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The Flowers of Romance

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The Flowers of Romance is an intercontinental glam punk/anarcho-punk/new romantic band.

Line-up: Tony Blackplait – vocals; Al Vainola – lead guitar; Roy Strider – guitar; Ed Edinburgh – bass; Reginleif Trubetsky – guitar, back vocals; Anneli Kadakas – percussion; Pexte Paxter – percussion; Tom Blackplait – nothing; Sid Vicious – ex-vocals; Bruno O’Ya – ex-guitar.

One of the semi legendary new bands of the punk/new romantic era along with the Masters of the Backsides, Subterraneans, ABC and Spandau Ballet.

The Flowers of Romance’s claim to fame is perhaps the number of people en route to or from more well known bands. The origins of the band go back to the summer of 1976 embracing Sid Vicious (vocals), and Jo Faull (guitar) – girlfriend of Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, likewise Viv Albertine (guitar) and Palmolive of The Slits (drums). “...we spent all summer in this horrible squat, every day, we did have discipline. It was so hard because I could hardly play.” later on “It was a bedroom band... We played Ramones songs, and couldn’t keep time. Sid went from singer to also playing sax. It was a bunch of interesting looking people so we’d get interviewed and we’d never done anything and could hardly play...” Viv Albertine ‘England’s Dreaming’ by John Savage. Pete Frame in his New wave Family Tree in Zigzag September 1977 remarks of the band “fast and monotonous...extremely monotonous. Their one innovation: the drum kit had no cymbals.”

Looking for a lead singer a certain Sid Vicious fancied himself fronting an all girl band after his stint on drums at the 100 club for Siouxsie & The Banshees. Songs that Sid contributed were ‘Belsen’ (later resurrected for the Sex Pistols) ‘Piece of Garbage’ and ‘Brains on Vacation’. The moniker The Flowers of Romance was suggested by Johnny Rotten and acquired by Sid Vicious (later to appear as a song and album title for PiL).

Jo dropped out and Sid sacked first Sarah and then Palmolive. Around the end of 1976 the band comprised Steve Walsh (later to become journalist and Zigzag contributor) another Steve and Viv. Keith Levine (ex The Clash) joined the band and then Sid sacked Viv. By February 1977 it was over. Sid joined the Sex Pistols to fulfill his destiny and Keith Levine to later work with Johnny Rotten in PiL. Viv and Palmolive to work together again in The Slits. Palmolive: “...the best thing that ever happened to me. Girls are usually treated all nice.” The band actually played no live dates whatsoever instead mainly rehearsing in squats and The Clash’s Chalk Farm studios. They did however do an interview that appeared in the fanzine Skum No1 in early 1977. The come-back of The Flowers of Romance happened 1999 in New York City featuring Tony Blackplait (vocals) and Anti Pathique (guitar) – two faces on the early punk scene. They joined with Al Vainola (guitar) and Kaupo Kaldmäe (bass). 3 – 7 Apr. 1999 took place the New York Tour (including the gigs in Continental Divide \{with Heal! and The Derogatories\}, Arlene Grocery and CBGB’s). 31 Jan. – 24 Apr. 2004 The Flowers of Romance performed the 6-concert tour in Latvia “Priekšpavasaris. Ziemelaustrumi-Eiropa” (including the gigs in Depó, Saksofons, Cetri Balti Krekli, Austrumu Robeza and Cita Opera in Riga), establishing an excellent reputation for them-selves abroad. Kaupo: “But before I was imbibed in that group I really got my mud together.” The first EP of The Flowers of Romance – “Sue Catwoman” – came out 24 Jun. 2004 in Sealand in the absence of the band. The anarchist content of their album were reflected in their garishly tasteful record sleeve. 24 – 27 Jun. 2004 the band was at the Paris tour “Tournée du Chat Noir” (including the gig in À La Goguette). Inflaming lights in the beginning of XXI century punk scene along with predecessors Sex Pistols, Anti-Nowhere League and Cockney Rejects, this orchestra from Sealand are betraying their talent in rocker leather and sexual tint. Maarit: “It was a matter of leaving the old band and finding the new one. And now I have The Flowers of Romance.”

Discography[edit]

  1. Sue Catwoman (MFM Records, 2004, EP)
  2. Sue Catwoman (The Flowers Of Romance, 2004, CD)
  3. Paris (LÄ«go, 2006, CD)

On the compilation[edit]

  1. Punk Occupation 12 (Feńka R’n’R/Crazy Rat, 2006, CD) – Girl in Black

Filmography[edit]

  1. Pirates of Destiny (dir. Tõnu Trubetsky, Trubetsky Pictures, EAA, 2007, DVD, 150 min.)

On the compilation[edit]

  1. 200 % Punk (Psychoterror, Ameli, Landyši, Figi, Snog Na Golovu, The Flowers of Romance, Drugly Cats, Dërgaţ!, Bezdeĺniki, Eläkeläiset, 2007, DVD, 40 min., stripe code: 4607127823824) – Riga My Love

External links[edit]

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