"Part Time Punks", The Overlooked Genius of Dan Treacy
5 Comments Published by Augustus Payne on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 02:46.
DIY Spirit, La La La’s, Visionary Pop Gems and yes they knew where Syd Barrett lived!So what happens when you’re inspired by punk but don’t necessarily like what it’s become? Well if you’re Dan Treacy you put together a ragtag band and mix the best bits of Syd Barrett’s Floyd, the Kinks, and stir it all together with a dash of DIY punk attitude. This was the band that epitomized the true spirit of DIY. Spurned on by DIY innovators the Desperate Bicycles. They recorded the thrilling single 14th floor b/w Oxford Street. They didn’t have enough money to get the single pressed, but they sent one of the test pressings of the single to John Peel who played the song repeatedly on his show.
There early singles laid the groundwork from which indiepop as we know it sprang up from. The songs they created had a kind of joy and sense of release you won’t be able to find in any modern artists. Songs like Smashing Time, Part Time Punks, 14th Floor and Arthur the Gardner to name just a few where all one of a kind gems. You can tell The Television Personalities really meant it! Rarely does a band light such a fire under me, but for me the The Television Personalities are just one of those special bands you keep coming back to.
They had just the right mixture of joyful shambling noise and classic pop. There is also the famous story about when David Gilmour asked them to open a few shows for him. Then on one of the first nights they played there amazing song I know where Syd Barrett lives, then suddenly they actually announced to the crowd the reclusive Barrett’s home address in Cambridge. Needless to say they weren’t asked back the next night. This story truly encapsulated what the TV Personalities were all about, a beautiful combination of recklessness and pop genius. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you The Television Personalities
Essential Television Personalities Album’s
Yes Darling But Is It Art? This album contains all the seminal early singles!
And Don’t The Kids Just Love It
Mummy Your Not Watching Me
They Could’ve Been Bigger Than The Beatles
Treacy also ran Dreamworld Records which was the home for a while to the likes of the Mighty Lemon Drops, 1000 Violins and a few others whose name escapes me!!!
My favourite Television Personalities song is “The Prettiest Girl In The World”.
That is an amazing song!Treacy also ran Whamm records where he released the amazing Marine Girls album.
Dan Treacy also ran himself into the ground due to drug abuse, breakdowns, homelessness and prison.
Great Post! - Television Personalities are one of my all time favourites and have inspired several generations and 1,000's of bands and Whaam records was also home to The Pastels, The Times (Edward Ball), Doctor & The Medics (who had a massive hit with their cover of "Spirit In The Sky" years later), Jed Dmochowski (VIP's), 1,000 Mexicans, The Pageboys (who became One Thousand Violins and some of The Dylans), The Laughing Apple (which later became Biff Bang Pow with Alan McGee and Andrew Innes and also links to Primal Scream and Revolving Paint Dream among others), The Mixers (The Catalysts, Golden Dawn, The Void etc.), The Direct Hits (This Happy Breed, Colin Swan) and so much more ...
Thanks again and maybe with your permission we can borrow a quote for volume 3 of the TVP tribute series.