Nips - the truth at last

Source: Sounds
Date: October 17, 1981
Author: Barry Lazell
Copywrite: © Sounds 1981



THANKS to a splendid response (as usual) to my recent open appeal for further info on the Nips and Soho Records, we can now bring you virtually the complete authorised update on the band, members, and their label.

Firstly, Tom O'Grady, who writes from Soho Records' new centre of empire at Vinyl Solution in London's Hanway Street. He says "Soho have asked me as a professional punter to put everything straight re the Nips/Soho mystery. Firstly, the single SH 6 WAS released, it being 'Sleep Rock & Roll' / 'Hey Baby' by the Jets. There was also an album release, featuring the Nips recorded live in Wolverhampton, and titled 'Only The End Of The Beginning' (Soho HO HO 1). All the band's fave raves can be found on it, as can the unique atmosphere only to be experienced at Nips gigs. Copies of the album were dispatched to Sounds in search of reviews at the time (but in vain!) The Nips, of course, disbanded and went their separate ways. Shanne the bassist has since married and had a baby, and she had latterly formed a band with a Scottish fiddler. Shane, the songwriter and voice, is in a group called the 'Noisy Boisies', and is perfecting his concept of a new Irish-type music, which will be truly gaelic in its splendour when finally unleashed. The many ex-Nip guitar pluckers and their scores of ex-drummers have all gone on the other things - e.g. Gavin (a drummer) is rumoured to have gone back to Wales to breed sheep!

As for the Soho records singles, copies of SH 1/2, 4, 8 and 9 are still available, as is the abovementioned album HO HO 1, while future plans include a compilation album 'If We'd All Been Living In California', which will contain the deleted singles plus unreleased Nipple Erectors tracks from 'King Of The Bop' sessions. (by the way, the band's name was not changed for sexist reasons, but for the more practical expedient of getting some gigs now and then.) There is also some talk currently of Soho recording a new single with Shane, while further treats can be expected from the label come the New Year. While we appeared to be in oblivion, you see, Soho was just talking a deep breath in preparation for bigger and (of course) better things! The available records can still be obtained from the Vinyl Solution record shops at 39, Hereford Street, London W.2 and 36, Hanway Street, London W.1. (and they do mail order if you're out of town)."

Thanks also to Barrie Thorpe, of Finsbury Park, N.4, who also pointed me in the direction of Vinyl Solution for Soho's new home. "Good shop, too" endorses Barrie, and adds that "Shane is usually to be found around there getting drunk and falling about the place." He also mentionsthe forthcoming compilation album: "It's supposed to include some previously unreleased stuff by the inmates, etc. - and I'm painting the cover!"

Lyndon Hills of Crawley in Susses also wrote concern the Nips album "Only The End Of the Beginning', and gives several details about it: "The LP was recorded live on the Purple Hearts tour, and I think the recording actually began life as a bootleg. The Tracks are as follows:- 'Love To Make You Cry' / 'Vengeance' / 'King Of The Bop' / 'Gabrielle' / 'Ghostown' / 'Fuss 'n' Bother' / 'Venus In Bovver Boots' / 'Happy Song' / 'Stupid Cow' / 'I Don't Want Nobody To Love' / 'Infatuation' / 'Maida Ada' / it's a good album in general."

For real 'horse's mouth' info, though, we couldn't have wished for more than the note which came in from Fritz (alias Blondie Douglas), who (as they say) WUZ THERE. He sez: "Regarding your article on the elusive Nips, I'm about to tell you the bitter truth. You might be wondering how I came by this information, but as I served a two-year apprenticeship in the group as a guitarist, I am quite well informed. To start with, contrary to public belief, Shane is not an orange person in the Punjab, but the last I heard, is singing Irish folk songs with that well-known Burton Street basement band, the Texas Chainsaws, and it's more likely, in fact, that he's an orange man in Belfast! As for the bassist Shann, she's now married with a daughter, and has retired from the music business.

The band's drummers would probably make up quite a list. There were four different ones during my spell with the Nips, though the only one whose present whereabouts I know is Roger, who is now drumming for those bi-products of Chelsea, The Smart. And now to myself. When the Nips split up nigh on two years ago, I formed a group with the Spiders' ex-singer (the all-girl combo, remember? - they did 'Mony Mony' on Red Records), but after several dull gigs, being ripped off by promoters, and playing to a bunch of wankers, we decided to call it a day, and are currently creating strange new sounds in Debbie's bedroom.

Anyway, I hope I've clarified things for you, and perhaps you could dig up a photo with me in it, because I'm sick of being hidden behind Shane's ears. Incidentally, you didnt' mention that fabulous live album on Soho 'Only The End Of The Beginning', which features my pimply guitar playing."

A final tailpiece from me, which doesn't actually tie in with anything we've been told above, but does seem to indicate that the rest of the band are in the process of resurfacing, is that there is a NEW Nips single just released this very week. On the Test Pressings label, which is distributed by Pinnacle and (I think) something to do with the Burning Rome label, it's 'Happy Song' / 'Nobody To Love' (TP 5). Both sides are writer-credited simply to 'The Nips', and thus shed no clue to the current line-up. So we may have some more Nips for you yet...