Tag: Punk

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New York Dolls, in New York

The New York Dolls, along with Iggy Pop and The Stooges are considered to be the inventing forces behind the music that became known as “Punk” rock.

The Dolls came on the scene from New York City in 1972 and literally and figuratively blew the city away. Dressing up like women and belting out raw, sweaty, pulsating blues licks, it might have seemed to many that this group of five men came from the planet Mars.

They quickly became incandescent the city, and were by far and away the toughest ticket in town. Led by singer David Johansen and guitarist Johnny Thunders, the Dolls are and where a one in a billion type band. They directly spawned bands like the Ramones and the Clash, along with today’s punk derivations The Strokes and The White Stripes. A young Steven Morrissey of The Smiths fame credits the Dolls with getting him interested in becoming a musician, and indeed he started the UK New York Dolls fan club in 1974. Over the past two years, he has been instrumental in getting the Dolls to reunite after thirty years apart. Unfortunately, only two of the original five are still alive.

You see, this was a true mother fucking rock and roll band–Thunders and Billy Mure both died of heroin overdoses, and tragically bassist Arthur “Killer” Kane died suddenly two years ago of undiagnosed leukemia. But don’t let that get you down, Johansen still is the quintessential frontman and original guitarist Sylvain. Sylvain will still blow out your ears.

I do not think I am exaggerating by saying one of their shows will be the monumental rock concert to witness. Three hundred years from now, when music historians are writing about rock and roll, punk music will be a very important chapter of that history. Punk and The Dolls were spawned in the filthy, bankrupt, rat infested, no mans land that was New York City in the early 70’s in order to save Rock and Roll from itself. This Wednesday we witnessed history, the rock and roll equivalent of watching Van Gogh paint.

Headlining the
Little Steven’s Underground Garage Tour this summer, they roll into Irving Plaza in mid tour. The Supersuckers, going on right before the Dolls were great, I must check them out again

Some photos to be added later. Or Try Brian Romero’s here

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Save CBGBs – Mayor Bloomberg goes Punk

Current Mayor of NY, Bloomberg stated “CBGB, it’s a great New York City institution — it’s more than just another club. We are trying to bring both sides together. … It’s part of our culture. They bring a lot of business here. I don’t think they belong any place else other than New York City.” In other words, “I want to be re-elected with even the aging hippies and hipster haters loving me.”

This has been an on going dispute all year between the oldest running rock and punk club in NYC, CBGBs and their landlord, The Bowery Resident’s Committee, a not-for-profit organization that benefits about 8,000 homeless in the NY area. On August 17th, CBGBs won their court case (which was filed back in Feb of this year) against their landlord, who had sued the club for pay of back rent (approximately $307,000 back in 2001) and even the Judge Joan M. Kenney questioned whether the Committee “with suspect accounting, intentionally orchestrated a scenario that precluded CBGB” from paying the accurate amount on time over the past four years. Full story can be read in this Rolling Stones article “CBGB wins round One”

The Committee still contends they are owed money for raised rent and seems to be intentionally pushing to get the club out by excessively raising the rent over 100% (from $19,000 to $41,000) and taking a stance of non-negotiations for this policy. Needless to say the lease on the place is up today Aug. 31st and there doesn’t seem to be much to be done about it, however, you can voice your opinion through the CBGBs site: HERE

CBGBs has been putting on some benefit shows – (Listed here), however, today at 3 PM (lasts till 7PM) you can go down to Washington Square and catch a free Save CBGBs concert with Blondie, Bouncing Souls, Institute with Gavin Rossdale, Chestfield Kings, The Charms and others. Skip work!! Go Now!!! Go!!!

Now although I haven’t attended a show yet, and may ever after today, I fully empathize with this cause and have known of the culture icon of CBGBs for since getting into the Ramones. The club should be saved to further the movement of the punk, and rock music culture in not just NYC, but all over America (something SF I have recently learned has started to take a back seat in lately, but that?s another blog). Save CBGB Site

“CBGB is the last real rock and roll club,” Steven Van Zandt, of “The Sopranos” and the E Street Band said. “There’s nothing like it left in the world.”