EGON BONDY'S HAPPY HEARTS CLUB BANNED

They are included in the book ''UNSUNG HEROES ''written by Richie Utterberger,there are so many articles about Tha Plastic people of The Universe and all of them are true,not very many talk about the music,it makes me wondering,why?Perhaps because their story was so much stronger then music?You can read titles like''the Plastic People did more than almost any other rock band to change the course of world history.'¨or ''Did Plastic People of the Universe topple communism?'' or ''Czechs' Velvet Revolution Paved by Plastic People''The Plastic People Of The Universe were just about the most dangerous force in underground rock of all time'' and ''Unwilling heroes' of the Velvet Revolution ; Czech band braved jail rather than alter lyrics that heralded change¨and so many more.To know more about this band and their music do your homework and read some of the articles on the internet!!! Why to write more?For the sake of music,that's why!

So simple ,but how true these lyrics of the first song ''Twenty''on this legendary album were at that time and place,behind the Iron curtain.

Today when one is twenty He would vomit with repulsion

But those of forty even more Would puke in sheer revulsion

Only those of sixty have it easier They sleep in peace with their amnesia

Very harsh times for people thinking ''absolutely free''.They started like everyone else,wanna be a rock'n'roll stars,but that did not happen.Instead they struggled in their fight for freedom of expression with czech authorities.First played their own psychedelic songs like ''The Universe Symphony And Melody About Plastic Doctor(btw. in my opinion were really really good) documented on album Muz bez u?í and songs from Frank Zappa,Fugs,Velvet Underground,The Doors and others.After deportation of their canadian singer Paul Wilson out of country, they started to compose only their own material strictly in czech language(that was Brabenec condition upon his arrival ) .Their golden era started with arrival of sax player V.Brabenec who brought jazzy elements to their music,his sax work added more tension into PPU's compositions.Brabenec stated ''rock music is too simple'' and so it was.This album Egon Bondy's is considered to be their best album.Unforunately they could not perform in public.Still they kept going and made them stronger,they did not do it for money or fame anymore.(A remote site in the woods near an isolated Bohemian village was picked, word of the location was then passed among friends, whispered from ear to ear. The exact location of the site was never revealed more than one day in advance and sometimes not revealed until that night. Fans would get off at the nearest rail station, then walk miles through the forest and across farms, sometimes for hours in rain or snow, searching for a remote farmhouse or barn. Often, the police would show up all the same and stop the show.by Joseph Yanosik (March 1996)I was not lucky enough,never seen them playing in those years.To attend their shows was very risky and dangerous.But forbidden fruits tastes well and when you ask people now about these times,they will reply how great it was. Back to music, in my opinion no band plays like them(hard to describe their unique style for me but I hear so much emotions and depth which I am missing from other great Rio/Avant rock artists and that makes them so much more powerfull in their music statements).I have read they are grungier version of Mothers of invention,I don't know about that,just listen to this record and see for yourself what they are about.But I am warning you,be prepared for very dark session,you will hear lots of great bass guitar riffs,some beautifull wild sax work,awesome violin plays,some of theremin-home made instrument and intense vocals from now legendary Mejla Hlavsa(sleep in peace).