like another world that I didnt want any part of. The rest of them just wanted to kill us!
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Yes things were tough in the days of punk ,you ALSO had Skins I.C.F.Rockers,Greacers? Hells Angles,I take pride in saying it never went of at the Bridge house,The reason for this is,it was our home territory,and the majority of the guys new each other,Lee you were a prime example,you were a punk who loved Motorbikes. and had mate who were Skins, So Guys like you were the reason,for keeping the peace, you being a great big Bloke also helped T.M

[jon77]

 i only whent to the bridge house 3 to 4 times to see wasted youth and depeche mode in which i remember a mate tape the gig with a small recorder.   all ways a good atmosfear never see any trouble.

wasted youth had a big following from where i come from the feltham hounslow area there must of bin a good 30 of us towards the end of them playing.

i do remember seeing lemmy at the marquee at some of the wasted youth gigs and the venue.   all ways gave me a nod never talk to him untill at the venue he was with some hells angles.   whent over and was standing next to him with my girl friend we lit a fag up next minute heard a what the fek from lemmy.  my girl friend burnt hes hand i thoult sh*t how am i going to get out of this seeing who he was with  my girl friend said sorry  and he was ok about it i thoult thank fek for that had a bit of a chat with him he came across a nice bloke

[Lee Drury]

In the good old days people looked where they were going, not at the poxy mobile in the palm of their hand. They did things in real life, not virtually. I guess most of us are sitting looking at a puter screen as we visit this site, but at least we did things for real.
If you want a punch up, put on the gloves as me and Joe do and knock seven bells out of each other in the garden. Dont be a We Is Imbeciles and do it on a computer screen. There are even rock star weekends where you can pay an extortionate amount of money to hang out with loads of other sad old gits, meet a couple of old has beens  and make a demo tape!
Joe and his mates have the guitar hero game. I wont go near anything like that but they challenged me to play anarchy in the uk and I couldnt resist. They all thrashed me and I wasnt having it but had to leave with my tail between my legs. I can play that song backwards in my sleep so couldnt understand why I lost. I said that it wasnt working and they all said I was making excuses. I was pleased to read not so long ago that the guy from metallica regularly gets beaten by his roadies when playing metallica (his) songs on the game. This to me proves the point. Its not helpng kids learn the guitar.
I must be getting old but what with all the X-Factor, political correctness and health and safety bollocks we are all having stuffed down our throats, I am glad I was born in the good ol days when kids climbed trees, read enid blyton books, played with gollywogs, coppers and parkies clipped you round the ear and you didnt tell your dad or he might have done it too, coz you must have deserved it!
Im turning into Alf Garnett!
Up the Hammers.

[Graham Bull]

Hey Lee...I just finished reading all of your posted memories...jeez, they were great times! We met a couple of times through Jeff Ellis who was my best mate for years...we, like you, did a load of recording on his little 4 track fostex and played in little projects at the bridge and local polys - 'regans aids', the sperm wails and stuff...played Cardiff Chapter Arts to a sit down audience with loads of BH musos(?) like Paul Balance and Paul Jeffries (still missed I bet)  out of The Pope...remember a really cool song they did called 'Reveille' that used to rock the BH. John McGeady (another one lost) was also one of my good mates as was Nick (WY). Did a recording of Nick's project 'The Persian Flowers'. Darren and I used to get together for a drink after gigs with John and when Terry took over the Merlins I played there a few times - but North london just wasn't the same. Jeff Willmott worked with me on a load of music for TV - he was in 'In Camera' with Dave 'bubble' who went on to be a dancer.
I ended up in NYC for while when it seemed Rocco would go big with Flesh for Lulu - we arrived back in the UK at the same time on the same tube at Plaistow.
There were others like Andy O out of blue zoo and Wattie and Big John out of the Exploited. That story about Jeff helping you out in camden sounds like him - dead quiet and charming but boy would he look after his buddies...say hello to him and tell him to get in touch...Lee, I remember you, the missus and a young child at the bridge...your missus and mine got on well, I think. Got a load of BH stories but it feels like there were different groups of people who all knew each other but stuck with their own crowds?
Graham

[Lee Drury]

Hello Graham, it has been a long time.
Yvonne and me met up with some of the bridge house girls recently at a little reunion. There was talk of how good it would be if the bridge was still there, up and running and how we could have a proper reunion.
As you say it was all about the little groups and crowds of people. Some you knew well, others just to smile at. If we all had a guest list for our own personal reunion it would be a different set of names for every one.
You would need all your freinds and enemies to come along to make it right but the most important factor is the time.
It was a special time that cannot be recreated. It is best to never go back, you can only be dissapointed.
I have tried to stay in touch with as many people as possible from back then, but we have all moved on and that is only natural.
Give me a time machine and you wouldnt see me for dust!
Lee

[Jeff]

Talkin' about a clip round the earhole from your neighborhood copper.

I just got out of west ham nick after fours hours for obstructing the police.

My horrendous crime (bearing in mind that in the past i took part in many street riots from the miners to the poll tax and beyound, kickin as many coppers as put the boot into me and none of them tried to arrest me) was for asking if it was necessary to search a young asian youth in the middle of Stratford station and why did they never stop white middle aged people.

Before you could say 'heil hitler' the young transport officer had the cuffs on me and was calling for assistance to drag me into  the paddy wagon.
He claimed i obstructed him in his arrest and was abusive.

Honestly, i didn't swear, raise my voice or interfere. I asked a reasonable question at a bad time.
Let's see if the bastards press charges.
Just wait until the next big demo, i'll have my rewenge!!

ACAB!! (for those of you who know what it means)

[Lee Drury]

All coppers are bastards. I will go along with that. I have been strip searched twice in a cell, standing inside a circle of about eight old bill. Very degrading. You wouldnt believe where they look, just pull your skin back for me (im not a catholic) Even up your arse with a torch, everywhere.
One night in 79 I had been up west and got back home in the early hours. I went to bed and was having trouble sleeping as I was still buzzing. I had been in bed for an hour or so when I heard a commotion in the street, outside.
I was listening when there was a knock at the door. It wasnt my house so I figured that my dad could get it. The knock came again and my dad went downstairs. I could hear voices and wondered what was going on. My dad came into my room and said "what have you done" I said I aint done nothing and he asked me again. I told him that I really hadnt done anything and he said you had better get some clothes on as you are being arrested. We went down stairs and there were loads of coppers outside, flashing lights, black marias and panda cars everywhere! They even had the road blocked off at each end. All my mum said was "what will the neighbours say"
They took me to plaistow nick and locked me up. My dad came along but I couldnt see him. They began asking me loads of questions and after an hour or so I sussed what was happening.
People had been going to the Bridge House and their cars were being broken into. Yvonne had even lost her leather which was the ultimate sin as far as I was concerned, as she had left it in Zillahs moggie.
They seemed to think that I was the mister big behind the operation and that I was the fence who moved on all the knocked off gear! I kept on denying it all and eventually they told me that they had my accomplices in different cells and that they had confessed all this. It all seemed unreal as I really didnt know what was going on. I asked who the other blokes were and they wouldnt tell me.
After a few more hours of interrogation they let me go into a big room where they were going to bring the other blokes in so I could challenge them. As I sat there I could hear my dad talking to someone and he said that my boy is well known at the bridge and he is a singer in a band. Everyone knows him. He almost sounded proud of me and this made me feel better. The head copper came in and said that I was not to try and get my story straight with my henchmen! Just to see if they still said it was me.
They brought them into the room and they were two of the little apprentice punks that used to hang around outside the pub. They couldnt get in as they were very small and young but would stand outside listening to the music. They ended up knicking from cars and this particular night got caught. The old bill couldnt believe that two little kids had been responsible for this crime wave and asked who they were working for. The first name that came to their minds was mine for some reason! They didnt know that I was known to the police and the old bill came straight round and knicked me too.
Now we were all in the same room the kids wouldnt look at me. They just stared at the floor. I shouted at them and said just tell them the truth, as I was led away.
The kids must have come clean and they let me go eventually. As I left I saw the kids again at the desk. I said if I ever see you at the bridge again I will do you. Me and dad went home and in the morning it all seemed like a weird dream. The kids never showed their faces again.
I have quite a few convictions from the punk era and everyone of them was a trumped up pile of horse sh*t. Once I went to a copper for help and he told me to get my hands off of his shoulder, I said my friends have been robbed and I have been assaulted by the bouncers in that pub. What are you going to do? and he threatened to knick me for assaulting him!. I nearly hit him and had to be dragged away.
My mum and both daughters have been violently robbed and mugged yet when you are burgled they wont even come to your house! Too busy knicking speeding motorists and other law abiding easy targets.
I have no time for the old bill at all. Its them and us.
Lee.

[Lee Drury]

Jeff has just uploaded four new songs onto myspace. Three of them are about the old bridge house crowd. If you were there you will understand.
Get Dirty is for Lux, Silent Siren, Wasted Train and Things We Did Together (for Mick Atkins), for everyone with jet black hair and leather!
At www.myspace.com/leedrurymusic
Lee.

[Lee Drury]

Im sitting here in the chelsea district of NYC watching West Ham play Everton, for free on TV.
Just back from a trip down the Bowery to CBGBs. What once was the home of punk rock is now a vintage clothing store and an art gallery. I leaned on the lampost outside ala Dee Dee Ramone in that famous photo of da Bruddas (how sad is that!)
On the way back up 3rd/13th I visited Keihls (a kinda drugstore/chemists) that has more than a few old Harleys and Indians on display inside the shop, including Clark Gables 45 and Steve McQueens Chief. They even have a Von Dutch custom paint job on a Superglide? I got to touch an original flying eyeball. Even sadder!
To those of you who dont know Von Dutch was a custom painter of choppers and hot rods. Not a range of fashion t shirts.
The show is now set up, the girls are smiling nicely at all the visitors and I get to explore the big apple.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

your in the U.S.A.watching Wham and we cannot get it live over here,crazy isnt it,I guess its a holiday you are on,so hope it gone well,did you see any gigs out there I know if Iron Maiden were out there you would be first in the ticket office,thanks for keeping us informed,see you soon Terry