This is a repost due to Dave who has kindly sent his memories and some excellent photographs of Shrink in concert.Below are some of Daves words and also now added his pics (this link has higher resolution copies):
The pics of Shrink are from a gig in London about 1979. I remember the gig very well because Ian Dury was in the audience! The place was full of punks. When Shrink came on stage the punks got on the floor and began to bow down (has anyone seen anything like that!). It's hard to believe that this guy didn't make it big! I suppose this guy was way ahead of his time! I mean Prodigy nicked a lot of Shrink's stuff (sorry Prodigy fans - but you would have loved Shrink). I also remember Peter Gabriel nicking Shrink's lyrics! Listen to the end of Sledge Hammer (lyrics nicked from You Chauffeur Me)
ORIGINAL POST
Strange one this, I don't know much about Shrink and as far as I am aware this was his only single (now someones gonna prove me wrong again, but it's all about the learning, right). The a-side 'Valid or Void' is a bit of an oddity but a real little New Wave gem. Then you play the b-side and think "what the hell is this" (it doesn't work for me but I included it for completeness) So try it for yourself and leave a comment to tell me what you think.
Anyone know anything else about Shrink?
A nice little etching on this one "Shrink or Swim".
Band: Shrink
Label: A&M
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Valid Or Void
2. You Chauffeur Me
Ripped from glorious (very) scratched vinyl
34 comments:
Shrink makes a short appearance in the movie "Breaking Glass", auditioning for Hazel O'Connor's band.
Thanks for that Paul, coincidently I was an extra in "Breaking Glass", the fight scene in the pub (the Hope and Anchore) was actually real between the skinheads and punks and they kept filming and then gave us all a bollocking and said if we didn't stop we wouldnt get paid. The beer everyone was drinking was just coloured water as well - disgusting.
I've been looking for the Breaking Glass picture for ever, but I can't find it. Anyone know where to buy it?
I got the soundtrack though, there is one really good song. But being a tough guy I won't be able to tell you which one...
Robert - Stockholm
Howdy - this may be his only single but he has a... 10 inch I think that I have tucked away somewhere that has about 6 tracks -from memory the standouts were Con-dition and a weird little number called (also I think...) It Shows. Thanks for this - had been wondering when I'd come across some Shrink out here in blog land
Hi Seaoxen, thanks for your comment. Never heard of the 10", are you planning on posting it? I would be very interested in hearing it (doh! I'm gonna have to go and find a copy now as well)
He also had a track called 'The Doll' on a 101 Club compilation and has a myspace page too:
http://www.myspace.com/shrinkgold
Hi Des, thanks for the comment, is The Doll any good? are you gonna post it? or is it available still?
I have this 45 also and I do recall seeing him in Breaking Glass. I think there must have been something about him on TV back then also, as that's why I would have known him in order to buy the 45 in the first place. I remember him having his head half painted dark and half painted gold.
There was a video for Valid or Void too. Can't find it anywhere.
Hi Rob, thanks for your comment, I also have a vague memory (or did you just plant it there) of him having his head painted.
Hi Eastvan, thanks for your comment. Shame I would like to see that video. Perhaps we can set a challenge to see if anyone can find it.
Hi, Robert. 'Breaking Glass' had an official UK DVD release but was disco'ed last year. I got a copy from:
http://rapidsharecinema.blogspot.com/2007/10/breaking-glass.html
That's really cool that you were in the movie there Mr. Chching!
Hi Greazy Tony, thanks for the comment and the link, I emailed Robert. not sure whether he's got it yet.
Yeah it was a laugh, although a long time ago now. :-)
i think there was a second ten inch..tho i couldnt find mine just now..has a great son about putting on his silver jeans
the secon single is called i,m a doll b/w mr.car
shrink was a sliver of a supernova
blazing in the nite sky
hi Sculptorphoenix thanks for the comment, you said you cant find it now, do you think it will turn up later on?
Shrink is actually Steve Parsons better known as Snips from The Sharks and Baker Gurvitz Army
Hey Mother79 thanks for the extra info.
sweet mother of god! never thought he'd show up on the net... i have this single and the 10" - i remember his film clip being shown over here in Australia on countdown... i loved both sides, sorry mate. what i like is the fact it was all so fucking nuts. 10" is a bit the same - and a myspace site too??? christ, i feel like a teenage dorky kid again :)
Hi Kami thanks for the comment and yep both sides are great. This one was very underrated
I had the pleasure of seeing Shrink live (twice in London around 1979). The first time was by accident! Me and a mate was in a place called the Rock Garden having our usual friday night beer when Shrink stormed the stage. I've never witnessed anything quite like it! People were scared and some people were laughing! His band were a bunch of dangerous looking skinheads dressed in camouflage. They played a thunderous experimental punk set before going into a jazz song? (found out later that the jazz tune was "Mr Car" the B-side of "I Am A Doll") He f***d with my head! I've never been the same since! I saw him again a few months later, but this time my mate took photos. I would post them for all to see but I'm not sure how to? Shrink was pure genius! I must dig out those records one day! Regards Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for the comment. Its simple to post if you can rip your vinyls - easiest way is to get a USB turntable only £50-60. Once you have the mp3 you need to upload to a storage site like Mediafire, Rapidshare, etc. Then create a blog using google, and post the link, and job done. One other way is to rip the songs email them to me and I will post for you - You get your name mentioned.
All the best Gary
Hi Dave, I sent you an email, but just in case it ends up in your spam box, I've added this comment. I deleted your comment as I didn't want your email to end up getting spammed.
All the best, Gary
Thanks for that Gary (very considerate of you). I've just posted those pics of Shrink; live in London about 1979. I remember the gig very well because Ian Dury was in the audience! The place was full of punks. When Shrink came on stage the punks got on the floor and began to bow down (has anyone seen anything like that!). It's hard to believe that this guy didn't make it big! I supose this guy was way ahead of his time! I mean Prodigy nicked a lot of Shrink's stuff (sorry Prodigy fans - but you would have loved Shrink). I also remember Peter Gabriel nicking Shrink's lyrics! Listen to the end of Sledge Hammer (lyrics nicked from You Chauffeur Me) Yeah! it's all coming back! Thanks Gary for helping to stir my emotions that have been dead for 30 years! I had forgotten what it was like to be passionate about something! By the way, i will post some more pics if and when I find them! Regards, Dave
Alright ya'll. I'm an American boy (and sometimes music journalist) who has a secret love of what I call 'Extreme New Wave'. None of that two-step around the dancefloor crap; but the dangerous stuff. Y'know, Skafish, Spizz, Gruppo Sportivo, Robin Scott's M, David Cunninham's Flying Lizards, Dow Jones & The Industrialists, early Devo, The Vapors, Thomas Leer, Tuff Darts, early Ultravox and yes...now, Shrink.
Thanks much for turning me on to him; you have a great blog! In return, I've applied my research skills (not because I'm obssessive, mind you) and discovered that on the VML Music Store they have the 10" you've been discussing, with the following text::
"With influences of Bowie, Iggy and a healthy amount of Martian madness, Shrink , armed with
half a head of shocking pink hair, a gold face and a V shape guitar, Shrink makes some of the strangest sounds ever heard! Born in Morecambe in England, Shrink (real name David Banks) made his way to London to audition for powerpunksters "The Secret " (featuring Dave Murray from
Iron Maiden) who were just about to embark on a lengthy tour of the UK. Shrink joined the band as they embarked on a 30 day tour. At the end of the tour they introduced him to Charlie Gillett and his partner Gordon Nelki who quickly recognised Shrink's "off the wall" unique talent and put him in the studio to record for their Oval Music Label. An Alternative Classic, definitely not for the faint hearted as Shrink will batter your senses!
The Shrink 10" features: Con-Dition / Energy / It Shows / Silver Genes / Valid Or Void / You
Chauffer Me.
Other songs he recorded: Ships / DuDuDuWa / I am a Doll / Prisoner.
Go here to view it yourself::
http://store.vmlmusic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4
Then there's the Record Palace website, which features a great image of the Shrink "I'm A Doll" / "Mr. Car" single (A&M #AMS-7434).
http://recordpalace.com/record.asp?NR=25171&add=4025171¬e=
Hope this helps somebody track this stuff down, cuz we want more!
Hi again Sambson, you've been a buy guy, and thanks for taking the time to comment.
I'm glad you like Shrink, everyone should.
Also thanks for all the extra research. I have seen the other Shrink vinyls but funds are low at the moment, so until things pick up I will have to rely on others.
Your right we do want more.
All the best
As mentioned in the Spizz comments, prephaps we could do a Shrink request as well.
shrink live!
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=395021
Thanks for that Kissed61. Excellent brings back the memories. I've copied the clip and ripped the sound. Excellent.
My pleasure garychching,
I came upon this site while searching shrink material.
The clip I posted wasn't the live clip of 'void" I was searching for, but is a unique performance I must say.
Shrink AKA David banks is still working in the industry and is somewhat successful in the Film / TV / Games field
http://www.broadjam.com/davidbanks
I worked with him for many years and actually shaved his head and died his hair for the Breaking Glass film, we shared rooms in Brixton at the time :)
Saw Shrink at the Nashville in Fulham around 1978. Bloody brilliant. Have both the single and the 10 inch. Anmd have lots of publicity pix he left at the Nashville coloured in crayon. Gigg ended with him mock sobbing in a mock breakdown. Pure class.
Hi, I was his guitar player at "Nashville" Rock Garden. Shrink also did some screaming, laughing, crying, performance vocals on an indie dance track at "The marquee" Am still in touch (Im in Brooklyn)
mick Hanson
Hi Mick, thank you for update. its good to hear Shrink is around. All the best Gary
Hi...I recently obtained a 12" single called Safe Sex , hoping its the same Shrink ( written by Banks / Howard ) Produced by Barry Andrews / John Springate , from 1987 - Can anyone confirm they know or heard of this, it has a very 80's synth / rock sound and based on the writer and producer (Banks / Barry Andrews) seems very possible.
Thank you
Paul
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