More obscure punk rock for you lovely people: Lost Kids performing their “Cola Freaks” single, and the flipside “Rådden Dig,” on Danish television in 1979. (WHO is that fuckin’ guy after the second song? Get a load of him!.)
This record, one of the very first singles ever released by a Danish punk group, is a rarity often selling for as much as $300, when it can be located. It’s rare even in Denmark.
MC5’s Rob Tyner sings an homage to Detroit’s infamous rock venue the Grande Ballroom, which in spirit was the Fillmore of Michigan. Tyner is introduced by pioneering Detroit deejay Dave Dixon.
Both these guys were on the cutting edge of the Detroit music scene in the late 1960s and beyond. Dixon was known for having a less than pleasant disposition but was a hugely influential presence on Detroit radio, a surly John Peel of sorts. Tyner of course was the front man for the Motor City 5. Odd to see him playing an electric autoharp but this ode to his rock and roll past is sweet and a little bit sad.
“Grande Days” appeared on Tyner’s only solo album Blood Brothers released in 1990. Tyner died a year later of a heart attack at the young age of 46. This TV appearance was filmed shortly before he died.
Tyner may the only person to wear biker gloves while playing an autoharp. Beautiful.
Thanks to catshitty for the video.
The Patti Smith Group in Stockholm October 1976.
Things kick-off with Patti passionately stating her mission as a poet and punk rocker, which includes some words to live by from Franklin D. Roosevelt. The interviewer is popular Swedish radio and TV personality Lennart Wretlind. And then we’re off to a concert at The Konserthuset where the group does killer versions of “Land” and “Time Is On My Side.”
Patti tears it up!
Narrated by the legendary John Peel and based on music writer Peter Frame’s extensive rock and roll family trees, this 1995 documentary features some tasty interviews with members of The NY Dolls, Patti Smith, Blondie, The Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Richard Hell, Jayne County and more.
If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of that New York punk rock.
The Boys Next Door, Nick Cave, Tracy Pew, Phill Calvert, Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard in footage shot at the Tiger Lounge, Swineburne College and Preston Institute of Technology, 1977-78.
This is a mixed bag of raw video that captures the pure punk energy of a group of teenage badasses that would eventually evolve into The Birthday Party, Bad Seeds and beyond…
There’s a belligerent little watermark that pops up now and then, but it doesn’t stick around for very long.
Motley Crue, Poison or the NY Dolls?
Two fifths of The New York Dolls played Kenosha Wisconsin on June 25 as the opening act, in a chronological and cosmic sense, for Motley Crue and Poison. Had there be no Dolls, would there have been a Crue or Poison? I think not.
Anyway, here’s a fun interview with David and Sylvain conducted by Kenosha cable TV star Dr. Destruction. Johansen, looking a bit like a cross between Carol Channing and Paul Williams, is more than ready for the Catskills or an ashram. I love how David slips in a reference to radical mystic Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran. That has to be a first on Kenosha cable.
An ad for the beer Kronenbourg 1664 featuring a cover version of The Dead Kennedys’ “Too Drunk Too Fuck” has been banned.
NME reports:
Spotify have been forced to remove an advert which features a cover of the Dead Kennedys’ ‘Too Drunk To Fuck’ over fears it would encourage binge drinking.
The streaming company had been running a series of banner advertisements, which directed users to a special ‘slowed down’ playlist as part of a campaign for the beer Kronenbourg 1664, with Madness’s ‘Baggy Trousers’ and Motorhead’s ‘Ace Of Spades’ among those ‘slowed down’.
One of the tracks used was the Dead Kennedys’ ‘Too Drunk To Fuck’, which attracted a number of complaints to the independent regular The Portman Group. The complaints were then investigated and were found to be in breach of a rule which bans advertisers from “encouraging irresponsible or immoderate drinking”.
Knowing Jello Biafra’s aversion to having his songs used in ads, I’m sure he’s pleased that Kronenbourg got busted. And he’s able to get some press while keeping his karma clean.
Here’s Jello & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine doing “Too Drunk To Fuck” a few nights ago in Helsinki.
My Dangerous Mind compatriot Brad Laner posted a link to this wonderful documentary about Rough Trade Records awhile ago. Unfortunately, Laner’s link to the documentary no longer exists. Ah, but luckily, a really fine quality version was recently uploaded to the Web and I just had to share.
Brad’s description of Do It Yourself: The Story Of Rough Trade as “a fascinating glimpse into the history of the seminal indie label/empire” is exactly what it is.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Rough Trade because they released one of my very first 45 rpm records.
