Twiggy Pop - Singer 1996
My Brezhnev Experience
by Twiggy Pop
Where to begin? Being a Staatsliedenbuurt resident for most of my years in Amsterdam and a fringe member of the local
squatter organisation in the 80's, Brezhnev were of course well known to me. I had seen them perform at a few benefit
gigs and I knew the band members from sharing rehearsal rooms with them, whilst playing in my 60's rock coverband -
and also from local jam sessions.
Oeb had lived a few doors away from me for a while and I still remember being woken up by his drumming from the attic
on many an occasion and cursing him!
So fast forward to the October of 1996....
A phone call from Oeb one evening, asking me to meet him at the Jam rehearsal rooms for a chat. At first I thought
(hoped) it was about a job at the Jam, as I'd mentioned to Oeb (who was working there), that I was looking for work.
However, what a surprise awaited me when I got to the Jam!
He told me Heidi had "gone missing" and Brezhnev had a promotional tour in Germany in November. They had tried
several replacement singers but none were suited. "You are the only singer we think could stand in for Heidi on the tour -
you have the presence and the balls to do it".
I nearly fell off my chair! A million thoughts flashed through my mind. Me - fronting fucking Brezhnev? I'm a rocker, not a
punk. I'm 43 years old and haven't toured in years. How the fuck am I going to learn 25 new songs in TWO AND A HALF
WEEKS???
Anyway, I agreed to come to a rehearsal the next day and Oeb gave me a cassette tape with the songs I'd have to learn.
I sat up until the early hours that night, listening and writing down lyrics and timings, so I'd be able to at least practice a
few songs with them the next day.
So - I got to the Jam the following afternoon, nervous but excited. Said Hi to Motør and Ola and Ggggideon who was
along to see the rehearsal. First up, was "She ain't Horny". The band hit the first chords and I thought my ears were
going to fall off! FUCK, it was loud!!! After a few false starts, we got through the song ok and then sailed through it
again. OK, I was still reading the lyrics from a sheet of paper, but at least the timings were sorted. Then straight into
"BaldWig". A much easier song to do and we got it right 2nd time and this gave me confidence. Then onto what is still
one of my favourite Brezhnev songs, "Never Again". Now, the timings on this song are crucial and the amount of words to
be sung at high speed is phenominal...so it took me the rest of the afternoon session to get it just about right.
So we packed away our instruments and had a beer upstairs to unwind. As I sat down I realised I was shaking and
recognised it as an andrenalin rush...I liked it! So of course, the guys asked me if I was interested in joining them as
singer for the tour, as they liked my input. YES! was the only thing I could say. I wanted that buzz again and again. That
sheer power and driving energy from the music was something I'd never experienced in 25 years of fronting bands.
Band were happy and then they told me we had a gig in Zaandam, the following week! WHAAAT???? Ah well, I'm a guy
who loves a challenge..go for it!
The following week was intensive rehearsal - "Sit Back Zap", "Nice Day for a walk", "Hostitute", "She's Not Dead", "Makes
Me Sick" and a whole bunch more were tried and tied up in a few days, thanks to me doing masses of homework, outside
of the rehearsal hours. Playing the tape I had over and over again, plus recordings we made during rehearsing, to see
my mistakes.
It went so well, that we even had time to write a new song which I wrote the lyrics for - "Dirty Little Slut".
Then - off to Zaandam! We were to support an American hardcore outfit..Bloody Sods, if I remember? So long ago, I
can't even remember the name of the venue...something "Park" - Parkzicht?? I do remember it was hot and sweaty and
full of the Brezhnev hardcore fans contingent.
I had a pile of papers with the lyrics typed out in bold under my monitor box, for reference! Now, if I thought it was loud in
the studio, the first chords at that gig almost blew me offstage!
My initial nervousness soon passed, as the whole place was jumping around and the andrenalin had kicked into me in
the first song.
We sailed through the set list, but I noticed one fan swapping my lyric sheets around so I had NO idea which song was
next! FUCKER!
However, I was on a buzz and it didn't matter. We got through the set like we'd always played together and I only made a
couple of mistakes with timings and I'd passed my baptism of fire!
More to follow - when I find my on the road diary from the Germany tour!
Best from Billus!
by Twiggy Pop
Where to begin? Being a Staatsliedenbuurt resident for most of my years in Amsterdam and a fringe member of the local
squatter organisation in the 80's, Brezhnev were of course well known to me. I had seen them perform at a few benefit
gigs and I knew the band members from sharing rehearsal rooms with them, whilst playing in my 60's rock coverband -
and also from local jam sessions.
Oeb had lived a few doors away from me for a while and I still remember being woken up by his drumming from the attic
on many an occasion and cursing him!
So fast forward to the October of 1996....
A phone call from Oeb one evening, asking me to meet him at the Jam rehearsal rooms for a chat. At first I thought
(hoped) it was about a job at the Jam, as I'd mentioned to Oeb (who was working there), that I was looking for work.
However, what a surprise awaited me when I got to the Jam!
He told me Heidi had "gone missing" and Brezhnev had a promotional tour in Germany in November. They had tried
several replacement singers but none were suited. "You are the only singer we think could stand in for Heidi on the tour -
you have the presence and the balls to do it".
I nearly fell off my chair! A million thoughts flashed through my mind. Me - fronting fucking Brezhnev? I'm a rocker, not a
punk. I'm 43 years old and haven't toured in years. How the fuck am I going to learn 25 new songs in TWO AND A HALF
WEEKS???
Anyway, I agreed to come to a rehearsal the next day and Oeb gave me a cassette tape with the songs I'd have to learn.
I sat up until the early hours that night, listening and writing down lyrics and timings, so I'd be able to at least practice a
few songs with them the next day.
So - I got to the Jam the following afternoon, nervous but excited. Said Hi to Motør and Ola and Ggggideon who was
along to see the rehearsal. First up, was "She ain't Horny". The band hit the first chords and I thought my ears were
going to fall off! FUCK, it was loud!!! After a few false starts, we got through the song ok and then sailed through it
again. OK, I was still reading the lyrics from a sheet of paper, but at least the timings were sorted. Then straight into
"BaldWig". A much easier song to do and we got it right 2nd time and this gave me confidence. Then onto what is still
one of my favourite Brezhnev songs, "Never Again". Now, the timings on this song are crucial and the amount of words to
be sung at high speed is phenominal...so it took me the rest of the afternoon session to get it just about right.
So we packed away our instruments and had a beer upstairs to unwind. As I sat down I realised I was shaking and
recognised it as an andrenalin rush...I liked it! So of course, the guys asked me if I was interested in joining them as
singer for the tour, as they liked my input. YES! was the only thing I could say. I wanted that buzz again and again. That
sheer power and driving energy from the music was something I'd never experienced in 25 years of fronting bands.
Band were happy and then they told me we had a gig in Zaandam, the following week! WHAAAT???? Ah well, I'm a guy
who loves a challenge..go for it!
The following week was intensive rehearsal - "Sit Back Zap", "Nice Day for a walk", "Hostitute", "She's Not Dead", "Makes
Me Sick" and a whole bunch more were tried and tied up in a few days, thanks to me doing masses of homework, outside
of the rehearsal hours. Playing the tape I had over and over again, plus recordings we made during rehearsing, to see
my mistakes.
It went so well, that we even had time to write a new song which I wrote the lyrics for - "Dirty Little Slut".
Then - off to Zaandam! We were to support an American hardcore outfit..Bloody Sods, if I remember? So long ago, I
can't even remember the name of the venue...something "Park" - Parkzicht?? I do remember it was hot and sweaty and
full of the Brezhnev hardcore fans contingent.
I had a pile of papers with the lyrics typed out in bold under my monitor box, for reference! Now, if I thought it was loud in
the studio, the first chords at that gig almost blew me offstage!
My initial nervousness soon passed, as the whole place was jumping around and the andrenalin had kicked into me in
the first song.
We sailed through the set list, but I noticed one fan swapping my lyric sheets around so I had NO idea which song was
next! FUCKER!
However, I was on a buzz and it didn't matter. We got through the set like we'd always played together and I only made a
couple of mistakes with timings and I'd passed my baptism of fire!
More to follow - when I find my on the road diary from the Germany tour!
Best from Billus!