Rockpile - And So It Goes & Heart of the City [Live]

[Mono] Live performance of two Nick Lowe compositions with the short-lived group, which featured Billy Bremner on guitar, Terry Williams [long-time member of Man Band], and Dave Edmunds on guitar.
Apologies, but the video has a few glitches and rough edits, due to the age of the source tape [and the attempts at minimizing the amount of commercials being recorded by the original taper, which led to missing moments at the beginnings and ends of performances...]

[@gwts1171]

Heart Of The City is still, in 2019, one of the best rock songs ever written.

[@christianpatrickdouglass4810]

Played it at my wedding in January of this year towards the end of the night. Long live Nick Lowe.

[@davidellis5141]

This was the opening song at the Whisky in 1978. Nick walked on stage and said " So This Is Where The Doors Played " And Rockpile kicked into gear ! 😎

[@laughingcat341]

Thanks for giving it a time and place David. I was there!!!!

[@mjemigh3304]

@Yardbirds 67 Yeah, but that's a great line if it's true. I fully realize that people are and were enamored by The Doors, but I personally think they were just about the most overrated band of the era. I can imagine Nick saying that and then blow everyone away. Hilarious!

[@mjemigh3304]

@Yardbirds 67 You bet'cha. As I mentioned, I only got to see them live once. It sure left a lasting impression!

[@mjemigh3304]

@Yardbirds 67 State University of New York at Albany. I really don't know what year, but I would guess late '70s. Their idea of a concert hall back then was a gym, but it didn't sound too bad. During the (very few) warm months, shows were outside, but we all survived the indoor shows like The Kinks, The Mothers, etc..

[@lesterdiamond6190]

"I left home in a hurry, I ain''t never goin' back" That's what rock n roll is all about right there.

[@Themanwhocameback2]

Nick in his famous Riddler Suit! No lip synching here. Great!

[@williamolson5728]

Watch this kids, this is how it's done live. No backup singers, no dancers, no extra pieces, just wrecking the place....

[@tomgebarowski8156]

This was a really good underrated band from the 70's. Rockpile's lineup included the great Dave Edmonds & Nick Lowe amongst others. To me they're sort of a cross between The Kinks & glitter glam groups like T Rex or David Bowie. Cool, fun tunes. They deserve more attention.

[@wizardtruestar]

They were astoundingly good.

[@chipgaasche4933]

@Gavin MacNeish lol

[@donnatribe5297]

I agree - they were incredibly good!

[@simonpotter2105]

Best live band I ever saw

[@wizardtruestar]

@@simonpotter2105 They were right up there.....saw them @ Armadillo World HQ in Austin. They killed.

[@simonpotter2105]

@@wizardtruestar I'm reading the Nick Lowe biography, interesting stuff, well recommended.

[@FreddyPaine]

I saw them at Winterland in 1978 when they opened for Elvis Costello and MInk DeVille. I was a 20-year-old punk and didn't appreciate them immediately but before long Get It came to be one of my favorite albums. Pure Pop for Now People, aka Jesus of Cool, was good too.

[@petej.8676]

My Beatles...what a band!!! How cooool was Dave Edmunds!!!

[@williamolson5728]

It still amazes me that many people don't know this band. A shame they fell apart after waiting so long to be able to record as Rockpile.

[@matthubbard7859]

Nick Lowe is the only Jesus of Cool, and after Frank Gorshin, he is my second favorite Riddler.

[@johnfitzgerald6319]

Billy Bremner, Rockpiles secret weapon, always does it right

[@GinMae]

Nick.. what more can you say... even after all these years... just keeps getting better..

[@dougsmith7083]

My band played at a small club in Hollywood in July 1989. Called the Gaslight (in the 60s called Bido Litos - Google it). We were down from Vancouver. The band before us was a great rockabilly/soulful trio. Singer played a plexi Dan Armstrong bass and was a petite afroamerican woman with long blonde dreads. Her guitarist was BILLY FREAKIN BREMNER!!! He was just tossin off thunder during the entire set. Met him via the singer (Dobey Daenger) afterwards...helluva guy

[@cary3428]

what was the name of your band?

[@dougsmith7083]

@@cary3428 That band was called DIRT. Our touring partners were called Curious George

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

“In the heart of the city, where the cars are the stars” ...I love that line!

[@andrewcutts7416]

I love Rockpile. I saw them at Leicester University back in 1977. I've always loved Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe.

[@outtathyme5679]

Pure pop for now people

[@wildwall]

Jesus of Cool

[@mjemigh3304]

Actually, "Labor of Lust" was the Rockpile album issued as a Nick record. And there were two Dave albums, as well. Four albums altogether by the band with only one released under the Rockpile name.

[@noblesseoblige9947]

@@mjemigh3304 got your allusion we are among the few

[@peteriuliano5846]

FANTASTICAL LOWE

[@joeblow7407]

Talk about a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act......Unreal!!!!!

[@Hatchcaptain]

Rock ‘n’ roll at it’s finest, this ensemble packed as much punch as anyone . Not given an AOTA of the recognition they deserve by no means..

[@pgo301]

Good Ole Nick and the Pile had a great little run in the last few years of the 70's. The sound was pure and flowed well on the Florida Beaches.

[@colonnamike1]

Such an incredible band! I loved them when they came out- such talent!

[@user-kc3oc9yy5j]

Too short lived. Peter Grant saw to that.

[@thomalexander4120]

one of the best bands I ever saw. This is a REAL R&R band ...

[@johnnymoondog]

It really doesnt get any better than this !

[@stephenpolly2793]

Killer live music from one of the best no frills rock bands ever. "Heart of the City" is as authentically punk as any Ramones' song of 1976-78.

[@johndouglas6354]

I hear more Modern Lovers than Ramones

[@nurknanker6105]

Better than both put together imho. And i hate to compare bands.

[@williamgamble547]

@@johndouglas6354 maybe heart of the route 128 down by the power lines

[@lulakirby]

If you listen to the album version of Heart of the City and Blitzkrieg Bop there are some similarities for sure, both killer rock n roll songs, and great driving music.

[@hydehouse]

Man I love this SIG alternate solo. I wish they'd released an official studio version 2 of the song with it.

[@johnnyferriter682]

this is incredible stuff

[@dougstorky3223]

Nov. 1980, the Agora in Cleveland. Haven't been the same since.

[@gtrjay55]

I bought Blondie tix in 82 because Rockpile was supposed to open in Denver and then they didn't. Very disappointed. Thanks for posting, rock on.

[@Slamit88]

We caught the SAME bill in Detroit in 1977 John!!....GREAT SHITE'!!....~EW

[@jamesmurphy186]

So glad I saw this band! '79 in Detroit at a bar called Harpo's.

[@dougpiranha3619]

Terry Williams, right in the groove.

[@MicroSoftner]

Definitely had his own flavor...

[@tonbuchele1]

Don't you worry, "What's for afters?". Even without the seconds missing it is an excellent upload of a grat musical moment. Cheers and thanks so much!

[@blairhelsing630]

Could be the best versions of both songs I think. They were having a great night here.

[@billthomas56]

Rockpile were such a great band!

[@calnonhardy4002]

Terry Williams is a hell of a drummer. Billy Bremner easily can hang with Dave Edmunds.

[@rickdagger2209]

My opinion is that Rockpile were the best band of the new wave era at least they were certainly my favorite. Dave Edmunds and Billy Bremner wetr probably the best guitar players of their Circle shall we say and Nick Lowe was the best songwriter and everyone knew it and come on can any of you out there think of a better Rock drummer than Terry Williams. These guys had everything you meed for a perfect R&R band.

[@igorstein5616]

Richard Sabsay The Monkees had been and gone in the 60`s and that mop haircut ruined the band and that`s about it really

[@andybowen1249]

Yes you’re right and the story goes is that they were too good,they were opening for Bad Company and kept on stealing the show so they asked em to shorten their set which only made things worse as they played all their best stuff lol. As soon as the big wigs said they were onto something big with a bit of “work” Lowe said that was it,the bubble just burst as they were truly doing for the fun of it and I reckon this shows. Can’t think of any other band that does rock n roll as good as those guys,heard each member doing the songs with other guys and it’s not a patch on Rockpile.

[@chipgaasche4933]

I loved Rockpile, Rick..and I agree about Bremmer..but I'd say The Attractions were the best of that era..and Elvis it's best songwriter.

[@KristinaDeak-Linsner]

@@igorstein5616 ? It sure worked for the Ramones. If you're worried about his hair you missed the musical point.

[@JeffTalleyandBeyond]

This is a great tune.. it could easily be a Thin Lizzy tune.

[@Francis-rs7zu]

Yeah - I always thought it was a Thin Lizzy song - until now.

[@MrBayern66]

@@Francis-rs7zu I just read Nick Lowe's biography. He admits the song is based on "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy who he toured with.

[@DeanMk1]

I swear I've heard Thin Lizzy do this song.

[@YellowChoklit]

Ian Schilling ive heard it was also inspired by steely dan reeling in the years

[@lizzyfan1986]

@@DeanMk1 never.....Philo could of done it tho

[@senatorjimdracula1603]

I've seen this many times, and every time it just makes me say DAMN!! Mind-blowing.

[@kegalormoon]

Some people just look and act right guys class not to mention the voice the playing and songs😁

[@bosundborg5895]

Thanks for the video! Rockpile was a unique band that combined pub rock with pop through Edmunds and Lowe's different talents in both genres. In the late 70's I liked Edmunds the most and have only recently understood the craft behind Lowe's pop art.

[@whatsforafters7843]

My pleasure! I also kept going back and forth between the solo releases of each, during the late 70's, but already being an Elvis Costello fan, at the time, I leaned a bit more towards Nick Lowe's releases..... That being said, Dave Edmunds' work with Flamin' Groovies, and a host of others, is also great :) Thanks for the note of appreciation, and have a safe and happy New Year!

[@bosundborg5895]

@@whatsforafters7843 I started with Dave Edmunds as a kid with I hear You Knockin’ and when Rockpile was formed as a group I found Nick Lowe, who led me into Mr Costello. Yesterday KZbin served me this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2HQYXyLf55mhJo. In the part with Albert Lee we also see Phil Lynott (not shure) and Graham Parker in the Eden-studio. There are also glimpses of a guy who could be Huey Lewis. According to Wikipedia it may be true when he at the time was in the American group Clover, who was musicians on Costello's My Aim Is True. Must say that the algoritms are welltuned. Very interesting. Thanks again and I wish You a happy new year!

[@whatsforafters7843]

Mr. Sundborg, your comment got lost in the KZbin shuffle, and suddenly popped up in my "held for review" section, awaiting my approval, weeks after you posted it - which is the reason I am only responding now!!! Thank you very, very much for sharing that link with the documentary, as I will make time to sit and enjoy it, in the very, very near future ;) Thank you for the happy returns on the New Year's greetings, and take good care of yourself ;)

[@cityzen2717]

I want a Gibson ES-335. BAD!

[@billc6087]

These guys were sooo damn good!

[@LEEFORDJAGG]

Loving their energy and the presence .

[@michaelhussein870]

Yeah man!!! Could flow beautifully.

[@user-kc3oc9yy5j]

They brought taste to the new wave of music.

[@douglasjones3105]

Just fantastic.

[@nikkilev78]

Dudeeeee do people not talk enough about how cool Nick Lowe is!? What a rock star in these performances. His bass is so driving too. I LOVE the studio version of And So it Goes, but they handle it really well here. But Heart of the City is a revelation here damn guys. They were pretty damn cool at this moment.

[@DavidNewlandz]

Now this what I call music.

[@mbogucci1]

This is awesome. They killed Heart of the City. Too bad it cuts out just short. Thanks for posting.

[@whatsforafters7843]

You're very welcome! I just wish it was complete and in better quality ;) Thanks for posting the note of appreciation!

[@commonsense1649]

BEST VERSIONS

[@sethbank6425]

Powerful performance

[@williamb2845]

Saw Nick last night. Such a cool cat.

[@nurknanker6105]

Rockin Dave!

[@CatheLeiper]

So tight.Great guitar! Powerbillypop, or something. Wish I'd seen this band.

[@michaeloberly6129]

Just great stuff, great band.

[@thewkovacs316]

i saw rockpile and blondie on the same bill what a great concert

[@sponson]

Thanks so much for this

[@cindynj]

Thankx ROCKpile👀nj♥️u

[@tombeasley4769]

Good rendition , I must of been 6 when this was on air . But mist it!

[@tdkdgh]

Thanks for posting!

[@hakanborjesson5428]

Great! Thx!

[@rrdream2400]

They sound like a freight train about to run you over, the drummer is incredible.

[@maddogg63]

DE and NL = Magic!

[@angelene85]

pure pop for now people.

[@leenothnagel]

Funny how things go, big fan of Elvis Costello, led me to Nick and Dave Edmonds and Rockpile .

[@peteriuliano5846]

"And You Know The Plan..." Nice.

[@rightfromleft6071]

Wow!

[@BassistPaul]

A rare sighting of a 1970's Fender Telecaster bass

[@alphagenesisinc.1652]

Classic!

[@tidepoolbay]

Rock N Roll WooF!

[@simonemasson9756]

Met een jonge Nick Lowe ,

[@hertzair1186]

I wish they would do a Rockpile reunion….the four fellas are still around…so why not

[@mbogucci1]

Dave is ill, Nick is a dick, Terrys knees are shot. But you still got Billy on the road for a few more months!

[@dougstorky3223]

Billy effin Bremner. Nov.1980, the Agora in Cleveland.

[@77tyrex]

more than great thanck you

[@whatsforafters7843]

My pleasure! Thrilled so many people enjoy this footage, even though it is somewhat rough, and incomplete :)

[@77tyrex]

I am French and unconditional of nick lowe and for the rest that has no importance I adore him and he is a great man I do not grow tired of listening to him his voice is wonderful and in more he is as the good wine he ages well i ' hope that he will live hundred-year-old because we cried a lot when johnny haliday died, And I ' try to play them and to sing them, it ' is not easy, because they are masterpieces as cruel to bekind first , peace love and etc etc It's a pity that at the school they taught us English earlier because it is much more difficult to interpret ( first fan of Mr lowe)

[@jeffersonhancock1433]

Dig that green suit!

[@grunter1389]

But ... I want a GREEN Suit

[@pereraddison932]

Grunter . . I just want floppy hair...

[@nuwavedave]

Saw Rockpile at the LA Forum back in '77. They blew Bad Company off the stage.

[@murraypassarieu9115]

Not a fair fight tbh

[@sdcalaca]

Would you of rather they blown them on the stage?! But seriously folks, they were one of the greatest live bands I've seen.

[@frogface66]

I got a foggy notion in the heart of the city.

[@richbailey8174]

I want that green suit!

[@tombeasley4769]

Bloody good!

[@tombeasley4769]

All I can say, that : This is great. Thanks!

[@whatsforafters7843]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoy it so much, and let me know :) Appreciate it!

[@tombeasley4769]

This live version is better than the single version with just Nick by him self. Thank's . I apreshiate this!

[@tombeasley4769]

What can I say but thanks!

[@tombeasley4769]

Thank's again!

[@joepistorio3970]

The epitome of the new wave.

[@friednoodles6360]

this was my favorite part from burt sugarman

[@crosslink1493]

Thanks for posting this, great stuff. I saw these guys open for Blondie in 1982(?), Greek Theater in Los Angeles. I hate to say it, but they were musically sharper on stage than Blondie was (even with 'maniac' Clem Burke on the drums behind Debbie Harry!).

[@whatsforafters7843]

My pleasure! Thanks for the note of appreciation, too. Sadly, I would never get to see the band, live [Only Nick Lowe, on a solo tour, decades ago].

[@mjemigh3304]

@@whatsforafters7843 I only got to see them once. They played my college. In the gym. As we learned in high school, a basketball court doubles as a very active dance floor sometimes (as it did for the Stray Cats, as well, around the same time).

[@donjohnson9688]

It would have to have been 1980 or prior

[@mjemigh3304]

Yeah, Don is right. They were done by sometime in '81. I've seen several shows by Dave and Nick with their own bands, and both were real pros. Dave was in at least one Ringo band that I saw, as well. But as a band, Rockpile was pretty hard to beat! And their songs should be a place for new bands to dig into for a head start, like we all did with Chuck Berry a few years earlier.

[@nurknanker6105]

Nick washed his hair!

[@danocable]

Don’t forget Dave Edmonds, terry Williams .

[@GordosGigs]

Nick with version two of the Tele bass.

[@NBM3]

CUT THE END !?!? CRIMINAL !!!!!!

[@spetes1]

Saw them at the Bottom Line NYC couple of times, excellent. One late show, Keith Richards showed up for a song. What a great band they were! #PubRock

[@bigalexg]

beginning is almost identical to reelin in the years

[@paulcollings4543]

Fuckin fantastic record. Played it to death back in the day. Probably worth a couple of quid now

[@lext4374]

4:58 Dave Edmunds guitar

[@edrock9192]

This is great but there is an even better version from British tv. It begins with a host saying "the death has been announced of Bernard Manning....that was only a joke you bastards". Find it, I can't. It's amazing.

[@dougsmith7083]

YES! THAT IS THE EPITOME OF THE ROCKPILE LIVE EXPERIENCE...BARELY WORKING UP A SWEAT...BURYING ANY BAND WHO DARED TO CHALLENGE THEIR LIVE ROCK EXCELLENCE INTO THE GROUND THAT THEIR TURBOCHARGED ROCKING MACHINE BLAZED OVER

[@jackeminor]

The first song sounds like Reelin in the Years

[@scttymc1967]

The best song Thin Lizzy never wrote

[@pumkinbreath]

Thin lizzy good

[@peterhaslund]

Nick Lowe, a very smart man spending almost his entire career pretending to be naive

[@jeremiah123z]

No need to apologize for posting such a wonderful example of real rock 'n' roll. Many thanks. Where'd you find this performance? Cheers!

[@whatsforafters7843]

Thanks for not being put off by the troublesome bit at the beginning! This is either from a Don Kirschner's Rock Concert, or a program called Midnight Special - more likely the former. Inherited the tapes many years ago, as you can see with the series of glitches that occur in the image. Appreciate the fact you took the time to write a positive "review" ;) Best!

[@jeremiah123z]

Oh, I remember both shows well. They were islands in the stream of TV sewage back when. Thanks again.

[@sdovas]

What's for afters? Midnight Special features exclusively bands doing live versions of their hits, bless 'em, but this set doesn't look like either that I remember... great set regardless!

[@perryamberson]

Pretty sure this is 'Midnight Special.' The giveaway is the tiny TV studio stage they're performing on. Kirshner's show was shot in more of a concert setting. These are the two songs they did on 'Midnight Special.' This appearance inspired to buy 'Pure Pop for Now People' on my next visit to the local record store.

[@michaelkamensky6230]

This is definitely The Midnight Special because I was actually watching it live the night it aired! I watched it every week for years as a pre-teen. Nick Lowe got the billing, not Rockpile, even though it was the same guys. I loved these songs and used my paper route money to buy Pure Pop For Now People, the very first album I bought with my own money.

[@gregarruda112]

Okay 🙏 d band is so

[@jorgejohnson451]

I always wondered what happened to Meredith Hunter’s suit.

[@johnbarry8542]

you ever listen to Nick Lowe sing lately I've let things go God damn

[@tonyballz9023]

I don't see how the hell that audience is sitting still.

[@jeffreyday2414]

Wonder where this was...and where Nick's suit ended up...

[@billburnett1531]

Reelin' In the Years?

[@whatsforafters7843]

I'm fairly certain that this clip is from a U.K. television program, "The Kenny Everett Show", but not 100% certain on that.... Meanwhile, this clip was aired long before Reelin' in the Years was really active.

[@jackeminor]

Sounds like Reelin’ to me and the wife BIGTIME. We love the Dan a ton