The Saints

Eternally Yours
EMI, 1978

Only five months after Never Mind The Bollocks was released, The Saints were already deriding the punk aesthetic. "Now you think that you got a first in fashion/ New uniforms, we all look the same... a new profit in the same old game," Chris Bailey sang on 'Private Affair' from the band's second album, Eternally Yours. They had reason to be pissed off.

The Saints' first anarchic single, '(I'm) Stranded', part of an album of the same name recorded for $200 at an advertising jingles studio in Brisbane, had preceded every punk group in the UK. The British media called it "bloody incredible" and one paper ran their review under the heading "Single of this and every week". At the time, back at home, Bailey thought to himself, "that's odd, I don't recall becoming instantly famous in the UK".

But when the band finally made it to London, it was like stepping into a bear trap. The Sex Pistols had taken off in the capital and brought the de rigeur punk uniform with them. Reportedly, EMI wanted the Australian group to create a rival "Saints suit", with lime-green shirts, ripped pants and spiky hair. Critics were far less affectionate towards a bunch of angry brats from the colonies now they had their own punk heroes. And when the band did have a hit with the single 'This Perfect Day', EMI hadn't made enough copies.

The Saints recorded Eternally Yours at the same studios later used by The Clash for London Calling. It kicked off with 'Know Your Product', a caustic attack on the advertising industry with a prominent brass section that confused all the punk kids. "Cheap advertising, you're lying/ Never gonna get me what I want/ Smooth talkin', brain washin'/ Aint never gonna give me what I need," Bailey spat out between horn blasts.

It was one of punk's finest moments, especially in theme. But if you asked an Australian kid in a Ramones T-shirt who The Saints were today, they probably wouldn't have a clue. Sometimes it must really fucking suck to be in a band from Australia.