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Mark Laff : The John Robb interview

3.8K views · Jun 5, 2025 · Music

JOHN ROBB

10K subscribers

Comments · 35

@johnhowiejr · 8 months ago
One of the truly great, unsung rock drummers of that era. Great interview.
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@willieluncheonette5843 · 1 year ago (edited)
mark was terrific on that genratoion x debut album  here is my review from my article The Top 15 Punk Albums published on the Analog Planet audiophile site Generation X. Released March 17, 1978. Peaked at #29 on the U.K. charts. The group got together in 1976 in London and after some personnel and name changes played their first show as Generation X on December 10, 1976. Billy Idol, their famous singer, went through multiple hair color changes and original hand painted shirts to keep things exciting. On June 30, 1977, this review turned up in NME, " Generation X may well be the 'punk rock' group that many people have been waiting for: songs with lyrics about change and revolution, but with melodies cute enough for ' boy meets girl.'" They released two singles in 1977 and one in 1978 before their brilliant debut album. It doesn't have the righteous nasty aggressiveness of the Never Mind The Bollocks or the sharp, spot on political thrust of the Clash's debut, but as of this writing it remains my all-time favorite punk album. What to say about this LP? The press and critics have, from time to time, slagged off Gen X as pretty boy poseurs only in it for money, fame and birds (British slang for girls, but you knew that.) As if you have to be ugly to play punk rock. Jeez, give me a break! This debut album is a masterpiece from beginning to end. There's not a weak track in the bunch and I challenge anyone to find one false note in the whole thing. If I had to choose just one word to describe it I would say " musical." The album just sings! Bob Andrews is one of the most underrated punk guitarists--just listen to him! Tony James is everything you could want in a nervous punk bassist and Mark Laff on drums really kicks the band. He's superb too. As with The Clash, once again their record label released an American version with different songs than those on the British version. And once again I'm going to recommend the original version with "Listen" (as good as anything they ever did) "The Invisible Man" and "Too Personnel," all left off the American issue. The first four tracks storm out of the grooves. "From The Heart," "One Hundred Punks," "Listen" and "Ready Steady Go." These young punks are on fire!—what an opening! "From The Heart" has lyrics showing Idol's roots "I just want to give the feeling/rock and roll gave to me/Like Lennon said for me/I believe in Ray and Keef/ Like Townsend said for me/ Rock and roll made me free." "One Hundred Punks" is a tremendous song about the coming generation of punk kids and even the ones too young to be out on the streets " And Jimmy's No. 101, knows one day he'll be one/ Watch him, watch him go." Arguably their most famous song is "Kiss Me Deadly" with at the end the unforgettable line "Tried shooting up for kicks". "Tony played me Bruce Springsteen's 'Jungleland', which rocked but also had a gripping storyline and several moving parts that led to a crescendo." Idol has stated. "I dug the idea of a narrative culled from his personal history; it inspired me to deeg deep and come up with my own equivalent from the raw materials of my life." Don't forget how dangerous it was to be a punk with, say, green hair,in 1978. Every day on the street you risked a fight. What a song this is! "The greyhound's rocking out tonight to maximum rockabilly/When two punks choose to risk the subway for a tube to Piccadilly/And the Zephyrs stir fast gangs for glory another dumb casualty/Having fun in South West Six with a hidden flick knife flicks /Kiss me deadly tonight/Another battle was won and lost down the Bishops End last night/Spotlights pick the kids in triumph with a thousand scarves in flight, see how they run/Spring from the terraces in black and white young and old into the fight/Having fun in South West six with violence for a fix/Chorus/Seven o'clock they stand in rank for the thirty bus uptown/And later in a downstairs room she pulls her lover down/In ecstasy but they can't make a sound case her mother might come down/Having fun in South West six discovers teenage sex/Chorus/The snooker hall is empty is 'cause they're all out playing pool/Hustling down the Fulham Road doing deals with Mr. Cool/They're all out on the waterfront now instead of being at school, too old now for pinball/Having fun in South West six with a hidden flick knife flicks/With violence for a fix, dicovers teenage sex, tried shooting up for kicks/Chorus". But wait, there's more! Glancing at the runout on the A side we see "A PORKY PRIME CUT" and on the B side, "A NUDDER PORKY PRIME CUT." Oh the joy. .Mastered by George Peckham and it sounds smashing. By now I guess you know I'm in love with Generation X and this album.
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@madkingrocker8635 · 1 year ago
Mark Laff ! There's a an easy word to describe him ....LEGEND ! Saw him at The Dunelm in Durham city in the Mid 80s. Great interview John , Rock on Mark !
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@YannHélou · 13 days ago
Great interview. The first Generation X LP is one of my favourite british records of all time.
@sputnikwar · 10 months ago
I’ve known Mark for years and that’s the most honest I’ve ever heard him be about the break up of Generation X. I hope it did him good to say it. Jules.
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@simonmannick8389 · 1 year ago
Really enjoyed listening to Mark Laff, Great Guy topman.
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@wernerherrmann2677 · 1 year ago
Saw him as Walter Lures drummer at the Rebellion Festival. Fantastic drummer 🥁💥♠️
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@David62B · 1 year ago
Great Interview and what a nice guy could listen to him all night.
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@jonathansteadman7935 · 1 year ago
Great conversation with a couple of great gentlemen. Mark has incredible memories of that time, and always comes across a just a nice courteous chap. Nice one Mr Robb, you always know when to let the person talk, and the right questions when relevant. 👍
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@davidmothersole9422 · 1 year ago
Really good interview. Always loved Gen X, such a great band. Fabulous songs, great look.
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@Bob-u9y · 1 year ago (edited)
Mark has to be one of my favorite drummers of the time next followed by the drummer from the chords
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@joeswinford2618 · 1 year ago
Excellent!
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