They have never been seen together in public...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY- THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED
February 2nd, 1959- the day the music died. It has been fifty years since the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. En route to a concert, their plane crashed in a field in Iowa. People do not realize the lost potential of the artists. Holly was only 22, Valens was 17.
Rock and roll was in its infancy, and these were artists at the top of their game. Holly was an accomplished songwriter, and Valens was a star on the rise. In the early days of touring, they were doing a Winter Dance Tour by bus. The tour buses at that time were no more than converted school buses with no heat and poor amenities. Holly and the other artists chartered a plane to get ahead of the game, get to town early and get some rest, clean shirt, etc. They never made it.
So many great songs. Such a great talent. Go rent The Buddy Holly Story, and La Bamba this week to get a new appreciation for these two stars who died too young.
Rock and roll was in its infancy, and these were artists at the top of their game. Holly was an accomplished songwriter, and Valens was a star on the rise. In the early days of touring, they were doing a Winter Dance Tour by bus. The tour buses at that time were no more than converted school buses with no heat and poor amenities. Holly and the other artists chartered a plane to get ahead of the game, get to town early and get some rest, clean shirt, etc. They never made it.
So many great songs. Such a great talent. Go rent The Buddy Holly Story, and La Bamba this week to get a new appreciation for these two stars who died too young.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Kentucky Still Digging Out from Ice Age 2009
Many here are still without power. Louisville Gas and Electric estimates that at the height of the outages, over 600,000 were without power. Progress is being made, but it still looks like a war zone, with downed limbs and power lines. That is the scene here in Louisville. Most of my family lives in far Western Kentucky, and I have not been able to contact anyone since the phones are all down there.
I have been lucky since my power did not go out. Others have not been so lucky. It has been a cold few nights for many with no heat or electricity. Walnut Street Baptist Church as well as other sites has opened a shelter to assist. I have tried to assist people I know need help, but am currently working 12 hour shifts.
This will all pass, and the people of Kentucky are resourceful and hospitable to each other. They are not easily shaken. My greatest wish is for a stretch of clear weather so the crews can get the electricity back on. I pray for the safety of the line workers (one was killed during the last major outage in September), for people to heed warnings about carbon monoxide (3 died last night) and for us all to see each other through.
I have been lucky since my power did not go out. Others have not been so lucky. It has been a cold few nights for many with no heat or electricity. Walnut Street Baptist Church as well as other sites has opened a shelter to assist. I have tried to assist people I know need help, but am currently working 12 hour shifts.
This will all pass, and the people of Kentucky are resourceful and hospitable to each other. They are not easily shaken. My greatest wish is for a stretch of clear weather so the crews can get the electricity back on. I pray for the safety of the line workers (one was killed during the last major outage in September), for people to heed warnings about carbon monoxide (3 died last night) and for us all to see each other through.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Rod Blagojevich vs. the Pigman
Two things that did NOT help his status.
First, all the same beligerent non-burka'd-bred but inbred DNA (in Bosnia/Seriba) rousing in support of this guy, Cuz's all, plastering support of his beligerence in the states media. Although it was fun to read, it was obvious that them, his cuz's being there - not here in the USA - both brought crap publicity to Illinois, and certainly could not help. Well, it did help in my mind in that it made me think - the guy has a great name in ROD (as in hard one) and BLOW ME is somewhere in the pronunciation of his last name.
Second, the grand standing, and the self-aggrandizing - on all major media outlets - probably encouraged by counsel - was nothing short of kiss-my-ass-stupidity-I'm-on-the-way-out-anyway...... as this does not lend itself to the LOVE needed from politicians.
He may sue in a court of law.
Current lesson learned.....DO NOT PISS OFF Ill Lawmakers.
Meanwhile, he will never be governor again. Or sell insurance.
But, he is a hero is Bosnia / Serbia.....
Ciao
Bebo
First, all the same beligerent non-burka'd-bred but inbred DNA (in Bosnia/Seriba) rousing in support of this guy, Cuz's all, plastering support of his beligerence in the states media. Although it was fun to read, it was obvious that them, his cuz's being there - not here in the USA - both brought crap publicity to Illinois, and certainly could not help. Well, it did help in my mind in that it made me think - the guy has a great name in ROD (as in hard one) and BLOW ME is somewhere in the pronunciation of his last name.
Second, the grand standing, and the self-aggrandizing - on all major media outlets - probably encouraged by counsel - was nothing short of kiss-my-ass-stupidity-I'm-on-the-way-out-anyway...... as this does not lend itself to the LOVE needed from politicians.
He may sue in a court of law.
Current lesson learned.....DO NOT PISS OFF Ill Lawmakers.
Meanwhile, he will never be governor again. Or sell insurance.
But, he is a hero is Bosnia / Serbia.....
Ciao
Bebo
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Fat Facist- Rush and Al Qaida- "I Hope Obama Fails"
If there was ever a man at the end of his run, it is Rush Limbaugh. His appeal is to the last 25 percent of the Bush fans. The mainstream Republican party is shying away from him. His audience is fading. He has made a career that launched a thousand Anne Coulters. The acidic quotes, the one sided straw man arguments... Saying that he hopes the new administration fails puts him in the same camp as Osama bin Laden. Nice company. Both are wealthy, idealogically backward conservative windbags who would seek to set the world back a thousand years...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"Out of many, we are one." - Barack Obama
Today, as history is made in Washington, let us reflect on who we are, where we came from and where we are going. We are truly witnessing history.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Ten Essential Women of Punk?
Who are the Ten Essential Women of Punk? I can think of lots of great candidates. Nowadays there are tons of great punk singers of the female persuasion. The Soviettes, The Eyeliners, Tilt, the list goes on, and there are plenty of great female artists in the punk genre... But who were the first? Who paved the way? Here is my list. If I left anyone out, feel free to comment! In no particular order.
Patti Smith:
Who is considered the poet laureat of punk. I remember her stuff coming on the scene in the late 70s (editor's note, I am an old fart) and the passion of her lyrics and vocals. She brought a literate and lucid vision to the music scene at the time, and was (and still is) an original. Most people are at least partly familiar with her from the near hit Because the Night. My fave was always Pissing in the River.
Exene Cervenka (X)
Passionate singer of the great SoCal punk band X, I always loved the sense of urgency Exene displayed in her vocals. The album Los Angeles is a definite "add" for any collection, and my favorite tune by X was Breathless. This was actually done for the soundtrack of the 80's film Breathless, but the tune was better than the movie anyway.
Wendy O.Williams (Plasmatics)
When punk was scary and new, so was Wendy O. My mind reels with pictures of WOW blowing up a car on the Tom Snyder show, blowing up school buses, wielding a chainsaw onstage. She was both scary and exciting, like her music. The blonde mohawk and schoolgirl skirt, whipped cream and duct tape. Not to be confused with any other band leader on the planet... She had attitude, and showmanship. She tragically ended her life a few years back.
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
Not a true punk by today's style, but punk in a NY art house sort of way. Like Talking Heads, Blondie, Television, etc. who were considered punk in the 70's. Debbie had a great stage presence, classic beauty and an interesting voice. I always liked Rip Her to Shreds with its attitude. She pioneered mixing rap and rock with Rapture. They delved into new wave, electronica, dance and punk.
Joan Jett (The Runaways)
I am the same age as Joan and these ladies. As a hormone- raged teen, seeing Joan, Cherie, and Lita et al, was quite overwhelming. One performance of Cherry Bomb was enough to start an adolescent male riot. I give Joan the vote since she was the best known, but all the Runaways deserve the nod. They paved the way for riotgirl punk and bands like The Donnas.
Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Noise, art punk, hardcore or whatever, Kim was one of the original noisemakers who helped launch the avant garde punk scene in the early 80s. She was just one of the band, not a novelty, as bands with female members were in the days before the came on the scene.
Gaye Advert (The Adverts)
From the other side of the pond, I needed someone to represent britpunk. Gaye fills that bill. She is one of the original britpunk women I remember from back in the day. Good punk vocs and stage presence, with tons of the britpunk attitude. I like the old snarling dog style of the British rockers.
Kira Roessler (Black Flag)
Kira gets the nod because she was tough enough to tour with Black Flag. I'm not sure that I am even tough enough to tour with Black Flag. Van rides to nowhere, sleeping on floors, eating stale fast food... For additional punk rock cred, she was once married to Minutmen bassist Mike Watt as well. And a very good bassist. I saw her and Mike Watt in Chicago as "Dos" doing their 2 bass spiel back in the early 90's. Good show!
Nico (Velvet Underground)
Not punk as we know it, but proto-punk. Nico showed that women did not need to all sing ballads and play the victim, but could be on the cutting edge of rock music. I give her the pioneer award for her work with Lou Reed and the Velvets.
Suzi Gardner (L7)
Although more of a grunge player, I am giving Suzi props because she walks the line between grunge and punk. She also appeared on the Black Flag cut Slip it In. She was the female character providing miscellaneous moans, vocals, screams, etx. It don't get more punk than that.
Alright, who did I leave out? Post angry and insightful comments below! I love girls with guitars!!! Especially the angry ones.
Patti Smith:
Who is considered the poet laureat of punk. I remember her stuff coming on the scene in the late 70s (editor's note, I am an old fart) and the passion of her lyrics and vocals. She brought a literate and lucid vision to the music scene at the time, and was (and still is) an original. Most people are at least partly familiar with her from the near hit Because the Night. My fave was always Pissing in the River.
Exene Cervenka (X)
Passionate singer of the great SoCal punk band X, I always loved the sense of urgency Exene displayed in her vocals. The album Los Angeles is a definite "add" for any collection, and my favorite tune by X was Breathless. This was actually done for the soundtrack of the 80's film Breathless, but the tune was better than the movie anyway.
Wendy O.Williams (Plasmatics)
When punk was scary and new, so was Wendy O. My mind reels with pictures of WOW blowing up a car on the Tom Snyder show, blowing up school buses, wielding a chainsaw onstage. She was both scary and exciting, like her music. The blonde mohawk and schoolgirl skirt, whipped cream and duct tape. Not to be confused with any other band leader on the planet... She had attitude, and showmanship. She tragically ended her life a few years back.
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
Not a true punk by today's style, but punk in a NY art house sort of way. Like Talking Heads, Blondie, Television, etc. who were considered punk in the 70's. Debbie had a great stage presence, classic beauty and an interesting voice. I always liked Rip Her to Shreds with its attitude. She pioneered mixing rap and rock with Rapture. They delved into new wave, electronica, dance and punk.
Joan Jett (The Runaways)
I am the same age as Joan and these ladies. As a hormone- raged teen, seeing Joan, Cherie, and Lita et al, was quite overwhelming. One performance of Cherry Bomb was enough to start an adolescent male riot. I give Joan the vote since she was the best known, but all the Runaways deserve the nod. They paved the way for riotgirl punk and bands like The Donnas.
Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Noise, art punk, hardcore or whatever, Kim was one of the original noisemakers who helped launch the avant garde punk scene in the early 80s. She was just one of the band, not a novelty, as bands with female members were in the days before the came on the scene.
Gaye Advert (The Adverts)
From the other side of the pond, I needed someone to represent britpunk. Gaye fills that bill. She is one of the original britpunk women I remember from back in the day. Good punk vocs and stage presence, with tons of the britpunk attitude. I like the old snarling dog style of the British rockers.
Kira Roessler (Black Flag)
Kira gets the nod because she was tough enough to tour with Black Flag. I'm not sure that I am even tough enough to tour with Black Flag. Van rides to nowhere, sleeping on floors, eating stale fast food... For additional punk rock cred, she was once married to Minutmen bassist Mike Watt as well. And a very good bassist. I saw her and Mike Watt in Chicago as "Dos" doing their 2 bass spiel back in the early 90's. Good show!
Nico (Velvet Underground)
Not punk as we know it, but proto-punk. Nico showed that women did not need to all sing ballads and play the victim, but could be on the cutting edge of rock music. I give her the pioneer award for her work with Lou Reed and the Velvets.
Suzi Gardner (L7)
Although more of a grunge player, I am giving Suzi props because she walks the line between grunge and punk. She also appeared on the Black Flag cut Slip it In. She was the female character providing miscellaneous moans, vocals, screams, etx. It don't get more punk than that.
Alright, who did I leave out? Post angry and insightful comments below! I love girls with guitars!!! Especially the angry ones.
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