What
a band. Everybody loved the Fairies. On
their night - the best band in the world;
on their off days – well, the least said
the better. They played every free festival
there was, always turning up for them,
but sometimes forgetting to turn up to
the ones that they were supposed to be
paid for. Touring with the equally infamous
Hawkwind, ending every concert with a
set of “Pinkwind”, where everybody got
up on stage for a Jam that would either
be marvelous or, depending on the state
of the respective band members, a complete
shambles.
The Pink Fairies were well known for
their excessive Rock ‘n’ Roll lifestyle,
ultra cool looks (denim, leather, very
long frizzy hair, cowboy boots and eternal
shades), couldn’t care less attitude,
and excellent musicianship. Unfortunately
the later was generally ignored by the
press, but mind you, they didn’t exactly
help themselves with their barely concealed
contempt for the press or the music business
hierarchy in general.
This dog’s favorite Fairies’ story is
that of turning up at Maidstone Civic
hall to witness the Fairies in motion.
After a very under-rehearsed Fairies had
blown the roof off with a ramshackle 40
minutes set including encore (“City Kids”,
“Lucille”, “Johnnie B. Goode”, “Well,
Well, Well”, “The Snake” and a 10 minutes
“Uncle Harry’s Freak Out”), we were greeted
by a very annoyed looking Larry Wallis
announcing from stage that the management
had told them they were booked for 90
minutes and if they didn’t play 90 minutes
they wouldn’t get paid. The band then
came back on stage played exactly the
same set again, only with “Uncle Harry’s
Freak Out” including an extra 10 minutes
drum solo. So the band got paid, management
were happy, and the audience all got to
see the Fairies twice.
This album under review, “The Kings Of
Oblivion”, was the Pink Fairies third
official release (after “Never Never Land”
in 1971 and “What A Bunch Of Sweeties”
in 1972). But to say the lineup had been
consistent was like saying that the English
cricket batting lineup was reliable. Already
come and gone through the revolving fairy
door had been ex-Pretty Things drummer
Twink (off to play in “The Stars” with
fellow spacemen Jack Monk and Pink Floyd’s
Syd Barret), ex T.Rex man, Steve Peregrine
Took, Trevor Burton of Move Fame, Mick
Farren, and Larry Wallis (who both came
back), Paul Rudolph (lured away by promises
of fame and fortune by Hawkwind….. another
fine mess) and Mick Wayne, who, although
only in the band for 6 to 7 gigs, wrote
their surprise hit single “Well, Well,
Well”.
But when Mick Wayne was kicked out, this
left the way for the glorious return of
Larry “Lazza” Wallis, who’d been showing
off his wares with “Blodwyn Pig” and “U.F.O”
(Wallis’ parting shot to U.F.O after being
fired for not turning up to rehearsals
had been “You May Rehearse, I Create”).
Joining the nucleus of Duncan Sandersand
on bass and Wildman of Rock Russel Hunter
on drums, the Fairies then enjoyed a period
of stability (18 months) during which
they recorded this remarkable guitar driven
album.
There is no doubt that this is Wallis’
album, having a hand in writing all the
songs, singing, playing guitar, production
and engineering credits.
The album opens with the classic “City
Kids” (which Wallis was to take with him
when he formed “Motorhead with Lemmy after
he was kicked out of Hawkwind,. All gets
very incestuous,doesn’t it) here in its
original version, all crunchy guitars,
rock solid bass and drums with a catchy
chorus, which you are singing along second
time around. All the songs here are 24
carat solid gold easy action; it is one
of rock music’s great in justices that
this is not regarded as one of its all
time classics.
Out of all the Fairies albums this is
possibly their best, certainly their most
refined studio effort. But should be played
at 11 for maximum effect.
Over the years there have been many Pink
Fairies reformations and comebacks, at
one time there were four different versions
of the band on tour, plus up to eighteen
albums released under the Fairies banner.
But take my word for it, anything with
Larry Wallis on it is sheer class.
As for “The Kings Of Oblivion”, who can
resist a cover with three flying pink
pigs on it, all wearing shades?
Pawed
by Mott The Dog
Re-chewed by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
