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.
Poor Association
Alternative TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did, why did it happen? Maybe the masters lied (so true)
I kiss with my lips your fingertips, a word comes out you scream and shout:
"Cut out, cut out her tongue, to stop my endless words"
I burn the book before they took me to the room, the interview room
No choice, no choice but to nod, I write cat, cat on the pad (poor association)
My dada voice that had no choice but to put me in a cage
The lyrics of Alternative TV's song Poor Association hint at the theme of identity and societal pressure. The opening line "A chance to see the other me" implies a desire to break free from one's current identity and discover a deeper sense of self. The reference to the full moon may suggest a connection to the occult, perhaps symbolizing a desire for transformation or a feeling of being different from others in society. The line "Maybe the masters lied" reflects a sense of skepticism towards authority figures who dictate social norms.
The second verse introduces the idea of communication and its limitations. The act of kissing someone's fingertips is a gesture of affection, but the response is one of violence, with the demand to "cut out her tongue." This juxtaposition suggests a tension between the desire to express oneself and the fear of being silenced or punished for doing so. The burning of the book may symbolize a rejection of established knowledge or a desire to resist conformity. The line "poor association" may refer to a failure to form meaningful connections with others due to societal constraints.
The final lines of the song suggest a feeling of confinement, with the singer feeling trapped in a cage. This may represent a metaphor for society, with its societal norms and expectations acting as a form of imprisonment. The act of walking back and forth, then sitting down, may imply a sense of resignation or acceptance of one's fate. The final line, "as I look into the mirror and understand my dream," may imply a moment of self-discovery or insight, though it is unclear whether this realization is positive or negative.
Line by Line Meaning
A chance to see the other me is coming soon on the next full moon
I will have an opportunity to explore another side of my personality during the next full moon.
Why did, why did it happen? Maybe the masters lied (so true)
I'm questioning why a certain event occurred, and I suspect that those in power may have misled me.
I kiss with my lips your fingertips, a word comes out you scream and shout:
"Cut out, cut out her tongue, to stop my endless words"
I express affection by kissing your fingertips, but this causes you to react violently and demand that my voice be silenced.
I burn the book before they took me to the room, the interview room
I destroyed a book before I was interrogated in the interview room.
No choice, no choice but to nod, I write cat, cat on the pad (poor association)
I feel compelled to agree and comply, even to the point of writing 'cat' repeatedly on a notepad as a sign of my resignation.
My dada voice that had no choice but to put me in a cage
My unconventional, rebellious nature led to me being confined in a restrictive environment against my will.
I walked to the wall, turned 'round, walked back, sit down [...] as I look into the mirror and understand my dream
I pace around the room and eventually sit down, reflecting on my inner thoughts and coming to a realization about my aspirations.
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.