Over 21 / Waiting for the Future, by Berlin (c.1977 - 1980)
Jun 5th, 2010 by Conor McCabe
[Thanks to Dave for the single]
Punk/New Wave by the numbers here from Berlin who have a song about the horrors of a 9-to-5 which was released in 1980, just as Ireland’s unemployment rate was going through the roof, thereby negating the need to worry about pissing your life away in an office job for squares, man.
Again, IrishRock.org has a piece on the band.
Thanks for uploading Conor! Been wanting to get my hand on the b-side for months.
Well i never thought i would find a copy of our single, haven’t hear it for over thirty odd years.
Many thanks
Charlie Hallinan “Ex Drummer Berlin”
Thanks for the comment Charlie. I feel slightly embarrassed now about my ‘new wave by the numbers’ line. Sorry about that!
Hi Conner,
no problem, i seem to remember we got a lot a lot worse stick than that in the 70s. Happy Days. Buy ye a pint next time i’m in Dublin
All The Best
Charlie
Hey Charlie,
Good to hear you’re keeping well, always regarded this as a lost Irish classic. I’d been keeping it safe in my attic (with the rest of the vinyl collection) for the past few years, so it was good to get a chance to get to hear it again. I’d never actually listened to the ‘b’ side before, it’s an impressive Stranglers type tune.
So tell us anyway, what was like supporting The Clash & The Jam?!
Hi Dave
Thank you for the recordings, great stuff. i never imagined i would hear it again, after 30 odd years.
I did have a laugh when you said “So tell us anyway, what was like supporting The Clash & The Jam?!” it reminded me of the Commitments when the manager of the band was interviewing himself in the bath.
To be honest i don’t remember that much about supporting the Jam and Clash, as far as i can recall we had very little contact with the bands themselves, just their road crews, but as it happens i will be calling our singer Mr Freeze in the US tonight and ask him.
Speaking of him, my funniest memory of Berlin was a gig in Morans, halfway through the set a decided to walk of the stage and across a line of tables, as he did so people who were sitting at the tables were filling these ankle high bike boots he was wearing with their pints, by the time he got back to the stage he flooded us, i nearly fell of the drim kit i was laughing so much, memories eh.
I do remember Graham Parker what a fiasco that was, if you go to my Myspace page it will be in the biography.
All the best for now
Charlie
Hi Dave,
i spoke to Brian but he can remember less than i can.
Although as the saying goes “if you cant remember it, you must have been there”
I meant to ask, do you know anyone that has a copy of the second Berlin single, It was called Central Station and the B side was boyfriends. lts a long shot but i thought i’d ask.
Thanks again
As i said to Conner the pints are on me next time i’m in Dublin.
Ticket for The Clash/Berlin gig has turned up here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbarnicle/5492869134/ via here
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/03/22/live-from-the-top-hat/#comment-144227.