My introduction to Echo & the Bunnymen – and to many bands of the post-punk era – was via a rock movie called Urgh! A Music War. Remember, boys and girls, back in 1981 (a time before the internet), as the government frowned on rock music, no bands came to Singapore to perform, and music fans (like yours truly) had to depend on import record stores, music magazines (like NME, Sounds, Record Mirror), videotapes smuggled from overseas (of TOTP, The Tube etc) and the occasional rock movie to get our fix of the latest music.
So I recall that it was around Christmas time when I brought my wife (then-girfriend, of course!) to the Rex Theatre to watch this strangely-titled movie about the new music that was coming out of the UK and the USA. Basically, it was a life-changing experience as bands like the Police, XTC, OMD, Gary Numan, Jools Holland (who is coming to Singapore soon!) and Magazine lit up the screen and my mind was blown. Irretrievably!
There was also a clip of the Bunnymen peforming the Puppet (see above) and like the others, my head was turned. And so I picked up the latest Bunnymen album – Heaven Up Here – and the brief love affair began. Heaven Up Here is a dark psych-rock masterpiece and featured such classic tracks as Show of Strength, Over the Wall, All My Colours and A Promise. The album was hailed by NME as album of the year.
The Bunnymen’s star was rising in the UK and this was confirmed by the following release – Porcupine – which contained two hit singles viz. The Cutter and Back of Love. In 1984, Bunnymen released – in my opinion – their best album, Ocean Rain, which contained The Killing Moon (immortalized in Donnie Darko). After that, the Bunnymen lost their way somewhat with the poppier The Game, which saw the band make inroads into the US market. Singer Ian McCulloch left for a solo career, drummer Pete De Freitas was tragically killed in a road accident. Bizarrely, remaining band members (guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson) regrouped the Bunnymen with a new singer and a new album in 1990 (of which, the less said the better). The album flopped and the Bunnymen were no more by 1993.
At the tail-end of Britpop, with the likes of Oasis singing their praises, the original Bunnymen reunited (sans the sadly departed De Freitas) and released the well-received Evergreen, with the cover echoing (sorry!) their debut album, Crocodiles. Since then, the band has continued recording (four more albums) and whilst Pattinson has also left the band, McCulloch and Sergeant still carry the Bunnymen banner with dignity and verve.
Of course, the Bunnymen circa 2010 is totally different proposition from the band I first saw in 1981 but for music lovers and serious musicians, this is a gig that should not be missed.Especially to the younger set who are into the post-punk revival bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the xx, the Big Pink, Interpol, the Killers, the Editors and so on.
Once again, the gig is tonight at the Esplanade Theatre at 8pm. Get your tickets at SISTIC before its too late!
RESPONSES TO ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN LIVE IN SINGAPORE
Ivan
8th Feb 2010
Very nice profile of the band, Kevin. I remember I was first introduced to the sound of The Bunnymen through Chris Ho’s Aiwa-sponsored radio show on Sundays in the early 80′s. He played a “live” version of Do It Clean and although the lyrics didn’t make much sense to me then (still doesn’t!), I was blown away by McCulloch’s frantic and earnest vocals and the intricacy and ferocity of Sergeant’s playing and the powerhouse rhythm section of De Freitas and Pattinson. Soon after, I used to rush to sit and press my ear against my home stereo speakers to capture every word sung by Macca, whenever some Echo song came on what was called SBC Radio One, back in the day. Then, in 1984, one of my older brothers bought their “best of/ greatest hits” compilation, “Songs to Learn and Sing” and needless to say it was on heavy rotation on our home stereo in our living room for the next five years, and by 1989 (true to the album’s title!) I had learnt all the songs by heart!
This truly great band with timeless songs certainly helped me get through some very difficult moments in my troubled teenage life. I hope that Macca, Will and Co. will be on top form at their gig, tonight! Cheers all!
Ivan
8th Feb 2010
Oops! A correction! “Songs to Learn and Sing” was actually released in 1985. The only “new” single that was included in this compilation at the time was “Bring On The Dancing Horses” which was also featured in the John Hughe’s classic brat-pack movie, “Pretty in Pink” which I remember watching at the old Capitol theatre, if I’m not wrong. Soon after, another brother brought back a cheap locally-pressed cassette of the soundtrack from his first visit to the P.I. and I was hooked to the title track by the Psychedelic Furs, New Order’s Shellshock, and Suzanne Vega’s and Joe Jackson’s Left of Center. A truly iconic movie and soundtrack of the mid-80′s which brings back a lot of bittersweet memories whenever I think of it.
Ivan
8th Feb 2010
Wait, now I remember … I actually saw “Pretty in Pink” with my third brother (the same one the bought the “Songs to Learn & Sing” cassette tape!) at either Prince or Jade theatre at the Shaw Towers in Beach Road in 1986, the year I enlisted in NS!
