Gotta clear up a few things here, etc.
1) Me saying the Bad Brains have as much chance of getting elected as Trump had everything to do with the very slim chance of Trump winning and nothing to do with any notion of me hoping he wins.
2) When I said the Bad Brains are superior to the Clash, Ramones and X, I meant purely in terms of power.
3) And it’s so ironic that in the company of 99 percent of shit-loving music fans, I’d be aggressively defending these three bands. I will say:
Clash – Great first album (both versions). Good second album. Kind of went off the rails from there, spotty at best, horrible by the end. Wish you guys would read Gene’s favorite, John Lydon, call out Joe Strummer and the Clash’s “smart” political lyrics as nothing but a cheap, cheesy marketing ploy.
Ramones – Great first three albums. Very good fourth album. Fifth album had moments. Horrible from there on. Certainly had their own kind of power, but not as white hot as the Bad Brains at their best.
X – Betting I had their first album before Lawr. Liked it a lot. Second was good. Lost interest after that. Agree with Gene on the “going through the motions” of that video. Can’t Billy Zoom even smile anymore? (And please, Lawr, if you like X so much, you owe it to yourself to read John Doe’s very good recent book.)
4) Would never, ever, never say any of these bands aren’t rock ‘n’ roll. And some very fine rock ‘n’ roll at that. My qualms are with the frequent “not sure this is rock ‘n’ roll but” articles on Remnants and stupid shit like Tupac leading the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall ballot for 2017. Like I’ve said before, if Tupac belongs in the Rock Hall, then the Beatles certainly belong in the Rap Hall (if there is one). “Icon of non-rock popular music” shouldn’t put you in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall.
And good God, Lawr, I certainly envy your happiness and the fact that you’re happily retired and have set yourself up well. A hearty and sincere “Good for you!” from me to you.
Finally, here’s that wasp in the pants song (can you guys seriously sit still and listen to this?):
And finally finally, here’s National Official Spokesperson Of Rock ‘N’ Roll Dave Grohl talking about the Bad Brains. Hell, if it’s about rock and Dave Grohl says it, how can it not be true?
Mostly I agree with Steve here, I would only echo a standard criticism and say that London Calling would have made a great single album. As for hardcore, I never thought much of it at the time, with a very few exceptions such as Ace Of Spades. But I find that it holds up well. I still think that Ace of Spades is the pinnacle of the genre.
Funny, I never thought of “Ace” as hardcore, more speed metal in its infancy. Although “Ace” is a fine album, through and through and, if it didn’t make my top 50, it was a very late cut.
Although I bought others, I never got into any other Motorhead albums.
I considered it hardcore because my hardcore friends turned me on to it. We had a song called Ace of Spades in Fun No Fun and I remember Steve Wishnia saying “We can’t have song called Ace of Spades, it’s like having a song called Chinese Rocks.” I may have replied, “Let’s do one called Wild Thing.”
Fair enough, although, you might specify such things when you first write rather that write in a generalized way, Steve. But, i was not so much saying you (or anyone) was a Trump supporter as I was decrying what seemed like anti-intellectualism that is so pervasive.
Sigh, you are supposed to grow up and go to college, but you are not supposed to improve or become educated?
I got Wild Gift in around Feb of 1982, so you probably did have it before me.
I said I was a happy idiot: I have always been a slut.
I too deplore the rampant anti-intellectualism. And I am not voting for Trump.
Crazy as it may sound, Gene, i would rather have people vote for Trump than not vote. The way the system is supposed to work is everyone gets to voice their choice: that is democracy, and then the rest of us get to live with it, like it or not.
Two other things, though.
Steve, first, I think you do have a point about Tupac and the RNR Hall and at least its name. Maybe it should be the Pop Music HOF or HOF of American Music. And, I like Tupac a lot, but he ain’t a rocker any more than the Beatles are rappers, for sure.
But, I would also ask I Big Joe Turner, for example, or Robert Johnson belong in the HOF for they have had a bigger influence on the genre than the Bad Brains did on Nirvana i am guessing.
As for my retirement, thank you too. I am very very lucky, although save on year when i finished Grad School and was Mr. Mom, I have had a full time job since 1968 (i worked in my High School cafeteria: first job).
But, I did retire at 62, in 2015 mostly because of my Crohns and Kidney diseases (which are serious) and other maladies. I did not want to work to 65 and then suddenly drop dead at 66 with just one year that i got to goof off. I am lucky that between Diane and I we had enough resources for me to retire (save being a writer) and i feel so grateful and lucky that i get this time indeed to fuck off in any way i wish.
Everyone should get this opportunity: no one should have to work past 65 (different than choosing too). I am a socialist like Bernie.
And, tomorrow is my McCartney birthday: I turn 64!
Well Happy Birthday to the happiest slut I know.
when did you get Wild Gift? I remember so distinctly cos i bought, Murmer (REM) and Marshall Crenshaw’s first album all the same day Good trio of discs.
That’s kind of a funny thing – “Wild Gift” is their second album and I don’t remember exactly when I got it. “Los Angeles” (the blue one with the flaming X on the cover) is the debut (and my favorite). Pretty sure the debut came out on a smaller label first and then was re-released on the major label not long after. My copy was on the original label, so I know I got it not long after it came out.
Sold all my albums around 2013 because I didn’t plan my life well and needed the cash, so I can’t prove anything.
Happy Birthday! Alas, I’ll have to work until I drop. Small price to pay for a wonderful life.
Original X recordings were on Slash, which was then bought by Warner Brothers. We know how that went. Kind of like Tom’s becoming part of Proctor Gamble. I hate to see that, and understand why it happens every day.