Punk and New Wave thread.

[BlueMoonRisin’]

The Angelic Upstarts were regarded as hardcore punk and they attracted right wing fascists in the 80s, Mensi distanced himself from them and gigs would often get violent. He hated what they stood for.

Anyway, this track is about as far removed from hardcore punk as you can get.

I wish.

 

[blue for life]

You mean Thomas?

You thinking Charlie Harper from UK Subs?

My bad! Don’t know what I was thinking!

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

 

[dronefromsector7G]

 

[PinkFinal]

Gary mounfield December 10, 2021 At 19:26
Loved the upstarts… saw them a fair few times back in the day, the mayflower, osborne & the tower club in oldham spring to mind… lovely fella… me & browny bumped into him in wood green on the morning of the roses gig at ally pally back in the day… never had nothing is on my funeral tape for when its my time !!!. RIP TOMMY

 

[richardtheref]

When my son was in the Antiseptics the amount of support they got from mensi was unbelievable. Such a good guy.

That's 2 of my sons greatest supporters gone for different reasons, Mensi and Barry Masters. RIP

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Gary mounfield December 10, 2021 At 19:26
Loved the upstarts… saw them a fair few times back in the day, the mayflower, osborne & the tower club in oldham spring to mind… lovely fella… me & browny bumped into him in wood green on the morning of the roses gig at ally pally back in the day… never had nothing is on my funeral tape for when its my time !!!. RIP TOMMY

I went to both those gigs. The Tower club near Mumps Bridge, Oldham was a horrible venue, the bogs were about 6" deep in stinking piss. Good job i had my 16 hole Docs on.

 

[PinkFinal]

Just trying to remember when I last saw the Upstarts
Think it was North West Calling at the Ritz a few years ago
Certainly seen them at the Witchwood twice and the Star and Garter

As a kid they were a big band for me
I remember playing their albums getting ready for school

It's just devastating that he's gone especially as he had quite a young family

 

[Pablo123]

Gary mounfield December 10, 2021 At 19:26
Loved the upstarts… saw them a fair few times back in the day, the mayflower, osborne & the tower club in oldham spring to mind… lovely fella… me & browny bumped into him in wood green on the morning of the roses gig at ally pally back in the day… never had nothing is on my funeral tape for when its my time !!!. RIP TOMMY

Mensi a true working class hero , great live band . RE The Mayflower do you remember the big Jamaican lady cooking fried chicken in an enormous stainless pan

 

[Tommy_Catons_Perm]

Just trying to remember when I last saw the Upstarts
Think it was North West Calling at the Ritz a few years ago
Certainly seen them at the Witchwood twice and the Star and Garter

As a kid they were a big band for me
I remember playing their albums getting ready for school

It's just devastating that he's gone especially as he had quite a young family

I've seen them at NW calling and also on home territory in Durham a couple of times.

Remember as a kid I had SLF Tin Soldiers and swapped it with a pal for Never ad Nothing. Both great tracks but I think my pal got the better deal....

 

[tonea2003]

Just trying to remember when I last saw the Upstarts
Think it was North West Calling at the Ritz a few years ago
Certainly seen them at the Witchwood twice and the Star and Garter

As a kid they were a big band for me
I remember playing their albums getting ready for school

It's just devastating that he's gone especially as he had quite a young family

yeah saw them myself at the witchy, absolutely brilliant live

also back in the day at the gallery, that was one crazy scary night

 

[CALCIO POTATO]

I went to the Apollo to see Sham 69 & the Drones when i was a nipper without my mum finding out and she thought i was bone idol!!

 

[hammocity]

You mean Thomas?

You thinking Charlie Harper from UK Subs?

I used to work with a guy called Nigel Crosthwaite, he has been in a couple of Blackpool based bands, Sick 56 and One Way System. He lived in Fleetwood, he was just about to open his front door and his elderly neighbour came out and said “there’s a strange bloke with big green hair trying to break in your house”. Nigel said “don’t worry it’s a mate of mine, I’ve given him a key to the door”. It was Charlie Harper just visiting.

 

[Bradley82]

I had a drink with Mensi outside a pub in Morecambe at Wasted festival years back. Really nice bloke. This pissed up guy with a Mohican kept giving him shit asking if he thought he was hard etc, fair play to Tom he warned him to fuck off three times then BANG and the guy realised he should have listened at the start. The last time I saw the upstarts he said in a break between songs " It's not often the Upstarts do requests but David Moyes will you please fuck off from my football club" RIP Tommy.

 

[PinkFinal]

The Clash’s 20 greatest guitar moments, ranked

The Clash were one of the most influential bands in the first wave of punk, but were also one of the most experimental, embracing a wealth of new sounds and genres and making their guitar highlights a diverse but compelling collection.

guitar.com

 

[citydad]

Last time I saw Mensi and The Upstarts was in Manchester just before I went Russia for the world cup in 2018 that's how I remember the year. Only just found out this news on this thread cos don't do social media and none of my pals are punks. R.I.P Thomas Mensforth.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Not one of their most memorable songs but one of their most powerful lyrical messages.

As the Polish workers fight to make their stand
And behind them every honest working men
In unity there's each other
And your friend becomes your brother
And in the tyrant's heart will be a lesson learned
Give them hope, give them strength, give them life
Like a candle burning in the black of nights
We are with you in our hearts and in our minds

I know that your hearts are made of a further kind
And a riot stick won't kill your piece of mind
You can fight with all the spirit that you possess
Because your fight is a struggle that is blessed

And we'll pray for our nation through its darkest times
The tyrant has no smile upon his face
'Cause he knows that in his mind he's in disgrace
Remission of you will take his breath away
Until we come and we will have our day
Give them hope, give them strength, give them life
Like a candle burning in the black of nights
We are with you in our hearts and in our minds
And we'll pray for our nation through its darkest times
As the Polish workers fight to make their stand
And behind them every honest working men
Join hands with your brother
And then you can help each other
Watch the tyrant burn in the fire that he had built
Give them hope, give them strength, give them life
Like a candle burning in the black of nights
We are with you in our hearts and in our minds
And we'll pray for our nation through its darkest times
Give them hope, give them strength, give them life
Like a candle burning in the black of nights
We are with you in our hearts and in our minds
And we'll pray for our nation through its darkest times.

 

[OB1]

Not one of their most memorable songs but one of their most powerful lyrical messages.

Give me strength.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I must admit that Tommy Mensforth's(Mensi) recent passing has got to me more than I'd have ever thought possible.

Been playing a fair amount of the tunes I grew up listening to as a kid since his death, particularly from their second album 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place'.

Mensi was a salt of the earth Mackem from South Shields who said it as he saw it. A former coal miner who was influenced by The Clash to start his own band, The Angelic Upstarts.

There were no playing up to Bill Grundy(Granada TV) and the cameras from their end. It was just the reality of growing up in Thatchers Britain of the impoverished North East under Maggie's Iron Fist conservative rule.

Their songs reflected their plight of the ordinary North East man.. And having worked quite extensively throughout the North East myself i know that Maggie's legacy has left unhealed scars even to this day in certain former Pit villages, so sad to see.

Anyway, here's 3 of the lesser known tracks from their second album -