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.
Good Times
Alternative TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause they are the good, the good, the good times
These [...] they are the good, the good, the good times
[...] rock and roll
[...]
He was a pervert [...]
'Cause these, they are the good, the good, the good, the good times
[...]
'Cause these, they are the good, the good, the good, the good times
'Cause these, they are the good, the good, the good, the good times
'Cause these [...] good times
'Cause these, they are [...] the good, the good, the good, the good times
The lyrics of Alternative TV's song "Good Times" are thought-provoking and symbolic in nature. The first lines suggest that the singer is walking through the streets with someone else or a group of people, perhaps because these streets represent the pinnacle of human experience, the "good times." The singer mentions that "these" are the good times, but what specifically is meant by "these" is left up to interpretation. It could refer to a cultural or societal moment, where rock and roll is blooming and innovations are being made, or the singer could be referencing something else entirely.
The mention of rock and roll implies that the song is set in a particular era, likely the 1960s or 70s when rock music was at its peak. However, the following line reveals that there is something less savory going on in the singer's life. There is a "pervert" who has entered the scene, and it seems as though this person is a source of tension among the group. The addition of this detail casts a darker shadow over the notion of "good times," hinting at a more complex experience that may involve both ecstasy and tragedy.
The final lines repeat the assertion that "these" are the good times, but the repetition of the phrase with the ellipsis in place of any concrete information emphasizes the ambiguity of the singer's message. The listener is left to ponder what the good times truly are and whether they are worth pursuing. The song invites the listener to question whether the moment they are in, as uneasy or joyous as it may be, is truly worthy of being called "good times."
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking through the street where others walk
We are blending in and following the crowd in our daily routine.
'Cause they are the good, the good, the good times
We are living in a time where everything is good and enjoyable.
These [...] they are the good, the good, the good times
Everything around us, the people, the music, the atmosphere, is contributing to the good times.
[...] rock and roll
The music that we love and listen to is rock and roll, which is a symbol of rebellion and freedom.
[...]
We enjoy every moment of our lives, without any worry or fear.
He was a pervert [...]
We are not judgmental about people who have a different lifestyle or preferences.
'Cause these, they are the good, the good, the good, the good times
We keep emphasizing that we are living in a period of happiness and joy.
'Cause these [...] good times
We believe that it is the people, music, and lifestyle that are responsible for these good times.
'Cause these, they are [...] the good, the good, the good, the good times
We reiterate that we are living in a time of great happiness and optimism.
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.