(written April 1977 by Joe)
Most of the songs I wrote about girls were indeed about living,
breathing, actual, specific girls. In most cases I'm going to
identify said sirens by an initial, so as not to offend them.
In this case, however, since the song is not specifically a torrid
romantic diatribe but rather a socio-political observation, I'll
name names. Brother Mike had known these three girls from his
glitter days, and introduced me to them January 1977. We all
hung out, I would occasionally drive them to the all-too-rare-in-those-days
punk rock show, etc. etc. It was watching their reaction to and
fondness for the early punk bands, while being in the unfortunate
situation of not being able to gig yet, that I began to feel
like a glorified chauffeur . . . the three girls were Helen,
Mary and Trudi. Trudi was the "girl with the raven hair"
- she became the only non-musician in the scene to have a fanzine
devoted to her, and is currently married (with children) to K.K.
- drummer for the late lamented Screamers. Mary was the "girl
with the soft blue eyes" - she is better known to those
who remember the glory days as Mary Rat. Helen is better remembered
as Helen Killer - the girl who punched Sid Vicious in the mouth
by accident in '78. Musically the song is an obvious homage to
the Castaways' "Liar Liar". |