AUSTIN POWER

     (10-16-12)  SOUND ADVISE...No pontificatin' today..just a cool shot of IGGY in action at this last weekend's (10/14/12) Austin City Limit's Music Festival. And some killer news...after a quick perusal of JAMES WILLIAMSON's FB page I found out the STOOGES are in the process of recording NEW material! True, "The Stooges", "Fun House", & "Raw Power" set such a high ROCK N' ROLL  standard that it seems it would be impossible to reach those heights again ( see "The Weirdness"). But in the recent past both IGGY and JW have stated that if they couldn't come up with something they felt matched past glories then they wouldn't release anything at all ( it's not like the IG or JW needs the moolah). So I'm gonna take it on faith that if they're that confident about the quality of their new stuff then it's gonna blast our brains. And if not, well...we'll always have the Palladium...

    BTW...A while back on JW's Facebook page people were giving James suggestions for who should produce any new STOOGE's material. I told James he and the IG should just do it themselves. He liked that idea the best. If the sound of the new recordings are anywhere near as good as JW's recent re-mix of "KILL CITY" then we gots nuthin' to worry about on that ( sonic ) score.

   P.S. ..I guess I ended up pontificating a little anyway....to quote Rob Tyner: "Enuff preachin'.....THE JAMS!"

      

MALICE IN THE PALACE

    (10-15-12)   HONOR AMONG STOOGES...

During IGGY and the STOOGES final tour ('73/74) they played three shows at the Michigan Palace; two of which ( 10/6/73 & 2/9/74) were immortalized on the legendary "METALLIC KO" LP. Side Two features their very last stand, with the band spending as much time dodging flying objects as playing music.

Beer bottles? Light bulbs? Eggs? "I've been egged by better than you...any GRENADES you can throw at the stage?" Only IGGY would defend his band by inviting even MORE abuse. They can "throw every God-damn thing in the world"...but only the STOOGES can kill the STOOGES.

BONUS GRENADE BLOOGE

POTATO MASHER...Since this is the STOOGES, maybe we should show a German hand grenade. The more I look at that kraut on the right the more he looks like a young RON.  

LONELY IN LEATHER

  (10-12-12 Part 2)  THE DAY THE WORLD TURNED BLUE...

On this day (10/12) in 1971 Original Rocker Sweet GENE VINCENT finally lost that race with the Devil ( see Blooge Archive "WHO SLAPPED JOHN" 3/4/12). I love this shot of Gene, taken from the beautiful "Lonely Street" Gene Vincent tribute page. Check it out...preferably whilst swiggin' some White Lightnin' with that jukebox turned up WAY loud! If that ain't practical, I guess a Corona and iTunes will have to do...

GRANDE OPENING

(10-12-12)    THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE STOOGES...

On Oct. 7, '66 Detroit's GRANDE BALLROOM first opened its doors to ROCK N'ROLL ( see Blooge Archive "HOUSE OF STROBE LIGHT" 3/23/12). Opening for the MC 5 that night was the CHOSEN FEW. Their first song, "Everybody Needs Somebody", starts out with a short bass intro. So the first notes ever heard at the Grande were played by the Few's bassist and future STOOGE RON ASHETON! Which shouldn't be surprising. Most "scenes", whether they're London or Liverpool, the Haight or Hollywood, Seattle or Silver Lake, are pretty small and incestuous (WILLIAMSON also did time in the Few). One of the great things about the Grande scene was the fact that local bands, even ones that had barely just formed, could get high profile gigs. Some of the PSYCHEDELIC STOOGES very first shows were opening for national acts with songs on the radio like Sly Stone, Blood Sweat & Tears, and the James Gang. Whether the headliners enjoyed being upstaged by the locals is another matter...
SQUARES HAVE FENCED MY VERY SOUL!
(10-12-12) BONUS GRANDE BLOOGE

      IN GRANDSTYLE...Another cool thang about the late '60's Michigan scene is how well documented it is by the locals. Perhaps it's got something to do with their assembly line roots..you know..keeping stock, tool cribs, etc. Here's a poster from that very first Grande show. Notice how they are advertising it as "in the San Francisco style". They won't have to do that for long. They'd soon have they own, better model.

HELL BELOW ZERO

   (10-11-12) BLANK VENERATION...Happy B-Day to singer, author, actor, and early Punk Rock pin-up boy RICHARD HELL (10/2/49). Most famous for his records with the Voidoids, my favorite release from Hell is the early version of "Love Comes In Spurts" he recorded with the Neon Boys ( soon to become TELEVISION). All you need musically from Hell is the "Spurts, the Richard Hell Story" CD, assembled by Mr. Hell himself.

      VOGUE REMEMBERANCE...Back in the late '70's or early '80's Hell and the Voidoids were scheduled to play something called the "Punk Rock Fashion Show" at the Palladium with Blondie and some other bands. Blondie, having had a few hits in Europe, decided that they had to have their own dressing room while all the other bands plus the Punk models had to share one room. Because of this Hell backed out of the gig and ended up not playing LA. Which pissed the local NewWave women off to no end because they had been waiting forever is see Hell in the flesh. They blamed Blondie for this and never forgave Debbie. ANYWAY, that's what my girlfriend at the time told me....Hell hath no fury...

JUDY IS A PUNK

HUMUNGUS ROCK

     (10-10-12) WE HAVE ALL LOST SOMEONE WE LOVE...On Oct. 4, 1974 the late great BON SCOTT played his first gig with AC/DC! We all have our own tastes in music but I have to feel just a little bit sorry for anyone who can't feel the pure, over the top, Aussie- infected ROCK N"ROLL joy of early BON-afied AC/DC classics like "Long Way To The Top", "Ride On", and "Ain't No Fun ( Waitin' Around To Be a Millionaire)". It was a goofy kinda down under charm that the band lost when they became SCOTT-free. As Bon sang in "Jailbreak" ( while referring to Australia's penal colony roots): "..it was all in the name of Liberty..."

     Dunno what Bon and The IG are conversing about in this pix but it must have been fun for IGGY to talk to another shirtless lead singer who was actually shorter than him! 

HARD TO BEAT

1966, OK

    (10-9-12) MY FAVORITE YEAR...In the shops and on the radio in Los Angeles, October 1966: "Good Vibrations", "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago", " I Don't Know What To Do With Myself"," Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby ( Standing In The Shadows)", "That's Life", "( Reach Out ) I'll Be There"," You Keep Me Hanging On"," Psychotic Reaction", "Stop Stop Stop", "Walk Away Renee"," Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly", "Cherry Cherry", "Mellow Yellow", "I Can't Control Myself", "Gimmie Some Lovin'", "Talk Talk", "Society's Child", "Why Pick On Me?"" I'm Your Puppet", & "96Tears"..not bad. And that's just our local charts; not counting the rest of the U.S.A. or the English, R&B, or Country charts.

   BTW..This info was 'borrowed' from the book "SMILE, The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece" by Domenic Priore. Thanks you, sir.

  

   P.S. The STOOGES 'borrowed' the riff of The YARDBIRD's "Happenings Ten Year's Time Ago" for "I'm Sick Of You". See Blooge Archives for "DAY 12 A.I 12/19/11.

   FUN FACT:  My Mom thought the STONES were singing: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Showers."

BIRTH OF THE 'TRANE

        (10-8-12) MILE'S ASCENSION...

We finally close out STOOGETEMBER 2012 by salutin' two Jazz Giants; JOHN COLTANE ( b. 9/23/'26 ) and MILES DAVIS ( r.i.p. 9/28/'91 ). Check blooge "A STOOGE SUPREME" 10/8/12 for JC's influence on the "FUN HOUSE" era STOOGES. And see Blooge Archives "MILES HIGH" 9/3/12 for MD's encounter with the boys.

   BTW...I'm not hip enough to know where Mile's "In Person at the Blackhawk" rates in his canon but I do know I digs it and methinks its easily one of the coolest LP covers ever.

A STOOGE SUPREME

      (10-8-12) MACKAY DAY...A happy B-Day to STOOGE saxslinger STEVE MACKAY( 9/25/'49). The STOOGES' reputation for simple, "LOUIE,LOUIE" inspired Rock fails to take into account the various strands of musical influences that created the STOOGES' sound. Besides the obvious garage and English Invasion elements, the band was also heavily into HARRY PARTCH, an avant-gardist who made music featuring his own home made instruments ( see blooge "DIRT" 8/30/12 ). One shouldn't forget IGGY's Chicago sojourn ( see Blooge Archive "GOING TO CHICAGO" 3/30/12 ). Then there's the fact that the group's first LP was produced by the VU's JOHN CALE, who before the VELVETS had worked with Aaron Copland, JohnCage, and La Monte Young's "Theater of Eternal Music".

      The "Free Jazz" of the early/mid '60's was also a big part of the original STOOGES' sonic palette. JOHN COLTRANE'S "A Love Supreme" was particularly important. IGGY listed the LP as one of his three favorites ( stay tuned to future blooges for the other two). When Steve Mackay's 'Trane influenced sax blowing enters on side two of "FUN HOUSE" the band's music rises to a whole new level of intensity. And when I saw the RON ASHETON version of the group, Steve's sax playing added a '50's, honkin' R&B element that brought the music full circle back around to the very beginnings of ROCK N'ROLL. At that moment for me the band's music seemed to take in the whole history of ROCK N' ROLL and represent everything vital, fun, and life-affirming about it. That's not bad for something so 'simple'. Thanks for being a big part of it, Steve. Keep blowin'!

    P.S. Like IGGY, Steve was an employee of Discount Records ( see Blooge Archive "HOW MUCH IS THAT IGGY IN THE WINDOW" 4/17/12 ).

BLOW STEVE!

PICTURES OF THE EXHIBITIONIST PT. 2

   (10-5-12 Part 3)   MARK MY WORDS...

Future friend and fellow Charter Bloogist MARK MASTOPIETRO saw the RP STOOGES at the Whisky, too. Mark was there to see his friend SCOTTIE THURSTON play keyboards and harmonica with the band. Since the June gigs featured BOB SHEFF on the '88's I figure Mark was at one of the Sept. shows. I had a whole roll of film of pictures I took at one of the three shows I attended but it was stolen by some a-hole friend of my friend Dave "Moon" Davis ( see Blooge Archive "DAY 18" , 11/18/11 ) . Only three prints survived; these two of IGGY and one of JW which I hope will turn up one of these dum dum days. Stay tuned!
THINK I HEAR IT COMIN'!

PICTURES OF THE EXHIBITIONIST PT. 1

      (10-5-12 Part 2) WHISKY WOW WOW HE SLOBBERED...

Best ROCK N' ROLL tickets I ever bought were the ones to see/feel/touch/& heal the RAW POWER era STOOGES at the Whisky. They did gigs there in June and Sept. of '73. I'm guessing I took these photos at one of the June shows but I don't know for sure. JAMES WILLIAMSON is wearing his leather jacket, not his "spacesuit", in these pixs. But since I saw him wearing both outfits I can't be positive what month these were taken. Dig 'em, anyway.

    PS...Check Blooge Archives "DAY 24 A.I." 10/23/11 for a shot of JW in his "spacesuit". I call it a spacesuit because I don't know what else to call it. Any ideas?

10-4!

  (10-5-12)  STARK IMAGE...According to the LA Times, yesterday would have been the 100th B-Day of the great BRODERICK CRAWFORD! ( Wiki says it's Dec. 9, 1911, but whatever..). Amanda and I just saw Brod in Fritz Lang's "Human Desire." What a guy! BC could play weak, he could play strong. He could do funny and he could do serious. And he was always fun to observe in action. Now take this Philip Seymour Hoffman...PLEASE! He may be a "great thespian" but he is dull,dull,dull...definitely NO FUN to watch on the big screen. Talk about disappearing into you role...Phil just disappears! And what's with the THREE names ?!? I don't get it...BRING BACK BROD!...

HE'S JUST DOIN' HIS JOB

BONUS BROD BLOOGE:  WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY

...Broderick....one more time, you crackers!

    "Stark...Stark...the whole world...Stark."

PUNKS LIKE YOU ARE A DIME A DOZEN

BONUS BARRES BLOOGE

 (10/4/12  #2)      ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE...

Here's the cover of Michael's latest....check it out..it'll be an ' Obsession'

ROLLING WITH MDB

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

      (10-4-12 Part 2) TOO OLD TO FOLD...These two actor/singers have both been in the news recently. CLINT EASTWOOD ( the one with the gun ) and MICHAEL DES BARRES appeared together in the film "Pink Cadillac". While at the Republican Convention in late August Clint made a fool of himself and saddened many of us who have been his fans over the years ( see blooge "SCHLOCKADELIC STOOGES" 8/7/12 for IGGY's view of Clint). It called to mind the scene in "The Wild Bunch" where Lyle Gorch ( Warren Oates) tells Pike Bishop ( William Holden) that maybe Pike should "cash in his chips and find another game." When asked about the negative reaction to his "empty chair" routine Clint said he was too old to care. This is pretty much the same answer IGGY gave when responding to critics of him being a spokesman for an insurance company that won't insure musicians ( see Blooge Archives for "DAY 29" on 11/14/11).

     This last month Michael Des Barres ( see Blooge Archives "DAY 29" on 11/29/11 and " ANYTHING BUT SAVAGED" 1/24/12)  released his latest solo album "CARNABY STREET". If you dig The FACES ( both 'Small' and large) and the best of Humble Pie then this CD is an essential purchase. The title track in particular should be on the top of the playlist of any radio station that claims to play ROCK N' ROLL. Michael will never be too cynical to care or too old to Rock. Check him out when he hits your town!

    BTW...The lead guitarist with Michael's band ( MDB) is Eric Schermerhorn, who also played with IGGY on the great "AMERICAN CAESAR" LP.

  PS. If you doubt that "Clint Eastwood" and "singer" should be in the same sentence check out the theme song to "GRAN TORINO", crooned by Clint and written by him and his son. It's the best song about a car since...well, since "Pink Cadillac"....

CLINT TALKS TO THE TREES

KILL COUNTRY

    (10-4-12)  HELL'S HALF ACRE...A joyous B-Day to "The Meat Man", Mr. JERRY LEE LEWIS ( b. 9/27 35). Whilst acting as a guest VJ on MTV IGGY expressed his admiration for "The Killer" and showed a clip of JLL attacking his piano whilst singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". The word "killer" is often used in Michigan music circles; it's even the name of an ALICE COOPER LP. Jerry Lee, however, is one rocker who has probably killed someone. As a Christian JLL also feels he's singing "the Devil's music" and because of that he's going to Hell. Think of that the next time you hear "Great Balls Of Fire".

JERRY (AND FRIEND) GOT THE BULL BY THE HORN

BONUS KILLER BLOOGE : "JESUS...THIS IS JERRY..."

  

I believe this is an actual shot from the video clip IGGY played on MTV.  Jerry Lee seems to be 'beseeching the Lord'...but the Nazz is probably busy talkin' to LITTLE RICHARD

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

      (10-3-12 Part 2) BLOOGIST MAKES GOOD...I'd like to alert you'all to this amazing review of fellow Charter Bloogist GREG GOMBERG's latest musical creation. Not only is it an acute description of Greg's great music but it's an accurate account of the lives of many of us during the last twenty years and of how much we owe to Greg. I can't think of anything I can add to it. I hope you check it out and remember: "Help is On the Way".

SHAW 'NUFF

      (10-3-12) A STOOGE FOR ALL REASONS

" All progress depends on the unreasonable man. "

                                        GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

" I'll talk to this Humungus.  He's a reasonable man...open to negotiation..."

                                        Character from MAD MAX 2

ROCK N' ROLL NURSE

    (10-2-12) BOWLERS CONSTRICT HER...Back on 7/27/12 I posted a blooge entitled "NAZI GIRLFRIEND", named after an IGGY song of the same name. It featured a pix of the lovely CLARA BOW wearing a cloche with a rather large swastika stitched to its side. And while I stated upfront that the original "IT Girl" was no Nazi, charter Bloogist Rick "Andthedog" Whitmore thought it left a bad impression of Miss Bow. Rick even sent me a new photo of Clara wearing more appropriate head gear ( a nurse's cap) to sort of "even things up". I couldn't agree more..besides, any excuse to post another gorgeous shot of Clara is a good one. I lost the picture Rick sent me ( see Blooge "DISASTER" 8/10/12 ) but I found another one from the same film; 1927's "Wings", winner of the very first Academy Award for Best Picture. Gaze on Clara's beauty whilst humming BO DIDDLEY's "Pills" ( either by Bo or The New York Dolls) and know that life can be sweet.

BONUS ROB BLOOGE

     (10-1-12 Bonus) "WELCOME BACK, ROBBIE!"

   The iconic shot of Rob Tyner from the cover of the classic "Back in the USA" LP.   The best 'fro in ROCK N'ROLL!!

THE MAN FOR YA

     (October 1, 2012, Part 2) ROCK INTERACTION...Rock can be cruel. If energy, brains, vocal talent, and lyric writing ability were the only criteria the MC 5's ROB TYNER ( R.I.P. 9/17/'91) would be considered one of the greats. And not just within the circle of MC 5 fanatics but throughout the whole music culture. But even with the wider profile the Five enjoy today Rob is still underrated. Truth be told, if his physical allure matched his other talents he (and the band) would be the legends they deserve to be today. It reminds me of the RAMONES. They would have been a lot more popular in their day, especially in those MTV times, if their lead singer looked more like the traditional front man. 

    But of course JOEY RAMONE was the perfect singer for his band and Rob was The Man for the MC 5. By the band's own admission he was the heart and brains of the group. As Brother Wayne has acknowledged the rest of the band would probably have stayed greasers if it wasn't for Rob's knowledge of the culture at large and his affinity for all kinds of art, literature, and music ( like jazz,for instance). Check out this picture...when Rob talked, people ( like the STOOGES Scott "Rock Action" Asheton) would listen. I wish Rob was still here so I could listen, too...

GRANDE DAYS

MONSTER OF THE MONTH

   (October 1, 2012)   CRACKED ACTRESS...The title of the STOOGES "She Creatures of the Hollywood Hills" was an obvious reference to the 1956 film "The She Creature" starring Chester "Boston Blackie" Morris and Marla "Voodoo Woman" English. This may sound like a good time to present a treatise along the lines of "Female Fiends in the Cinema" but let's stick to the STOOGES, shall we?

  The STOOGES performed SCHH for the first time anywhere at the Whisky in Hollywood on 9/15/73. The version on the low-fi CD "Live at the Whisky A GOGO" on Revenge Records is perhaps the most savage performance by the band ever recorded (sadly there's no decent studio version). Most of the RAW POWER era music was written by WILLIAMSON but this creature is RON's bass propelled baby all the way. The lyrics, with the possible exception of the title, could only have been written by The IG.

   " Wanna blow it all away...

         Buttfuckers makin' me pay,

     Rich old men, pockets fat,

        Double bellies, fingers ( lyric indecipherable),

     Dirty minds, dirty tricks,

        Gonna try and sell my dick,

    Gonna try and buy my soul,

        And I don't know, I don't know,

    If I'm gonna...make it..."

The last three lines are the key...this back and forth between defiance and submission would form the basis for IGGY's entire solo career. At some point (around "Skull Ring'') IGGY decided he just didn't care anymore.

Then he got the STOOGES back together....
BONUS BLOOGE: IT CAN AND DID HAPPEN!

  

SONIC ATTACK!!

    (9-28-12 Part 2)  MR. SMITH GOES TO DETRIOT...On 9/14/49 the atomic force that was/is FRED "SONIC" SMITH was born unto the Planet Earth. Sonic, along with BROTHER WAYNE KRAMER , was one half of the best two guitar attack in ROCK N' ROLL history. With the MC 5 he also wrote his share of Rock classics, like "Sister Anne" and "Shakin' Street". As the mastermind behind his SONIC RONDEZVOUS BAND ( featuring on drums STOOGE SCOTT ASHETON!) Fred created one of the greatest singles of all time, the mind and body boggling "City Slang".  And he was the musical architect behind PATTISMITH's last classic LP, the under-rated "Dream of Life". Oh, and he wore some wacky outfits, too ( see pix ). It takes even less than five seconds to realize that Sonic was Part of the Solution. He was more than ready to testify...he wrote his own chapter in the Rock Hymnal.

   BTW....IGGY toured with the SRB as his backup band for a European tour back in '78.

SWEET NUTHIN'

GOBBLE GOOBLE HEY!

(9-28-12)   AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING...Can't leave September without wishin' a happy B-Day (9/10) to artist, musician, cabaret performer, charter Bloogist and long time friend  RICK "ANDTHEDOG" WHITMORE! I first met Rick in the mid-'90's. We were the only two people in a city of Deadheads who dug the BONZO DOG BAND. Rick was the first person I got to know in this " scene ".  Through Rick I got to meet most of the people I now call my friends. Rick and I have been to an amazing number of great shows together; like Buffalo Springfield, The Kinks, John Entwistle's and Ron Asheton's last shows in L.A., and of course The STOOGES at the Palladium.  He  also turned me on to some great gigs ( NRBQ, Meat Puppets )  that I never would have gone to on my own. Thanks for being a pal, Rick!

   BTW...This picture is of Rick performing at Jean SpinoSa's  fabulous WIG-OUT cabaret, usually held on the last Thursday of the month at The 3 Cubs night club in Hollywood. Jean's show just made LA Weekly's list of the " 10 Best Clubs For People Who Don't Like Clubs". When you're in town be sure to check it out! Don't forget your wig....

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET

BAD SCENE

(9-27-12, Part 2) SEX AND THE SINGLE STOOGE...The STOOGES opened for Ten Years After at the Boston Tea Party in mid-September  of '69. IGGY complained about TYA's audience, calling them "collegiate" and into "guitar worship". But further research reveals another reason for The IG's animosity toward TYA and their fans. Apparently the Bostonian groupies preferred their targets to be English and popular rather than unknown  (to them) mid-western weirdos. IGGY and the band were used to a lot of easy action on their home turf, but on this night they weren't getting any. However, the rest of the STOOGES took it all in stride...it just gave them more time to get into that " real O mind ".

ELEKTRA SIGNS IN BLUE

(9-27-12)       GIMMIE THE BONDS! GIMMIE THE BONDS!

  1.  Magna Carta  1215

  2.  Council of Trent  1545

  3.  Declaration of Independence  1776

  4.  Yalta "Big Three" Conference  1945

  5.  MC 5/ STOOGES  sign w/ Elektra Records  1968

In late Sept. of '68 both the MC 5 and the PSYCHEDELIC STOOGES signed with Elektra Records. By 1970 Elektra would regret their decision as both bands LP's were dead in the water. However, time proved to be the avenger as all three classic LP's ( Kick Out The Jams, The Stooges, and Fun House) have stayed in print ever since while only The Doors and Love from Elektra's '60's roster still have any relevance. The MC 5 said: "You must choose, Brothers and Sisters, you must choose". And they chose wisely...eventually.

From LT to RT:  Elektra exec Jac Holzman, Danny Fields, John Sinclair, members of The Stooges and the Five, and at the far end Elektra's Bill Harvey.