Smash It Up

"Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.

The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up (Part II)". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35 in the UK Singles Chart.^[3] It is widely considered to be a punk classic.^{[citation needed]}

The song's lyrics criticise hippie culture (referring to "blow wave hairstyles", "Glastonbury hippies" ) rather than advocate political revolution. It is of a two-part form: a melodic Quicksilver Messenger Service-like instrumental segues into an energetic pop-punk song.

Chiswick reissued the single on their budget Big Beat imprint in February 1982. In November 2004, Ace Records issued the single on CD, with alternate versions of the song (including the previously unreleased 3rd and 4th parts of "Smash It Up") and a video, directed by Martin Baker, added.

The single was also issued in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

The song has appeared in the console-based game Driver: Parallel Lines as a track in the 1978 era.

Track listing

All songs written by Scabies, Sensible, Vanian, Ward.

1979 vinyl release^[1]

1. "Smash It Up" – 2:52
2. "Burglar" – 3:33

2004 CD release^[4]

1. "Smash It Up" – 2:52
2. "Burglar" – 3:33
3. "Smash It Up Parts 1–4" – 8:43

Production credits

Producers

• Roger Armstrong
• The Damned

Musicians

• Dave Vanian – Vocals
• Captain Sensible – Guitar
• Rat Scabies – Drums, vocals on "Burglar"
• Algy Ward – Bass

Cover versions

"Smash It Up"
Single by The Offspring
from the album Batman Forever soundtrack
Released	1995
Format	CD single
Genre	Punk rock
Length	3:24
Label	Epitaph
Writer(s)	The Damned
The Offspring singles chronology
"Gotta Get Away" (1995) "Smash It Up" (1995) "All I Want" (1996)

The song was covered by Die Toten Hosen for the 1991 cover album Learning English, Lesson One.

In 1995, The Offspring covered the song for the soundtrack to the film Batman Forever and it was also released as a single. The song peaked on number 16 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart^[5] and number 47 on the Hot 100 Airplay (Radio Songs) chart. It was later released on The Offspring's Club Me EP and also on the "All I Want" CD single.

Personnel by The Offspring

• Dexter Holland – Vocals, rhythm guitar
• Noodles – Lead guitar
• Greg K. – Bass
• Ron Welty – Drums

References