Poison Idea

Bow to them

There is no escaping the fact that Poison Idea were big. Not in commercial terms, obviously, but in life, death, music and influence they were truly massive. Formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980 by frontman Jerry A the band seemed to get progessively more dangerous as they went along, almost deliberately pushing a lifestyle to its ultimate limits just to see what would break it. In a game of 'let's see who's the more punk' Jerry A once pointed a loaded gun at Dwarves singer Blag Dahlia and when guitarist Pig Champion died aged 47 this year it was a great loss of talent, but no great suprise.
But while Jerry A frequently breathed fire or sliced his head open onstage with broken glass, he also wrote lyrics that could rival Charles Buckowski in their beautiful ugliness, stark realism and savage honesty. And despite their seeming indolence and over-the-top drink/drug consumption Poison Idea were phenomenal musicians, capable of playing faster and tighter than any of their peers even when they couldn't stand up.
Their fans include Nirvana, Amen, Pearl Jam, Pantera, Machine Head, Turbonegro...and you if you've got any sense.

*This was an article in Kerrang! magazine a few years ago.

And now back to me. I first heard Poison Idea with the 'We Must Burn' and was intantly blown away. Their music is beautiful like a hot woman wearing nothing but hot pants and heels punching you in the face. Such a shame that a lot of our younger Metalheads have never even heard of this band, I think its criminal. Way way waaaay underrated. The albums 'Feel The Darkness' and 'Blank Blackout Vacant' are the most talked about but I love all their stuff. Its how (I believe) the Sex Pistols should have been.Punk might have been born in Britain, but the Americans did some fine tweakings to the genre and Poison Idea were at the front.

Check 'em out here.





Rest In Peace Pig!

Piggy Trotters

Pig's Trotters are coming back to our dinner tables its been noted. In this current gloomy fiscal climate people are shunning steaks and beef joints for cheaper meaty joints, and the pig is again for the chop. (Sorry Miss Piggy but needs must, im sure Kermit would understand).
The trouble is folk are not really sure how to cook these knuckly delights, and even less certain about what to eat them with. Do they go with chips? Salad? Or how about bunging them in a broth? Well fear not fellow mosher! I just so happen to have a little recipe for ya.


Stuff you'll need:

2 Pig's Trotters (but of course).

4 Large Spuds (potatoes).

1 Large cooking apple

1 Broccoli head.

1 Pint of cider (slurp!)

1 Pint of red wine (double slurp!)

1 Pint of beef stock

1 Teaspoon of Dijon mustard

1 Dessertspoon of sugar

100g Butter

50ml Double cream

Sage leaves


Can feel it righ down to my knucklebones!

How to mix it all up:

First brown off Piggy's trotters in a pan.
Then chuck in the booze (cider & wine), the beef stock & sage leaves.
Bring to the boil then simmer for around three hours. Keep checking on it, it might be ready in two and a half hours. Remove the trotters and reserve the stock.
Peel the spuds (potatoes), chop into half inch cubes. Put them in water. Now peel the apple and get choppy with it before cooking in a pan with a little water. Smear the sugar and Dijon mustard over the trotters and boil the spuds for 20 minutes.

Pour yourself a large alcoholic drink in anticipation of this culinary dream.

Preheat oven at 180c/Gas Mark 4 before oven roasting trotters for 15~20minutes. Bring stock back on to boil then reduce and heat broccoli in water for four minutes. Potch (Welsh slang for 'mash') the spuds with the butter, cream and apple.

Now serve and prepare to be amazed.

Music to eat to ~ Helloween, Alice Cooper, Paradise Lost, Celtic Frost.