Most of you have probably heard already , but , if not , Pete Shelley from The Buzzcocks abd various solo outings , has died , from a heart attack , at age 63. In the pre- suck , pre- Pop Punk era , The Buzzcocks ( along with The Vibrators , Rezillos , Di... moreMost of you have probably heard already , but , if not , Pete Shelley from The Buzzcocks abd various solo outings , has died , from a heart attack , at age 63. In the pre- suck , pre- Pop Punk era , The Buzzcocks ( along with The Vibrators , Rezillos , Dickies , Lurkers , Boys and , of course, The Ramones.) merged impossibly catchy Pop hooks with a good solid Punk crunch. They were'nt afraid to eschew politics for themes like unrequited love and sexual inadequacy (Both of which are personal politics.) , but it all came together as good fun. And fun is what he'd want you to have as you play his records , CDs , cassettes , MP3s, Edison Cylinder , whatever you got. I met Shelley twice , and found him to be very pleasant and as funny as all get out. The Buzzcocks were still slugging it out on the concert and festival trail, arguably more in demand than ever. The band broke up twice , then reformed , but their live shows were still a celebration of life , so , celebrate his , now. less
John Battles shared Dave O'Halloran's post. YEAH , BLOODSHOT BILL is'nt playing here in Chicago on this tour with Horton Heat , unfortunately , but , Jim Heath (Horton.) told me he really likes Bloodshot Bill a lot . Put a maple leaf on that Texas flag , eh . Rock OOT with your Cock OOT , Bloodshot BILL !
Bloodshot Bill…Only Girl….from the recent Come And Get Your Love Right Now release on Goner Records. Bill is about to start a tour with Rev Horton Heat.
The Kinks….Victoria….from 1969 and t... moreRadio What Wave Playlist May 17/2019
Bloodshot Bill…Only Girl….from the recent Come And Get Your Love Right Now release on Goner Records. Bill is about to start a tour with Rev Horton Heat.
The Kinks….Victoria….from 1969 and the namesake of this long weekend here in Ontario.
Bum….Weekend….from a 7&rdqu...
John Battles commented on Dave O'Halloran's photo: I have a video of The Ultra 5 doing "Get Out of My Life , Woman" as per Iron Butterfly's version . "Tell 'em about the ladder , now.". Royal Nonesuch , wow ! I SAW THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES IN THE LATE '80s....One time , Jimy Sohns from ... moreI have a video of The Ultra 5 doing "Get Out of My Life , Woman" as per Iron Butterfly's version . "Tell 'em about the ladder , now.". Royal Nonesuch , wow ! I SAW THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES IN THE LATE '80s....One time , Jimy Sohns from The Shadows of Knight joined them onstage , but , declined requests for "Bad Little Woman" after the obligatory "Gloria". They even let ME sing a good part of their firstset with them. They were so cool. I saw The Pandoras once, in '86. THE BROOD MADE ME NOT MISS 'EM SO MUCH , after they opted for a more Metal thing. FORTUNE AND mALTESE never failed. MIKE mALTESE LIVED IN cHICAGO for a while , so we hung out. Fleshtones and Cynics are still making a polka - dotted ASS out of bands one - third their ages. less
John BattlesRoky Erickson , Born July 15 , 1947. Ascended , May 31 , 2019.
Roky remained a phenomenal singer and a good soul to the very end. Led the path in Proto Punk and Psychedelia , and defined Horror Rock.
He loved his Wife , his Son , his Grandson and his fa... moreRoky Erickson , Born July 15 , 1947. Ascended , May 31 , 2019.
Roky remained a phenomenal singer and a good soul to the very end. Led the path in Proto Punk and Psychedelia , and defined Horror Rock.
He loved his Wife , his Son , his Grandson and his fans.
He also loved Horror films , cartoons and ice cream.
He performed the impossible time and time again.
He blazed a comeback trail that never came to a halt , until now.
But ,new generations and multiple cultures willkeep discovering his music.
He learned to drive in his 60's , he quit smoking on his own, was reunited with his wife , Dana , after some 30 years , as well as with his then - estranged Son , Jagar, who went on to become his Road Manager and band leader. Under Jagar's direction , the truly impossible happened . The Thirteenth Floor Elevators reformed for one concert. Roky went from strength to strength , performing songs he had'nt done in decades , pushing his voice to new heights .
He had every reason to be proud of so many unprecedented ac... less
John Battles
Retraction: Roky's Son's name is spelled "Jegar", pron. JAY - GAR. I always get that mixed up.
June 5
John Battles shared Dave O'Halloran's post. Bloodshot Bill is also going to be playing at The Nashville Boogie , next weekend , if any of you are going.
Bloodshot Bill…Only Girl….from the recent Come And Get Your Love Right Now release on Goner Records. Bill is about to start a tour with Rev Horton Heat.
The Kinks….Victoria….from 1969 and t... moreRadio What Wave Playlist May 17/2019
Bloodshot Bill…Only Girl….from the recent Come And Get Your Love Right Now release on Goner Records. Bill is about to start a tour with Rev Horton Heat.
The Kinks….Victoria….from 1969 and the namesake of this long weekend here in Ontario.
Bum….Weekend….from a 7&rdqu...
John BattlesI was'nt at liberty to say whether or not I'd be joining Bloodshot Bill onstage to do a number or not , but , I did. In the last 16 years , we've played on the same bill , twice , and I've done guest spots with him as Bloodshot Battles Overdrive. We did... moreI was'nt at liberty to say whether or not I'd be joining Bloodshot Bill onstage to do a number or not , but , I did. In the last 16 years , we've played on the same bill , twice , and I've done guest spots with him as Bloodshot Battles Overdrive. We did our staple , "Rat Fink" by Ron Haydock. He was kind enough to bring me up when he was only given only a short time to play. He played another show with some local boys on Bass and Drums , Deke Dickerson , and The Stompin' Riff Raffs. A real Rock'n'Roll Circus. less
John BattlesUnfortunaetely , The Bloodshot Bill/Horton Heat tour is passing Chicago by , but Jim Heath (The Rev.) told me he really likes Bloodshot Bill a lot , and was excited about doing the tour with him. Paint a maple leaf on teh Texas flag , BB , mon frere. Rock... moreUnfortunaetely , The Bloodshot Bill/Horton Heat tour is passing Chicago by , but Jim Heath (The Rev.) told me he really likes Bloodshot Bill a lot , and was excited about doing the tour with him. Paint a maple leaf on teh Texas flag , BB , mon frere. Rock OOT with your cock OOT !
John Battles commented on Overground Records's blog entry: Sounds great . Is Steve Diggle not set to perform , or is that up in the air , right now? If you go , tell us about it.
May 14
John Battles commented on Os Brutus's photo: I've seen The Vibrators several times since '92. They always deliver. Last time I saw them Ed was the only original and/or longtime member (The Bassist , center , has been with the group at least 20 years , tho' he was'nt there last time I saw them. Sorry... moreI've seen The Vibrators several times since '92. They always deliver. Last time I saw them Ed was the only original and/or longtime member (The Bassist , center , has been with the group at least 20 years , tho' he was'nt there last time I saw them. Sorry , I forgot his name , I want to say it's Pete. He's Finnish . Good guy.). They were on FIRE , THOUGH , WITH AN ATTACK THAT RECALLED THE HEARTBREAKERS , last time I saw 'em , 4 or 5 years ago. They're keeping it going with a revolving door lineup , still working sporadically with Knox , who had to step doen because of health problems.... less
April 28
John BattlesDOWNLINERS SECT - Friendly Fire over New York City , 2001. ''The only word I can think of for it is "Suave"." - Ed Norton , Former Mayor , NYC.
April 25
John BattlesWhat kind of band (Used to) read Roctober ? Why , the Greatest American band from Great Britain , of course , THE TROGGS !!
Sure thing , Steve. Wish you could have met this guy , Wally. He was a record vendor at the old flea market in Uptown Chicago. REAL Hillbilly guy , had about three teeth , greasy hair and sideburns, nicotine stains on his fingers. I used to buy all these ... moreSure thing , Steve. Wish you could have met this guy , Wally. He was a record vendor at the old flea market in Uptown Chicago. REAL Hillbilly guy , had about three teeth , greasy hair and sideburns, nicotine stains on his fingers. I used to buy all these Country and R'n'B 45s and 78s from him , usually at a buck a pop. He still had an 8 Track PLAYE...
Hey , John , I just started reading "There's No Bones in Ice Cream " , Sylvain Sylvain's bio. How do you think it'll turn out , John? Well , John , I only know Syl may have missed his true calling as a Borscht Belt comic , but his humor spills over the ho... moreHey , John , I just started reading "There's No Bones in Ice Cream " , Sylvain Sylvain's bio. How do you think it'll turn out , John? Well , John , I only know Syl may have missed his true calling as a Borscht Belt comic , but his humor spills over the horrors of his childhood years in Nasser's Egypt ( Where he and his family , and most other Jews ...
The Mott The Hoople '74 show did not disappoint , except that they did'nt do "Moon Upstairs" , and "Violence " was reduced to a blip on the radar (Just like on the live album). They sounded great , and that bitch , Ian Hunter , got NO damned business look... moreThe Mott The Hoople '74 show did not disappoint , except that they did'nt do "Moon Upstairs" , and "Violence " was reduced to a blip on the radar (Just like on the live album). They sounded great , and that bitch , Ian Hunter , got NO damned business looking as good as he does at 80 !
or ,are you reading THIS ?! Not likely. I Read the Jerry Nolan Bio "Stranded in The Jungle". It , predictably , paints Nolan as a man of contradictions , loyal yet often insanely jealous. His impeccable sense of style (Even when he was broke.)... moreor ,are you reading THIS ?! Not likely. I Read the Jerry Nolan Bio "Stranded in The Jungle". It , predictably , paints Nolan as a man of contradictions , loyal yet often insanely jealous. His impeccable sense of style (Even when he was broke.) seems to stem from one life defining moment : Seeing Elvis on stage in Hawaii , probably in '5...
TV - ";Chic A Go Go" (Dancer , Collaborator.).
"Chic - A - Go Go : The Movie"(Co -starred with Ratso.).
Briefly visible in the movies "Public Enemies" , "The Big Bounce" , "Plastercaster" and "Bubble Rama";.
Rev. Horton Heat's "Wiggle Stick"video. *
Writer - Zines - Roctober , Bad Trip , Black To Comm , Cool and Strange Music , Psychotronic Video , others.
* Upcoming documentary on Chicago/Baltimore art collector and cool shit purveyor , Ted "Uncle Fun" Frankel.
Books - A Friendly Game of Poker , Conversations with Dan Clowes , Flying Saucers Rock'n'Roll , TV -A - Go Go. Brian McMahon - Memoirs of an Electric Eel (Liner notes.)
Favorite Music
Cramps , Ramones , Fleshtones , Link Wray , Seeds , Elevators , Roky Erickson , Troggs , Pretty Things , Downliners Sect , Rolling Stones , Chocolate Watchband , Sonics , Paul Revere and The Raiders , Wailers , Don and The Goodtimes , Lincolns , Swamp Rats , Treniers , Chuck Berry , Little Richard , Esquerita , Screamin' Jay Hawkins , Fred Cole , Donny B. Waugh , Mickey Lee Lane , Ramones , New York Dolls , Johnny Thunders , Dictators , Dead Boys , Hanoi Rocks , Saints , Stooges , MC5 , Slade , Sweet , Suzi Quatro , Roy Wood , T-Rex , Gary Glitter (The music , not the other stuff....) , Ike Turner (The same.), Nancy Sinatra , Ann - Margret , Wanda Jackson , Sparkle Moore , Janis Martin , Collins Kids , Shadows , Ventures , Davie Allan and The Arrows , Travis Wammack , Al Casey , Bobby Wayne , ? and The Mysterians , monks , Third Bardo , Eater , Lurkers , Sex Pistols , X - Ray Spex , Vibrators , F.U.2 , Hubble Bubble , Los Punk Rockers , Stack Waddy , Pink Fairies , Deviants , Blue Cheer , Alice Cooper Group , Johnny Cash , Hank Williams , Jerry Lee Lewis , Conway Twitty , George Jones , Buck Owens , Elvis , The Pirates , Jesse Hector , Nervebreakers , Vomit Pigs , Superman's Girlfriend , Lithium Xmas , Peyote Cowboys , Reverend Horton Heat , Saints , Rezillos ,Radio Birdman , Paladins , Blasters ,Teddy and The Tall Tops , Sleepy La Beef , Charlie Feathers , Carl Perkins , Johnny Burnette , GENE Vincent ,Herbie Duncan , Andy Starr, Cordell Jackson ,Zakary Thaks , Motorhead , X , Moby Grape , Commander Cody , Iron Butterfly , Orphan Egg , Captain Beyond , Shitty Beatles (Dallas. The originals.) , Waste Kings , Lava Sutra , (Chicago) Mystery Girls , Oncoming Traffic , Greaseballs , Cynics , Brood , Woggles , Sons of Hercules , Fortune and Maltese , Royal Pendletons , Mack Stevens , Johnny Legend , Eddie Angel , Deke Dickerson , Msr. Jeffrey Evans , The Dyes , Los Gatos Diablos , Bloodshot Bill , NoBunny , Johnny Samson , Rockin' Johnny Band , Otis Rush , Muddy Waters , Howlin' Wolf , Leadbelly , John Lee Hooker , Hound Dog Taylor, Robert Johnson , Doug Sahm , Alice Cooper Group , early Bob Seger ,New York Dolls , Sonics Rendezvous Band , Scott Morgan in general , Mitch Ryder , New Colony Six , Shadows of Knight , Five Americans , Stack Waddy , Bubble Puppy , Funkadelic , Velvert Turner Group , Death ,Purple Image , Maximillian , Milano(The Leather Boy), Dean Carter , Jack Starr , Hasil Adkins
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