The British Punk scene picked up on the fast sounds of the Ramones, but a lot of them just didn't get the humour, the sheer joy of the whole thing

that’s rock and roll

****** UPDATE ******

****** THE LURKERS ARE TOURING ******

5th August - AntiFest - Czech Republic

19th August - 3 Tuns - Gateshead

20th August - Cert 18 Club - York

10th Sept - Wasted Amsterdam

13th Sept - The Old Oak - Poulten le Fylde

14th Sept - Nice 'n' Sleazys - Glasgow

15th Sept - The Iron Door Club - Birkenhead

16th Sept - The Victoria Inn - Derby

17th Sept - Kings Arms - Acton London W3

European Tour

28th October - 11th November

Details to follow Soon!

Picture courtesy of Ian Calvert

I threw a few questions at their 77 veteran bassist and now bassist/vocalist - Arturo Bassick - and this is what he had to say

I first heard the Ramones when a guy I knew at school who had a massive afro haircut bought the album just coz he liked the look of the band on the cover, he didn't even know what kind of music it was, we were 19 and hanging around on the dole on our estate, when he played it he thought it was a joke he actually invited me round to laugh at it, but I thought it was great, he didn't like really poppy music or glam, he was into Zep and didn't understand the 2 minute single type song at all, I saw the humour in the Ramones stuff but not to laugh at, but with them, I was hooked from then on.

I was listening to all kinds, I'd been going to gigs from the age of 13 when I was a little skinhead in 1969, my first gig was a guy who they called the granddaddy of the British blues, called John Mayall, I loved him, then Johnny Winter and Ten Years After, I saw Roxy Music in 1971, and, hundreds of gigs since, I loved proper reggae like Dave and Ansell Collins, Motown, Stax, prog, psychedelic stuff, folk, glam, hard rock, country, rock n roll, anything that caught my ear, I was never a snob about music, there's loads of great stuff you just gotta open your mind and dive in.

3. You play 'The KKK took my baby away', great song and the only one from 'Pleasant Dreams' that the Ramones continued to play throughout their career - what made you choose this one over one of the more well known ones ?

I've always loved the K.K.K. song, it shows off the Ramones weird sense of humour perfectly, I mean how did they come up with the idea? its genius

I wanted to cover the song instead of the usual Blitzkrieg Bop or Sheena that most people do, we've also covered outsider too, and have you never heard my version of I wanna be your Boyfriend, on a German Ramones tribute album, made by Loudmouth, the official Ramones fanclub of Germany, its very good and quite an odd version, try to locate it, its under the name BASSICK.

Now available again on Todos Somos Ramones (a hommage)

I first heard the dolls version through the other guys in the lurkers , I saw the credit for writer, and said to them this is a Bo Diddley song , me being an old rock n roll fan knew his name was, Elias McDaniel, his version has got about 20 verses though, so we cut it down a lot.

My real name is Arthur, and my middle name is Peter, coz my dads name was Arthur too, my family called me Pete, but some girls I knew went to Italy in 1974, and brought me back a t shirt with Arturo on it, I had no idea it was Italian for Arthur , so that's what they used to call me, when I joined the lurkers in 1977 the guitarist was Pete stride the drummer was Pete Haynes aka manic Esso , the roadie was called Pete Edwards also known as Plug, the only one not called Pete was Howard wall the singer so it got confusing so I called myself Arturo, which has stuck with people I've known since 77 .

Picture of 999 courtesy of Ian Calvert

I'd known 999 since 77 we played lots of gigs together at the Hope and Anchor and the Nashville etc also when I left the Lurkers in Nov 77 my next band pinpoint was managed by 999 and the Stranglers managers called Albion, so I used to see 999 a lot at the offices.

14 years ago I met Nick Cash in the street, he knew I'd got the Lurkers back together in 1987, and asked me if id give 999 a go too coz he was having a lot of problems with the bassist in the band, so I've been with them ever since

It wasn't a shock Strummer dying, I'd never met the guy and the Clash were never one of my faves, but it's always sad when an old rock n roller bites the dust.

Regarding slowing down yes I have, I used to do around 200 gigs a year, and was pissed all the time, I've had 3 doctors warnings, and as much as I like playing I only do about 60 gigs a year now , but I still get pissed a lot ,it gives me the feeling I need to enjoy making a loud din, even though as I reach the autumn of my 40s I do get a bit bothered about dropping down brown, I like life too much to wanna go yet!

No I'm not surprised, its as valid as most types of music and punk is only a baby compared to Motzarts music which is still played all the time, I can still see punk being around when all us originals are long gone

You will have to ask Nick Cash about a new 999 LP I've been trying to get him and Guy Days to write a new one for 5 years, hassle Nick via our website,

10. You're touring the USA with the Lurkers in November 2003, where will you be playing ? Any other shows/countries in the pipeline ?

Cheers and all the best

Arturo Bassick