An Historic Date

It was all played out this morning, clear as black & white, and everything that the term "black & white" represents. No shades of gray. No. It is clear. This is the dawning of a new era.

It has been a strange past year, where Black represented good and White represented evil. Out with the White, in with the Black!

"Dead white males" is a pejorative phrase in literary criticism, deriding the influence and hegemony of European high culture and rejecting it as a course of study where ever possible, in favor of lesser-heard voices. Of course, the so-called political correctness of the concept is actually antithetical in many ways to the concept of political correctness because deriding white guys falls right into the identity politics they play and you turn out to be just as bad as them. Maybe that's a lesson to be learned...

But since this is my bully pulpit, let me wax completely politically incorrect and satirical. When is the purple shag carpet getting installed in the White House? What kind of incense do the Obamas favor? All kidding aside, I voted for Obama and at the same time, fired W. A bargain if ever one was to be had in this economy.

In 1976, the year punk rock as we know it started its initial invasion, I voted for Jimmy Carter, and in January 1977, a big month for history and culture in the year punk rock exploded, Jimmy Carter was inaugurated. Thirty-two years ago today.

President Carter immediately pardoned those who avoided the draft and Viet Nam War. Outgoing Gerald Ford, who upon taking office, pardoned his predecessor, Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon, pardoned Tokyo Rose as his last judicial act as President. War is always lurking in the shadows, isn't it?

A week after Jimmy Carter started his term, the record label EMI dropped its recent signing, the Sex Pistols. Later that year, their album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols was released by Warner Bros. The rest is history.

HERE's to today's history making inauguration.

Sex Pistols in California on the Brink of Breaking Up

On this date, January 13, in 1978, all of my friends and I were in a frenzy as we were about to drive up to San Francisco from LA to see the Sex Pistols at Winterland the following day, January 14. Winter in California means rain, and rain it did. Just about everyone I know drove up the day of the show, saw the show and drove back home. That's just how we did it back then. I was no different.



The ride I managed to hitch was with my friends from the power pop band, Milk and Cookies, from NYC who were living in LA at the time. Drummer Mike Ruiz had a van, and we rode up Interstate 5 to the promised land -- Mike, me, Sal Maida and Luke Zamperini. As the sole female in the vehicle, I was acutely aware of how many times on the desolate stretch of trucker interstate I made the van stop for bathroom breaks. On the other hand, I know the guys were happy to load up on junk food...

Once we arrived at Winterland, I was unsure of whether or not cameras were allowed. I was wearing my favorite middy top (that's what you call the cropped top that resembles what sailors wear), the one I'm wearing in this picture. That outfit is an homage to the NY Dolls "bend over girl" from an innersleeve - illustrated by my friend Mumps co-founder, Kristian Hoffman.


me, Kristian Hoffman, Dawn Wirth (photo by Dawn's daughter, Sarah)

ANYWAY... under this baggy top, I hid my camera. It was hanging around my neck, and really, since it was raining, I defended how stupid I looked by claiming I was keeping the thing dry.



Two local bands were among the opening acts - The Nuns, pictured above, and The Avengers.



The Avengers held their own against the hostile crowd. I think they were more composed in front of the rowdy crowd than the Pistols! The Avengers played with power, purpose and conviction; they rocked it.



The Sex Pistols put on the Sex Pistols show to be sure... but the crowd was giving them what they thought a punk band wanted - heckling and the throwing of crap on to the stage. Johnny Rotten hurled invective right back! This was definitely a punk rock show.

One man from the Pistols team noticed how well the Avengers did. Rory Johnston, pictured below with the San Francisco punks, became their manager.



Of the couple thousand people who were at the Winterland show, I'm certain every one of them has a different memory. I remember most vividly standing on a folding seat trying to get a better photographic vantage point, and wobbled the whole time.



Not my best work, but I am glad to have whatever first-hand Sex Pistols artifacts I do have.

A couple weeks later, the band broke up and kind of all ended up in Los Angeles. One night at the Whisky a Go Go for a Mumps show, Belinda Carlisle spotted Malcolm McLaren and Johnny Rotten on the street. They came into the club and caught a few Mumps songs even.



And before I could take their picture, Malcolm and John were out the door... although I do believe the rear view of Johnny Rotten and his punk rock hair is unmistakeable.



A couple years later backstage at the Whisky, Paul Cook let me photograph him while Rory Johnston hid from my camera and Slits guitarist Viv Albertine laughed at the notion of not being photographed.

That was just the beginning of seeing one or another Sex Pistol in Los Angeles after their break up. Today, Lydon and Jones make the City of Angels, my birthplace, their home.

Jim Shaw Fundraiser - Please Help the Nicest Guy in Detroit

Jim Shaw (above) and Sandy Kramer Shaw are two of the kindest people I know. No, they're not goodie two shoes types - they're ribald, funny, motorcycle riding, rock n roll good time people. Like all good rockers, they've put up scores of traveling bands in their Hamtramck home and they help their friends without a second thought. Now is the time for us to help them.

Jim was recently diagnosed with cancer, and now is fighting to keep it from spreading. This kind of fight requires stamina and money for treatment. The Shaws have stamina - but who has that kind of money? Jim's brothers (more kind souls under their rock n roll bravado) have put together a benefit in Detroit to be held on February 7. Please read more and help if you can: myspace.com/jimshawfundraiser


Jim, Cookie and Sandy at Barberella

Sad Day for Stooges Fans

While Iggy Pop is the flashy unforgettable frontman for The Stooges, no one ever overlooks the formidable contributions to the live performance and the recordings of his band mates. That's because this group of ne'er-do-wells from Ann Arbor, Michigan truly changed the course of rock n roll. They were one of a few inadvertent inventors of punk rock. They were recently inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Sad news circulates today that Stooges guitarist, Ron Asheton passed away sometime between New Years Eve and today, and was found dead today in his Ann Arbor home. No details have been released, as it seems none are known.

I'm sure the obits and memories will start flowing. Ann Arbor's blogosphere gives a brief report HERE.

RIP, Ron Asheton...

January 4 - On This Date

It was on this date 23 years ago that Thin Lizzy bassist and frontman, Phil Lynott passed away. He was a formidable talent and fan of punk rock. We've often acknowledged him at Punk Turns 30 - and remember that night he jammed with the Plimsouls at the Starwood. You can read a tribute here: Hot Press Phil Lynott Anniversary Special from 2008

One year ago today, I embarked on the final year-long leg of my current touring exhibit, Unguarded Moments: Backstage and Beyond. Coincidentally, it was Plimsoul Eddie Munoz who picked me up from the train, joined me for lunch and random Hollywood picture taking before taking me to the airport so I could hit the road.



The Unguarded Moments tour kicked off in October of 2007 and winds down at the end of this month. It is hanging at the Metropolis Gallery in Lancaster, PA. If you live in and around Central PA - or if you ever wanted to visit Amish Country and get a dose of vintage punk rock memories... you have until January 31 to do both in one fell swoop!

I love the irony and so will you.



This image of Blondie's Clem Burke is just one of the dozens on exhibit, and that you can buy. Even if you are not at the Gallery, you can still get one or more of the photos -- Metropolis Gallery is the dealer for this series of Punk Turns 30 images and if you are interested in owning one, by all means - click their name!

Both Eddie Munoz and Clem Burke play in power pop sensations, Magic Christian together. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming tour dates soon!