Tag: punk rock

Welfare Jazz


You should listen to Viagra Boys. They use saxophones and synthesizers in an un-ironic way, and it sounds refreshingly punk rock. I’m gonna venture to say that the saxophone hasn’t been cool like this since the Stooges (don’t even talk to me about Morphine, for all the benefits of their music, that shit was not punk rock). Even better than reading this blog post though, you should just watch this video. Then when people ask you how you found out about your new favorite band – you can say you found out about them from me.

If you must, I write a bit more about them after the jump.

Ain’t Nice
Continue reading “Welfare Jazz”

Skulking Home to Mom

Ah, intrepid youth.

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The author at 24

I was reading an article about the Stooges, specifically about the wonderful Stooges documentary, “Gimmie Danger” by Jim Jarmusch. As you are reading this blog, you probably know the Stooges – in their first incarnation – made two amazing records in the years from 1968 to 1971 where they basically invented punk. That statement is simplistic and only partly true, but whatever, it sounds cool. Three of the four members also became junkies. Those albums didn’t sell all that well and by the end of 1971 the band broke up. In the article there’s a quote from Stooges drummer Scott Asheton who says, “I guess I realize the band’s over when I’m sleeping on the floor of some people’s house, and I had no money and I sold my drum set to get bus tickets home to my mom.”

It got me thinking about how tough it is to be young, particularly so when you’re young and hooked on drugs. And how thankful I am for my own mother, who stood by me when I was behaving like a complete shithead. Mom was always there to pick up the pieces. Or at least she tried to.

Continue reading “Skulking Home to Mom”

The Harley Flanagan Institute for kids that want to write good and do other stuff good. A short history of my dealings with Skinheads.

Apparently, if you are lucky enough to attain a certain age, things that existed in your youth come to appear absurd in the cold light of the present. Such is the case with me, and the phenomenon of skinheads in the Boston hardcore “scene.” It sounds strange to say, but in the mid 80’s, for those of us of a certain temperament, skinheads were a problem, like a real personal safety-style problem. Back in those days in Boston (and New York and D.C.) there was a very real danger of getting your ass kicked by skinheads for myriad offenses, things like having “stupid hair.”

Continue reading “The Harley Flanagan Institute for kids that want to write good and do other stuff good. A short history of my dealings with Skinheads.”

I’m a Terrible Person for what I did to Joey Ramone

FourChords

Thanks to John Ross Bowie, I’m on a(nother) Ramones kick. Last week I went and saw a pre-opening performance of the play he wrote about the Ramones, called “Four Chords and A Gun.” It’s a fictionalized account of the time the band spent recording their “End of the Century” album with producer Phil Spector.

If you are in LA and somehow read this before July 31st and it’s not sold out, I highly recommend you go see it.

I’m no theater aficionado, but I really enjoyed it…

Continue reading “I’m a Terrible Person for what I did to Joey Ramone”

Kurt Cobain Lives – the end

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s come back to “get” Dave Grohl.

This is the 8th and final part of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here.

a_boy_from_aberdeen

It probably shouldn’t have surprised me how low Dave Grohl would go, but it does.

Seeing the bearded, middle-aged man devolve into a quivering mass of tears, self-loathing and regret in the presence of what he thought was Kurt Cobain’s ghost is kind of. . . well, it’s fucked up. The dude is a mess!

The lights come back on. Sonny comes running into the room. Dave doesn’t even try to hide his tear-streaked face from us.

“Kurt was here man! He came back to give me a message. Just ask this dude,” Dave says nodding in my direction.

“Dude, what’s he talking about?” Sonny asks me.

Continue reading “Kurt Cobain Lives – the end”

Kurt Cobain Lives – part 7

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s ending his self-imposed exile.

This is part 7 of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here.

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I don’t know Dave Grohl very well, or at all really, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who is often left speechless. But with the long-dead Kurt Cobain, either alive or (for all Dave knows) in ghost form here in front of us, he is exactly that, speechless.

Dave’s bottle of Heineken hits the thinly carpeted floor with a thump. “What… the… fuck…” he says.

Continue reading “Kurt Cobain Lives – part 7”

Kurt Cobain Lives – part 6

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s ending his self-imposed exile.

This is part 6 of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here.

kurt_at_mic

The unfamiliar email in my inbox is from neagitivecreep94@hotmail.com and the subject line reads “Merry Christmas.” Talk about ridiculous! First of all it’s March so wishing someone a merry Christmas is just plain silly. It’s the email address itself that stands out however. How could Kurt expect anyone to take him seriously with an email address like that? Then again, I guess as a dead celebrity, one that is loved by millions, he doesn’t really have to worry about that kind of thing. Continue reading “Kurt Cobain Lives – part 6”

Kurt Cobain Lives – Part 5

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s ending his self-imposed exile.

This is part 5 of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here and part 4 here.

Cobain with tinsel
MAILMASTER _Subject: On 2014-04-04, at 12:08 PM, Vinay Menon wrote: Kurt Cobain on December 13, 1993 in Seattle on the day NIrvana performed at Pier 48 for MTV’s “Live and Loud.” CREDIT: Alice Wheeler Kurt-Cobain-at-MTV’s-Live-&.jpg

“So, first off, we’re gonna need access. And that’s where you come in, Martin,” Kurt says.

“But he doesn’t have a record coming out currently. He’s not doing publicity.” Martin replies, referring to Dave Grohl.

“You’re ‘Victimless Crime,’ for Christ’ sake. I’m sure as the editor of an essential music blog, you can come up with something,” Kurt says.

Martin nods. He’ll figure out how to get us in.

Continue reading “Kurt Cobain Lives – Part 5”

Dave Grohl is a Clown

Kurt Cobain Lives  –  Part 4

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s ending his self-imposed exile.

This is part 4 of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here.

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When we stop laughing, long enough for us to take a normal breath anyway, I ask Kurt what he’s talking about. What does he mean when he says Dave Grohl is a “clown” and “out of control?” Even as I ask though, I’m pretty sure I know what he means.

“Hubris, man. Fucking hubris,” Kurt says simply, as if he’s said all he needs to. And to me, he has.

Continue reading “Dave Grohl is a Clown”

Kurt Cobain Lives – Part 3

This is part 3 of an ongoing serial fiction. Part 1 can be found here and part 2 here.

In 1994 Kurt Cobain faked his own suicide. 22 years later he’s ending his self-imposed exile.

USA - Nirvana in Swimming Pool
10 Oct 1991, Los Angeles, California, USA — Kurt Cobain of the band Nirvana takes a nap with his guitar at his side at North Hollywood pool. — Image by © Kirk Weddle/Corbis

An hour after walking in, Martin and I exit the lobby of the building. It has stopped raining.

Kurt left the office first, along with his bodyguard, riding down in the elevator having affixed a ski hat and fake okie-beard onto his face. The beard looked truly ridiculous. Mostly he just looked like a crazy person. But then I suppose it’s an effective enough disguise as it’s not like any paparazzi are on the lookout for a dead dude.

Continue reading “Kurt Cobain Lives – Part 3”