Hey , Andy . Well , shedding a light on the trash is what I should be doing (Being as how we have racoons in the alley , sometimes.). Of course , Our Lord Which Art in Heaven , David Sutch , is dearly missed. Do you know that , in The US , his obituaries (Including one in Time magazine.) largely dealt with his political career , which , I know , most people called a mock political career , but, he shook things up for some 40 years , and several of his proposed bills have since become laws , with someone else taking the credit.
He was an innovator , in the rock arena (As opposed to Arena Rock.) , too , wearing his hair IMPOSSIBLY long , several years before The Beatles and The Stones arrived (And even they looked like Oi Boys , by comparison.). Of course , he jump started the whole Horror Rock thing , before Arthur Brown and Alice Cooper upped the ante for Theatre in Rock , but , I originally mistook him for a crass Screamin' Jay Hawkins imitator , and would'nt give him a chance. Once I "Got it" with him , I realized , well OF COURSE , Screamin' Jay was the far better singer of the two , but , there's room in my heart and on my record rack for both....
I would'nt call Wesley Willis a "Garage Rocker" , I think he fits safely in the mold of "Outsider Artist". His songs were frequently hilarious ,but , they all sounded the same.
I found him to be extremely annoying , personally. I could'nt abide by his head - butting women at random , one of my friends from an out of town band was traumatized by this , before I had a chance to warn her about him. He could be comparatively "Mellow" , but , you never knew with him. He was banned from nearly every club in town at one point. But ,of course , I never wished anything bad on him. That has nothing to do with his music , or his hysterically funny musings. I just was'nt riding on the Joy Bus , sorry.
But , to me Roky is the true King of Horror Rock , BUT , they're both Kings , Roky being the American Horror Rock King , and Sutch , The King of England. He may have never actually served in Parliament , but , The Monster Raving Looney Party was rated Fifth largest party in Great Britain. People like this brought colour (Intentional spelling) to a culture that was drab and seemingly humorless (Though you've certainly produced some of the finest Comedians OF THE LAST 50 - something years.). Carry on Screaming ! John.
Andy Climax said:
Apart from this slice of lunacy, i know absolutely nothing about the band. John Battles sheds some light on them in a post above. I love the schlock quirkiness that comes out in some bands in the great and good garage punk scene. Kim Fowley must have a cupboard full of unreleased madness. Others that springs to mind are 'Roky' and 'Screaming Lord Sutch'. Who can forget 'Jack the Ripper'? Wot a tune. Later on he became a pseudo politician in Britain, fronting the 'Monster Raving Loony Party'. Mavericks like this are sorely missed or overlooked these days... Why? i've no idea. 'Vive la Difference' Does Wesley Willis count as Garage? I think he should, haha