In the fall of 1979, the three were able to buy a bass guitar and drumkit, changed the name into "The Squats" and placed an add in the local news paper for a guitarist. Only one reaction, but the right man! So, on the 1st of September ( with an average age of 16) they rehearsed for the first time in a greenhouse on the other side of the river, and on the 21st of September the band had their first gig in café "het Haantje" in Nijmegen. From then on things went fast. In
the months following, the band had their first appearance in the local
venue"Doornroosje", shocked a school in Nijmegen during a highschool
band festival, and did another gig at "Doornroosje". News spread
fast and they got an invitation to play on the 1st punk festival in The
Netherlands, 'Rock Against Religion' on Christmas day. The festival was
recorded for both, radio and TV and was broadcasted nation wide. 1980 / 1981 have been the most productive years. The band started to play nationwide and hopped over the border to Belgium several times. Many times supporting English punk bands, frequently touring the continent at that time, in the Netherlands. And that was one of the most astonishing things they ever had experienced. Suddenly they met with The Buzzcocks, got drunk with The Ruts, friends with the UK Subs, and got in a fight with Anti Pasti, all bands from which they learned to play music from by listening to their records over and over again. In
that same time they also started recording in the studio. The first recordings
were made in the beginning of 1980 at "Huize Schoonderloo" in
Rotterdam. A 15 song live recorded, 2 track, no overdubs, demo resulted
from this called "The First, The Best, The Last?" which was
released on their own "Nep en Bedrog (Fake and Fraude) Records"
Label. (N&B001) Well From
gig one on the Squats have been notorious for violence at their gigs,
and the obnoxious and rude behavior of the band and part of their following.
Many times they have even been accused of being right wing followers.
For those who knew the band well, it was clear this was not the case,
and their best denial to these accuses have always been their lyrics.
For sure, notorious they were, obnoxious and rude as well, call them arrogant, irritant, and ignorant but what else should you expect from 17 year old teenagers on speed, on the dole, in the early 1980's playing in a punkband from Nijmegen? That's how teenagers should behave. And after all, musically, it was a great punkband! |