sing a long

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Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics live! From 1980. Before my time, I credit my older cousins for introducing me to lots of good music much to my parents’ shock and anguish. I have an original pressing of “New Hope For The Wretched” on vinyl—but nothing to play it on… “Tight Black Pants” is the first track.

Wendy is really cute here. She was one of the earliest pioneers for women in modern rock. Especially punk and hard rock. Her stage act often consisted of using a chain saw to cut a guitar in half, smashing a TV with a sledgehammer, and blowing shit up.

Wendy took her own life in 1998. From what I know she suffered from depression for many years. You can read about it on the Internet. I think Wendy would rather we celebrate her life and enjoy her music.

Here is a review from Instant Karma Records:

This is a 2014 remaster of The Plasmatics Earth Shaking 1980 debut album "New Hope For The Wretched" Right when you thought Punk was dead Fuck You!!! Along cums the Plasmatics sticking it in your eye with "Butcher Baby." The first catchy tune to utilize a chainsaw on a hit record. This edition includes a second album of live performances of some wonderfully sick shit This double album has been pressed with some baby vomit colored vinyl. The songs on this sonic disaster are: Tight Black Pants,Monkey Suit, Living Dead, Test Tube Babies, Won't You, Concrete Shoes, Squirm (Live), Want You Baby, Dreamlover, Sometimes I, Corruption, Butcher Baby, Sometimes I (live) Tight Pants (live), Butcher Baby (live), Corruption (live), You Think Your Comin' & Fast Food Service.

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August 14, 2001. Nu-Metal was at its peak. Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, a relatively unknown band, at least compared to Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack, and Disturbed, came out with their second studio album “The New Release.” It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #102 on the Billboard 200.

The album was shelved by their record company after the attacks of “9/11.” If you are too young to remember that tragic day, or weren’t born yet, one of the dumbest things that occurred afterward was the infamous “Clear Channel Memo” banning over 150 songs including everything by Rage Against the Machine. Snopes however claims this was more of an "Advisory List" for radio stations. The perception at the time among people my age was that this amounted to a "ban." A search will quickly find this memo.

“This Life” is very intense, the subject was someone the singer knew who was in an abusive relationship:

Bruises on your face, I guess you fell down the steps again
that's such a shame, cause you let it,
you let it happen over and over again

This isn't what you wanted
someone to break you down every motherfucking day
it's not the life you wanted
someone to break you, someone to make you

It's just another day, the last day he touches you again
but there’s a price he'll pay
pull the trigger…

“55” refers to Interstate 55 which runs from Chicago to St. Louis to Memphis. Listening to this album again in 2019 I couldn't help but think of “This Life” as the Metal version of “Face Down.” Although “This Life” preceded that song by at least 3 or 4 years. No one should have to suffer abuse, verbal or physical. I’m glad that music often speaks to that. Maybe more people will pay attention.

Like many of the songs from this era, this was always on my “pre-game” football playlist.

RIP Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell (1978-2018)

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From their album “IV” released in 2006. This was the first “CD” that I purchased on-line and downloaded in its entirety (from iTunes). Can’t imagine why I like this video… There’s enough Testosterone here that I won’t need to inject tonight.

Shannon Larkin (drums) is a God. I’ve seen them perform both with Tommy (their original drummer) and with Shannon.

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Years ago at a motorcycle rally I heard a band playing this in a bar. Thought it was a cool jam. The crowd, almost all of whom were older than me went wild.

Using the phrase “rock bottom” looked it up when I got back home. Of course that’s the song’s title. From 1974. The guitarist is Michael Schenker, younger brother of Rudolf Schenker from the 80’s band Scorpions. Looked him up. He’s only 19 here.

In 1975, UFO released a followup album called “Force It.” Below is the “censored” cover. You may have to look closely…

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My friend Leo is up to it again with a little help from his wife, Stine.

Best YouTube Comments:

“This is like Static-X meets Die Antwoord and I love it!”

“This is literally the coolest thing I've ever heard in my life.”

“They are made by a company called DR. You can get em at any Guitar Center in the US.” (Me: Glow in the dark strings.)

“Oh my fuckinggod!!!!”

“This is the best cover I think he's ever done. ❤️” (Me: It’s already on my workout playlist.)

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The “groovy” 60’s! Fuck yeah! A child of the 80’s, when I was still pre-school age, I “inherited” many albums from my older cousins and especially my aunt (my mom’s oldest sister, who was something of a hippie—she also taught me how to roll a joint, but we won’t talk about that now. ).

I have been told that I was a huge “Three Dog Night” fan although I barely remember much from that time. My mom and dad have said that that was the last band I listened to that they didn’t mind. Geeze, and I always thought they loved “Cannibal Corpse.”

“One” was a major hit reaching #5 on June 28, 1969. Three Dog Night had 3 #1 hits in the 60’s and 70’s. 11 in the “top ten” and more than 20 singles that charted. Maybe their best known song was “Joy to the World” (Jerimiah was a bullfrog). Four musicians and three singers. Floyd Sneed (drums) was known for using a large double-bass clear acrylic kit. Something very unusual for a “pop” band. An innovator, his style of playing added power and drive to their songs. He has been a major influence for many modern drummers and still plays today at 76. Joe Schermie, bass, also stands out on this song. His bass playing is very “heavy” and is featured prominently. Along with the haunting piano and strong drumming, the bass sets the mood for what is definitely my favorite Three Dog Night song. Sadly, Joe passed away in 2002.

A great album of the period featuring the original lineup is “Captured Live at The Forum.” Recorded in September 1969, this was the Los Angeles Forum. Where the Lakers used to play until Staples Center was built in 2000. Of course I remember the picture of the three girls at the edge of the stage. Wonder how old they would be today?

Three Dog Night is scheduled to play Belterra Casino in Southern Indiana, October 5. Will check it out. Could be a fun “bike” trip and weekend getaway.

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One thing I’ve noticed while listening to music of the 60’s is the lack of “cuss words” especially the “F-word.” Maybe it was just a different time? I can’t believe people didn’t swear. They must have. I mean what did they say when they got mad? “gosh, gee whiz, darn, heck, shoot, and fudge”? I don’t think so. George Carlin’s “7 Words” monologue was from 1972. The words were: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.

There was most likely just more censorship in music, TV, and movies.

Not this song however. This album was also “loaned” to me by my Aunt. Never realized it before but this is probably what started my love of hard rock. Of course everybody knows “Born To Be Wild.”

I got in trouble for playing this song. My dad heard it coming from my room, came in and made me take it off. I never learned if my mom ever said anything to my aunt but she still gave me stuff to listen to. So probably not. Looking back it was a great way to learn about music. BTW It was my aunt that also introduced me to Black Sabbath a few years later. Even Ozzy didn’t swear back then.

(We are leaving soon after the July 4th holiday. Hope you got to see my tribute to Sharon Tate in the Divas thread . I’ve revised it so it reads much better. Was in a hurry and basically uploaded a draft. Bad idea. One of these days I’ll learn to fucking write…. Andy.)