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.
Life After Life
Alternative TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One time to know how it feels
That's all
One call - your voice on the phone
One place - a moment alone
That's all
What do you see?
What do you know?
What do I do?
Just follow your lifelines through
What do you hate?
What do I do?
What do you say?
Don't throw your lifelines away
Don't throw your lifelines away
One time - just once in my life
One time- to know it can happen twice
One shot of a clear blue sky
One look - I see no reasons why you can't
One chance to be back
To the point where everything starts
Once chance to keep it together
Things fall apart
Once I make us believe it's true
What do we see?
Where do we go?
What are the signs?
How do we grow?
By letting your lifelines show
What if we do? What up to now?
What do you say?
How do I know?
Don't let your lifeline go
Don't let your lifeline go
Don't let your lifeline go
The lyrics to Alternative TV's song "Life in 2-3" express the idea that life only offers a few precious opportunities to truly experience or understand something, and it's up to the individual to seize these moments when they occur. The opening lines, "One time to know that it's real / One time to know how it feels," suggest that there is only one chance to truly experience or connect with something, whether it be a person, idea, or emotion. These lines are followed by "One call - your voice on the phone / One place - a moment alone," which emphasize the importance of those singular moments and how they can shape our understanding of the world.
The lyrics continue in this vein, asking questions about what we see, know, and do in life, and encouraging listeners to follow their "lifelines" through, rather than throwing them away. The concept of lifelines could be interpreted as a metaphor for the experiences, relationships, and beliefs that give our lives meaning and direction, and the song suggests that holding onto these lifelines is essential to living a fulfilling life. The repeated refrain of "Don't let your lifeline go" serves as a reminder to cherish the moments and opportunities we have, and to seek out new experiences and connections to keep our lifelines strong and vibrant.
Overall, the song presents a message of hope and encouragement, urging listeners to stay connected to their life's purpose and to keep striving for new experiences and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
One time to know that it's real
There comes a moment when you know something is real and authentic, and you experience it only once in your life.
One time to know how it feels
Experiencing something once is enough to know the feeling of it, and it tells you everything.
That's all
There are just a few things that truly matter, and they come in limited quantities.
One call - your voice on the phone
Hearing someone's voice on the phone can have a significant impact on you, and sometimes, it's all you need.
One place - a moment alone
Sometimes, being alone is necessary, and it can occur only once in a particular location and time.
What do you see?
It's important to ask yourself what you are looking at and what your perspective is.
What do you know?
It's essential to understand what you have learned and to use that knowledge to help you in life.
What are the signs?
It's essential to observe the messages that life is sharing, as they can assist you in navigating through it.
What do I do?
You must learn to trust your instincts and take action when necessary to succeed in life.
Just follow your lifelines through
Simply keep on moving forward, and things will fall into place if you believe in yourself and your path.
What do you hate?
It's necessary to be aware of the things and experiences you don't like or want in life to make better choices accordingly.
What do you say?
Words have tremendous power, so it's vital to choose them wisely and use them for positive actions and outcomes.
Don't throw your lifelines away
Never give up, always use your resources, and constantly push forward no matter how tough things get.
One time - just once in my life
Certain things only happen once, and you have only one chance to experience them in your life.
One time- to know it can happen twice
You can have second chances in life and experience the same beautiful things one more time.
One shot of a clear blue sky
One glimpse of true beauty can be enough to inspire you and change your views for eternity.
One look - I see no reasons why you can't
Sometimes, a single view can help you erase all doubts and push forward towards your goals without a single shadow of doubt in your heart.
One chance to be back
There are chances in life to revisit our past or change failed decisions for the better.
To the point where everything starts
It is the moment of change, where everything begins to start anew, and you can make new decisions and actions.
Once chance to keep it together
There is only one opportunity to hold everything together and not let anything slip away.
Things fall apart
If we don't pay attention, it's inevitable that things will fall apart and go against us.
Once I make us believe it's true
Once you believe in something, it becomes real, and your life takes a new path as a result.
What do we see?
Together, it's essential to see what is before us and make plans to deal with it.
Where do we go?
Together, it's necessary to have direction, and know our destination to make the journey meaningful.
How do we grow?
Together, we grow by learning from experience, making choices, and pursuing a better future.
By letting your lifelines show
You can inspire each other and grow by sharing your experiences and learning, letting life make you stronger.
What if we do? What up to now?
What if we take action today and finally do what we are meant to do? We must always keep our objectives in mind.
How do I know?
Sometimes it's challenging to know what to do or expect, but following your heart and intuition helps you make the right moves.
Don't let your lifeline go
Never neglect the essential aspects of life that keep you supported or connected, as they often hold self-growth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DES'REE WEEKES, PRINCE SAMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TomHaneyArtwork
Great tune!!!
@aminorchacha
Deptford Fun City Records I thought I was the only person left on the planet who owned this record. I still have the vinyl 45 complete with the picture sleeve displayed above.
@londonemski
Still have my copy. Great single. I'm rehearsing with a band in Deptford at the moment. Funny feeling: I still feel like I'm 17 and at school, instead of nearly 60. Where does the time go?
@digitaldance1
mee too!
@alantraish3368
And me
@jeremystone6641
I have it still. Bought on release. Love it.
@MrAugustus707
A very special single.
@robcolley5743
The piano player on this is Jools Holland!
@jellyfishinthebath
Always loved this... :)
@MrAugustus707
Bought it in London 1983