Fire Of Love

A right load of pretentious bollocks has been written about this band "there's never been music like this, before or since". Well good, because it's shit.

The Gun Club's newest inductee Alec Baldwin joined us for our daily shooting this morning. The stats were: Animals killed 89 People killed 13 Not bad for a Sunday morning's shooting, but we must improve tomorrow.

Man, what a great album. Everything you love about Iggy, Violent Femmes, and all of the great american punk/post-punk bands is on display here. It's clever, fresh, different and, at the same time, oh-so familiar. Loved everything about it.

The more I listen to it, the more the vocals really start to put me off. Between a 2 and a 3, but gets a 2 because it was more annoying than enjoyable.

The Gun Club's debut is the watermark for all post-punk roots music. With Pierce's wailing high lonesome slide guitar twinned with Ward Dotson's spine-shaking riffs and the solid yet off-the-rails rhythm section of bassist Rob Ritter and drummer Terry Graham, the Gun Club burst out of L.A. Nobody has heard music like this before or since. Pierce's songs were rooted in his land of Texas. Fire of Love may be just what the doctor ordered, but to cure or kill is anybody's guess.

I like a lot of post-punk, but somehow never checked out this band. Psychobilly, "punk blues", and cowpunk are all things I don't care about - so maybe those labels put me off. But holy shit this is good. And holy holy shit, it sounds so much like Pixies. I mean, you could say it sounds like Pixies ripped off Gun Club... or more positively, it's like discovering a Pixies album I never knew existed. I surprisingly enjoyed the punk energy given an Americana tinge, and I definitely enjoyed the Black Francis-esque vocals. I haven't had a chance for a second listen, but I'll stick my neck out and say 5/5, because this is seriously good.

Agony!

Jack White asking "Why are these songs not taught in schools?" completely sums up my feelings on this album. Absolutely incredible.

Really fucking good stuff. Cow-punk rocks.

Pure punk-a-billy, can hear their influence in a lot of punk and indie bands that followed

Incredibly fun early punk album. Enjoyable lyrics, memorable riffs (especially the few times they edged towards surfer punk), and an album that is impeccably paced for punk. It was an absolute blast to listen to.

I really enjoyed this record, it’s a great punk/country-ish hybrid…”cow-punk” as it were, but I’m a little too preoccupied today to write an in-depth review: I can’t stop laughing about Donald Trump being convicted of 34 felonies in New York.

Yes! More punk, less post-punk! Kind of rides the line of punk and rock-a-billy. Doesn't overstay its welcome. Toes the line of anger and goofiness. Love it!

Why. Do. All. Of. These. Albums. Sound. The. Same. I was happy to see an 80's album after getting a seemingly endless stream of albums from the 60's. Specifically 1968 for whatever reason. Imagine my disappointment when I listen to this and realize it sounds like it's also from 1968. I didn't hate it. But please stop giving me this stuff. 3/5

I definitely won’t be seeking out this album or any other of their albums for future listening, but a couple of the songs had promise.

Mediocre American punk. Am I missing the reason why this is on the 1001 list???

Badass

Bro this shit is my absolute jam. Like I'm not a big bluesy guy but mix it with the punk shit I rock alot and damn it sounds nice. Saved the whole album for relistens. I love it 5*

such a fun, awesome, creative take on punk might be a bit repetitive and times but I loved every second 10/10

So this starts off polished punk. Then bluesy. Then - wow - Led Zeppelin, a bit 'Doors'y - and i'm taking this in wide eyed. This is amazing. This is why I'm doing this - to be introduced to great music I'm not familiar with. As someone else said "the magnitude of discovering The Gun Club cannot be understated" and it could well be my words. Thank you!

Like finding a lost Pixies album.

Twenty years before the White Stripes and the Black Keys, there was The Gun Club. They brought flat-out rock with touches of rockabilly. Too nuanced for the post-punk crowd and not rockabilly enough for the scene that brought us the Stray Cats, I don't know that they ever found their place, but there's lots here to enjoy.

I somehow missed out on this band entirely and I'm worse off for it. Wow, what a great record. You can hear everything from The White Stripes to Pixies in this, but none of the bands drawing influence are able to completely capture the mix of punk, blues, and garage quite like this.

Great post-punk blues-y stuff. I already know this band influenced Japandroids ("For the Love of Ivy") and Jack White immeasurably, but they really do the impossible and make rockabilly sound cool.

Punk junk…. Just this one not all punk

No love from me.

Furious, primal blues. Fear and lust and avarice all bundled together - all dressed up like an Elvis from hell. Jack White studied this closely! Five stars

Where has this been my whole life? Demented blues punk and the singer sounds weirdly like Jonathan Richman. It's like if someone merged the Modern Lovers with the band playing instruments made from corpses in From Dusk Til Dawn. Slaps.

Knew I recognised the name but it only clicked once for the love of ivy came on. As well as covering the song there are a lot of clear influences on Japandroids, little turns of phrase and the general sound really. Must be super influential on garage rock. This sort of music benefits from better recording/production options so it sounds a bit thinner than you'd like but the song quality shines through. At the time this must have been incredible. 4.5.

Five stars awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of overall vibes. Am I able to hum any of the melodies after listening to this? No. Did the album feel great from start to finish? Yes.

I was definitely surprised by this album. For me this is much more interesting than X or The Cramps who come across as very simple or novelty based, the album is musically wild and adept at the same time. They don’t just bang out Psychobilly rants. Everything sounds very tight and beautiful even at its wildest.

Good stuff

The Gun Club really nails this great combination of blues and punk, with some tracks even carrying a strong country vibe. The punk element gives their music a rebellious edge, while the blues brings a gritty, raw feel to it. On top of that, they have a wonderful Gothic Americana vibe that truly sets them apart from any other punk band out there. If I were ever to make a list of my top songs of all time, “Sex Beat” would definitely be on it. It’s one of my absolute favorite tracks.

sex beat seeeehr cool irgendwie ultra attitude. preaching the blues isch afoch sehr geile new wave punk aber au no blue i love it? nai fr fr huere geil. ah isch auno robert johnson. super cooli version. promisenme mega ruhig aber groovy mit de geld wo macht de rhythmus. d giige wo sich durezieht wird mit de ziit fast unagnehm aber das isch glaub de sinn. shes like heroin to me au uuuhuere cool country rhythmus aber punk? hammer. for the love of ivy findi au wieder super dynamik macht sache es isch uhuere crushed de mix mit de drums finds suuuper. hittet gad en spot das album. fire spirit mega coole stöhner hahah. etz sehr simpel aber de song. ghost on the highway insano coole titel sehr cooli giti ufem song moll. jack on fire wär sochli en talkng heads deep cut. isch okay. "i will fuck you until you die" okay nice aha. kalte wassrt blues coole blues i like. ich find alles mega geil??? goodbye johnny au wieder afoch sochli hässige rockabilly suuuper cool. aso weni keis füfi gib denn nume meeega knapp. super guets album mega kreativ hässig uf e gueti art und glich kohärent obwohls so stil vermischt und so. riese fan.

Fantastic, high energy, punk-blues-rock-a-billy. There were a couple bands pulling together some of the same threads at the time (Cramps, X,…) and this is as great as any of them. Definitely shaped other bands to come…

Good energy. A great way to start a week. I think i have Sex Beat on a couple of playlists.

I really enjoyed this album. Great mix of punk/post punk/psychobilly and stuff that bands I love had to be inspired by. Great stuff.

Wow, I had never heard these guys before and that was definitely my loss. Every song on here is amazing. Punk infused with blues. I love it.

"Fire of Love" is a raw version of The Gun Club, but they eventually came under the wing of Chris Stein (Blondie) and made "Miami" a major-label debut and then later, "Mother Juno" with Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. Jeffrey Lee Pierce & Co had quite a trajectory, and "Fire of Love" is where it all started--naked and screaming.

I just discovered one of the best bands I've ever heard in my life through this. Right on.

Great album

Such a great album! Perfect from front to back.

Oh, sweet memories!

What a fun listen! Never heard of a band like this before. Jammed out hard.

It feels like every garage band white strips wanna be can trace their origins to this album. Like the velvet underground for early 2000s music snobs

Never heard of this band. Interesting mash up of punk, blues and country. I don't think I've ever heard a band that sounds like this before. Wild stuff.

Unfamiliar with this. They got my attention with the opening riff and kept it for the whole record. I started the bugger over again when it was done. I hope the rest of the discography is like this, as I'll be looking into it next.

So cool!

Punk blues - could be from anywhere between 1976 and 2029! Absolute genius, hard to believe it was a debut, other than how focussed it is. Another band I plan to explore more fully when I don't get a new album each day - think my "after the list" list is rapidly closing in on 1001 albums as well! Word of advice (for those who don't know the band already) - listen first, even if you usually read the wiki; if only so you can have a guess when this was recorded

Fire Of Love is an album clearly made on bad drinks and questionable medicines, and suitable for fans of the raw, hyped-up, uncontrolled feel of the first Pixies albums or the late punk. And this is not even their best work

This is one of those "how on earth have I never heard of this band before" revelations. This album is so good and apparently hugely influential on subsequent punk and garage rock bands. The music is a great combo of punk, rock, and hard edged delta blues. I found it interesting to learn that lead Jeffrey Pierce was influenced by acts as diverse as Sparks, Genesis, Roxy Music, Blondie (with Debbie Harry singing on The Gun Club's second album), and Bob Marley. Unusual influences yield unique music, I suppose. You'd also think Pierce came from somewhere on the Mississippi Delta, but he's from California. This their debut album and it sounds great from start to finish. Hard to pick favorite tracks, but I'll go with the two blues covers (Preaching the Blues and Cool Drink of Water), Promise Me (love the unusual beat), She's Like Heroin to Me (great straightforward punk), and Ghost on the Highway (great rocker). Oh, and Fire Spirit, Jack on Fire (harsh lyrics, though), and Goodbye Johnny. The only moment I sort of didn't like was the end of For the Love of Ivy where Pierce got a little weird. Plus the lyrics on that track are concerning - maybe he's mocking a redneck hick with his "I was hunting for n****rs in the dark" line, but I watched a live video and the drummer had a confederate flag wadded up in his bass drum. Um, yeah. Black Train also had similarly concerning lyrics. Hopefully they're just playing a part/being ironic. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, particularly with the musical debt they owe to delta blues. Overall, this is one seriously awesome album.

Curti demais, fodas

蛮复古

This was really good. Interesting blending of rockabilly and punk. Can really see how it would be super influential.

Very good

Loved it! What a gem. Sounded like it could have been made yesterday never mind 1981!

I was surprised by how much I really liked this. A truly unique punk album.

Fuzzy punk rock, I love it.

Well I'll be damned! In my review of Pixies' "Doolittle" I described them as "mirror universe indie rock" because it's always seemed to me that Pixies emerged fully formed with their own weirdly idiosyncratic style, seemingly unrelated to everything that came before. Well here it is, the missing link! Within the first couple of tracks I was on wikipedia checking whether The Gun Club was some sort of Pixies prequel band some or all of the members were previously involved in, it felt so much cut from the same cloth... Very happy with the 1001 project today - have that satisfying feeling of a missing puzzle piece sliding into place! 🧩 Fave tracks - "Sex Beat", "Preaching the Blues", and "She's Like Heroin To Me" all get the album off to an absolutely cracking start. Gonna have to give it more listens to pick out the highlights from later in the album...

I really like this, it’s a good punk band. I’ve never heard of them before, but I definitely wanna check out more music from them. 5/5

Another one of those bands I always meant to listen to but didn't for whatever reason. Instantly liked this a lot. I don't usually give out a 5 for a first listen but here we are.

Sounds like part of a movie soundtrack that intros you to cool obscure music like on Pulp Fiction, Dirty Dancing and Baby Driver. They sound a bit wild louch and playful - and I do likes me a bit of freeform hooting on an album from time to time to mix it up... and the slow drum bits. [side musing: It might be that when punk lacks vitriol its very enjoyable!] I magine a live show would be good entertainment from these clowns. I assume they didnt stick around Is it bad/good/punky Alt Country? A punk Elivs revival ? Or is this related to the Leningrad Cowboys? somethign about it makes me smile. Surpsingly good fun. and varied (without crossing the line to annoying). Unboring. 4 rounded up to 5 for making me smile, and ...for the reason I want to hear it again and appear cool and highbrow in an obscure while doing so. :-)

Is it terrible that I guessed the singer was already dead from the moment I heard the first song? It seems like it might be. This is terrific though; it still sounds fresh as hell.

Briljant! Faan vad jag känner mig cool när jag lyssnar på det här. Vill börja röka och bära solglasögon inomhus, driva runt på stan och mucka gräl. Brukar ju oftast gravitera mer mot brittiskt än amerikanskt när det kommer till punk, men här vävs amerikansk blues- och americanakultur in så bra i den punkiga grunden. Det perfekta giftermålet mellan 40-talets blues och den nya punken. 'Sex Beat' är en perfekt öppningslåt på ett punkalbum. Älskar också 'Preaching the Blues', 'She's Like Heroin to Me', Ghost on the Highway' och 'Jack on Fire'. Lite suspekt att n-ordet används två gånger i albumet. Läste runt lite om det och väljer att tolka det mer som att JLP spelar en karaktär, och vill chocka lite. För att citera Thåströms Dylan-pastich: "Ingen sjunger blues som Jeffrey Lee Pierce". Hans röst skär fan som en kniv. Bästa låt: Svårt att välja här, rätt jämn nivå. 'Sex Beat', 'She's Like Heroin to Me', eller 'Ghost on the Highway'.

Really cool punk!

Definetely in the top 10 of the greatest punk rock records of all time, arguably in the top 3. Classic.

Sex beat, go!

Not surprised to read (early) Pixies and the Birthday Party mentioned on the same page as these now I'm hearing it for the first time. The progenitors of those greats. Elements of the Cramps in here to to my ear. And this is a fantastic album. Absolutely breathless, and never a comfortable listen.

Was frightened to be walking into another post punk nonsense album but this kicks ass. Definite forefather to the late 90s early 00s garage rock revival sound I hold dear, especially a lot of the Detroit bands from that era that you can hear in this album. If I would’ve heard this shit in 1981 I would’ve lost my goddamned mind

10/10

Jamming post punk. A good time all the way through.

Really cool

This is the go to Gun Club album

This album is a phenomenal work of post punk with a gothic country feel. The songs have a simmering quality with a driving Bakersfield beat slowed down which creates almost a menacing quality that persists throughout. This music is highly influential and has been cited by Jack White as a major influence as can be heard in the garage revival of the early 2000s.

Heeft mij absoluut verrast. Simpele maar complete muziek, fijne gitaar, goeie vocals. Topalbum die zeker in de rotatie gaat

Might I suggest if you have never heard this album put it on your list of things to do today. You'll not be disappointed.

Classic punk!

The first four Gun Club albums are all classics - always liked The Las Vegas Story the most - less blues and more new wave / post-punk -I guess it is not on the list but really should- but in any case Fire Of Love is great too, punk-blues might be the best qualification. It is quite intense and needs to be played as loud as possible.

Prva petica za nekog kog nisam čuo nikad, nego otkrio preko ovoga. Svaku pjesmu sam pravo uživao i svaka čast, hvala generatoru! Mješavina tolko podžanrova and it fuckin works beautifully HOLY FUCKING SHIT, polagano ću ja diskografiju slušat.

2/16/22

I am very familiar with THE GUN CLUB’s FIRE OF LOVE, which I have and liked very much. After re-listening to FIRE OF LOVE, I’ve grown to appreciate it more, however, I feel that MIAMI is the superior release and should be the second GUN CLUB album in the list. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, THE GUN CLUB’s FIRE OF LOVE Is the only album listed. Rate Artist: THE GUN CLUB (5.0) Rate Album (Year): FIRE OF LOVE (UK 1988 Original) (5.0) Rate Album (Year): FIRE OF LOVE (US 2004 Expanded) (5.0) Ranking of THE GUN CLUB - FIRE OF LOVE songs No. Title Length Ranking 1-01 Sex Beat 2:48 09.5/10 1-02 Preaching The Blues 4:01 10.0/10 1-03 Promise Me 2:38 09.5/10 1-04 She's Like Heroin To Me 2:35 09.0/10 1-05 For The Love Of Ivy 5:37 10.0/10 1-06 Fire Spirit 2:49 09.5/10 1-07 Ghost On The Highway 2:46 10.0/10 1-08 Jack On Fire 4:45 10.0/10 1-09 Black Train 2:13 10.0/10 1-10 Cool Drink Of Water 6:19 10.0/10 1-11 Goodbye Johnny 3:47 09.5/10 US 1988 Original Release 107.0/110 = 9.73 / 2 = 4.86 Bonus Tracks: 1-12 Bad Indian (Alternate Version) 2:25 10.0/10 1-13 Cool Drink Of Water (Alternate Version) 1:00 08.0/10 1-14 Fire Of Love (Alternate Version) 1:49 10.0/10 1-15 For The Love Of Ivy (Alternate Version) 5:33 10.0/10 1-16 Ghost On The Highway (Alternate Version) 2:47 10.0/10 US Deluxe 2020 (% Bonus) Release 155.0/180 = 9.69 / 2 = 4.84

A very fun album; I like how they mixed several styles together.

One of those groups I've heard mentioned but I don't think actually listened to before now. Definitely motivated to check out more. Can I assume Black Francis was a fan?

Very good! Love the blues-punk fusion.

August 2, 2021 This is really cool! I had no idea this band existed but this album combines some of my favourite musical influences (punk & blues, apparently?)

Like some of the best albums we've heard so far, this one feels so ahead of its time. Really lays the foundation for a myriad of garage punk acts to follow. I can hear the influence on Japandroids, the White Stripes, and loads more.

Me gusta mucho la música que suena peligrosa. Y sucia. De sudor sexoroso y sudor de cruda. Uno de mis discos favoritos.

El post punk angelino es siempre un SÍ. Además tienen grandes canciones y una producción que ya le gustaría a Dream Syndicate en sus primeros discos. Sí rotundo

Muy chido. Qué gran sorpresa descubrir esta banda. Me gustó todo el disco pero sobretodo she's like heroin to me y ghost on the highway que tienen ese efecto desenfrenado, torpe, estresa de algún modo. Mood: Amsiedad

Liked this

Never heard of the gun club and I can't really think of anyone else to compare it to.... Which I think is a good thing. I didn't know the release date while listening and would've definitely put it as mid 90s, pretty surprised to see it was early 80s. Enjoyed it, but didn't fully grab me for some reason. Think my favourite was "fire spirit". Might give this another go. 3.5 but 4 because it sounds way before it's time

The Gun Club congregate to concoct an unholy mixture of rockabilly, blues and punk to start a Fire of Love. Whatever what may know or may not know about The Gun Club, everything is offered here; the kind of sex, drugs, rock and roll, debauchery, mystique and wildness that was scarcely available at that time. Come away from this having been able to experience it, even if it was just for one time. Favorites: Sex Beat, Preaching the Blues, She's Like Heroin to Me, For the Love of Ivy, Ghost on the Highway, Black Train, Goodbye Johnny, Fire of Love (Alternate Version).

Punk uit 1981. Ik vind het leuk dat het nu een keer géén Britse groep betreft. En het heeft blues invloeden. Wat we zelf ook wel hadden kunnen bedenken, want alle muziek van na de eerste wereldoorlog hebben we te danken aan blues toch? Met lichte spanning zette ik het aan omdat punk ook teveel kan schuren, maar dit glijdt soepeltjes naar binnen, ondanks een stukje keelpijn dat m'n kleine prinses zorgvuldig vanaf het kinderdagverblijf heeft overgedragen naar papa. Het is allemaal niet zo wereldschokkend, maar dat is maar goed ook op deze derhalve belabberde maandag. Redelijk eenvoudige muziek, maar de boel is best aardig geproduceerd voor een oud punk album en dat levert een stuk luistergemak op. Je hoeft deze echt niet gehoord te hebben voor je permanent kleiner gaat wonen, maar toch 3,5 sterren.

Felt quite a lot like the Modern Lovers album where its not really a certain genre, I guess you could say it's punk, but parts sound a lot bluesy or country. Also feels a lot like Television, but a bit more gritty, and I'd say it more punk-esque (instrumentally). It maybe also felt like the Birthday Party, at least guitar wise in some places. Is overall quite good and the dark, edgy atmosphere its trying to do works very well. Downsides are as always that some songs are a bit nothing. Favourite songs: sex beat, promise me, for the love of Ivy, fire spirit, Jack on fire. Overall around 7/10

Pretty good, a little samey, ultimately but not in a necessarily bad way. Reminded me of the Cramps, and X in some places.

Great punk blues album, I bet The Pixies were fans because I can hear them in some of those songs

I liked this! Surprised I hadn’t heard of this before

If someone asked me to conjure the sound of 80s punk, this would be it.

4/5. Love this punk album, they are just so nonchalant about it, confident in their playing, like they've been doing this for years. And it seems like they have, as part of other bands and it shows. Great use of traditional blues songs and sounds to elevate the energy already found in the blues. Some of the songs do sound similar but the heaviness keeps you engaged. Plus the vocalist is unique enough to match the energy. A great punk blues album even if similar sounding. Best Song: Preaching The Blues, For The Love Of Ivy, Fire Spirit

I love the energy and sound of this album. The first half is stronger than the second, but it’s still great. Skip all the alternative takes. I lost this record to the fire.