kipper bites
morsels of information, hearsay, internet postings, and trivia
" 'Kipper Mask Replica' - underrated. Much reviled at the time for its impenetrable lyrical content and forays into the avant garde musically, it has stood the test of time and can now be enjoyed in its full glory on the reissued, digitally remastered version. Long unavailable after Normington refused its re-release due to 'issues' that he was unwilling to publically address. The sleeve says it all, Nutter wearing a fish head mask, clutching a copy of the works of Proust, a crumpled copy of 'Knockers' magazine, and a sub-machine gun. He is wearing his famous waistcoat with a badge simply saying 'prisoner of success' "
- posted at www.chinstroker.co.uk
The pre-Kipper album 'When The Bloat Comes In' by Bloater, a folk-rock collection which preceded the Sid Noggett/Timmy Lea era, now goes for £500 in the pages of 'Record Collector'
Classic Kipper record covers include 'Jack The Kipper', with Nutter wearing a top hat and Victorian cloak, waving a fist at a painted lady of the night; the 'All Kipper, No Flipper!' single with Nutter riding a dolphin, waving a fist at Japanese fishing boats; the 'Kipper' 45, featuring the heads of the boys atop fish bodies; 'Phwoooooaaaar!', a minimalist Peter Saville design with a set of knuckle-dusters embossed upon an eggshell blue background; and 'All Kippers Are Bastards', featuring the classic Mick Rock photo of Nutter with a copper's helmet perched on his barnet, waving a tattooed fist into the camera, Dave Hill-style - this enduring image of 70s 'super-yob' culture is now a familiar poster beloved of students everywhere. The 'Bunch Of Fives' e.p. features a fist with the heads of the members of Kipper superimposed on to the knuckles, and the record's success (it became the 112th best-selling e.p. in chart history) is attributed largely to this sleeve design, the work of the band's own saxophonist Blow.
3rd album 'Kipper' is also known to fans as 'The Scale album', having been packaged in a white gatefold sleeve with embossed fish scales incorporated into the design. The album was originally intended to be released before 1975 was out, but just missed the profitable Xmas market due to a pressing-plant mix-up involving a pair of red y-fronts. Further details of this scandal are unknown, although Who drummer Keith Moon (a friend and drinking acquaintance of the band) is believed to have taken the secret to his grave.
Drummer Timmy Lea does not appear on the 'Smoked - Live At Budokan' album, having been refused entry on to the band's Japanese flight from Heathrow after an 'incident' involving an inexperienced stewardess, a luggage locker, and a frogman's mask and flippers. A Timmy Lea lookalike was hastily employed as his temporary replacement for the Far East tour, although the Japanese promoters simply shrugged and said "they all look the same to us"
The 'All Kippers Are Bastards' l.p. saw Kipper forming allegiances with the fledgling punk movement. New Wave acolytes included Mick Jones of The Clash (who had allegedly seen every Kipper gig in the U.K. and is rumoured to own the ear trumpet glimpsed in the film 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer'), Sid Vicious (see Siouxsie Sioux's reminiscences in the 'quotes' section), Billy Idol (who modelled his entire image on Nutter Normington), Captain Sensible (who covered 'The Loneliest Megastar In The World' and 'Patchouli Cadaver' at the 'Happy Talk' sessions but refuses to release these tracks on religious grounds), and Wreckless Eric (who named himself after the band's wayward bass player Eric Maynard)
Ever ambitious, Kipper bravely strayed from their bovver boy roots on occasion, most successfully with 'Kipper Mask Replica'. However, misguided forays into progressive rock (the minor hit single 'Kipper's Ready') and post-Two Tone ska (the rare failure 'Kip Up Fatty') are really for Kipper completists only
1982's 'Kipper Ties' album featured three solo tracks from each band member. Commissioned by Les Disques Du Crepescule, who had intended to release a new Kipper record but discovered too late that the band weren't talking to one another, 'Kipper Ties' ranges from Timmy Lea's primitive percussion experiments (unwittingly a huge influence on the jungle/drum & bass scene a decade later), through Petal's hi-energy electro-pop, to a glimpse at Nutter Normington's more introspective side (the track 'Fuck Benelux' being a plaintive, piano-led deconstruction of the entire project, contrasting Normington's delicate melodies against a heavier rhythm track performed by Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave). The original vinyl version had its grooves arranged in such a way that the final track looped back to the beginning, leading to sonic perpetuity - it was only possible to stop playing the record by smashing up your stereo.
Kipper were persuaded to re-form for Bob Geldof's 'Live Aid' in 1985 - indeed, in keeping with the "feed the world" message of the occasion, the original Live Aid logo was to have been the neck of a guitar emerging from the mouth of a kipper - but the band failed to make it to Wembley because of a tube strike. Incredibly, Petal and Blow did turn up as surprise guests during Phil Collins' set at the Philadelphia arm of the concert. No-one has ever been able to explain this, although the title of Collins' 'No Jacket Required' album is rumoured to contain a cryptic reference to the incident. What makes this even stranger is that 'No Jacket Required' was recorded some 6 months before the gig...
In the early 1990s, members of Kipper flew to the States to experiment with hip-hop and rap, recording several ultimately unreleased 'dope beats' for the Def Jam label. These have, however, been widely bootlegged under various titles and a trip dahn Camden market will reveal tapes and burned CDs such as 'Straight Outta Clapham', 'Kip Op-eration', and 'It Takes A Nation Of Gillions To Hold Us Back'. Buyer beware
An earlier American excursion resulted in the 1986 'Kip To Be Square' sessions, an aborted attempt to crack the U.S. FM radio market
Another unreleased track, 'Day Kipper', was recorded by a re-formed Kipper in 1995 in a bid to cash in on the rise of 'Brit-pop'. The recording was never completed - apparently the famous actor hired to assist with vocals on the track failed to turn up at the studio, although magician Paul Daniels is rumoured to have popped his head through the door before announcing "I'm in the wrong room" in a silly voice and disappearing. Oasis were recording next door at the time - asked to describe what Kipper were up to, Noel Gallagher was simply quoted as saying it was "shit"
Mysterious late-1980s rumours of an apparently Kipper-related project under the name 'Cleall, Askwith, Maynard, Booth, Wakeman & Howe' remain unconfirmed...
Kipper appeared in 3 movies, the smash hit 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' bringing their work to a wide audience and helping them achieve their huge mid-70s chart success, despite Nutter and Timmy being replaced by professional actors Peter ('Please Sir!') Cleall and Robin Askwith for their close-ups and dialogue scenes. The band intended to hire 'enfant terrible' Ken Russell to direct 'Catch Us If You Can' in 1978, but due to confusion among the paperwork, instead found themselves on set with Kenny Lynch and Russell Harty, neither of whom knew the first thing about filmmaking. They made a brave stab at shooting some footage anyway, but the entire project was abandoned after three days when someone pointed out that the Dave Clark Five had already made the film 13 years earlier. Finally, the ambitious 'Timmy - A Cock Opera' found its way straight to video in the late 1980s, although the soundtrack album went top 20 in Australia and New Zealand
"the third album, 'Kipper', was a personal favourite including minor hit single 'I'm Gonna Batter You' and the unforgettable 'Sgt. Kipper's Local Tarts Club, Banned'. Another classic cover housed the 'Kipper' 7-inch, with the heads of the boys atop fish bodies, which leads to 'Kipper Mask Replica' where not only a similar sleeve was used but also similar songs. It was all getting a bit formulaic until Punk kicks in. Another classic is of course the acoustic ATV sessions, 'Unhooked', all the hits in a mellow stylee. 'Knock Yer Block Off' has never sounded so poignant and the beautiful ballad 'Cor Love Phwoooar Waaahey' would bring a tear to a glass eye. The less said about the funk/jazz fusion era, the better..."
- internet posting at alt.zepplin newsgroup
"In 1981 Kipper were signed by Tony Wilson for his Factory label. They flirted with the idea of a name change to Extermination Camp, playing down any fascist imagery, but after a heated debate/punch-up, kept the old moniker. Their one l.p. 'Phwoooooaaaar!' (cat: FAC OFF) was by and large pitiful although the odd tune emerged from the gloom and faux European tripe..."
- extract from 'Cut And Paste - A Manchester Music Odyssey' by Mick Middles, Textile Press
"A lot of critics think Nutter was copying Ian Curtis and David Byrne with his jerky movements, flailing kicks and all. However, this was simply due to the poor wiring on his equipment. I kept telling Hannett but he just roared "why don't you fook off, you tit, and get me a pie and chips while you're at it". "
- anonymous Strawberry Studios technician, unused interview filmed for the '24 Hour Party People' DVD
"original pressings of 'Done Up Like A...' included the slightly controversial 'We're Wiv Ya Mr. Powell' (surprisingly not on the reissued CD; in fact the boys deny all knowledge of the song despite performing it live until the mid 80s)"
- internet bulletin board posting from 'Mauricey', at www.burnleycouncil.co.uk
"I have unearthed a gatefold copy of 'Kipper Mask Replica' and now have the lyrics to hand. Normington was/is a true genius, if somewhat tortured. It's a far cry from the bawdy knees-ahp of 'She Loves It Up The Old Kent Road' and simple message of 'Backhander', and veers at times into Rimbaudesque verse"
- Melvyn Bragg, 'Start The Week', Radio 4
"Imagine the style of Joel or John at their finest, and the 'borrowed' lyrical structure of Dylan's 'Simple Twist Of Fate' sung by a sad, washed-up Eastenders reject"
- Stuart Maconie discussing the Kipper classic, 'Fist Of Fate', on his 'Records I've Got And You Haven't' programme, Radio 2
"When they do 'Fist Of Fate' he dons a pearly king suit. On the "cleaned my boots" line we get a trademark kick. Oh, and there's a dwarf flute section"
- overheard backstage discussion between choreographer Lindsay Kemp and Kipper manager Sid Noggett, Hammersmith Odeon 1977
"Voted 'best British album of the 80s' by 'Strolling Bone' magazine (U.S. release date 2/1/80). Kipper's legendary 1979 double platter - pay no more than £4.99, mush"
- advertising campaign for CD re-issue of 'Clapham Calling'
"Thankfully when I got home my copy of 'Das Ist Meine Kipper' had arrived - the German-language recording of the 1975 single that caused so much controversy thanks to the line "shoot the bleedin' lot of 'em". I cannot translate that line into German as it has been bleeped out and the sound of stomping jackboots has been put in its place...£12.50 on eBay, bargain!!! You can get the programme from the 'Kipper Put The Fist In' show from White City dog track in 75, steep at a pony though..."
"Put the Fist In? Was that the tour with the giant inflatable fist that featured on the album cover?"
- random musings from fans at the unofficial www.visi.com/kipper/news website discussion group
"According to Robin Askwith's autobiography, while he was playing Timmy Lea he met Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill in the canteen at Elstree during the filming of 'Star Wars' (and told Ford he'd never get anywhere with a name like 'Harrison'). Anyway, 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' was clearly a massive influence on 'Star Wars':
Han Solo dresses exactly like the members of Kipper
Both films feature an actor whose name begins with the letters 'May' wearing a hairy costume
Both films star Dave Prowse
Timmy Lea - Christopher Lee? Coincidence or rip-off?
You can form the words Sith, Star, Wars, Obi Wan, Obi W.K., Han S from the letters in the name 'Robin Askwith'
Princess Leia...say no more
Does Nutter have tattoos on his fist? Tattooine...
Were the stormtrooper helmets modelled on Askwith's hair?
Did Bill Pertwee's javelin inspire the lightsabre?
The names 'Maxy Naus' and 'Star Wars' both contain 2 groups of 4 letters
Both films form part of a continuing series about an extended family
Star Knockers - Star Wars? Coincidence?
Annakin Skywalker changes his name - as did Bloater... "
- anonymous posting at www.ain't-it-geeky.com
Kipper unexpectedly reclaimed their rightful place at the top of the singles chart in 2002, when a track sampling their classic 'Kipper' 45 caught the record-buying public's attention after being used in an advertisment for Ronseal. A dance mix entitled 'A Little Less Dahn-The-Station', the single was credited to 'D.J. Heroin Addict featuring Kipper'. The true identity of D.J. Heroin Addict remains a mystery, although speculation was rife at the time that either Derrick May, Squarepusher, or Paul McCartney may have been responsible for the cut.
Kipper axeman Petal's long-deleted side project, 'Petalz Dirty Lollipopz', re-emerged in June 2005 when Sanctuary re-issued their albums 'Pillion Thrillion' and 'Bandana Boyz' on a 'twofer' CD. The line-up of this mid-80s glam/camp/biker/bandana outfit was:
Petal - guitar 'n' vox
Joey Fragrance - vox
Randy Culdesac - guitar
Slugg - bass
'Rock' Solid - drums
Derek Pemberton - synths
The June 2005 issue of 'Mojo' magazine was a 'Kipper special', celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of debut 45 'Do The Clapham'. A ten-page feature on the history of Kipper was written by music journalist John-john Sauvage; various celebrities spoke about their favourite Kipper albums; dual covers for the mag displayed either the famous Mick Rock photo from 'All Kippers Are Bastards' or a Pennie Smith shot of Nutter Normington giving a 'V' sign; Zombie's various departures from and returns to the fold were documented in the 'Hello/Goodbye' section; and Nutter was asked to contribute to the mag's 'All Back To My Place' page. His questionnaire is reprinted below:
ALL BACK TO MY PLACE
Sir Nutter Normington
Kipper's knighted kockney keyboard king
'What music are you currently grooving to?'
'Stan Bowles' by The Others, a bit of me old mates Chas and Dave, 'Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner' by John 'Snakehips' Johnson, and 'Anyone Can Fall In Love' by Anita Dobson.
'What, if push comes to shove...'
Here, are you trying to start something?
'...is your all-time favourite album?'
Oh, I getcha. Right - probably 'Done Up Like A...' by Kipper. Best album ever. You what? Oh, I've got to choose some other bleeder's record. Bollocks. Let's say 'Greatest Hits Vol. 1' by the Cockney Rejects, then. Smashing fellers - I taught 'em everything they know.
'What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?'
Never bought a record in me life, mate. You calling me a poof? Nicked loads, though. The first? 'Bull' by Steele (we think he means 'Little White Bull' by Tommy Steele - Ed.). Woolworths, down Clapham High Street, 1958.
'Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?'
That geezer who made them records about Cassius Clay (Johnny Wakelin - Ed.). I like numbers about fighting.
'What do you sing in the shower?'
You saying I'm a ponce, mate?
'What is your favourite Saturday night record?'
'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting'. Our version - I don't listen to anything sung by ginger beers.
'And your Sunday morning record?'
What's Sunday morning?
(Kipper's new single 'Poxy Filf' and album 'Celebrity Fight Club' are released in May)
Also from the June 2005 'Mojo', Kipper saxophonist Blow contributed the following for the mag's regular 'Last Night A Record Changed My Life' feature:
'My Century In The Penitentiary'
by Partially Sighted Little Big Boy McPherson
(Folkways Recordings 1952)
by Blow from Kipper
Post war London. Lonesome. Packet o' Pall Mall and a cup o' char. Up all night strung out on zooberdoobers. Chemist blag. Wooooah! Fields o' Alabammy, battered six string, raddeling chains, voice o' the DEVIL and shoes to match. Got me? Wooooah!
Dodgy eyes and multiple homicides. Truth is...he told tha' truth. 'Polly Woodle Dust Bowl Railroad Blues' - what the...wooooah! Truth is...he told tha' truth...another Pall Mall...zooberdoobers...that picture on the sleeve...was he black or was he white...who knows? Mask o' death.
Blues or folk? Country or summink else? Or jus' tha' TRUTH! 'Greasy Farmhand', 'Belly Full a' Trouble (and Grits)', 'Devil In My Rusty Shovel Handle Blues'. Wooooah! That scritchy ole' guitar and club foot a-tappin'. "Feller can't sleep when he ain't killed for a while". Wooooah! Doom! 'They Hangin' Me For Hog Munchin'! '. What a song. Harmonica by SATAN himself.
I lost that damn record. '53. Bermondsey. Woooooah. Zooberdoobers.
Review of the 'Celebrity Fight Club' album, reprinted from the July 2005 issue of 'Mojo':
KIPPER - Celebrity Fight Club (Sanctuary) **
We can't believe it's Nutter
Given the band's longevity and bus-pass status, you'd expect Kipper (the drinking man's Status Quo) to have eschewed the tiresome bovver-boy antics by now. But no, along comes 'Celebrity Fight Club' and it's business as usual - More Songs About Being Filled-In And Blood, as Mr. Byrne might have had it.
Opening with current single 'Poxy Filf', complete with 'Sweeney' samples and authority-baiting attitude, Kipper show bands half their age that they can still bash out a raucous rant - Coldplay this most definitely isn't. The law of diminishing returns soon sets in, though, and the remainder simply offers the usual variations on a violent theme. By the time we reach the Brian Eno re-mix, it's all getting rather desperate, and the yawnsome contribution of former Slade axe-hero Dave Hill makes one yearn for the heady days of 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me'.
Neanderthal.
(Pat Gilbert)
kipper bi-o-graphies
Nutter Normington
Little is known of Nutter's early life. Between the ages of 7 and 26, he spent most of his time in various Borstals and young offender units, managing to remain there so long by habitually lying about his age. While institutionalised, he learned a skill that was to serve him well in later life, teaching himself to play the piano. His unique style, consisting of hitting and punching the keys, bouncing up and down on the keyboard with his arse, and taking a hatchet to the instrument, set him apart from the acknowledged piano virtuosi such as Elton John and Nicky Hopkins, and on release from Borstal in 1971 he began gigging around London's pubs and eventually became a successful session musician - rumour has it that he, not the credited Rick Wakeman, plays on much of Bowie's 'Hunky Dory' album. He joined failed folk-rockers Bloater in mid-1974 - as depicted in the movie 'Confessions Of A Pop Performer' the band soon changed their name to Kipper, and the rest is history.
While constantly remaining loyal to Kipper, Nutter occasionally branched out, notably with the experimental 'Kippertronics' l.p. and his contributions to the 'Kipper Ties' album which featured his old mate and drinking partner Chas Hodges (from lovable cockney duo Chas & Dave).
Nutter struggled to keep the Kipper name alive throughout pop's changing eras, but following the success of D.J. Heroin Addict's Kipper-sampling chart-topper in the summer of 2002, he has been able to retire after receiving huge royalties. It was Nutter's idea to set up a Kipper website, and although not technically adept himself he takes a keen interest in suggesting content for the site and moderating the popular message board. Controversially knighted in 2003, he still lives in Clapham - you'll recognise the house, it's the one not covered in shit.
Eric
Petal
Zombie
Blow
Timmy Lea