The magazine grew with the scene it championed, and for a year, it ruled the British fanzine roost. But the bank clerk, Mark Perry, was sick of writing -- he wanted to step out and be written about himself. His last band, the New Beatles, had done nothing; his next, Alternative TV, could scarcely do any worse.
Featuring Perry on vocals, ex-Generation X drummer John Towe, Mickey Smith (bass), and former Nobodies guitarist Alex Fergusson, the band formed in March 1977, rehearsing at Throbbing Gristle's studios in Hackney -- both "Love Lies Limp" and "Alternative to NATO" were written and recorded there -- and on May 6, 1977, ATV made their live debut in Nottingham.
The first lineup splintered almost immediately. Smith was replaced by New Beatle Tyrone Thomas, and on June 5 ATV opened for Wayne County's Electric Chairs in Brighton. Six gigs later, Towe quit, but not before ATV released their first single, "Love Lies Limp," as a free flexidisc with the final, August 1977 issue of Sniffin' Glue.
Towe was replaced by Chris Bennett, and in this form the band continued to gig, at the same time as preparing the ground for their debut album. They are caught rehearsing in The Punk Rock Movie, the cinéma vérité documentary of punk's first savage summer; more exposure came in December, when the "How Much Longer" single appeared on Perry's own Deptford Fun City wing of Miles Copeland's Illegal setup. The Image Has Cracked, the group's live and studio debut album, appeared the following spring.
Singles "Action Time Vision" and "Life After Life" followed, together with the archive Towe-era "Life," but ATV were changing first, as Perry rocketed on toward the Throbbing Gristle sound which by now captivated him (the official bootleg Live at the Rat '77, incidentally, was recorded by Genesis P-Orridge).
By the time of Vibing Up the Senile Man (Part One), the second ATV album, and its accompanying single, "The Force Is Blind," only Perry remained from the original band; only bassist Dennis Burns remained from any of those who had followed. And, of ATV's original, punk-era press disciples, even Sounds found the album unlistenable.
Unperturbed, Perry took the new album out on the road, but an end of sorts was in sight. In March 1979, on-stage at Chelmsford, ATV called it a day. Side one of the valedictory Scars on Sunday album preserves highlights from this final show; side two introduces the Good Missionaries, the band that would pick up exactly where ATV left off, only without the encumbrance of such an historically resonant name.
But of course it wasn't the end really. The first ATV reunion, with Fergusson back on board, occurred as early as 1981; another kept Perry amused through the second half of the decade and, in 1999, Perry celebrated the release of his 20th album, under the born-yet-again name of Alternative TV.
Action Time Vision
Alternative TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Action, time and vision
ATV equals 3/40 time
A equals action
T equals time
V equals vision and the four boys crack
In ATV, V, V, V, V
Action, time and vision
Quarter notes don't mean a thing
Listen to rhythm and listen to us sing
Were in action and the four boys crack
In ATV
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Everything's as clear as time
See the movement, see the mime
Were in vision and the four boys crack
In ATV, V, V, V, V, V, V
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
The lyrics of Alternative TV's song "Action Time Vision" are a reflection of the values and beliefs of the punk movement. The punk ideology is based on individualism, anti-establishment, and freedom of expression. The song highlights the importance of "action, time, and vision" in achieving these ideals.
The first verse of the song explains the meaning of the acronym ATV (Alternative TV), where A stands for "action," T for "time," and V for "vision." The next line, "the four boys crack," likely refers to the band members themselves. The repetition of the letter V in the chorus indicates the importance of "vision" in the punk scene. The second verse emphasizes the importance of rhythm and individuality over traditional musical structures, with the line "quarter notes don't mean a thing."
The final verse emphasizes the clarity and intentionality of the punk movement, with the line "everything's as clear as time." The line "see the movement, see the mime" further emphasizes the importance of individual expression and the importance of non-verbal communication. The repetition in the chorus further drives home the point that action, time, and vision are the key components of the punk mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
Action, time and vision
The three fundamental elements that ATV revolves around are taking action, the passage of time, and having a clear vision.
ATV equals 3/40 time
A reference to the 3/4 time signature, indicating that ATV's approach to music is rooted in traditional song structure and rhythm.
A equals action
The letter 'A' represents action, which is a key component of the band's ethos.
T equals time
The letter 'T' represents time, emphasizing the importance of the passage of time in the band's work.
V equals vision and the four boys crack
The letter 'V' represents having a clear vision, and the 'four boys' refer to the band members who come together to make it a reality.
In ATV, V, V, V, V
In Alternative TV, having a clear vision is emphasized, as represented by the repeated 'V's.
Quarter notes don't mean a thing
ATV doesn't rely solely on traditional musical notation, but rather creates music that is free-flowing and improvisational.
Listen to rhythm and listen to us sing
The band's approach to music is more focused on rhythm and singing than traditional notes and chords.
Were in action and the four boys crack
The band is always on the move and taking action towards their goals, with the 'four boys' representing the band members who are working towards them.
Everything's as clear as time
The band's vision is crystal clear and precise, much like the passage of time.
See the movement, see the mime
The band's live performances are characterized by visually engaging movement and dramatic expressions, not just the music itself.
In vision and the four boys crack, In ATV, V, V, V, V, V, V
The band's focus on having a clear vision is emphasized, with the 'four boys' representing the members who are working towards that vision. The repetition of 'V's reiterates this focus.
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yazzz50
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
ATV equals 3/40 time
A equals action
T equals time
V equals vision and the four boys crack
In ATV, V, V, V, V
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Quarter notes don’t mean a thing
Listen to rhythm and listen to us sing
Were in action and the four boys crack
In ATV
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
Everything’s as clear as time
See the movement, see the mime
Were in vision and the four boys crack
In ATV, V, V, V, V, V, V
Action, time and vision
Action, time and vision
@ussrwrestling
Классика панк-рока!!! Привет из Харькова!!!
@splashthefly9039
For anyone wondering: yes, this is the song from the London's calling Eurostar commercial (thanks Eurostar!).
@morganfisherart
Brilliant! I hope Mark and the band made a shitload of loot out of it.
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YjmoWHG8XI
@SK-le1gm
Take a piece of paper. Fold it in thirds to make 3 columns. Write ACTION atop the first column, TIME atop the middle column, and VISION atop the third column. Now brainstorm: what you want to do, what you need to do to do that, and what things will look like after you get it done. This is the single most helpful punk rock song in my opinion. The ATV productivity framework will make the four walls crack.
@mjh5437
So simple,so good.....We need some back to basics music again now.
@madiggy77
Yes we do!!!
@hopebgood
@@madiggy77 An interesting channel madiggy. Lots of playlists. I like that 😉
@plasticsoul9051
such a killer song! it don't get much better than this
@KountFive
Possibly the best punk record of all time.
@KountFive
Outstanding choice, stellar track.