Not long after he was unceremoniously booted from the Sex Pistols, bassist Glen Matlock turned right around and hooked up with guitarists Midge Ure and Steve New, and drummer Rusty Egan, to form Rich Kids, a snotty punk combo to rival anything coming out of the U.K. in the late ’70s. At the time, the group didn’t connect with folks in spite of their punchy, poppy sound mining the same territory as Buzzcocks and Dr. Feelgood. The years have been kind to their lone studio album. It has grown in stature among punk enthusiasts, which makes its first-ever U.S. reissue seem both exciting and like a ridiculous oversight. Produced by former Spider From Mars Mick Ronson, the 11 tracks here are unrelentingly catchy and defined by an energy and attitude that will quickly shatter your resolve and any sense of cool you may be holding on to.
“Ghosts of Princes in Towers” is the only studio album by British band Rich Kids, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock (ex Sex Pistols) and Midge Ure (Ultravox) and Rusty Egan released in August 1978 and produced by ex-Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. Exclusive for RSD 2023, the original album will be newly remastered. Release overseen by Rich Kids’ Rusty Egan.
New wave supergroup Rich Kids burned briefly but brightly. Featuring ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and future Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, the band’s lone album, “Ghosts Of Princes In Towers”, was produced by David Bowie’s former right-hand man, Mick Ronson, and released in August 1978. It featured the group’s sole Top 30 hit, Rich Kids, alongside a slew of incendiary pop tunes such as “Marching Men”, “Burning Sounds” and “Cheap Emotions”, but it became the group’s epitaph when they split just months later. Still essential, this newly remastered edition comfortably sits among the best Record Store Day 2023 releases.
The Fat Angel Sings 