Blank Generation
Steve Green
Born in London in 1956, Arturo Bassick (real name Arthur Billingsley) made his entrance into music when he joined The Lurkers in March 1977. The band soon released their much-celebrated debut single, ‘Shadow’ / ‘Love Story’, and the later record ‘Freak Show’ / ‘Mass Media Believer’, which Arturo himself penned.
In 1987, Arturo had a chance meeting with Campino from Die Toten Hosen, a huge German punk band, who transpired to be just as huge Lurkers fans. Offering to finance a comeback album, The Lurkers were reformed with Arturo as vocalist and front man. They went on to support Die Toten Hosen at huge venues across Europe, Arturo himself coordinating the ‘Hosen’s ‘Learning English’ album, released in 1991. Also in this year, Arturo took over the role of bassist in addition to front man, becoming The Lurkers who still continue to perform around Europe and the UK today.
I was 15 when I started buying Lurkers Records, and I was stoked to chat with Arthur for more than 4 hours over the phone, and to capture his amazing stories from punk ground zero and play his influences, favourites and own recordings in a marathon edition of the show.
Playlist:
Liquidator – Dave and Ansell Collins
Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo – Johnny Winter
Underneath The Arches – Flanagan and Allen
Piccadilly – Tír na nÓg
All The Madmen – David Bowie
Incendiary Device – Johnny Moped
Straighten Out – The Stranglers
Man Of The Year – The Models
Gatecrasher – Hammersmith Gorillas
Teenage Lightning – Doll By Doll.
Teenage Lobotomy – Ramones
New Rose – The Damned
Nasty Nasty – 999
Outdoor Miner – Wire.
Boredom – Buzzcocks
Freak Show – The Lurkers
Richmond – Pinpoint
Don’t Wanna Get Thin – The Blubbery Hellbellies
Ravens Wing – The Lurkers
Revenge Of The Dogs – The Lurkers
Outside View – Eater
Whips ‘n’ Furs – The Vibrators
(I’m) Stranded – The Saints
Gary Gilmore’s Eyes – The Adverts
No One’s Coming Outside – Chelsea
King Rocker – Generation X
Teenage Depression – Eddie & The Hot Rods
I Wanna Destroy You – The Soft Boys
Action Time Vision – Alternative TV
Solitary Confinement – The Members
