Punk Turns 30

Ten years ago Los Angeles and the rest of world lost a merry prankster; an artist, a singer, and an innovator - Jeffrey Lee Pierce left us all too soon on March 31, 1996. But he left a legacy in his music with the Gun Club and his solo records. He gave us a peek into his mind with his memoirs in Go Tell the Mountain. Please join us TONIGHT Friday March 31st, 2006 to celebrate the life of this man, his myth and the music he left behind. This celebration marks the 10th anniversary of Jeffrey Lee Pierce’s passing. His family, friends and fans will gather at the Scene in Glendale to remember, honor and dance. Live performances by… THE LEAVING TRAINS GEISHA GIRLS & GABE HEART THE GUILTY HEARTS DJ KEITH MORRIS (Circle Jerks) DJ Jacqui Pierce will be spinning from Jeffrey’s record collection. Who knows what other surprises may be in store? Like: Long Gone John from Sympathy for the Record Industry has DONATED RECORDS! FREE RECORDS! Free to the first 100 people! TONIGHT - Friday ...

I couldn't find a way to say it better than Joe Nolte did, so here goes... from his email: To my friends (etc), It was supposed to be one time only last September, but we all had too much fun! Therefore, Joe Nolte Vitus Matare Mike Nolte John Frank John Rosewall and Steve Andrews will take you back to them early 80's on Saturday April 8th at: Mr T's Bowl 5621 1/2 Figueroa Highland Park, CA (323) 256-7561 Mr T's Bow Starting the show at 9 will be Dos, featuring Mike Watt & Kira Roessler, then Kjehl Johansen's (Urinals, 100 Flowers, Trotsky Icepick) band, then The Last! Surprising songs, and possibly a guest or two - what could be more fun? (unfortunately the gig is 21 & over - sorry kids!) come see for yourselves that, truly, some people never learn . . . joe

Yes ladies and gentlemen... It was on March 29, 1978 that the Whisky hosted the Lobotomy Night show - a benefit for us... Lobotomy, the brainless magazine. X, The Germs, Alley Cats and Flesheaters played. I believe that the Germs played "Sugar Sugar" for the first time that night. Also, its quite possible that it was In the Red Records' Larry Hardy's first Germs show. I didn't know Larry back then...he was just a suburban kid coming to rock shows, but apparently, he was standing next to or behind me every night of my life! When I show him pictures, he seems to remember more about those shows than I did. Anyway, Larry runs one of the best indie labels around these days. Why don't you check it out? They just released the latest album by Sparks. And before I sign off and go to sleep, let me remind you that the Flesheaters are playing in Los Angeles next week. At the Echo, April 6. What year is it?

Every once in a while, there's a stretch of time where you go out every night because there's such great music to be seen and heard. In Los Angeles over the next ten days or so, there's so much to see and hear... will I see you there? Tuesday March 28 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, the The Dirtbombs headline a killer show that includes The Black Lips and LA's very own trio of punk ferocity, The Lamps. Let me tell you something about those Black Lips. They're awesome and they're easy to look at...but I'm not so sure I'll be getting up close to take any live pictures of them. Their stage show is so unpredictable...I don't know if one of them is gonna bleed on me, spray me with beer or other projectile liquids, or if I'll get to witness some kind of funny performance art in between songs. What can you say? That's punk. You shouldn't miss it. Another show you should not miss is the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Memorial/Tribute show at the...

As the 70s turned into the 80s, a dark, psychedelic movement from the UK was beginning to take a foothold in the USA. Leading the charge were The Teardrop Explodes and Echo & the Bunnymen. Sure, there were others, but Teardrop and Echo were my faves. This is Julian Cope caught in performance at the Whisky A Go Go. A few years later, Julian had left Teardrop and was making solo records and tours. He was comparable in a favorable way to Iggy , especially in the way he shouted and moved and worked that mic stand. And just how punk rock is it to write a song called "World Shut Your Mouth"? None more punk. When I spent time with Julian in his solo days, I showed him this photo from Teardrop's Whisky gig. He had vivid memories of wearing that leather jacket on a long drive through the California desert when it was above 90 degrees, "feeling like Peter Fonda in Easy Rider" he said, "tripping on acid." Yeah. "You were wearing pin...

Dave Alvin and The Blasters were a well-respected band in LA punk even though they played pretty straight-forward American roots-rock, closer to country than to punk. Nevermind. They just fit in. They were a part of the crowd, and let's not forget John Doe and X's Americana-informed music that was also the ultimate in punk rock. Chip and Tony Kinman of the Dils, died-in-the-wool, true to the cause commie punks also had a country side, and together with Alejandro Escovedo, who was in the punk Nuns, they formed Rank and File. Al and his brother would go on to form another country-influenced band, True Believers. And all that was just in California! Over in Nashville, there was Jason and the Scorchers who displayed the ultimate punk rock energy and attitude, dressed like cowboys and played true American western rock with a punk edge. Certainly, the great Buck Owens, an innovator of the "Bakersfield Sound," host of the kitschy television program, "Hee...

Last night at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, one John Lydon found himself in a mosh pit at the feet of Chrissie Hynde. He didn't get up on stage - that was Jonesy's thing - and he and Chrissie did a Sex Pistols song together. Well, what can I say? When this whole punk thing started, most of the audience at early gigs were members of other bands. Love to see the Rotten one showing support. Reports from the road say that Chrissie's voice is as beautiful as ever. If you are wondering why I don't have a first hand report, its because I didn't go to the Pretenders show last night. I hobbled this together from text messages I got from friends who were there. I love Chrissie...don't much care for the House of Blues...If you are interested in some coverage, Reuters filed a story that will be likely published everywhere. Instead, I went to the Scene in Glendale to catch some cool underground punk rock bands of this era. Murderland, LiveFastDie, and the awe...

Punk 77 is one of my favorite websites. Its comprehensive. However, a few months ago, while scrolling through their US bands section, I saw there was NOTHING there on the Alley Cats. I was in a real Alley Cats mood for a while, so I dropped the folks at Punk 77 a line, some info on the band and a photo, and to my delight - the Alley Cats are now a part of Punk 77's US bands section! DO check out Punk 77 - there's some new stuff up there right now that I think you'll really like - they caught up with the Slits and its great that you can find out what's new with those ladies. I so enjoyed seeing the Slits at the Whisky. Nothing like a little punky reggae. Before I go on with the other cool sites you should check out, I wanted to let you know of a GREAT cover of the Alley Cats "Nothing Means Nothing" by the Memphis band River City Tanlines fronted by the awesome rock lady Alicja Trout. Her own Contaminated Records label put it out. You can give it a ...

Sad news. Scott Goddard, a member of the Surf Punks, and collaborator with the Dickies passed away yesterday. He lost his battle with cancer.

March 21 is the Vernal Equinox - the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and it's also Gary Oldman's birthday. Even though he's a big movie star (he's in not one but two Harry Potter movies, played a villain against Clint Eastwood...how much bigger does it get?), I loved his portrayal of Sid Vicious in "Sid & Nancy." I wish him many happy returns and want to reiterate what I told him many years ago when we sat next to each other at Madison Square Garden for the indoor leg of U2's Zoo TV tour, just a couple days before his birthday.... "Chattahooche blew me away." If you don't know that movie, check it out. "Sid & Nancy" wasn't easy to watch. When you know someone, its difficult to see an actor portray them. I knew Sid because he was a great fan and a good friend of Stiv's. Sid loved to hang out with Stiv and hear all about American punk rock first hand. Sometimes, I happened to be around when th...

SPARKS will be the guests of Sex Pistol Steve Jones tomorrow (Tuesday March 21st) afternoon on Jonesy's Jukebox on Indie 103.1. The band are on to celebrate the release of their new album, "Hello Young Lovers". The show airs from 12 noon to 2 PM west coast time. You can listen to it live on line at www.indie1031.fm/shows/jonesey.php What does this have to do with punk rock? EVERYTHING, people. In LA punk days, Sparks were EVERYONE's guilty or not so guilty pleasure. AND... remember the record they did with Jane Drano of the Go Go's ? And how about Steve McDonald of Redd Kross touring with them right now? If you aren't sure...take a chance....listen to the radio. I'm sure we can convert you! And by the way, the fantastic indie label, In The Red released this Sparks record. Give it up to In The Red... one of the only labels that matters today.

On this day in history 1976, heiress Patty Hearst was convicted of armed robbery, an act she participated in arising from her kidnapping on February 4, 1974 by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Her SLA name was "Tania." She transformed from kidnapping victim to willing terror partner through a psychological phenomenon we now call "Stockholm Syndrome." She was on the cover of every magazine and newspaper for a couple of years. Well, at UCLA's Hedrick Hall, my dorm, we embraced Patty and made her our mascot. We got t-shirts and I helped to silk screen a popular portrait of Patty on to the front of the shirts. I think I still have that t-shirt somewhere in my old family house. It may have been the very first real punk rock act I outwardly did: wear the image of a home-grown "terrorist." Sure, I'd gone to rock shows, seen Patti Smith and bought some edgy new records, but in March of 1976, punk was getting ready to rear its head. The Sex Pistols had be...

cool poster for the Mutants by John Gullak Click that title link if you want to see The Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Avengers and Mutants in San Francisco at the Fillmore in two weeks. Its the "Mab Fab Reunion" celebrating the heyday of Dirk Dirksen's Mabuhay Gardens, the place in San Francisco where punk bands played and where for some reason, I always saw a band from LA there every single time I went. So, I just reminded myself that I need to get a ticket to get to San Francisco... I can't wait for this show...it will be the biggest deal thing of the Spring Penelope Avenger with Rodney on his radio show, circa 1978

Here's the poster for the gig where the famous/infamous Elks Lodge Riot happened - image courtesty of Flipside Fanzine online. We talked about this few months ago but since the anniversary is upon us, I thought I'd share some photos of the bands that were scheduled to play. Only the Go Go's got a chance to play. Here's Belinda with pals Pleasant and Wyline. ladies...are we going to see the Flesheaters in two weeks? X The Alley Cats The Go Go's had just played a few days before, doing a gig with Black Randy. Around the very same time, on the Sunset Strip, Ultravox played the Whisky. There was always a whole lot going on musically... and today, I eagerly await April's arrival.... The Flesheater s are playing a Silverlake Club and up in San Francisco a couple days later, the "Mab-Fab" Reunion... Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Avengers and Mutants will be at the Mabuhay...what year is it again?

"When I began as a Sex Pistol, there was no Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and suddenly this organization is put on top of us like we have an obligation to them. Well, it's the other way around. Don't use my name to prop up your ... nonsense." So sayeth John Lydon, previously and punkishly known as Johnny Rotten. Keeping his reputation as the most snide man in rock n roll, Lydon and the surviving Sex Pistols, which happens to be the original line-up, snubbed the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame at Sunday night's gala induction ceremony in New York City. The Rock Hall got its fair share of publicity hay from this; if they acted a bit miffed, I have to ask this question: What did you expect? And of course, I would add that the lady doth protest too much. All PR is good PR. If America's royalties, the Kennedys knew this, the Sex Pistols took it to greater and more vulgar heights. And its all good. PR, that is. You know, I've attended the rubber chicken dinner eve...

Well, you knew it was gonna happen... ever since they sold out the Beachland Ballroom in September 2004, The Dead Boys have been on a roll. They reunited in 2004 for the benefit of Stiv's folks, who were at the show and enjoyed it, as well as enjoyed a long receiving line of well-wishers. The Dead Boys also played a couple nights in 2005 during the CBGB benefit month and they were just like we all remembered them: loud & snotty (none of us is so young anymore) With Stiv gone, vocals are being handled between Cheetah Chrome and Jimmy Zero. Earlier this week, Billboard the music trade paper featured an interview with Cheetah who revealed that the remaining Dead Boys will be doing a week's worth of dates this coming May with some confirmed dates in Canada. Watch this space for more Dead Boys news!

In 1978, there were two very different things happening in the world of popular music. Topping the radio charts were the Bee Gees with "Night Fever," the third consecutive Number One Single from the soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever." Although "Saturday Night Fever" is a powerful movie about youths searching for their identity and finding much of it through music, it sure was not the kind of music my friends and I could relate to at all. The same week that found the Bee Gees topping the charts, we saw a great 3-day run of The Quick and Mumps at the Whisky A Go Go. There's Lance doing is ever popular Crocodile Tears dance. That same week, the Deadbeats, Eyes and Fear would play the Whisky. In the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia, The Screamers, X, Alley Cats, and Flesh Eaters would play to a packed and frenzied crowd at the Marquee Club. X Alley Cats Who knew in 1978, however, that our two favorite blondes would become big superstars, joi...

"On the Road" was a Beat novel by Beat poet Jack Kerouac, whose birthdate is today. He would have turned 84 if he had lived. Chance brought him into the orbit of (at the time) aspiring writers such as Allen Ginsberg and the already established William Burroughs. They were the voice of a new generation of hipsters in the 50s, perhaps reluctant spokespersons...but their influence on the world of arts and letters is undeniable. Bob Dylan made no bones about his appreciation of Kerouac - Jack's name shows up in his poetic liner notes...and if I can brag a little, a couple years ago, at my request, he recorded a lovely birthday message to Jack for a radio show I worked on...and so did Patti Smith, another poet turned rocker. I think the punk attitude can be traced all the way back to the poets that influenced even the Beats - the French imagist poets of the 19th Century, Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine, Charles Baudelaire, Guillaume Appollinaire and a few others all ...

I just thought I'd put up this picture of the LA-based Lamps, whose 21st century noise and fury is the next best thing to 70s punk that I've heard in ages. And for Monty, here's a little something just for you! The Germs Have a good weekend.

A lot of the punk hipsters I know would balk at this photo of punk rock hero Joey Ramone with so-called "classic" or "top 40" rocker, Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites. They would believe (and they would be wrong) that Joey and Rick and their bands had nothing in common. Not true. Joey turned up at the Georgia Satellites Irving Plaza show in NYC on a cold night in December, 1988. I had gone to see Keith Richards at the enormo dome in New Jersey. Satellites frontman Dan Baird came along as well because of his die-hard appreciation of Keith's opening band, The Replacements. We got to Irving Plaza just in time for Dan to go onstage. Of course, Rick and Joey had been hanging out all night long chatting it up. Later, Joey joined the Satellites for a rocking version of "I Wanna Be Sedated." Oh - and Ian Hunter was there too. Rock is rock. These particular musicians share an appreciation for each other's devotion to their craft, their ...