Putsch Comes To Shove

I'm not sure that there have been many songs written about the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, 1923. It was a pretty significant moment - Adolf Hitler making an opportunistic snatch for power and failing badly. But I do know one lyricist that covered the theme during the post-punk era. Friends, I was that writer.

I came up with the song as a teenager in 1980. I had an 'O' level in history and was emboldened by bands like the Clash to think about the big political issues. So I came up with this cautionary tale about the rise of Fascism. It was performed live by my band Acme, and received rather well. A year later, we recorded the track at Homestead Studios in Ahoghill. In a jittery session, we recorded and mixed four tunes in five hours. We sold a few cassettes of the demo before it was quietly retired.

However, the tracks have just been revived by Spit Records on a new compilation, 'Shellshock Rockers'. Acme are generously represented, alongside The Androids, Shock Treatment, The Ex-Producers and some other roaring ingrates from the NI scene. Apparently a load of CDs have already been shipped to Japan, though I'd say that an offer to tour there is unlikely.

'Beer Hall In Munich' is all earnest bluster and vapid couplets such as: "Bavarian politicians tried to keep the peace, but Weimar was crumbling round their feet". The guitar line was a homage to Rudi and 'The Pressure's On' while the Teutonic rumble was probably inspired by The Skids and their portentous 'Days In Europa'. A mate at school read the words and reckoned it was about as meaningful as 'Rasputin' by Boney M. Ouch.