Happy Halloween, fellow mortals. The current edition of The Stranger features my second stab at the "Turn You On" column (dig Black Gladiator, circa April), a consideration of the seasonally-appropriate 1969 LP Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls by Coven. This Chicago-based rock act formed in the late 1960s and toured the hippie underground with a wild stage show that incorporated authentic Satanic rituals and a mix of brooding folk and raw psychedelia. Remarkably, they attracted major label attention and eventually earned themselves a hit record.
Do you dare to actually sample these forbidden sounds, harvested via YouTube? Make peace with your god, turn on your speakers and explore this opening track from Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls, an extremely moody number that describes its subject in vivid detail:
"Black Sabbath" from Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls
(images from the 1922 film Häxan)
As the legend goes, Mercury Records withdrew Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls from stores after Esquire illustrated an "expose" on countercultural Satanism with a shot of Charles Manson holding Coven's debut LP. Apparently there is such a thing as bad publicity (and anyone with a copy of said storied photo, please speak up).
So Coven pulled up stakes, leaving Chicago for the godless city of Los Angeles to start over. They caught a break when filmmaker Tom Laughlin asked them to cover a song first performed by Canadian pop band the Original Caste. "One Tin Soldier" served as the theme for Laughlin's delirious cult hit Billy Jack, Warner Brothers released the single and the rest is history.
The song charted multiple times and became an enduring favorite of campfire singalongs, AM oldies radio and karaoke bars worldwide. This whimsical animated music video proves what a strange state of affairs this was -- the band that celebrated drinking the blood of children on its first LP eventually found itself marketed directly to America's underagers:
"One Tin Soldier" from Coven
"One Tin Soldier" was also included on Coven's second LP, a self-titled collection of songs for MGM that lightened up considerably on the Satanism. The band switched labels again for their third long player, Blood on the Snow, this time going with Buddha Records, home of artists as diverse as the 1910 Fruitgum Company and Captain Beefheart. While certainly no return to the bluntness of Witchcraft, Blood on the Snow's cover art of a fiddle-sawing Satan proves Coven's collective heart was still in the same place. Check out this suitably disturbing music video for the riff-heavy title track:
"Blood on the Snow" from Blood on the Snow
Blood on the Snow didn't hit the commercial heights of "One Tin Soldier," and Coven retired its hooves shortly thereafter. Lead singer Jinx Dawson remained active in film and music for many years, appearing in Heaven Can Help and entertaining in Hollywood clubs into the 1980s. She recently revived her career by rescuing the impossibly rare Coven LPs from the clutches of bootleggers and eBay speculators, re-releasing them on CD via her independent label Nevoc Music.
Ready to make friends? You can find Jinx Dawson and all the information you need about Coven at one of her three MySpace pages or her CafePress store (which sells Coven discs as well as Satanic t-shirts, wall clocks and tote bags).
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
POLITICAL SILENCE
Political Silence were active in the Flint, Michigan hardcore scene of the mid-80s. Here they are live in East Lansing circa 1987. I never knew these guys personally, but the two redheaded brothers were members of the Methodist Church I attended in Swartz Creek, and their mom made the cake for my high school graduation party.
"Freedom fighters in Nicaragua? It's a contra - contra - CONTRADICTION!" Man, nothing like some Flintoid hardcore. These nerds weren't fucking around. The earnest young hippie introducing the band is Rafael, a mainstay of EL hardcore thanks to his public access TV program The 666 Club and his band Army of God. Rafael was dead sincere about his political causes, but East Lansing was more of a drunk/dropout/apathy scene, so he never rallied the troops no matter how hard he tried. Last I knew he was working in a comic store and made an awkward run at a city council position ...
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
FIREWORKS
Posted by hauntedgeorge.
Fireworks on AMG
A muddy, bloody lo-fi trashfest, Fireworks' debut, Set the World on Fire, attempts to do just that, but even if the only thing the band managed to burn out was itself, the remaining document is a blazing mess of druggy white soul. Fireworks dresses up their bare-bones rockabilly skronk with feedback and distortion as connective tissue, making a treble-heavy clatter with rudimentary drumming, cheap guitars, and no low end in sight. Mastermind Darin Lin Wood has charisma to burn even when smothered in reverb and amplifier hum, carrying himself like the drunken reincarnation of Gene Vincent and howling with the urgency of a man who has just one chance to get it on tape. By turns pugnacious ("Hey Fucker"), romantic ("Silver Moon"), sinister ("Murdered Model"), and lusty ("Fire Engine Lady"), Wood leads the band through a set that bursts with so much dirty, greasy life that it collects in pools under the speakers. Although their approach has obvious antecedents in bands like the Cramps, the Gories, and the Panther Burns, Fireworks sweat out the kind of passion and energy that divides the men from the record collectors. Set the World on Fire is a wild classic of messed-up garage rock from a sadly defunct band that ended up exhausting itself after just a few years, too noisy for most but perfect for those with primitive tastes. FRED BELDIN
Saturday, July 14, 2007
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
"Saturday Afternoon" (at Woodstock)
"Plastic Fantastic Lover"
"House at Pooneil Corners"
"Crown of Creation"
Posted by TheDormouse, dianeables and Hampeleman.
"Plastic Fantastic Lover"
"House at Pooneil Corners"
"Crown of Creation"
Posted by TheDormouse, dianeables and Hampeleman.
HEAVEN AND HELL
It's true. The Dio-fronted lineup of Black Sabbath is touring again. And it's heresy to say so, but I'd rather see this than an Ozzy-fronted version these days. Only because I love Ozzy enough to know it's time for him to just retire and enjoy a nice, quiet family life in his (relative) old age. He's earned it. Stop listening to your wife, Ozzy. You deserve to take it easy.
Also, Number Two always tries harder -- Dio's whole elfin-magic schtick is gonna work great in his grizzled, aged state.
Anyone wanna drive to Fresno in October with me?
Posted by MaidenPriest.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
SKIDOO
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Here's the legendary 1968 Otto Preminger film Skidoo in all its glory, one of the few pro-drug establishment pictures of the era. Witness Jackie Gleason drop acid in prison, see Carol Channing dressed like a hippie and Frankie Avalon wearing a fake moustache, hear Harry Nilsson sing the closing credits, and discover what some of us have known all along ... Groucho Marx is God.
Posted by mrburger1.
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Here's the legendary 1968 Otto Preminger film Skidoo in all its glory, one of the few pro-drug establishment pictures of the era. Witness Jackie Gleason drop acid in prison, see Carol Channing dressed like a hippie and Frankie Avalon wearing a fake moustache, hear Harry Nilsson sing the closing credits, and discover what some of us have known all along ... Groucho Marx is God.
Posted by mrburger1.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
THE CRUCIFUCKS
"Democracy Spawns Bad Taste"
"By the Door"
"Hinkley Had A Vision"
"Marching For Trash"
"I don't have to, I don't have to/I'm not going to, I'm not going to/I don't have to so I'm going to take your world and trash it, trash it, trash it."
Posted by backporchvideo and HABIswe.
"By the Door"
"Hinkley Had A Vision"
"Marching For Trash"
"I don't have to, I don't have to/I'm not going to, I'm not going to/I don't have to so I'm going to take your world and trash it, trash it, trash it."
Posted by backporchvideo and HABIswe.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
WIRE
"Another The Letter/The 15th"
"Practice Makes Perfect"
"Two People In A Room"
"French Film Blurred"
"Heartbeat"
1979-era Wire. For Roy, if he's watching.
Posted by Richmarkhill, JahPunk, initialsjb, MannInBlack and wirehq.
"Practice Makes Perfect"
"Two People In A Room"
"French Film Blurred"
"Heartbeat"
1979-era Wire. For Roy, if he's watching.
Posted by Richmarkhill, JahPunk, initialsjb, MannInBlack and wirehq.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
WKRP PIMPS FOR SAVINGS BONDS
Part One
Part Two
Weird. Apparently the WKRP gang did a short promotional film for US Savings Bonds. The only laughs you'll glean from this will be quizzical.
Let's clear the palate with this beloved "drunk driving" sequence from the actual series.
Posted by icecoldkatie. If you got a taste for WKRP, she has dozens of episodes up for grabs.
Part Two
Weird. Apparently the WKRP gang did a short promotional film for US Savings Bonds. The only laughs you'll glean from this will be quizzical.
Let's clear the palate with this beloved "drunk driving" sequence from the actual series.
Posted by icecoldkatie. If you got a taste for WKRP, she has dozens of episodes up for grabs.
QUARK
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Pilot episode for a short-lived 1977 series piggy-backing on the sudden popularity of Star Wars ... naturally, my 10 year old self swallowed it whole. Haven't seen Quark since, but my 39 year old self appreciates the fact that Buck Henry created it -- unfortunately, he was not to enjoy any Get Smart style success with this venture.
Posted by avdezign. He's got a few more episodes up for viewing for those so inclined.
Part Two
Part Three
Pilot episode for a short-lived 1977 series piggy-backing on the sudden popularity of Star Wars ... naturally, my 10 year old self swallowed it whole. Haven't seen Quark since, but my 39 year old self appreciates the fact that Buck Henry created it -- unfortunately, he was not to enjoy any Get Smart style success with this venture.
Posted by avdezign. He's got a few more episodes up for viewing for those so inclined.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED
Shriek of the Mutilated on AMG
The same team that foisted the sublimely bizarre Invasion of the Blood Farmers upon the world returns with this equally loopy horror outing. Dr. Ernst Prell (Alan Brock) organizes yet another group of anthropology students to search for the legendary Yeti. While most of the students don't believe that such a beast exists, there's no denying the fact that something horrible happened during the last expedition. All of the students were killed by something in the woods, and the only survivor besides Prell has gone mad and is prone to violent, drunken recountings of the incident at parties. They travel on anyway to the remote home of Prell's colleague, Dr. Karl Werner (Tawn Ellis), as he and his mute Indian servant (Morton Jacobs) have recently found evidence that the Yeti is near. Naturally, gruesome events occur as their search becomes fruitful, and various students are dispatched by a terrifying beast with plastic fangs and a shag-carpeting hide. A twist ending involving a gourmet cannibal cult helps explain away the cheap, bogus nature of the monster's costume and the show ends with a silly, grisly punch line. Like the earlier Invasion of the Blood Farmers, Shriek of the Mutilated is populated by strangely affected actors and imbued with a weird, muted color scheme that gives it the feeling of, if not quite a nightmare, then a disturbing dream that can't be entirely shaken off upon awakening. This peculiar tone is more likely due to its limited budget than any conceptual work of director Michael Findlay, who showed more artistic flair in his earlier black-and-white grindhouse films than this genre piece. Still, a healthy sense of black humor and outrageous fake gore make both films masterpieces of psychotronic cinema. FRED BELDIN
ROBERT VINCENT O'NEIL
Two trailers from films by the creator of the irresistible Angel film series ("honor student by day, hooker by night").
Sins of the Daughter - 1968
Wonder Women (aka The Deadly and the Beautiful) - 1973
Posted by pastaplanet5.
Sins of the Daughter - 1968
Wonder Women (aka The Deadly and the Beautiful) - 1973
Posted by pastaplanet5.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
STRYPER
Live in Korea, 1989
"To Hell With The Devil"
"Rockin' the World"
"Calling On You"
Posted by kilothekiller and ALien8ed.
"To Hell With The Devil"
"Rockin' the World"
"Calling On You"
Posted by kilothekiller and ALien8ed.
MORE GG ALLIN - IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AWAY
"Bored To Death" - 1981
"I Wanna Fuck Your Brains Out" - 1984
"Bloody Mary's Bloody Cunt" - 1988
At his brother Merle's wedding
Posted by candykrueger, ToiletPaper and ggallinDOTinfo.
"I Wanna Fuck Your Brains Out" - 1984
"Bloody Mary's Bloody Cunt" - 1988
At his brother Merle's wedding
Posted by candykrueger, ToiletPaper and ggallinDOTinfo.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
COVEN
Video created and posted by oxidised. Soundtrack from Coven's Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls LP, visuals from Haxan, aka Witchcraft Through The Ages.
JUDAS PRIEST
"Electric Eye/Riding on the Wind"
"Hell Bent For Leather"
"Sinner"
"Breaking the Law"
"The Ripper"
"Screaming For Vengeance"
"Victim of Changes"
Live in Memphis, 1982.
Posted by TWBalls.
"Hell Bent For Leather"
"Sinner"
"Breaking the Law"
"The Ripper"
"Screaming For Vengeance"
"Victim of Changes"
Live in Memphis, 1982.
Posted by TWBalls.
Friday, June 1, 2007
MINOR THREAT
"12XU/Small Man Big Mouth" 1982
Live in Detroit, 1983
Minor Threat in Another State of Mind, 1984
Deming on Another State of Mind.
Posted by MaxBones and davescds1.
Live in Detroit, 1983
Minor Threat in Another State of Mind, 1984
Deming on Another State of Mind.
Posted by MaxBones and davescds1.
THE WALKER BROTHERS
Scopitone for "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" on Dutch TV
They disabled embedding, but there's one more vintage performance of this song here. Enjoy the hand gestures.
Posted by GeoffPeters260459 and gggy32.
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" on Dutch TV
They disabled embedding, but there's one more vintage performance of this song here. Enjoy the hand gestures.
Posted by GeoffPeters260459 and gggy32.
FEAR
"I Don't Care About You"
"Beef Baloney" & "New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones"
Live on SNL, 1981. The infamous John Belushi-approved Halloween performance that brought slam-dancing into unsuspecting American homes. No surprise that the blustery Belushi latched on to the goofiest, least-sincere punk band of the L.A. scene ... if only he had the good taste to have been a Germs fan, then we would have had some truly inspirational television. Still, this is pretty choice, and the crowd of teens includes Tesco Vee, Ian Mackaye and Henry Garfield. "It's great to be here in New Jersey."
Posted by smokeydiablo .
"Beef Baloney" & "New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones"
Live on SNL, 1981. The infamous John Belushi-approved Halloween performance that brought slam-dancing into unsuspecting American homes. No surprise that the blustery Belushi latched on to the goofiest, least-sincere punk band of the L.A. scene ... if only he had the good taste to have been a Germs fan, then we would have had some truly inspirational television. Still, this is pretty choice, and the crowd of teens includes Tesco Vee, Ian Mackaye and Henry Garfield. "It's great to be here in New Jersey."
Posted by smokeydiablo .
Thursday, May 31, 2007
GG ALLIN
"Live Fast, Die Fast"
Boston Spoken Word Performance
Warning: This gets progressively more disturbing as it proceeds.
Part One
Part Two
"Kill The Police"
And GG's appearance on The Jerry Springer Show.
GG Allin's Banned in Boston via AMG
Those who know G.G. Allin only as the feces-slinging maniac who put himself and his audiences in jeopardy with suicidal stage shows will be surprised by the relative coherence of these early tracks. Banned in Boston is a collection of songs recorded with Allin's first backing band, the Jabbers (1976-1984), and there's plenty of tight, tuneful punk rock that those with a high tolerance for stupidity and pointless aggression will enjoy. Composed of early singles, unreleased material, and nearly all of the band's debut album (1980's Always Was, Is, and Always Shall Be), Banned in Boston captures Allin before he reached the full heights of his now-legendary extremism.
The lyrics prove that Allin was always a misogynist and a moron, although his youthful exuberance renders lyrics like, "Why don't you just leave me alone/Suck my bone" and "I used to sniff girls' pantyhose/But there's nothing like a girl sitting on your nose," sublimely ridiculous rather than offensive. The band comes off like clueless hick cousins to the Dead Boys, rocking hard on great tracks like "Bored to Death," "Don't Talk to Me," and the immortal "Assface." Allin even managed to convince the mighty Wayne Kramer to supply some blazing lead guitar on the classic "Gimme Some Head"; the ex-MC5 axe-slinger must have been suffering a particularly lean year to accept such dubious session work, but the result smokes.
Live material from a Boston gig reveals that early G.G. Allin audiences were either apathetic or contemptuous, so it isn't hard to see how a desperation to be heard compounded by massive substance abuse and emotional immaturity might lead to extreme measures like defecating on-stage and physically attacking hecklers. Allin quickly began alienating bandmates and ended up a free agent, touring alone and performing with whatever group of musicians were brave enough to back him up for the night, the music merely a backdrop for the outrageous antics that his fans had come to expect. While there are some sluggish clunkers among the gems, Banned in Boston provides proof that at one point the G.G. Allin experience was more about rock & roll than performance art. FRED BELDIN
Posted by visualguidance, liketodriverealyfast , xscabboyx and futon.
Boston Spoken Word Performance
Warning: This gets progressively more disturbing as it proceeds.
Part One
Part Two
"Kill The Police"
And GG's appearance on The Jerry Springer Show.
GG Allin's Banned in Boston via AMG
Those who know G.G. Allin only as the feces-slinging maniac who put himself and his audiences in jeopardy with suicidal stage shows will be surprised by the relative coherence of these early tracks. Banned in Boston is a collection of songs recorded with Allin's first backing band, the Jabbers (1976-1984), and there's plenty of tight, tuneful punk rock that those with a high tolerance for stupidity and pointless aggression will enjoy. Composed of early singles, unreleased material, and nearly all of the band's debut album (1980's Always Was, Is, and Always Shall Be), Banned in Boston captures Allin before he reached the full heights of his now-legendary extremism.
The lyrics prove that Allin was always a misogynist and a moron, although his youthful exuberance renders lyrics like, "Why don't you just leave me alone/Suck my bone" and "I used to sniff girls' pantyhose/But there's nothing like a girl sitting on your nose," sublimely ridiculous rather than offensive. The band comes off like clueless hick cousins to the Dead Boys, rocking hard on great tracks like "Bored to Death," "Don't Talk to Me," and the immortal "Assface." Allin even managed to convince the mighty Wayne Kramer to supply some blazing lead guitar on the classic "Gimme Some Head"; the ex-MC5 axe-slinger must have been suffering a particularly lean year to accept such dubious session work, but the result smokes.
Live material from a Boston gig reveals that early G.G. Allin audiences were either apathetic or contemptuous, so it isn't hard to see how a desperation to be heard compounded by massive substance abuse and emotional immaturity might lead to extreme measures like defecating on-stage and physically attacking hecklers. Allin quickly began alienating bandmates and ended up a free agent, touring alone and performing with whatever group of musicians were brave enough to back him up for the night, the music merely a backdrop for the outrageous antics that his fans had come to expect. While there are some sluggish clunkers among the gems, Banned in Boston provides proof that at one point the G.G. Allin experience was more about rock & roll than performance art. FRED BELDIN
Posted by visualguidance, liketodriverealyfast , xscabboyx and futon.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
SLAYER - LIVE IN FLINT, MI - NOVEMBER 20, 1984
"The Antichrist"
"Chemical Warfare"
"The Final Command"
Wow ... video footage of a Slayer gig I attended on my 17th birthday at the Ukranian Hall in Flint. First time I ever saw slamdancing and headbanging in real life, this show had a tremendous influence on me. Opening were local bands Genocide (who later morphed into Repulsion and had their own mighty impact on the face of metal) and Dissonance ... this was back when hardcore and metal were two very distinct tribes, so it was fun to watch the metal kids point and laugh while the punks slammed during Dissonance's set, and then watch the punk kids step back and sneer when the metallers stood stock still and banged their heads for Slayer. A few years later the lines blurred, that stupid word "moshing" came into vogue and I started getting a lot more cynical.
Video quality isn't too good, but the historical value is high ... uh, for me, anyhow.
Posted by ridethelightning86.
"Chemical Warfare"
"The Final Command"
Wow ... video footage of a Slayer gig I attended on my 17th birthday at the Ukranian Hall in Flint. First time I ever saw slamdancing and headbanging in real life, this show had a tremendous influence on me. Opening were local bands Genocide (who later morphed into Repulsion and had their own mighty impact on the face of metal) and Dissonance ... this was back when hardcore and metal were two very distinct tribes, so it was fun to watch the metal kids point and laugh while the punks slammed during Dissonance's set, and then watch the punk kids step back and sneer when the metallers stood stock still and banged their heads for Slayer. A few years later the lines blurred, that stupid word "moshing" came into vogue and I started getting a lot more cynical.
Video quality isn't too good, but the historical value is high ... uh, for me, anyhow.
Posted by ridethelightning86.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
SAINT VITUS
"Saint Vitus"
"Prayer for the (M)asses"
"Clear Window Pane"
"Zombie Hunter"
"White Stallions"
Live at the Palm Springs Community Center, 1986. Allegedly Wino's first show with St. Vitus. I saw them at a Ukranian wedding hall in Flint in 1985 when they had the singer who looked like Roger Daltrey ... they were hard to take seriously then, but this is a heavy set indeed.
Posted by AdamShagwell.
"Prayer for the (M)asses"
"Clear Window Pane"
"Zombie Hunter"
"White Stallions"
Live at the Palm Springs Community Center, 1986. Allegedly Wino's first show with St. Vitus. I saw them at a Ukranian wedding hall in Flint in 1985 when they had the singer who looked like Roger Daltrey ... they were hard to take seriously then, but this is a heavy set indeed.
Posted by AdamShagwell.
Friday, May 25, 2007
THE PIRATES
"I Can Tell"
"Gibson, Martin, Fender"
"Shakin' All Over"
"You Don't Own Me"
"Lonesome Train"
"Talkin' Bout You"
AMG review of Out of Their Skulls by the Pirates
The death of frontman Johnny Kidd derailed the Pirates back in 1966, but the band's contributions to British rock were not forgotten, and their influence on punk-era pub rock bands like Dr. Feelgood encouraged the remaining players to re-form for this blistering comeback album. Out of Their Skulls pairs a raucous live set with six studio cuts, and if the new tunes don't match up to tough classics like "Please Don't Touch" and "Shakin' All Over," the band's uncompromising strength overrides any weaknesses. Over a decade past their hitmaking prime, the Pirates embrace the aggression and energy of the era and deliver a blazing, no-nonsense set of signature songs and early rock classics with all the lusty abandon, joy, and defiance that defines great rock & roll. Bassist Johnny Spence debuts as lead vocalist, and his big, leathery bellow is occasionally cartoonish but appropriate nonetheless. Mick Green shows off the idiosyncratic lead/rhythm guitar style that made him so influential, pulling buzzing solos out of each chord without losing the riff. Tub man Frank Farley is locked in solid with Spence to produce a rhythm section that is simultaneously metronome tight and bar-fight loose. The studio recordings lack the live set's searing heat, but the sound is cleaner, allowing for a more nuanced appreciation of Green's ringing guitar work; as a result, some of the sillier numbers (like "Do the Dog" and "Gibson Martin Fender") are still useful. American rockers unfamiliar with this very British trio should do a little digging and get their hands on Out of Their Skulls, a truly vibrant album that proves that youth alone is not what fuels the rock & roll engine. FRED BELDIN
Posted by blonduo.
"Gibson, Martin, Fender"
"Shakin' All Over"
"You Don't Own Me"
"Lonesome Train"
"Talkin' Bout You"
AMG review of Out of Their Skulls by the Pirates
The death of frontman Johnny Kidd derailed the Pirates back in 1966, but the band's contributions to British rock were not forgotten, and their influence on punk-era pub rock bands like Dr. Feelgood encouraged the remaining players to re-form for this blistering comeback album. Out of Their Skulls pairs a raucous live set with six studio cuts, and if the new tunes don't match up to tough classics like "Please Don't Touch" and "Shakin' All Over," the band's uncompromising strength overrides any weaknesses. Over a decade past their hitmaking prime, the Pirates embrace the aggression and energy of the era and deliver a blazing, no-nonsense set of signature songs and early rock classics with all the lusty abandon, joy, and defiance that defines great rock & roll. Bassist Johnny Spence debuts as lead vocalist, and his big, leathery bellow is occasionally cartoonish but appropriate nonetheless. Mick Green shows off the idiosyncratic lead/rhythm guitar style that made him so influential, pulling buzzing solos out of each chord without losing the riff. Tub man Frank Farley is locked in solid with Spence to produce a rhythm section that is simultaneously metronome tight and bar-fight loose. The studio recordings lack the live set's searing heat, but the sound is cleaner, allowing for a more nuanced appreciation of Green's ringing guitar work; as a result, some of the sillier numbers (like "Do the Dog" and "Gibson Martin Fender") are still useful. American rockers unfamiliar with this very British trio should do a little digging and get their hands on Out of Their Skulls, a truly vibrant album that proves that youth alone is not what fuels the rock & roll engine. FRED BELDIN
Posted by blonduo.
THE TURTLES
"Battle of the Bands"
"She'd Rather Be With Me"
"Outside Chance"
"Eleanor/House on the Hill"
Posted by ve905053
"She'd Rather Be With Me"
"Outside Chance"
"Eleanor/House on the Hill"
Posted by ve905053
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
STRICTLY TABOO
I wrote this song in high school, and my pals in Swartz Creek MI's biggest glam-metal band Strictly Taboo took it to the top of their own personal hit parades. Here they are knocking it out in their basement practice space circa 1987 or so. Do I have the facts right, Ragz?
Posted by ragzdandelion.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
ZAKARY THAKS
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Circa 1967, Texas garage band's promotional film, performing hits of the day.
Posted by beyondthebeat.
Part Two
Part Three
Circa 1967, Texas garage band's promotional film, performing hits of the day.
Posted by beyondthebeat.
RAMONES
"Rock n' Roll Radio"
"Rock n' Roll High School"
Live 1977, Part One
Part Two
Posted by obsidianblackbird, Luiscmck80z and Nomiz.
"Rock n' Roll High School"
Live 1977, Part One
Part Two
Posted by obsidianblackbird, Luiscmck80z and Nomiz.
THE BOX TOPS
Live on the Mike Douglas Show. Featuring the guy who wrote the theme song for That 70s Show (among other triumphs).
Posted by sackorats.
BLACK SABBATH
"Fairies Wear Boots" - 1970
"Behind the Wall of Sleep" - 1970
"Children of the Grave" - 1974
"Hole in the Sky" - 1975
Posted by wesleydeathcrow, windhoek35 and Beastieboys1007.
"Behind the Wall of Sleep" - 1970
"Children of the Grave" - 1974
"Hole in the Sky" - 1975
Posted by wesleydeathcrow, windhoek35 and Beastieboys1007.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
EL SMASHO
Take No Prisoners, 1993
Please feel free to ignore the clumsy banter and Goober & the Peas videos ... fast-forward directly to enjoy two sets of blistering Midwestern rock action captured live in the basement of the Capital Theatre, a dilapidated bomb shelter in Flint, Michigan. Early Sunday morning during a vicious snowstorm after a sleepless night spent with a beautiful underage punk rock girl in Ann Arbor (utterly chaste, let me assure you) and once again adversity made us stronger.
Get a load of that guy's hammer! Whatta maroon. As usual, Tim (drums) is the only one who escapes with any dignity (turn down my backup vocals, please). The Smashettes do more without moving than we could do with all of our nervous stage twitches, but of course, the real hero here is The Dave Hill, who pulled out all the stops on his introduction and ultimately promises far more than we could deliver.
"Big and loud, dumb as fuck/With my hands down the pants of Lady Luck." HAW HAW HAW HAW!
In all seriousness, this footage captures the band at its peak, a professional three (four?) camera shoot for a Flint public access TV show hosted by Jerry Humphrey, a great guy who set us up with many, many fun shows in my hometown. It's really great to see this again, particularly on a public forum.
From the original poster's comments: "This show was part of a series shown on Flint, Mi's public access channel. The show focused on local mid-Michigan bands during the 1990's. Ben Hamper (Rivethead author)and Jerry Humphrey host this zany documentation of Flint's excellent underground music scene." More info coming here soon.
Good Lord, thanks to my old friend Camie Vog for hipping me to this.
Please feel free to ignore the clumsy banter and Goober & the Peas videos ... fast-forward directly to enjoy two sets of blistering Midwestern rock action captured live in the basement of the Capital Theatre, a dilapidated bomb shelter in Flint, Michigan. Early Sunday morning during a vicious snowstorm after a sleepless night spent with a beautiful underage punk rock girl in Ann Arbor (utterly chaste, let me assure you) and once again adversity made us stronger.
Get a load of that guy's hammer! Whatta maroon. As usual, Tim (drums) is the only one who escapes with any dignity (turn down my backup vocals, please). The Smashettes do more without moving than we could do with all of our nervous stage twitches, but of course, the real hero here is The Dave Hill, who pulled out all the stops on his introduction and ultimately promises far more than we could deliver.
"Big and loud, dumb as fuck/With my hands down the pants of Lady Luck." HAW HAW HAW HAW!
In all seriousness, this footage captures the band at its peak, a professional three (four?) camera shoot for a Flint public access TV show hosted by Jerry Humphrey, a great guy who set us up with many, many fun shows in my hometown. It's really great to see this again, particularly on a public forum.
From the original poster's comments: "This show was part of a series shown on Flint, Mi's public access channel. The show focused on local mid-Michigan bands during the 1990's. Ben Hamper (Rivethead author)and Jerry Humphrey host this zany documentation of Flint's excellent underground music scene." More info coming here soon.
Good Lord, thanks to my old friend Camie Vog for hipping me to this.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
THE WIZARD OF OZ
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (Little Ayşe and the Magic Dwarfs in the Land of Dreams - the Turkish version of Wizard of Oz, released 1971)
Posted by super8monstersmovies and raredvdworldwide.
Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (Little Ayşe and the Magic Dwarfs in the Land of Dreams - the Turkish version of Wizard of Oz, released 1971)
Posted by super8monstersmovies and raredvdworldwide.
X-RAY SPEX
"The Day The World Turned Day-Glo"
Live 1978, Part One
Part Two
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours"
Posted by jackoinblack, sham64andahalf and dankdank.
Live 1978, Part One
Part Two
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours"
Posted by jackoinblack, sham64andahalf and dankdank.
EUROPE - THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Dutch TV documentary about the 80s pop-metal group Europe.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Posted by Aphasia.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Posted by Aphasia.
THE CARPENTERS - SPACE ENCOUNTERS
1978 ABC television special starring the Carpenters, Charlie Callas, Suzanne Somers and John Davidson.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Posted by XqueenringX.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Posted by XqueenringX.
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