The Petticoats
Normal

!980...

The Petticoats, that is, a girl named Stef...

Voice-Stef

Rhythm guitar-Stef

Lead guitar-Stef

Bass-Stef

Drums-Stef

Producer-Stef

Distributor-Stef

Label-Stef

Normal the first seven-inch is "messy, raw, amateurish," at least that's what Ian says. And Ian is never wrong.

Then there was that other matter, girls loving girls.

...

And now? Now I sing in a soul choir. And the Androids of Mu, are you still in touch with them? It's been a while since we last spoke.

Yes, it's been a while.

But, if you really want us machines, we'll huff and puff, oh yes, we'll huff and puff...rusty pulleys and pistons going awkwardly offbeat, off-tune, out of step.

At two years old, at two years old I sang all day long. Then the Beatles, the Stones, California, the Velvet Underground, just like you, just like all of you, just like everyone. And everyone means us. But at three years old, at three years old I would never stay still...

Punk beat, psych there's no difference. Clear the streets of dreams? Like hell...Yes, punk beat, psych there's no difference. But I like punk more. Punk is the best music of all. And at four years old, at four years old I had light in my eyes.

I remember all those boring bands from Aachen, Bonn, Cologne. I was way too much for them. The only thing was to sit at the piano and sing Patti Smith, you know, I bought the book of lyrics. "And the boy's face lit up with such naked joy"..."such naked joy"..."such naked joy." So at five years old, at five years old I saw something.

In London all those "singer wanted" bands were more boring than in Germany. Luckily I met Zuni and the other girls, here's the band, here's "The Necessary Evil." At six years old, at six years old I understood how things work.

But then "The Necessary Evil" split into two factions, the first saying "who cares about men," the second "let's kill all men." At seven years old, at seven years old, I realized I'm not full of grace, or maybe grace is something else.

Then came Amy and the angels and, damn, we had a cute little song, quite punk yes, but also rather catchy. Then at eight years old, at eight years old I started playing the game of the female soldier.

The lesbians (though not all) found punk too masculine. The punks (though not all) found us too lesbian. The companions came and went. Then at nine years old, at nine years old I first clenched my eyes, then my fists.

In the end I decided to do EVERYTHING alone. Do it yourself. Yourself do it. And at ten years old, at ten years old I wrote a poem titled "I Hate Being in Love."

...

Three little songs three. "Normal" and "Allergy" are irresistible: nervous pace, grated sound, little voice. "I'm free" shines with beautiful cacophony. All in marvelous marvelous english kraut.

Three little coins to put in a Juke Box of anger, happiness, and sublime disinterest. Hurrah hurrah hurrah.

The seven-inch makes it to John Peel and it's the record of the week. The girl is punk, but she's catchy.

Then there will be group 4, group 5, group 6 and so on and so on and so on.

Glory to you, humble worker in the vineyards of the lord.