In March 1979 I saw Fingerprintz support Red Noise at Sheffield City Hall. The concert was recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio 1. In those days you could record from the radio. I did, and have a very good quality recording. I regularly listen to it and especially like the contribution by Fingerprintz. I have a lot of their vinyl product but nothing has ever been released on CD as far as I can see. In light of the good news that Fiat Lux are getting the CD treatment would anyone agree with me that it would be good if Fingerprintz got it as well, as I am sure there will be something I've not got!
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Thanks for mentioning this CD compilation - titled 'Bulletproof Heart - The Best of Fingerprintz'. I received a copy a week ago. It's very well done - remastered skilfully and packaged with a lot of care and a new interview with singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimme O'Neill. [Beware that there is also via Amazon and others another Fingerprintz new-ish compilation called 'Tough Luck - The Best of Fingerprintz'. This is the cheapo 'straight-from-the-noisy-old-vinyl' compilation and is a poorer quality knock-off].
Fingerprintz were odd because each of their three albums sounded nothing like what had gone before. Because of this, the Bulletproof Heart album (Rubellan Remasters series) takes the wise decision to keep the 22 songs chronological - you get about a third of everything they released, 1978-1981, in order, and the tracks are very well chosen. I heartily recommend this CD though the postage from the USA to the UK is a bit steep. (I very fortunately found a brand new copy in Germany via Discogs - cheaper postal costs!)
Only problem for me is that just last year I finally (after 40 years!) compiled a very-very-complete F'ptz 3-CD set from my own vinyl so have heard everything quite a lot just recently anyway. Perhaps someone at Cherry Red can now be persuaded to do the full set from the original tapes, building on the 'Bulletproof Heart' release from the USA.
A best of Fingerprintz has just been releaesed - https://www.rubellanremasters.com/fingerprintzbest. Long overdue too. I agree that they were a brilliant band. I saw them many times - initially as support beviase Virgin put them on a lot of support tours inc RN, Skids and XTC - but also in their own right.
I believe Jenny Darren was support at one of the BBD gigs i saw, not sure which but it could have been about the time of Drastic Plastic. I remember Fingerprintz vaguely, i think they had a single out called Who's Your Friend
Sailor and the Steve Gibbons Band are the only other two bands I can think of who supported BBD in the UK but whether either performed the song you're thinking of, sorry but I wouldn't know.
Well, I have racked my brains over the years to remember who supported BBD & RN, as there is a band I'm trying to find and I think they supported BBD/RN. I clearly remember Doctors of Madness (new album soon), John Cooper Clark, possibly Burlesque, but as I read the forum Fingerprintz springs out. Some of their tunes on Youtube and iTunes, but not the song I'm after. The only line I can remember is....'I have a vision...a television', may not even be Fingerprintz. So, at the risk of hijacking this thread, can anyone remember the other support bands from the UK.
I saw Fingerprintz at the Liverpool Empire supporting Red Noise and after the gig waiting outside the dressing room door (as you did in those days) Jimme O'Neil came walking out and nobody recognized him except me n me brother. We walked along with him and told them how much we enjoyed the band. Which he was really chuffed about he were carrying a his guitar to I think his over night stay. Great Band, x 2 Great Bands Great Gig . Followed the band ever since onto The Silencers saw them in Liverpool too. I think Jimme resides in France now?
I liked Fingerprintz over here in California in the early 80's...one of my sisters worked at a record store and would bring home promotional records. One of those was the 1st Fingerprintz album with 'Houdini Love' and 'Jabs' or something like that. Later on I found the 2nd one with 'Close Circuit Connection' and some other good tunes. I've just put the vinly into Audacity and have it on cds that way. A cool, quirky, funky band.
With Fingerprintz, it's a case of 'don't get me started!'
I have everything they and the connected bands that followed (particularly The Silencers) ever released and even created my own T-shirts because there were none to be bought. ...BUT I never saw the band play live and I count the gig you mention as the ultimate gig-I-wish-I'd-been-at.
Steve is dead right - quirky and clever.
I would just love to hear some live Fingerprintz if you have any available, 'Snetherton'. Not sure how to get in touch directly. All YouTube has is some Old Grey Whistle Test footage and a single (fabulous) performance of Wet Job from their first album.
There have been no CD releases of Fingerprintz stuff except that the above-mentioned song 'Wet Job' turned up on an obscure dance mix CD about three years ago. I created a tracklisting for a three-CD box set but goodness knows where the master tapes are or who owns them. Cherry Red would be the obvious outlet for such a set.
Bill worked very happily with Bogdan Wiczling of Fingerprintz on a few occasions - an excellent drummer. Guitarist Cha Burnz died a few years back. Singer/songwriter Jimme O'Neill is out there somewhere (in France?) and a version of The Silencers still plays gigs in Glasgow occasionally - usually at Christmas.
I agree snetherton ...I have looked for a cd release over the years to no avail. I saw them supporting Red noise at Leeds Uni they were quirky and clever ...
cheers
Steve