Pandora's Music Box

Tickets 1983

2011-09-01T19:12:00.002+07:00

Visitors 1984

2011-04-05T13:57:00.009+07:00

The photographer and author of the article in Spex (1984/11) from which all of the photos were taken.

Story (in German)

2011-03-02T16:31:00.006+07:00

Klaus sent me the story of his visit to Pandora's 84 and kindly allowed me to publish it...

Post-Punk war dunkel, mystisch und versprach dadurch Tiefsinn, ohne dass man eindringen musste, der Tanz Ausdruck phlegmatischer Melancholie. Eine religiöse Inszenierung. Das dazu gehörige Live-Theater fand in Rotterdam statt und nannte sich "Pandora's Box". In jenem Jahr sollten The Fall auftreten, außerdem Psychic TV, Johnny Thunders, John Cale und Me & the Heat. Dort hinzufahren war eine jener "spontanen Aktionen", zu denen junge Menschen zuweilen geneigt sind. Ich überredete Sven - den ich nur noch selten sah, weil er den Wehrdienst absolvierte - mitzukommen, zumal er gerade stolzer Besitzer des kleinen alten grünen DAF 55 VARIOMATIC seiner Mutter war. Ich organisierte Zelt und Autoatlas und viel zu spät ging's am Vorabend los. Bis zur zweiten Kreuzung. Dort setzte ein Lieferwagen zurück, anstatt geradeaus weiterzufahren. Dummerweise küssten sich die Stoßstangen und erst nach dem Austausch der üblichen Daten und dem Ausbau der Stoßstange konnten wir unsere Fahrt fortsetzen. Irgendwo in den Niederlanden nahmen wir die falsche Autobahn, es fing an zu regnen, die Dunkelheit brach vollends herein, die Straße wurde immer mehrspuriger und endete im Stau vor einer Hubbrücke. Mittlerweile hatten wir die Orientierung völlig verloren, nehmen wir Kreuz Den Haag-Zuid oder -Noord und welche Uit? Ich hatte die fixe Idee, "irgendwo hinter Den Haag" über eine Landstraße an der Nordsee entlang Richtung Rotterdam zu fahren, fest davon ausgehend, dass die Niederlande übersät seien von Campingplätzen. Wir kurvten herum, und tatsächlich fanden wir gegen 22 Uhr einen solchen.

Mittlerweile goss es in Strömen, und im matten Schein der 6V-Scheinwerfer bauten wir das uns unbekannte Zelt auf. Völlig durchnässt krochen wir um Mitternacht in unsere Schlafsäcke. Jeder in seinen, was Sven bedauerte. Aber bei aller Kälte, nach einem Gefühlswirrwarr war mir an diesem Abend bestimmt nicht mehr. Sven jammerte noch ein bisschen, aber ich nahm es schon nicht mehr wahr.

Vogelgezwitscher am nächsten Morgen. Wir trauten uns fast nicht, das Zelt zu öffnen, welche Welt würde uns da draußen erwarten? Als der Druck auf die Blase unermesslich wurde, zogen wir vorsichtig den Reißverschluss hoch und wurden eines schier endlosen Zeltplanensees gewahr. Diesen Campingplatz hätten wir nicht verfehlen können! Wir kochten uns ein armseliges Frühstück und verbrachten die nächsten Stunden an den Klippen.

Am Nachmittag machte Sven sich zurecht. Er hatte sich Kleidung und Schminkutensilien seiner Schwester geborgt, und es war nicht zu verleugnen, er sah einfach sexy aus im schwarzen Minirock, den schwarzen Strümpfen, den hochhackigen Schuhen, dem schwarzen Body, dem hochtoupierten Haar, den geheimnisvoll betonten Augen und den verführerisch geschminkten Lippen. Zwei Luftballons perfektionierten die Illusion. Wirklich schade, dass er keine sie war. Zum verlieben. Und gar nicht tuntig.

In Rotterdam lenkten wir den Wagen in ein Parkhaus, Händchen haltend spazierten wir zu McDonald's. Wir waren stolz, wenn sich Jungs zu Sven umschauten, er wegen seiner gelungenen Verkleidung, ich wegen der hübschen jungen Dame in meiner Begleitung. In der Fußgängerzone wimmelte es von Raben, Mönchen und Todesengeln, so dass wir ansonsten nicht weiter auffielen. Wir wussten uns als Teil einer Bewegung, die den bürgerlichen Konventionen gegenüber erhaben, sprich: überlegen war. Unser Auftreten ließ verharren - junger Mann im straighten Anzug mit blauem Haar, junge Dame mit maskulinen Zügen. Das Sich-unterscheiden ließ uns selbstbewusst auftreten. Zwischen Abi und Studium wussten wir nicht, welchen Platz die Gesellschaft uns zugewiesen hatte, also bestimmten wir ihn selbst, zumal noch alles möglich war. Geregeltes Leben, Vorherbestimmtheit, Denken an die Rente lag uns fern, denn wer sich dem gefügt hatte, hatte sich aufgegeben und siechte nur bis zum Tod dahin. Wir aber wollten nicht bis Morgen warten, zwischen dem Heute und der Lebensversicherung musste es doch noch ein paar Kicks geben. Zum Beispiel solche, die bestätigten, dass wir tatsächlich 1984 und nicht 1974 lebten.

Ein solches Ereignis war "Pandora's Box", aber wir wunderten uns, dass vor dem Concertgebouw keine Schlangen warteten. Kein Wunder: "Uitverkocht" informierten Plakate und ließen uns das Blut gefrieren. Sven schaute mich vorwurfsvoll an und meinte herausfordernd, was ich denn jetzt zu tun gedenke.

Ich dachte an den Unfall, die Autobahn, den unablässigen Regen, die Kälte und wusste nur eins: "Ich will da rein". Mit seinem Kajalstift malte ich "2 kaartjes" auf einen Zettel (einem Stimmzettel gegen den Nato-Doppelbeschluss, den ich noch in meiner Hosentasche hatte) und stellte mich neben die Kasse zu den anderen, die ein ähnliches Ansinnen hatten. Ein Punkrocker sprach mich an, aus seinem heiser geflüsterten Holländisch verstand ich, dass er zwei Karten vom Vortag in Form von Gutscheinen besitze. Ich sagte, das mache nichts und erwarb sie für die Hälfte des regulären Preises. Es musste lediglich das mit Kuli geschriebene Datum geändert werden und so lieh ich mir einen an der Kasse. Aus der "22" wurde eine "23". Anstandslos bekamen wir unsere Eintrittskarten.

Von kaum zu verbergender diebischer Freude geschüttelt, betraten wir die Halle. Fassungslos sahen wir die Massen merkwürdiger Menschen. Die gesamte Subkultur Europas schob sich durch Gänge, stieg mehrreihig Treppen hoch und runter, wandelte auf Galerien und flegelte sich auf dem Boden. In der Herrentoilette stand gelbliches Wasser, darin aufgeweichte Papierrollen. Sven hatte da auf der Damentoilette weniger Probleme, auch wenn das Anstehen länger dauerte.

Die Gigs fanden in verschiedenen Sälen gleichzeitig statt. Um möglichst viele Gruppen zu sehen, waren die Besucher in ständiger Bewegung auf den Galerien zwischen den Orten, begleitet von Walgesängen und Wassermusik. John Cale spielte Klavier, das interessierte uns nicht, Johnny Thunders Gitarre, naja, o.k., aber bei Me & the Heat konnte ich mich mal wieder vergessen. Tom Mega war gut drauf, die Flaschen zersplitterten, das Blut lief. Nach seinem Knastaufenthalt führte Tom sein eigenes Resozialisierungsprogramm durch. Fiat Lux kamen nicht schlecht mit flockig hartem Pop, aber dass aus denen nichts werden würde, spürten wir schon. Psychic TV konnten wir nur durch die vollgepfropfte Saaltüre erahnen. Lauter schräges Zeugs.

Marc E. Smith von The Fall stellte in jener Nacht, die schon bis 4 Uhr gedauert hatte, seine Brix zum ersten Mal dem europäischen Festland vor, und ich denke, niemand konnte ihrer Erscheinung widerstehen. Mit teuflischem Vergnügen bearbeitete sie ihre vor den Unterleib gedrückte Gitarre, Indie-Rock hatte eine Göttin, und auch die anderen waren in Hochform und spielten nur Hits. Schon bei "Lay of the Land" pogote der völlig überfüllte Saal im Viereck. Svens Brüste platzten.

Mit dem Gefühl, einem historischen Ereignis beigewohnt zu haben, verließen wir verschwitzt in der Morgendämmerung den Ort des Geschehens. Was konnte jetzt noch kommen? Zum Beispiel, dass das Parkhaus, in dem unser Gefährt stand, geschlossen hatte. Wie jeden Sonntag. Sven wurde hysterisch und keifte herum. Als Mädchen durfte er das endlich einmal, wie er fand. Ich schob ihn erst einmal in den nahe gelegenen Bahnhof, wo sich Hunderte andere Konzertgänger wärmten und auf die ersten Züge warteten. Ihre Gesichter waren bleich, ihre Blicke ausgelaugt, frisierte Haare hingen ungeordnet nach unten. Svens Kosmetik war zerlaufen zu einem wilden Design schwarzer und roter Farbe. Mehr Peter Murphy als Greta Garbo. Er war nun völlig fertig. Niemals würde er aus dieser Stadt wegkommen. Nie wieder würde er ein "Rockkonzert" besuchen.

Nach einiger Zeit fand ich am Parkhaus eine Notklingel, die einen Nachtwächter weckte, der mir für 25 Gulden die Schranke öffnete. Ausnahmsweise.

Übermütig stellte ich das Dafomobil neben dem für Fahrzeuge gesperrten Bahnhofseingang ab, drückte ein paar Mal die markante Hupe, bis Sven aus der Halle gelaufen kam. Wütend. Entgeistert. Zu Atem gekommen, berichtete er: Hatte sich doch – endlich! – ein Junge für ihn interessiert. Manche mögens heiß.

Auszug aus dem Romanfragment "Zeittotschlaeger", copyright Klaus Wittmann

Klaus / Hamburg

Impressions 1983

2011-02-27T18:20:00.004+07:00

Bouncer at Pandora's 83, wearing a shirt saying "oppasser" (caretaker)

Entrance to one of the halls

View from behind the ticket booth (all photos Vinyl Magazine 1983/9)

Phenomena 1983

2011-02-27T18:19:00.002+07:00

Opening Pandora's box... (Vinyl magazine 1983/9)

Visitors 1983

2011-02-27T01:25:00.011+07:00

"Night mayor of Rotterdam" Jules Deelder, with (I think) Bart Chabot at Pandora's 83. Unknown if either of them performed or if they only visited.

All photos taken from Vinyl magazine number 9, 1983.

Photos 1985

2010-04-21T21:50:00.006+07:00

Jeroen was kind enough to send me some scans of photos taken by his late brother Marcel Snoek at Pandora's 85. Unfortunately, we do not recognize some of the artists. Please let me know if you know who these people are. Huge thanks to Jeroen!

Phenomena 1985

2010-04-21T21:13:00.002+07:00

Photo from Sounds (26 October 1985) depicting the "blue liquid bar". These excerpts from the review describes this and various other phenomena: "There she was, standing in a fishtank of blue liquid which she dispensed into cups while miming to songs from West Side Story. [...] the old man herding sheep through the foyer [...] A row of vacant hospital beds stared back, clinically."

This is not the First Aid station, but rather the Emergency Ward - one of Pandora's 85's phenomena (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

Phenomena 1984

2009-11-05T16:32:00.003+07:00

In 1984, Pandora's "phenomena" included a visit from a pseudo Dutch Royal family and a large group of card-playing elderly... The whole setting was transformed into a building site in which the Dutch fifties traditions were recreated. Sounds of pile driving were heard throughout the building, alternated with 30 year old song fragments.

The back of a flyer handed out during the festival listing all (or at least most of) those responsible for the phenomena (thanks to Surfling). It also lists the rather corny new names of the various halls:
- Maasvlakte (previously Large Hall)
- Dwingelose Heide (previously Small Hall)
- Snelweg (previously Garage Box)
- Simpelveld (previously Mini Box)

Ein Abend in Wien

2009-09-24T13:07:00.003+07:00

The concept of Pandora's Music Box was resurrected in 1991 for a one-of festival at the same location under the moniker "Ein Abend in Wien". If and when I have time, I'll start uploading any info I have on http://ein-abend-in-wien.blogspot.com

Photo Phenomenon

2009-09-24T13:06:00.006+07:00

Stub

Photo information flyer (thanks Surfling)

Front of photo ticket (thanks Surfling)

Back of photo ticket (thanks Surfling)

Glasses provided by Oor magazine (thanks Surfling)

What's this? Pandora's entry. They took a picture of every visitor of the festival. There were rumours that they would launch these photos into space. Guess they didn't. When I asked them for a duel they agreed. (http://www.itlooksdifferent.com/?id=79)

Photo information sheet, detailing the purpose and procedures of the whole photo phenomenon. If and when I have time, I might try to find out what happened to the photos.

Kiem (Klank Improvisatie Elektronische Muziek)

2009-09-24T13:05:00.027+07:00

Rotterdams trio opgericht in 1982 uit de resten van Willy Nilly. Meest opvallend is de metalen drumkit van Meurs. Met de single The Moneyman wordt een hit in een aantal Zuid-Europese landen gescoord. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/kiem.1374.html)
Due to various problems with saxophone player Jos Valster, and the subsequent hassle of having to recruit and train yet another sax player, core members Cees and Huub decided to dismantle Kiem in 1987 (http://www.kiemrotterdam.nl/kiemrotterdam/category/about/)

Scheduled

Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Grote Box", 03:15-04:00

Line up

Cees Meurs – drums; Huub Kentie – keyboards, vocals; Ger van Voorden – saxophone

Set list

01 Soundcheck / Pili pili

02 Intro Ger Sax

03 Request to obtain

04 Metal drums FX (Cees IJzermans)

05 Behind

06 The real it

07 The money man

08 Short memories

09 It's working

Recordings

I have a lossy (mp3, 192kbps) radio recording of the full gig, 48'24" total. Get it here, on the band's website: http://www.kiemrotterdam.nl/kiemrotterdam/kiem-pandoras-music-box-1984-de-doelen-rotterdam-sep-22th-1984/

The gig was also (partially) recorded and broadcast on Dutch NOS television, view "It's working" it here as well as an interview conducted by Dutch legend Hennie Vrienten of Doe Maar fame (http://www.kiemrotterdam.nl/video/html/Pandora1984.html).

Other info
In drie uur tijd wordt het debuutalbum opgenomen. De korte opnametijd zorgt voor het spontane karakter van de muziek, maar de composities zijn wat te eenzijdig en kennen te weinig verschuivingen in ritme en sfeer. De plaat wordt tamelijk enthousiast ontvangen en dat levert de groep een aantal optredens bij opvallende gelegenheden op. Zo staat het drietal eerst op het Tegentonen festival in mei in Paradiso, in de zomer volgt het North Sea Jazz Festival en in september mag de band als afsluiter van het Rotterdamse festival Pandora's Music Box fungeren in een goed gevulde grote zaal van de Doelen. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/kiem.1374.html)

Article from festival booklet

Pete Shelley

2009-09-24T13:05:00.023+07:00

Pete Shelley (born Peter Campbell McNeish, 17 April 1955 in Leigh, Greater Manchester) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks. His stage name is a combination of his real first name and the name he would have been given had he been born female. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Shelley)

Scheduled

Saturday 22 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 01:00-01:45

Line up

Unsure, but XL1 was recorded with this line up: Pete Shelley - vocals, guitar; Barry Adamson - bass; Martin Rushent - keyboards; Jim Russell - drums.

According to a review in Het Vrije Volk, Shelley had a four-piece backing band, in which Adamson is certain to have played.

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Richard Strange

2009-09-24T13:04:00.008+07:00

Richard Strange (born January 1951) is a British musician, actor, writer and composer. In 1975 he fronted the protopunk rock band Doctors of Madness. Strange has made films with Tim Burton, Neil Jordan, and Martin Scorsese, and appeared in several episodes of the successful comedy Men Behaving Badly playing the part of Neville the stoned hippy.

In 1981, Strange released the album "The Phenomenal Rise of Richard Strange" on Virgin Records.

In 1986, another song, "Damascus", got first released on 12'' maxi vinyl on both the Belgian Another Side and the German WEA labels.

In 2002, Strange’s autobiography, "Punks and Drunks and Flicks and Kicks" was published. Strange played the role of an Abraham Lincoln impersonator in Harmony Korine's 2008 film, Mister Lonely. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_strange)

Scheduled

Line up

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Strangest thing

Strange visited Cambodia in 2008 but I didn't get to meet him...

Chris Bailey

2009-09-24T13:04:00.005+07:00

Chris Bailey is the co-founder and singer of rock band The Saints. He was born in Nanyuki, Kenya in 1959 to Irish parents. Bailey grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland until the age of seven, when his family emigrated to Australia. The Saints were formed in Australia in 1974. Their first hit was in the UK with the classic punk anthem "(I'm) Stranded". The band slowly evolved toward a more sophisticated sound on their next few albums. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Bailey)

Scheduled

Line up

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

The Fur Bible

2009-09-24T13:03:00.007+07:00

Very short lived project with Kid Congo Powers (his first attempt at singing) and Patricia Morrison after the Gun Club disintegrated. Released only one EP "Plunder the Tombs" in 1985, produced by Jim Thirlwell (aka Clint Ruin aka Foetus).

Scheduled
Saturday 12 October 1985, "Small Hall", 22:45-23:30

Line up
Kid Congo Powers – guitar, vocals; Patricia Morrison – bass; Murray Mitchell – guitar (and saxophone?) ; Desparate (Peter Kablaen)– drums

Set list
01 Unknown

02 Headbolt

03 Unknown

04 Unknown (cut)

Recordings
I have a lossless (flac) radio recording of the above 4 tracks. Unfortunately, it's in mono.

Other info
Morrison and Powers played Pandora’s 1984 with the Gun Club, Desperate joined them shortly after Pandora's 84. Mitchell was an ex-roadie (and occasional guitar player) with Siouxsie & the Banshees who had played Pandora's 83. Gun Club main man Jeffrey Lee Pierce also played Pandora’s as the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Quartet.

Article from festival booklet

Article from Oor (1985-20)

The 77's

2009-09-24T13:02:00.004+07:00

The 77s (alternatively spelled The Seventy Sevens or The 77's) are an American rock band. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_77s)

Scheduled

Line up

Michael Roe - vocals, guitar; Mark Tootle - keyboards, guitar; Jan Eric Volz - bass; Aaron Smith - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

The group's video (and future show stopper) Mercy Mercy was aired on MTV. In Europe, where Polygram released the album, the group played festivals and showcases like the Pandora's Music Box festival, and videos aired on Music Box, the continent's equivalent to MTV. (http://www.shoutlife.com/the77s)

Shockheaded Peters

2009-09-24T13:01:00.003+07:00

Shockheaded Peters revolves around Karl Blake (born: December 5, 1956; Reading, Berkshire, England), vocalist, bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work with The Lemon Kittens, Danielle Dax, Sol Invictus, Current 93 and Gaë Bolg. Other past projects include Alternative TV, The Underneath, Evil Twin, British Racing Green, Blake Sabbath and solo work. Most of his work can be described as progressive-experimental and sometimes psychedelic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Blake)

Scheduled

Line up

Karl Blake - vocals; Simon Moon - guitar; David Cadbury-Knight - guitar; Simon Shearston - bass; Trevor Reidy - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Article from Oor (1985-20)

24 years ago this month at Pandora's Music Box 1985 - Rotterdam. I was the bassist in "Shockheaded Peters". Got drunk with many of them that weekend - we were all in the same hotel. Met some very nice people in Sonic Youth, The Cult and Nico. A great memory. Anyone remember some of the legends in this line-up? (Escribano, http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=117975&appid=8&p=&mpage=1&key=&tmode=&smode=&s=#118903)

Screaming Blue Messiahs

2009-09-24T13:00:00.007+07:00

The Screaming Blue Messiahs were a rock band, formed in 1983 in London by Bill Carter, Chris Thompson and Kenny Harris. The three had played together previously as The Small Brothers, and Thompson and Carter had formed part of Motor Boys Motor, together with Tony Moon on vocals, recording several tracks under that name on 24 August 1981 for John Peel's show on BBC Radio 1. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screaming_Blue_Messiahs)

Scheduled

Line up

Bill Carter - vocals, guitar; Chris Thompson - bass, vocals; Kenny Harris - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Billy Carter on stage at Pandora's 85 (http://www.itlooksdifferent.com/index.cfm?id=78)

Yeah, they were great. If I recall, they went on just before us - which helped to warm the place up. (Escribano (bass player with Shockheaded Peters), http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=117975&appid=8&p=&mpage=1&key=&tmode=&smode=&s=#118903)

Theme from Pandora's Music Box 84

2009-05-14T21:11:00.007+07:00

Following the vinyl 12" in 1983, Mojo Concerts produced a short film (5 minutes) as the theme to Pandora's Music Box 1984.

The Dutch film database lists it, here: http://nfdb.akris.nl/nfdb/servlet/FrameSetter?lang=nl&cols=2&url=search&target=col1&action=search_simple_film&words=pandora%27s&way=and

"Film-clip naar aanleiding van '1984' van Gerge [sic] Orwell, met als rode draad een invalide meisje, dat samen met Big Brother door een bepaalde sfeer wordt gereden. Komt onder meer terredcht [sic] op een ereslagveld van popartiesten."

According to Eastbird, the music was again performed by the Music Box Orchestra and written by Berry Visser & Michel Waisvisz. The movie has funeral scenes, a lady dancing amongst gravestones, burning crosses for John Lennon, Jesus Christ, Chas Elliot and many more dead pop artists. Eventually the lady turns to drink?

Reviews 1985

2009-04-21T16:42:00.009+07:00

Review in German fanzine Bierfront (1985/5) - many thanks to Klaus!

Cover and review in Sounds magazine (26 October 1985).

Paisley Underground

2009-01-08T11:44:00.007+07:00

After the Dream Syndicate played Pandora's in 1984, there was special attention in 85 for the Paisley Underground movement which had a number of bands playing at Pandora's: the Rain Parade, Green on Red, the Long Ryders and also the Dutch Fatal Flowers.

The whole Los Angeles "scene" was captured in a family tree documenting the ties between the bands:

Los Angeles Paisley Undergound scene in 1985 (Oor, 1985/20)

Article in festival booklet

Festival booklet 1985

2009-01-08T11:02:00.003+07:00

Cover of the official festival booklet

Introduction by Gerard J. Walhof

Soft Verdict

2009-01-08T10:27:00.005+07:00

Soft Verdict is the name under which Wim Mertens started his musical career. Soft Verdict is not a band but more a collection of musicians under the direction of Mertens who performed with him. (http://www.discogs.com/artist/Soft+Verdict)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Dance Box", 02:00 - 02:45

Line-up

Unknown

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

The Adventures

2009-01-08T10:25:00.003+07:00

The Adventures were a rock band formed in Belfast in the 1980s who moved to London where they had hits in the UK Singles Chart during the 1980s. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Dance Box", 00:45 - 01:30

Line-up

Terry Sharpe - vocals; Eileen Gribben - vocals; Gerry "Spud" Murphy - guitar, percussion; Pat Gribben - guitar; Tony Ayre - bass; Paul Crowder - drums

Set list

Unknown

Recordings

Unknown

Tickets 1985

2009-01-08T09:15:00.008+07:00

Used ticket for Friday night (thanks Surfling)

Unused Press and Guests ticket for Friday night

And another unused Press and Guest ticket for Friday Night

Used ticket for Saturday night (thanks Surfling)

Unused ticket for Saturday night

Festival booklet 1984

2009-01-08T08:28:00.007+07:00

Front cover of the official 1984 festival booklet

Introduction by Joost Niemöller

Fiat Lux

2009-01-08T08:18:00.005+07:00

Fiat Lux was an english synthpop band formed in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, in 1982, by Steve Wright (vocals) and Dave Crickmore (guitars, bass, keyboards). Ian Nelson (sax, keyboards), younger brother of Be Bop Deluxe guitarist and lead vocalist Bill Nelson, joined shortly afterwards, complementing the classic line-up of the band, who remained until the mid 1980s, when Crickmore departed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Lux_(band))

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 22:30 - 23:15

Line-up
Steve Wright – vocals; David P Crickmore – keyboard, guitar; Ian Nelson – sax, keyboards, clarinet; a tape recorder...?

Set list
01 Photography
02 No more proud
03 The moments
04 Boundary
05 Comfortable life
06 Secrets

Recordings
I have a lossless (flac) recording of tracks 01 - 06 (total time 21'06"), taken from a radio broadcast

Other info
Ian Nelson joined the Sound (also on Pandora's 84) on saxophone for the tour to support their Heads & Hearts album a few months later, from March 1985.

Article from festival booklet

The March Violets

2009-01-07T14:58:00.005+07:00

The March Violets were an English goth rock band in the 1980s, incorporating singers of both sexes, drum machine rhythms and echoey electric guitar, much in the way of scene mates The Sisters of Mercy, who also originated from the city of Leeds. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_March_Violets)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Dance Box", 22:15 - 23:00
Last minute addition to the program, may have replaced Belfegore who do not appear on the timetable published in Oor.

Line-up
Simon Denbigh – vocals; Cleo Murray – vocals; Tom Ashton – guitars; Laurence Elliott – bass; Travis – drums

Set list
01 Lights go out

02 Snake dance

03 Deep

04 Electric shades

05 Love in a nightmare

06 Don't take it lightly

07 Face of the dragonfly

08 Big soul kiss

09 Walk into the sun

10 Rich city

Recordings
An audience recording exists (http://www.marchviolets.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=9)

Other info

Replaced Belfegore who were cancelled.

Johnny Thunders

2009-01-07T14:50:00.012+07:00

Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr (July 15, 1952 - April 23, 1991), was a rock and roll guitarist and singer, first with the New York Dolls, the proto-punk glam rockers of the early '70s. During the late '70s, he was a familiar figure on the New York punk scene, both with The Heartbreakers and as a solo artist. His screeching, penetrating guitar sound is distinctive and highly influential in punk rock music. Thunders tangled with the demons of fame along with alcohol and drug addiction. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Thunders)

Scheduled

The final timetable, handed out during the festival, shows Johnny Thunders twice: Friday, 21 September 1984, "Grote Box", 03:00 - 04:00 Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Mini Box", 21:45 - 22:30

Line-up

Saturday's show was a solo performance. The Friday show lineup is uncertain. Up to September 16th, Johnny has played shows in Scandinavia with Billy Rath on bass and Jerry Nolan on drums; in October he forms a new band with Dick Trueman on guitar, Keith Yon on bass and Terry Chimes on drums. It's unclear what the situation was at Pandora's Music Box: they could have both been solo performances. (http://johnnythundersinfo.blogspot.com/)

Set list

01 The wizard

02 Play with fire

03 Ask me no questions

04 She's so strange

05 It's not enough

Recordings

I have a lossless (flac) recording of the above 5 tracks, recorded on Saturday evening, taken from a radio broadcast.

Other info

Correctly listed twice in Thunders' gigography: 09/21 Pandoras Box, Rotterdam, Netherlands (Nomads, Gun Club) 09/22 De Doelen Rotterdam, Netherlands (http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~take-4/JTGigographyLeft.html)

Thunders on stage at Pandora's 84 (Spex 1984/11)

The Legendary Pink Dots

2009-01-07T14:21:00.004+07:00

The Legendary Pink Dots (LPD) are an Anglo-Dutch experimental rock band formed in London in August 1980. Although far outside the mainstream (in terms of their music and career path), LPD have released more than 40 albums, have a devoted worldwide following, and tour frequently. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_Pink_Dots)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Small Hall", 22:25 - 23:10

Line-up
Edward Ka-Spel – vocals, keyboards; The Silverman (Phil Knight) – keyboards; rest unknown

Set list

01 The heretic

02 Mmmmmmmm

03 City ghosts

04 Femme mirage (feat. Julia Niblock)

05 I am the way, the truth, the light

06 (early cut)

(http://people.zeelandnet.nl/sveingold/boots/)

Recordings
A recording exists. I've seen it being listed twice, possibly because of late start:
10/11/85: Rotterdam / De Doelen
10/12/85: Rotterdam / Pandora's Club

Other info

Article from festival booklet

The Rain Parade

2009-01-07T14:11:00.012+07:00

The Rain Parade were a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Its founding members were Matt Piucci (guitar) and brothers David Roback (guitar) and Stephen Roback (bass guitar),who had been in a band called The Unconscious with Susanna Hoffs (who went on to lead the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands, The Bangles.) The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Parade)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Small Hall", 03:10 - 04:10

Line-up
Matt Piucci - guitar; David Roback - guitar; Stephen Roback - bass guitar; Will Glenn - keyboards, violin; Eddie Kalwa - drums
Maybe David had left already to join Opal with Kendra Smith (ex-Dream Syndicate).

Set list
Unknown. They are joined on stage by Green on Red for the finale of their set.

Recordings
It's unknown whether any audio recordings exist.

Fragment of the Rain Parade together with Green on Red at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Article from Oor (1985/20)

Me & the Heat

2009-01-07T13:35:00.007+07:00

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 23:45 - 00:15

Line-up
Tom Meger (aka Tom Mega) – vocals; Bernd Krämer – guitar, trumpet; Nico Hesselbach – keyboards; Reinhard Falk – bass; A.G. (Achim Grebien) – drums, sax; Blaine L. Reininger – guest vocals on “What use?”

Set list
01 Old cultures dying
02 New clear reality
03 Naked bodies shouting
04 What use? (Tuxedomoon cover)
05 Where has my love gone

Recordings
I have a lossless (flac) radio recording of tracks 01 - 05, total time 27'44". According to the timetable, Me & the Heat were allocated only 30 minutes, possibly making this the complete show.

Other info
Ik heb ze destijds (midden jaren 80) gezien op het Pandora festival in Rotterdam en maakte ook op mij diepe indruk. – Brolin (http://www.musicmeter.nl/album/24107)

Article from festival booklet

Article from Vinyl Magazine (1984/12) discussing Me & the Heat at Pandora's

Blaine L. Reininger

2009-01-07T13:24:00.005+07:00

Multi-instrumentalists Blaine Reininger and Steven Brown, then two students of electronic music at San Francisco City College, formed Tuxedomoon in 1977. In 1983 Reininger left the group in order to pursue a solo career.

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Mini Box", 00:45 - 01:45

Line-up
Unknown, but Mr. Reininger has his violin with him and the drum machine is working

Set list
01 Night air
02 Paris au temps
03 Ash and bone
04 Mistery and confusion
05 Broken fingers

Recordings
I have a lossless (flac) recording of tracks 01 - 05 (total time 23'01"), taken from a radio broadcast. Should be complete broadcast, surely incomplete concert.

Other info
Blaine guested on vocals during What Use? (written by him) during the Me & the Heat show earlier that evening.

Pandora's Music @ Box.net

2008-11-20T12:42:00.002+07:00

A surprisingly little number of the Pandora's shows has ever been officially released. To the best of my knowledge, nothing from 83 was released. From 84, 7 songs have shown up on the Gun Club's Danse Kalinda Boom, and 2 songs as bonus tracks on the rerelease of the Sound's In The Hothouse. From 85, only 2 songs appeared as bonus tracks on the rerelease of Jeffrey Lee Pierce's Wildweed, and Nico's full show was released as Behind The Iron Curtain. And that's about it so far...

Beggars Archive is currently preparing a (partial?) release of the Fall's 84 show as bonus disc for the rerelease of their The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall.

I'll be uploading the recordings that I have to the Box.net widget in the right hand frame over the next couple of weeks. They are encoded as mp3's at a relatively low bitrate, to ensure quick loading. If you're interested in having a high quality mp3 or lossless (flac) copy of the files, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.

Uploaded so far:

1983
Armoury Show, Danse Society, Die Haut with Nick Cave, Fad Gadget, Jah Wobble & the Invaders of the Heart, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Skeleton Crew, SPK, W.A.T.

1984
Anne Clark, Anti Group, Billy Bragg, Blaine L. Reininger, Bronski Beat, Claw Boys Claw, Fiat Lux, Icicle Works, Me & the Heat, Palais Schaumburg, Shriekback, Tom Verlaine

1985
Chris Isaak, Echo & the Bunnymen, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Festival booklet 1983

2008-04-28T22:30:00.005+07:00

Each year, the Dutch magazine Vinyl published the official festival booklets in the edition preceding the weekend.

Front cover of the official festival booklet. Note: the photo features the same models and car as the front cover of the Theme from Pandora's Music Box 12"...

Introduction by Joost Niemoller

Tickets 1984

2008-04-28T22:22:00.007+07:00

Used ticket for Friday night

Unused ticket for Friday night (can you imagine: unused!)

Unused ticket for Saturday night

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

2008-04-28T21:32:00.011+07:00

Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his work in the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and his fascination with American music and its roots. He has a reputation, which he disowns, for singing dark, brooding songs which some listeners regard as depressing. His music is characterised by intensity, high energy and a wide variety of influences. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Cave)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Big Hall", 02:40 - 03:40

Line-up
Nick Cave – vocals; Blixa Bargeld – guitars, vocals; Mick Harvey – guitar; Barry Adamson – bass; Thomas Wydler – drums

Set list
01 Avalanche
02 Tupelo
03 Well of misery
04 Sad dark eyes
05 Blind Lemon Jefferson
06 Wanted man
07 Say goodbye to the little girl tree
08 Knocking on Joe
09 Train long suffering
10 Saint Huck
11 I put a spell on you
12 Mutiny in heaven

Recordings
This show has been extensively bootlegged over the years, but never officially released. Tracks 01 – 12 were on the bootleg LP (and later CD) Pandora’s Misery (complete audience, PMB 131085 (FR,198?)), 03 – 11 were released on the bootleg CD's He Put A Spell On Us (incomplete radio broadcast, Wild Angel records -NCCD2 (NL,1992)). The release is wrongfully credited as being recorded in Amsterdam, 1984. It is in fact Pandora's 1985. The same tracks were also released as In Funeral Night (incomplete radio broadcast, BRX 007).
I have a lossless (flac) copy of He Put A Spell On Us.

Front cover of (CD version of) Pandora's Misery

Front cover of In Funeral Night

Front cover of He Put A Spell On Us

Other info
Both Bargeld and Harvey played Pandora's 85 twice: Bargeld was also in Einsturzende Neubauten, Harvey also played in Crime & the City Solution.

Nick Cave on stage at Pandora's 1985 (http://www.fromthearchives.com/nc/chronology.html)

Nick Cave on stage at Pandora's 1985 (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

On stage at Pandora's 85 (Sounds 26 October 1985)

Article from festival booklet

Eric Brus descibes his experiences of the show in literary magazine Passionate, issue 3, May/June 1997. (http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_pas002199701_01/_pas002199701_01_0051.htm)

Poster 1985

2008-02-22T15:38:00.005+07:00

Poster for Pandora's 1985

Richard Hell

2007-12-11T14:58:00.000+07:00

Richard Hell (born October 2, 1949) is the professional name of Richard Meyers, an American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist and writer. He is probably best-known as frontman for the early punk rock band Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album, Blank Generation, influenced many other punk bands. The title song is ranked as one of the all-time top ten punk songs by a 2006 poll of original British punk figures, as reported in the Rough Guide to Punk. Hell was an originator of the punk fashion look, the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins.
Since the late eighties Hell has devoted himself primarily to writing, publishing two novels, as well as several other books. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_hell)

… compere and poems …

com·pere (kŏm'pâr') Chiefly British
n.
The master of ceremonies, as of a television entertainment program or a variety show.

po·em (pō'əm)
n.
1. A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme.
2. A composition in verse rather than in prose.
3. A literary composition written with an intensity or beauty of language more characteristic of poetry than of prose.
4. A creation, object, or experience having beauty suggestive of poetry.

Other info
Before his time with the Voivods, Hell was in Television with his childhood friend Tom Verlaine (who played Pandora's 84). When he quit/was fired from Television he started the Heartbreakers, together with Johnny Thunders (also on Pandora's 84).

Announcements 1983

2007-12-11T10:46:00.002+07:00

First announcement in Oor magazine 1983/14

Second announcement in Oor magazine 1983/15

Third announcement in Oor magazine 1983/16

First Mojo advertisement for Pandora's 83 in Oor magazine 1983/16

Fourth announcement in Oor magazine 1983/17

Second Mojo advertisement in Oor magazine 1983/17

Third Mojo advertisement in festival booklet

Announcements 1984

2007-12-11T10:42:00.000+07:00

Announcement in Oor magazine 1984/16

Announcements 1985

2007-12-11T10:36:00.001+07:00

First announcement in Vinyl 1985/7+8

Second announcement in Vinyl 1985/9

First announcement in Oor magazine 1985/17

Second announcement in Oor magazine 1985/18

Third announcement in Oor magazine 1985/19

Fatal Flowers

2007-12-11T09:58:00.001+07:00

Amsterdamse rockband die in de tweede helft van de jaren tachtig de belangrijkste exponent is van de 'Amsterdamse gitaarschoolen één van de beste Nederlandse groepen van het decennium. Meest bekende bandlid is de dromerig ogende voorman Richard Janssen, die met zijn melancholische blik de harten van vele vrouwen sneller doet kloppen. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/fatal_flowers.514.html)
One of the most important Dutch rock bands of latter part of the eighties that spearheaded the 'Amsterdam guitar sound'. (http://www.hollandrocks.nl/bio/bz514.html)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 21:00 - 21:50 (time slot shared with L'Attentat)

Line up
Richard Janssen – guitar, vocals; Dirk Heuff – guitar; Marco Braam – bass; Henk Jonkers – drums

Set list
00 Billy

00 Little man

00 Crying over sin

01 Rip off
02 It's all over now, baby blue
03 Billy
04 Little man
05 Cryin' over sin
06 We thought they loved you
07 One track mind (together with L’Attentat)
(http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_sessie.html)

Recording
Tracks 01 - 06 were recorded and broadcast on radio. Catch the stream here: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/programmas/afleveringen/7733247

Other info
L'Attentat shared a timeslot with the Fatal Flowers. The Fatal Flowers started off, after half an hour L'Attentat joined them for one song and then finished their set alone.

Een succesvol jaar wordt in stijl afgesloten met een legendarisch concert op 12 november tijdens het Pandora Festival in Rotterdam, waar de band in een half uurtje door een set nummers raast. (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/frameFF.html)

De slagwerkgroep Paleis van Boem, de trashformatie l’Attentat en de gitaarband Fatal Flowers zijn dit jaar de Nederlandse Inbreng op Pandora’s Music Box op 11 en 12 oktober in de Rotterdamse Doelen. Opvallend is de uitverkiezing van het Amsterdamse Fatal Flowers. De groep bestaat pas een half jaar en heeft slechts zo'n veertig keer opgetreden. "Een teken dat we op de goede weg zijn," zegt manager Jan Knuivers. De uitdrukking “wat goed is, komt snel" is zeker op Fatal Flowers van toepassing. De band wist al spoedig na de oprichting een contract los te peuteren bij de platengigant WEA. (Algemeen Dagblad, 29 september 1985) (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_pandora2.html)

Fatal Flowers are playing at Pandora's Music Box at 9pm on the 12th. The Festival is on for two days (October 11 and 12) with concerts starting at about llpm and going on until 4am. Both days were sold out last year with some 4,000 people attending each night. De Doelen Complex, Schouwburgplein 50, Rotterdam (010-132490). (gedeelte uit een artikel over Pandora oktober 1985) (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_pandora.html)

Terug naar de jaren '60
AMSTERDAM - "Wat goed is komt snel," zo luidt het spreekwoord. Dat is van toepassing op de hoofdstedelijke rockgroep Fatal Flowers. Negen maanden geleden bestond de formatie nog niet, ruim vijf maanden later lag de eerste titelloze mini-elpee al in de winkels.
Fatal Flowers is één van de vier Nederlandse afgevaardigden op de derde editie van het Rotterdamse popfestival Pandora's Music Box. Weliswaar moet de groep de toebedeelde vijftig minuten speeltijd delen met de eveneens uit Amsterdam afkomstige L'Attentat, toch is het een stuk erkenning. "Pandora is een heel goed initiatief," zegt Richard Janssen, de gitarist en zanger van Fatal Flowers. "Er zijn veel groepen te horen die normaal niet in zo'n grote zaal spelen en dus niet zoveel publiek bereiken als op Pandora."
"Ik denk dat Fatal Flowers aardig aansluit bij de lijn van Pandora en daarom ook voor het festival is gevraagd. De gitaar staat bij de nieuwe groepen weer in het middelpunt van de belangstelling. Dat zie je bij Fur Bible, Green On Red, The Long Ryders, maar ook bij L'Attentat en bij ons. Al zijn die groepen niet identiek aan elkaar, er zijn wel overeenkomsten."
Fatal Flowers maakt inderdaad gitaarrock. Het viertal grijpt daarbij terug naar de muziek uit de jaren zestig, van The Byrds, Neil Young en alle andere groten. Toch streeft de groep een eigen geluid na. Fatal Flowers speelt tijdens concerten behalve eigen materiaal, nummers van Jimi Hendrix en Bob Dylan, twee heel verschillende artiesten.
"Dat zijn twee extremen," zegt Richard Janssen. "Die nummers kun je alleen op het podium naar elkaar toe laten groeien. Je kunt beter een paar keer op het podium onderuit gaan dan in de oefenruimte te blijven zitten. Als je iets wilt bereiken, moet je zoveel mogelijk spelen."
"Wij fixeren ons echt niet zo erg op de jaren zestig. Alles wat er na 1960 is gebeurd wordt ook meegepikt. We zijn beïnvloed door de nummers, maar niet door het geluid van die periode. Je zult ons niet zien zoeken naar twintig jaar oude versterkers. We spelen gewoon op moderne dingen."
"Ik zal morgenavond nog zenuwachtiger zijn dan ik normaal voor een optreden ben," stelt Richard Janssen. Ik wil zien hoe Fatal Flowers er internationaal voorstaat. Het is nu voor het publiek makkelijker om ons te vergelijken met buitenlandse groepen van dezelfde stroming. Een Nederlandse muzikant is in ieder geval niet per definitie stommer dan een muzikant uit Engeland of Amerika."
"Alle groepen in ons genre in Nederland hebben een gemiddelde leeftijd van 24 jaar of ouder. Er moet vlug nieuwe aanwas komen anders bloedt popmuziek dood. De popmuziek is een beetje aan het vergrijzen. Ik wacht op die jongens van een jaar of 18, 19 die een gitaar oppikken en eenvoudige nummers beginnen te schrijven. Zo zijn wij ook begonnen." (David Kleijwegt, Algemeen Dagblad 11 oktober 1985) (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_ad85.html)

Fatal Flowers in stroomversnelling
De Amsterdamse popgroep Fatal Flowers is één van de formaties die optreden op Pandora's Musicbox. De band heeft acht maanden na oprichting al veel bereikt. Ze heeft een plaat uitgebracht op het WEA-label, was uitgebreid op de VPRO-radio te horen en ze is te beluisteren op het Pandora festival. Geluk of kwaliteit?
Op hun gelijknamige mini-elpee maken de vier heren melodieuze popmuziek. Nummers met pakkende refreinen en mooie zang. Herkenbare pop die duidelijk haar wortels heeft in de zestiger jaren. Heel aangrijpend is het nummer Billy, dat eind september op single uitkomt.
Fatal Flowers onderscheidt zich van stadgenoten Claw Boys Claw door een veel gepolijster geluid. Daarvoor is zeker producer Craig Leon medeverantwoordelijk. Leon produceerde eerder platen van de Amerikaanse rocker Moon Martin.
'Fatal Flowers is op de juiste tijd met de juiste muziek begonnen', vertelt manager Jan Kluivers. Daarnaast heeft de groep mazzel gehad. Het is voor een band vaak moeilijk om op eigen kracht vooruit te komen, ook al is ze goed. De muzikanten van Fatal Flowers werden echter door de Syndicate of Melodies in huis gehaald.
Dit Syndicate is een klein Nederlands managementbureau en platen- en cassettelabel. Tevens haalt het buitenlandse bands naar Nederland. Contacten van de Syndicate in Amerika en bij platenmaatschappij WEA hebben de Flowers in een stroomversnelling gebracht. De sessie voor de VPRO in mei van dit jaar zou, volgens Kluivers, eveneens via via tot stand zijn gekomen.
Het managementbureau heeft zelf ook veel geluk gehad. De Syndicate stelde in 1977 weinig voor. Totdat de aan hen verbonden The Thought in 1982 plotseling populair werd in Amerika. Deze band coverde met succes I had too much to dream tonight van de Amerikaanse jaren zestig-band The Electric Prunes. Door het geld dat dit succes opleverde, kon de organisatie haar activiteiten uitbreiden.
De volgende stap voor Fatal Flowers is een tour door Europa. Nederland is de groep te klein geworden. (Jan Hensels, Terrazza 20 september 1985) (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_terrazza.html)

Fatal Flowers geselecteerd voor Pandora's Music Box
Onze wortels steken nog stukje in jaren zestig
BUSSUM--"We hebben gewoon mazzel gehad," zo vat Marco Braam de snelle doorbraak van de Amsterdamse rockgroep Fatal Flowers samen. Dat daar natuurlijk wel het vermogen bij komt om prachtige rockliedjes te schrijven laat hij aan het oordeel van anderen over. Met zijn halflange haar en brilletje zou de bassist vijftien jaar geleden het prototype geweest zijn van de radikale studenten-activist. Maar in 1985 is het beginnen van een rockbandje een van de meest logische dingen die je na je middelbare school kunt doen.
Zeventigduizend rockgroepen telt ons land volgens een inventarisatie die eerder dit jaar in opdracht van het ministerie van WVC werd uitgevoerd. Slechts enkele honderden daarvan treden regelmatig op en maken af en toe een plaat. De werkelijke top is op de handen van twee vingers te tellen.
Des te opmerkelijk is het verhaal van de Fatal Flowers; Een jaar geleden bestond de groep nog niet eens. Eind 1984 komen vier muzikanten, die stuk voor stuk al in verschillende bandjes gespeeld hebben, bij elkaar. Samen blijken ze toevallig 'de juiste muziek op het juiste moment' te maken. De groep wordt opgepakt door een management met 'de juiste kontakten' en een kontrakt met platengigant Warner Brothers is het gevolg.
In Chinees-Indisch Restaurant Azië, waar de groep voor aanvang van een concert in een Goois jongerencentrum nog een hapje eet, blijft Marco Braam er nuchter onder: "Van het een komt het ander. We zijn gewoon begonnen met de muziek die wij mooi vinden. Dan blijken er mensen te zijn die er net zo over denken. Daardoor ga je vaker spelen en dat is helemaal te gek. Het geld is pas de laatste sport van de ladder. Het is nu veel belangrijker dat we onze naam nog wat verder opschroeven."
Een half uur later breekt Marco voor de honderd bezoekers in het jeugdhonk al tijdens het eerste nummer een snaar. Het wordt een optreden met technische hindernissen maar met het vuur van een ouderwetse rockband. Henk Jonkers trommelt in navolging van Charlie Watts op een drumstel met slechts één tom-tom. Sologitarist Dirk Heuff oogt met zijn petje scheef op het hoofd en een sigaret aan de onderlip als een Jean Paul Belmondo-achtig schoffie. En frontman Richard Janssen is de authentieke jeans-rocker.
"Dit is rock 'n' roll," roept een van de bezoekers bijna verbijsterd uit. In een tijd dat de discodreun de popmuziek monopoliseert zijn pakkende melodieuze rocksonga zeldzaam geworden. In Amerika werpt een groeiend aantal bands (als REM, Green on Red, etc.) zich momenteel op het oude handwerk. Ook Fatal Flowers fabriceert dergelijke songs. Op hun debuutplaat zijn de nummers Fatal Flower, Midnight Train en vooral Crying over Sin liedjes van het type dat sinds de jaren zestig bijna niet meer gemaakt is.
Marco: "Ik hou van die oude muziek ja, het zou idioot zijn om dat te ontkennen. Misschien komt dat wel juist door die melodieen." Ik ben helemaal gek van melodieen." ,,Maar we willen beslist niet de jaren zestig kopieren," zigt Dirk Heuff, bang als hij is dat zijn groep weer het revival-etiket opgeplakt krijgt. "Kijk, we zijn allemaal zo rond een jaar of vierentwintig. Dan heb je het nog een beetje meegemaakt, he. De wortels steken nog een stukje in de jaren zestig. Maar we zijn net zo goed beinvloed door de reggae of de punk. En we grijpen al helemaal niet terug naar dat spirituele van de sixties."
Richard Janssen: "Na de punktijd zijn veel muzikanten aan het experimenteren geslagen. Dan krijg je op een gegeven moment geforceerde toestanden. Ten eerste verdwijnt het gevoel helemaal uit de muziek. En ten tweede wordt het vaak gepresenteerd als intellectueel of technisch hoogstaand. Onze muziek ontstaat vanuit een liedje dat iemand op z'n zolderkamertje schrijft. En daar wordt in de oefenruimte verder aan gewerkt."
"Ja, natuurlijk vind ik de oude Dylan goed. Vooral door die eenvoud. Als je wat gitaar zit te spelen en je pakt een paar akkoorden, dan denk je soms 'waar ben ik mee bezig, dit is al honderden keren gedaan'. Maar sla je dan zo'n Dylan Songbook open, dan zie je dat hij met diezelfde akkoorden wel tien liedjes geschreven heeft. En die fluit je allemaal mee, zonder dat je een moment denkt: 'Hé, alweer hetzelfde akkoordenschema'. Dat geldt ook voor de oude Stones. Heel inspirerend. Het is toch moeilijker om met drie akkoorden een song te schrijven die blijft staan, dan om met een reeks ingewikkelde jazz-grepen een fijn lopend nummer te maken. Maar nu trap ik natuurlijk een open deur in."
De song, dat is de rode draad die door ieder gesprek met de Fatal Flowers loopt. Het liedje en het melodietie. Madonna's verwelken, dubmixen vergaan maar de good old rocksong blijft bestaan. Frontman Richard Janssen: "De mensen weten gewoon niet meer hoe ze op onze muziek moeten dansen. Dat komt door die snare-terreur in de disco's. Je kunt tegenwoordig met het meest stompzinnige nummer aankomen, zolang je maar een vette Linn-drum op de afterbeat laat knallen. Dan weet iedereen wel van het rechterbeen op het linkerbeen te huppen." (Peter Bruyn, Haarlems Dagblad 15 oktober 1985) (http://home.planet.nl/~madierkx/fatalflowers/fatal_flowers_haarlem.html)

Article from festival booklet

Echo & the Bunnymen

2007-12-11T09:51:00.003+07:00

Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk group, formed in Liverpool in 1978. Their original line-up consisted of Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine assumed by many to be "Echo", though the band denies this. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_%26_The_Bunnymen)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Big Hall", 00:20 - 02:00

Line up
Ian McCullough – vocals & guitar; Will Sergeant – guitar; Les Pattison – bass; Pete de Freitas – drums

Set list
01 She cracked (Modern Lovers cover)
02 All that jazz
03 Heads will roll
04 Friction (Television cover)
05 The back of love
06 My kingdom
07 In the midnight hour (Wilson Pickett cover)
08 Angels and devils
09 It's all over now, baby blue (Bob Dylan cover)
10 Bedbugs and ballyhoo
11 The killing moon
12 The cutter
13 Villiers Terrace
14 Run, run, run (Velvet Underground cover)
15 Thorn of crowns
16 Heaven up here
17 Crocodiles
18 Soul kitchen (Doors cover)
19 Do it clean
(http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/setlists/page7.html)

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) audience recording. I also have a radio recording of tracks 05 – 10 and some more on a tape somewhere. If I remember correctly, it’s tracks 04, 14, 18 and 19, but my tapes are about 10,000 miles away so I can’t check. A radio recording of tracks also 05 - 17 exists, approx 60’.

Other info
Een fantastisch concert tijdens Pandora's Music Box [1985] in de Doelen van Rotterdam heeft destijds grote indruk op mij gemaakt. Vanaf die tijd ben ik fan en nog steeds luister ik vaak naar hun albums. (gish, http://www.musicmeter.nl/album/2637/info/117)

Big Mac (and Les Pattison) on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

Article from festival booklet

Excerpt from article from Vinyl magazine 1985/11, discussing Pandora's 85

Tex & the Horseheads

2007-12-04T11:08:00.002+07:00

One of the wilder exponents of cow-punk, Tex and the Horseheads are spiritual kin to the Gun Club. And while they lean towards a very punky image (lead singer Texacala Jones dresses like a female Stiv Bator; on the first album, the bassist's name is Smog Vomit and the drummer is Rock Vodka), their playing is fairly coherent. Mixing mutant blues (even a cover of Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man") into the first album's punk-country-rock blender, Tex and the Horseheads have a convincingly strong sound, but are a few pints short on material. (http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=tex_and_the_horseheads)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 24:00 - 01:00

Line up
Texacala Jones – vocals; Mike Martt – guitar; Greg "Smog Vomit" Boaz – bass; Rock Vodka – drums

Set list
Unknown

Recording
Unknown. The album Tot Ziens - Live in Holland (Enigma, 1986) was not recorded at Pandora's Music Box, although the picture on the front cover was taken there.

Other info

I was in the eightys at pandoras box in netherlands, huge lots of bands playing there, we looked in the program and saw - Tex and the horseheads - I haven´t known before something from these band, so we go for have a look.IT WAS THE BEST GIG on the whole festival. A concert I will never forget. Fuckn Great...!!!
The greatest gig coming out of hell on pandoras box doelen.That was fun pure (confetty, http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=27534331&albumID=0&imageID=1419076)

Article from festival booklet

Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11)

Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 with the Legendary Stardust Cowboy watching from the side (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11)

Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (Oor magazine, 1985/21)

Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo: Lex van Rossen). This picture was used on the front cover of Tot Ziens - Live in Holland.

Photographer Lex van Rossen posing in front of his favourite concert picture, showing Tex on stage at Pandora's 85.

"Nee, ik heb geen moeite mijn eigen favoriet aan te wijzen. Ik hou van deze foto van Tex and the Horseheads. Toen ik haar zag was ik meteen verkocht. Het was heel aandoenlijk: ze was heel erg dronken. Ik vind de vormen mooi: die kronkel in het snoer en die vlek op het podium. Voor mijn gevoel heb ik The Beauty en The Beast in één foto weten vast te leggen."
Erik van den Berg (OOR): "Ik heb Tex een aantal keer gezien. Dat geeft de foto voor mij een meerwaarde. Het lijkt wel of ze poseert. Maar ze ligt gewoon op het podium. Toch is het een intiem moment. En die vlek is heel rock 'n' roll. Ik vind het een sexy foto." (Lex van Rossen, http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/22455643)

Tex on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo Cor Jabaaij, http://www.corjabaaij.nl/)

John Martyn

2007-12-04T10:57:00.000+07:00

John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy on September 11, 1948 in New Malden, Surrey, England) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martyn)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 22:30 - 23:30

Line up
John Martyn – guitar, vocals; Foster Paterson – keyboards; Alan Thomson – bass

Setlist
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Willem Venema

2007-12-04T10:11:00.000+07:00

Ik heb in de loop der jaren gewerkt als stagemanager bij o.a. AVRO’s Grand Gala Du Disque, KRO’s Rocktempel, VARA’s Popzien, New Pop-Rotterdam, Schuttorf Open-Air (Duitsland), Torhout/Werchter (Belgie), Parkpop-Den Haag (van editie 0 tot heden), Pinkpop tot mijn ontslag bij Live Nation, en Metropolis-Rotterdam.
En ik was (mede-)initiator/oprichter/programmeur van “Pandora’s Music Box” midden jaren tachtig, “Ein Abend In Wien” in 1991 en “A Campingflight To Lowlands Paradise” van 1993 tot eveneens mijn ontslag bij Live Nation. (http://www.wvenema.nl/?p=64#more-64)

"Ik bemoei me met van alles." Zo heeft Venema zich in het verleden bemoeid met artiesten als Herman Brood, Claw Boys Claw, Candy Dulfer, de Heideroosjes en Urban Dance Squad. (http://3voor12.vpro.nl/3voor12/stadskanaal/deskundigen.shtml)

Of course Lowlands is partly modeled after the famous Roskilde Festival in Denmark. But its roots also go back to the hippy days of 1967, when an embryonic indoor version was held in Utrecht. Similar (indoor) pop festivals with theatrical and absurd highlights were held in Rotterdam in the 80s (Pandora’s Music Box) and early 90s (Ein Abend in Wien). Creator of these last two festivals was Willem Venema while working for Holland’s largest agency Mojo. In 1993 Venema initiated the first edition of Lowlands. It attracted nine thousand people. Nowadays around forty to sixty thousand people make the annual pilgrimage to Biddinghuizen. Many buy their tickets even before the programme is announced. For them the unique atmosphere has become a yearly must.
http://www.dutchsound.nl/page.php?pageAlias=dsnl.news&newsId=1430

Article from Oor magazine (1985/20)

Venema amid his record collection on the cover of Robert Haagsma's book Vinylfanaten (Vinyl Freaks), Spectrum, 2006. Find the complete chapter on Venema here: http://www.wvenema.nl/?p=65#more-65

Tom Verlaine

2007-11-26T15:41:00.003+07:00

Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, 13 December 1949, in Morristown, New Jersey) is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the front man for the New York rock band, Television. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Verlaine)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Grote Box", 00:00 - 01:00
Swapped timeslot with Anti Group

Line up
Tom Verlaine - vocals, guitar;

Set list
01 Rotation
02 5 Miles of you
03 Penetration
04 Dissolve/reveal
05 Kingdome come
06 Swim
07 Clear it away
08 Miss Emily
09 Marquee moon

Recording
A complete audience recording exists. Tracks 04 - 09 were broadcast on radio, as well as an interview. I have a lossless (flac) radio recording of tracks 04 - 08 (total time 27'10") and the complete audience recording (total time 65'04").

Bootleg cassette cover

Bootleg cassette (http://www.bootlegarchive.com/media_description.asp?MediaID=41501)

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Verlaine on stage at Pandora's 84 (unknown source, http://www.bootlegarchive.com/media_description.asp?MediaID=41501)

Billy Bragg

2007-11-26T14:32:00.004+07:00

Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is an English musician renowned for his blend of folk, punk-rock, and protest music, and his lyrics dealing with political as well as romantic themes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bragg)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Mini Box", 22:15 - 22:45

Line up
Billy Bragg - vocals, guitar

Set list
01 Like soldiers do (3:35)
02 The man in the iron mask (2:48)
03 The Saturday boy (5:34)
04 The milkman of human kindness (3:25)
05 Bad summer (1:33)
06 A new England (3:07)
07 Island of no return (3:59)

Also performed:
00 Richard (3:13 - performed some time before The milkman of human kindness - judging from other BB shows around this time, it's likely to have been straight after The man in the iron mask)

Recording
Two recordings are reported. The first (shortest) one is Richard plus tracks 04, 06 and 07, total time 12'58". It's released as the bootleg Pandora's Box 1984, which is most likely a CDR and not a silver disc. (http://www.braggtopia.com/musicxchange/1984-09-21-Tracks.htm)

The second (longer) recording of tracks 01 - 07 is more common, but misses Richard, total time 22'35".

I have both sets as lossless (flac) recordings taken from radio broadcasts. Combined they run close to the 30 minutes alloted to Bragg, although it's hard to believe he came out to play only 8 songs...

Catch the stream for the longer one here: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/programmas/afleveringen/7733401

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Billy Bragg on stage at Pandora's 84. Unmistakable, even without his head pictured... (Oor magazine 1984/20)

Lyres

2007-11-26T14:27:00.004+07:00

Lyres (sometimes miscredited as The Lyres) are a Boston-area alternative rock musical group led by Jeff "Monoman" Conolly. Lyres were founded in 1979 following the breakup of DMZ. Their most popular songs included "What A Girl Can't Do" and "Help You Ann". The original lineup of the band featured Rick Coraccio (bass), Ricky Carmel (guitar), and Paul Murphy (drums). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lyres)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 00:30 - 01:15

Line up
Jeff Connolly – vocals, organ; Dan McCormack – guitar; Rick Coraccio – bass; Paul Murphy – drums

Set list
01 Unknown track

02 Stacey

03 Stop, take a look at me

04 Help you Ann

05 Soapy

06 Nobody but me

Recording
I have a lossless (flac) recording of the above 6 tracks, taken from a radio broadcast, about 23 minutes in total.

The Orson Family

2007-11-26T14:14:00.000+07:00

Short-lived gothic rock band featuring sibling vocalists Vernon, Ruby and John Orson, who also played guitars and were backed by Vincent (bass) and David O. (drums).
(...) The Orson Family wasn't really a family. They were formed around 1982 in England. Vernon and Ruby lived together (they were engaged but never married). Brewster and David O. are actually the same person. They soon added a trumpet player called Kevin but nicknamed Elmer. They quoted Hank Williams, Link Wray, Bunker Hill, Vincent, Cochran, Lou Reed, The Jam as influences.
They records a self released 3 track EP, a six track mini LP The River of Desire, the 12" No-one Waits Forever, a live LP Bugles, Guitars & Amphetamine and another single The Sweetest Embrace but with another singer as Skully left/was fired soon before. (http://rideyourpony-twighlightzone.blogspot.com/2006_09_03_rideyourpony-twighlightzone_archive.html)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 23:15 - 00:00

Line up
Probably: Skully - vocals; Vernon - guitar; Ruby - guitar; Brewster - drums. Possibly with Kevin (aka Elmer) - trumpet

Set list
00 No-one waits forever

Recording
Unknown

Rose of Avalanche

2007-11-16T15:41:00.002+07:00

Formed in Leeds, early 1985, the original line up was a group of school mates, raw and wanting to take over the world with one chord songs. The name was a representation of the power and beauty of the songs. At this stage there was no drummer, just a beat box. From an early stage The Rose of Avalanche picked up a Goth tag from the UK's music press. It was some way off the mark, but it's understandable:
The Rose came from Leeds in the mid 1980's (along with the Sisters of Mercy, Mission, March Violets, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Salvation, and the Skeletal Family in near by Bradford). They started off with the standard Goth drum machine backing, and their first two singles have swirly art work covers. (http://www.geocities.com/~jamesparton/biog1.htm)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Mini Box", 21:45 - 22:25

Line up
Phil Morris – vocals; Paul James Berry – guitar; Glenn Schultz – guitar; Alan Davis – bass; drum machine (Mark Thompson joined the band on drums shortly after this gig http://www.geocities.com/~jamesparton/biog2.htm)

Set list
Unknown

Recording
No recording is known to exist according to the Rose of Avalanche site.

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Hula

2007-11-16T14:09:00.000+07:00

The Sheffield based band Hula was founded in November 1980. Three members (Mark Albrow, Alan Fish and Ron Wright) lived with Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) and Paul Widger (They must be Russians, Clock DVA, the Box) in a villa called Hula Kula. After trying the bass players Alan Watt, the notorious Chris Brain (Tense, NOS) and Mark Brydon (Chakk, Moloko), and after the replacement of Alan Fish (a.k.a. Fisch) by Nort (both drummed for the Cabs), Hula released Fever Car, which became an indie hit. Then they recorded the impressive album Murmur. Ingredients like cut ups, steady rhythms, and paranoia vocals were blended together into a unique white funky sound.
Hula recruited John Avery as a bass player. A bass player was necessary for the exciting live shows with lots of video material (Peter Care). Hula continued to bring out danceable 12 inches and more experimental albums. With this line-up Hula was more or less successful. International tours were made. Radio sessions for VPRO and John Peel were recorded and broadcasted. (http://www.soureden.com/index.htm)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Small Hall", 21:00 - 22:00

Line up
Ron Wright - guitar, vocals; Mark Albrow - keyboards, tapes; Simon Crump - saxophone; John Avery - bass, keyboards, percussion; Nort - drums, percussion

Set list
01 Get the habit
02 Torn silk (6:02)
03 Marnixstraat
04 Big heat
05 Ninth degree
06 Bad blood
07 Freeze out
08 Ghost rattle
09 Stocky
10 Walk on stalks of shattered glass
11 Cut ups
12 Interlude
13 Tear up

Recording
Catch the stream for track 02 here: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/programmas/afleveringen/5950442

Other info

Article from festival booklet

The Legendary Stardust Comboy

2007-11-16T13:38:00.003+07:00

The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, born Norman Carl Odam on October 10, 1947 in Lubbock, Texas, is an incoherent rock and roll performer who invented an early example of the genre that came to be known as psychobilly in the 1960s. While often considered a novelty artist, he considers himself a serious performer.
David Bowie has been a fan of the Legendary Stardust Cowboy, who likes to be called "The Ledge", since he heard Paralyzed. Bowie himself has said that the "Stardust" in "Ziggy Stardust" is taken from The Legendary Stardust Cowboy.
In 1985, the Dutch VPRO radio tried to re-popularise the Ledge. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_Stardust_Cowboy)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985

Line up
Uncertain, but likely: The Legendary Stardust Cowboy - guitar, vocals; Kid Congo Powers - guitar; Murray Mitchell – guitar; Patricia Morrison - bass; Desparate – drums

Recently surfaced video (see below) reveals the backing band to be Claw Boys Claw! However, at the end of the fragment, CBC bassist Bobbie hands her bass to another woman - possibly Patricia Morrison with a giant blonde hairdo/wig?

Set list
01 Indian Wallpaper

02 So mean

03-14 Unknown

The first two tracks are Claw Boys Claw, track 3 is an instrumental during which the Ledge joins them.

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) audience recording of the show.

The Ledge backed by Claw Boys Claw at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info
The Ledge appeared as surprise act at the festival, backed by Fur Bible. The Claw Boys Claw played a short warm-up set. Unknown if they were Friday or Saturday, but Saturday sounds most likely: Fur Bible played on Saturday and CBC were likely to be there to see their mates (and ex-drummer) in the Fatal Flowers and L’Attentat. They possibly played the “Mini Box” after 23:30 (when Fur Bible finished their “Small Hall” set), or after 02:00.

Also around this time the ex-Gun Club contingent appeared as the backing band to the Legendary Stardust Cowboy (of 'Paralysed' fame) on a tour of England. (http://www.furious.com/perfect/gunclub2.html)

This is not as strange as it may sound. Fur Bible came to life as a vehicle for another legendary 60’s star: Tex Perkins.

So in the meantime while we were thinking about "now what do we do?", this Dutch promoter, Willem Venema had this idea. He was working on bringing over the Legendary Stardust Cowboy – who – we all knew the song "Paralyzed." The song is a big legendary song that we all loved. He asked us, "Would you be the back-up band for this guy?" And I was like, "That 'Paralyzed' guy? Yeah, sure. That sounds great." And it was just a gig to do. I never met him. I didn't know what he might be like or anything. So he shows up – him and his manager. And he is a total kook. That guy is a total kook. Actually a little bit like Jeffrey but totally charming and loveable somehow - and very talented. It's a really untamed crazy talent, but he has his own vision and it has nothing to do with the rest of the world. And certainly I can appreciate that.
So we got a record and we learned the songs and we just ended up doing this crazy tour of Europe and it was totally fun and funny. And Patricia wore a big Dolly Parton blonde wig. It was totally campy and he was just crazy. What a nut! He did some crazy strip at the end where he stripped down to these horrible flesh-colored big underwear. And he just had all his crazy songs about UFOs and love and him "thinkin' about you while I'm sitting in a garbage can." And great songs. It was totally a gig, but I really loved it. It was a real fun thing and it really broke up this whole seriousness about The Gun Club breaking up and this thing with Tex not working out. It was like, "OK, we can be totally ridiculous." It came at the right time. (Kid Congo Powers, http://www.newyorknighttrain.com/zine/issues/1/kidbible.html)

I saw The Legendary Stardust Cowboy somewhere in the mid 80's in a club in Rotterdam, where he was accompanied with members of The Gun Club. An awesome show and nothing like anything else. The image of a (already) middle aged Ledge stripped to nothing but his underpants and (of course) cowboy boots somehow still haunts me :D. (Robert Haagsma, http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-104564.html)

The Ledge watching Tex & the Horseheads from the side of the stage at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine 1985/11)

Paleis van Boem

2007-11-16T13:31:00.000+07:00

Het Paleis van Boem bestaat uit Martin Vonk en Jaap de Weijer. Martin werd op 16 januari 1959 geboren in Rotterdam en volgde de klassieke opleiding slagwerk aan het Rotterdams Conservatorium. Jaap werd geboren op 20 mei 1959 in Wageningen en volgde de opleiding slagwerk lichte muziek aan het Rotterdams Conservatorium. Het duo heeft muziek gecomponeerd voor uiteenlopende media: toneel, dans, film, radio, televisie, maar ook voor commercials, exposities, enz. (http://www.score-magazine.nl/modules.php?name=topMusic&op=artist&idartist=38)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Small Hall", 21:00 - 21:45

Line up
Martin Vonk – drums, percussion; Jaap de Weijer – drums, percussion

Set list
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Spear of Destiny

2007-11-13T14:26:00.002+07:00

Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1983 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon (born on 3 August 1956, in Westminster, London) and bassist Stan Stammers (born on 19 May 1961). It had an ever-changing line-up through the years. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_of_Destiny_%28band%29)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Grote Zaal", 21:30 - 22:30

Line up
Kirk Brandon – guitar, vocals; Stan Stammers – bass; rest of line-up uncertain.

In early January 1983 Kirk and Stan set out to find new band members, they came in the form of Chris Bell on drums and Lascelles James on sax. (http://www.stanstammers.com/bio3.html)

Arising from the grave of bleak post-punkers Theatre of Hate, Spear of Destiny was formed in 1983 by Hate singer/guitarist Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers, also including drummer Chris Bell and saxophonist Lasettes Ames. (...) Following the group's debut, Grapes of Wrath, Bell and Ames both left, mostly due to differences of opinion with Brandon over religious issues. Two former Theatre of Hate members served as their replacements -- saxophonist John Lennard (also formerly of the Diodes) anddrummer Nigel Preston (ex-Sex Gang Children). Unsurprisingly, this lineup quickly self-destructed, just as it had with Theatre of Hate; the band was reconfigured with Brandon, Stammers, additional guitarist Alan St. Clair, drummer Dolphin Taylor (formerly of the Tom Robinson Band and Stiff Little Fingers), and keyboardist/saxophonist Neil Pyzor (formerly of Case). This lineup recorded One Eyed Jacks in 1984, which is generally regarded as their best work. (http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Spear%20of%20Destiny:1927016803:page=biography;_ylt=AuoRmCR9Y4_QpPYocjkmz.YJGbgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjE5YXBsBHNlYwNiaW8-?)

Set list
01 Forbidden planet
02 Everything you ever wanted
03 (Do you believe in the) Westworld
04 Rosy

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 - 04. Get them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070724-184639

Other info

Kirk Brandon live at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl magazine 1983/9)

Brandon used to be in Theatre of Hate with Billy Duffy who played Pandora's 83 with Death Cult.

It's possible that Spear of Destiny's line up at Pandora's included Nigel Preston on drums. He would go on to join the (Death) Cult shortly after Pandora's. According to http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Cult-Biography/566B4CAC061246AE48256B060007DC0D, Preston replaced Death Cult drummer Ray Mondo after the Futurama gig (Sunday, 4 September 1983).

Article from festival booklet

Death Cult

2007-11-13T14:02:00.002+07:00

In April 1983, Astbury teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy and formed the band "Death Cult". Duffy had previously been in The Nosebleeds, Lonesome No More and then Theatre of Hate. In addition to Astbury and Duffy, the band also included Jamie Stewart (bass) and Raymond Taylor Smith (later known as Ray Mondo) (drums), both from the Harrow, London based post-punk band, Ritual. Death Cult made their live debut in Oslo, Norway in late June 1983 and released the Death Cult EP in July 1983, then toured throughout Europe. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cult)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September, "Feestzaal", 21:00 - 22:00

Line up
Ian Astbury – vocals; Billy Duffy – guitar; Jamie Stewart – bass; Ray Mondo – drums (According to http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Cult-Biography/566B4CAC061246AE48256B060007DC0D, Mondo was replaced by Nigel Preston after the Futurama gig)

Set list
01 Ghost dance
02 Too young
03 Brothers Grimm
04 Butterfly
05 The waste of love
06 Christians
07 Gods zoo
08 A flower in the desert
09 The resurrection song
10 Horse nation

Recording
A complete audience recording of tracks 01 – 10 exists.

Other info
I seem to remember hearing that there was some confusion about who played. They were announced as “Southern Death Cult” and performing as “Death Cult” or announced as “Death Cult” and performing as “Cult”. I may have the recording somewhere and need to check if Astbury mentions this.

Duffy was previously in Theatre of Hate with Kirk Brandon, who played Pandora's 83 with his new band Spear of Destiny. It's possible that Spear of Destiny's line up at Pandora's included Nigel Preston on drums. He would go on to join Death Cult shortly after the Futurama gig (Sunday, 4 September 1983).

Death Cult also played Pandora's 85 under their new name the Cult, and (maybe) Pandora's 84. I'll get to the disputed 84 performance later on.

Article from festival booklet

Article from Zig Zag magazine (1983/11) about the fall tour through Europe. Describes Pandora's (and it's Belgian counterpart Futurama) quite extensively.

The Armoury Show

2007-11-13T13:43:00.001+07:00

The Armoury Show was a band of the 1980s. The band was named after the Armory Show, a famous 1913 modern art exhibition in New York. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Armoury_Show)
Jobson took some time to join with Russell Webb (ex-Skids), John McGeoch and John Doyle (both ex-Magazine) to form the short-lived Armoury Show, a band whose resemblance to Big Country didn't escape notice. Waiting for the Floods is not a bad album, it's just a shame Jobson had to take such a long way 'round to get back to where he started. (http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=skids)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Kleine Zaal", 22:45 - 23:45

Line up
Richard Jobson (The Captain) – vocals & guitar; John McGeoch (The Legend) – guitar & vocals; Russell Webb (Universe) – bass; John Doyle (Doylie) – drums

Set list
01 Jungle of cities
02 Still the land remains
03 Higher than the world
04 Nineteen hours
05 Ring those bells
06 The glory of love

Recording
I have a lossless (flac) radio recording of tracks 01 - 06, 26'33". Get mp3's of them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070713-180354

Other info
One of the key bands of Pandora's. Jobson and Webb were both in the Skids with Stuart Adamson who played Pandora's 83 with Big Country. McGeogh and Doyle were in Magazine with Howard Devoto (also at Pandora's 83). Whilst still a member of Magazine, McGeoch had played with other bands such as Generation X and the (also) Skids. After Magazine McGeogh had played with Siouxsie & the Banshees (also at Pandora's 83).

Article from festival booklet

Niew Hip Stilen

2007-11-13T13:31:00.001+07:00

Tegendraadse Rotterdamse jazz/popband die in de eerste helft van de jaren tachtig experimenteert met samples en computers op het podium en verschillende stijlen als jazz, punk en new wave met elkaar combineert. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/niew_hip_stilen.6186.html)

Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Feestzaal", 01:15 - 02:00

Line up
Maarten van Gent – bass, drums, guitar, percussie & vocals; Jan Willem van Mook – bass, sax, keyboards, percussion & computer; Rutger van Otterloo – sax, drums & percussion

Set list
Includes
00 Blues
00 Ice man
00 Raw beat
00 Relax yourself

Recording
Henk Madrotter sent me 12 tracks of this gig as mp3's, most of them untitled, total time 60'. This recording is longer than the allocated time for Niew Hip Stilen at Pandora's. It's unknown if this is from a radio broadcast or recorded directly from the soundboard. The audience sounds very distant, which leads me to believe it's a soundboard.

Other info
De groep staat in september op het programma van het groots opgezette festival Pandora's Music Box in de Doelen te Rotterdam. (http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/niew_hip_stilen.6186.html)

Frontman of this band was Maarten, the bald one, who used to play guitar with the legendary communist Rotterdam punkband The Rondo's... I saw Niew Hip Stilen perform live at one of those Pandora Festivals and still have the (pretty good) recordings of that.
(Madrotter, http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/09/niew-hip-stilen-heartsounds-murmers-lp.html)

Yeah, I have those recordings. Niew Hip put out a tape with those recordings along with some other material, I was actually standing in the front at that concert... I just send those recordings to the mutant-sounds blog, don't know when he (Eric) will post 'em but the sound quality was still pretty good... Frontman Maarten from Niew Hip used to play guitar in legendary Rotterdam punk band the Rondos, I still have that album, anybody still has their singles?
(Madrotter, http://433rpm.blogspot.com/2007/09/effenaar-7-compilation-1982-niew-hip.html)

Article from festival booklet

SPK

2007-11-13T13:24:00.002+07:00

SPK, formed in 1978 in Sydney, Australia, was a 1980s and early 1990s industrial music and noise music act featuring Graeme Revell, who would later go on to become a successful Hollywood movie composer. The group was formed when Revell (aka Operator) met up with Neil Hill (aka Ne/H/il). The meaning of the SPK abbreviation is deliberately unclear; the album covers suggest several different alternatives. The most well known is Sozialistisches PatientenKollektiv, but there are also others, such as Surgical Penis Klinik, System Planning Korporation and SePuKku. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPK_(band))

Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Feestzaal", 23:45 - 00:45

Line up
Sinan Leong – vocals; Graeme Revell – vocals, synthesizers, electronics, metal percussion; Derek Thompson – trumpet, keyboards, metal percussion

Set list
01 Napalm 2
02 The sandstorm method
03 Metal field
04 Metal dance
05 Walking on dead steps
06 The kill
07 Will to power

Recording
A radio recording of tracks 01 – 07 exists, approx. 45'. I have 03 and 04, 11'18". Get them here: http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070908-203849

Other info

SPK live at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl 1983/9)

Oil drum/instrument (Vinyl 1983/9)

SPK photo shoot, backstage at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl 1983/9)

Article from festival booklet

Psychic TV

2007-11-08T14:04:00.006+07:00

Psychic TV (sometimes spelt Psychick TV) or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music. The band was formed by performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and video director Peter Christopherson (after the break up of Throbbing Gristle) with Alex Fergusson, musician and producer (a key member of Alternative TV for whom Genesis had played percussion). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_tv)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 21:15 - 22:00

Line up
Not sure, but this line-up is from April...
Genesis P-Orridge – vocals, guitar; Paula P-Orridge – tapes, percussion; Alex Fergusson – guitar; John Gosling – tapes, guitar, vibraphone, percussion; Monte Cazazza – vocals, guitar? Also mentioned: Geff Rushton and Paul Reason

Set list
01 Southern comfort
02 God star
03 Unclean
04 Ov power
05 Alright
06 Jungle

Recording
Tracks 01 - 06 have been recorded, most likely from radio, and released as the bootleg LP Unclean (Paradox Records, PTV4828). (http://www.discogs.com/release/1236730)

Psychic TV RARE 12" vinyl LP: Unofficial release on 'Paradox Records' featuring live recordings of Psychic TV at 'De Doelen' Rotterdam on September 22nd 1984. Autographed by Genesis P-Orridge on front sleeve and bears embossed mark of authenticity from Genesis P-Orridge on front sleeve. Side 1: Southern Comfort, Godstar, Unclean Side 2: 'Off' Power, Allright, Jungle featuring: Alex Fergusson, Geff Rushton, John Gosling, Paula P-Orridge, Genesis P-Orridge (http://www.23net.tv/news+article.storyid+50.htm)

Dutch cassette label Korm Plastics also released tracks 01 - 04 as Live at Pandora's Music Box (Archives-2), "total playing time 30 minutes". (http://www.discogs.com/Psychic-TV-Live-At-Pandoras-Music-Box-22-09-1984/release/1500223)

I finally managed to download tracks 1 - 4, taken from the album Paramartha (Solide Sentimental 023), total time 27'44". Get them here: http://theebradmiller.blogspot.com/2007/11/psychic-tv-paramartha-1984.html

Also mentioned is a bootleg LP called Ov Power, featuring tracks 01 - 04.

Other info
... Psychic TV die voor het concert buiten voor de deur in indiasche gewaden hara krishna liedjes zongen... (Henk den Toom)

Article from festival booklet

Psychic TV live at Pandora's 84 (Oor, 1984/20)

Psychic TV live at Pandora's 84 (photo's from eBay seller wooden_dream)

Reviews 1984

2007-11-08T09:29:00.006+07:00

Review from German fanzine Bierfront (1985/1) - many thanks to Klaus!

Review from het Vrije Volk (24 September 1984, taken from KIEM website)

Review in Algemeen Daglad ( 24 September 1984, taken from KIEM website)

Review from Oor magazine (1984/20)

Review from Sounds (October 1984)

Apparently, there was also an article about Pandora's in the November issue of German magazine Spex. A websearch turned up mentionings of the Gun Club, Lyres, Nomads, Dream Syndicate, Matador, Psychic TV, Jah Wobble/Insane Fame, Opposition, March Violets and Pete Shelley. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the magazine or scans thereof. If you do, please drop me an email.

Green on Red

2007-11-07T15:29:00.002+07:00

Green on Red were an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground. Earlier records have the wide-screen psychedelic sound of first-wave desert rock, with occasional impulses toward pop mitigated by the limitations of shambolic vocalist Dan Stuart. Later records suggest a kind of broke-down American Rolling Stones. Others have called them the bastard children of Neil Young. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_on_red)

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 3:20 - 04:20

Line up
Dan Stuart – vocals, guitar; Chuck Prophet – guitar; Chris Cacavas – keyboards; Jack Waterson – bass; Keith Mitchell – drums (drummer Alex McNicol had quit on the eve of the fall ’85 tour, http://guitarbands.de/greenonredhistory.htm)

Set list

01 (Ain't It) Funny How Time Slips Away

02 That's What Dreams Were Made For

03 Black River

04 Sixteen Ways

05 Down To The Bone

06 Sea of Cortez

07 Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

08 No Free Lunch

09 Honest Man

10 This I Know

11 We Shall Overcome

12 Hair Of The Dog

13 The Drifter

14 Everybody Loves To Play The Fool

15 Down By The River

16 Gravity Talks

17 Cheap Wine

18 5 Easy Pieces

They joined the Rain Parade on stage at the end of their set.

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) audience recording.

Fragment of Green on Red joining the Rain Parade on stage for the finale of their set at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by user waaghalsrecords.

Other info

The Long Ryders

2007-11-07T09:41:00.005+07:00

The Long Ryders were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s and originally associated with a movement sometimes called the Paisley Underground. With a sound reminiscent of Gram Parsons-era Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Flying Burrito Brothers, but with a harder edge, they anticipated the alternative country music of the 1990s by a decade.

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 22:20 - 23:20

Line up
Sid Griffin – guitar, autoharp, bugle; Stephen McCarthy – guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo; Tom Stevens – bass; Greg Sowders – drums

Set list
01 Run Dusty run
02 Lights of downtown
03 Southside of the story
04 Wreck of the 809
05 Time keeps travelin'
06 Sweet mental revenge
07 Mason/Dixon line
08 Two kinds of love
09 Capturing the flag
10 I had a dream last night
11 Ivory tower
12 Final wild son
13 You just can't ride the boxcars anymore
14 State of my union
15 Tell it to the judge on Sunday
16 Lookin' for Lewis and Clark
(http://db.etree.org/lookup_show.php?shows_key=263116)

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) soundboard recording. Dutch radio broadcast some (maybe all) of it shortly after the festival.

Fragment of the Long Ryders at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info

Article form festival booklet

Butthole Surfers

2007-11-07T08:35:00.005+07:00

Butthole Surfers are an American rock band founded in 1981 by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas. The Surfers are best known for their black humor, a sound that incorporates elements of punk rock, psychedelia, heavy metal, noise rock, and electronica, as well as their use of sound manipulation and tape editing. Acclaimed for their chaotic live shows, the Surfers have a well-reported appetite for recreational drugs, particularly psychedelics, an evident influence on their sound. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butthole_Surfers)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 01:40 - 02:40

Line up
Gibby Haynes – lead vocals, guitar, saxophone; Paul Leary – guitar, vocals; Mark Kramer – bass; King Coffey – drums; Teresa Nervosa – drums

Set list
01 Suicide
02 Graveyard
03 To parter
04 Gary Floyd
05 Cherub
06 Butthole surfer
07 BBQ Pope
08 Moving to Florida
09 Lady Sniff

Also performed:
00 The Shah sleeps in Lee Harvey’s grave
00 Hurdy gurdy man (Donovan cover)
00 Come together (Beatles cover)

Recording
A radio recording of tracks 01 - 09 exists (approx 25'). Also broadcast were interview segments with Gibby and Teresa.
I have a lossless (flac) recording of track 06, taken from a radio broadcast. Both beginning and end are cut, total time 3'39".

"Highlights" from the show as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info
Het beste optreden dat ik mij nu kan herinneren is van de Butthole Surfers op Pandora’s Music Box. (John Cameron of Claw Boys Claw, http://www.musicfrom.nl/magazine/interviews/27514/john-cameron-over-de-nieuwe-claw-boys-claw-optreden.html)

Article from festival booklet

Butthole Surfers on stage at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11)

Interview at Pandora's 85 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/12)

Sonic Youth

2007-11-06T14:28:00.002+07:00

Sonic Youth is a seminal American alternative rock group formed in New York City in 1981. In their early career, Sonic Youth were associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City, but have outlasted most associated bands. Part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, Sonic Youth carried out their interpretation of the punk rock ethos throughout the evolving American indie underground (as the title of their documentary 1991: The Year Punk Broke demonstrates) that focused more on the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound. They have found moderate mainstream success, and are generally seen as one of the leading alternative rock groups of their time. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_youth)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 03:10 - 04:10

Line up
Thurston Moore – guitars, vocals; Lee Ranaldo – guitars, vocals, organ; Kim Gordon – bass, guitar, vocals; Steve Shelley – drums

Set list
01 Green light
02 Brother James
03 Death Valley '69
04 Brave men run
05 Flower
06 I love her all the time
07 Ghost bitch

Recording
A recording of the above set list exists, however, it's authenticity is disputed.

Emmanuel Tremblay comments on this recording: "I found this was a fake (if I remember correctly a mix of a few sources including 04-01-85)" -- he definitely knows his stuff, so this is probably true. It unfortunately also involves adjusting a bunch of statistics, a quite unpleasant task, so -- for now -- heed his wise warning. (http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/cc/101285.html)

Other info
Sonic Youth also played at Ein Abend in Wien, the one-off successor to Pandora's in 1991. More on this later. Maybe.

Article from festival booklet

Article from Oor magazine (1985/20)

Anne Clark and band

2007-11-06T08:51:00.002+07:00

Anne Clark (born Croydon, London, England, 14 May 1960) is an English poet and songwriter. Clark is mainly a spoken word artist, but she also plays piano and occasionally accompanies herself, with piano and voice mixing in a somewhat atypical new wave style. Many of her lyrics deal critically with the imperfections of humanity, everyday life, and politics. Especially in her early works she has created a gloomy, melancholy kind of atmosphere bordering on weltschmerz. In 1985, Clark released the album Pressure Points. It was created in cooperation with John Foxx, who had founded Ultravox. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Clark)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Big Hall", 22:40 - 23:40

Line up
Anne Clark - vocals; Jim Manray - guitar; Steve Kilbourne - ?; John Youren (John Nyles?) - bass, keyboards; Tony Koreyki - keyboards
Not completely sure about the line up. These guys were the band Silly Taboo, for which Kilbourne was the singer. I'm not sure if he was in Anne Clark's band and if so, what he did.

Set list
01 World without warning

02 Bursting

03 Poem for a nuclear romance

04 Self destruct

05 Killing time

06 The interruption

07 Heaven

08 The power game

09 Our darkness

Recording
A recording exists

Other info

Anne Clark on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

Anne Clark and band on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

Article from festival booklet

Anne Clark

2007-11-06T08:39:00.002+07:00

Anne Clark (born Croydon, London, England, 14 May 1960) is an English poet and songwriter. Clark is mainly a spoken word artist, but she also plays piano and occasionally accompanies herself, with piano and voice mixing in a somewhat atypical new wave style. Many of her lyrics deal critically with the imperfections of humanity, everyday life, and politics. Especially in her early works she has created a gloomy, melancholy kind of atmosphere bordering on weltschmerz. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Clark)

Scheduled
Saturday, 22 September 1984, "Mini Box", 23:15 - 00:15

Line up
Anne Clark – vocals; David Harrow – keyboards (David accompanied Anne at the next day's Futurama fesitival in Deinze: http://www.thewonder.co.uk/facts/futurama.htm)

Set list
01 Nothing at all
02 Our darkness
03 Sleeper in Metropolis

Recording
I have tracks 01 - 03, taken from a radio broadcast.

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Garage box

2007-11-05T12:28:00.001+07:00

The first night of Pandora's 1984 had a room reserved for garage rock.

Line up
21:15 - 21:45 Claw Boys Claw
22:45 - 23:30 Scientists
23:15 - 00:00 Orson Family
00:30 - 01:15 Lyres
01:45 - 02:30 The Nomads
03:00 - 03:45 Dream Syndicate

Other info
Bij de 2e editie, ter gelegenheid van de garagebox, verscheen er bij de Oor (?) een bijlage over garage muziek toen en nu, met een uitputtende opsomming en beschrijving van bandjes. Deze bijlage werd al gauw 'de garagebijbel' genoemd, en was de bron van vele ontdekkingen qua sixties garagerock. (Gerdou, http://www.wiels.nl/blog/comments.php?y=07&m=10&entry=entry071025-001000)

Review Garage Box (Oor, 1984/20)

Garage listening test with Claw Boys Claw, from festival booklet

The Dream Syndicate

2007-11-05T12:25:00.003+07:00

Dream Syndicate was an early alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California that was active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Syndicate)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 03:00 - 03:45

Line up
Steve Wynn – vocals; Karl Precoda – guitar; Mark Walton – bass, vocals; Dennis Duck – drums

Set list
01 Halloween
02 Daddy's girl
03 Burn
04 Sure thing
05 When you smile
06 The medicine show
07 J.C. Stereo blues
08 Still holding on to you
09 Sweet home Alabama

Recordings
According to the Steve Wynn Archive, the whole set was recorded from the audience, and tracks 03 - 06 and 09 (cut) were professionally recorded and broadcast on radio. I have both recordings in lossless (flac) quality. Get them in any file format you can imagine here: http://www.archive.org/details/ds1984-09-21.flac16

The Nomads

2007-11-05T11:44:00.003+07:00

"Kings of garage"... "Modern acid-drenched psychotic r&b"... "Amphetamined r&b hellfire fusion" ... "What the Heartbreakers might've sounded like as acidheads instead of heroin addicts"... Just a few selected quotes to describe the sound of Sweden's The Nomads. (http://web.comhem.se/nomads/storysofar.htm)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Garage Box", 01:45 - 02:30

Line up
Hans Östlund – guitar; Nick Vahlberg – guitar & vocals; Tony Carlsson – bass; Ed Johnson – drums

Set list
01 I'm not like everybody else (Kinks cover)

02 Rockin' all thru the night

03 I have always been here before (Roky Erickson cover)

04 I'm five years ahead of my time

05 Lowdown shakin' chills

06 Milk cow blues (traditional)

Opening song of the Nomads set was "Have love will travel".

Recording
I have a lossless (flac) recording of tracks 01-06, taken from a radio broadcast, total time just under 20 minutes. Have Love Will Travel was not broadcast.

Flesh for Lulu

2007-11-05T11:25:00.001+07:00

Flesh for Lulu is a gothic/alternative rock band formed in 1982 in the UK. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_For_Lulu)
The ready adaptability of this Brixton quartet enabled them to rise from the ashes of London's ill-fated Batcave scene — a curious association to begin with, since these mascaraed, leather-clad poseurs are more closely related to old-fashioned rock than gothic grave-robbing. With undisguised superstar aspirations, they signed to Polydor and released two excellent singles (Restless and Subterraneans). The self-titled album that followed, despite the inclusion of both songs, sinks into the mire, an overlong, overproduced '80s punk take on the Rolling Stones (check the cover of Jigsaw Puzzle), a commodity for which there is no pressing demand. (http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=flesh_for_lulu)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 02:45 - 03:45

Line up
Nick Marsh – vocals, guitar; Rocco Barker – guitar, vocals; Glen Bishop (or Kevin Mills) – bass; James Mitchell – drums

Set list

01 Restless

02 Hyena

03 Roman Candle

04 Coming Down

05 Brainburst

06 Cat Burglar

07 Subterraneans

08 Peace and Love

09 Ten Foot Tall

10 Dog Dog Dog

Recording
I have a complete lossless (flac) audience recording.

Matador

2007-11-05T11:11:00.000+07:00

Matador was founded in 1982 for experimenting in sound and visual arts. Their first performance was in June 1982 at the Documenta in Kassel at which time Beate Bartel was still busy with Liaisons Dangereuses and Gudrun Gut and Manon Duursma with Malaria!

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 22:45 - 23:30

Line up
Gudrun Gut – ; Manon Duursma – ; Beate Bartel – ;

Setlist
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info
Gut and Bartel were both part of the first line-up of Einstuerzende Neubauten. First Gut leaves because she cannot stand Bargeld’s bossing around. Bartel leaves as well after the next gig and together they focus on their own band Mania D.

The Opposition

2007-11-05T10:50:00.002+07:00

The Opposition are a long running post-punk band from London, England that featured Ralph Hall, Marcus Bell and Mark Long, and mixed new wave sounds with reggae rhythms. Founded in 1979, The Opposition released their first single on the independent record label Double Vision records. This was called Very Little Glory which the NME (New Musical Express) reviewed and said that it was "a song recorded before its time". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Opposition)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 21:15 - 22:15

Line up
Mark Long – vocals, guitar; Marcus Bell – bass; Ralph Hall – drums

Set list
01 If that wasn't love

02 First suspect

03 Empire days

04 Breaking the silence

Recording
Thanks to Cochon, I have the above mentioned tracks 01 - 04 from a radio broadcast in lossless quality (shn), total time 18'48" (full broadcast, not full set).

Other info

Palais Schaumburg

2007-11-05T10:37:00.001+07:00

Palais Schaumburg was a new wave band from Hamburg, Germany. The style was classified as Neue Deutsche Welle, and strongly characterized by their avant garde music and dadaistic attitude. Shortly after their debut album was released, Holger Hiller and FM Einheit left the band. Hiller started his solo career and Einheit joined Einstürzende Neubauten. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Schaumburg_%28band%29)

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Grote Box", 01:15 - 02:15

Line up
Ralph Hertwig – ; Thomas Fehlmann – ; Moritz von Oswald – percussion?

Set list
01 Sprung über vier Pferde
02 What's the time
03 Three young men

Recording
Unknown

Other info
Einheit (playing Pandora’s 85 with Einsturzende Neubauten) was a founding member of Palais Schaumburg.

Palais Schaumburg's show at Pandora's was marred by technical difficulties leading Hertwig to conclude that the show was "anti-publicity for our tour through the Netherlands in two weeks" (Vrije Volk review, 24-09-1984)

Theme from Pandora's Music Box 83

2007-11-02T15:39:00.000+07:00

I was amazed to discover today that there was an official Theme from Pandora's Musix Box 83. The artists were called The Music Box Orchestra, and I have no idea who they were.

A one-sided 12" was released on a label called either Pandora Records or Pandorecords. Apperantly, a limited edition "rare Berry Visser production". Visser was one of the founders of Mojo Concerts, the organisers of Pandora's Music Box. Willem Venema was in charge of music, Visser was in charge of the "phenomena", alienating musical and theatrical effects in the venue.

Tijdens zijn Mojo periode bedacht en gaf hij samen met klankmagiër Michel Waisvisz vorm en inhoud aan de 'verschijnselen' tijdens Pandora's Music Box en Ein Abend in Wien [Pandora's Music Box successor, only one single edition in 1991 - P@ndora]: vervreemdende muziek- en theatereffecten in de openbare ruimten van twee legendarische festivals voor vernieuwende popmuziek in de Rotterdamse Doelen (1983, '84, '85 en '91). (http://www.musicfrom.nl/magazine/nieuws/7218/berry-visser-nadrukkelijk-terug-als-veelzijdig-kunstenaar.html)

If anyone could lend me $162, I could get a copy from these guys http://www.musicstack.com/item/40637141/music+box+orchestra/theme+from'pandora's.

Kowalski

2007-11-02T13:26:00.003+07:00

German rock/industrial band formed in 1981. They made a rare but truly stunning album called Schlagende Wetter. This album is loaded with electronic drums,samples, raw guitarriffs, synthetic sounds and very good lyrics (German). Ahead of their time, nothing sounded like Kowalksi. Unfortunately the band made only one album and a 12" called Zigeunerbaron. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowalski)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Grote Zaal", 23:30 - 00:30

Line up
Uwe Fellensiek – vocals; Rüdiger Elze (aka LC) – guitar; Hans Bäär (aka Hans Maahn) – bass; Rüdiger Braune – drums

Set list
Several separate set lists that I have found claim to be from Pandora's Music Box. The problem is: they don't add up. Kowalski played in Holland quite regularly in the beginning of the 80's and several of their shows were recorded and broadcast on Dutch radio. This is where some confusion may come from.

Set list #1
01 Zauberei
02 Der Koerper bin ich
03 Lilliom
04 Eine peinsame Zeit
05 Der Arbeiter
06 Massenhass

Set list #2
01 Stahlmaschinen (5:08)
02 Komm hier (2:41)
03 Eine Peinsame Zeit (incomplete, 4:39)

Set list #3
01 Der Arbeiter
02 Steiharte Knaben
03 Reitet gegen den Iwan
04 Im Waschsalon
05 Eine peinsame Zeit
06 Massenhass
07 Indianer
08 Superschmarotzer
09 Schlag mich Tod

Recording
All of the above are available as radio recordings. Listen to the stream for tracks 02 - 06 (set list #1) here http://3voor12.vpro.nl/programmas/afleveringen/4893031. I have tracks 01 - 06 from set list #1, and 01 - 03 from set list #2, 13'40". Get them here http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070720-181408. Set list #3 was offered for sale by a user on www.musicmeter.nl.

Other info
Meine Kontakte zu befreundeten Musikern aus Köln und Wuppertal werden immer konkreter und führen schließlich zur Gründung der 4 Mann Formation "Kowalski". 1980, nach gut einem Jahr harter Arbeit, nehmen wir die erste LP auf. Sie wird produziert von Conny Plank - derzeit das Beste, was uns passieren konnte.

Der Titel "Schlagende Wetter" bezeichnet ein hochexplosives Methan Gas Gemisch, das oft Ursache für schwere Grubenunglücke war. Wir machen die Cover und Pressefotos in den Kulissen von "Rote Erde" in den Bavaria Studios in Grünwald - nackt und rußverschmiert. Wir bekommen den ersten Plattenvertrag bei Virgin Records und sind auf dem Weg nach "oben".

Unsere erste Tournee führt uns über Holland nach England und schließlich durch ganz Europa, kaum ein Top-Club, in dem wir nicht spielen: Paradiso in Amsterdam, Olympia in Paris, Lyceom in London die Festivals Pandora´s Box oder Roskilde - heute Stockholm morgen Rom. Wir touren u.a. mit Theatre of Hate, Johnny Lydon´s (Rotten´s) PIL, Siouxie & the Banshees. (http://www.uwe-fellensiek.com/?category=musiker)

Wat leuk. Ik heb ze ook twee keer gezien waarvan de eerste keer in Eindhoven nog altijd een van de beste concerten is die ik ooit gezien heb. Ik was was op zoek naar Der Zigeunerbaron, ik ken het hele nummer niet. Ik had vroeger een cassette-bandje met live-opnamen met fantastische, nooit op plaat verschenen nummers, opgenomen geloof ik op Pandora's Music Box. Eéntje heb ik er ooit via Kazaa teruggevonden (Fellensiek spreekt daarin een stukje Nederlands) maar daarna nooit meer iets, echt erg jammer. - B.A.

Hallo B.A. dat stukje tekst kan ik zelfs nog dromen, want hij zei: "loik juh te zieen" tegen het publiek, en hij riep ook nog dat iedereen zich maar moest laten horen om op de radio terug te kunnen luisteren. Mensch, ik kan die opname nog letterlijk terugroepen omdat ik die duizenden keren heb gedraaid. Ik zat startklaar om die opname te "downloaden" van mijn versterker en het was in superkwaliteit. Helaas is die in de vele verhuizingen verloren gegaan.
Ja, ook ik heb Uwe en z'n steenkoolbroeders destijds live mogen meebeleven, in de Box in Arnhem. En van alle vele concerten die ik heb gezien tot nu toe, is dat concert zeker in mijn top tien terug te vinden. Ik stond toen al versteld van de power en de enorme overtuigingsdrang van die gasten. Teksten, zo mooi, zo lyrisch en zo zelf-kritisch: zeldzaam! En dan met die beukende ritmes van de drummer op z'n zelfgebouwd drumstel met olievaten, compressors, stalen ringen. En die waanzinnige gitaargeluiden.
En nu, aan het begin van een nieuwe muziektijd, stond daar ineens Rammstein. Ik dacht direct: Wat een jatwerk! En ook nu dezelfde politieke geluiden tegen deze groep, maar nu heeft het grootste gedeelte van het publiek wél door, dat ze naar een groots theateroptreden staan te kijken, met een vette knipoog naar het verleden, zoals Kowalski allang voor ze had gedaan.
Ik ben naarstig op zoek naar die live-opnamen, als ik ze vind, laat ik ‘t weten! Maar het lijkt erop dat wij, als fans van het eerste uur, Uwe Fellensiek zelf maar weer een moeten porren om voor een reunie-Konzert bij elkaar te komen in Nederland, maar dan wel snoei-en snoeihard! – ralphdepagter

Na lang zoeken in mijn cassttebak, vond ik ‘m dan eindelijk. De verloren gewaande live-opname van Kowalski! Ik heb geen idee welke omroep 'm heeft uitgezonden. Ik heb 'm met wat gehobby zelfs digitaal kunnen maken. Dus nu ook op de MP3-speler of de cd lekker knallen! – ralphdepagter (all: http://www.musicmeter.nl/album/32764)

Article from festival booklet

Fad Gadget

2007-11-02T13:14:00.002+07:00

Frank Tovey (September 8, 1956 - April 3, 2002), better known as Fad Gadget, was an influential British avant-garde electronic musician who was a pioneer of the budding genres of new wave and electronica.

Fad Gadget's music is characterized by a distinctive use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of machinery, including drills and electric razors. His bleak, sarcastic, and darkly humorous lyrics were often layered in meaning, and discussed subjects such as machinery, building construction, human sexuality, and physical violence. His singing style, a droning monotone, influenced later gothic and industrial rock movements. Fad Gadget was known for confrontational live performances which included Tovey covering himself in tar and feathers, leaping into the audience, and playing instruments with his head. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fad_Gadget)

Scheduled
Saturday, 3 September 1983, "Feestzaal", 22:45 - 23:45

Line up
Unknown

Set list
There is some confusion about the set list for this show. I have found 2 separate (partial?) lists, both claiming to be Pandora's Music Box. The problem is that they don't add up:

Set list #1
01 Speak to me
02 One man’s meat

Set list #2
01 Coitus interruptus (2:45)
02 Ideal world (5:06)
03 Collapsing new people (4:02)
04 The ring (3:58)
05 Ad nauseam (3:42)
06 Lemming stomp (4:35)
07 For whom the bells tolls (5:11)
08 Ricky’s hand (3:26)
09 Back to nature (5:15)
10 Fireside favourite (3:57)

Recording
Both set lists have been recorded. I have tracks 01 - 02 from set list #1, get them here http://www.wiels.nl/blog/index.php?entry=entry070919-110014. Set list #2 is released as a bootleg, listed on some weird Russian music store website: http://music.km.ru/album.asp?id=62ecdf2cba8a45968dda483523c996db. It is listed as 1984, but as far as I know, Fad Gadget only played Pandora's in 1983, so maybe the bootleg was released in 1984.

[Edit: Since I've acquired set #2, I'm by now pretty sure that set list #2 is in fact recorded at NOT Pandora's Music Box but in the Arena in Rotterdam a couple of months later: 17 March 1984 (http://wwwadnauseam.blogspot.com/2008/11/fad-gadget-live-at-arena-rotterdam-1984.html) - P@ndora]

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Howard Devoto

2007-11-02T12:15:00.002+07:00

Howard Devoto (born Howard Trafford 1955 in Manchester) is an English rock and roll singer/songwriter who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks, and who then formed several other groups, notably Magazine. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Devoto)

Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Grote Zaal", 23:00 - 00:00

Line up
Uncertain, but likely: Howard Devoto - guitar, vocals; Alan St. Clair - guitar; Dave Formula - keyboards; Neil Pyzer - saxophone, synthesiser; Martin Heath - bass; Pat Ahearn - drums; Laura Teresa - backing vocals (line up from August 1983 John Peel session, http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1983/Aug01howarddevoto/)

Set list
01 Cold imagination
02 Some will pay
03 Rainy season
04 About the weather

Recording
I have 01 – 04 as a lossless (flac) radio recording, total time 17’18”. A longer recording (25 mins) exists. Below is a photo montage set to "Some will pay" recorded at Pandora's. Not sure if (any of) the photos was taken at Pandora's.

Other info
Howard Devoto used to be in Magazine, together with John McGeogh (1977-1980) and John Doyle (1978-1981), who both played Pandora 83 with the Armoury Show. Between Magazine and the Armoury Show, McGeogh joined Siouxsie & the Banshees (1980-1982), who also played Pandora 83. For Siouxsie & the Banshees he wrote classics like Christine, Happy House and Israel.

Article from festival booklet

Siouxsie & the Banshees

2007-11-02T11:59:00.002+07:00

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band that formed in 1976. Led by the singer Siouxsie Sioux and the bassist Steven Severin, the band's only constant members, the Banshees formed in the wake of the Punk scene and soon became one of the major bands in the post-punk movement. Their eclectic music influenced a large range of very diverse bands over the years amongst them The Cure, Tricky and more recently LCD Soundsystem. The group released a total of eleven studio albums from 1978 to 1995. The Banshees remain cult today. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siouxsie_%26_the_Banshees)

Scheduled
Friday, 2 September 1983, "Grote Zaal", 21:00 - 22:00

Line up
Siouxsie Sioux – vocals; Robert Smith – guitar; Steve Severin – bass; Budgie – drums

Set list
01 Overground
02 Green fingers
03 Cascade
04 Paradise place
05 Dear Prudence
06 Red over white
07 Nightshift
08 Sin in my heart
09 We hunger
10 Arabian knights
11 She's a carnival
12 Switch
13 Spellbound
14 Voodoo dolly

Recording
A complete audience recording exists, I have tracks 04 – 07 from a radio broadcast.

Slideshow set to Night Shift from Pandora's 83 as uploaded to YouTube by Oloferne8181.

Other info

Steve Severin and Siouxsie on stage at Pandora's 83 (Vinyl 1983/9)

Robert Smith doing something to a guitar before, during or after the show (Vinyl 1983/9)

Robert Smith chatting to (adoring female) fans (Vinyl magazine 1983/9)

John McGeogh (playing Pandora's 83 with the Armoury Show) used to play guitar for the Banshees (1980 - 82). John Valentine Carruthers (playing Pandora's 83 with Clock DVA) would join the Banshees in 1985, replacing Robert Smith.

Siouxsie & the Banshees released the live double album Nocturne which was recorded four weeks later (September 30 and October 1) in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Loads of excellent pictures of the September 30 gig can be found here: http://www.newwavephotos.com/Banshees29.htm.

Eddy De Clercq

2007-11-01T15:54:00.001+07:00

De Belg Eddy De Clercq is een van de grondleggers van de house- en acidcultuur in Nederland. Als veertienjarige begint hij als DJ en ruim 25 jaar later is hij nog steeds toonaangevend aanwezig met zijn eigen muziek, draaistijl en label. Hij is betrokken bij de oprichting van een aantal invloedrijke clubs in Amsterdam, en hij produceert zijn eigen platen en werk van anderen.

Scheduled
Eddy dj-ed on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October 1985

Other info

Article from festival booklet

The Icicle Works

2007-11-01T15:38:00.001+07:00

The Icicle Works were an independent English band of the 1980s. Named after the 1960 short story The Day the Icicle Works Closed by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, the Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and the Teardrop Explodes to stardom.

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 00:00 - 00:45

Line up
Ian McNabb – vocals, guitar; Chris Layhe – bass; Chris Sharrock – drums

Set list
01 Love is full of wonderful colours
02 Windfall
03 The cauldron of love
04 Lover’s day
05 Bird's fly (a whisper to a scream)

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 – 05

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Gene Loves Jezebel

2007-11-01T13:47:00.002+07:00

Gene Loves Jezebel is a gothic rock band from the early 1980s founded by twin brothers, Michael and Jay Aston. Michael Aston (vocals) was the poetic, goth-leaning side of the twin brothers while Jay Aston’s distinctive banshee-like, wailing vocals supplied Gene Loves Jezebel with one of their many trademark quirks. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Loves_Jezebel)

According to a comment left by BertuZ #5 (http://pandoras-music-box.blogspot.com/2007/10/schedule-1984.html) Gene Loves Jezebel didn't show up on Friday. There's the small chance that they made it on Saturday, but it's more likely that the show was actually cancelled. Let me know if you remember GLJ playing or not.

[Edit: It appears that GLJ was indeed cancelled. They do no appear on the timetable handed out during the festival (thanks Surfling) - P@ndora]

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Kleine Box", 01:15 - 02:15

Line up
Michael Aston – vocals; Jay Aston – vocals, guitar; Ian Hudson – guitar; Peter Rizzo – bass; ? – drums

Set list
Cancelled

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Claw Boys Claw

2007-11-01T13:00:00.003+07:00

Guitar band from Amsterdam fronted by charismatic singer Peter te Bos that is influenced by garage punk of bands like Gun Club and the Stooges. Gradually, the band's musical style develops into the direction of melodic swamp rock. (http://www.hollandrocks.nl/bio/bz344.html)

Scheduled
Uncertain, most likely Saturday, 12 October 1985

Line up
Peter te Bos – vocals; John Cameron – guitar; Bobbie Rossini – bass; Marius Schrader – drums

Set list
Unknown

Recording
It's unknown whether any audio recordings exist.

Claw Boys Claw (including Teboskins wailing at 8'30") backing the Legendary Stardust Cowboy at Pandora's 85 as uploaded to YouTube by waaghalsrecords.

Other info
Claw Boys Claw played a short warm up set for "surprise act" the Legendary Stardust Cowboy. It is likely to have been on Saturday, because Claw Boys Claw could have been there to see their mates (and ex-drummer) Fatal Flowers and L'Attentat. And more importantly: the Ledge was accompanied by members of Fur Bible, who also played the Saturday.
- edit - The clip above shows CBC backing the Ledge and not just playing a warm-up set?

Claw Boys Claw had previously played Pandora's 84, with a line up including Allard Jolles who played Pandora's 85 as singer/guitarist for L'Attentat.

Years later, Fatal Flowers' bass player Geert de Groot ended up in Claw Boys Claw (1991 - 1999).

Claw Boys Claw on stage at Pandora's 85 (photo by Marcel Snoek - huge thanks to Jeroen)

The Very Things

2007-11-01T11:04:00.000+07:00

Redditch, Worcestershire-based alternative band created spring 1983, from the remains of the defunct 'Cravats', who started life in 1982. Besides Dada, their inspirations came from such disparate sources as 60s sci-fi televison shows and films like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Prisoner and Them!, 60s psychedelic grooves, Motown and my guess, cartoon monsters.

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Mini Box", 00:55 - 01:40

Line up
Robin Raymond Dallaway – guitar; The Shend (Chris Harz) – bass, backing vocals; Robert Holland – keyboards; (Gordon) Disneytime – drums

Set list
Unknown

Recording
Unknown

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Alex Chilton

2007-11-01T11:00:00.002+07:00

Alex Chilton (born named William Alexander Chilton, on December 28, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American songwriter, guitarist, singer and producer best known for his work with the pop-music bands the Box Tops and Big Star.

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Small Hall", 00:00 - 00:55

Line up
Alex Chilton – guitar, vocals; René Coman – bass; Doug Garrison – drums

Set list

Setlist #1 (thanks Magnix)

01 Tee Ni Nee Ni Noo / Tip On In

02 The Letter

03 Save Your Love For Me (Buddy Johnson; also performed by Bobby Bland, Etta Jones, and many others)

04 Rock Hard

05 Bangkok

06 Honkin' Down The Highway (The Beach Boys)

Setlist #2

01 No Sex

02 B-A-B-Y

03 Bangkok

Recording
Both sets were recorded and broadcast on Dutch radio. I have set #2 in lossless flac.

Other info

Article from festival booklet

According to Michael Azzarad's "Our Band Could Be Your Life," Alex borrowed a guitar from the Butthole Surfers before the gig:

"Moments later a man entered the dressing room and asked if he could borrow a guitar. "BORROW A GUITAR??!!! WELL, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU???!!!" Haynes screamed, eyes flashing in delirious anticipation of forthcoming violence. But the man was totally unfazed.

"I'm Alex Chilton," the man answered calmly.

Haynes was flabbergasted. After a long pause, he methodically opened the remaining guitar cases one by one and gestured at them as if to say, "Take anything you want."

Crime & the City Solution

2007-11-01T10:01:00.002+07:00

Crime and The City Solution were a rock music band formed by Australian singer and songwriter Simon Bonney. They completed four studio albums and a number of E.Ps during it's existence, and a live album has since been released. Further early recordings have resurfaced on the internet. Parallels have been drawn between Crime and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The long term influence of the band has yet to be acknowledged. Crime were famed for their live performances. Bonney has since gone on to record solo material.

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 22:30 - 23:15

Line up
Simon Bonney – vocals; Rowland S. Howard – guitar; Mick Harvey – guitar; Harry Howard – bass; Epic Soundtracks – drums

Set list
01 Five Stone Walls

02 The Coal Train

03 Rose Blue

04 The Dangling Man

05 Trouble Come This Morning

06 The Wailing Wall

07 Down A Path (a.k.a. The Blue Room)

08 The Last Day

09 The Kentucky Click
Thanks to tapesfor2 for the setlist

Recording
A complete, good audience recording exists, 45". Track 04 was broadcast by VPRO radio.

Other info
Harvey played Pandora’s 1985 a second time as member of Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds (on Saturday). Both Harvey and Rowland S. Howard were ex-Birthday Party, together with Nick Cave. In fact, Rowland had filled in as guitarist for the Bad Seeds in April 1985 to do a short British tour, when Blixa Bargeld was too busy recording Einstürzende Neubauten’s Halber Mensch album.

Article from festival booklet

Rowland S. Howard (?) at Pandora's 85 (http://www.itlooksdifferent.com/?id=76)

Einstürzende Neubauten

2007-11-01T09:46:00.000+07:00

Einstürzende Neubauten is an experimental music band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The band is often classified as industrial music or electronica. One of their 'trademarks' is the use of custom made instruments (usually, but not always, made out of scrap metal and building tools) and noises, in addition to standard musical instruments. Neubauten has always experimented with sounds, originally in noise music and recently in very diverse styles.

Scheduled
Friday, 11 October 1985, "Big Hall", 21:00 - 22:00

Line up
Blixa Bargeld – vocals, guitar, keyboards; Alex Hacke - guitar; Marc Chung – bass; N.U. Unruh (Andrew Chudy) – percussion; FM Einheit (Frank Martin Strauss) – percussion

Set list
01 Halber Mensch
02 Zerstörte Zelle
03 Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T.
04 Negativ nein
05 Vanadium-I-Ching
06 Sehnsucht
07 Spaltung (a.k.a. Armenisch Bitter)
08 Yü-Gung (fütter mein Ego)
09 Letztes Biest (am Himmel)

Recording
A good radio recording of tracks 01 - 09 exists, 48". Misses Der Tod ist ein Dandy and Abfackeln!.

Other info
Hacke and Einheit both also played on Pandora’s 1985 as part of Mona Mur (on Saturday). Bargeld played Pandora's 85 also as member of Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds (on Saturday).

Article from official festival booklet

Einstürzende Neubauten live at Pandora's 1985 (Oor, 1985/21)

The Cult

2007-11-01T08:46:00.002+07:00

The Cult are an English rock band that appeared in their earliest form in Bradford during 1981. Over the years the band have had various line-ups; the longest serving band members are vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, both of whom are the band's songwriters.
In their very earliest days, the band emerged as one of the progenitors of the budding post-punk music scene that was happening in England. Their music style was associated by the media with gothic rock, taking influences from the mysticism associated with Native Americans and psychedelic rock acts such as The Doors. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cult)

Scheduled
Saturday, 12 October 1985, "Dance Hall", 00:10 - 01:10

Line up
Ian Astbury – vocals; Billy Duffy – guitar; Jamie Stewart – bass; Les Warner – drums

Set list
01 Christians (4:23)
02 Revolution (5:15)
03 Rain (4:38)
04 Hollow man (4:46)
05 She sells sanctuary (5:18)
06 Go West (4:48)
07 Resurrection Joe (5:57)
08 Spiritwalker (3:48)
09 Bonebag (7:14)
10 Moya

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 – 09, 45". A complete (?) audience recording may also exist.

Cover for cdr by shemethree (http://www.dimeadozen.org/account-details.php?id=342460)

Other info
The Cult also played Pandora's 83 under their former moniker Death Cult, and (maybe) Pandora's 84. I'll get to the disputed 84 performance later on.

Mark Brzezicki of Big Country (also on Pandora's 83) helped out on sessions for the "Love" album until the arrival of Les Warner. The article below mentions Nigel Preston as drummer, but he was fired from the band after the recording of "She sells sanctuary".

Billy Duffy was ex-Theatre of Hate, as was Kirk Brandon who also played Pandora's 83 with his Spear of Destiny.

Article from official festival booklet.

Ian Astbury on stage at Pandora's 1985 (Vinyl magazine, 1985/11).

Shriekback

2007-10-26T15:01:00.000+07:00

Shriekback is a rock band formed in the early 1980s by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals), Carl Marsh (guitars/vocals), and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass). They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983.

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Grote Box", 23:45 - 00:45

Line up
Barry Andrews - keyboards, vocals; Carl Marsh - guitars, vocals; Dave Allen - bass; Martyn Barker - drums; Pedro Ortiz - percussion

Set list
01 Feelers
02 A kind of fascination
03 Mothloop II
04 White out
05 All lined up

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 - 05.

Other info

Article from festival booklet

Bronski Beat

2007-10-26T14:40:00.004+07:00

Bronski Beat was a popular British synth pop trio of the 1980s. Their music is characterized by Jimmy Somerville's soulful counter-tenor voice and quirky synthesizer accompaniment. In 1985 Somerville quit the band, stating he wanted a career which was "more political". He went on to form The Communards with Richard Coles.

Scheduled
Friday, 21 September 1984, "Grote Box", 22:30 - 23:15

Line up
Jimmy Somerville – vocals; Steve Bronski (Steven Forrest) – keyboards, percussion; Larry Steinbachek (Lawrence Cole) – keyboards, percussion

Set list
01 Small town boy
02 Love and money
03 No more war
04 It ain't necessarily so
05 Why
06 I feel love

Recording
I have a radio recording of tracks 01 - 06. Stop laughing. It's great! It is. Seriously.

CD/iTunes cover I found on somewhere. Props to the creator...

Other info

Article from festival booklet