A Propitious Opportunity to Leave

May is upon us, always a favorite of mine as it is the month of my birth, as is today the anniversary of said natality.

Also the 5th month of the year. I am a firm believer in the Law of Five & the power of Virus 23. This also ties in with William S. Burroughs, who I touched on in the last post. That's where this post comes in to play. 

 

23 Skidoo took their name from an American slang phrase translating loosely as 'move it', or 'get out while the going is good'. This same philosophy - cut, run, & confound - would become a guiding principle for this unique, unorthodox group. They lifted the name from the famous Illuminati trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea but 23 Skidoo has also had a place of prominence in the works of Aleister Crowley & William S. Burroughs (a favorite of the band).

The origins of 23 Skidoo lie in a punk-inspired schoolboy trio formed in North London in 1979.
By 1980, the 23 Skidoo collective had become a quartet, comprising Fritz Catlin on drums, Sam Mills on guitar, Johnny Turnbull on guitar & Patrick Griffiths on bass. They were soon joined by Alex Turnbull on percussion, drums, bass & Tom Heslop on vocals, electronics, saxophone.

23 Skidoo released a series of highly influential records fusing post-punk, dub, industrial, world, & hip-hop styles. Their influences ranged from The Pop Group to Parliament to Fela Kuti to Can to Eno to This Heat.

Their first single, Last Words reference Burroughs. Tom Heslop commented: ''Certainly I read a lot of William Burroughs, and we've played with the cut-up thing. Oh yeah, it works. It always comes out with some meaning, even if it's a bit strange.'' 

 

23 Skidoo - Last Words, Fetish Records FE 10, 1981.
all decryption codes in comments

Last Words b/w Last Words (version) 

 

 

September 16, 1981 Skidoo also recorded an impressive 4-song session for John Peel, with only "Four Note Bass" subsequently appearing on record as "Porno Base".

 

 

23 Skidoo - Peel Session, 1981..

Macaw Gunger
View from Here
Four Note Bass
Retain Control

 

 

 

 

At the end of November Skidoo entered Jacob's Studio in Farnham to record the seminal Seven Songs. The eight tracks were recorded over three days & like Skidoo live shows were part funk & part experimental featuring: thumb piano & pygmy pipe on Martin Denny pastiche "Quiet Pillage"; a lock groove; & within "Porno Base" the refined voice of Diana Mitford, decrying the pernicious influence of pop music.

 

23 Skidoo - Seven Songs, Fetish Records FM 2008, 1982.

Side A -
Kundalini
Vegas el Bandito
Mary's Operation (then lock groove)

Side B -
New Testament
IY
Porno Base
Quiet Pillage (then lock groove)

 

 

 

Immediately after the recording Seven Songs, Alex & Johnny left to travel in the Far East for three months.  A 'reduced personnel' trio of Fritz, Sam, & Tom  recorded Tearing Up the Plans.

 

 

23 Skidoo - Tearing up the Plans 12" 45, Fetish Records FP 20, 1982.

Side P -
Tearing up the Plans (pt. 1)
Tearing up the Plans (pt. 2)

Side F -
Just Like Everybody (featuring Tim Soar)
Gregouka

 

 

 

 

With the massive success of Seven Songs, the Turnbull brothers were hurriedly recalled from Singapore. Dates by the full band were hastily arranged. On June 16th, Skidoo headlined a prestigious London show at The Venue. Shortly before going onstage, Sam Mills & Tom Heslop were dismissed from the band, though to their great credit both still performed that night. For Fritz & the Turnbull brothers, it really was a case of Tearing up the Plans - ironically enough, the title of the newest EP featuring the 'reduced personnel' of Fritz, Sam and Tom. Ah, well, 23 Skidoo!

From this point onward, 23 Skidoo morphed into another enity. That, however, is a story for another day (next month...hint...hint).

Enjoy,
NØ