New York - London: 1981-86

About the Artist
The two main movers of the band Khmer Rouge are Barry Myers (AKA Scratchy) and Phil Shoenfelt. Barry had up to that time had quite a varied career which took in DJing, writing for British music paper Sounds and working for bands like Dr. Feelgood and The Clash. It was while working for the Clash that he acquired his nickname Scratchy.

Having found himself in the USA following a Clash tour Scratchy met up with Phil Shoenfelt and threw in his lot as bassist with Khmer Rouge. Musically he had previously been bassist with the band The Snivelling Shits. Khmer Rouge had previously been a part of the Art-noise scene that had grown out of New York. The original band had been a spiky four piece although with the addition of Scratchy the band had slimmed down initially to a duo and then with the addition of original drummer Claus behind the drum kit the band entered into a period of rehearsal. Unfortunately Clause decided to concentrate full time on his studies although he would re appear further down the road. A new drummer was therefore required and Paul Di Martino AKA Wacko had filled the drum stool by the time the Khmer Rouge MKII played their first gig at the famous Peppermint Lounge in New York in January 1982. Further comings and goings on the drum riser continued through 1982 although the band did manage to! open for the Clash in front of 7,000 people again in New York and also a string of dates with Billy Idol. The band continued through the next two years where various members came and went around the core of Phil and Scratchy including Marcia (Phil's wife) and then a short-lived idea of recruiting Wayne Kramer although that union stalled when it would appear that the band would have to share billing with Wayne Kramer.

At the end of 1984 the band decided to relocate to London from New York. Prior to their departure however the band went into the studio and laid down the track Shoot which is a highlight included on the studio disc of this two disc set. More line up changes ensued during the bands time in London, former 999 member Ed Case joined briefly although he didn't last long and some sense of normality was only regained when Clause shipped over to England and once more took his place behind the drum kit.

Further gigs took place in the UK and the band tried hard to secure a deal without luck and the final straw would seem to have been Marcia jumping ship to join the Fall. The band however have achieved cult status and also some notoriety in that former New York Dolls and Suicide manager Marty Thau refused to manage the band unless they changed their name from Khmer Rouge.

Product Description
This two CD compilation is divided into a studio disc and a live disc and while the studio disc contains a good cross section of the bands material the live album probably gives you a better idea of where the band were headed.

Tracks:

New Assassins
Labyrinth
Shoot
WNEW-FM Radio Announcement
Hinterland
Africa
Perspective
Silence Fills Our Lives
City Primeval
Age Of Iron
Sharpshooter
Ghosts Of Love
Pissed-Off Manager

Tracks:

Perspective
Information
Tunnel Vision
Parasites
Paradise Row
Labyrinth
Shoot
Africa
Sharpshooter
Viet Vet Rant
Generation
Sharpshooter

Product Description

CD One – Studio
1. New Assassins
2. Labyrinth
3. Shoot
4. Wnew-FM Radio Announcement
5. Hinterland
6. Africa
7. Perspective
8. Silence Fille Our Lives
9. City Primeval
10. Age of Iron
11. Sharpshooter
12. Ghosts of Love
13. Pissed-Off Manager

CD Two – Live:
1. Perspective
2. Information
3. Tunnel Vision
4. Parasites
5. Paradise Row
6. Labyrinth
7. Shoot
8. Africa
9. Sharpshooter
10. Viet Vet Rant
11. Generation
12. Sharpshooter

Format: CD

Rock Music:

Rock Music