Runctions
I do like punk- my musical tastes are very eclectic. In 1985 I went to a show in San Jose where Dr. Know frm CA - a band that was cool on there debut album "plug in jesus". Fist fun is a good song. But anyway Adrenalin OD from DC played too. GBH was supposed to headline, speaking of the UK but never showed. Anyway, what was pivitol about this show and disturbing was that the skins were going from what had been, atleast in the US a patritoc nationalist punk subculture to the sinister Nazi movement which they have been associated with to this day with Oi, screwdriver type punk. They were beating the shit out of people trying to dance in the pit and goose steping and other such nonesense.
They were pests in the hardcore Bay Area scene in the 80s. I got to see and meet El Duce of the Mentors in the 90s. He was so drunk he fell into his drum kit and couldn't play anymore. Saw Motorhead... what was realy cool was I got to see Op Ivy members of which formed rancid a few years latter. They are one of my favorite bands- there from the East Bay.
I was into death metal- that was my first love in the 80s and then my tastes started becoming more ecletic. I saw Metallica play in a Rock festival when they were still playing clubs in the Bay Area. 1983-1987 or 88' death metal was still kinda avante grade. This was the age of glam- our antithesis were most of the bands were from LA. The Bay Area was solid Death Metal with bands like exodus, death angel, slayer from socal. The very best metal was comming out of Europe back then. This was one of the high points during the cold war and West Berlin was a kinda epicenter. Then you had Celtic frost from zurich, destruction and Sodom from West germany, Merciful Fate from Denmark, Bathory, Kreator, Venom from the UK. The 80s were a great time for punk and metal. The 80s were a great time for music: punk, metal, electronica, rap, Iron Maiden, Judus Priest, everything but glam rock (though semi glamish guns and roses had some good stuff- Mr. Brownstone.
I also like Janes Addiction- there early music, three days, ect... goes with the opiate high.
And I
Loved the Grateful Dead. I was rare, as an American in prefering electronica to hip hop ( but I like old school hardcore rap). I love the doors too and pink floyd. Led Zeplin- I listened to rain song the day I smoked real opium for the first time and that song brings me back to that dreamy day- it was real opium and not tar (which people would try to pass off as opium)- i know by the taste and it looked like brown sap/ rock candy- years before i had a habit.
As for electronica I like the 80s old school minimalist techno- derrick may, kevin saunderson, juan atkins, and some of the early chicago stuff in the 80s- was more into acid house and post or the soulful body and soul mixes of francois kavorkian- not much political message per say.
As commercialized as he is, I heard your Paul oakenfold spin at E street, a mid size club in San Diego in 98. He had skills- I had 5 months clean around nov 17, 98'- or their abouts- we were their fortuitously for my wifes birthday- that boy had skills- and was probably selling out arenas in Europe. Jeno and his Wicked crew that brought rave culture to the Bay area was good too. Ritchie Hawtins.
Got to see Sublime, another favorite in 93-94' when I had a habit before Bradley died of a heroin OD- they did a good job of mixing geners as did Funk Junkies who predated them and were kinda lost in history. Their first album was good- they went downhill after that.
But the dead scene- that was trully something magical- something beyond description. Blackstar Orchestra and Phish are poor substitutes- their music (especially I know you ridder, scarlet begonia, and others are opiate friendly.)
But the dead shows were something else- Janes Addiction tried to encourage an arts scene the tour before last that was kinda like bringing burning man into the show.
Regae- The sounds of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, EEk a Mouse, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear.
By the way its funny how many great artists got their inspiration from drugs- opiates in particlular (motzart among them).
I'll be looking out for Steve Ignorant, let me know if you hear info runctions- that would be a great show and haven't been to a show in ages- since Janes Addiction last year. I'm turning into a boaring old fart.
Dropkick Murphys are a tight Punk band- of Irish Americans from the Boston area. I always enjoy your posts too, runctions their honest and full of passion and insight. I know Jello biafra ran for office- your right I think it was for the mayor of San Francisco.
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