The Snivelling Shits
Encyclopedia
The Snivelling Shits were a punk rock
group formed in London
in 1977, and centred on Giovanni Dadomo
, Sounds
, and The Face
.
In 1977 he recorded the novelty punk record "Terminal Stupid"/"I Can't Come", the latter described as "an iconoclastic mantra of amphetamine-induced sexual dysfunction", backed by guitarist and fellow journalist Dave Fudger and various musicians including members of Eddie and the Hot Rods, and engineered by Steve Lillywhite
, who also played bass guitar for the band. Lillywhite's career as a record producer
began to take off and Barry Myers, aka punk and reggae disc jockey
DJ Scratchy took over on bass. The single was released in late 1977. Dadomo resurfaced in 1978 under the guise of Arthur Comix, with "Isgodaman?" on the Beggars Banquet
label compilation Streets
. He recorded more material which was discovered in the late 1980s and released in 1989 as the I Can't Come album by Damaged Goods Records, described by Maximumrocknroll as "essential for music lovers and music haters alike". He also co-wrote two songs with The Damned - "I Just Can't Be Happy Today
" and "There Ain't No Sanity Clause
", the latter of which appeared in demo form on I Can't Come.
Dadomo also co-wrote the book New Women in Rock (1982, Delilah/Putnam) with Liz Thompson.
The I Can't Come collection has been described as "punk at its most pristinely putrid", with Allmusic writer Dave Thompson going on to say "the Snivelling Shits reduced every cliché of the era to as few chords as possible, then spattered them with a stupidity that would have been rank if it wasn't so magnificent".
Dadomo died in 1997
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group formed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1977, and centred on Giovanni Dadomo
History
Giovanni Dadomo was a music journalist who wrote for publications such as ZigZagZigZag (magazine)
ZigZag was a British rock music magazine. It was started by Pete Frame and the first edition rolled off the printing presses on 16 April 1969...
, Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
, and The Face
The Face (magazine)
The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
.
In 1977 he recorded the novelty punk record "Terminal Stupid"/"I Can't Come", the latter described as "an iconoclastic mantra of amphetamine-induced sexual dysfunction", backed by guitarist and fellow journalist Dave Fudger and various musicians including members of Eddie and the Hot Rods, and engineered by Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite is an English Grammy Award winning record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited for working on over 500 records and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including XTC, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dave Matthews Band, U2, Peter Gabriel,...
, who also played bass guitar for the band. Lillywhite's career as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
began to take off and Barry Myers, aka punk and reggae disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
DJ Scratchy took over on bass. The single was released in late 1977. Dadomo resurfaced in 1978 under the guise of Arthur Comix, with "Isgodaman?" on the Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
label compilation Streets
Streets (punk album)
Streets is a compilation album of early British punk rock bands from a variety of independent record labels . It was an attempt at an end of year ‘round up’ and, significantly, was the first album released on Beggars Banquet Records .The sleeve notes stated that: "1977 was the year that the music...
. He recorded more material which was discovered in the late 1980s and released in 1989 as the I Can't Come album by Damaged Goods Records, described by Maximumrocknroll as "essential for music lovers and music haters alike". He also co-wrote two songs with The Damned - "I Just Can't Be Happy Today
I Just Can't Be Happy Today
"I Just Can't Be Happy Today" is a song by The Damned from their 1979 album, Machine Gun Etiquette. Released as a single in November, it peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart....
" and "There Ain't No Sanity Clause
There Ain't No Sanity Clause
"There Ain't No Sanity Clause" was a single by The Damned.The song was a tongue-in-cheek rock song released with an eye on the lucrative Christmas market, but failed to chart.The single was the last new material to be released by the band on Chiswick...
", the latter of which appeared in demo form on I Can't Come.
Dadomo also co-wrote the book New Women in Rock (1982, Delilah/Putnam) with Liz Thompson.
The I Can't Come collection has been described as "punk at its most pristinely putrid", with Allmusic writer Dave Thompson going on to say "the Snivelling Shits reduced every cliché of the era to as few chords as possible, then spattered them with a stupidity that would have been rank if it wasn't so magnificent".
Dadomo died in 1997
Singles, EPs
- "Crossroads" / "Only 13" (1977) (very limited pressing acetate)
- "Terminal Stupid" / "I Can't Come" (1977) Ghetto Rockers
- "Isgodaman?" / "Terminal Stupid" / "I Can't Come" (1989) Damaged Goods
Compilation appearances
- "Isgodaman?", on StreetsStreets (punk album)Streets is a compilation album of early British punk rock bands from a variety of independent record labels . It was an attempt at an end of year ‘round up’ and, significantly, was the first album released on Beggars Banquet Records .The sleeve notes stated that: "1977 was the year that the music...
(1978) Beggars Banquet (as Arthur Comix)
External links
- The Snivelling Shits at discogs.com
- The Snivelling Shits at punk77.co.uk