St. Valentines Day Massacre

At an illicit teenage party thrown by my sister while our parents were out, one of her friends, under the influence of a flagon or so of Strongbow, had put his copy of Motörhead's Ace of Spades on to my Dad's turntable and, as close as he could get to the speakers was shout-singing along utterly enthralled by the title track's chorus, meanwhile accompanying himself on air guitar. Two years her junior (I would have been twelve or thirteen), I was under strict instructions to say nothing to anyone about their revelry: an injunction I have respected until now.

I'd heard 'Ace of Spades' before, but witnessing that moment I properly felt some of its mind-altering power for the first time, and learned a new respect for it. I don't exactly recall, but this event may have taken place in 1981, the year that "Headgirl's" (i.e. Motörhead's and Girlschool's) collaborative St. Valentines Day Massacre EP was released. Few would argue it's a highlight of either band's career, but it is a bit of fun.

Per wikipedia "The EP was recorded while Motörhead's drummer Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor was unavailable to perform due an injury, so Girlschool drummer Denise Dufort played on all three songs." Taylor, nevertheless, is credited on the sleeve as contributing "Insults & Inspiration". The lead track is a amped-up cover of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' 1959 number 'Please Don't Touch', while on the B-side Girlschool cover Motörhead's 'Bomber'; while Motörhead with Dufort substituting for Taylor, run through Girlschool's 'Emergency'.

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