Pure Hell – Noise Addiction

How the hell did this band pass me by for so many years? I’m a lifelong fanatic of NYC punk losers and transplants like the New York Dolls, Ramones, Hearbreakers, Dictators, Cramps, Dead Boys, etc but someone from Columbus, OH had to hip me to the joys of Pure Hell. Formed in Philadelphia in 1974, this all-black noise commando relocated to NYC in 1975 and started making the rounds at dumps like Max’s Kansas City. Four ghetto youths high on dust and with the sound of Weasels Ripped My Flesh echoing in their brains quickly became friendly with Johnny Thunders and lived in the Chelsea Hotel with Sid & Nancy. Punk credentials don’t get more legit than that.

The band were managed by Curtis Knight, who in the 1960’s led a band with Jimi Hendrix on guitar before he became a big star. Later in the 70’s, Curtis moved to England and formed a band called Curtis Knight Zeus that featured a pre-Motorhead Fast Eddie Clarke in the group. Knight released a 7” single for Pure Hell with a cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made For Walking” b/w “No Rules” on his own label and arranged a tour with the UK Subs. An album’s worth of material was recorded in 1978 but never released until 2005.

That brings us to this CD entitled Noise Addiction. Pure Hell’s sound is indeed noisy, rude, obnoxious and kick ass. Guitarist Preston Morris III (aka Chip Wreck) is a total punk shredder. His playing is fiery and abrasive, throttling non-stop solos through the speedy rhythm section of Kerry Boles (aka Lenny Steel) on bass and drummer Michael Sanders (aka Spider, who sadly passed away in 2002). Lead screamer Kenny Gordon (aka Stinker) has a harsh tone similar to Stiv Bators and Mike Hudson of the Pagans.

Songs like the title track, “Hard Action” and “No Rules” are simply loud, fast and out of control. These guys were obviously speeding their brains out and hell bent on pissing off everyone. They were successful on all fronts. “Wild One” and “Courageous Cat” are slower but are not lacking in impact or velocity. The cover of “These Boots” bears no resemblance to the original and has a huge stomping beat similar to a gang fight.

The legend of Pure Hell is too long and too nasty for a family publication like the Ripple Effect. Saying Pure Hell is the real deal is putting it mildly. There’s another unreleased album from the 90’s that was produced by Lemmy of Motorhead! Check out the 10 minute documentary below with their story in their own words. Even better pick up this disc and piss off the neighbors. Pure Hell is playing some reunion shows in Philadelphia and Brooklyn in the middle of October. If you’re in either town, show up to blow up.

--Woody

Lucky punks on the East Coast are in for a rare double dose of live Pure Hell. The band plays the Blockley Pourhouse in Philadelphia on Friday October 15 and Europa in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday October 16. If you can’t make either of the shows, tune into WFMU.org on Saturday. They’ll be playing live on the air between 3PM – 6PM on Terre T’s Cherry Blossom Clinic program.

http://www.purehellband.com/