SPIZZ SIMILARITIES

So what is his stuff like then?

It is difficult to describe, because the style, or genre, of music keeps changing (on record - the later recordings are very '80s': the live act is more back-to-basics) , although the underlying spirit and personality remain the same. It is a bit like trying to describe the colour orange to a blind person. Maybe that is why Spizz was not more popular: because it is so hard to put a label on the music - its not like a lot of bands where you can just say "Echobelly? A cross between blondie and Wire" or "Mano Negra? A French version of the Clash". Anyway... given those caveats, here is my attempt to describe the flavour of the songs:

Gary Glitter
Of course it sounds nothing like him, but I am thinking of the personality and showmanship. So imagine a punk Gary Glitter!
Captain Kirk
If you like ole JT Kirk then you would enjoy the three Star Trek songs (Where's Captain Kirk, Spock's Missing, Five Year Mission)
Siouxie & The Banshees
Both bands started in a similar way, by hi-jacking a stage and improvising. They also ended up sharing the stage a few times on tour.
The Rezillos
Some similar off-the-wall lyrics, firm sense of irony, and atmosphere of good humour. Also vague science/science fiction/weird subject matter (Top band - they also had a retrospective compilation CD released in 1996)
The B-52s
For the same reasons
Tomorrow's World and Science Fiction
Yes - the naff TV show. The theme of the future keeps cropping up in Spizz songs.
Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Again for the humour of the lyrics. Also a similarity in the (deliberate?) naive quality of some of the lyrics.
Adam & The Ants
The early - Dirk Wears White Sox - stuff for the sound, and the pirate/jolly highwayman image for the showmanship.
Toyah
Mr. Spizz will be very wound up at the merest suggestion that there is any similarity, but I only listed Toyah for the simple reason that in the late 70's and early 80's my favourite bands were Toyah and Spizzenergi - there must be some connection. Mustn't there?
Gang of Four
There is something about the early Gang of Four songs that reminds me of Spizzoil/Spizzenergi
The Clash
I had their Combat Rock album playing the other day, and some of the vocals sounded very Spizz-y indeed. In fact, my wife heard it playing and said 'this isn't that bloody Spizz bloke again is it?'

All of which is, of course, purely my own opinion, mostly refers to the older (pre-1982) records and is almost certainly just me talking bollocks as usual. I dread to think how Spizz would react to being referred to as the Gary Glitter of the punk generation!

Spizz's actual influences include David Bowie, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and The Clash. I will work on getting a more complete list when I can arrange a proper interview to publish here.

Of course, you could just download the audio clips and hear for yourself!