Retrosonic Podcast with Saskia Holling on "Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas & Thee Headcoatees, The Queens of The Medway Delta"

For episode 17 of our Lockdown Lowdown series we welcome Saskia Holling to discuss her new book "Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas & Thee Headcoatees" which is out now on Spinout Publications. Saskia talks about the process of writing the book itself along with the history and legacy of both groups and each of the band members. We also find out more about Saskia, her own music with Sally Skull, Lord Rochester and Big Russ Wilkins & Lightnin' Hollings and her fanzine "Heavy Flow" along with encounters with Kim Fowley and the impact of seeing Poison Ivy of The Cramps. We then discuss the prejudices and barriers faced by women in music and the positive effect of the Riot Grrrl movement. The episode is sound-tracked by Saskia's personal selection of her favourite Delmonas and Headcoatees songs, a pick of her own music and some of her influences and most memorable musical moments. Here's a description of the book from Spinout Publications. "Following the arrival of Post-Punk in the UK, an explosion of musical wonders flourished in the South East of England. Two such wonders, The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees added to the burgeoning flow of music from the Medway Delta; a current started by The Pop Rivets, The Milkshakes and The Prisoners. Fronted by women from the Medway area and beyond, The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees are regularly labelled as ‘Billy Childish projects’, yet the women involved added their own stamp to the musical beat. Hear ye for The Queens of The Medway Delta! Here, we find out more about these women – Hilary, Louise, Sarah, Debbie, Kyra and Holly and just how their paths intertwined to create memorable records (without musical industry intervention) and just what has happened to them all since…Collated and related by Saskia Holling, herself a music maker (The Nettelles, Lord Rochester, Sally Skull, Big Russ Wilkins & Lightnin’ Holling) and fanzine writer, who is seeking to help keep women in musical history. Published under the Spinout Publications imprint, with front cover painting by Sarah Crouch (Miss Ludella Black), and packed with photos and contributions from key figures within the Medway Delta, and related, and beyond!"

 

Retrosonic Podcast · The Delmonas & Thee Headcoatees "Girlsville: Queens of The Medway Delta" with Saskia Holling

Tracklisting (click on the highlighted links for more info)

Oscar Brown Jr - "Mr. Kicks"

B Bumble & The Stingers - "Nut Rocker"

The Cramps - "Human Fly"

Babes In Toyland - "Handsome & Gretel"

The A-Bones - "Take Up The Slack Daddy-O

Sally Skull - "You Better Go"

Thee Headcoatees - "Wild Man"

The Delmonas - "Wo' Now"

The Go-Go's - "We Got The Beat"

The Raincoats - "Fairytale In The Supermarket"

The Delmonas - "Black Ludella"

The Delmonas - "Farmer John"

Thee Headcoatees - "The First Plane Home"

Thee Headcoatees - "Teenage Kicks"

The A-Lines - "Nothing Personal"

Miss Ludella Black - "You Don't Know Right From Wrong"

Ye Nuns - "Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy"

Holly Golightly & The Broke-Offs - "Burn Your Fun"

The Nettelles - "I Don't Want To Talk To You"

Lord Rochester - "Don't Understand"

Sally Skull with Big Russ & Lightnin' Holling - "Sentimental Tuesday"

Skinned Teen - "Dancing Alice"  

Links & Credits

"Girlsville" can be bought directly from Spinout Publications at their on-line store here. The book is dedicated to the memory of Claire Scrivener of Sally Skull and The Nettelles and any kind donations would be greatly appreciated to either Maggie's Edinburgh or Girls Rock School Edinburgh. For Ms Sheringham-Boom's review of "Girlsville" please check out the feature here. Saskia has set up a new "Girlsville" Facebook page to share information on the book along with archive material of The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees, you can check the page out here. Loads of lovely Delmonas, Headcoatees and Billy Childish records can be ordered from Damaged Goods Records and you can check out our Retrosonic Podcast with label boss Ian here. Our Podcast with Billy Childish can be found at our Soundcloud site here. With thanks to Saskia & Ms Sheringham-Boom. Retrosonic theme tune by Adam Donovan. You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Soundcloud, Spotify or Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

The Damaged Goods Records Story Part 1: A Retrosonic Podcast Special

Steve from Retro Man Blog and Rock Photographer Paul Slattery talk to Ian Ballard, boss of the legendary Punk and Garage Rock label Damaged Goods Records. In this first episode we play and discuss some of the label's pivotal early releases and discover how Ian started off in the big bad world of the music business. Along the way Ian and Paul chat about their early experiences with the Manic Street Preachers and Billy Childish, and we hear the stories and background behind a choice selection of other Damaged Goods releases and some of the characters involved. These include Graham Day, Helen Love meeting Joey Ramone, The Snivelling Shits, Thee Headcoats versus the NME, Thee Headcoatees in Japan and Holly Golightly and The White Stripes. You can also hear an exclusive track from the brand new album by Thee Spivs, "The Crowds and The Sounds", due to be released on Damaged Goods on June 24th.

Part 2 of The Damaged Goods Story is coming soon so please keep a check on our Soundcloud page, or here on the Blog, for more news on the release date. The next Episode will bring the story up to date and features some great music from the likes of Buzzcocks, Pete Molinari, Billy Childish and The Singing Loins, Fabienne Delsol, The Wolfmen, The Briefs, Cyanide Pills, The pUKES and another fantastic exclusive track from Thee Spivs brand new album...!



Ian from Damaged Goods and Billy Childish - Photo by Paul Slattery

With many thanks to Ian and Paul. For more info on Damaged Goods Records and their superb roster of artists please check out their official web-site. To keep up to date with Thee Spivs news, they have their own web-site and Blog here.

Please visit the Retrosonic Podcast Soundcloud site to listen or download the Damaged Goods Special Podcast and check out all our other Episodes.

Retro Man Blog is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with Damaged Goods, we will be hosting Thee Spivs new album Launch Party at The Half Moon Putney on June 29th. Copies of the new album will be available for sale on the night. Tickets are just £8.00 in advance from The Half Moon, click here to buy - be sure to book early to guarantee entrance as this is shaping up to be a great night. Support comes from The Fallen Leaves, who feature original Subway Sect guitarist Rob Symmons, and the line-up is completed by local garage rock heroes, The Past Tense.

Thanks to Adam Donovan of The Jetsonics for the gig poster.