Fifteen seconds and No Friends of Harry became legend

There are some moments in your life that you just never forget. The launch night of the No Friends of Harry album, Fifteen Seconds, in 1991, was such an instance.

Since the band released their first single, Competition Rules, a thumping goth-rock anthem that’s still enjoying radio play today, they set the bar for every alternative band in the country. The goth and alternative genre in the country was relatively underground at the time, with limited venues like The Doors, Alcatraz and King of Clubs attracting an audience of people who understood that music was more than just bubble gum.

It was the time of The Cure, The Smiths, The Sisters of Mercy. It was the time of No Friends of

Harry, led by incredible frontman Rob McLennan and his drummer wife, Anette McLennan.

As a teen rebel who used to use dishwashing liquid to slick back my hair, charcoal to make my face pale with two piercings in an ear, living teenage years through the lens of a somewhat darker perspective on life was an outlier thing to do.

I had seen No Friends of Harry a few times, after sneaking in as an underage clubber at Alcatraz in Main streets, central Joburg.

It was the very same place where, incidentally during a No Friends’ show, we were picked up by some very large guys and slam-dunked around the dance floor.

The next morning, we were a bit bruised and babelaas, but high on the experience. It was out first encounter with moshing.

The launch of Fifteen Seconds was at the Windybrow Theatre. We were four teenage fans of the band and got wind of the event, which was closed to the public.

It was mostly music journalists and record company folk, we heard. But we decided to try get into the show, anyway.

Like real groupies we waited in the car park for the band to arrive. And when they did, we nagged them for access to the event. It was Anette McLennan who took pity on us, and led us into the theatre.

The show was incredible. But it was the kindness of a band and the willingness to accommodate a few youngsters, that imprinted a night in our memories forever.