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Alvinstitutionalized: Goof band Chipmunk-punks Suicidal Tendencies


 
Just so it’s clear, there really was a Chipmunk Punk, a 1980 project of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., the namesake son of the Chipmunks’ creator. It was not particularly “punk”—it contained Alvin and the Chipmunks’ cover versions of songs by opposite-of-punk artists like Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Queen, and for some reason THREE SONGS by the Knack. The entirety of the LP’s New Wave representation was supplied by Blondie’s “Call Me”  and the Cars’ “Let’s Go.” It was stupid as hell, but I liked it. Because I was 10 years old. Bagdasarian followed the successful cash-in with Urban Chipmunk, a collection of squeaky-voiced pop country covers, and Chipmunk Rock, which at least had a version of “Whip It” going for it, but by then, I was like 12, and much too sophisticated for such juvenilia.

And again, so it’s clear, what follows was NOT actually on Chipmunk Punk, so if you go buying that album expecting to hear it, well, something’s possibly wrong with you anyway. California’s smartassy theatrical comedy band Radioactive Chicken Heads recorded an amusing-as-far-as-this-sort-of-thing-goes Chipmunkified version of Suicidal Tendencies’ definitive song, 1983’s “Institutionalized.” I’d hope it should go without saying that the possibility of this actually being a product of anyone officially connected with the evidently deathless Chipmunks franchise is a few leagues beneath unlikely. Whether it’s better or worse than Ice-T’s recent effort at updating the song is a debate I’ll leave to others.
 

 
The original, after the jump…

READ ON
Posted by Ron Kretsch
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04.13.2015
02:59 pm
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Ice-T covers Suicidal Tendencies
06.17.2014
10:41 am
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This could be viewed as a ballcap-tip between African-American and Hispanic exponents of ‘80s SoCal gang culture. Or I could be viewed as a pasty Jewboy from the Ohio ‘burbs who should seriously just shut his matzah-hole about ‘80s SoCal gang culture. But whatever, this rules!

Ice-T’s notorious rap-rock crossover band (be cool, just because the genre they spawned sucked balls doesn’t mean they did, but if that’s how you wanna play, go ahead and blame Eno for new age) Body Count released their new album Manslaughter last week, and it features a cover/update of “Institutionalized,” the classic and definitive 1983 Suicidal Tendencies song that pushed hardcore perilously close to the American mainstream. But instead of ST singer Mike Muir’s litany of parents-don’t-understand grievances, Ice-T airs 21st Century complaints about Xbox, Oprah Winfrey, ISP customer service, nosy co-workers… it’s pretty nuts.
 

 
For comparison’s sake, here’s the original, from Suicidal Tendencies’ debut LP.
 

 
And because it almost feels obligatory, here’s Ice-T ranting about somewhat more serious matters on “Cop Killer,” the song that made Body Count so notorious to begin with.
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Kiss My Baadasssss: Ice-T’s guide to Blaxploitation

Posted by Ron Kretsch
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06.17.2014
10:41 am
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Suicidal Tendencies Pepsi needlepoint cross stitch
03.29.2012
02:27 pm
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When I posted the Lemmy needlepoint cross stitch yesterday by Defiant Damsel, I somehow missed the above Pepsi cross stitch. It’s still available for $35.00 + shipping.

And if you’re feeling really adventurous, there’s a Henry Rollins portrait pattern for $6.00.

Update:

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Dangerous Minds reader Chris Bickel says, “This is a picture of me with Mary Woronov taken just last weekend. When I asked her if I could get a picture of her handing me a Pepsi, she knew instantly what I was referring to.”

“Hey Mike - your Mom gave *ME* a Pepsi.”

Posted by Tara McGinley
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03.29.2012
02:27 pm
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Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010: MGMT, The Hold Steady, Mastodon, Gwar, Nortec Collective, The Dwarves…

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Some of the highlights of this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. Performances by MGMT, Big Freedia, Mastodon, The Hold Steady, The Dwarves, Gwar, The Casualties, Nortec Collective, Suicidal Tendencies and The Gories.

I shot the video with a Sony HDR-XR500.

There’s some audio distortion in a few spots, but I don’t think it’s too distracting. Enjoy.
 

 
Previously on DM: the Descendents at Fun Fun Fun Fest.

 

Posted by Marc Campbell
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11.09.2010
04:26 am
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