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Urgh! A Music War (19-Nov-1981)

Director: Derek Burbidge

Keywords: Music Concert, Punk Rock

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Nigel Bennett
Actor
19-Nov-1949   Lacroix on Forever Knight
Jello Biafra
Singer
17-Jun-1958   Dead Kennedys
Charlotte Caffey
Guitarist
21-Oct-1953   Lead guitarist for The Go-Go's
Ali Campbell
Singer
15-Feb-1959   Lead singer, UB40
Belinda Carlisle
Singer
17-Aug-1958   Lead vocalist for The Go-Go's
Gerald Casale
Musician
28-Jul-1948   Co-Founder of DEVO
Exene Cervenka
Singer
1-Feb-1956   Vocalist for punk band X
Stewart Copeland
Drummer
16-Jul-1952   Drummer for The Police
Howard Devoto
Singer
1955   Buzzcocks and Magazine vocalist
John Doe
Musician
25-Feb-1954   X
Danny Elfman
Musician
29-May-1953   Oingo Boingo, movie composer
Jools Holland
Musician
24-Jan-1958   Former Squeeze keyboardist
Lux Interior
Musician
21-Oct-1946 4-Feb-2009 Lead singer of The Cramps
Joan Jett
Musician
22-Sep-1958   I Love Rock 'N Roll
Ian McCulloch
Singer/Songwriter
5-May-1959   Echo and the Bunnymen
Mark Mothersbaugh
Musician
18-May-1950   Devo
Klaus Nomi
Singer
24-Jan-1944 6-Aug-1983 New Wave counter-tenor from Mars
Gary Numan
Musician
8-Mar-1958   Cars
Andy Partridge
Musician
11-Nov-1953   XTC singer/songwriter
Stan Ridgway
Singer/Songwriter
5-Apr-1954   Lead singer, Wall of Voodoo
Gina Schock
Drummer
31-Aug-1957   Drummer for The Go-Go's
Will Sergeant
Guitarist
12-Apr-1958   Guitarist for Echo and the Bunnymen
Sting
Singer/Songwriter
2-Oct-1951   Lead singer of The Police
Andy Summers
Guitarist
31-Dec-1942   Guitarist for The Police
Toyah
Singer
18-May-1958   Singer for the band Toyah
Jane Wiedlin
Musician
20-May-1958   Guitarist / vocalist for The Go-Go's

REVIEWS

Review by anonymous (posted on 18-Apr-2006)

Urgh A Music War is a film all about the New Wave, Punk Rock sound that shook the 1980's. with no nonsense, no talking, no theorizing live musical explosion! You will not find any back stage interviews, giggling groupies or any other interruptions. Just music and more music from London, California, New York and France. This 1981 British release, besides having a bizarre title, Urgh A Music War captured some of the most incredible live performances from the “it” bands of 1980's. Ranging from the famous like The Police, Gary Numan and Devo to the infamous like The Cramps and The Dead Kennedys. The soundtrack to the film as well as the VHS are out of print. This is due to an exclusive contract to publish this movie on a now dead format (CED). The word is that the contracts for the individual artists are missing and you can’t renegotiate a contract without the original to amend it. The film is currently owned by its original producer, Miles Copeland. He has the original film of THREE songs (not one) from each band in storage. And because of the legal land lock, it cannot be released. There is a great fan site at www.urgh-dvd.com Appearances By: The Police Wall of Voodoo Toyah Willcox John Cooper Clarke Orchestral Manoeuvres Chelsea Oingo Boingo Echo and the Bunnymen Jools Holland XTC Klaus Nomi Athletico Spizz 80 The Go-Gos Dead Kennedys Steel Pulse Gary Numan Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Magazine Surf Punks Members Au Pairs The Cramps Invisible Sex Pere Ubu Devo The Alleycats John Ottway Gang of Four 999 Fleshtones X Skafish Splodgenessabounds UB40


Review by anonymous (posted on 3-May-2006)

This film is not so much a documentary, but rather a showing of the complete styles of Rock music, back in 1981. The filming, set in 5 different locations, covers a plethora of styles- from all-girl, such as "The Go-Gos", to pre-industrial, such as "The Dead Kennedys". There were a few big name acts, such as Devo, The Police, and Joan Jett, to name but a few; there was also a lot of up-&-coming talent, such as Wall Of Voodoo (who lost their lead singer, Michael Moreland, in 1999), Chelsea- a hot punk rock band, and Steel Pulse- a true testament to reggae rock. It's true also, that most of the songs were concerning underlying political issues- war, stereotyping, racism, you name it. Superior examples include Steel Pulse's "Ku Klux Klan"; The Dead Kennedy's "No Punk Rock" (which effectively foreshadowed Jello Biafra's later jump to political public speaking); and Gary Numan's "Down In the Park". However, not all of the acts were politically or socially motivated. Some were in it for the fun, such as John Cooper Clarke and his patented poem, "Health fanatic". The Cramps seemed more at home making a spectacle of themselves than singing the piece they were delivering. The Surf Punks were demonstrating their trademarked "Surf Humor", complete with lifeguards gettin' it on in the watchtower. And who can forget Klaus Nomi's unforgettable appearance, as the Automated Maid, richly belting out "Total Eclipse Of the Sun"? This piece is a testament to the late performer. I highly recommend this concert film, for anyone who remembers the Music Boom of the '80s, by far the best decade of the 20th Century in which to be alive.


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