Unknown Pleasures, Brian Epstein, John Stephen, David Mancuso, Arthur Lee…
Sorry for break in transmission, have been very busy with Joy Division “Unknown Pleasures” show in Macclesfield. (See pic) Links to a gallery of photos and a video tour will be posted on this site shortly.
Other news is that the Arena “The Brian Epstein Story” is being shown again on BBC4 on the 24th August. (see pic of BE with his factotum Lonnie Trimble in 1965). In the meantime I’d like to mention a few pop culture books that have been recently published and that, given the shrunken review space almost everywhere, you might have missed. First up is Jeremy Reed’s “The King of Carnaby Street: The Life of John Stephen” – a fascinating biography of the young gay Glaswegian who revolutionised British youth fashions during the mid sixties. Researched with the full assent of Stephen’s long-time partner, Bill Franks, the book is full of fascinating detail about the fifties’ gay underground – in particular the ‘Vince’ shops and label run by pioneer Bill Green – and how that impacted upon the avant-garde of modernist fashion that went global in the mid sixties. Digressions include the importance of speed to the emerging mod movement and its philosophical implications, as well as the difficulties and pleasures of an underground gay subculture pre the partial legalisation of the 1967 SOA.
I’d also recommend the latest from Djhistory.com, Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton’s “The Record Players: DJ Revolutionaries”: long interviews with 46 DJ’s, running from the 1940′s (Jimmy Savile) right into the 21st century. The cast includes Jeff Dexter, John Peel, Ian Levine, Tom Moulton, Nicky Siano, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Frankie Knuckles….. Check out the interview with David Mancuso from the Loft – ‘I had certain things I wanted to do to send a message, and it had more to do with social progress’ – and his amazing ‘Loft 100″ playlist and then hope that the two double cd “David Mancuso Presents The Loft” comps are reissued so you don’t have to pay crazy prices for them. Finally John Einarson’s “Forever Changes: Arthur Lee and the Book of Love” is the most thorough and solid Love book extant: much new information in this somewhat overtold story, and plenty of detail about the recording of those classic three mid sixties albums and the more varied but rarely dull ones that followed. Einarson has a real scoop: an unpublished Arthur Lee memoir from 2003 and onwards, extracts of which are presented throughout the book. Here’s Lee on Love in 1966: ‘we had the perfect band. There was nothing like it in the world. We had the sound, the look, the crowds and the songs that the youth, and the Hollywood scene, wanted. We were so unique and sounded, and looked, so good, it didn’t seem to matter what colour we were; and that is as good as it gets in this life’.
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August 25th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Will look forward to that Epstein programme Jon,as I have never seen it before-I believe its on tonight(26th)-repeated too,in the early morning.That Love book is really fascinating.I remember when I saw him play in Sheffield in 2005(?) I had to keep pinching myself!THIS is ARTHUR LEE-singing The RED TELEPHONE-IN FRONT OF ME!!Certainly one of the great life experiencesLooking forward to the new Neil Young lp,sounds like it could be great-Dan Lanois is a good producer,and he could make a great difference,as I love Neil Young produced ,particularly his first lp.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
On a Joy Division jag,I was listening to the Cramps live version of Heartbreak Hotel from ”AulklandNewZealand” the other day,and it sounds uncannily like Ian Curtis!-like something from the manic side of unkown pleasures.I wonder if Ian ever liked them?
August 26th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Really enjoyed the Epstein programme-is it me,or do documentary makers nowadays not understand you need to set a mood for your subject that the viewer can flow into-something that made this programme work very well.I felt really sorry for Epstein as the Beatles seemed to outgrow him with their ever accelerating psychedelic explorations,and he seemed to blame himself when they were responsible for their actions.Lovely guy,alongside George Martin-I wonder where they would have been sometimes without his disciplined hand.Epstein and he birthed a marvellous gift to the world.Sometimes wonder what would have happened if Eppy had brought the Velvets into his managerial fold?
Just finished reading the Mojo Let it Be article too-I remember ny dad taking me to see it in Derby-he fell asleep during the yellow submarine support!Agree that I got A Feeling is a fabulous rocker.
August 28th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Hi well too many documentaries today made on the cheap in cookie cutter BBC 4 style. No ideas and not much filming style. Epstein was expensive and had full Arena resources v unlikely would happen today. No info on whether Ian liked the Cramps, more likely two minds with a similar idea. The Cramps first played the uK in spring 1979, though. best js
August 29th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Talking of documentaries Jon,I am really hoping the one on Graham Simpson bass player exquisite of Roxy debut lp will get a showing on BBC Flaw-the Wire article on him is really interesting.It is really strange how every little detail about the recording of an album can alter your response on hearing it again.That lp is my all time favourite,alongside the VU and Nico.