Takin' The Piss

What can you say about Armitage Shanks a band named after a fine bit of porcelain..... well quite a lot actually.

Formed in Snodland, Kent in early 1991, good mates of Billy Childish they released their first single Do You Want Some Fuckin’ Shirts Off Or What (with Childish on Vocals) in early 1993, they became the support band at Thee Headcoats London shows at the now legendary Wild Western Room in Archway (mainly because Dick drove Thee Headcoats van).

They recorded and mixed their debut album Takin’ The Piss (Damgood 34) in three and a half hours at Toe Rag Studios (still a record I believe), Mr Childish twiddled the knobs while they drunk excessively. A fantastic album, still one of the best albums ever on DG.

From there on there was no stopping them, playing to over 20 people sometimes at their own shows in London, they then headed out on their first (and only) UK tour, drinking their way around the country followed by a full European tour the year after.

They did a punk covers album for Vinyl Japan in which they anhiliated 20 punk classics (a couple of the roughest out-takes appear on the CD version of Takin’ The Piss) and then released lots of singles on labels in Germany, France, Japan and America.

Another album Shanks Pony (Damgood 94) followed in 1995, another stormer and a live album (Cacophony Now, Damgood 141) was released in mid 1997 which was recorded at the Hope N Anchor in October 1996.

They then took an enforced break for 5 or so years...

...and the good news is that now the Shanks are back, a collection of all their singles on one CD (no vinyl this time) called 25 Golden Showers (Damgood 216) which is due out on in August and they have also just finished a brand new album of new material, their first for 7 years which as ever was recorded in the now famous Toe Rag Studios in East London. It's called... wait for it... Urinal Heep and I reckon it's their best yet.

They still do the odd gig in and around London and are always entertaining and still, in my opinion, one of the great DG bands.

Armitage Shanks - Takin' The Piss (DAMGOOD34CD)

CD Album

1.		Armitage Shanks - Tune Up
2.		Armitage Shanks - Treat You Bad
3.		Armitage Shanks - Pop Klub Scum
4.		Armitage Shanks - Primary School Punk
5.		Armitage Shanks - Shut Your Mouth
6.		Armitage Shanks - Slim's Hammer
7.		Armitage Shanks - Drink Driver
8.		Armitage Shanks - Shirts Off
9.		Armitage Shanks - She's Too Perfect
10.		Armitage Shanks - Thrown Together
11.		Armitage Shanks - Bernard Manning
12.		Armitage Shanks - Whingeing Little Shitbag
13.		Armitage Shanks - You Don't Destroy Me
14.		Armitage Shanks - I Know What You Need
15.		Armitage Shanks - One Chord Wonders
16.		Armitage Shanks - Naēve
17.		Armitage Shanks - Ambulance

Armitage Shanks - Takin' The Piss (DAMGOOD34CD)

Download Album

1.		Armitage Shanks - Tune Up	38s
2.		Armitage Shanks - Treat You Bad	2m 46s
3.		Armitage Shanks - Pop Klub Scum	2m 43s
4.		Armitage Shanks - Primary School Punk	2m 48s
5.		Armitage Shanks - Shut Your Mouth	3m 25s
6.		Armitage Shanks - Slim's Hammer	1m 37s
7.		Armitage Shanks - Drink Driver	1m 20s
8.		Armitage Shanks - Shirts Off	2m 56s
9.		Armitage Shanks - She's Too Perfect	2m 21s
10.		Armitage Shanks - Thrown Together	2m 9s
11.		Armitage Shanks - Bernard Manning	1m 27s
12.		Armitage Shanks - Whingeing Little Shitbag	2m 0s
13.		Armitage Shanks - You Don't Destroy Me	2m 1s
14.		Armitage Shanks - I Know What You Need	2m 45s
15.		Armitage Shanks - One Chord Wonders	2m 3s
16.		Armitage Shanks - Naēve	3m 51s
17.		Armitage Shanks - Ambulance	1m 57s

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