Bad Manners
July 6th 2006 12:39
Bad Manners didn’t die with the ska revival though. They were and are a skinhead favourite and continued to gig and release records. The backing band changed, but as long as Buster was up there doing his thing, the Bad Manners train kept on going. As years went on Buster became fatter and fatter. There were occasions when doctors told him he would have to thin down (fatty) or face a premature death. Buster also had controls of the famous Bluebeat label for a time.
When I saw Buster a few years ago on a Sydney Harbour Cruise he was huge. It was before his most recent health scare and all I could remember was his size, his tongue and the energy he had when performing. When he wasn’t on stage, he sat in a chair with a crown on his head with minders providing anything he wanted. This man obviously enjoyed his position, but from what I am told, is still a nice bloke.
I loved that gig, it remains a strong memory, but as a recording band I can’t help but think they just had too many gimmicks. The Can Can and You Fat Bastard releases come to mind. They did have some good songs though. Skinhead Love Affair, Suicide and Special Brew, to name just three, are great songs. It will always be about the delivery though. I have a number of Bad Manners records and they don’t come close to that night as a 17 year old on Sydney Harbour.
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Comment by DanielR
but buster had to sit down for a large portion of the set (during a rather lengthy instrumental) to get his breath back... poor fella.