1979 Masque rehearsal session - LONDON BOYS

Despite later heading in nearly opposite directions in every way, those familiar with LA punk history are aware that the Go Go's and the Germs shared significant common ground together as bands in their earliest days. Not only were they frequently featured on the same bills, the bands also shared a common band member (at least in theory) who, as the story goes, later went on to do PR for the Germs. Further, the bands shared a common practice space (along with X, the Motels & others) in the basement of the Masque. What's more, it was Darby himself who memorably coined Belinda as "the Dayglo Blimp,"** and perhaps most significantly, the Germs drummer Don Bolles co-wrote one of the Go Go's earliest signature compositions, London Boys with Ms. Jane Drano.

Marks in Time is pleased to release the second song in a series from the 1979 Masque rehearsals, originally supplied to the zine by Brendan Mullen in 1992. By 1979, London Boys was given a significant makeover from the band's original version, harmonies have started playing a key role in the band's evolution and the distortion on the guitars have been toned down considerably. Jane Drano's clever lyrics “Seen your pictures in the 'zines...pale blank faces/black and white keen/London boys cigarette lean,” which were earlier swallowed up altogether by the band's sonic guitar attack, are now increasingly audible to the listener. Arguably, the highlight of the track is listening to drummer Elissa Bello's skillful interpretation of the song. Bello's drumming has improved noticeably over the past year to the point where, musically-speaking, the band's sound almost revolves around her play. Charlotte Caffey's guitar leads are still of a simplistic/minimalist vein, but they work well-enough within the context of the band's early pop-punk hybrid style not to sound too terribly deficient. What are others thoughts on the band's 1979 sound in this song – anything you care to add?

**As directly told by Pat Smear's ex-girlfriend Rosetta Arsenault to Regi Mentle for Marks in Time.

~Eden Felt

Go-Go's - London Boys (live 1979)

(Jane Wiedlin / Don Bolles)

Seen your pictures in the 'zines

And you look real good

Pale blank faces - black and white keen

London boys - cigarette lean

London boys

Wish you were

London boys

Wish we were there

London boys

Seem real cool

London boys

Wish you were

London boys

Wish we were there

London boys

Seem real cool

London boys

If we had the money

If we were only rich

We'd take a jet plane get outta this scene

And make the switch