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SAT. AUG. 7, 1982 : The MANCHESTER ARMS (M.A.) pub in STOCKPORT. Being one of the first punk bands to play at the pub the gig brings a lot of the newer bands and younger punks together for the first time and is important as far as the local scene is concerned. The landlord IAN says it's one of the biggest crowds he has had in to see a band. There is a near riot for the encore of the band's version of MONSTER MASH.
THURS. OCT. 7, 1982 : SMUGGLERS, STOCKPORT. This CURSE organized FESTIVAL has themselves, DESTRUCTION, BLADDER x3 (ex-CURSE bassist ERIC's new band), DRESDEN (ex-UNEXPECTED GUESTS), ZANATHUS & NU-TRIX. The 50 pence admission before 10:00 sees a large turnout. CURSE help to promote punk bands that play at the place for a short time afterwards.
WED. OCT. 13, 1982 : HAZEL GROVE YOUTH CLUB with CURSE, LIFE ON EARTH and DESTRUCTION. Other bands to have played previously include The FALL, V2, SPHERICAL OBJECTS, CRISPY AMBULANCE, The DISTRACTIONS, The SYSTEM, BLACKOUT (with JAMIE FRY, brother
of ABC's MARTIN), and The PASSAGE (with MANCHESTER MUSICIANS' COLLECTIVE's DICK
WITTS) to name just a few.
SUN. OCT. 24, 1982: The BROOKFIELD, STOCKPORT with CURSE, BLADDER x3 and DESTRUCTION.
THURS. OCT. 28, 1982: SMUGGLERS, STOCKPORT with The VIOLATORS and CURSE. The
VIOLATORS fail to appear so CURSE lend their gear to DESTRUCTION who play a set.
IAN and DUNCAN of The SENATORS are worried about their P.A. system so members of
CURSE's entourage help with security. IAN, former HOLY NEWT's guitarist will go on
to be the soundman of The STONE ROSES in the future.
Around this time, JIM and BEN go into OUT OF THE BLUE studios with DESTRUCTION and
help them produce 4 songs.
Possible gigs with VICTIM and The U.K. SUBS don't materialise due to difficulties
and the 'popstar' vocalist of CHELSEA offers the support slot at The MARQUEE in
LONDON but then denies it. STILL MORE BULLSHIT!
Around this time there is talk of a possible compilation of local bands but nothing materialises.
NOV. 1982: COL, guitarist and founder member announces that he is leaving the band.
CURSE decide to continue with ASH playing rhythm guitar as well as doing the vocals.
Deciding to drop a lot of songs the band ask JOHN GOODING to record the last
practice with COL on his TEAC portable studio. This recording becomes known as
COL'S LAST COMMITMENT and is made available at gigs.
CURSE has several interviews and reviews in fanzines and local newspapers around
this time.
ASH introduces MARTYN (ex-SIGMA) from FALLOWFIELD as a possible replacement for COL.
THURS. DEC. 2, 1982 : SMUGGLERS, STOCKPORT with CURSE, BLITZ, and the 'CLOCKWORK ORANGE' attired STATE VICTIMS. The gig is filmed for CHANNEL 4's 'The TUBE'. The gig is from 9:00 til 1:00 and admission is £2:00
THURS. DEC. 9, 1982 : SMUGGLERS, STOCKPORT. Another self-organised gig with CURSE, LIFE ON EARTH, BLADDER x3, NEW ERA (who appear billed as BALLACHE but will become more well-known as The PARANOIDS in the near future) and PROWLER. The doors are open from 9:00 til 1:00 and admission is £1:00. ASH plays occasional rhythm guitar as well as sings for this one and only gig.
DEC. 15, 1982 : CURSE are videoed by ex-bassist ERIC at the first rehearsal of MARTYN on second guitar. The sound quality is quite rough but this early attempt at video is interesting as it shows the band doing a cover version of the old BORIS AND THE CRYPT-KICKER FIVE classic MONSTER MASH, with SUE and EDDIE'S sister CARON on backing vocals.
In JAN. 1983 four CURSE songs appear on the STOCKPORT UNDER OCCUPATION compilation cassette produced by the VILLAGE DAMN-UNTRENDY cassette label. Other acts include LIFE ON EARTH, CITIZAN KANE (from Sweden), FRENCH LETTERS (Ben's first band that had split in '82), BLADDER x3, DESTRUCTION and FRANK DRUM-MACHINE & HIS DOWN HOME SWINGING LONGHORN BOYS (IAN & MICK from BLADDER). Apart from CITIZAN KANE, all the bands come from around the Stockport area. The CURSE tracks are THE OBJECTOR, FOOLS GAME, KAMIKAZE LOVERS and COMFORTABLE ROUTINES.
Other CURSE tapes available at gigs include The HULME DEMOS, LIVE AT THE BRIDGEHOUSE and COL'S LAST COMMITMENT (a live recording of COL's last practice with the band). Two others, LIVE AT THE LEADMILL and The MIDDLETON DEMOS will appear in the future.
Songs the band have done covers of since their inception include CRISIS' LIVING IN THE U.K., DANGEROUS GIRLS by the band of the same name, LOUIE LOUIE/WILD THING (The TROGGS) and MONSTER MASH.
TUES. JAN. 11, 1983: The RED LION, HAZEL GROVE. MARTIN plays his first gig with
CURSE. The gig had originally been for JAN. 4th but was changed by ALAN the
landlord and MARTIN the promoter over initial fears about possible audience
trouble.
FRI. JAN. 28, 1983: MANCHESTER POLYTECHNIC's 'ALTERNATIVE NIGHT'. ASH talks about
wanting 'to go in a different direction from the one that CURSE is currently going
in' and that he wants to work with drum machines.
SUN. FEB. 2, 1983: The new six-piece band do a photo shoot at CHEETHAM HILL CEMETARY
and outside STRANGEWAYS PRISON. The band receive almost none of the pictures as the
photographer decides to hold onto them in the event that the band land a major
record deal - STILL MORE BOLLOCKS!
WED. FEB. 9, 1983: The GALLERY, MANCHESTER - At this SEXGANG CHILDREN and BLITZKRIEG
gig, CURSE's most recent recording receives a favorable reaction.
MON. FEB. 14, 1983: SUE (from MONMOUTH in WALES hence the name 'MONMOUTH SUE') becomes the official backing vocalist at
this practice.
TUES. FEB. 22: The RED LION, HAZEL GROVE. The recently integrated MARTYN and
SUE join the band for this gig. KEVIN SEISEY, a friend of the band known as a
REGGAE/FOLK (!) singer and comedian is in the audience. KEVIN has recently been
appearing on the CHRIS TARRENT TV show 'OVER THE TOP' (O.T.T.).
THURS. FEB. 24, 1983: At the practice basement at REDCROFT the band decide on which
songs are to be recorded during the next booked session in the studio.
(4) SAT. MARCH 11, 1983: PARISH BOWMAN 8-track RECORDING STUDIO in MIDDLETON. CURSE
are here, at the rehearsal studio of The CHAMELEONS to record 3 songs. This is the
band's fourth recording and the only one on which MARTYN and SUE will appear. The
tape is mixed on TUES. 14th. Songs recorded are EXIT (WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?),
THE DOG and ALICE, on which SUE sings backing vocals.
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