i Pinche Gringo ! JA JA JA JA JA ! I'll bet THE LOCO GRINGOS ARE SORRY THEY DID'NT THINK OF THAT NAME FIRST !
 
Gypsy Farm said:

Hasil Adkins, Pinche Gringo (Drummer for The Spins, Paint Fumes)

Chris , I don't know. It's very possible that he stopped taking his meds , but , it's just as possible that he did'nt. I knew one of his bandmembers in passing. He said that Wesley was doing much better , but , of course , that does'nt mean his situation was always as good as could be.   If he'd had a friend to act as a valet , he might have got into trouble , less often. I think he did have one , on occasions. Some people were scared to death of him , because they did'nt know who he was , or why he acted the way he did. Still , the Hipsters were a lot more sympathetic than the South siders , who took him at face value.
 
Chris Henniker said:

I know schizophrenia medication makes users sick at times, which would be a reason why he stopped taking them. One of my friends is a psychaitrist and deals with people like him for a living, but he's also a film director too. He knows the type, but What did the Nathan Barley types know that you didn't?

John Battles said:

 I would'nt say that the headbutting thing had anything to do with exacerbating his Schizophrenia , Chris , but , it's a good question. What I disagreed with was the fact that he'd go around head - butting total strangers. I would'nt want to get head - butted by a guy one - third his size , but , that's just me. Some people wanted to be head - butted , that's all good and well. But he seemed unable , or too uncaring , to differentiate between the two. I think he mainly got kicked out of clubs because he intimidated paying customers , when it's extremely unlikely that he ever had to pay for anything at venues where he was known , at least. I once saw him try to pay for a burrito at a taqueria with one of his CDs. Someone told him , Wesley , that won't fly here , you HAVE to pay the guy. I could'nt help but notice when he opened his wallet , right in front of me  . There must have been about a hundred to two hundred dollars within , and he was trying to barter with a man that did'nt speak English , nor know of his local celebrity.   The other thing , I would imagine , is , well , his hygeine issues are well - documented , I don't need to go there.

The first time I saw him have an episode (And this was after I'd seen him in passing for years , and did'nt know he heard voices.) he was screaming that he had a gun and a knife , and he was going to kill somebody.

 I think all the hipsters knew the score , but , hey , I did'nt. I did'nt think he was really armed , but , he sounded like something out of "Scared Straight". He used intimidation with people to try to get them to by his CDs. I saw him practically crush a woman's arm , one time , yelling "BUY MY CD !!", and she was even apologetic  about it , saying she just did'nt have the money..... I never saw the charming sweetheart that people always said he was , but, I'll say this , when he got on meds , he did seem like he was doing better. I don't know if he stayed on them , later on.   I don't know. I , personally , never had a bad run - in with him , but , i DID'NT GET IT WITH HIM , EITHER . He had some funny songs , just not , in my opinion , funny or interesting enough for me to consider purchasing. He had some hilarious catch phrases , too. But Chicago is full of what JAMES PORTER DUBBED "R'n'B ECCENTRICS". i'LL TAKE LORD OF LIGHTNING , BIG DOO - WOPPER AND EVEN SHARKULA OVER WESLEY , GOD REST HIS SOUL , JUST THE SAME.

Roky Erickson , of course , was also diagnosed with Schizophrenia (That diagnosis was later put to question.). Schizoprenia , of course , is incurable and is not the fault of those who have it. The big difference , here , though , is that Roky is a musical genius.

Chris Henniker said:

He greeted people with a headbutt, but I wonder whether this exacerbated his Schizophrenia. He harangued his audience with insults, which is why he got kicked out, but didn't he try and control his outbursts?

IDON MINE said:

Various reasons I think. He could be quite vocal at times and coming from his illness, could burst into fits, that he sometimes wasn't able to control. Beyond being a charming guy, in his own way. Wes was just an intense fella.

Also as you sure have heard, his favorite way to say "hi" was to headbutt you (and all kinds of objects, he liked or didn't), hence the mark on his forehead. But John can sure tell more, being local and all.

Chris Henniker said:

Why was he thrown out of venues? He wasn't like GG Allin.

John Battles said:

The Hipsters in Chicago DID devour Wesley , so to speak. But , I think his following was on the wane , and , as noted earlier , I'd been told , by an employee at one of the few places that still admitted him , that every other club in town had banned him , probably meaning every club that , up to that point , he frequented. I used to see him around , with his drawing pad , before he made his way into the Rock club scene , and when he still had an afro. I was'nt even aware that he was mentally ill. He seemed about as low - key as a person his size could probably be. I don't know when he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia , but , many people who are , turn out to be misdiagnosed , they may have something similar , but not always the same thing.
 
IDON MINE said:

Oh yeah, Wes is the thing! Coming to think of it:

I can only imagine that he would have been eaten up by the new "performance art show" crowd of nowadays, for his, uhm, all natural looking "act." Only to headbutt them  for a hello, haha!

Chris Henniker said:

Anyone like Wesley Willis? A true outsider musician if there ever was one, who was so bad, he was great.

I don't have a fave exactly, but I listen to King Automatic more than most. Jeffrey Novack, as well.

Oh, clearly those of us who hang out here are NOT the audience for the majority of those performers. Dino-rock night. Wonder if they had to order the BenGay by the caseload...
Wait, where was I? Oh, the 'OO... it doesn't sit well with me that I only like the early music... I'm still trying to stay loyal, but it's not easy. They really sounded so good last week that I keep thinking, ok, now... AND?... is there new music left in those guys?

John Battles said:

I did'nt need to see Roger's chest , either , but it was'nt Johnny Rotten - awful !!

But......Compared to seeing Springsteen , Roger Waters , Bon Jovi , Billy Joel and Kanye West , seeing Daltrey's gut was'nt SO horriffic. Then again , it was'nt about our entertainment. I'd gladly play on a NY/NJ benefit , but I usually don't get asked to perform for GOOD causes , and , with the apparent gridlock on localized disaster relief (Have you seen Red Cross donation cans at any of your local businesses? Me either , nor for Japan , Haiti or New Orleans.), it does'nt look like this wee small burg , Chicago , will be doing any Hurricane Sandy relief benefits. Hey , I hope I'm wrong.
melissa scott said:

Yeah, I'm sorry to say, YEAH, couldn't give a damn about anything later either. And I so want to. All that talent in his hands and Townsend just wastes it.

As for Daltry, he really should rethink trying to hit those high notes now. Oh, wow, worst part of last week's performance. Besides him opening his shirt front. *sigh*

Mel

James Porter said:

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

You Better, You Bet was Ok I guess.  But Athena from the next album was pretty bad.  You're right, why bring it up.
 
John Battles said:

God , I know.....If "Face Dances " had been ABOUT as good as "Empty Glass"
, people might have taken it more seriously....Is it a coincidence that the hits on both albums sound alike, tho'? A lot of Pete's songs were works in progress , some of which he'd have The Who perform before they sounded fully realized. People who saw that show in 1980 , the one that I was lucky enough to see , agreed that Jones sounded much better live than on "Face Dances"...."It's Hard" , why even bring it up? I did'nt even try to get a ticket on that tour. Of course , holding the show outdoors in December , with Billy Squier as support , why would I have?   But , The Who were'nt the only major band having a mid-life crisis at the time........
Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Nobody will ever be Keith Moon but I never truly thought it was fair to blame Kenny Jones for the band the way they ended up.  He's competent.  The whole thing is like Pete Best in reverse.  But howabout blaming Pete Townshend for keeping all the good songs for himself on Empty Glass and All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes and giving the band crap.  Not a fan of those songs but I'm not gonna deny they have quality.  Even Emminence Front was a solo song that he put on a Who album.  But Jones' drumming wasn't bad.  It was just different.

I did'nt need to see Roger's chest , either , but it was'nt Johnny Rotten - awful !!

But......Compared to seeing Springsteen , Roger Waters , Bon Jovi , Billy Joel and Kanye West , seeing Daltrey's gut was'nt SO horriffic. Then again , it was'nt about our entertainment. I'd gladly play on a NY/NJ benefit , but I usually don't get asked to perform for GOOD causes , and , with the apparent gridlock on localized disaster relief (Have you seen Red Cross donation cans at any of your local businesses? Me either , nor for Japan , Haiti or New Orleans.), it does'nt look like this wee small burg , Chicago , will be doing any Hurricane Sandy relief benefits. Hey , I hope I'm wrong.
melissa scott said:

Yeah, I'm sorry to say, YEAH, couldn't give a damn about anything later either. And I so want to. All that talent in his hands and Townsend just wastes it.

As for Daltry, he really should rethink trying to hit those high notes now. Oh, wow, worst part of last week's performance. Besides him opening his shirt front. *sigh*

Mel

James Porter said:

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

God , I know.....If "Face Dances " had been ABOUT as good as "Empty Glass"
, people might have taken it more seriously....Is it a coincidence that the hits on both albums sound alike, tho'? A lot of Pete's songs were works in progress , some of which he'd have The Who perform before they sounded fully realized. People who saw that show in 1980 , the one that I was lucky enough to see , agreed that Jones sounded much better live than on "Face Dances"...."It's Hard" , why even bring it up? I did'nt even try to get a ticket on that tour. Of course , holding the show outdoors in December , with Billy Squier as support , why would I have?   But , The Who were'nt the only major band having a mid-life crisis at the time........
Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Nobody will ever be Keith Moon but I never truly thought it was fair to blame Kenny Jones for the band the way they ended up.  He's competent.  The whole thing is like Pete Best in reverse.  But howabout blaming Pete Townshend for keeping all the good songs for himself on Empty Glass and All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes and giving the band crap.  Not a fan of those songs but I'm not gonna deny they have quality.  Even Emminence Front was a solo song that he put on a Who album.  But Jones' drumming wasn't bad.  It was just different.

At the risk of being tacky, lemme plug my latest podcast, 2012 Big Enchilada Christmas Special http://garagepunk.ning.com/profiles/blogs/big-enchilada-55-2012-chr....

It's got "Drinking Up Christmas" by The Dwarves, City of Christmas Ghosts by Glodblade with Poly Styrene, a NEW Joe "King" Carrasco xmas song, "Tamale Christmas" and more.

What the hell, here's a link to all FIVE of my Xmas podcasts: 

http://www.bigenchiladapodcast.com/search/label/xmas

Merry Christmas, all

I wrote an essay on the best and worst Christmas songs, where I put the worst as Cliff Richard, Wizzard and Mr Blobby. The angle was the best & worst No 1's in the UK, where I laid the conventions of the Christmas hit bare.

Sloppy Seconds - Lonely Christmas
Anti-heros - All Hail Santa

It' not there at the link location. I gotta hear some psychedelic Korean Christmas music! 

Can someone repost it?

Grazianohmygod said:

My girlfriend found this album by HE5, a Korean psychedelic band from the late 60's. No lyrics, but some pretty dirty 'n' fun versions of some Christmas Standards.

The Dirtbombs - My Last Christmas

JD McDonald - Boogaloo Santa Claus 

"Reclaim The Streets" ----Its a global thing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaim_the_Streets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Justice_and_Public_Order_Act_1994

Yeah let us know when the book is done.  I'd like to say something about that in the facebook group I'm in about Musicians standing up against the pay to play practice which spills over into the "bands have to sell tickets in order to play" practice.
 
Daniel M said:

Yeah, your description of the Olympia scene is the type of thing I'm thinking about. And ideally the book will allow people in the scene to get some sense of differences among scenes and for people outside the scene, who are interested in uses of space, to get some understanding of alternatives to more mainstream music industry practices (advance ticket sales, profits from beer sales, etc.).

Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Oh, allright. I didn't get it at first.  Yeah, a book about the experiences would be great.  I lived in Olympia, WA during the late 80s and early 90s and I thought that scene ruled.  We either found spaces to rent, or someone would put something together at their house either in their living room or basement.  We also had the Evergreen State College and bands would set up in the dorms to play.  It was where people witnesses early performances by Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Fitz of Depression, and Bikini Kill.  It was so much fun.
 
Daniel M said:

PM is private message. I'll sen you a note, John.

I'm not working on a book that is a listing of places (akin to BYOFL or DODIY). Instead, this will be more narrative-focused. If you've read Stephen Duncomb's book about fanzines, that could be somewhat similar or the My First Show book.

Evergreen was in the middle of nowhere so we could get past noise complaints.  There were some Apts across the street but they couldn't hear as across the street was like a couple of acres away.   Parties never got shut down in the city either for that matter.

 
John Battles said:

Yes , even tho' I always thought people could have the option of turning it down , or turning it off....But , it never seemed to go that way. And , at least where I went to school , Frats could pull any kind of shit they wanted. Some were'nt as bad about that as others , but , they could be loud , obnoxious, violent. That was OK , they were'nt dressing "Punk" or "Hippie" (Both of which had lost their shock value CENTURIES before being replaced by those flannel shirts K-Mart used to sell , 3 for $10.).

Personally , I think a book like this could be very interesting. We should be supportive.

 dave said:

Hey, thanks Rod, I'd forgotten about that thing. Just looked it up:

Book Your Own Fuckin' Life

www.byofl.org/

"Don't forget to leave feedback. If you leave comments, people can know what's up. There is no more print version of Book Your Own Life, and there won't be one."

To add to John's input, I was at one of those hippie/diy houses in about '94, listening to a punk band. This was on the outskirts of town, and it *still* got shut down by the cops.

Maybe it's an attitude thing. Police don't like punky lookin' kids being loud, but if Young Republican types do the same thing, it seems to be OK with the powers-that-be.

Yes , even tho' I always thought people could have the option of turning it down , or turning it off....But , it never seemed to go that way. And , at least where I went to school , Frats could pull any kind of shit they wanted. Some were'nt as bad about that as others , but , they could be loud , obnoxious, violent. That was OK , they were'nt dressing "Punk" or "Hippie" (Both of which had lost their shock value CENTURIES before being replaced by those flannel shirts K-Mart used to sell , 3 for $10.).

Personally , I think a book like this could be very interesting. We should be supportive.

 dave said:

Hey, thanks Rod, I'd forgotten about that thing. Just looked it up:

Book Your Own Fuckin' Life

www.byofl.org/

"Don't forget to leave feedback. If you leave comments, people can know what's up. There is no more print version of Book Your Own Life, and there won't be one."

To add to John's input, I was at one of those hippie/diy houses in about '94, listening to a punk band. This was on the outskirts of town, and it *still* got shut down by the cops.

Maybe it's an attitude thing. Police don't like punky lookin' kids being loud, but if Young Republican types do the same thing, it seems to be OK with the powers-that-be.

Thanks.

Mike said:

Here's a couple I spun at home recently:

2004 Mojomatics "How Long Babe"

2008 Los Peyotes "Bdaaa!!"

2009 Wild Zeros "Tight Tight Jeans"

2010 Atomic Suplex "Rock n Roll Must Die"

Here's a couple I spun at home recently:

2004 Mojomatics "How Long Babe"

2008 Los Peyotes "Bdaaa!!"

2009 Wild Zeros "Tight Tight Jeans"

2010 Atomic Suplex "Rock n Roll Must Die"

Drinking and Thinking don't go hand in hand but thanks everybody who's helping me out here.  I'm also using Kopper's old Wayback Machine lists but I am having trouble remembering who was knew and what wasn't. Heh : )

Exactly.  I guess you could say the same thing about '67 and '72 as you could '67 and '62.
 
James Porter said:

Rockin' Rod (hey, man!) said:

"Nuggets coming out in 1972 was almost the equivelent of watching great shows from the 60s in reruns during the afternoon during the same time period.  Shows that were only off the air a few years but they felt like....a long time ago.  Probably because they were so different from what was airing at night on network."

Also because times changed quicker back then.

There was a world of difference between '67 and '72. But in 2012, I look back at 2007 and it may as well be one second ago. We all might have gone through personal changes, but the cultural climate doesn't seem drastically different.

Rockin' Rod (hey, man!) said:

"Nuggets coming out in 1972 was almost the equivelent of watching great shows from the 60s in reruns during the afternoon during the same time period.  Shows that were only off the air a few years but they felt like....a long time ago.  Probably because they were so different from what was airing at night on network."

Also because times changed quicker back then.

There was a world of difference between '67 and '72. But in 2012, I look back at 2007 and it may as well be one second ago. We all might have gone through personal changes, but the cultural climate doesn't seem drastically different.

Nuggets coming out in 1972 was almost the equivelent of watching great shows from the 60s in reruns during the afternoon during the same time period.  Shows that were only off the air a few years but they felt like....a long time ago.  Probably because they were so different from what was airing at night on network.  But you don't get that same feeling now with watching 30 year old shows today.  The same way 30 year old songs today don't feel that old (and magical).  Overplayed?  Never having the chance to disappear? or the fact that production for major labels has stayed bland?  Whatever it was about production that happened during the "Nuggets" age seems like it can never be recaptured no matter how you try.

.....This is where it all began. Most of the songs on "Nuggets" were only six years old , tops , and , some , even less , in 1972 , when it was released. But , the need for a collection like this was already there. It was probably called an anachronism at the time , just as some people call it one , today , only because there's a shitload more rarities , readily available , but , it took one man's vision to set the cogs in motion. Besides , the original 2 LP set was not as readily available some 10 , 12 years later. I had to settle for a copy of "Nuggets" with one record missing for years....I even had the 8-Track , which would'nt play , before I found an original 2 LP set. All in all , the original "Nuggets " set , a good portion of Rhino's LPs in the "Nuggets" series (The CDs were terrible . A situation later rectified with the 4 CD box set) and the aforementioned box set , still sound great today.     Mazeltov , Lenny.

Playlist Dec 20/2012

1. The Shanks...Christmas Star....from the CD The Dark Richard Show from 2010. 2 piece combo from Orangeville Ontario.

The Shanks....Brunswick, St Thomas Ontario 7/15/09. Check out those sideburns and eyebrows!

2. Kensington Hillbillies...London Calling...from The Crooked Beat CD, an all Clash CD the Hillbillies recorded. They will be doing a Clash tribute on Saturday night at Call The Office in London Ontario for the 10th anniversary of Joe Strummer's passing.

3. Kensington Hillbillies...Corner Soul...as above.

4. 101'ers...Motor Boys Motor...from the Elgin Avenue Breakdown Revisited CD. The 101'ers were prior to The Clash and featured Joe Strummer on guitar and vocals.

5. The Clash...Gates Of The West...from the 7" that came with The Clash LP.

6. The Clash...Career Opportunities...from The Clash LP.

7. Pow Wows...No. Thirteen...from a Get Hip 7". One of the Pow Wows will be playing in the Kensington Hillbillies Clash tribute this weekend.

8. NFG...Cowboy Rock...from the cassette that came with What Wave #24. NFG are opening the show on saturday night.

9. NFG...At The Boot...recorded live at Call The Office 10/27/12.

10. 63 Monroe...White Christmas...from a 7" from 1984. London Ontario combo who came out of NFG. And the start of our Xmas special!

11. The Damned...There Ain't No Sanity Claus...1980 7" on Chiswick Records.

12. The Gruesomes...Santa Claus...from their Unchained 12".

13. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet...Faster Santa Ho Ho Ho...from a bootleg CD called Savvy Show Stoppers II.

14. Blue Demons...Cougar Country....recent 7" on Boppa Do Down Records and the Blue Demons are playing at Backstage Bar in Stratford Ontario this saturday,along with The Greasemarks.

15. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet...Deck The Halls....as above.

16. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet...The 12 Answering Machine Messages Of Christmas...as above.

17. Plan 9....Merry Christmas...from A Midnight Christmas Mess LP on Midnight Records from 1984. Plan 9 played sleepy London Ontario several times in the mid 80's to about the early 90's and they were different each time.

18. The Ramones...Merry Christmas...from the Brain Drain LP from 1989.

19. Jack Scott...Trouble Brewin'...from a compilation CD called Black Christmas.

20. Patsy Raye and The Beatniks...Beatnik's Wish...from the compilation LP called Swing For A Crime on GMG Records.

21. Youngsters...Christmas In Jail...from the Black Christmas CD.

22. Washboard Pete...Christmas Blues...as above.

23. Deja Voodoo...Bugs For Christmas...from the Too Cool To Live, Too Smart To Die EP on Midnight Records from 1985.

Deja Voodoo and the Edsel....in the driveway of WW HQ's 1984.

24. Paul James...Run Run Rudolph...from a 7" from 1986. Toronto rock'n'roller who's been around for quite a few years and is still playing to this day.

25. The Tryfles...Gloria...from the Midnight Christmas Mess LP.

John Faye of The Tryfles, Irving Plaza fall 1984...only time we ever saw The Tryfles.

26. Das Furlines...O Tannenbaum Now...from the second volume of the above LP, called Midnight Christmas Mess Again!! on Midnight Records 1986. This is the all female combo tribute to The Monks and featured Wendy Wyld and Deb O'Nair.

Thanx for all the phone-ins on this show (and there were lots!!), emails, facebook messages and Heys!

Have a Cool Yule and we'll be back next thursday with more noise.

Here's a link to the archived show:

http://chrwradio.ca/content/radio-what-wave#prev-shows

Andy Climax said:

Not too shabby! Also check out Acid Mothers Temple, Bo Ningen and Boris. I'd rock hard if i wasn't soooooo munchied, haha