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Nick Cash in action. (Courtesy of 999) |
By Andy
Who would have ever thought I'd go from the baseball diamond to the raucous crowd to the fucking stage with 999?
It's a three-pronged truth ball of high energy and stokeness for this writer and I'm zipping it your way today.
After hearing a 999 tune or two on the radio back in 1980 or so and learning that they'd be playing the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a 13-year-old me -- and a lefty baseball pitcher -- thought it would be cool to check 'em out. Not happening this time, but my chance would come about a year later.
I remember getting in some pitches at my baseball practice in 1980 and listening to my cool coaches discussing their upcoming evening of witnessing 999 in the flesh at the Civic. So jealous, man. I shook my head and got on with my pitching session and would live vicariously through those dudes.
Thanks to my brother Ed and his buddies, we would have our day in the 999 sun with a rowdy gig in November of 1981 at Florentine Gardens in Hollywood alongside equally ferocious sets by the Circle Jerks and Wasted Youth. That night, I traded in my baseball cleats and striped pants for an Adolescents shirt, flannel and jeans with a kilt strapped around my waist. During 999's sterling set, I was lifted on top of the crowd and had one of my shoes ripped off (I grabbed it back a few seconds later).
And even further into my life of punkness, Cat and I with some friends rambled through the doors of the Cactus Club in San Jose for the stellar 999/Mad Parade gig in 2000. On that wild night, I joined a few other fans on stage at Nick Cash's behest to sing along on their ripping tune "Homicide." Now that was fucking cool and I've included Cat's photo later in this entry (that's me in the Business shirt).
In the present day, here we've got an email Q and A with Cash regarding the Nov. 8 drop of the band's live "Emergency," a previously unreleased and ultra-fiery set from the Old Waldorf in San Francisco in 1979 on the Liberation Hall imprint. It was a raging second set of the night brought to us by the sturdy hands and beaming voices of Cash, Guy Days, Jon Watson and Pablo LaBritain.
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* Upon listening to the Old Waldorf recording, what immediately springs to mind about the performance? Was the band firing on all cylinders at this point in your career?
Cash: Yes, the band was definitely firing on all cylinders. It was early in our career and we’d only just started to play in the States and in many other countries. The New Wave/Punk was really starting to take off at that point in time. 999 was one of the bands from the first wave of Punk bands that had started the movement in England. People in the States had heard of us and bought our records and wanted to see us live so it was a great time for our music. I felt incredibly lucky to be a part of that scene at that time.
* What was the crowd like at this gig and the other US gigs on this tour? Was 999 well-received when you hit the stage and rammed through your sets? Was it a good band-crowd interaction on these high-energy nights?
Cash: The crowd was hot at this gig. 999 had already played one set earlier and we were really up for the second set featured on this album. Many people from the first show had purchased tickets for the second show as well — they couldn't get enough! We had a fantastic crowd interaction and had a tremendous empathy with our American audiences which has endured over the 45 years since this recording.
* Was it commonplace to have your sets recorded? Did you meet up with Terry Hammer of KALX in San Francisco beforehand to run through some details? Are you pleased with the recording and do you feel it stands the test of time?
Cash: It was fairly commonplace to have our sets recorded. A local radio station like KALX was in the network of U.S. college radio stations which helped enormously to break 999. I don't recall having a meet up with Terry Hammer to discuss any details beforehand for this particular recording but I do recall being interviewed by him for KALX. He is a great engineer and did a fantastic job capturing the moment and excitement. I am very pleased with this recording and in my opinion it captures 999 and our audience at full momentum!
* Of the 17 songs on this release, which tunes really jump out at you and perhaps bring a smile to your face? Which ones were definitive then and still make an impact on 999 and crowds today?
Cash: I would say "Homicide," "Emergency," "Nasty Nasty" and "Feelin’ Alright With The Crew." It was very high energy at the time and I’m very happy to say we still manage to give it everything we’ve got. I have always said the audience is just as important as the band and listening to this set it couldn't be more true. Long live the music!
* What's kept 999 on the music scene all these years? What have you learned from your long-lasting experience and what advice would you give young bands just starting out and are following in your footsteps?
Cash: I enjoy writing, recording, being in 999 and performing onstage with them and connecting with the audiences the same as I did back in 1976… nothing's changed. The advice I would give to young bands starting out is: if you want to do it then do it.
* I once joined 999 and a few others on stage to sing "Homicide" at the Cactus Club in San Jose, CA. You invited us up there and we went for it. Is that a crucial part of 999 to give back to those who support you? Have you always reached out to the fans and included them? Not all bands do this--- why do you?
Cash: Yes Andy, it is a crucial part of 999 to give back and involve the people who support us. Somehow we connect with our audiences and unlock a deep down inner thing which creates excitement. It make people happy and becomes a part of their life that stays with them forever.
Thanks for your interesting questions and for joining 999 onstage at the Cactus Club all those years ago and being part of the 999 story. It’s become quite a long story now. 999 will celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2026.
Cheers from England
Nick Cash & 999
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Your writer with 999 in 2000... me in Business shirt. (Cat Rose photo) |
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Courtesy of 999 |
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