Stupefaction

James Gandolfini RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:05:00 +0000

James Gandolfini - RIP

Kickstarter Project of Note: Graffiti Rock 30th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:57:00 +0000

Michael Holman - he of the band Gray, associate of Jean Michel Basquiat, and general scenemaker on the downtown scene of early 80's NYC - has something else he'd like you to know about, and its worth a look. He was one of the earlier promoters of hip hop & graffiti culture in New York. Not only did he do a lot to bring hip hop downtown (literally), he also conceived of and hosted a short lived, but nevertheless influential TV show, Graffiti Rock. Not unlike American Bandstand or Soul Train in format, its difficult to imagine now that Graffiti Rock was absolutely groundbreaking at the time as hip hop was incredibly new as a genre. And besides the almost novelty hit status of "Rapper's Delight" in 1979, the genre was a long way from being socially acceptable.

It turns out that 2014 will be the 30th anniversary of the show, and to celebrate, Holman is working on a retrospective collection of the show and related materials to release. He's also working on a documentary about the show, and hip hop culture at the time which will be packaged together with the Graffiti Rock collection. Watch the video below, and if you're so inclined, donate to his Kickstarter.

Added bonus - watch the episode of Graffiti Rock below the Kickstarter video.

The New York City Breakers on the set of Graffiti Rock. Shot by Martha Cooper.

Chet Flippo RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Chet Flippo - RIP

Mike Scott's Adventures of A Waterboy, plus full Waterboys show from Rockpalast

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:56:00 +0000

I'm just about finished reading Mike Scott's memoir, Adventures of A Waterboy, and boy, was it a sorely needed shot in the arm to my reading habits.

After getting bored with so many memoirs & biographies (between shitty editing & crappy writing & predictable story telling), Scott has renewed my faith in the genre. It's a quick yet compelling read. Scott is incredibly articulate, and really knows how to paint a picture. He obviously loves language, and has a great eye for details. Plus he talks a lot about the music, and his own doubts, fears & foibles, making him very relate-able. And now I'm looking forward to not one, but two, shows by The Waterboys here in the NY area over the next few months. Good stuff...Bring it on!

Official website

Official Facebook

Enjoy this full set by Scott and band from Rockpalast...

No turntable? No problem!

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Slim Whitman RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:47:00 +0000

Slim Whitman - RIP

Fourth Arts Block & Antagonist Movement unveil Joey Ramone mural behind CBGB

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:17:00 +0000

This month, Raul Ayala and other members of the Antagonist Movement went to work on a mural on Extra Place behind the location of CBGB, where Fourth Arts Block has an ongoing public art project. The inspiration for the mural is a poem written by Dee Dee Ramone after Joey’s death. It was given to the artists by Arturo Vega, and describes Joey’s spirit as a dragon riding through the blue sky.

War, children...

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:37:00 +0000

Courtesy of Ed Ward comes this fantastic scan of a rare teaser ad for the then newly formed Rolling Stones Records. It appeared on the full page 21 of the April 19, 1971, issue of Rolling Stone magazine. If anyone knows who shot the photo any info would be appreciated.

Stupefied: The Vini Reilly Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:30:00 +0000

This week's Stupefied Playlist comes courtesy of legendary Mancunian musician, guitarist Vini Reilly. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Vini for not only sending a list, but also for personally writing it down in hand! The results can be seen at the bottom of this post. Thank you, Mr. Reilly!

Similar to the recent Donald Johnson playlist, I'll once again defer to the head of our Factory Records History Department, Professor John Cooper of Cerysmatic Factory for some perspective. Take it away John:

The Durutti Column is the enduring project of Manchester's Vini Reilly, a virtuoso guitarist but also a concert pianist of very high repute. The group's name is derived from a combination of Buenaventura Durruti, the revolutionary anarchist who sought to liberate Spain during the Spanish Civil War, and the Situationist comic strip The Return of the Durutti Column.

The term "group" is perhaps a bit of a misnomer because apart from a short, disastrous (at least according to Vini) period in 1978 around the time of FAC-2 A Factory Sample (the first musical release on Factory Records), it has always been more of Vini's solo project plus collaborations with additional musicians. However, the most enduring of these has been with drummer/percussionist Bruce Mitchell since second album, LC (FACT 44), and he remains with the group until this day, many albums later and going strong at a spritely 73!

The Durutti Column's music is a wondrous thing to the many that have experienced it, both on record and live. Classifying it is somewhat difficult. Vini's distinctive guitar playing is normally prominent, embellished with effects and delays. Perhaps some piano or keyboards. Their legion of loyal fans have their own descriptions but one in particular usually springs to mind. On the rare compilation album The Sporadic Recordings (1989) the last track is called "Canadian Customs". This features a field recording of said customs guy asking what type of music The Durutti Column plays. Vini barely misses a beat, and then says "Avant-Garde Jazz Classical".

Since suffering a minor stroke in 2010, which left him with a loss of strength and feeling in his left hand, Vini's recorded output and live appearances have been severely restricted. However, Vini was interviewed by Manchester writer and DJ Dave Haslam at Manchester Town Hall in March of this year, and played an instrumental piece to a rapturous reception. Hopefully we will see more of Vini later in the year and perhaps even the much-delayed 'Chronicle' album.

Official website

Facebook

Twitter

A handwritten list from Vini - this deserves its own Factory catalog number

Iggy Pop tours the East Village of 1993

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:58:00 +0000

Iggy by Danny Clinch

This popped up via EV Grieve this morning, and its fun. Iggy, living in the East Village at the time, shows documentary filmmaker, Bram Van Splunteren, around his neighborhood.

Just Because: I love Scottish Terriers who listen to the radio

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:06:00 +0000

Movie of the Week: Cuba, Island of Music (2004)

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

This one goes out to Maritza.

Includes commentary from Billy Taylor, Candido Camero, and Chico O'Farrill.

On the scene: White Mandingos at the New Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:11:00 +0000

The White Mandingos (Murs, Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains, and Sacha Jenkins SHR) made their live debut at the New Museum this past Friday night. Liz M was there, and managed to snap this shot of their setlist. Check them out on Facebook and Soundcloud.

Pick up their debut album now

And we don't care...

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:32:00 +0000

Source via

New Documentary - A Box Full of Rocks: The El Cajon Years of Lester Bangs

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:27:00 +0000

Before - Lester during the El Cajon years

After - Lester towards the end

Check out the extra long trailer for this upcoming documentary about Lester Bangs, A Box Full of Rocks: The El Cajon Years of Lester Bangs. The website for the film doesn't have a ton of info, but can be accessed here.

Lester Bangs day job business card

Movie of the Week: Lydia Lunch - Video Hysterie: 1978-2006 (2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Lydia at Max's in 1978 by Eugene Merinov

Here's a fun way to waste a Saturday afternoon - watching this retrospective of Lydia Lunch videos from 1978-2006.

This retrospective of Lydia Lunch's musical collaborations from 1978-2006 is an incredible representation of her approach to art. Hailed by the Boston Phoenix as "one of the 10 most influential performers of the 90's", no other artist of the 20th century has fought, forged, punched, and sculpted their own artistic vision in such a uniquely original way. Defying categorization, Lunch actively has conquered new territories, and has gained international recognition for the innovative quality of her work. Robert Palmer from the New York Times writes "Miss Lunch was always an effective vocal performer. But rock has grown complacent again -- even the underground rock that has borrowed so much from Miss Lunch's various bands over the years. Perhaps it's time for her to administer it a few more rude shocks." This DVD is sure to please anyone in search of change of pace, a stray from the norm.

Purchase on DVD here

Movie of the Week: The Boys From Brazil (1978)

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:49:00 +0000

Starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, and James Mason, The Boys From Brazil follows a Nazi hunter in Paraguay who discovers a sinister and bizarre plot to rekindle the Third Reich. Fantastic! Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

Friday Ephemera: Maxwells press release (1980)

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:43:00 +0000

That's some great list of upcoming shows. Trainspotters note: Joy Division is listed as playing in September. This is obviously after Ian Curtis killed himself, but before they selected their new name. New Order would play the show.

Edwyn Collins: New single & video from Understated

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:56:00 +0000

Edwyn Collins' latest single, "Too Bad (That's Sad)," from his recent album, Understated, gets the video treatment...northern soul groove ahoy! It features his son, Will, on bass, and Paul Cook on drums. Visit his label website here.

Darondo RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:56:00 +0000

Just in from the Ubiquity Records Facebook page, Darondo has passed away at the age of 67. Darondo was an incredible lost talent of 70's funk and R&B who had been rediscovered by Ubiquity with great success several years ago. With a murky past (stories of pimping etc), not to mention some fantastic long out-of-print reissued music (not much different than a raw, lower budget version of a funky Al Green), he even made some rare live appearances in the past few years. This included SxSW in 2008 where I was lucky enough to catch him. Rest in peace, indeed, my funky, funky man.

Daily Travels: Rhinebeck NY

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:43:00 +0000

Michael Alago remembers Arturo Vega

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Long time music biz vet & photographer, Michael Alago remembers Arturo Vega. This is an outtake from an in-progress documentary being shot about Alago. Vega's obituary ran yesterday in the NY Times. Read it here.

Ruts DC shot by Laura Levine

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:54:00 +0000

Photographer Laura Levine posted this great photo of Ruts DC on her Facebook page yesterday. The band are enjoying a post-photo shoot cup of tea in Laura's kitchen in Chinatown, NYC, circa 1982. You may remember these cool shots of the band from around the same time, by Godlis, which I posted about a year ago. Be sure to visit the Ruts DC website, and check out their fantastic new album Rhythm Collision Vol. 2.

Note to self

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Source

Stupefied: The Paul Gorman Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Broun) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Rita, left, with Paul Gorman, somewhere in London

The Look

In this week's edition of the Stupefied Playlist, I'm happy to present someone who is no stranger to these pages, writer Paul Gorman, a personal hero of mine. As I've said about him before, he's a "...great gumshoe at the crossroads of fashion, music, art, and all cool culture." With an impressive list of published books behind him, including several I've mentioned over the last several years, Gorman shows no signs of slowing down. Its not often that a writer can claim to have written the definitive tome on one subject. It's even rarer to be able to say you've done it with two or three subjects. Paul fits this last category. A rare breed, indeed.

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Currently, besides being engaged in various projects surrounding the cultural legacies of Barney Bubbles and Malcolm McLaren, he is also working on a book telling the story of The Face magazine (currently scheduled to be published in 2015 by Thames & Hudson). He is also writing a monograph of the eminent Los Angeles-based British artist Derek Boshier, and working on a project relating to the work of the late photographer David Parkinson. Phew!

Keep up with Paul's cultural journey by visiting his blog -

Paul Gorman Is

Official Barney Bubbles site - Reasons To Be Cheerful

And of course, his first - The Look: Adventures In Rock and Pop Fashion

Huge thanks to Paul for the list!

To listen to the playlist, below you have two choices -
the 15-track Spotify version, or the 20-track YouTube version.
Turn up the volume and enjoy.

01. Cocoa Song (from Moon Over The Alley OST)

02. I Start Counting - Basil Kirchin

03. Say You Don't Mind - Colin Blunstone

04. Cut The World - Antony & The Johnsons

05. Burundi Black (Part 2) - Burundi Stephenson Black

06. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley