Holly Woodlawn RIP

Holly Woodlawn - RIP.

Billy Rath RIP

News has been trickling through that Billy Rath, best known as bassist for the junkiest of junkie bands, the mighty Heartbreakers, has died. There hasn't been any obituary or news items yet, so no link here. More, if anything, to come...

Leee Black Childers RIP

Leee Black Childers - RIP

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

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

Velvet Underground: 1970 Max’s Kansas City Concert Poster

From the collection of the late Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison, a rare 1970  concert poster advertising the Velvet's last shows with Lou Reed, at Max's Kansas City in New York.  These were the shows at which the band's Live At Max's Kansas City album was recorded.  Measuring 28.75" x 11", this is in very nice condition; a high level paper conservator has flattened three horizontal creases and retouched a few small stains (one small line from what looks like a pink magic marker is visible on the back.) At our request, Sterling Morrison's widow Martha has written in pencil on the back "Martha Morrison: Sterling Morrison Collection."  Our letter of authenticity will note that this was part of Morrison's legendary archive.  A classic image with incredible provenance. Buy it.

Shot by: Gerard Malanga - a happy 80th birthday to Mickey Ruskin!

Max's Kansas City founder, Mickey Ruskin, by Gerard Malanga. 

As those in the know tell me, things would not have been the same without Mickey.
And I believe them.

Documentaries of note: Ain't In It For My Health & Portrait of Jason

Here are a couple of recent films I plan on seeing soon:

Shot over the last couple of years of his life in and around his home in Woodstock, NY, Ain't In It For My Health tells the story of The Band's Levon Helm.

Official website here.
Official Facebook here.

Shirley Clarke's Portrait of Jason tells the story of a one time, real life NYC character, Jason Holliday. The restored 1967 film was shot entirely in one night in Jason's room at the Chelsea Hotel. Read a terrific write up about the movie in the New Yorker here.

Official website here.
Official Facebook page here.

Just Because: Television gig flyers 74/75

Source - zombiesenelghetto.tumblr.com

Paul Tschinkel's InnerTube: Levi and the Rockats, Jayne County, The Dead Boys (1980)

I recently received an email from Paul Tschinkel due to some of his videos I shared here, and over at James Chance Official. He was happy to see them being put to use, and mentioned he would start posting more. Well, it looks like he just might be doing that, starting with this full episode of InnerTube from 1980 starring Levi & The Rockats, Jayne County, and the Dead Boys, filmed at Max's Kansas City and at CBGB.

As Paul himself says, "This 'Paul Tschinkel's Inner-Tube' program appeared on his Manhattan Cable TV show in 1980. It features live performances at Max's Kansas City and CBGBs in New York that epitomize the dynamic, exciting music of the time. We see a riveting performance by the Dead Boys and a fast paced one by Levi and the Rockats that also includes a guest appearance by rocker Jayne County. A short piece of old time fiddling music, taped a fiddling convention in Independence VA in 1973, rounds out the program."

See more InnerTube videos here.

Movie of the Week: James Chance & The Contortions - Max's Kansas City (1978)

The Contortions, CBGB, 1978, by Eugene Merinov

The original Contortions live at Max's Kansas City, 1978, New York NY. James Chance, Jody Harris, Pat Place, George Scott, and Don Christenson.

01. Roving Eye

02. Twice Removed

03. I Can't Stand Myself

04. Disposable You

05. Throw Me Away

06. Bedroom Athlete (excerpt)

Don't forget to follow James Chance!

Official

Facebook

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Friday Ephemera: 1965

Courtesy of Its All the Streets, Village Voice ads, 1965 part 4

Friday Ephemera - Rockabilly Riot!

The Cramps with Levi & The Rockats at max's Kansas City (1978)

Friday Ephemera - B-52's, 1978

B-52's - 4 nights at Max's, 1978. Courtesy of Cindy Wilson.

NYNS - Old farts preaching poetry

Originally posted at The New York Nobody Sings: Rifts, and a general love/hate vibe, between the New York & London sectors of the early punk scene have existed for years. The influence of the New York Dolls, as well as the first Ramones album, on London can't be underestimated. However, a certain member of the Dolls, along with his merry band of Heartbreakers and a certain groupie that followed them over to London from NYC, was blamed for the introduction of heroin to the London punk scene - specifically to Johnny Rotten's best friend, John "Sid Vicious" Ritchie.

As you'll notice at the start of the clip below, Rotten, calls out the entire early NYC punk scene as "old farts preaching poetry." With references to Max's Kansas City, "Pills" (by Bo Diddley recorded by the Dolls), and "Looking For A Kiss" (a Dolls original) in "New York," an angry Johnny Rotten can be articulate, quite funny, and poetic himself.

Think it is well playing Max's Kansas
You're looking bored
And you're acting flash
With nothing in your gut
You better keep yer mouth shut
You better keep yer mouth shut
In a rut

Ghosts of Max's Kansas City and other news

FoB©, Paul D, graciously pointed the way to some new memoirs being penned by long time music writer, Ed McCormack. As Paul describes it, Ed, who covered the NY rock scene for Rolling Stone in the early 70's, is writing his memoirs and serializing them over at Gallery & Studio. A New York native, and longtime resident, anyone interested in the music of the city in the 70's, and beyond, would be well served to check out his excerpts. Read them here.
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In other related news, Steven Kasher, of the Steven Kasher Gallery (who hosted the grand Max's photo exhibit a few months ago), has an interview over at PMc Magazine promoting the recent Max's book, Max's Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll. Read it here.
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Lastly, infamous music magazine, Rock Scene (no strangers to Max's Kansas City and it's environs), lives on in a couple of places. There's a blog, called Rock Scenester, painstakingly scanning & posting every issue of the magazine they can find. Visit them here. Also, the brand is, apparently, now owned by a fellow named Mark Weiss. It lives on in an online version which you can visit at RockScene.com.

Visit the new Eugene Merinov website

I'm happy to announce the redesign & relaunch of Eugene Merinov's website. We now have gorgeous, high quality digital prints available. Please pop by & let us know what you think. You can also like Eugene on Facebook.

Friday Ephemera - June 25, 1970

The Velvets play Max's as advertised in the June 25, 1970, issue of the Village Voice. Courtesy of It's All the Streets. Bootleg recordings of some of these shows by Brigid Polk were released in 1972 in edited form as the album The Velvet Undergound Live At Max's Kansas City.

Andrea, Jackie, Candy, Danny, Jason, Taylor, and Mickey

Live and in color! This is Max's Kansas City video shot by Anton Perich including Andrea Feldman, Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling, Danny Fields, Jason Holiday, Taylor Mead, Mickey Ruskin, and a plethora of others. At 14 minutes & 15 seconds, there isn't any sound until about the 13 minute mark, but it's worth going through for the you-are-there-ness of it. Color photographs from this scene are difficult enough to come by, never mind color film!

This is the edited version of a series of short clips by Perich, and currently being shown at the Steven Kasher Gallery from September 15, 2010-October 9, 2010. See more images from the show here.



Speaking of color, lets give another plug to the other Max's-related exhibition happening now as well at the Loretta Howard Gallery. Click this link or the JPEG below for more info.

Events of note - Howl Fest and Max's reunion shows

Apologies for being a few days late with this info, but I thought it worthy of mention regardless. As udual, click on the images for a closer look, and click the links for the full informational effect.


All month long in the East Village. Many events are free. For the full schedule visit the Howl Festival website.


Further info here.

Mother of Rock - Lillian Roxon

"Rock & roll is not dead," she declared, "but only just beginning to happen in a new way." - Lillian Roxon, 1973, upon seeing the Stooges at Max's Kansas City.

Big thanks to Signed DC over at It's All the Streets for pointing out the fact that there is a documentary on journalist & music writer, Lillian Roxon, making the film festival rounds. Its good timing too as it coincides with all of the Max's Kansas City-related events this month. Check out this trailer & keep an eye out for further showings.