East Village Eye nostalgia

This one goes out to the nostalgia junkies. I recently discovered that the East Village Eye has made several issues available in PDF format. They've also done up a few of their swell covers on t-shirts. I await my May '79 t-shirt as I type. 

Of course real paper copies are always available via places like 98 Bowery and eBay, but this is good opportunity to try before you buy.

Check out PDF's here, and the t-shirts here.

The Downtown Decade: NYC 1975-1985 coming soon to Glenn Horowitz Bookseller

In a show that sounds not all that far off from what the Fales Library did about 10 years ago, Glenn Horowitz Bookseller announced the following event(s) earlier today:

The Downtown Decade: NYC 1975–1985

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, September 10–Saturday, October 10, 2015

Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 15th, 6–8 pm

17 West 54th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues

Catalog PDF available here. Includes many photos of Stupefaction faves & pals like Kate Simon, Allan Tannenbaum, Marcia Resnick, Roberta Bayley, Bob Gruen, and much more.

We are excited to begin our Fall season with The Downtown Decade: NYC 1975–1985, a multi-genre overview of the visionary creative scene that developed on New York City's Lower East Side during the late 1970s and early 1980s. At a time when the city was on the brink of fiscal disaster and suffering daily internal chaos, a burgeoning and interconnected artistic community emerged that would enduringly alter previously held perceptions of art, photography, literature, film, and music.

On display will be original items both by and featuring many of the era's participants, including Rene Ricard, David Armstrong, Nan Goldin, the Lurie Brothers, Jenny Holzer, Richard Prince, Peter Hujar, Kiki Smith, and Christoph Kohlhofer, as well as historical documentary material—vintage issues of the East Village Eye, gallery flyers, posters, manuscripts, and advertisements—and original artwork and photography by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kate Simon, Philip Taaffe, Francesco Clemente, Marcia Resnick, Curt Hoppe, Jimmy DeSana, Christopher Makos, and Patti Smith, among others.

A soundtrack showcasing the period's outstanding musical talent will also be playing in the gallery during the show, including songs by the Ramones, The Clash, Blondie, Public Image Ltd., Grandmaster Flash, Talking Heads, James Chance, the Lounge Lizards, and Television.

The exhibition will be on display from Thursday, September 10–Saturday, October 10, 2015. 
An opening reception will be held Tuesday, September 15th, from 6-8 pm.

Events in conjunction with The Downtown Decade:

Book Signing: Jeannette Montgomery Barron


Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 6-8 pm 


Location: GHB Penthouse, 20 West 55th Street

Photographer and author Jeannette Montgomery 
Barron will be signing copies of her new book, My Years 
in the 1980s: New York Art Scene, in the GHB penthouse. Material featured in the book will be on display during the event, and RARE will remain open until 7 pm.

Screening: Downtown 81, with Glenn O’Brien


Date: TBA 


Location: GHB Penthouse, 20 West 55th Street

Please join us for a special screening in the 
GHB penthouse of Downtown 81, starring 
Jean-Michel Basquiat, which has been praised for capturing “…that New York moment when punk, emerging rap, art school cool and the East Village art and music scenes were at their creative best.” 
The film’s writer and producer, Glenn O’Brien, will both introduce the film and answer questions afterward. Seating will be limited.

Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) RIP

 Errol Brown - RIP

Movie of the Week: News From Home by Chantal Akerman (1977)

Big thanks to Peteski over at This Isn't Happiness for tipping me to this incredible art film/documentary. Released by Chantal Akerman in 1977, the entire 90 minute film consists of long, slow shots of various scenes & locations in Manhattan while the voice over (Akerman), in French, reads letters from home that she received between 1971 and 1973. The colors & photography are just mouthwatering.  And look how quiet & empty the streets are. 

If you're interested, you may want to watch this now as who knows how long it will be remain on YouTube? The film can be found on this DVD collection of Akerman's work from the 1970's.

(If you're reading this in an email, click the headline to see the film on the blog.)

Opening This Friday: ART & EPHEMERA FROM 98 BOWERY, 1969-89 at the Lodge Gallery, NYC

John Feckner, “Decay,” Fashion Moda flyer, 1980

The Lodge Gallery

131 Chrystie Street, NYC
December 19 - 28, 2014
Opening Friday, December 19, 6 - 9 pm

Colette, “Taken away by Police,” from the series Records from the Story of My Life, 1973/78

The website 98bowery.com tells the story of the downtown art scene in the 1970s and 80s as I experienced it living in the top floor loft at 98 Bowery. These bleak years for New York were marked by economic decline, crime, drugs, and in many sections of the city, a desolate landscape of abandoned buildings and rubble-strewn lots. But for the young artists living in the Lower East Side during one of its worse moments there was a silver lining: cheap rents, camaraderie, plenty of real-life inspiration, and a do-it-yourself ethos that made anything possible. To use the ironic phrase coined by artist Joseph Nechvatal, downtown was an “Island of Negative Utopia.”

Every era creates its own type of art object. The multiples, political statements, and ephemera in this exhibition at the Lodge Gallery are representative of the deliberately transient quality and populist impulse of art in the 1970s and 80s. These are treasures that I acquired during that time, as well as vintage works that I have collected more recently for Gallery 98, the online store of the website 98bowery. In selecting the items, I have not held back. Many are masterpieces whose rich historical and aesthetic content rivals that found in more conventional art objects.

- Marc H. Miller, Curator

Sandra Fabara (Lady Pink), Home Sweet Home, silkscreen, 1989

Rats! Christy Rupp artwork currrently featured at Gallery 98

Christy Rupp, 1980, by Francine Keery.

Currently on display at Gallery 98 is the rat-themed artwork of artist Christy Rupp. Her stuff was quite ubiquitous in the lower east side back in the early to mid 80's.

In 1979 artist Christy Rupp made the news when a street poster she created featuring a life-size rat was spotted near the site where a woman was attacked by a pack of rats during a horrific, three-week strike by NYC sanitation workers.  Rupp’s art is about animal behavior and she placed her posters to identify locations where rats were claiming new territory as piles of garbage spread.  This online exhibition spotlighting Rupp’s earliest works explores the conceptual roots of an artist now admired as both an early street artist and an eco-art pioneer. 

Visit the exhibition at:
http://gallery.98bowery.com/exhibition/christy-rupps-rats 

New Book of Note: Sounds of Two Eyes Opening by legendary SST Producer/Engineer, Spot

A new photography book by Spot is available now. You may remember seeing his name on countless releases (including Black Flag, the Minutemen, and Husker Du) on the SST label. Sounds of Two Eyes Opening looks back at SoCal life from the very late 60's through the early 80's.

Order it direct from the publisher, or on Amazon.

New Book of Note: The Big Midweek - Life Inside The Fall by Steve Hanley

Former Fall member, Steve Hanley, certainly had a great spot to observe everything going on for the band back in the heady post punk peak of the late 70's into the 80's as the bassist. By all reports, this just published book about his time in the band is excellent, and I plan on reading it. Plus it'll look nice next to Mark E. Smith's book on the shelf. Get a little more info at Hanley's website, and if you're in the US, you can order the book via Amazon.

Looking For Johnny (Thunders): Trailer & DVD Pre-Order

 The recently screened doc about Johnny Thunders (Looking For Johnny: The Legend of Johnny Thunders) will be released on DVD on Oct. 7. I've heard mixed reports about it, but if you're so inclined you can pre-order it here. Check out the trailer below.

More Downtown NY Ephemera From 98 Bowery: Mudd Club, Times Square and more!

Flyer for Where is Art Going? panel discussion with Nancy Arlen, Jennifer Bartlett, Scott Burton, Candace Hill Montgomery, Walter Robinson, and David Salle. Moderated by Jeffery Deitch; At the General Theology Seminary, 1980
Xerox on paper, 8 1/2 x 11 in.

As long as Marc Miller keeps letting me know about new additions to the store at 98 Bowery, I'll keep posting them. These are some true treasures. All are available for purchase on a first come, first serve basis, so don't sleep if you're interested. Visit the gallery at 98 Bowery now.

“Teamwork the American Way” Presented by Candace Hill-Montgomery, a performance at Franklin Furnace, 112 Franklin Street, New York, 1981
Poster, Xerox on paper, 11 x 17 in.

Just Another Asshole benefit party and film screening, at  Mudd Club, 1979
Invitation, Offset print on paper 11 x 17 in.

Real Estate at Mudd Club, 1980
Xerox on paper, 8 1/2 x 11 in.

Art of the Future, Times Square Show flyer
Xerox on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.

Poster for the film The Trap Door, by Beth B and Scott B, Starring John Ahearn and Jack Smith, 1980
Offset print on textured heavy stock paper, 11 x 17 in.

Kickstarter Project of Note: The Godlis Punk Photo Book

I am very excited to help promote the launch of this Kickstarter campaign as I've known about it his plans for it for a few years now. Readers of Stupefaction will know his name, and if you don't, shame on you. David Godlis, better known by his professional name, Godlis, will be self-publishing a high quality compendium of his timeless photos of the scene in & around CBGB between the years 1976-1979. An intro/forward will be written by Jim Jarmusch, and most likely the photos here on this page will be included. This is a MUST.

If you like punk rock, old (at this point) NYC, music history, and fantastic photography with a definite point-of-view, please consider supporting this project. Watch the trailer below, and be sure to visit the Kickstarter page. And of course, you can always visit the Godlis website!

The Ramones, ©Godlis

Handsome Dick Manitoba and friend, ©Godlis

Blondie, ©Godlis

The No Wave crew, ©Godlis

Patti Smith, ©Godlis

Documentaries of Note: Take Me To The River & Rock Your Baby

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New York Rocker: The Complete Cover Scans

Austin-based collector Ryan Richardson strikes again. He's gone and given New York Rocker the complete set cover scan treatment. Not quite as deep & thorough as what he did a few years back with Rock Scene magazine, its still an impressive feast for the eyes, and a great thing to see! Check all of the covers here, and be sure to check the rest of his site, Fanzine Faves, for other long lost, um, faves. And, as always, Ryan sells collectables at his site, Ryebread Rodeo.

Leee Black Childers RIP

Leee Black Childers - RIP

New Book Alert: Beauty Lies in the Eye by Catherine Ceresole

Swiss photographer, Catherine Ceresole, has a new book out documenting the no wave/art damage/noise scene of the late 70's and into the 80's in New York City. Entitled Beauty Lies in the Eye it includes artists such as Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch, Glenn Branca, Arto Lindsay, Christian Marclay, the Beastie Boys and many others. And it also includes writing from Christian Marclay, Thurston Moore, Rhys Chatham, Mark Cunningham, Lee Ranaldo, Alan Licht, and a conversation between Catherine Ceresole and Emmanuel Grandjean, along with Nicolas Ceresole and Francis Baudevin.

For more information, check out the book's page on Amazon, or visit the publishers website. 

p.s. I think the young Thurston Moore and a young Wes Anderson make for a good case of "Separated at birth?"

Jim Thirlwell (Foetus), Pyramid, New York, 14 January 1984

 

 

Beastie Boys, White Columns, New York, 7 May 1983

Sonic Youth (Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo), Dancetaria, New York, 18 June 1982

Suicide, Irving Plaza, New York, 28 June 1984

NY In The 70's: From the mind of Luke Haines

Only someone as smart as Luke Haines (ex-Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) could come up with this - an album themed on a fantasy of the 1970's downtown New York rock & roll scene. Available in May from Cherry Red Records, NY In The 70's is exactly what its supposed to be - a mythic re-imagining of the New York Rock n Roll scene 1972 - 1979.

SCENE 1 – A DORSET CHALKHILL, BRITAIN 2014

A gigantic mythical naked man awakens from thousand year kip. Chico, a messenger bird, is speaking in tongues and whispering a poem into the naked dude's chalky ear:

“Oh Little Johnny Jewel
He's so cool
He has no decision
He just trying to sell a vision”

Chico (something of a savant, bless) is reciting the lyrics to Television's seismic year zeroin classic Little Johnny Jewel.

“He's just trying to sell a vision,” repeats the messenger bird. With an ancient rumble, the naked dude stands up to reveal his true height of 180 ft.

“I am Cerne Abbus Giant, and Tom Verlaine is my main man,” bellows the Chalk Giant. “I awaken from Dorset Hills as the seeker. The seeker of Mythic Muthafuckin' Rock n Roll. Show me the way to CBGBs in the 1970s Chico. We will bestride the Atlantic and I'll carry you on my fantastic 36 ft phallus. Climb aboard Chico.”
“Oh my,” says the bird.

SCENE 2 – NEW YORK CITY. ONE YEAR LATER

The Kaballistic order of OM AKA The Real Dead Boys, comprising of Alan Ginsberg, Jim Carroll, Stiv Baters, Johnny Thunders and Sid Vicious are holding an invocation, on 213 Park Avenue South. The chanting begins at 23.23pm:

Shalom Shalom - David Johanson
Shalom Shalom - John Genzale
Shalom Shalom - Jerry Nolan
Shalom Shalom - Killer Kane
Shalom Shalom - Max's Kansas City
Shalom Shalom - The Mercer Arts Centre
Shalom Shalom - Billy Murcia
Shalom Shalom - Syl Sylvain

On it goes until dawn, Shalom Shalom... Lou Reed... Shalom Shalom... Alan Vega...

SCENE 3 – A PRESS RELEASE FROM LONDON, ENGLAND. MARCH 2014

Luke Haines has made an album about the 70's Rock n Roll scene in New York City which is released on Cherry Red on Monday May 19th 2014.. A mythical re-imagining of a long gone age, by a man who hails from Surrey, Southern UK. It is the third and final part of a psychedelic trilogy that began with 2011's 9 and a half psychedelic meditations on British Wrestling From the 1970s and early '80s. This one is for the real rock n roll animals.

Hail the Mythic
Hail the Muthafuckin'
Hail the Rock n Roll

Luke Haines website

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The Diggers on To Tell the Truth: Emmett Grogan tells it like it is (1972)

A first edition copy of an astounding book, copyright 1972, with art by Larry Rivers

Leave it to Paul Gorman to dig this up. Ringolevio, A Life Played For Keeps has long been one of my favorite counterculture memoirs. Its author, Emmett Grogan, has often been under-credited, or just plain written out of the history of "the movement" when it comes to the story of San Francisco, and bridging the gap between the beats and the hippies. Read this book, however, and you'll understand that Emmett was the man. He really had it sussed.

Anyway, not only does Paul have some great things to say about the book & its author, he also dug up the incredible clip below of a guest appearance by Grogan on that 70's game show staple, To Tell the Truth. Man, the internet has everything, doesn't it? It even includes Joe Garagiola. This is golden.

Mark Kamins interview with Love Saves the Day author Tim Lawrence

Kamins at Danceteria. Courtesy of Emily Armstrong.

Writer Tim Lawrence, who wrote the indispensable history of dance music in New York City during the 70's, Love Saves the Day, conducted a lengthy interview with longtime DJ and record producer, Mark Kamins back in 2008. At the time, Lawrence was doing research for his long awaited Love Saves-follow up, Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-83, due in 2015.

Kamins, of course, was an essential face on the scene at the time between DJ'ing at clubs like Danceteria, and working with artists. He is best known for helping Madonna get her record deal, and did plenty of great remixes, and recordings as well, which has been thoroughly documented. He was tireless, and sadly passed away about a year ago.

Red Bull Music Academy recently posted a short version of the interview, and if you're really compelled, you can get the entire thing over at Tim Lawrence's site. While reading, I suggest listening to this terrific collection of Kamin's related recordings curated by Lawrence, and posted by Red Bull.

Danceteria flyer for opening night. Courtesy of Rudolf Piper.

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So far underground you'll get the bends: More Lou Reed than you can shake a stick at

Since he passed away on October 27, there's been an overly abundant supply of Lou Reed content - bootlegs, video, what have you - popping up online. I thought I'd share here some links to a few items that have caught my attention.

Below, Lou gets interviewed by Anthony DeCurtis at the 92nd Street Y in NYC a few years back. I was lucky enough to be there, and I'm glad to see this again. DeCurtis seems a bit nervous at times, but he's good enough to give Lou space & let him finish his thoughts. I'm  sure it wasn't an easy gig. This video, and many others, can be found amongst the treasure trove of content that the 92nd Street Y recently made available here.

Secondly, and always good sources for tasty & choice live recordings, Doom & Gloom From The Tomb, and Aquarium Drunkard, have both have shared some great files from various sources recently. First up, from the Infinite Fool via Doom & Gloom, we have Lou Reed & The Tots - Alice Tully Hall, New York City, NY, January 27, 1973. This is a recording of one of the shows that the poster at the top of this post comes from. 

Then, from Music For Maniacs via Doom & Gloom, we have Pre-VU - an incredible collection of pre-Velvet Undergound recordings that involved Lou to some degree or another. Here's the track listing:

01. Jades - Leave Her for Me
02. Jades - So Blue (time-1002, 1958)
03. Lewis Reed - Merry Go Round (1962)
04. Lewis Reed - Your Love
05. The All Night Workers - Why Don’t You Smile Now
06. The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie (1965)
07. The Beachnuts - I’ve Got A Tiger In My Tank
08. the Hi-Lifes - Soul City (1965)
09. The Primitives - Sneaky Pete
10. The Primitives - The Ostrich
11. The Roughnecks - You’re Driving Me Insane

And then, perhaps the coolest of all, is a recording of Lou guest DJ-ing on the short lived WPIX rock station here in NYC in 1979. As Aquarium Drunkard writes, "Lou is in fine, fighting form here, peppering his commentary with scathing diatribes against Robert Christgau, Rolling Stone magazine, Jimmy Carter and NYC taxi drivers. He even takes some calls — witness the hilarious, surreal moment when Lou “Take No Prisoners” Reed admonishes a caller for using foul language. The music he plays is fantastic, too, with some classic doo wop, tracks from his then-unreleased The Bells LP, and a truly bizarro segue from Al Green to Nico. Lou even comes out in favor of disco.." Download a zipfile of this great show here.

And just for kicks, here are the Velvets doing "I'm Not A Young Man Anymore" which will be included with the forthcoming deluxe issue of White Light/White Heat.

I think thats it for now, but I know there will be more...It always comes back to the rain. And with that, I'll leave you with this classic shot of Lou & John Cale looking all festive back in 1977 as shot by Miss Kate Simon. I originally ran this last Christmas day with Kate's awesome playlist. And by the way, Kate, if you're reading this, don't forget that new Christmas playlist you've promised me this year.

Loaded: Lou Reed & John Cale at Lou's house in New York, Christmas 1977 - by Kate Simon