Back In History: Live 1980
by Inmates
(MVD, 60 Minutes)
Best known for their 1979 cover of the Standells' '60s classic “Dirty Water,” the London-based Inmates had roots in the hot-and-sweaty pre-punk pub-rock scene. As Back in History makes clear, though, they were still successfully churning out their mix of garage-rock, Dr. Feelgood-style amped-up R&B, and punk-tinged attitude well into the new wave era. Footage from two 1980 UK shows is home-video grainy, but that just adds to the gritty evocation of those halcyon hoist-a-pint-up-Thatcher's-bum days of the British club scene. Fronted by Bill Hurley's classic rock & roll bad-boy stance, the leather-jacketed Inmates storm the stages of Nelson's and Dingwall's, bringing their no-prisoners approach to everything from the Music Machine's garage staple “Talk Talk” to the Stax soul gem “You Don't Miss Your Water,” with interspersed shots of the venue and punters adding local color.
Special features: None. JIM ALLEN
