Gosh!!! Any Punk/New Wave/Dark Wave music fans in UMAland?!?

[geezer butler]

Great stories guys. Seeing Bowie in 72, that's insane!!

Here's too much information

My parents were party/stoner teenagers when I was born (mid 70s), so I was around a lot of partying and saw things I probably should not have seen at a young age  . I bring this up because my dad was a rocker. Heavier bands were his favorite, so Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin stuff like that. He did like some early punk. We're from Detroit so he loved MC5 and the Stooges. He also had Ramones and NY Dolls records, but that's as far as he took it. He moved to SoCal when I was very young and eventually I was sent out there too. So roughly middle school yrs I got into skateboarding in Cali and that scene was my first real exposure to punk. The other kids listened to Misfits, Minor Threat, Suicidal T, Bad Brains, GBH etc. I fell in love with that music right away. It was heavy and aggressive so it made total sense to me. Metal was getting pretty cheesy by that time, so punk and hardcore were like breaths of fresh air.

I moved back to michigan for my high school years and there weren't many punks at my school. So by then I was back into metal and listening to a lot of popular hip hop music. Nevertheless, I worked at an independent record store during my college years and that's when I got back into hardcore music big time. I was still listening to a lot of rap, but in terms of heavy music I turned into a hardcore snob. I still listened to my core favs like Kiss and Sabbath, but pretty much that was only metal I listened to during those years. So I was really into a lot of indie hardcore like Strife, Morning Again, Will Haven, and the Hope Conspiracy. By the time I was in grad school I didn't care about scenes anymore. I pretty much went back to my roots and got back into Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Judas Priest, Slayer etc.

Now I listen to whatever and whenever. I'll put on Johnny Cash, then Bad Brains, then NWA, then Kiss, then some chill electronic music, then Suicide Silence, then Buddy Holly, then the Stones and on and on. Being mature can actually be liberating (at least in some ways, lol).

[Mord]

Mord. You are very lucky to experience that era of music. I assume it was magical. I grew in the 70s and 80s, which also produced so many fantastic music and bands. However....I was too young to experience the Golden era of the 70s. Alice Cooper, KISS , Bowie, Slade, The Sweet, TRex, Elton, Queen....etc.

Yeah, magic it was. I forgot to mention the Roxy Theater. I saw Patti Smith, The Ramones, Graham Parker & the Rumor, Peter Gabriel (1st tour) and many others there. I went to see Alice Cooper (when that was the band name) at the Forum. It was the "Billion $ Babies Tour" (guillotine and all). Man, I really miss those "Golden Years",as Bowie would call them. Oh, I saw P.I.L. at the Olympic auditorium (that was the closest I got to seeing The Pistols).

[Mord]

Great stories guys. Seeing Bowie in 72, that's insane!!

Here's too much information

My parents were party/stoner teenagers when I was born (mid 70s), so I was around a lot of partying and saw things I probably should not have seen at a young age  . I bring this up because my dad was a rocker. Heavier bands were his favorite, so Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin stuff like that. He did like some early punk. We're from Detroit so he loved MC5 and the Stooges. He also had Ramones and NY Dolls records, but that's as far as he took it. He moved to SoCal when I was very young and eventually I was sent out there too. So roughly middle school yrs I got into skateboarding in Cali and that scene was my first real exposure to punk. The other kids listened to Misfits, Minor Threat, Suicidal T, Bad Brains, GBH etc. I fell in love with that music right away. It was heavy and aggressive so it made total sense to me. Metal was getting pretty cheesy by that time, so punk and hardcore were like breaths of fresh air.

I moved back to michigan for my high school years and there weren't many punks at my school. So by then I was back into metal and listening to a lot of popular hip hop music. Nevertheless, I worked at an independent record store during my college years and that's when I got back into hardcore music big time. I was still listening to a lot of rap, but in terms of heavy music I turned into a hardcore snob. I still listened to my core favs like Kiss and Sabbath, but pretty much that was only metal I listened to during those years. So I was really into a lot of indie hardcore like Strife, Morning Again, Will Haven, and the Hope Conspiracy. By the time I was in grad school I didn't care about scenes anymore. I pretty much went back to my roots and got back into Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Judas Priest, Slayer etc.

Now I listen to whatever and whenever. I'll put on Johnny Cash, then Bad Brains, then NWA, then Kiss, then some chill electronic music, then Suicide Silence, then Buddy Holly, then the Stones and on and on. Being mature can actually be liberating (at least in some ways, lol).

  Geezer, I loved reading this! I recently watched a documentary on Detroit's Grande Ballroom on PBS. The Stooges, MC5, Alice Cooper....the list goes on. Did your dad ever go to any of those cool shows?

[Mike...In 3-D!]

Oh, yeah. My taste in music is all over the place, but the meat and potatoes of what I listen to is mostly punk, psychobilly, dark wave and darker synth based stuff.

[geezer butler]

  Geezer, I loved reading this! I recently watched a documentary on Detroit's Grande Ballroom on PBS. The Stooges, MC5, Alice Cooper....the list goes on. Did your dad ever go to any of those cool shows?

I think my dad was just a bit too young to make those legendary Grande Ballroom shows. But he did catch a lot of concerts at the Michigan Palace back in the day. He saw Bowie there a couple of times. Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult, Nugent. I think he saw the Kinks there.

Mars will like this story: my parents saw Kiss at the Hartland Skating Rink back in 75 (maybe 74). I think it was like 1,500 capacity venue.

I have uncles and older cousins who remember the Grande Ballroom though. One uncle was a roadie at some of the shows. I think he said he worked Grand Funk Railroad show in like 69. A certain band called "Led Zeppelin" opened up! I hear from people that the vibe was real egalitarian. In other words, they would have house parties after the show and didn't matter if you were in the audience or a roadie or whatever, you'd go to the party and guys like Iggy, Alice, and Wayne Kramer would just be there kicking it. So awesome.

[Mord]

I think my dad was just a bit too young to make those legendary Grande Ballroom shows. But he did catch a lot of concerts at the Michigan Palace back in the day. He saw Bowie there a couple of times. Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult, Nugent. I think he saw the Kinks there.

Mars will like this story: my parents saw Kiss at the Hartland Skating Rink back in 75 (maybe 74). I think it was like 1,500 capacity venue.

I have uncles and older cousins who remember the Grande Ballroom though. One uncle was a roadie at some of the shows. I think he said he worked Grand Funk Railroad show in like 69. A certain band called "Led Zeppelin" opened up! I hear from people that the vibe was real egalitarian. In other words, they would have house parties after the show and didn't matter if you were in the audience or a roadie or whatever, you'd go to the party and guys like Iggy, Alice, and Wayne Kramer would just be there kicking it. So awesome.

   Great stories! I saw Grand Funk in 1970 (or 71). I thought they sucked, but a certain band named Black Sabbath opened. They saved the night for me. Btw, I skipped my senior prom, so my girlfriend and I could see the Kinks the same night. They were fantastic.

[marsattacks666]

I think my dad was just a bit too young to make those legendary Grande Ballroom shows. But he did catch a lot of concerts at the Michigan Palace back in the day. He saw Bowie there a couple of times. Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult, Nugent. I think he saw the Kinks there.

Mars will like this story: my parents saw Kiss at the Hartland Skating Rink back in 75 (maybe 74). I think it was like 1,500 capacity venue.

I have uncles and older cousins who remember the Grande Ballroom though. One uncle was a roadie at some of the shows. I think he said he worked Grand Funk Railroad show in like 69. A certain band called "Led Zeppelin" opened up! I hear from people that the vibe was real egalitarian. In other words, they would have house parties after the show and didn't matter if you were in the audience or a roadie or whatever, you'd go to the party and guys like Iggy, Alice, and Wayne Kramer would just be there kicking it. So awesome.

Definitely. I still wish I experienced the Heyday of early Hard Rock and Metal. Bowie, Alice, KISS, Zeppelin.....all amazing, all legendary in their own right. Great anecdotes.

[Hepcat]

I remember having what I think was the first Dead Boys album. I was checking it out thinking the P's were out. When "Caught with the Meat in Yer Mouth" cranked in my mom came storming in the living room and had a tirade.

Most parents are prone to hysteria. The whole 'perspective" thing is something they lack.

Back around 1971 my father destroyed this King Crimson LP cover because he was angry at me for some reason I've long forgotten:



He was always ready to assume the worst about me. Not that there was anything wrong with me (hell, not only was I a really good student but I didn't even drink or smoke), but like I say these parent people just have no perspective when it comes to their kids.

 

[marsattacks666]

Here is a great , Post/Dark Wave band, with Gary Newman.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u4EMmvP8rWo

[Mord]

Most parents are prone to hysteria. The whole 'perspective" thing is something they lack.

Back around 1971 my father destroyed this King Crimson LP cover because he was angry at me for some reason I've long forgotten:



He was always ready to assume the worst about me. Not that there was anything wrong with me (hell, not only was I a really good student but I didn't even drink or smoke), but like I say these parent people just have no perspective when it comes to their kids.

 

I've always liked that cover. It's not a band parents had to worry about. My mom tried to do the same thing to my brother's records. Even though she didn't threaten mine, I felt it was my duty to protect them. I put myself in front of the albums, and got hell from my dad later. The music was saved. I guess it's a paranoid parent thing.

[Hepcat]

I guess it's a paranoid parent thing.

That about sums it up right there. Speaking of which I wonder how many parents hyperventilated when they caught their young boys with Playboy or Penthouse magazines?

 

[Mord]

That about sums it up right there. Speaking of which I wonder how many parents hyperventilated when they caught their young boys with Playboy or Penthouse magazines?

 

I got my Playboy mags from dear old dad's collection. I always snuck them back in the exact same order.

[geezer butler]

I got my Playboy mags from dear old dad's collection. I always snuck them back in the exact same order.

 

[Hepcat]

I went to see Alice Cooper (when that was the band name) at the Forum. It was the "Billion $ Babies Tour" (guillotine and all).

Alice Cooper was a regular feature attraction at London's Wonderland Swim and Dance Pavilion circa 1969-70. "Swim and dance at Wonderland!" went the radio commercials.



This was at about the time of the release of their first LP when Alice Cooper was reputed to throw live chickens into the audience:



Other regular acts at Wonderland were Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys and Toronto bands Mandala, George Oliver & His Children and Grant Smith & the Power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyIlQxaX5UE

Sadly I never took in any of the Alice Cooper shows at Wonderland. I did, however, take in a performance by Alice Cooper shortly after they hit it big with I'm Eighteen. It was an outdoor concert at the University of Western Ontario during Frosh/Orientation week in September 1971. There were no reserved seats. Students/fans just sat on the grass wherever. Just before the start of the concert a representative from the Student Council took the stage to encourage students to support some charity. While most everybody in the generally laid back crowd either listened politely or just ignored the fellow, the student rep was after a few sentences interrupted by a strident shout "Get off the stage, as**ole!"

"That sounds like something one of my buddies would yell" I thought immediately. (We took pride in our callousness and offending polite society. Despite our long hair, we sneered at the whole hippie ethos.) Well I was right! My buddy Anthony had snuck in by crawling under the fence.

Alice Cooper performed that evening all dressed in green spandex outfits very much like scuba diving suits. And a nurse in uniform did come out to take straight-jacketed singer Alice away after the Ballad of Dwight Fry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfqrZvKI_1g

I also clearly remember singer Alice substituting the lyrics "Drinking Labatt's 50 Ale" into one of the songs and then spitting a mouthful into the crowd:



That was when all Canadian brews were sold in stubbies and 50 Ale was at the height of its popularity as Canada's best selling beer.

 

[geezer butler]

Great story Hep. Thanks for sharing. I would love to have seen Alice back then. Didn't the infamous "chicken" incident take place at a concert in Ontario?