Its no secret that I think the Oblivians were the freshest band of the 90s. For me, they were the breath of fresh air hearkening back to punk after "grunge" was co-opted by major record labels. Each member of the Oblivians brought something great to rock n roll. Greg Cartwright, who I think of as rock n roll's version of English Romantic-era poet John Keats, (the guy who brought us the phrase, "beauty is truth; truth beauty") brought his home-grown Memphis soul to punk and garage and the result is possibly the best ever stuff recorded in his bands The Oblivians, Compulsive Gamblers, and Reigning Sound. Eric Friedl was the DIY king - the guy who created a label, Goner, to release the band's records as well as those of the bands they like such as Guitar Wolf and the Reatards, who were kids, literally, taking on the ultimate young, loud and snotty approach to rock n roll that the Dead Boys did. Juvenile and rockin! Today's photo is of Jack Yarb...
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Even back in the day, all the punk glory seemed to center around "first" cities with huge metropolitan populations: London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco... However, there was great music all over the place and if you remember correctly, the Sex Pistols totally ignored New York and Los Angeles when they toured the United States in 1978. They did spend time in the South and left their mark on towns like Memphis, to be sure. Pictured here are two of my favorite music makers - Jack Oblivian and King Louie. They're enjoying the night air in Memphis, taking a break from mixing their upcoming Loose Diamonds record. There is no end to the creativity you will find in towns like Memphis and Detroit, where the mixture of heat and poverty equal cheap living and plenty of time to devote to the creative pursuits. Everyone who's in one band is in five bands. They're all pretty good, too. Take notice! People like Jack White did and look where it got him! If t...
Theresa inside Goner , originally uploaded by Alisa in Memphis . Here's me w/ the Coke can in my hand - and original Reigning Sound drummer Greg Roberson - in the Goner Store during my photo opening on Friday. Thanks to Alisa in Memphis for taking the pic... and for showing me around all the picturesque sites! I just dropped off some film of Jack Oblivian and King Louie.... will be posted here soonly....
Jody Stephens and Ken Stringfellow , originally uploaded by Theresa K . .... Because I am in Memphis, I am showing you a photo of Jody Stephens of Memphis musical heroes, Big Star with Ken Stringfellow who plays with Big Star these days as well as doing his solo thing and the Posies. OK, so they aren't punk, per se, but Big Star was just hugely influential to musicians everywhere, and honestly, if Alex Chilton and his dogged determination to do things his way regardless of what people say and think isn't punk, I don't know what is. He may not have covered "My Way" like Sid Vicious did, but he certainly has always done it his way! If you are in Memphis at the amazing and fun fun fun Goner Fest, please come on down to the Goner store today at 4 PM for a hot dog cook-out, live music from Jeff Evans and Ross Johnson and the official "opening" of my Punk Turns 30 exhibit here in Memphis. I have some of the usual suspects featured in the...
GERMS , originally uploaded by Theresa K . I'm getting ready to walk out the door to ride down to Memphis for Goner Fest 2. Last night, I printed a whole new bunch of California punk images that you will see on this site when I return. Dug up: Live Avengers and Alley Cats. More fun "before" photos of Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle and Charlotte Caffey. Rodney Bingenheimer is represented too. The Germs are represented not only by this shot taken in the session that yielded the "Forming" picture sleeve BUT I found a frame shot during rehearsal where Bobby Pyn/Darby Crash is waving a little toy pistol at Pat Smear. Be good and see you soon ! There may not be updates for a couple days. Visit the Archives!
Today I'm going into the darkroom to make fresh prints for Goner Fest. By popular demand, Goner Fest 2 is happening nine months after the first one, and this promises to be just as exciting. Check out the Goner Fest site for a full run-down. I'm still in full Demons Claws mode from their last visit to New York over Labor Day weekend. Human Eye can't possibly top their squid-a-licious performance from the Blackout, but I want to see Timmy Vulgar try out some new arty punk rock tricks. As always, I look forward to ending things on a high note, as the Reigning Sound close the evening on Saturday night. Reigning Sound at Charlie's Kitchen, Cambridge, MA, August 2005 Last time I saw the Reigning Sound, they drove the normally bored, blase Bostonians wild. I'll be showing some of the Punk Turns 30 staples, including this one: But as with each show, I print up a couple new entries into the punk photo rotation. Who will it be? Avengers? Stranglers? Jam? Come...
tkDH3 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Friday's here, what are your weekend plans? I know what Debbie Harry is doing on Sunday. She's going to perform at Irving Plaza in NYC to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In Los Angeles, The Last are playing a one and only reunion show, so click back or scroll down and get the coordinates for that. In my estimation, The Last were one of the most overlooked of LA's bands. I wish I could be there on Saturday, but I am here in NYC and I'm preparing for my next exhibit, which opens next Friday in Memphis at the Goner Records store. Its part of Goner Fest II and I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be there. I'll get to meet a lot of people I know only in cyberspace, and once again, I'll be able to see some of my favorite bands play - The Reigning Sound, Demons Claws, Don Howland's Burning Bush, and I'm really excited to see my very first live Lamps gig! After a killer performan...
The Last , originally uploaded by Theresa K . The following is an email message from Joe Nolte, who in my estimation is an underrated genius: Yep - the Warfrat era Last are reuniting for one show to help celebrate the release of "Warfrat Tales" and "Keats Rides a Harley" on cd! I didn't think we'd ever play together again, and this is possibly the last time it will happen, so if such things interest you - this is pretty much IT. It will be an Saturday Afternoon show since most of us are too old to stay up late anymore. It's at: THE ECHO 1822 Sunset Blvd. (Silverlake) Los Angeles, CA (213) 413-8200 Saturday September 17th, 4pm to 8pm It's an early show and ALL AGES! the lineup: Joe Nolte Vitus Matare John Frank John Rosewall Steve Andrews and Mike Nolte Vitus and John Frank have been retired from music for over ten years now, so I'm extremely excited to be able to have them for this show. The OTHER great part of this is that we're...
tkDH2LA , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Debbie Harry of Blondie will be one of many artists doing a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina at Irving Plaza in NYC on Sunday, September 18. Also on that bill will be Mad Juana, Sami Yaffa's new band, Jesse Malin, Ryan Adams, David Johansen, Sami's "Boss" in the New York Dolls, and more...maybe Jesse will punk out and do some D Generation tunes. David Johansen, Syl Sylvain, The Dolls Help people here:
Rogan & Cheetah , originally uploaded by Theresa K . In all the years I have known Cheetah Chrome, I never thought about him becoming a dad. But look at him! Proud papa. Jimmy Zero and the fabulous Lisa said this when young Rogan was born, and I concur - we hope the boy ends up with his mother's good looks, his dad's way with a guitar and his Uncle Stiv's charm. Punk turns parental!
No, Runaway Joan Jett was not there last night, but original Runaway Kari Krome was and she was spinning some rock n glam n punk music helping out the Katrina-displaced musicians get back on their feet at the rockin benefit at Brooklyn's Magnetic Field. I didn't take any pictures because I was one of the organizers and hustled raffle tickets, pushed bake sale items and generally ran around "working." However, I am proud to report that the punk and garage rock community did raise a serious amount of dough for their Southern-based friends and as they say, "the check is in the mail." Thanks to everyone who played and DJ'd: The A Bones, Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, The Insomniacs, The Spittoons, Kari Krome, Toddophonic Todd, Tom Dash, The Great Gaylord, Tim Warren, Josh Styles, Mike Sansone, The Thing With Two Heads, Dave the Spazz, and birthday boy, Paddy Bullocks. My oldest friend in the world, Kid Congo: photo courtesy of Kid Congo Help pe...
Our 9/11 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . We will help out our friends who got blown away by Hurricane Katrina. The garage / punk rock community is about more than trash and thrash. OK.. you can hear some trash and thrash and know your money is going to a good cause. On Sunday, 9/11, at Magnetic Field in Brooklyn, NY starting at 4 PM, there's a benefit to help the garage and punk rock community get some much needed assistance. Performing are: The A Bones, Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, The Insomniacs and The Spittoons. A lot of DJ's will be spinning, including original Runaway, Kari Krome. I don't know why you would want to miss that. Don't make people beg! CLICK THAT (above) to help So the next time you see your garage and punk rocker friends, you see something like this: In addition to music by bands and DJs, we will have raffles every hour. Many of our indie label friends have donated records, CDs and gift certificates: In the Red, Sy...
photos and collage by Jim Lanza The Dead Boys were hugely influential to me in many ways. Not only did I love their music, a great blend of pure punk with a clever pop underlining, I loved the tension the band members had between each other. It made for great live performances. Each and every one of these men is intense in his own way. Put them together, and you have a band that could unleash all kinds of mayhem and fury. For a nice suburban girl, this was truly a treat. Years later, they have mellowed in a way, but are still full of the fire and the drive that made them burn brightly and stop suddenly. For the most post, they are a kindler, gentler Dead Boys if you see them one-on-one. They still give you the punk business from the stage. Jim Lanza who took the photos in the collage above, helped reunite them the first time last year in September to do a show to help Stiv's elderly parents. It was a sell-out crowd at the Beachland Ballroom in the band's adopted hom...
help people , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . I don't know about you, but I can't stop thinking about this tragedy. It was a natural disaster but it could have been mitigated. A LOT of punk songs come to mind..."Class War" by the Dils is the first thing - because it seems like free market enterprise killed a lot of poor people on the Gulf Coast. "Eat the Rich" is a little bit appropriate too. To be sure, there are plenty of wealthy people who have helped out those who aren't so well off... but the King of America ? He hasn't helped me yet. But as they always do, underdogs stick together. The garage/punk community has organized a fund - all the info is in the graphic above - to help its own. Stiv Bators Little known fact: Stiv Bators is the punk on this website that gets the most hits from search engine results. You love him, so here he is!
One day in the last couple weeks, I received an email from Brandon Cruz, a California homeboy. We talked about the good old days and our experiences as teenagers in the Santa Barbara / Ventura County beach towns we grew up in, as well as our mutual friends and such. Gotta LOVE the web for bringing people back together. If the name is familiar, it should be. Brandon Cruz was a singer with the Dead Kennedys for a stint. Click on "Eddie is a Punk" above and you'll go to a page with his history in the DK's. Yes... he was also a child actor in that 1969 television series, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," which starred a pre-Hulk, post-My Favorite Martian Bill Bixby. Brandon doesn't know this cuz I've yet to tell him, but the actress Miyoshi Umeki who played their housekeeper, Mrs. Livingston, was my mother's teenage and young adult best friend back in Tokyo. Yes, the world is that small. Back then, she went by the name "Nancy...
Soul Man , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Today there was a DJ party and bake sale to raise money to send down to our musician friends who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. The first thing to bring money in was a set of 13 proofs of the Dirtbombs Soundcheck photo series. This portrait of Mick Collins was included. The buyer was the nice fellow who co-manages the Dirtbombs myspace site. And I think it was appropriate. One of the many musicians who had to flee New Orleans with only what should could fit into a car was Peggy O'Neill, who was Dirtbomb Mick Collins's bandmate in the Gories. The afternoon began appropriately with a 3-track spin from one of my favorite current bands, The Reigning Sound's great albums, "Time Bomb High School." That's Greg Cartwright of the Reigning Sound pictured on the previous post. Thanks to everyone who turned up, brought stuff, bought stuff and lent support. Thanks to the DJ's for some great music a...
New York City's premier uptown punk rock bar, The Ding Dong Lounge has graciously lent their space for one in a long series of benefits to help our friends who were displaced by Hurrican Katrina last week. On Monday, September 5 - Labor Day - from 4pm til we finally disperse - DJ's will be throwing down their best sets, and taking requests at $1 a play while our bake sale, raffle, record swap meet and rock n roll yard sale goes on in the background. 100% of the proceeds will be going to musicians who lost everything. Some of the people/bands who we're helping include: Royal Pendeltons Haunted Hearts Darkest Hours Gories Persuaders Die Rotzz Kajun SS King Louie One Man Band Detonations Mangina Fuck Other Related rock n roll organizations: Rocks Off Records Therapeutic Records www.watch me eat a hot dog Some of the cool items you can buy a raffle ticket for include a set of 6 vintage paperbacks by Ian Fleming from the James Bond series. Vintage branding irons, a cool mini ...
Greg Cartwright goofing off , originally uploaded by Theresa K . This IS a funny picture of my favorite songwriter, Greg Cartwright cheerfully taking his per diem. It wasn't all that much money, either. Funny how this category of musician must make a tiny bit of money go a long way. And, in recent weeks, we have seen how rock n roll musicians have come to the aid of their own. Punk rockers flew in from all over the world for the CBGB cause. Now, many of our musician brothers and sisters who lived in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama got literally blown away. They lost everything. They are lucky to be alive. For all the joy they have given us, we are luckier that they are alive. Its time to help them out. If you want to make sure your contribution, regardless of the size, gets directly into their hands, please think about donating here: Trinity Parish Church Episcopal Discretionary Fund 200 N Elm St Searcy, AR 72143-5271 put "Katrina Fund...
Patti, Dark & Light , originally uploaded by Theresa K . So the news is that the Bowery Residents Committee is not going to renew CBGB's lease. My favorite Beatle, George Harrison titled his spectacular triple album set "All things must pass," and I think perhaps that is a good sentiment. Over the past few months, we've heard all sorts of sentiments and arguments as to why or why not CBGB should stay or go. Then, during August 2005, just about everyone who meant anything in punk rock to NYC showed up to show support and play to an over-sold house. Were they helping? Giving back? Paying tribute? Or simply gracing that stage for possibly the last time? Does it matter? Historically, Patti Smith and her band have returned to CBGB's stage for special shows, usually around New Years ( Patti and Lenny Kaye share an end of the year birthday as well. Pure celebration these gigs were!). Without fail for years, Patti returned to the house where she go...