100% with you on that. Has anybody else played for nothing to plough the money into the van when the gearbox, substitute anything you want,went bang! Our bass player packed it in and the guy that replaced him was a mechanic added bonus👍👍👍👍. To this day if I dig about in the back of the garage I'll find bits and pieces for a Bedford Van just in case!
This is wonderful. My father was the President of a local WMC in Leeds, and spent six days a week in there. I always hated the times I went in, and this reminds me why. Same blank faces, same cheap beer, same seats for everyone and woebetide you disturb the tomobola or bingo. Always felt sorry for the acts who played there, always generally met with complete indifference, although some were genuinely terrible. Once saw a band do a set of prog rock songs - you can imagine how "Yours is no disgrace" went down. There's a social club round here in Billingham (might be the same one mentioned in the video!) where they still have "turns" on a weekend. All these bands rotating, and given a three quarter hour slot before the bingo. So it's still around. Incidentally Punch did get their slot on Opportunity Knocks, 29 November 1976. No footage survives, unfortunately. From TV Archive: "29.11.1976 With Stage Three, Billy Roberts, Spider Jive, Katie Budd, Punch (missing)".
You’re totally wrong about the scene. Yes clubs were like this back then in the mid-70s. But also they had rock nights, mainly midweek, where you could watch bands doing covers of stuff by Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Sabbath, Pink Floyd. They even had original punk bands playing, such as Dead Fingers Talk (Google them) doing their own stuff. All to a young rock crowd and always full. No bingo or tombola. One time a heavy rock band played in a local WMC near us and young rock fans came from all over, it was so full people were actually sitting cross-legged on the floor, and that was a sizeable hall even by WMC standards. It was the final gig by the guitarist, who went on to form Fist, a metal band name-checked by Lars Ulrich. Fist also played WMCs regularly. As did Raven, White Spirit (Janick Gers’ band) Saxon etc etc . We could go to 3 maybe 4 of these rock nights a week round our part of the northeast, all in working men’s clubs. None of us would be seen dead in there on the nights you mention (mainly Saturdays) watching bands like Punch and sitting through bingo, but it wasn’t always like that.
OMG!!, Never knew this existed!!. Sooo interesting as I spent 25 years chasing the same rainbows!!🤷, I'm also from Bradford!. I was a drummer playing pubs and clubs all over the place semi-pro. It was a fabulous time, brilliant fun, a real adventure , I can relate to almost everything in this documentary. It's a young single man's game, or it was,- I don't think you could do it now??, there aren't any pub's and clubs left to gig in !. 🤷
We only shared it on here when my Dad passed (Mick Kershaw) he was on the road until I was 10, and I’m his youngest! so suppose it depends how dedicated you are and what work you can get as to whether it’s a ‘young single mans game or not’ 🤷🏼♀️
How many kids did these guys have between them? I lost count. How incredible. Married guys with kids taking a chance on the road. Love this. This is the England I remember.
If Bob Mortimer came on Would I Lie to You and said "I used to play lead guitar for Punch", I'd say true. Brilliant piece that captures the travelling muso.
They gave it a go , as I did . This probably will be sad and depressing to some degree, the fact that the guys turned pro as punk was exploding in the UK would not have helped. Flame featuring Slade was a fantastic worms eye view of the music business.
Look what happened to Sid Vicious. He became famous but ended his brief life in sad and depressing circumstances. These chaps maybe hopefully stayed friends and lived happily ever after. Fame and fortune doesn't always bring out the best in people.
Cheep beer, careful not to sit in the wrong seat, quiet during the bingo..happy days! Watched this in '76 when I was a kid great to see it again. Had a go myself a few years later, different music & venues but similar result. Loved every minute, wouldn't change a thing.
Yes, they just were unlucky. The industry didnt give them a go. Their manager wasnt trying hard enough. The record companies didnt "get" their sound.....and so on.
@@standupstraight9691 if you actually listen, then didn’t have a manager at the time! They were just unlucky, it wasn’t about anyone not getting their ‘sound’, they were unbelievably talented, they just didn’t make it!
This documentary is a great example of the difference in mindset between bands that make it and bands that don’t, particularly at this time in music. Ok these guys could play well enough but that’s where it ended. Their music was a good ten years behind the times, played with little passion, they were never going to be anything more than a working men’s club caberet act. Fascinating piece of film.
They were a very ordinary social club band, playing all the standard pop tunes of the time. For 1976, their sound was very dated. They were being paid well below average even for those days though, for a four-piece.
When you're 30+, have 2 - 4 kids to look after and you're bringing home only 10 quid a week, then you really do have to question yourself whether you're doing right by those who depend on you to keep a roof over your head. Harsh but that's the reality
It’s great social history of the lost world of the social clubs. They were never going to make it, but I hope they had a great time & have great memories now.
Can’t help wonder if Adrian Edmondson saw this before writing Bad News but with a metal twist. Some very similar scenes on the motorway and in the van. Still at least Punch got paid by the promoter and didn’t start their songs on a count of 7. Bloody ell Vim, it’s a Marshall!
@@blondegraemeynot really true. Punk was a flash in the pan with not many quality artists coming out of it. Music journalists just love writing about it and built it up into something it wasn’t.
@@paullee3660 yes true punk was a flash on the pan, but in 76, just as these lads turned pro, punk was just about to capture the imagination of the countries youth and every last record company wanted to sign young punk/new wave acts. Bands like Punch were instantly dated and consigned to history (where they've remained). Like it or not, punk burned brightly and reset the music industry. 76 was year zero.
Thanks for the music guys! Bet you didn't make much money and probably drove the distance of the moon and back and carried 500 tonnes of amplifiers up stairs and down again. You had a really nice energy, love the cover of "Reach out". Thanks.
They are giving it a serious go hoping it will turn into something big in the finest of British traditions. Every band in the nascent years started this way. Very enjoyable to watch.
Oof this is painful. It actually makes me feel OK about the crap bands I was in. "They don't clap us when we come out the pit. Why should we clap them when they get off the stage?" -- the working men of Yorkshire.
I've been listening to JJ Cale a lot. He slogged it out from 1956-1970 before he was able to record an album after recording a hodge podge of songs. Then Clapton recorded, "After Midnight" and the money began to roll in, but it still wasn't easy for Cale. He kept recording and touring but he never truly became "famous" - he didn't want to be famous, a celebrity, a "rock star" (aka. asshole) he just lived simple, easy, in a caravan with another caravan as a studio. These days, Cale is considered one of the greats of singer-songwriters and he was an amazing engineer-producer. Gerry Rafferty was like that, too. Frank Zappa satirized fame, celebrity, the "rock star" douchebag, the corporatization of music and mockery of modern life in general. David Bowie struggled for years then "made it" in spectacular style but learned to not like that life. Rest in peace to all those great artists who lived to create and bring some joy to the world. *Bee Gees - Morning Of My Life* (live in Vegas) th-cam.com/video/MGicSSLa2ns/w-d-xo.html *JJ Cale - After Midnight* (great live version!) th-cam.com/video/iszlVwZhANQ/w-d-xo.html
19:55 This is where Punch got it wrong "We've got to be everybody's type of a group. We can't be a personal type of a group, like the groups that have made it. They've made it, so they've got their particular type of sound, so if they go onstage, people expect their type of songs."
Yep that's the cover band mentality. What he hasn't thought about is: why and how did those bands make it? Bands never get out of the club circuit without a powerful distinctive identity and strong original material. These days the club circuit is largely replaced by weddings and smaller pub gigs so the circuit has kind of divided in two. And there are so many fewer venues for bands doing original material. He's right about what it takes to be a popular cover band, but has no idea about 'making it'
@@LaughingStock_ but i think there is a good bit of truth in what original poster says. My sense with this lot was, they had families and needed to earn, and their income largely came from working men's clubs and pubs, where people expected hits/variety. In reality, for the times they were in, they probably left it a bit late to embark on their own thing. Mid 20s then was a lot older than it is now.
@@shadowmanstrolls811 We are talking about what is remembered as the dominant musical genre which emerged in 1976, which was punk.There was of course, still rock, disco and novelty records. However, it's punk that was known, as the defining music of that time.
@@sandgrownun66 the op was talking about what a great band they are. The emergence of punk obviously happened, but the point is punk did not dominate commercially at the time. It has cultural significance now, with hindsight, but the emergence of punk had zero impact on them not winning opportunity knocks/breaking through.
Like a Spinal Tap done by League of Gentlemen esp the argument over a string replacement. Total Reece Sheersmith and wouldn't surprise me if he's seen this documentary.. They could easily redo this as a feature film and it would be a success with some added scenes. The Opportunity Knocks scouts were pure comedy gold characters...
I was punch drunk with nostalgia watching this. Punch gave me not one but 2 black eyes with the sheer power of their live performance. Punch really packed a Punch. Even Judy was stunned 😂👍
they certainly punched my ticket, i felt Punch drunk after the first two numbers, to say i was gob smacked would be an under statement,they certainly Punch above their weight. Seriously, they gave it a crack , more than some 'I coulda' if I. we woulda'' , but never left the bar; good on ya' lads, trust life has treated you kindly.
Amazing - just as it was as I started singing in clubs at 14 during the late 70's and early 80's. I got 25 quid for one 30 minute spot - not bad for a kid at school! So good money especially when I was lucky and did two gigs per week on friday and saturday nights! My best friend had a paper round and got 7 quid per week.
Good band. I used to play the clubs, for money, never fame. How they thought they would make it big playing covers, is odd. I hope they had a good time. I would like to know, what happend in the end. Thank you.
Their mistake was not having the compère of Millenniyule introduce them each night. Maybe they would have made it with a professional like that involved.
Wow. It seems pretty clear to me that the 1983 Comic Strip mockumentary ‘Bad News Tour’ is a send up of this film. However, to their credit, the Comic Strip weren’t mocking the band, but we’re actually remaking the film itself, only with a heavy metal band in place of Punch. The scenes of the members at home, their lonely van on the road, pulling up in front of the first club, and the audition scene are almost exact recreations from this documentary.
I thoroughly enjoyed this in a Spinal-Tapesque kind of way. Frankly, Punch had absolutely no chance whatsoever, but this was very interesting, bloody hilarious, and a great time-capsule film. I wished it was longer, certainly I wanted to see how they inevitably bombed on Opportunity Knocks. Many thanks!
Yes I hoped we’d get to see their big moment . I will though search a bit to see what happened to these blokes cos I started out being cynical ( those fucking flares & bubblegum pop in 76 ) but you gotta root for them with their determination. 😁👍
@@AsWellYouShould. yeah, these guys had no more chance of making it than i did 15 years ago - but sometimes you get blinkered and need to smell the roses. Im glad I did before investing too heavily in a pipe dream.
1:17 they never even made it over that bridge, but they did get more than their fifteen minutes of fame. They got 29 minutes and 17 seconds one rainy night in '76
Amazing documentary; a real snapshot of a time long gone. I feel for these guys-currently play in 7 bands, all of which do a mixture of original material and covers. The covers ALWAYS get a better response. It's still tough out there. Just found out that Punch's single came out the same day as "Anarchy In The UK", 26th November '76. Realistically, they probably didn't stand a chance once punk entered the mainstream. But it's still a sad fact that more than competent playing and excellent vocal harmonies counted for virtually nothing. Hopefully, they still enjoyed themselves and had a good time. For me, the only way to keep doing it (been playing in bands since late 80s) was to abandon the idea of "making it" and just get on with enjoying playing.
@@rojo3779. Its funny, in my hometown (Perth Western Australia) there was a band called "Thursday" who played the traps around this time.... they had a quite up to date Supertramp kind of sound. They made one single, and there probably were very few pressed. I play it every now and then, and it stands up after 45 years. They didnt "make it"....oh well. Punch? nah, they were dreamin'!
Their original songs are catchy and their on-stage vocalizing and harmonizing is exceptional. But I squirmed while watching this, knowing that the Damned, Jam, Clash, Pistols, Ramones, etc. were about to wipe everything else off the musical map and these guys would be back home, trying to their old jobs back. It's remarkable though that these men could and would try to make it in show biz with wives and kids to support.
i'm yankee but i lived in the u.k. 2 1/2 years. most anythang that's even remotely big in the states is known in the u.k. but so much that comes out of the u.k. is completely unknown over here. i'm a musician myself and a huge musichead and i had never heard of these guys until now. very interesting doc.
Nobody heard of them in the uk either. They never got anywhere. I was always puzzled why the u.s never took to the band Status Quo, pure heads down rock n roll like nothing I’ve heard out of the states. Check them out if you haven’t already. Their live album is one of the best.
Saw this prog (and their subsequent Opportunity Knocks appearance) when it was first released. I’ve always wondered what became of them after they sank out of trace. Glad to have seen it again.
These lads should have got the legendary manager, Ian Faith. He would have got them a meeting with Artie Fufkin of Polymer Records and the sky would have been the limit. The Army base circuit in America is how you crack this business.
These guys did actually have a single out featuring a pair of original Mitch Murray songs. It was released, very credibly, to the Bus Stop label; home of Paper Lace, Peter Noone and such. It's very of it's time. R.I.P. Mick Kershaw .
Anyone who has been in a band is feeling what these lads went through
Most definitely.....😊
And quite painful to watch.
I said I’d stop doing it when I stopped enjoying it … … … anyone need a bass player? ☺️
100% with you on that. Has anybody else played for nothing to plough the money into the van when the gearbox, substitute anything you want,went bang! Our bass player packed it in and the guy that replaced him was a mechanic added bonus👍👍👍👍. To this day if I dig about in the back of the garage I'll find bits and pieces for a Bedford Van just in case!
Definitely. I don't miss it. We all know when our road has ended.
This is wonderful.
My father was the President of a local WMC in Leeds, and spent six days a week in there. I always hated the times I went in, and this reminds me why. Same blank faces, same cheap beer, same seats for everyone and woebetide you disturb the tomobola or bingo. Always felt sorry for the acts who played there, always generally met with complete indifference, although some were genuinely terrible. Once saw a band do a set of prog rock songs - you can imagine how "Yours is no disgrace" went down.
There's a social club round here in Billingham (might be the same one mentioned in the video!) where they still have "turns" on a weekend. All these bands rotating, and given a three quarter hour slot before the bingo. So it's still around.
Incidentally Punch did get their slot on Opportunity Knocks, 29 November 1976. No footage survives, unfortunately. From TV Archive: "29.11.1976 With Stage Three, Billy Roberts, Spider Jive, Katie Budd, Punch (missing)".
Two days before the Bill Grundy incident of 01 Dec 76 when all the old music instantly became irrelevant. Unfortunate timing
@@zolandia5262 Following Grundy, I believe Punch immediately changed their name to 'Stab' and all sported Mohicans and torn clothes. It didn't work.
You’re totally wrong about the scene. Yes clubs were like this back then in the mid-70s. But also they had rock nights, mainly midweek, where you could watch bands doing covers of stuff by Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Sabbath, Pink Floyd. They even had original punk bands playing, such as Dead Fingers Talk (Google them) doing their own stuff. All to a young rock crowd and always full. No bingo or tombola. One time a heavy rock band played in a local WMC near us and young rock fans came from all over, it was so full people were actually sitting cross-legged on the floor, and that was a sizeable hall even by WMC standards. It was the final gig by the guitarist, who went on to form Fist, a metal band name-checked by Lars Ulrich. Fist also played WMCs regularly. As did Raven, White Spirit (Janick Gers’ band) Saxon etc etc . We could go to 3 maybe 4 of these rock nights a week round our part of the northeast, all in working men’s clubs. None of us would be seen dead in there on the nights you mention (mainly Saturdays) watching bands like Punch and sitting through bingo, but it wasn’t always like that.
@@zolandia5262 Bands like Punch wouldn’t have been affected by the arrival of punk in any way whatsoever.
OMG!!, Never knew this existed!!. Sooo interesting as I spent 25 years chasing the same rainbows!!🤷, I'm also from Bradford!. I was a drummer playing pubs and clubs all over the place semi-pro. It was a fabulous time, brilliant fun, a real adventure , I can relate to almost everything in this documentary. It's a young single man's game, or it was,- I don't think you could do it now??, there aren't any pub's and clubs left to gig in !. 🤷
You're not alone in never having heard of them.
We only shared it on here when my Dad passed (Mick Kershaw) he was on the road until I was 10, and I’m his youngest! so suppose it depends how dedicated you are and what work you can get as to whether it’s a ‘young single mans game or not’ 🤷🏼♀️
‘ … a knack of getting us voices together and makin' em blend ...' What a lovely turn of phrase! It's like poetry 'n' that, innit?
How many kids did these guys have between them? I lost count. How incredible. Married guys with kids taking a chance on the road. Love this. This is the England I remember.
Yes. It was tough then, but much better.
This is exactly what being a musician is like
An amazing slice of social history. Thanks for up loading. Stunning
Thank you
So poignant. Bless those guys and bless the working class communities they played for.
This is total class. Real life and no bullshit….. fighters
Thank you
It's like Spinal Tap meets The likely Lads - awesome.
If Bob Mortimer came on Would I Lie to You and said "I used to play lead guitar for Punch", I'd say true. Brilliant piece that captures the travelling muso.
I get where you're coming from.
Is it gyro day, Tom?
I toured the North West working men clubs with a cover band in the late 70's early 80's.
Luckky to be alive. 😄
They gave it a go , as I did . This probably will be sad and depressing to some degree, the fact that the guys turned pro as punk was exploding in the UK would not have helped.
Flame featuring Slade was a fantastic worms eye view of the music business.
Look what happened to Sid Vicious. He became famous but ended his brief life in sad and depressing circumstances. These chaps maybe hopefully stayed friends and lived happily ever after. Fame and fortune doesn't always bring out the best in people.
@davidmorrison
Personally, I’ve always thought that ‘Slade in flame’ is one of the greatest music/life of a band films ever made.
And Slade themselves were about to be discarded with the gratitude of a wet fart on a crowded bus 😮
"it's a shit business, son. You'll find out. "
They did all stay friends, just FYI, and all carried on as semi pro musicians for a lot of years after this.
It's not easy playing in a traveling band... hitting the big time..even harder.
Respect to all who try .
This is absolutely beautiful. I love it.
Thank you for this just kind comment!
Cheep beer, careful not to sit in the wrong seat, quiet during the bingo..happy days! Watched this in '76 when I was a kid great to see it again. Had a go myself a few years later, different music & venues but similar result. Loved every minute, wouldn't change a thing.
I want Punch to have a top ten tune in the hit parade. They can still do it.
Yes, they just were unlucky. The industry didnt give them a go. Their manager wasnt trying hard enough. The record companies didnt "get" their sound.....and so on.
The audience were not issued with ear plugs etc.@@standupstraight9691
I'd buy it (their record)
They were a good hard working group but had a terrible name PUNCH they were never gonna make it with a name like that
@@standupstraight9691 if you actually listen, then didn’t have a manager at the time! They were just unlucky, it wasn’t about anyone not getting their ‘sound’, they were unbelievably talented, they just didn’t make it!
Imagine these guys now, in their 80's! I used to love Sunday lunchtime in the local WMC. Different band every week and many of them as good as these.
I think this must have been the template for the classic the Comic Strip's, "Bad News on Tour". It's so similar.
This documentary is a great example of the difference in mindset between bands that make it and bands that don’t, particularly at this time in music. Ok these guys could play well enough but that’s where it ended. Their music was a good ten years behind the times, played with little passion, they were never going to be anything more than a working men’s club caberet act.
Fascinating piece of film.
have to agree
And you became a music critic 😂
Mindset hahahaha!! Keep up the positive vibes mate.
100%....except I dont agree with you that they could play well enough!
They were a very ordinary social club band, playing all the standard pop tunes of the time. For 1976, their sound was very dated. They were being paid well below average even for those days though, for a four-piece.
Kudos to the lads for following their passion!
Yes, kudos for them trying and trying.Whatever they did after, they had to feel a certain satisfaction that they gave the thing a honest try.
I doubt their wives would have agreed with you!
When you're 30+, have 2 - 4 kids to look after and you're bringing home only 10 quid a week, then you really do have to question yourself whether you're doing right by those who depend on you to keep a roof over your head.
Harsh but that's the reality
@@r.cjones1515 get a grip
@@written12 they were semi pro for years thanks
It's Creme Brulee from League of Gentlemen
We’re working on a slow reggae number, ‘Jamaica Ginger Cake’.
Its a shit business
It's a shit business.
It’s a shit business. Don’t miss it…
It’s a tough old game…
Fair play, their harmonising is pretty good.
A bit off, I thought. The tribute bands of today are super & more accomplished to Punch who fit the Opportunity Knocks.genre.
It’s great social history of the lost world of the social clubs. They were never going to make it, but I hope they had a great time & have great memories now.
Been there done that, respect to them and to all the other dreamers out there, never give up.
Nah, theres definitely a time to give up....
Backbone of any country, the working class. God bless em, and the acts that entertain them.
"You should be on more than that, I admit it" - they must have gone down well then. Northern Clubs were scary
Highway to Hull
God bless these Yorkshire lads.
Wish life was still like this. The internet destroyed all this.
Great watch, Good honest bunch of lads. Hope they toured on for many more years
Thank you, my Dad was on the road for many years after 😊
An honest portrayal of why it's called "show business" and not "show friends". I don't suppose the BBC is capable of making a programme like this now.
Proper hard grafting lads. Respect.
Nice lads with good harmonies!
Can’t help wonder if Adrian Edmondson saw this before writing Bad News but with a metal twist. Some very similar scenes on the motorway and in the van. Still at least Punch got paid by the promoter and didn’t start their songs on a count of 7. Bloody ell Vim, it’s a Marshall!
😂
I wonder if they got lost back stage like bad news lol just love that scene, yeah rock and roll!
“Rock ‘n’ roll I gave you all the best years of my life …”
I remember this from when it was first shown. Never thought I'd see it again...
1976. Can't imagine them riding the wave of what came next.
Without a doubt. Punk, for better or worse, wiped all of this out and into history.
@@blondegraemeynot really true. Punk was a flash in the pan with not many quality artists coming out of it. Music journalists just love writing about it and built it up into something it wasn’t.
@@paullee3660 yes true punk was a flash on the pan, but in 76, just as these lads turned pro, punk was just about to capture the imagination of the countries youth and every last record company wanted to sign young punk/new wave acts. Bands like Punch were instantly dated and consigned to history (where they've remained). Like it or not, punk burned brightly and reset the music industry. 76 was year zero.
@@paullee3660mate there are still punks listening to the pistols, sham69 ,devo and dressing like it's 1977.
Hardly a disposable style
The pink floyd yes jethro Tull led zepplins of the word survived the punk explosion , glam def went .
Thanks for the music guys! Bet you didn't make much money and probably drove the distance of the moon and back and carried 500 tonnes of amplifiers up stairs and down again. You had a really nice energy, love the cover of "Reach out". Thanks.
Incredible footage thank you
Thank God for Punk Rock. These lads had missed the boat. I hope they found some kind of happiness or sucess😢
Very good. Greetings from PortugaI.
Christ it was grim up North, it looks like the clubs Les Dawson described playing in his early days!
The general format seemed to be Set-Comedian-Set-Bingo-Set.
@RampantMackerelAshtray Sounds like the French "Terror".
Loved it, thanks for posting ❤️
Thank you
They are giving it a serious go hoping it will turn into something big in the finest of British traditions. Every band in the nascent years started this way. Very enjoyable to watch.
Thank you
I played in bands from the late 80s right through the 90s, great craic, brilliant memories.
Oof this is painful. It actually makes me feel OK about the crap bands I was in. "They don't clap us when we come out the pit. Why should we clap them when they get off the stage?" -- the working men of Yorkshire.
If you think this is crap I dread to think what your ‘crap’ bands were like arsehole 😂
I dread to think how crap yours were if you think this is crap 😂
I've been listening to JJ Cale a lot. He slogged it out from 1956-1970 before he was able to record an album after recording a hodge podge of songs. Then Clapton recorded, "After Midnight" and the money began to roll in, but it still wasn't easy for Cale. He kept recording and touring but he never truly became "famous" - he didn't want to be famous, a celebrity, a "rock star" (aka. asshole) he just lived simple, easy, in a caravan with another caravan as a studio. These days, Cale is considered one of the greats of singer-songwriters and he was an amazing engineer-producer. Gerry Rafferty was like that, too. Frank Zappa satirized fame, celebrity, the "rock star" douchebag, the corporatization of music and mockery of modern life in general. David Bowie struggled for years then "made it" in spectacular style but learned to not like that life.
Rest in peace to all those great artists who lived to create and bring some joy to the world.
*Bee Gees - Morning Of My Life* (live in Vegas)
th-cam.com/video/MGicSSLa2ns/w-d-xo.html
*JJ Cale - After Midnight* (great live version!)
th-cam.com/video/iszlVwZhANQ/w-d-xo.html
Very tight unit. Solid eight point five over ten.
Brilliant lol! Mick was my boss at SMC when I was 16, my first job. Great times and laughs.
Lol...been there done that...thanks for posting...brought back many manly memories
Thank you for the days......
19:55 This is where Punch got it wrong "We've got to be everybody's type of a group. We can't be a personal type of a group, like the groups that have made it. They've made it, so they've got their particular type of sound, so if they go onstage, people expect their type of songs."
Yep that's the cover band mentality. What he hasn't thought about is: why and how did those bands make it? Bands never get out of the club circuit without a powerful distinctive identity and strong original material. These days the club circuit is largely replaced by weddings and smaller pub gigs so the circuit has kind of divided in two. And there are so many fewer venues for bands doing original material. He's right about what it takes to be a popular cover band, but has no idea about 'making it'
Not sure they got it wrong. Think they were making a choice here.
@@version736ha2 Yes - the wrong choice.
@@LaughingStock_ its a debate. Plenty who were covers bands went on to make it
@@LaughingStock_ but i think there is a good bit of truth in what original poster says. My sense with this lot was, they had families and needed to earn, and their income largely came from working men's clubs and pubs, where people expected hits/variety. In reality, for the times they were in, they probably left it a bit late to embark on their own thing. Mid 20s then was a lot older than it is now.
What a great band.Gem of a video from the hot summer of 76.
Just when punk was about to explode and make this sound out of tune.
@@sandgrownun66punk.didn't dominate commercially, all sorts could hit the charts, ",there's no one quite like grandma" in 1980 for example 😂
@@shadowmanstrolls811 We are talking about what is remembered as the dominant musical genre which emerged in 1976, which was punk.There was of course, still rock, disco and novelty records. However, it's punk that was known, as the defining music of that time.
@@sandgrownun66 the op was talking about what a great band they are. The emergence of punk obviously happened, but the point is punk did not dominate commercially at the time. It has cultural significance now, with hindsight, but the emergence of punk had zero impact on them not winning opportunity knocks/breaking through.
It was put on here by Mick Kershaws daughters when he died, we felt he deserved more people to see it than us! That’s it.
Like a Spinal Tap done by League of Gentlemen esp the argument over a string replacement. Total Reece Sheersmith and wouldn't surprise me if he's seen this documentary.. They could easily redo this as a feature film and it would be a success with some added scenes. The Opportunity Knocks scouts were pure comedy gold characters...
Or Ade Edmondson also watched it for "Bad News Tour".
Creme Brulee!
Les McQueen.
@@michaelw2816 it's a shitbusiness!
Where is your documentary? Oh yeah, non existent 🙄
The Liverpool Express cover! You are my love
I enjoyed that immensely...
What a quality bunch of guys. Great vid
Solid blokes. Good on them.
Very interesting and entertaining video and what a great band
I was punch drunk with nostalgia watching this. Punch gave me not one but 2 black eyes with the sheer power of their live performance. Punch really packed a Punch. Even Judy was stunned 😂👍
Judy Was A Punch... er I mean Punk
@@brimans3092 No, SHEENA was a punk rocker.
Yep it certainly knocked me out
they certainly punched my ticket, i felt Punch drunk after the first two numbers, to say i was gob smacked would be an under statement,they certainly Punch above their weight. Seriously, they gave it a crack , more than some 'I coulda' if I. we woulda'' , but never left the bar; good on ya' lads, trust life has treated you kindly.
That's the way to do it!
RIP Mick what a lovely man and loved this documentary ❤
Which one was Mick? The Frontman?
He comes over really well on this documentary.
@@victoroladuja2416 Strat player.
@@victoroladuja2416 . theyre all just as ugly.
@@victoroladuja2416 the lead singer
Amazing - just as it was as I started singing in clubs at 14 during the late 70's and early 80's. I got 25 quid for one 30 minute spot - not bad for a kid at school! So good money especially when I was lucky and did two gigs per week on friday and saturday nights! My best friend had a paper round and got 7 quid per week.
Good band. I used to play the clubs, for money, never fame. How they thought they would make it big playing covers, is odd. I hope they had a good time. I would like to know, what happend in the end. Thank you.
It wasn’t about making it playing covers! God have any of you people actually listened to any of what is said?! You’re all so quickly critical!
Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for posting.
Their mistake was not having the compère of Millenniyule introduce them each night. Maybe they would have made it with a professional like that involved.
@@Bartholomew_Musgrave They might not be able to afford him! 😉🙂
Wow. It seems pretty clear to me that the 1983 Comic Strip mockumentary ‘Bad News Tour’ is a send up of this film. However, to their credit, the Comic Strip weren’t mocking the band, but we’re actually remaking the film itself, only with a heavy metal band in place of Punch. The scenes of the members at home, their lonely van on the road, pulling up in front of the first club, and the audition scene are almost exact recreations from this documentary.
I thoroughly enjoyed this in a Spinal-Tapesque kind of way. Frankly, Punch had absolutely no chance whatsoever, but this was very interesting, bloody hilarious, and a great time-capsule film. I wished it was longer, certainly I wanted to see how they inevitably bombed on Opportunity Knocks. Many thanks!
Yes I hoped we’d get to see their big moment . I will though search a bit to see what happened to these blokes cos I started out being cynical ( those fucking flares & bubblegum pop in 76 ) but you gotta root for them with their determination. 😁👍
@@AsWellYouShould. yeah, these guys had no more chance of making it than i did 15 years ago - but sometimes you get blinkered and need to smell the roses. Im glad I did before investing too heavily in a pipe dream.
@@newforestpixie5297. realistically they probably dont ahve a story, just fizzled out when reality hit.
@@standupstraight9691you seriously have issues! What did you ever do?
I mean why so harsh?! Absolutely no chance whatsoever?! They absolutely didn’t bomb. You have no idea why things fell through!
My mum was in one of these social club bands. This brought back so many memories, hilarious. Thanks for the upload.
What’s hilarious? They weren’t a social club band, they were semi pro for years after this. Sorry your mum was hilarious!
@@StephanieKershaw-xk2qt wow, somebody’s a sensitive little flower aren’t they?! Sorry your so butthurt.
@@tonye9045 who even says butthurt, how old are you 😂
Lol, the old Transit van. Probably used as more bands' first tour bus than any other .
@RampantMackerelAshtray Lol, oh yes 😃!
Bet the Transit's still going!
They all look like photofits of the Yorkshire Ripper.
Get a life
@@StephanieKershaw-xk2qt Lol you've literally just joined TH-cam today in order to make that comment? What a winner!
@@horrortackleharry not at all. But regardless what makes you a winner saying that ridiculous comment?!
@@StephanieKershaw-xk2qt Oh just a whim, you know, a flight of fancy.
1:17 they never even made it over that bridge, but they did get more than their fifteen minutes of fame. They got 29 minutes and 17 seconds one rainy night in '76
As a hobbyist muso, I would be chuffed with even that! (as long as it didnt cost me anything)
How do you know where they made it to? Where did you make it to? Your front door?!
@@standupstraight9691you, again! Get over yourself seriously, my Dad had more talent in his little finger than you’ve ever even dreamed of having!
They remind me of Crème Brûlée they could of made it.
Brilliant!
for anyone who knows the band - this is a fantastic trip down memory lane x
For anyone who doesn't - this is still fabulous. A real '70's time capsule.
did they release anything?
Amazing television. Audiences wouldn’t have the patience to watch it these days.
Steels Social Club where the band play in Sunderland is still going 👍
Amazing documentary; a real snapshot of a time long gone. I feel for these guys-currently play in 7 bands, all of which do a mixture of original material and covers. The covers ALWAYS get a better response. It's still tough out there. Just found out that Punch's single came out the same day as "Anarchy In The UK", 26th November '76. Realistically, they probably didn't stand a chance once punk entered the mainstream. But it's still a sad fact that more than competent playing and excellent vocal harmonies counted for virtually nothing. Hopefully, they still enjoyed themselves and had a good time. For me, the only way to keep doing it (been playing in bands since late 80s) was to abandon the idea of "making it" and just get on with enjoying playing.
Where are they now? Deserve a reunion! It’s cool to see three Fender instruments on stage!
I read elsewhere that they never made their tv appearance due to a management disagreement. They had a record deal but sadly, fame evaded them.
@@rojo3779. Its funny, in my hometown (Perth Western Australia) there was a band called "Thursday" who played the traps around this time.... they had a quite up to date Supertramp kind of sound. They made one single, and there probably were very few pressed. I play it every now and then, and it stands up after 45 years. They didnt "make it"....oh well.
Punch? nah, they were dreamin'!
@@standupstraight9691here again aren’t you!
Their original songs are catchy and their on-stage vocalizing and harmonizing is exceptional. But I squirmed while watching this, knowing that the Damned, Jam, Clash, Pistols, Ramones, etc. were about to wipe everything else off the musical map and these guys would be back home, trying to their old jobs back. It's remarkable though that these men could and would try to make it in show biz with wives and kids to support.
I would like to think that at some point they refashioned themselves as a power-pop/new wave band.
PUNCH - if only they'd swapped the 'CH' for a 'K'
My thought too....time was running out and yeah very understanding families behind the scenes
As much as I loved those punk bands and the impact they had on my life, I feel that something was lost when bands like Punch were swept away.
@@lndnflms484 I very much agree. Working Mens and Social Clubs - if you never experienced these you've probably never been in a proper 'Community'
Been doing this off and on for 40 plus years. Still doing it (not as much as as this band now of course)!
Excellent
A lot of hard work, plenty of laughs and not much else.
i'm yankee but i lived in the u.k. 2 1/2 years. most anythang that's even remotely big in the states is known in the u.k. but so much that comes out of the u.k. is completely unknown over here. i'm a musician myself and a huge musichead and i had never heard of these guys until now. very interesting doc.
Nobody heard of them in the uk either. They never got anywhere. I was always puzzled why the u.s never took to the band Status Quo, pure heads down rock n roll like nothing I’ve heard out of the states. Check them out if you haven’t already. Their live album is one of the best.
I LOVE 'STATUS QUO' BUT THEM AND SLADE WERE NEVER HUGE IN THE STATES FER SOME REASON.@@zappasmoustache23
Saw this prog (and their subsequent Opportunity Knocks appearance) when it was first released. I’ve always wondered what became of them after they sank out of trace. Glad to have seen it again.
I liked the second song they played at the steel club Sunderland .I think they wrote it themselves 😊
Their single "Ballad of the Good Luck Charm" was covered by Larry Hagman!
They all thought of themselves as working class until they got to Sunderland and then realised that they were actually middle class.
Keep on expecting to see Brian Potter go sailing past in his wheelchair, while the lads are playing away onstage
Take it you never even made it in a working mens let alone anything else 🙄😂
Ah... the cap sleeve t‐shirt.
A cautionary tale. Lotto odds.
These lads should have got the legendary manager, Ian Faith. He would have got them a meeting with Artie Fufkin of Polymer Records and the sky would have been the limit. The Army base circuit in America is how you crack this business.
Faith would have been smarter than to waste his time.
@@standupstraight9691 The cricket bat would have came in handy!
“We here at Polymer wish Punch great success on their Northern England tour. And so say all of us! Punch into Bolton, Nottingham, Leeds, and so on!"
They probably thought having a programme made about them was their Golden ticket!
I mean, wouldn’t you?!?! 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
@@StephanieKershaw-xk2qt Of course!
Up there with Bros: After The Screaming Stops as one of the greatest music documentaries of all time.
The past is another country. They do things differently there.
The shots of the motorways look like the shots of the motorways in Withnail & I.
GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN!!
@RampantMackerelAshtray We've come on holiday by mistake
These guys did actually have a single out featuring a pair of original Mitch Murray songs. It was released, very credibly, to the Bus Stop label; home of Paper Lace, Peter Noone and such. It's very of it's time. R.I.P. Mick Kershaw .
Blimey, they even have to provide their own PA ! Heroes.
The opportunity knocks song reminds me of the 70’s band Smokie . Anyone agree?
He was singing (badly) If You Think You Know How To Love Me by Smokie.
Yeah I think that it’s a really good comparison. Defo sounds close.
The flares wow.😮
Reminds me of my old uncle who went around for years. Blackpool pier was funny. Franklyn James...
Wonder if the guitarist still has that Strat