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THREAD: The battle of “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver” covers: During a recent conversation with @wojavelli, I realized that @missiontoburma’s classic “TWIRFMR” has to be one of the most covered punk songs ever. But it begs the question: what is the definitive cover?
Here is the original godly version by the gods Mission To Burma. It& #39;s track one, side one of their godlike 1981 CLASSIC “Signals, Calls and Machines” ep. While never a commercial hit, it quickly became a staple of college radio. https://youtu.be/F6z0Cv4PYvs ">https://youtu.be/F6z0Cv4PY...
First is the most commercially successful TWIRFMR cover. @thelittleidiot followed the huge success of Everything Is Wrong by releasing a cover of a fifteen year old punk song and there are even live versions featuring Void guitar god #BubbaDupree! https://youtu.be/_Nt5by-TsUw ">https://youtu.be/_Nt5by-Ts...
The opening track of their first demo in 1993, @anti_flag would release several versions of the song on their early demos. Their cover was the first version I heard of the song and I can still remember the excitement I felt seeing them play it live. https://youtu.be/Lwyruab6mqo ">https://youtu.be/Lwyruab6m...
Lawerence come Chicago arty punks Get Smart! seem to have one of the earlier covers. Record during a hometown show towards the end of the band& #39;s run in 1987. (their first 7" RIPS) https://youtu.be/iW5o3ygD1Bk ">https://youtu.be/iW5o3ygD1...
And they weren& #39;t the only Chicago band to think covering the song was a good idea. Chicago legends Pegboy have performed the song for years now as well. https://youtu.be/NAmqSEgLqZE ">https://youtu.be/NAmqSEgLq...
In an amazing moment of real recognizing real, one of punk& #39;s greatest song writers @bobmouldmusic offered his version of the song while playing in his former band Sugar. https://youtu.be/hCXaTC9dK20 ">https://youtu.be/hCXaTC9dK...
Fellow Minneapolis punks @soulasylum, before having their mainstream breakthrough, offered a live take on TWIRFMR during Hang Time era shows. https://youtu.be/mVnNm-bORpk ">https://youtu.be/mVnNm-bOR...
Perhaps the great tribute to the song is that fact that, one of America& #39;s all time great song writers, Tommy Keene (RIP) played the cover during his set on his final tour. https://youtu.be/kI35TvBWtRg ">https://youtu.be/kI35TvBWt...
But the love for TWIRFMR is certainly not limited to American bands. 90& #39;s UK alt-rockers and Bruce Dickson& #39;s cousin& #39;s band, Catherine Wheel, had fantastic taste in covers. They cover Scott Walker and Husker Du as well on the 30 Century Man ep. https://youtu.be/7glDJH70IUQ ">https://youtu.be/7glDJH70I...
Fellow 90& #39;s UK chart topper and objectionably the coolest member of @blurofficial, Graham Coxon, included his take on the song as part of his second solo album in 2000 and as a part of his live set during this era. https://youtu.be/XrWstjz7a7Q ">https://youtu.be/XrWstjz7a...
Perhaps the most interesting entry to the cannon comes from UK goth icons @SistersofMercy. The legendary band included a cover of the song as part of their encore during their 2017 tour. https://youtu.be/t0GVXMVQMsE ">https://youtu.be/t0GVXMVQM...
Sadly (or perhaps mercifully), I cannot seem to find video footage of @FUCKEDUP& #39;s covering the song during our battle of the bands with @tedleo at @matadorrecords& #39; 21 anniversary. So I guess we all must agree that it was the best version and leave it at that.
Also, I dream that one day tape will emerge of a previously unknown Negative FX cover of the song. You know Choke would KILL that vocal.
