Quatermass - live, on TV and on radio

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live, TV & radio

	— live

Containing as it did three such accomplished musicians, Quatermass must have been a formidable force onstage. Unfortunately, no known legal live recordings exist. Two live audience recordings are known, reportedly recorded in Berlin, Germany on the 4th of March and in Mannheim, Germany on the 14th of March 1971. Interestingly the shows feature a new song, Monster in Paradise. It seems reasonable to assume this may have been intended for a second Quatermass album. The song eventually surfaced on the first album by John Gustafson's later band Hard Stuff, also known for a time as Bullet.

Berlin, Germany, 4th March 1971

1a. Monster In Paradise, part 1
1b. Up On The Ground
1c. Monster In Paradise, part 2
2. One Blind Mice
3. Make Up Your Mind
4. Laughing Tackle (incomplete)

Mannheim, Germany, 14th March 1971

1a. Monster In Paradise, part 1
1b. Up On The Ground
1c. Monster In Paradise, part 2
2. Make Up Your Mind
3. Gemini (incomplete)

Although both German shows are rather poor sound-quality audience recordings, the Berlin show is preferable for two reasons. Firstly the recorded sound quality is marginally more listenable and secondly the playing and singing is better. In Mannheim the band started late due to equipment failure and they had to get stuff from the airport. They must have been stressed out when they began playing.

Some sources state that official live recordings made by Quatermass in 1970/71 are being prepared for a full release by John Gustafson. We look forward to hearing these with keen anticipation.

— on TV

Short German TV Appearance
We are deeply indebted to Martin Mycock in the UK for finding and supplying a video tape of a German TV show featuring Quatermass. The show took the form of a documentary, apparently about performing rock band wages. Quatermass only feature for about three minutes and sadly their appearance is marred by text scrolling over the screen. Nevertheless we have managed to salvage a number of images of Quatermass performing live. The video segment features two songs from the Quatermass repertoire of the time. The sound is mono. The audio quality is good and quite enjoyable, leaving us wanting much more after such a short taster. Up On The Ground - 1:40 - played superbly with the whole band in good form. Laughing Tackle - 1:39 - a nice start to a longer performance, with notable addition of electric piano
Up On The Ground	Mick Underwood & John Gustafson	Mick Underwood
Mick Underwood	the only image of Peter Robinson	Laughing Tackle
Swedish TV Appearance
Unfortunately only the audio portion exists of a second known TV apprearance, which aired on Swedish TV in June 1970. Black Sheep Of The Family interview with John Gustafson One Blind Mice Here is a transcript of the short interview held between the two songs. (applause following Black Sheep Of The Family) Interviewer: John Gustafson, from Quatermass, you're all dressed in black. Are you the black sheep of your family? John: No, I'm in "evening". Interviewer: (laughing) You're in "evening"! A lot of heavy sounds from three boys. Could you introduce the boys in the band? John: Yeah, well, that's Peter Robinson, organ, electric piano. (applause, one of the band members imitates the 50s BBC-Radio Goon Show) John: Michael... um... Eric Underwood, drums, percussion and row (more applause and more Goon Show voices) John: (inaudible... sounds like "among others") Interviewer: And your name is John Gustafson? (more applause) Interviewer: John Gustafson, it... it almost sounds like if it was a Swedish name. Is it a Swedish name? John: It probably is. Interviewer: Probably is. How come? John: Grandfather Interviewer: Grandfather is a Swedish man. Aha. Um... what about your name Quatermass? I have heard so many questions about it. What is it anyway? John: It's just... it's just a surname, a name, a person's name, like "Smith" or something. Interviewer: OK, good... um... what are we going to hear now? John: One Blind Mice Interviewer: One Blind Mice, thank you (applause and intro to One Blind Mice)


John Gustafson on TV
Below are three shots of John Gustafson chatting about his contribution to Lynsey de Paul's single "Sugar Me", as part of a programme on "One Hit Wonders". NB: Putting your ear to the wood is the only way to hear an unamplified bass properly.

	— on the radio
BBC Live Recordings from the John Peel Show and others Do YOU have a tape?
Denis Laverty writes that he recalls a live broadcast by Quatermass on the John Peel Show. Sadly his own cassette of the show now appears lost forever. We welcome any of your recollections of the show, or indeed, any others you know of. Martin Mycock writes of the following: BBC Radio One studio sessions (info. from 'In Session Tonight' by Ken Garner): 'Top Gear' - recorded 28/7/70, first broadcast 1/8/70 One Blind Mice/ Laughing Tackle/ Make Up Your Mind Bob Harris Show - recorded 14/7/70, first broadcast 11/8/70 & 22/9/70 Up On The Ground/ Gemini/ One Blind Mice Mike Harding Show - recorded 15/2/71, first broadcast 23/2/71One Blind Mice/ Monster In Paradise/ Laughing Tackle

Torben Nielsen writes the following:

"I dare say Quatermass did a Peel Session or an In Concert with Peelie presiding, but the one live recording I remember was for Jensen's Dimensions on Radio Luxembourg. I believe David Jensen was more of a fan than was Peel... The show went out after midnight (1 o'clock our time, presumably) which meant I fell asleep just as Quatermass went on (schoolday). It may have been a LIVE live broadcast rather than a live recording, as 208 later featured concerts actually played in Villa Louvigny (I believe) by The Beach Boys and The Grateful Dead..."

Please email if you have any additional information, we'd love to hear from you.