Kickstarter Project of Note: Graffiti Rock 30th Anniversary

Holman by Arne Svensen

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.

Basquiat's Gray debut release, Shades of..., available now!

Following a triumphant return to the live arena back in July, the surviving original members of Gray (aka Jean Michel Basquiat's old band) have released a new collection of music entitled Shades of... on their own Plush Safe imprint. Not only is it a new collection, it's also the band's debut! It only took them about 30 years...

From the band: Michael Holman and Nicholas Taylor have reunited once again to produce the first Gray album ever, titled, Shades of… on their own label, Plush Safe Records, that hankers back to Gray’s sonic roots - industrial noise melded with electronic atmospheres.

This multi-track compilation includes and involves sample tracks from Gray’s earliest recordings and performances, with samples of Basquiat’s music and voice. Included is a solo performance by Basquiat (recorded by Justin Thyme) called “Suicide Hotline,” where Basquiat, in 1980, called a suicide hotline, and in dramatic, and darkly teasing fashion, reads bits of his poetry to the hotline operator, never allowing the operator to know for sure if the “caller” is insane, suicidal, or simply toying with him. The effect of the piece is powerful and disturbing, yet poignant and moving in a way only Basquiat could produce. Other tracks range from Stockhausen inspired fugues, to trip hop lanced throw downs.

Holman & Taylor were fortunate to work with John Cale’s drummer Dean Anthony on this new music, as well as fabled Tubes drummer, Prairie Prince and drummer, Lenny Ferraro. Shades of… is not only a living piece of New York history, it’s also an audio interpretation of a journey to where Taylor & Holman see the future of music. Gray has not only returned to their sonic roots, they are also planning live performances that pay homage to their early Downtown gigs, where they performed inside, around and on top of sculptural works of art; like their infamous “Ignorant Geodesic Dome” stage set that brought the house down at the Mudd Club in 1981.

Visit Plush Safe Records for a preview of "Wig" from the collection, and listen to "Drum Mode" below - perhaps the most well known track by the Basquiat-era Gray.



Order Shades of... and preview more tracks at Other Music here.
Order Shades of... from Amazon here.

Tonight at the New Museum: The expressionist no wave of Gray

For the first time in 23 years, downtown post punk band, Gray, will be performing at the New Museum. Surviving members Michael Holman and Nick Taylor are lousy with the self-PR or else I would have written about this a long time ago. Thankfully for a phone call today with a friend, I now know about it. I'll be over at the Kasher Gallery for the Laura Levine/Punk and New Wave Artwork doubleheader. If anyone makes it to the Gray show, I'd love to hear how it was. Link to info & tickets below.

Before:

After:

"In every biography you read of the band Gray, it brings up the story that founding member Jean-Michel Basquiat named the band after Gray’s Anatomy, the 150-year old textbook that was an essential resource for his work. Considering those meticulous, systematic drawings of bones and muscles alongside Basquiat’s rough, violently emotional paintings, it’s difficult to discern what exactly he took away from the book." Continued here as well as info for tickets & set times.


  Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gray - Drum Mode (Downtown 81) by vangogen