The Paranoid Squirrel

Acweorna! This week we discover that sometimes I’ve heard a song before without actually realising it, which sends us from 20/20 to Professor and The Madman and onwards to Sweden’s Skallbank, one of the bands I’ll hopefully be seeing at next year’s Savage Magic Showcase in Cologne. There’s “100 Years of Punk Rock” courtesy of Cock Sparrer and Die Toten Hosen, with the latter opening the doors to Covers Corner. Punk veterans Andy Blade and Derwood join forces, before Cats become Rats and then Sugar Rats, as Willie Dowling’s latest somehow provides another excuse for some Squirrel musical interconnectedness. Elsewhere there’s brand-new music from The Speedways, Glitter Kick and 2Sevens, Richie Ramone gets dusted off for another spin, Vince Lightning and the Thunderboltz provide some local Rock ’n’ Roll, Kurt Baker goes rummaging through both his own and Slade’s past, and Hard-Ons team up with Poison Idea’s Jerry A. And when the Radio Edition finishes, don’t go anywhere... “The Last Nut” this week is something genuinely special: a rehearsal recording, aired with permission, that you’re extremely unlikely to hear anywhere else. Another hour of Punk, Junk & Glunk — new stuff, classic stuff, forgotten gems and a few musical detours along the way. 01 The Lifetakers – Giftshop – The Lifetakers ep – Self Released02 20/20 – Nuclear Boy - 03 Skallbank – Vakna Upp – Digital Release04 Cock Sparrer – Frontline Heroes – True To The Bone – JKP Records05 Die Toten Hosen – I’m So Bored With The USA – True To The Bone – JKP Records06 Kurt Baker – When Fantasy Calls – Wonder Woman – Wick Cool Records07 Andy Blade & Derwood – Cat In The Bag – Cat In The Bag/Junk Shop Saddle – Cherry Red Records08 Willie Dowling – Rats In The Maze – 369 Music09 Sugar Rats – King Kong – I Fucked Up – Sugar Ratcords10 The Speedways – All Bets Are Off – All Bets Are Off 7” – Stardumb/Beluga Records11 Glitter Kicks – Single – Make The Rainbow Sing – TBC12 Richie Ramone – I Fix This – Cellophane – DC-Jam Records13 Vince Lightning and the Thunderboltz – Jealousy – Veni, Vendi, Vincey – Bandcamp14 2Sevens – Shut Down The World – Shut Down The World – Self Released15 Hard-Ons/Jerry A – Radio Blah – Hard Ons/Jerry A – American Leather Records16 The Last Nut – Stream or Download to find out

Acweorna! Episode 1084 of The Paranoid Squirrel is packed with another hour of Punk, Junk & Glunk, mixing brand-new releases with classics, covers, lost demos and a fair amount of musical interconnectedness. This week Compare & Contrast gets a workout as we investigate a few songs that sound strangely familiar, while Covers Corner takes us from Captain Sensible to Julian Cope via some wonderfully unlikely connections. There’s also new music, forthcoming album and gig news, a demo rescued from 1987, plenty of Beatles-related coincidences and the usual stories and diversions along the way. And when you think it’s all over, don’t switch off just yet. After the outro there’s one final musical treat waiting for you... The Last Nut. Where Melody Meets Mayhem! 01 The Romantics – What I Like About You – The Romantics – Nemperor02 The Humpers – Devil’s Magic Pants – Euphoria, Confusion, Anger And Remorse – Epitaph03 The Stranglers – (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) – Live (X Cert) – United Artists04 UFO – Natural Thing – Strangers In The Night – Chrysalis05 Dave Hill – Play It To The Crowd – Dirty Foot Lane – Jerkin Crocus Promotions Ltd06 Rolling Stones – Covered In You – Foreign Tongues – Polydor Records07 Asomvel – Lone Wolf – Set The World On Fire – Self Released08 Captain Sensible & The Softies – Jet Boy, Jet Girl – Jet Boy, Jet Girl 7” – Polydor Records09 Stupidity – World Shut Your Mouth – Beyond Stupidity – Wicked Cool Records10 The Spacewasters – The Shed – Thee CreepWasters / Brothel Apocalypse – Bandcamp11 Thee CreepFreaks – Action – Thee CreepWasters / Brothel Apocalypse – Bandcamp12 Professor and the Madman – Nuclear Boy – Dreamworld – FullerTone Records13 Torque Show – Tell Me Anything – If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It – Demo14 The Dirty Strangers – Get Wild – Country ‘n’ West Ten – DS Records THE LAST NUT:15 Listen in to find out…… Where Melody Meets Mayhem!

Acweorna! This week, The Paranoid Squirrel celebrates the irresistible meeting point of punk rock attitude and infectious pop melodies with a full hour of classic and contemporary Power Pop. From pioneering favourites such as The Boys, Buzzcocks and The Undertones to modern torchbearers including Cyanide Pills, The Speedways and The Reflectors, it's an hour packed with chiming guitars, unforgettable hooks and singalong choruses. Add in a few hidden gems, some record news and the usual Paranoid Squirrel enthusiasm, and you've got the perfect soundtrack for anyone who loves their punk with a melody.01 The Boys – First Time – The Boys (1977) – NEMS 02 Cyanide Pills – Big Mistake – Sliced And Diced (2017) – Damaged Goods 03 Buzzcocks – What Do I Get? – Singles Going Steady (1979) – I.R.S. Records 04 The Speedways – I Shouldn’t Have Tried To Leave Without You – Luna/I Shouldn’t Have Tried To Leave Without You 7” (2026) – Beluga Records 05 The Real Kids – Better Be Good – The Real Kids (1977) – Norton Records 06 The Yum Yums – She's Got Everything – For Those About To Pop! (2020) – Screaming Apple Records 07 The Undertones – Here Comes The Summer – The Undertones (1979) – Sire 08 Kurt Baker – Don't Steal My Heart Away – Rockin’ For A Living (2011) – Wicked Cool 09 The Nerves – One Way Ticket – Jack Lee, Paul Collins, Peter Case (1986) – Offence Records 10 The Reflectors – All The Way Down – Going Out Of Fashion (2024) – Neon Nile 11 The Rubinoos – I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend – Back To The Drawing Board (1979) – Beserkley 12 The Briefs – Poor and Weird – Hit After Hit (2000) – Dirtnap 13 The Vapors – Hit The Ground Running – Wasp In A Jar (2025) – ABSOLUTE 14 Johnny Moped – Roxy You’re Gone – Quork! (2024) – Damaged Goods Records 15 The Hellacopters – Carry Me Home – By the Grace of God (2002) – Universal 16 The Exploding Hearts – Modern Kicks – Guitar Romantic (2003) – Dirtnap 17 The Jags – Back of My Hand – Evening Standards (1980) – Island 18 The Records – Starry Eyes – Shades in Bed (1979) – Virgin