Be the first to comment Last week punk poet Jim Carroll (of “People Who Died” fame) passed away at age 59.
Today marks the sad anniversary of another punk’s passing: On this day in 2004 Johnny Ramone, influential guitarist of the Ramones, passed away at age 55 due to prostate cancer.
In honor of Johnny, today’s quiz has a punk rock theme.
Think you’re a music expert? Let’s find out! Continue reading »
Left: Phil Spector wearing his usual weirdo wig. His wigless mugshot photo is even scarier.
Phil Spector has always been an interesting, and terrifying character.
Initially known for his innovative work producing music by ’60s girl-groups like the Ronettes, and later remembered for his infamous incident pulling a gun on punk rockers the Ramones, Spector’s most recent turn in the spotlight has come courtesy of a murder trial.
In April, Spector was found guilty of shooting and killing actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, and was later sentenced to 19 years-to-life in prison. Clearly, this is no laughing matter, and we have nothing but sympathy for the victim and her family.
However, prison time means mugshots and, unfortunately for this eccentric, wig-loving beast, hairpieces are not allowed in the big house.
See 69-year-old Spector in his un-wigged horror in his mug shot photo, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Actually, we think he kinda looks the like butler from the Rocky Horror Picture Show…What do you think?
BobskiAbove: Punk hero Joey Ramone meets superhero Spiderman. It was bound to happen eventually.
Below: The catchiest song ever written about baseball bats.
Ramones–”Beat on the Brat” mp3
May 19, 1951 was an important day in rock’n'roll history: It was the birthday of Jeff Hyman.
Hyman is of course better known as punk-rock icon, Joey Ramone. (Yeah, we should’ve mentioned this sooner, but we were too busy trying to bake a cake in the shape of the Ramones’ logo.)
Joey, who would’ve turned 58 today, passed away in 2001 after a battle with lymphoma. He may be gone, but his impact on the music world will never be forgotten. Pretty much any rock band that has picked up a guitar in the past 20 years owes a debt to the Ramones, who made writing perfect pop/rock songs seem deceptively simple. Earlier this week, Ramone was officially inducted into the Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame, after an earlier technical error left him out in the cold.
Tonight in NYC, Joey’s brother, Mickey Leigh, has organized a Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at the Fillmore/Irving Plaza, with proceeds from tickets set to support the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research.
Hosted by former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield, the show will feature Continue reading »
Quick how many bands can you name from Arizona?
If you forgot to say the Supersuckers, you’ve failed today’s pop quiz. Sorry.
Over the years, the Supersuckers have released a solid string of rock albums for labels such as Sub Pop, successfully dabbled in slightly stoned country music and even served as Willie Nelson’s backing band, making it hard to argue with the boys when they declare themselves the Greatest Rock’n'Roll Band in the World.
Almost always on tour (tonight they play Belfast), singer/bassist Eddie Spaghetti and the boys are celebrating their 20th Anniversary with the release of a double disc live album (thanks to Snob’s Music for the tracklisting tip).
Featuring 36 songs on two CDs, the album collects music from the band’s entire career, including several songs that are appropriate considering today’s date (go on, look at the calendar). “I Want the Drugs,” “Non Addictive Marijuana,” and “Killer Weed.” Subtle, right?
Fans of everything from AC/DC, Kiss, Willie Nelson, Spinal Tap and the Ramones are likely to find something to enjoy with the Supersuckers cartoonish rock’n'roll.
Keep reading for more info on the disc, tracklisting, the current list of Supersuckers tour dates and a video, too! Continue reading »
Good news if you miss the Mummies after watching the “Planet of the Apes” video we posted earlier: The band is back from the grave (sorry) for a handful of reunion shows. (Don’t forget that stages will be invaded by an upcoming Gories and Oblivians Reunion Tour, too!)
After swearing that their 2008 reunion show in Spain would be their last, the spooky boys are bandaged up and hitting the road for some shows including a trio of US dates as well as a newly announced show in France and a mysterious show at an eight-day music festival somewhere in Sardegna, IT . (Keep reading for the complete tour schedule.) Continue reading »
Sometimes, when you wake up on a Monday morning, you just want to stay in bed and hope for a snow day.
That almost never works. So, odds are you’re sitting at your desk this morning, too.
Unfortunately, we can’t really do anything about that. But maybe we can make Monday a little less blah with some fun music videos.
First up: The Mummies. If watching these garage-rock guys dressed as mummies (wearing Chuck Taylor All Stars shoes, of course) sing a song with one of the greatest choruses ever doesn’t cheer you up on Monday morning, then maybe you should just quit your job and go back to bed.
What songs/videos help you make it through Monday boredom?
“You must fight to live, on the planet of the apes!”
(Whatever, roll your eyes now, but you’ll totally have this stuck in your head later. Thanks to the Garage Punk gang for the clip.)
Stay tuned for info on the upcoming Mummies’ reunion tour–including their first US shows since 1991!
Ok, so by now everyone has probably read that record producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of killing Lana Clarkson by shooting her in the face.
Obviously, we can’t defend that action.
But, we can take a look back at Spector’s pre-murder career-and an impressive career it was. Spector hit the big time producing everyone from the Ronettes and Righteous Brothers to the Beatles and the Ramones.
Do you know what the last song Phil produced was? Or which song was covered by a ’90s indie rock icon? Keep reading for the answers!
The following songs and videos are just a few highlights from Spector’s back pages, mostly songs he produced, but some he actually played on-maybe you have some Spector in your record collection right now 
Check out our Top Phil Spector tunes and tell us which is your favorite.
Kicking things off is a video from Spector’s own band, the Teddy Bears.
1950s:
Teddy Bears-To Know Him is to Love Him
Murder: Lousiana Rapper Gets Life in Prison | Music Vixen BlogKnown for his flamboyant wigs and sometimes volatile personality, record producer Phil Spector became a music icon in the ’60s and beyond thanks to his wall of sound recording techniques and his work with groups like the Ronettes, the Crystals and the Righteous Brothers. He later went on to work with artists as diversere as Leonard Cohen and the Ramones.
However, for a new generation of music fans Spector may simply be known as a killer.
In 2007, Spector’s first murder trial ended in a hung jury, but on Monday a jury returned with a verdict after 15 days of deliberating. In a California courtroom 69-year-old Spector was found guilty of second degree murder in the 2003 shooting death of 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson.
A particularly brutal crime, Clarkson was reportedly killed by a gunshot fired into her mouth.
Spector’s prison term will be determined at his May sentencing. Spector is currently married to his fourth wife, Rachelle, 41 years his junior. Continue reading »
February 3, 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of “the day the music died” when the plane carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens crashed. The February 4, 2009 death of Lux Interior probably won’t make the same big headlines, but for a generation of punk, rock and rockabilly fans the impact is just as great because one of the genre’s best-loved noisemakers has been silenced.
For more than 30 years the Cramps, led by Lux and his wife, guitarist Poison Ivy, shaped the Technicolor punk sounds that are sometimes tagged psychobilly or horror rock because of the group’s affinity for b-movie references and retro-trash. Interior’s wild style was as much Elvis as Iggy Pop, Eddie Cochran and Eddie Munster.
The Cramps were among the early bands tear up the stage at CBGBs in New York in the ‘70s (and an infamous gig at a Napa State Hospital, a mental institution, here), paving the way for a future generation of bands like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the White Stripes to peddle their ramshackle garage rock sounds.
Reports indicate that 62-year-old Interior (born Erick Lee Purkhiser) passed away due to a heart condition. In 1987 false reports spread that the singer had died of a heroin overdose. Unfortunately, the news is certain this time, although the cause of death appears to be natural.
Mainstream success was largely unknown to this wild bunch, although songs like “Bikini Girls with Machine Guns” did find some success on MTV. If you’re not familiar with this legendary band’s music, then please go check out some of their songs and videos now. If you’re a rock’n’roll fan, you’ll be glad you did. More Lux Interior obit info here and here, too.
If you haven’t visited Coney Island’s famous Astroland amusement park by now, your chance has passed. The historic park closed its gates on Sunday September 7, 2008 after the park’s owner Carol Hill Albert failed to reach a lease renewal agreement with the site’s owner.
The good news is that the legendary Cyclone rollercoaster and Wonder Wheel ferris wheel ride will remain operational at Coney Island. The classic rides are protected under historic landmark status by the state of New York.
Astroland’s other rides were already being offered for sale on the Internet, according to The Daily News. Prices range from $95,000 for the merry-go-round to $199,000 for the park’s bumper cars.
What impact the park’s closing will have on Coney Island (and its other businesses, such as the legendary original location of Nathan’s Hot Dogs) remains to be seen. But the park just won’t be quite the same without the Dante’s Inferno funhouse, carousel, Viking ship and all the other endearingly rickety rides.
Coney Island/Beach Themed Songs:
Lou Reed—Coney Island Baby
Luna—Sideshow by the Seashore
Ramones—Rockaway Beach mp3
What was your favorite ride at Astroland?
Leave a comment and share your favorite Coney Island memories!
