In the middle of 1981, Jamming! expanded from fanzine to record label. Between that summer and the end of 1982, Jamming! Records released five singles, all of them independent chart hits: two from the band Rudi, three from Zeitgeist, and one by Apocalypse. For this episode of the Jamming! Fanzine Podcast, we have one member from each of those groups: Brian Young from Rudi, Peter “Jaffo” Jervis from Zeitgeist, and Tony Fletcher from Apocalypse (and yes, from Jamming! Records too). The conversation revolves primarily around Rudi and Zeitgeist, about how the groups dealt with being based in the far corners of the British Isles, about the attractions – or not - of moving to London, and about what their experience was like releasing records on an independent label run by a 17-18 year old kid, but financed by a major pop-rock star, that being Paul Weller.
Rudi were the first group on Good Vibrations Records out of Belfast, and Brian talks about that label, fellow Northern Irish groups like The Outcasts, The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers, and of touring with The Jam and appearing on the TV show Something Else.
Zeitgeist hailed from Cornwall, and came to Jamming! after a couple of singles on Human Records. Jaffo talks about their cover version of The Temptations' Motown classic 'Ball of Confusion', of working with Dale 'Buffin' Griffin and Overend Watts from Mott the Hoople, and how their last single, 'Over Again', ended up being a collector's item. Apocalypse were from London, and released the single 'Teddy' in two versions, one producer by Paul Weller, the other by Griffin and Watts. You will hear snippets from all five Jamming! releases across the course of this show.
Brian Young is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100023024891685. His group The Sabrejets are at https://www.facebook.com/thesabrejets
Peter Jervis can be found at https://www.instagram.com/therealjaffo/ and his radio show can be heard at www.mixcloud.com/bluesandgrooves
Tony Fletcher can be found at www.tonyfletcher.net and https://www.instagram.com/leaglealien/
The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86is published by Omnibus Press
OmnibusPress.com
For details about the book events mentioned on this episode visit
https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events
'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme'is by Noel Fletcher.
Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.
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