About this item

Wild Billy Childish has been recording and performing since the 1977 punk explosion. The Pop Rivets, Thee Milkshakes, The Headcoats and The Buff Medways are just a few musical outfits that Billy has been involved with part time. His day job is being an internationally exhibited artist and poet.

CTMF (The Chatham Forts) was the first group name Billy came up with for a group whilst he was Head of Research for The Medway Military Research Group - investigating the Medway Fortifications (as well as being an Apprentice Stonemason at Chatham Dockyard, Kent, 1976). It wasn't until 2013 that Billy got around to utilising the name. CTMF features his wife Julie on bass/vocals and Wolf Howard on drums (both playing with Billy in previous incarnations over the years). Described by Billy as 'the epitome of modern: the sound of yesterday, tomorrow!', CTMF have released ten albums and over thirty singles/EPs.

This four-track 7" EP includes four song versions recorded for broadcast on Marc Riley's show on BBC6 Music on the evening of 31st August 2022. Opening up with a take on Richard Hell's 'Love Comes In Spurts', (endorsed by Richard himself), followed by 'Failure Not Success', a track that showcases Billy at his poetic best. Both are alternative takes from February 2023's LP release 'Failure Not Success'. The tracks that follow are 'Petrol In A Cup', and 'Love Can Lose'.

"This will be much like the way we do things, and hopefully it'll be in accord with your expectation, but not necessarily" (Billy Childish - July '19).

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Love Comes In Spurts (alt)
2. Failure Not Success (alt)
Side B
1. Petrol In Cup
2. Love Can Lose