Mo-Dettes - WHITE MICE / WHITE MOUSE DISCO - RARE VIDEO

[@marlonleechan8494]

Main singer was actually my French Teacher in high school. I remember when she came out with the fact that she was in a band and we all couldn’t believe it.

[@toonmama6]

Thats frikkin rad😎🤓

[@quantumfighter]

i concur with @ UnicornsandUfos... on that point (except, perhaps, the use of the word 'rad' in a sentence ;), probably would have gone with 'phat' myself :9 .) though this proves it really is a small world after all - dope! :)

[@ShiningSta18486]

ayooo

[@theautistictomboy4003]

dude she's mine currently-

[@nyakris]

Lucky you

[@KingOFuh]

Guitarist Kate Korus, who had previously played with the all-female bands the Castrators and also Slits, was originally from the States, although she'd lived in England since 1974. Bassist Jane Crockford was a teenage runaway whose claim to fame was sharing a squat with Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten. Vocalist Ramona Carlier, a former ballet student from Geneva, Switzerland, had apparently moved to London due to the lack of punk culture in her home country. Prior to joining Mo-Dettes, Ramona was the original singer of another band Kleenex / Liliput, under the pseudonym Regula Sing. And drummer June Miles-Kingston met Kate on the set of the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, where they were both employed as musicians.

[@janeperrywoodgate848]

All true except for The Kleenex bit 🎶🖤🎶

[@jungatheart6359]

I didn't know she was in Liliput too; I've still got both this single and one of theirs.

[@corvetcoyote443]

Ah, I knew this had that Lilliput sound of course 👍

[@daniellehall9679]

I remember all the quirky New Wave bands I followed either broke up or became very commercialized after '83. People make fun- the dorky dance moves, thrift store fashions, but for me it was such a magical time.

[@gw974]

Singer is absolutely gorgeous

[@lefkytheshin]

Beats the hell out of what today's kids are being fed.

[@gregorydaly3021]

Talk about being "commercialized"-80s punk rock variety and style can never be matched on the scale that it was especially commercially! IE; Pennywise etc.....

[@merinfraser3374]

stay chipper pretty lady

[@kendollgt]

They look really cool!

[@whiskywineandbeer]

No need to apologise for the quality of the video. this is just brilliant.

[@PixieKitsune]

This was really ahead of its time considering. This was before mtv.

[@michaeltnewyorknights8413]

@@PixieKitsune videos were being made long before MTV... especially British acts.

[@ryanfenton5755]

This track is perfect in every way possible!

[@Cupcakezareawesome]

Ramona is a teacher now... MY teacher to be exact! She hasn't changed a bit.. :)

[@sammencia7945]

Very common for musicians and DJ to become teachers.

[@duffbaker9554]

@@sammencia7945 I can personally vouch for that. I love it!

[@eyoung1683]

WOW so strange - I was looking at her and thinking ''teacher'' that is cool

[@Caligula_In_Hell]

I just discovered thus band and I already love them

[@seanobrien698]

She still advising guys to man-up?

[@R4949]

Whoever thought one of my old college projects would one day be available to the world!!! I remember my tutor at the time didn't think much of the video or the song...

[@matatias]

this is great, both the song and your video

[@nicksullivan8075]

bought this on 45 epic

[@heathstjohn6775]

For the uninformed, like me, could you please say how this came to be made at the London School of Printing, please ? Thanks very much.

[@R4949]

@@heathstjohn6775 The LCP (London College of Printing) was (and is) a multi-media college with a great film and tv department. Now called the Loncon College of Communications to clariofy its main function.

[@heathstjohn6775]

@@R4949 Hello. Thanks for the reply. I wonder if they stayed late one day to film it; and if they mimed to the song they could hear ? Regards.

[@enigmismo]

The voice of Ramona Carlier is fantastic Mo-dettes operational years 1979-1982 - formed by guitarist Kate Korris and bassist Jane Crockford and June Miles-Kingston (drums) the genre of this all-female band is Post-punk genre, WHITE MICE it's a piece, a track, a single from 1979 - DO NOT Dismiss NEVER always post rare videos. Clever HUMAN !^_^! COMPLIMENTS R4949

[@ukrainianbull]

I'm back to the late late 70's (perhaps early 80's) I saw them at the London Lyceum with Nina Hagen and then in my home town of Bedford at the Bunyan Centre. Both times they let me take photos of them back and front stage which I now treasure. Thank goodness for You Tube

[@psiclick]

I've taken the liberty of fixing the sound on this and submitted it as a response. It took quite a lot of work as the VHS seems to be running at about 97.5% the speed of the original. So I had to spend hours cutting and tweaking to make it work. This song has been in my all time top ten since I was a kid so it was very much a labour of love. Sadly YoutTube have 'detected third party content' on mine and slapped an advert on it :( Hope you don't mind :)

[@katastrophenschutzwa]

Just awesome!! Loved the mo-dettes. I used to write to them and still have the letters AND the badges they sent me. Shoulda been far bigger!!

[@glengamble526]

katastrophenschutzwa but if the badges were bigger, they might not fit in the post... 😉

[@creynoldsiphone]

This was actually produced by Chris Reynolds and Simon Fanthorpe. This is only the studio shoot section of a video that contained much location footage. Rather than Direct what was my project, from the studio gallery I directed much of it from the Studio floor whilst operating a Sony 300 portable TV camera. David Rose and Ian Henges were present and sat in the studio gallery and ran VTRs and vision switched from there, so they were involved in the production. Before the studio session neither David or Ian had heard of the group. Simon and I met the group at a gig and asked them to make the video with us and we arrange all the logistics. Following the studio shoot Simon and I shot more material outside and in their flat. Later, David Rose asked me if he could use the studio version on his directors showreel and I agreed. I did not expect him to claim it as his work decades later.

[@ktkingston6116]

Would be great to see the completed video do you have it anywhere?

[@lemwezzer63]

best part about being 50, seeing bands like this.

[@MartinBlack]

lol, how true! Saw them at a 'Rock Against Sexism' gig in 79 I think. : )

[@frolicfutile2409]

youandwhosearmy? All you beat there, was crime ma friend x ROCK AGAINST

[@lemwezzer63]

true that.

[@markschroeder283]

same here!

[@saudade369]

Yes , I totally agree. everyone says a similar thing about the era they grew up with but I really think that the only times where music, culture and "'feeling' " were so enjoyable, important and still relevant, is the 60s scene and the Punk / Post Punk scene. of the late 70s and early 80s . There seems nothing now that people can relate to and express themselves with that is so " whole politically , culturally and socially . and just so obviously enjoyable.!

[@lunahlulah6772]

‘If I was a homely girl I’d like to marry you.’ I love that line!

[@fuzzilu]

Brilliant line! That, and you can stock my larder line! It's one of my best earworms too !!

[@fannycraddock99]

Still amazing in 2020. Who's with me?

[@ЕдкийНатр-ъ1т]

In 2021

[@figospodnos3563]

especially in 2020s i'd say

[@anthonyardisone1161]

In 2022

[@silicononsapphire5102]

@@anthonyardisone1161 I concur. October now.

[@addicktedtocharlton1167]

2023 and Hell, yeah!

[@spacetoob]

saw them live back in the day. limited repertoire meant we all screamed "white mice thrice" and guess what happened to the encore 😭 thx so much for the upload 👍

[@MothraBlues]

WoW! What a treat to see a video for this old fave of mine. Takes me back to when I was young, snotty & pimply (mind u, only one of those 3 things have changed in the intervening 35 years - lol). Punk & New Wave saved my life. Thanx 4 sharing this!

[@pollmeister]

WOW! LOVE THIS and bought it when it came out when I was about 13. Had lots of pictures of Ramona on my wall - I loved her! Jane (with the funny eyebrows) was married to Woody from Madness and used to work in my local hairdressers - she was ace.

[@justinthirsk8436]

Got into punk in 1982 or so. when I was around 11 years old. My older brother and all his friends were deep in the scene. From Peni to Adolescents, from Blitz to Bad Brains, etc... But we've always loved this song so much. It was brilliant. I still have the original 45 and the cover that's shown at the start of this video. Still very much into the more hardcore punk, but this song(and Masochistic Opposite which is side B) will always hold a place in my heart.

[@sarasarah1810]

The vhs quality adds to the brilliant song....tyvm for this wonderful share.🙋🐈👍 be well... Toodlepip 🙋

[@smokeemonkee]

The lead singer's look is so cool and timeless, don't forget this is 1979!

[@thecapricorn11]

yes people dressed cool in that era 🙄

[@duffbaker9554]

@@thecapricorn11 The mainstream didn't (they were still pretty flared-out, even at that late point), whereas the minority (i.e. the post-punk/new wave set) did..

[@thecapricorn11]

@@duffbaker9554 ok

[@hannahmccoy8336]

@fogdust this was ahead for 1979. They were at the front of the wave that rode into the 80s. They were making it!

[@thecapricorn11]

@@hannahmccoy8336 sure

[@michaelbowen8923]

Love the bass line running through this song.

[@sirreptitious8786]

HOLY CRAP!!! I practically almost forgot about this band, and the song! The last time I heard this was back in 1983 on a little college radio station in Allentown, PA. This brings back some memories. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS!!

[@Spiralreiki]

I remember seeing them back in 1980 at Jacksons Lane Community Centre London, they were great!

[@KingOFuh]

Bass player is Jane Crockford, former member of Bank of Dresden. She also sang some lead vo. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Jane passed away at South Lake Regional Health Center, with her family by her side on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, in her 57th year.

[@henriettahall9731]

Er nope . Not true!

[@silviasubstance5125]

No way, she was the coolest! 😭💔💔💔

[@henriettahall9731]

@@silviasubstance5125 she is not dead! The above is nonsrnse. Her surname changed when she married. She's currently lives (althoufh divorced) and works, as an artist, in London. Ive reported the above message to KZbin as missinfomation nut they have ignored it. Im sure someone with the same name, poor thing, did actually die, but Jane is still kicking! (iz alive)

[@henriettahall9731]

She is not dead & lives in London

[@donnyrover1]

garbage !!! ,get your facts right , not Jane crockford of the mo-dettes !!

[@john_from_eastcoast.]

Rodney on the Roq used to play this song a long time on KROQ. 😁 Good old memories!

[@drunvert]

Yep, I had a cassette tape with this song on it that I taped from his radio broadcast back in 1980

[@cruznick]

Still have this single and still frakken

[@sulladrum]

Thank god for college radio in Boston during this era. It was the only place to hear this great music

[@TheDarrenBartlett]

Thanks for having this and making it available. Had this on tape some 41years ago and now it’s on my Spotify favourites list. Love this sound. Oh what times those where.

[@basserphil]

I still have this 7" single from rough trade records,,,,an amazing bassline even now....unfortunately I never got to see these ladies play live...thanks for uploading the video :) :) :)

[@RathannaJohn]

What an absolute gem! In my youth me and my mates used to get up on stage at Mo-dettes gigs and join in with them belting out Twist and Shout for their encore. A wonderful band that always did a great live set and deserved more success.

[@gerardcousineau3200]

Good performers, the bass line is very well done, surprising they did not have more air time in the 70s

[@Slayerone34]

this was shot in december of 1979 fuck off and take your ignorance elsewhere

[@billinvegas2k8]

Had this tune on "The Last Stiff Compiliation" - later found the single for sale at the local import record shop. I was buying British music magazines - NME, Sounds, Melody Maker and the like - found an article about the Mo-Dettes - more importantly photos! Right then I decided I would propose to Ramona Carlier. If that failed - June. All these years later seeing this video brings back some fond memories of the 80's. especially women's hairstyles, and clothing. I miss the 80's

[@alicechaiinz7711]

Really like the old time quality of the video; it adds a lot. Plus great band! I think I'm in love.

[@morganfitzp]

Blown away by how similar a certain video by an American pop band (from 5 years later) is to this.

[@RisforRockit]

You were thinking of "Head Over Heels", perchance?

[@dancespinner]

So glad I put this link in my facebook post long ago and it's popped up in my memories there today, and I love this so much as it lets me time travel to art college. Thank you. I love this so much!!

[@MAGUS1947]

Christ on a bike!! Takes me back a bit. I bought the 45 and loved her sexy voice. Played it so much it drove my old feller mad. Thanks for posting.

[@gymnastix]

I always got a kick out of "White Mice" by The Mo-Dettes. I had/have this song on a vinyl album/LP titled "The Last Stiff Compilation," a sort of "greatest hits" by acts from the former (and now revived, I understand) Stiff Records label, a roster which at one time included Elvis Costello, The Damned, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Lene Lovich, Nick Lowe, and Wreckless Eric, among many others. One other novel aspect of that LP was it featured Lene Lovich's unbilled Japanese version of her cover of Tommy James & The Shondells' "I Think We're Alone Now." Stiff Records also had some great ad slogans. among which were-- "If you can't be sure, Be Stiff!" "Undertakers to the industry" "Where the fun never sets" "Surfing on the New Wave" "Round records for square people" "Hit records for missing people" "Our record is extremely good." "The vinyl is final." "If they're dead - we'll sign 'em." "If it ain't Stiff, it ain't worth a fuck." AND this highly creative gem-- "In '78 everyone born in '45 will be 33 1/3 (a play on the RPM speeds of vinyl records, for those too young to recall)."

[@jeng3000]

+gymnastix DEVO too!

[@KingOFuh]

Rachel Sweet made me stiff forever and a day, so petite, she can't be beat, but I beat it anyway

[@DonatellaSoulSPI]

Awesome early 1980s video technology! I LOVED the Mo-Dettes, thanks for sharing!

[@TripFontaine1976]

Still the coolest song I’ve heard in my life. The fabulous Rhino comp Starry Eyes introduced me to this years ago.

[@jpwoodgate]

Lyrics to White Mice written by Jane Perry Woodgate nee Crockford 1979 / Verse Three: I’m not dumb / I’m on the run for someone / Sweet and tasty / Young men always / Turn my head / Can’t help acting hasty / Now it’s said / It’s straight to bed / No need to make it harder / I believe in plenty of / Nice things to / Stock my larder. Chorus

[@juankenon]

misternylon The guitarist, Kate Corris, was a founding member of The Slits before getting replaced on guitar duty by Viv Albertine. This was well before "Cut" came out in '80. I've read she had a two second stint in an early incarnation of The Raincoats as well, don't know that for sure, pretty sure they didn't record anything while she was there. Not sure about the bios of the other members.

[@Punketeria1369]

Love this tune and its 70's Bass Guitar punk sound...Classic!!!

[@PAISLEYTIES1968]

Never really could understand the lyrics at the time , so really grateful for the translation! remember as kids me and a couple of mates played this to death...we loved the intro. This song has aged very well. Everything on this song is right. Vocal, Bass,Guitar..and boy those drums!!!

[@Romartus]

Saw them play in the basement of Rough Trade records when they used to be over in Chiswick (or was it Fulham). In around 1979-1980. I was given this song on a 45 with the artwork you see at the start of the video. It wasn't exactly a gig as such, I only recall this song. I was struck that it was four young women playing together in a girl group. They were pretty rare at the time. Thanks for video.

[@paulcrowther7114]

Don't why it's taken me 10 years to find yo this. I do know that 40 years on I still love this song. Ta!!

[@Jaysthename]

Well now, these ladies were DEFINITELY an influence on The Epoxies. TY for the upload.

[@movingupmedia]

Brilliant, never seen this before.loved the LP at the time. love the fact it is so lo fi and jangly excellent.

[@bkr323]

One of my all time favorite forgotten 80's jams. I rock out to this song all the time! Who knew there was a video?!?! Thank you sooooo much for posting this!

[@xombeat]

Thank you. This is fantastic...

[@MartinBlack]

Great stuff, one of the first bands I ever saw, love this track, thanks for sharing.

[@bennetgriffin4052]

That is friggin awesome! This was mixed in with my (very cool and punky) aunt's tape of The Pretenders first album, I never knew who it was, but finally looked it up (with the very few words from the lyrics I could even make out) and found this! Wonderful, blast from my distant past, well done sir :)

[@voodoorythm55]

That is damn good, that bass is killer!

[@lextual]

Very "militant/rockers" Reggae bass style...

[@lionelrobles812]

Que bueno que hayan subido esto!! no sabía que tuvieran videos. Genial!

[@frflinstone]

they once sang happy birthday to me at a gig in London, beat that !!

[@schnapser1918]

I have been looking for the Modettes on KZbin for a while and just did a search again for the first time in a while. Fantastic vid, thanks for sharing, Your prof was a twit.

[@stephenwalker2177]

Fantastic, you have to tbink this was late 70's early 80s it's of it's time but fantastic. Loved it then still do got the single on vinyl. Like an early Fuzzbox. Mmmmmmm mo-Dettes.

[@gregbenjamin3872]

it's like you're reading my mind!? thanks for a great birthday present - right place at the right time!

[@theurbarnbassman]

Fantastiic, great song and great band, good memories from a good time in life!

[@surfinwax58]

Still have a 1979 ad for one of the planned appeaences in Hollywood. Alas, it never came. Still enjoyed their music: UK. French. USA members in the band.

[@kookoocoffey]

Thanks so much for uploading this.

[@KenMerlin]

damn I love these rare gems.

[@patrickhicks9880]

i've got this record i've never seen them perform before thank you for putting this on here

[@katetreefoil4749]

mag on the snare, god bless you for posting this... wickedly wonderful. thank you.

[@ronfrankl]

Amazing video. This will always will be one of my favorite songs; thanks for sharing this.

[@martinz60]

R4949 - A sincere thank you for posting this. Nothing dodgy at all. One of my favorite songs of the 80's, and I still dig it. And Jane is right - your tutor just wasn't with it!

[@mraven7507]

A Lydia lunch link brought me here. How did i miss this for so long ?? Absolutelyin love

[@sanfrutosubeda]

love it,saw them at madness gig in 79 and wow they are absolutely gorgeous

[@dougalmcconchie5292]

I’m only 2 years old and I really love to rock out to the Mo Dettes

[@stephengrimmer35]

Saw them at Wolverhampton Poly in '81 when I was a 1st year student as Aston. Ramona, Kate, Jane & June. In love with them all!

[@Drevilbreakfast]

Just listened to it again, this is a tune

[@jogourlay8277]

I was obsessed with this band and this song whe it came out. Still have the 45 but had never seen this video. Brilliant!!

[@seandoran2209]

No way...what a find...memory of this...everyone was talking about the banshees..apart from me.You made my morning,thks.

[@livingroomrecordings]

This is tremendous! Thanks for posting.

[@lynnethermann1912]

loved this song when it was new. loved it. Love the video! yes we did dress that way. :-D

[@wayne_twentyfive]

This is the best footage i have ever seen of this great song. Thanks very much for posting. Wayne

[@JoeC90GO]

They were the first band that I ever saw live at a plaice called the Coach House , even bought the 7inch version of this track. They also did a cover version of Paint it Black.

[@vincentclarke2385]

Great band. Saw them at Eric's, Liverpool not long before it closed...support was Wah Heat! Didn't know this video existed. Check out the LP" The Story So Far" if you can still get a copy .....

[@pikkujakki]

Would be super cool to see a good quality transfer of that "dodgy VHS". This clip is wonderful - 240p is not wonderful. It's a brilliant performance.

[@DerekNovo]

Omg I was there! Teared up, was a beautiful show. Great mother/daughter collab

[@ktkingston6116]

interesting disconnect are you one the right page?

[@LostwaveObsession]

Poison Girls and Rubella Ballet?

[@kashesan]

omg-I never saw them live-thank you!

[@barcelonatery4960]

Kathleen Cabot I did ! at the London college of printing, Elephant & castle SE London where this video was shot, Great days.

[@jacktar9567]

Ramona...❤ I was a 15 year old boy when I saw her for the first time.... great times, good memories....still got the Modettes album xxx

[@michaels.thomas1564]

I still have my Mo-dettes flexi discs, scared to play them but treasured no less.

[@Polacerbic]

Rodney Bingenheimer played the Modettes!!! I remember and miss those days!

[@mistery-ed7900]

Rodney on the ROQ was the best thing on the radio.

[@MothraBlues]

P.S I totally cracked up when the ole "infinity" effect kicked in at 2:34. That dorky effect was EVERYWHERE back in the 70s! But the vid's a goodie nonetheless. :-D

[@VanielDeeform]

MothraBlues Sure but to be fair, it does actually fit with the echoey dub vocal effect in that song. So it’s absolutely necessary & welcome :)

[@UNOwen1]

@R4949; That 45 (0:12) was one of the first I ever bought (still have it, pink cover, and all). I saw them perform at Irving Plaza (NYC), and other than that, this video's only the second time I've ever seen them (BTW; though the image quality isn't terrific, there's many people - here on KZbin - who are really good doing restoration, and it'd be terrific someone could clean this up, as the MoDettes were very early in punk, and they REALLY do deserve to be MUCH better known). There's not much I can say which would make sense to anyone who wasn't there (around at this time, or who want familiar with them), but it was a really terrific time, musically. Another AMAZING show was The Cramps (sigh...!), I always loved music, but, it was that brief period which lit a spark for me, and I've been a voracious music collector since (mostly albums and 45s... those 'ancient' analogue things, but, hey; a lot of the stuff I've got has never been released anywhere else.

[@urtypus]

That is fun’ ! Fantastic ! Thanks for sharing this !

[@MarmaladeStex]

Love it!, Apparently they supported Madness & The Specials!, also the bassist Married Woody from Madness, split up after 15 Years though i think!.

[@KingOFuh]

Lead singer is Swiss-born Ramona Wilkins-Carlier, Teacher at Hasmonean High Screwel, London. Education was at Middlesex University, with a PGCE in Secondary Education and Teaching, 2001 - 2002, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Policy. She has repeatedly turned down requests for her to appear on Britain's Got Talent because of "the friggin' kids!" she has in her life as a teacher. Anyway, it's weird seeing Ramona today and back then side by side. It's almost as if they were the same person.

[@Steinbacker4001]

Great stuff - Now I also need some Lene Lovich - Lucky Number!

[@carmway]

I am addicted to this video, "dodgy quality" dates it, ads to its charm. Thanxs for posting we need more videos like this!!!! KZbin Rules!!!!

[@drstevie]

So good. Saw them in..1980/81.

[@goblinzits]

I recently found this 7" for $5, such a great record. I had no idea a promo video existed!

[@CitroenCX]

Saw them support Madness at Glasgow Apollo in February 1980. Amazing. Thanks for posting this.

[@mthirty1]

Thank you so much for posting this video! I hear this song in my head and at the last line the song slows and stops. the record was pressed so close to the center, that this song would ALWAYS slow and stop because my record player just turned off! did this happen to anyone else or is it just me! never mind! thank you and you are wonderful for giving me this song... o please post masochistic opposite .. i am 4eva in yr debt for whitemice anyway!!!

[@ralphiewigs2208]

This song stirs intense emotions. Rodney on the ROQ played this song almost every week...Sundays in LA.

[@charlesjamieson6053]

Nice one! great wee tune fae way back then!

[@SteveN-ki7so]

I only stumbled upon this as a suggested "like" , so glad i checked it out !

[@cheyannedise73]

one of the best videos....its great! Thanks for posting....xoxoo

[@powerwegy]

i remmember when youtube had just come out i was trying to find a video of them and there was nothing :/

[@davidmiller5573]

Loved these girls, they had a huge fanbase in Sunderland.