This weeks post concerns the accidental discovery of a Top Ten Punk Rock Hit by Max Splodge, enthusiastic motorbiker and leader of the cult punk band Splodgnessabounds. I’ve performed with Max and escorted him and Wilko Johnson through French and UK Customs after they had both had a ‘heavy night’ performing with John Otway in France. Here’s a picture of us at a gig:
Max, Peter and Anna Lisa consume 'three pints of lager but no crisps'
Max conceived of the title of this classic song whilst trying to procure said drinks and condiments at a pub in South East London. Faced with the closing bell, Max kept urging the bar staff to serve him with his refrain ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Pleeeeze”. Shortly after this experience, he thought ‘that’s the title of a hit record’. The rest is punk rock history.
What is the punk rock business lesson here? Well, creativity at work involves seeing something different in the ordinary. Most other people in Max’s situation would have just seen the desire to procure 1400 millilitres of lager and some munchies. Splodge saw the potential for a Top Ten Punk Rock hit. There’s a huge difference in the fortunes that come from noticing the difference. He also then went on to put the idea into action. Put in a more arty way:
Spot sublime ideas in the mundane as well as the profane
Ideas are nothing, execution is everything
Whilst we’re in the Punk Zone, grab yourself a free copy of Punk Rock People Management by mailing me with PUNK in the title at peter@humdyn.co.uk or click on the picture to find Kindle and other versions of the book:
Punk Rock People Management - No-nonsense business and HR strategies for busy people - available on Kindle, full colour print book and e-book - Book us for a Punk Rock Business keynote
Thanks to Bob Jones at the University of Manchester for this story. Bob is a University academic and the ex manager of The Tramshed to boot. He bears an uncanny relationship to John Peel. Here’s the classic aspirational beer and potato crisp song to finish with:
Peter Cook - Speaker, Author 