Site Announcements

View the results of the New Wave Outpost 20th Anniversary Top Songs Poll here:
http://www.nwoutpost.com/poll/results


Coming Soon: Top Albums Poll. Stay tuned!

Welcome to the new forum!
If you are a previously registered user, you must do the following:

1) Click on 'I forgot my password' at the login prompt
2) Enter your username and email you registered with and submit
3) You will receive an email with an activation link. Please click it and then log in using the random password provided
4) Go to your User Control Panel and click on the Profile tab
5) Click on 'Edit Account Settings' and enter your new password twice followed by the random password provided earlier. Click Submit.
6) That's it...you're back in! You may have to log in again with your new password.


If you forgot your email address, please email me (MikeP) at: mikepaulsen12@gmail.com

Note: you must now use bb code buttons in the Post form for embedded images, YouTube videos, etc.
For example, to post embedded YouTube videos: paste in the link (e.g., http://www.youtube.com/watch?XYZ1234567), highlight it and then click the YouTube button.

Songs That Steal The "Public Image" Guitar Riff

New Wave/Punk music, culture, genres, memories. '80s revivalism and other relevant topics.

Songs That Steal The "Public Image" Guitar Riff

Postby Crocodiles » Tue May 28, 2013 12:43 pm

I used the word "steal" in the title, but what I am looking for are songs that have guitar riffs that are very similar to Levene's classic guitar riff from the song "Public Image." In my opinion it is the greatest guitar lick in music.

I know three songs that "borrowed" the lick. Any more?

U2 - "I Will Follow"
Flock Of Seagulls - "Space Age Love Song"
Human League - "The Lebanon"
Crocodiles
Switchin' to Glide
 
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:59 am
Location:

Postby rewind » Wed May 29, 2013 1:28 am

Two songs that used the actual lick:

Robin Zander (of Cheap Trick) - "Jump Into The Fire" (Nilsson cover)
El Vez - "Feliz Navidad"
rewind
Room at the Top
 
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:47 am
Location:

Postby bpdp3 » Wed May 29, 2013 3:49 am

Right now, go and listen to "Up the Neck" by the Pretenders off their debut.

The two songs were released so close timewise, and I respected both Levine and James Honeyman Scott so much as a teen, that I alwaysjust thought of it as a nice coincidence.
bpdp3
The Jet Set
 
Posts: 897
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:04 am
Location:

Postby Crocodiles » Wed May 29, 2013 5:06 am

Thanks.

Those Zander and El Vez songs use the Wobble bass line. Cool. Didn't know that was being done, but that's not Levene's lick.

The Pretenders song, yeah! There it is. So close I had to check dates of release for the two songs. Levene's was released a full year earlier. Honeyman-Scott is the thief!
Crocodiles
Switchin' to Glide
 
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:59 am
Location:

Postby monika1990 » Wed May 29, 2013 5:10 pm

Good to know,thanks for sharing.

http://www.rsvalley.com/
monika1990
Running Up That Hill
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 11:16 am
Location:

Postby bpdp3 » Wed May 29, 2013 11:06 pm

You are right, Public Image lists at 1978, Pretenders the year after.

Wow. What's really amazing is how quick everything happened in that era; I figured Pistols probably played last gigs in early 78, PiL would've started 79. No -- in 78 he was already releasing that album and 79 brought the wonderful metal box.

By '79 the world of post-punk was blown wide open, we had the 2-tone bands, etc etc. That time from '76 to '79 must have been moving at breakneck speed.

Interesting, compare to today, the age of instant information. Has music really changed that much from 2010 here in 2013??

I rest my case.
bpdp3
The Jet Set
 
Posts: 897
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:04 am
Location:

Postby rewind » Thu May 30, 2013 1:51 am

[quote][i]Originally posted by Crocodiles[/i]
<br>Thanks.

Those Zander and El Vez songs use the Wobble bass line. Cool. Didn't know that was being done, but that's not Levene's lick.

[/quote]

Ah, thought you were referring to the bass line...

As for the Levene lick, it's influence can be heard in a lot of Killing Joke songs (e.g., Fire Dances, Kings and Queens...)
rewind
Room at the Top
 
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:47 am
Location:

Postby Crocodiles » Thu May 30, 2013 6:32 am

[quote][i]Originally posted by bpdp3[/i]
That time from '76 to '79 must have been moving at breakneck speed.
[/quote]
Yeah, from Pistols '76 to what was happening in '79: Two-Tone, PIL, Liverpool psychedelia, Joy Division... Quite a leap.

There are actually a few big leaps like that in music. Look at The Clash. In 1977 they were releasing two chord punk like the simple song "1977," and just three years later in 1980 they were releasing "Sandinista"! Just compare "1977" to "The Call Up." They're like from two different universes.

However, the most mind-blowing leap in music is definitely The Beatles. In '63 they were singing the simple "I Want To Hold Your Hand," and then just three years later John was in the studio constructing "Strawberry Fields Forever"! Those two tunes are from two different galaxies. Pop music in '63 was not adventurous, artistic, or profound. The Beatles in just three short years changed the entire approach to what a pop/chart song could be.
Crocodiles
Switchin' to Glide
 
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:59 am
Location:

Postby SallyLightfoot » Thu May 30, 2013 10:12 pm

The guitar riff is iconic, but the rhythm and bass groove are pure German motorik. The Cure later nicked this bassline for Just Like Heaven.
SallyLightfoot
Room at the Top
 
Posts: 1184
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:52 am
Location:


Return to General New Wave & '80s Discussions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests