INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRIS GARLAND ARCHIVE: BACKTRAX 1977 - 2008
HISTORY
1977: KRAFTWERK - TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS
1977: PRINCE FAR I - UNDER HEAVY MANNERS
1980: STARSHIP AFRICA - CREATION REBEL
1980: THE SLITS - ‘MAN NEXT DOOR’
A great cover version of the old JOHN HOLT CLASSIC, from THE SLITS, remixed by ADRIAN SHERWOOD. I loved The Slits, more for their style and attitude, than anything else, and had worked with them on a number of occasions. CHRISTINE ROBERTSON was managing them and had asked me shortly before I left the UK, if I would co-manage them with her, I liked both Christine and the band very much indeed, but had formed the opinion, correctly I think that The Slits were unmanageable and certainly the people I knew at ISLAND had told me the same thing. CHRIS BLACKWELL loved them, but also felt they were to anarchic to handle successfully, but it was precisely this which made them what they were. On the German/Italian dates, a very young NENEH CHERRY was working with them on backing vocals, and BRUCE SMITH, the excellent POP GROUP drummer was drumming for them, NENEH and BRUCE later married. On shows where THE POP GROUP and SLITS worked together, BRUCE would do two sets, one with each band, I still don’t know how he did it, and he was always brilliant. The last time I worked with them was on an ITALIAN TOUR and possibly again in GERMANY in the early 80s when Christine had asked me to act as a ’buffer’ between her, the band and the Italian/German promoters. Adrian and I had already parted company and he was on board to do the sound for them, so Christine was concerned about there being any tension, but all was ok! But a memorable last experience of a great band shortly before the end.
1981: HUNGRY SO ANGRY / FURTHER THAN FUNK DREAM - MEDIUM MEDIUM
1982: MINISTRY - COLD LIFE / WORK FOR LOVE + EARLY 80S VIDEO 'THE REAL AL'!
1984/5: U-BAHNX - YOUNG HEARTS OF EUROPE/KISS OF DEATH/HOLD BACK THE TEARS
1987: THE TRASH GROOVE GIRLS
1987: WASCH! HOMO SUPERIOR / HOLY PLACES
1987 - 1988: M.E.L.T. RADIOACTIVITY / SEX O MATIC
1990: I.G.L.U. - JE T’AIME. BLACK OUT RECORDS / FORCE INC - FRANKFURT - ACHIM SZPANSKI
1996
1997: THE DISKOWALKÜREN
1998: SYSTEM DE LA MODE
1999: FEDERAL REPUBLIC
2000: ZONK / ZONKFACTORY
2001: THE VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA
2002: DUFT
2002 - 2003: THE BLUE VOID - ACID POP CANDY
2005: P-KOMMANDO
2006: MINISTRY VIDEO
2006: THE POETS OF NOW
2008: MANIFESTO
So this has been a musical history spread over thirty years, it has I must say been quite journey for me, revisiting both good and not so good memories. I have obviously been selective about what is featured here, some things I would like to have included are not featured as I know longer have the tracks/masters or indeed know where they are. However perhaps other things will turn up and can be included at a later date. Looking back on me, in those days, hmmmm! I'm not sure! Certainly a very different person (one hopes) to the one I am today! And probably more convinced about myself than I should have been! Anyway, I hope this 'history lesson' is interesting and entertaining, it certainly has been for me!