“You Mistreat Me” and “The Key” represent two more songs from the Morlocks’ historic show at San Francisco’s Swedish American Hall, recorded by KALX radio on Sept. 28, 1985.
“There were a couple of Swedish shows,” writes Morlocks strategist and MC Jerry Cornelius. “These were promoed by Paul Renna — another million years of tales attached to that name!
‘The first happened right after [guitarist] Ted [Friedman] went up to SFO to join the rest of the band. I was up there for the second — on my first full night after moving up, one month later. The bill was The Sea Hags, Thee Unforgiven and The Morlocks — with light show by The Brotherhood of Light.”
![Ted [Friedman]](https://cheunderground.site/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/img089.jpg){kind=link}
“The Brotherhood of Light provided the psychedelic backdrop of melted water and oil emulsions dancing on overhead projectors,” show-goer Paul Kaufman adds. “By this point, the Morlocks were at the perfect mix of precision and power. And of course, the show started with a great Jerry Cornelius introduction.”
“The sound guys at The Swedish American Hall were the same guys that did sound for the Grateful Dead,” Friedman recalls. “It was fucking horrible. They added all these effects. I remember kicking their mic off my amp and just turning up.”
“The Swedish Show: We were such bad-ass rock stars that my brother reminded me that he had to drive me home with my drums sticking out of his little rental car,” adds drummer Mark Mullen. “He had come up from SD to see the show and when he was heading back to his hotel, there I was with no way to get home. Too funny!”
Leighton Koizumi (vocals); Tommy Clarke (lead guitar); Ted Friedman (rhythm guitar); Jeff Lucas (bass); Mark Mullen (drums).
The Morlocks play “You Mistreat Me”: Listen now!
The Morlocks play “The Key”: Listen now!
More Morlocks MP3s:
The Morlocks play “One-Way Ticket”: Listen now!
The Morlocks kick off at Swedish American Hall: Listen now!
Despite the overdone reverb they added to Leighton’s mike, “The Key” is still one of my favorite moments. I wish there was video of this so we could see and hear how much this show rocked.
Is there no extant video of the original-recipe Morlocks? Considering how much exposure the band got — Time magazine shoots, Polo Fields gigs with sign-language interpretation by Academy Award-winners — I’m amazed if there isn’t some video record.
I’m reminded how impressed I always was with Mark Mullen’s drumming.
Tom, funny you should mention that about echo…
One time the Wallflowers were playing at the Syndicate out in Point Loma (the first time out with the Rockin Dogs), and when we got into the long jam at the end of “Survive the Jungle”, I was making these lines up about getting shipped off to war in Vietnam and such, and the soundman, this hippy-like guy, put all this echo on my voice. It sounded like I was yelling into the Grand Canyon! So, after we were finishing up when I was leaving he came over asked me, “man, how’d you like that echo, wasn’t that rad?” and just like you said, there was nothing I could do at that point, so I was like, “yeah sure, that was awesome, thanks dude”.
Video
I feel the same way, there has to be video somewhere.
I do have a few things but not much. One that would be good but has no sound, one that was decent got a soap opera recorded over it ten years ago and then one that is a good show but the club added all of this video effects fying moons and crap to the video. It’s on my list to get them off of VHS to DVD and do something with it.
Tom, thanks for the comment.
Haven’t read about The Morlocks opening up at the Fillmore West for The Cult yet….I remember hearing that Ian Astbury was eating out of Leighton’s hand for style tips. Any bites on that one?
Jeff thinks there is a tape of the show.
I challange him to find it.
this sounds great to me. just happy to be able to hear some early morlocks live. I have not heard any since Ron Rimsite sold my friend Scott a copie of Wake me when I’m dead.
In 1999 my friend brian and I were watching a vhs of 60’s bands he bought at a record swap, in the middle of the tape The Morlocks came on. It was just one song and the footage was dark with lots of trails(an added effect). We were really stoked it was on the tape. We are fans.
Dylan
Do you still have that tape?
Mark: I talked to Brian yesterday. He is pretty dam sure he has the tape and he said that there is more than one Morlocks song on the tape. He also said he thought there was Morlocks stuff on u-tube.
Also my friend Scott should still have his copie of Wake me When I’m Dead, If does I know he can burn records to cd. Both buys are in the Bay Area.
I can try and get these for yall or put you in contact with Scott and Brian.
sorry about all the type-o’s. LOL!
THanks
I will send you an e-mail
What typos
Paint peeling perfection…………………..
Now that just made my day.
How can I hear the rest of the tracks?
I’m really into the Morlocks and the Gravdigger Five
have the Voxx CDs and Emerge (unfortunately the pressing doesn’t seem great)
UK based fan so things are a bit complicated.