Back to Vietnam
1984 · Illuminated JAMS 37 · London, UK: England
- Artist
- Television Personalities
- Title
- Back to Vietnam
- Release
- The Painted Word
- Year
- 1984
- Label
- Illuminated # JAMS 37
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- London, UK: England
- Genre
- Rock · Indie Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
British post-punk, neo-Psychedelic group, formed in London in 1977, led by song-writer Daniel Treacy (guitars and vocals), the sole constant member of a revolving line-up. According to the linear notes of this album, the group recorded the songs in 1982/83 at the 'Hit Factory', featuring David Musker, Mark Flunder, Ingrid Weiss, David Walmsley and Martin Kerry-Daley. It also included Joe Foster on bass, also known as Slaughter Joe, who released the Vietnam-related song Napalm Girl (Creation Records # CRE 019) in 1985. The 7-minute plus song "Back to Vietnam" (Illuminated Records # JAMS 37) dealt with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It described a war veteran dreaming of "running in the jungle", who then woke up screaming, thinking that the government might send him back to Vietnam. It is then revealed that the veteran lived in an institution, wheelchair bound. The track also included a double-meaning, as the narrator took a general anti-war stance: "it's all the same: Vietnam, Korea, First World War, Argentina, Falkland Islands, another war, what is it for?" - thus, the group used the Vietnam example as a way to protest against the UK's involvement in the 1982 Falkland's…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
British Post-Punk, neo-Psychedelic group, formed in London in 1977, led by song-writer Daniel Treacy (guitars and vocals), the sole constant member of a revolving line-up. According to the linear notes of this album, the group recorded the songs in 1982/83 at the 'Hit Factory', featuring David Musker, Mark Flunder, Ingrid Weiss, David Walmsley and Martin Kerry-Daley. It also included Joe Foster on bass, also known as Slaughter Joe, who released the Vietnam-related song Napalm Girl (Creation Records # CRE 019) in 1985. The 7-minute plus song "Back to Vietnam" (Illuminated Records # JAMS 37) dealt with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It described a war veteran dreaming of "running in the jungle", who then woke up screaming, thinking that the government might send him back to Vietnam. It is then revealed that the veteran lived in an institution, wheelchair bound. The track also included a double-meaning, as the narrator took a general anti-war stance: "it's all the same: Vietnam, Korea, First World War, Argentina, Falkland Islands, another war, what is it for?" - thus, the group used the Vietnam example as a way to protest against the UK's involvement in the 1982 Falkland's…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
English post-punk band formed 1977 in London. [Source: Wikipedia]