[kj] The Complications opening for Killing Joke in Montreal

[Alex Smith]

Let's not go cutting on Venom, shall we?

My nextdoor neighbor is a Seattle transplant and told me some story of how Green River opened up for PiL in Seattle back in the good ol' days and Lydon treated them similarly shittily. When Green River informed the crowd of same, the audience turned on PiL viciously. This, I've heard tell, is the origin of the PiL song titled -- wait for it -- "Seattle."

Alex in NYC



-----Original Message-----

>From: "B. Oliver Sheppard" <bigblackhair at sbcglobal.net>

>Sent: Mar 3, 2010 11:33 AM

>To: Alex Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>, "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>

>Subject: Re: [kj] The Complications opening for Killing Joke in Montreal

>

>It's just one of those weird shows that always stuck in my head because 

>of the lineup. "PiL, with local opening punk band Minor Threat."

>

>And from what Mackaye said, they were treated pretty shitty by Lydon -- 

>the very, VERY few times MacKaye has mentioned the experience in an 

>interview, that is. Anyway, I think the lesson is if you go in assuming 

>the opening acts are these shitty, worthless, "podunk." unimportant, 

>throwaway bands, it could come back later on to bite you right in the 

>ass. Of course, Black Flag once opened for Venom. Ooof!!!

>

>--Oliver

>

>Alex Smith wrote:

>>

>>

>>  "Minor Threat is probably seen as more infuential/important to rock 

>> history, ethics, and practices than PiL"

>>

>> I love both bands dearly, but I think this is a pretty debatable 

>> statement.

>>

>> Alex in NYC

>>

>>

>