17-year-old Me in a Punk Band

[Rob MacKillop]

Some 37 years ago... I'm on the far left. The singer in the centre was my brother-in-law, and the guy on the right now is a specialist in making classical double basses. The band was called The Drive. We wanted to be the Stones, but were caught up in the whole new punk storm.





And now the scary part - they are re-releasing the one and only single we made. It was reputed to be the first Scottish punk single - it's called Jerkin (as in "I can't stop jerkin over you!" - subtle!!!!) - but it sounds NOTHING like punk. I'm even playing slide guitar - aged 17. I'm impressed with myself.

The single goes for around £45 on ebay, and I don't have one, but the record company will send me one when it is re-released.

BUT, it is already on youtube - you can hear the punky-Stones vibe, plus a touch of the Undertones before they appeared on the scene. The lyrics are truly embarrassing (not mine!) but the slide guitar playing is pretty good!

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Wow Rob , if only eh. Fame was around the corner .

 

[Rob MacKillop]

The coolest thing is that it was banned from the John Peel Show - few people can claim that! He wrote a review in Sounds or NME, saying, "Steal the recordings of the Pistols and the Clash, buy buy this one!". But the BBC wouldn't let him play it, as the lyrics were too rude.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

The coolest thing is that it was banned from the John Peel Show - few people can claim that! He wrote a review in Sounds or NME, saying, "Steal the recordings of the Pistols and the Clash, buy buy this one!". But the BBC wouldn't let him play it, as the lyrics were too rude.

You aught to update your Wikipedia and include this.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I noticed someone had started a wiki page for me, and it is wildly inaccurate, but I can't be bothered correcting it.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

I noticed someone had started a wiki page for me, and it is wildly inaccurate, but I can't be bothered correcting it.

Came across it when I searched for The Drive. Nothing came up but did not dig that much.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

It was pre-internet days. Not much out there.

 

[Brian Moore]

Love the fotie; its like a Polaroid image that didn't develop correctly.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes. The effect is wonderful. Great to have it. The bass player found me online. We've spent the day chatting via emails about it. He remembers more than I do...

 

[Brian Moore]

The picture also reminds me of Led Zeppelin album cover.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Ah, yes. This one?

 

[Brian Moore]

That's the one.

Just listened to the record, Rob. It is indeed a very Stones-like sound and the singer is doing his best Mick Jagger to be sure. I like the driving beat and of course that wonderful slide guitar!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, it's rubbish really. But I've heard worse.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Well, it's rubbish really. But I've heard worse.

Was not one of the points, to be rubbish, I'd pop into The Marquee Club from time to time as a youngster and hear plenty of fantastic rubbish, it was really good.

 

[Paul Lange]

Top stuff, sounds like it could be a classic.

How did the BBC let Teenage Kicks and Turning Japanese through but not this!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I know!

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Top stuff, sounds like it could be a classic.

How did the BBC let Teenage Kicks and Turning Japanese through but not this!

Because they thought they were all Jerkers

 

[Davie Hudson]

brilliant ... Loving it

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Really? LOL...

 

[Hamish Gill]

Brilliant!
And what a great thing John Peel said, something to be proud of that of say...