Punk Turns 30

Original Cramps drummer and co-founder of Norton Records and The A Bones, rock n roll lady extraordinaire, Miriam Linna just launched a blog with her memories of the earliest days of the Cramps, when she was their drummer. Miriam played in the line-up that included the late Bryan Gregory on guitar alongside Lux and Ivy. Bryan Gregory in foreground What strikes a chord in me, however, are the scans of letters Miriam has saved over the years. A couple years ago, Miriam showed me letters she received from our mutual friend, the late Stiv Bators. Seeing Stiv's familiar, Catholic school boy penmanship and his particular signature just brought back a flood of memories, and seeing them again on Miriam's blog and being able to read and re-read his words help bring the Dead Boy back to life. For anyone who knows only the Urban Legend of Stiv Bators, Miriam's blog will open your eyes. For those who knew Stiv, Miriam's blog may bring a bittersweet tear alongside the warm...

Frank Secich during the recording sessions for Stiv Bators' Disconnected album... Today, I read a great interview from a Swedish zine (go here: www.torpedopop.com and click on "Articles") with my pal Frank. For those of you who aren't from Ohio, or who don't follow the back stories of some of the players whose records you do love, this is a must-read piece! Frank played with Stiv in what call the Latter Day Dead Boys, a version of the Dead Boys that included Stiv, Jimmy Zero, Johnny Blitz as well as Frank on bass (replacing Jeff Magnum ) and George Cabaniss on guitar (taking over where Cheetah Chrome left off). Stiv, Blitz and Zero - last original Dead Boys in 1979 When Blitz left, David Quinton stepped in and the Disconnected band was born... but prior to that - and what made the latter day Dead Boys and Disconnected projects so solid and well-rounded in terms of the pop influence was frankly... Frank Secich. Besides being one of Stiv's childhood fri...