"THE SECRET HISTORY OF ROCK THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD RONI SARIG Billboard Books An imprint of Watson-Guptill Publications / New York
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In bringing this book from a vague idea, to a huge pile of research materials, to a written and edited reality, many people have gladly given their help. I would like to thank those without whom I could not have made it through: First, to my closest advisor, earliest editor, greatest supporter, and primary inspiration, my wife Danielle. And to all my family and friends for their support, particularly those with music business rolodexes: Tommy and Sabrina. Thanks as well to my editors Bob Nirkind and Sylvia Warren, to my agent Sheree Bykofsky, and to my research assistants Jason Schepers, Chris Toenes, John Cline, and David Rosen. Also, to the nearby friends who provided advice and information, and helped track down albums, stories, and people: David Menconi, Tim Ross, Ben Goldberg, Joe and Elizabeth Kahn, Farnum Brown, and the music library at WXDU. I am indebted to all the artists who, without anything to promote except the music they loved, enthusiastically agreed to be interviewed. Thanks especially to those who went out of their way to contact me and continued to make themselves accessible in whatever way they could: King Coffey, Jim O’Rourke, and Kate Shellenbach. And of course, thanks to the many publicists, managers, label heads, and journalists who provided material and assistance. Particularly, those who went beyond the call of duty – Michael Shore, Carol Cooper, Bill Adler, Neil & Lucas Cooper – as well as those who did their jobs promptly and happily: Kathy Keely, Deborah Orr, Darcy Mayers, Sabrina Kaleta, Alison Tarnofsky, Mike Wolf, Beth Jacobson, Taylor Mayo, Bill Bentley, Steve Cohen, Bettina & Howard (at Thrill Jockey), Brian Bumbery, Renee Lehman, Karen Weissen, Andy Schwartz, Helen Urriola, Scott Giampino, Michelle Roche, Jennifer Schmidt, Tommy McKay, M. C. Kostek, Sarah Feldman, Marc Fenton, Cathy Williams, Glenn Dicker, Jason Consoli, Carl Munzel, Kurt (at Atavistic), Matt Hanks, Vicky Wheeler, Josh Mills, Julie Butterfield, Hallie (at K), Susan Darnell, Shawn Rogers, Tami Blevins, Colleen Mollony, John Troutman, Drew Miller, Jennifer Fisher, Heather (at Fire), Curtis (at Taang), Terri Hinte, Aaron (at SST), Josh Kirby, Heidi Robinson, Jen Boddy, Paula Sartorius, Carrie Svingen, Erica Freed, Susan Silver, Tony Margherita, Stacey Slater, Tracy Miller, Malik Bellamy, Claudia Gonson, Kevin O’Neil, Howard Weuffing, Jeff Hart, Jeff Tartikoff, Gene Booth, Jason (at Epitaph), Perry Serpa, Sandy Tanaka, Ali (at Cleopatra), Anne Pryor, Sandy Sawotka, and anyone else who helped out. Final thanks go to the subjects of this book, who have not been thanked enough for daring to be original.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 1 20TH-CENTURY COMPOSERS...........................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Erik Satie................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Raymond Scott..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 John Cage..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18 Theater of Eternal Music (the Dream Syndicate): LaMonte Young, Tony Conrad, John Cale...........22 Philip Glass........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26 Glenn Branca...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 2 INTERNATIONAL POP UNDERGROUND...................................................................................................................................................................34 Van Dyke Parks............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35 Scott Walker......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39 Serge Gainsbourg......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43 Big Star.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................47 Young Marble Giants..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51 Beat Happening............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................54 3 PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND GARAGE ROCK.........................................................................................................................................58 MC5...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................59 The Stooges........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................62 Roky Erickson / 13th Floor Elevators..........................................................................................................................................................................................66 Silver Apples....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................69 Syd Barrett...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................73 4 ABSURDISTS AND ECCENTRICS.............................................................................................................................................................................................76 Captain Beefheart.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................77 The Residents..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................81 Pere Ubu.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................85 Red Krayola / Mayo Thompson..........................................................................................................................................................................................................88 5 NAIVE ROCK..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................92 The Shaggs..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................93 Half Japanese...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................96 Daniel Johnston........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................100 Jonathan Richman / The Modern Lovers...........................................................................................................................................................................103 6 FRAYED ROOTS....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107 Gram Parsons...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................108 Nick Drake.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................112 The Cramps.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................116 Gun Club.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................120 7 KRAUTROCK..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................123 Can...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................124 Faust...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................128 Kraftwerk...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................131 Neu!............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................134 8 SOUND SCULPTORS.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................137 King Tubby......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................139 Lee “Scratch” Perry............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................142 Brian Eno...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................146 Adrian Sherwood...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................151
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9 ORIGINAL RAPPERS....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................156 U-Roy......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................157 Last Poets...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................160 Watts Prophets............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................164 Gil Scott-Heron.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................167 Iceberg Slim...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................171 10 NEW YORK ROCKERS..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................174 Suicide....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................175 Television / Richard Hell & the Voidoids.........................................................................................................................................................................179 The Feelies.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................183 DNA...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................187 Swans.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................191 11 MINIMALIST FUNK....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................195 Trouble Funk................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................196 ESG.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................199 Liquid Liquid...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................202 12 THE POST-INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND..................................................................................................................................................................206 Throbbing Gristle..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................208 Einstürzende Neubauten..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................212 Chrome..................................................................................................."
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