The Hollywood Brats “Hollywood Brats” 1973/1980. Cherry Red Records. Glam rock/protopunk from the UK (and sometimes credited as the UK’s first punk band), originally recorded in 1974 for NEMS Records but the label refused to release it. The band formed in ’71 as The Queen, changed their name, added a guitarist in ’72 (recruited through an advertisement in Melody Maker for a guitarist “drunk on scotch and Keith Richards”) and then disbanded in ’74 after being boo’d offstage and kicked off their label. The Brats performances have been described as raunchy, flamboyant and meant to “to annoy and disturb.” Contemporaries of and very similar to New York Dolls musically and with nihilistic tendencies like The Stooges and other US hooligans, the band leaned into shaking things up and being obnoxious. Singer Andrew Matheson “hobnobbed with (and stole from) Cliff Richard, punched a young Freddie Mercury in the mouth for having the temerity to call his band Queen (before renaming themselves, The Hollywood Brats were The Queen), and managed to alienate every record company that came sniffing. Even when his band was thrown a lifeline, Matheson managed to torpedo it. In 1974, Mick Jones, not yet of The Clash, introduced him to an eager Malcolm McLaren, convinced the Brats might just be on to something. Matheson considered McLaren a man of no substance, and sent him packing. McLaren had to settle for signing The Sex Pistols instead.” Reportedly The Who’s Keith Moon said they were the best band he had ever seen.

Hollywood Brats is snotty, glammy, hard rock and hilarious. The track “Sick on You” is about a man so tired of his girlfriend’s actions that he wants to vomit on her. Their cover of  the Phil Spector penned and The Crystals performed classic “Then He Kissed Me” is dripping with punk sarcasm. The Brats continue to foreshadow the Ramones’ sound which evolved 50’s/60’s pop into a punk sound (“Zurich 17“) while “Tumble With Me” flips the narrative to the chaste “Wake Up Little Susie” (Everly Brothers ’57) and asks her, point blank, to enjoy herself and take a tumble. It probably had those early 70’s record execs clutching their pearls. Other tracks lament the irritations of youth like “Another Schoolday” (it’s sooo good!).