(4 / 5)
Famed for supporting The Sex Pistols in the summer of 1976 at the very start of the punk era, Manchester band Slaughter And The Dogs had a lot more going on than that bit of history.
One of the first punk bands on the scene, formed in 1975 in Wythenshawe, they were fierce on stage and on record. And one of the first to be picked up by a major label (Decca).
Here we get a triple disc set which delivers an expanded version of their 1978 debut album, “Do It Dog Style” on CD one.
That album included the singles “Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone”, “Dame To Blame” and “Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)”.
The second CD here is 19 non-album tracks, including their debut single, “Cranked Up Really High”, plus their contribution to the seminal “Live At The Roxy” LP, non-LP B-sides, the collectors’ treasure – the “It’s Alright” EP and some studio demos.
The third CD of the set is the “Live Slaughter Rabid Dogs” LP, recorded in May 1977.
The booklet with this 41-track package contains detailed liner notes, pictures of all relevant sleeves plus memorabilia and clippings from the era.
The original line-up was singer Wayne Barrett, Mick Rossi on guitar, bass player Howard “Zip” Bates and drummer Brian “Mad Muffet” Grantham.
Wayne and Mick have been a constant in the changing line-ups across the 44 years the band were active, on and off, from 75 to 79, 79 to 81 and 96 to 2019.
The band were given their name from two of Wayne’s favourite albums, Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” and Mick Ronson’s “Slaughter On 10th Avenue”.
Prior to the Decca signing they teamed up with a friend who went on to manage Joy Division and recorded their debut single, “Cranked Up really High” on the Manchester label Rabid Records. Now a sought-after punk classic which was released in June 1977.
Morrissey briefly replaced Barrett in the spring of 1979, and recorded four songs with the band. Yes, that Morrissey – Steven Patrick!
They dropped five studio albums, six live albums, a bunch of singles and seven compilations – plus appearances on other compilations
In the summer of last year, 2019, Wayne and Mick called it a day and the band is no more.
The Stone Roses, New Order and indeed, Smiths legend Morrissey all mention Slaughter And The Dogs as a band they looked up to back in the day.
This new box set is fine reminder of how good they were at their incendiary brand of punk and how they do not need starry names like Johnny Rotten’s outfit and others to prop up their legend. Their legacy is in tact and screams loudly here.
By David Roman
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’
