Month: May 2015

Quite possible the loudest library ever.

Quite possible the loudest library ever.

The Mick Jones Rock ‘n’ Roll Public Library

In discussing his Rock ‘n’ Roll Public Library Mick Jones points out, ‘I’m interested in everything.’

Not surprising when you look at the work of The Clash. Their first self-titled album is a punk rock blueprint. But it wasn’t long before they started to ignore the expectations of what a punk band should sound like.  On London Calling and even more so on Sandinista, they embraced a vast and eclectic range of influences from reggae to funk to gospel.

What does come as a surprise is that Mick Jones was such a hoarder. Buddy kept everything, but his hairline. And It wasn’t only rock star navel gazing. Mick’s interest in pop culture runs way beyond his own band’s achievements. While the Rock ‘n’ Roll Public Library consists of Clash and Big Audio Dynamite collectibles, including gear, garb and art, the library houses books, magazines, movies and art from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Continue reading Quite possible the loudest library ever.

Ron before he was Stoned.

Ron before he was Stoned.

Signed Ron and Pete Print from Ron Wood’s How Can It Be? Diary

How Can It Be? is a diary kept by Ron Wood in 1965, 10 years before he became a Rolling Stone. Wood has been with the Stones since 1975. Although his contributions started a little earlier with It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, an album he didn’t make the cover of, but made contributions notably the title track.

What makes How Can It Be? so intriguing is that it is based on the observations of an 18-year-old Wood and not the recollections of an elder statesman of rock. An accomplished painter, Wood also adds illustrations to the story, which were inspired by the musings of his younger self. Continue reading Ron before he was Stoned.

Street Art

Street Art

The Jam Going Underground Ltd. Ed. London Print

Addicted To London’s Sounds from the Streets is a series of limited edition prints giving a big up to bands that made the square mile their home. The Beatles, The Jam and The Clash are bands that addressed the London experience, certainly in the case of the latter two. The Beatles are not so much known for writing about the city as much as creating one of its most famous landmarks. Just google abbey road to see the endless pages of imitators blocking traffic to recreate the album cover.

The Going Underground print uses the title of The Jam’s first #1 single. Which is kinda perfect right? And when you think of songs like In The City, A Town Called Malice and Down In A Tube Station At Midnight, it’s kind of like Mr. Weller spent a career writing songs for this moment. At least that’s what you can tell your wife when she complains about how much you spent. Continue reading Street Art

Nivana Wet and Wild

Nivana Wet and Wild

Nevermind outtake pic by Kirk Weddle

The Kurt Cobain documentary Montage of Heck just keeps on giving. Director Bret Morgan dug (and dove) deep to find all the unseen and unheard Nirvana material he could get into his film. Among the bounty are a series of never seen Nirvana Nevermind pics. The shots are outtakes from a promotional shoot by Kirk Weddle taken a couple of months after he had shot the now iconic baby cover.

You can find and even purchase prints of the previously unreleased photos at The Austin Modern Rocks Gallery. If nothing else it’s fun to scan the pics to see if there are any bubbles coming out of the boy’s butts.

Jam I am.

Jam I am.

Rick Buckler is the first member of The Jam to write his biography. That’s Entertainment: My Life in The Jam will no doubt be eagerly received by fans of the band. And there are a lot of them. Jam Fans. Sam I am.

One of the best Brit bands that never translated across the Atlantic, the Jam were huge in the UK. Why they never struck a chord here is up for discussion. Maybe it’s due to Paul Weller’s unapologetic Brit drawl, or that the subject matter of a lot of their songs focused on disgruntled English life of the late 70s (see The Eton Rifles). Let’s just blame the crappy FM radio of yesterday. Continue reading Jam I am.