Professional Rich Kids ... Show # 137

This weeks show was a collection of mostly obscure punk and new wave/post punk bands. Two bands in particular that I'm going to talk about this week are The Rich Kids and The Professionals.

Rich Kids was a band formed by Glen Matlock after being kicked out of his previous band, Sex Pistols. The band consisted of Glen Matlock (Bass), Steve New (guitar), Midge Ure (vocals), and drummer Rusty Egan. The band formed in 1977, but would only record one album Ghosts of Princes in Towers which came out in 1978. The group was more of an experimental rock group as opposed to punk, but they did mix punk elements into their music. They would break up after one year due to differences between bassist Glen Matlock and vocalist Midge Ure. Ure would go on to sing in Ultravox and Matlock would reappear in music on Iggy Pop's Soldier album (which he played on and helped write). He would also appear in a variety of other bands but in 1996 he reunited with Sex Pistols for their reunion tour. In 2004 he released On Something. 

The Professionals on the other hand was the band that Steve Jones and Paul Cook of Sex Pistols formed after they split up. The Professionals (as the Rich Kids) did not last long. They were around for about two years and have released some albums Professionals (1980) and I Didn't See It Coming (1981). The albums are virtually the same despite a few track changes. The songs are Sex Pistol-ish, but are missing the power of Johnny Rotten. Steve Jones sings the songs, but there are a few good songs here. "Kick Down the Door" and "Crescendo" are great tracks, in 2006 I Didn't See It Coming was released with bonus tracks, some better than the album songs. Songs such as "1-2-3", and "Mods, Skins, Punks" come to mind. In 2005 a greatest hits compilation was also released. The band is interesting to hear due to the fact that Steve Jones is leading the band; if you're a Sex Pistols fan then they are worth checking out. In 1996, Steve Jones and Paul Cook reunited with Sex Pistols (as well as Glen Matlock and Johnny Rotten). He has done various side projects and even appeared on the Johnny Thunders So Alone album along with Paul Cook. Steve Jones currently does a radio show in LA where he plays some of his favourite bands punk and non-punk. He has also had a variety of musical guests such as Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Billy Idol, and many others.

Video of The Professionals - 1-2-3
Video of The Professionals - Just Another Dream

For more information on The Professionals and Steve Jones visit:
This site

Here's what was played:

1. Velvet Underground – rock & roll
2. The Bureaucrats – the grown up age
3. Gruesomes – cry in the night
4. Modern Lovers – Pablo Picasso
5. Gang of Four – why theory?
6. Talking Heads – new feeling (alternate version)
7. Rich Kids – ghosts of princes in towers
8. The Professionals – 1-2-3
9. Big Audio Dynamite – harrow road
10. PiL – theme
11. Private School – science friction
12. The Scissors – mystery movie
13. Wire – sand in my joints
14. Devo – love without anger
15. The Dub Rifles – delicate action
16. Fire Engines – hungry beat
17. The Stooges – ATM
18. The Stooges – my idea of fun
19. Chelsea – urban kids
20. Smugglers – the b’n’i
21. The Madness – one step beyond
22. The Specials – you’re wondering now
23. The Victims – television addict
24. Radio Birdman – aloha steve & danno