Ian Curtis

Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) Listening to the radio yesterday I heard more Joy Division songs than usual, and realized it must be the anniversary of his death – but 32 years came as a bit of a shock. Ian formed Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris in 1979 after meeting at a Sex Pistols gig. Signed to Tony Wilson’s Factory Records they recorded 2 great LPs  – Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Ian suffered from epilepsy and depression and on the night before Joy Division was set to leave for their first American tour, Ian Curtis hung himself in his kitchen. Joy Division would evolve into New Order and continue to play to this day. Ian would become known as another dead young rock star and for Joy Division’s only real radio hit - “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. A biopic – Control - directed by photographer Anton Corbijn would be released to acclaim  in 2007.

 

Music: The 5,6,7,8′s

Formed by 2 sisters in Tokyo in 1986, the 5,6,7,8′s are the greatest Japanese, all female, garage trio – in the world (probably the only Japanese, all female, garage trio in the world). Even though the group mostly sing their songs in Japanese, they do crazy-fast covers of American rock and roll from the 1950s and 60s. However, their official website and most of their fansites are in Japanese, as they have their biggest following in their home country. Where have you seen this band? That would be Kill Bill 1 at the House of Blue Leaves, right before Uma Thurman kills everyone of the Crazy 88′s playing a cover of the The Rock-A-Teens – Woo Hoo. All grimy 3-chord guitars and sped up heavily accented English, the 5,6,7,8′s seriously move and are just plain great to look at and listen too. Find one of their many LP’s and hear for yourself, Bomb the Twist is pretty great. They currently are on Jack White’s super cool 3rd Man lable and just recorded an new LP – Live at 3rd Man.

5678s in Kill Bill

Style: Brian Setzer’s Hair

No matter what you think about The Stray Cats, Brian Setzer had a damn great head of hair. The rockabilly revival hit England hard in the late 70′s, early 80′s, after punk lost some of it’s shine, and The Stray Cats were right there to cash in. Having failed in their home country (USA) they fled to England to make their fortune – and briefly they did. By the time they finally got picked up in the States on a major label the movement was just about done (Brian even cut off his pompadour and dyed it black for the lp cover). Brian would eventually split to go solo with a sort of rockabilly-alt. country hybrid. He continues to play today w/ The Brian Setzer Orchestra and still has a pretty good head of hair.

The Quiff

Big Fan/Style: The Specials

The Specials (The Specials AKA) – The Specials came from Coventry England and started life as The Coventry Automatics, changing their name to The Specials AKA The Coventry Automatics (that’s a mouthful) and finally and gratefully, The Specials. They were the leaders of what became known as the Ska Revival of the late 70′s (along with Madness, The Selecter, et al). It was a mix of punk speed and ethos and Jamaican Ska beats (pre-reggae) and it would become huge in England. The Specials were more political then the rest, singing about racism, poverty and unemployment and looked good doing it in their mix of rude-boy suits, pork pie hats and Fred Perry polos. They weren’t made to last though and would disintegrate 3 years later (1980) with “internal disagreements” - each would go on to form or play in different bands, most notably, Terry Hall (singer) and Lynval Golding (guitar) and Neville Staple (vocals, toasting) would form The Fun Boy 3 and have a hit w/ ‘Our Lips are Sealed’. The Specials would reform again in 2009 with all the original members, minus founder Jerry Dammers, to tour to sold out audiences. Their biggest hit - “Ghost Town” number 1 in the UK in 1980. (you’ve heard it in Shawn of the Dead and a bunch of other movies, if not on the radio).

The break-up band The Fun Boy 3

35 years later

Photographers: Francis Wolff

Francis Wolff (1907 or 1908  – March 8, 1971) Francis Wolff worked for Blue Note Records in the 50′s and 60′s in a number of capacaties – as producer, accountant, executive – and as a photographer. Wolff was the fly on the wall for most of Blue Notes’ most important sessions and he took pictures of everything and everyone. His photos were used on a huge number of LP covers (the below photo being Coltranes’ Blue Train session) and are still used for the reissues of the Blue Note library.

John Coltrane

Miles Davis

Baby Face Willette

Sonny Rollins

Herbie Hancock

Miles

Philly Joe Jones

Coltrane and Lee Morgan

Thelonius Monk

Sonny Rollins

Max Roach

Style: Soul Train

With the passing of Don Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012) a few weeks back, it’s time to appreciate the majesty that was Soul Train. Premiering on Aug. 1st 1970 and finally derailing in 2006, Soul Train remains the longest running syndicated TV show in history. Sometimes called The Black American Bandstand (a comparrison Cornelius hated) it opened a window into black music and fashion throughout the 70′s and 80′s. The show would always have a musical guest (Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Shaka Kahn, The Tops, The Temps, etc) who would perform 2 songs and a short interview. And then came the Soul Train Dancers Line – 2 rows of dancers meeting up to dance down the line showing their best moves and finest outfits. As a white kid growing up in Detroit this was astonishing – and the primary reason why I still love The O’Jays hit Backstabber.

"... and you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!"

The Soul Train Line

The Jackson 5 - Michael in hat

a more casual Don Cornelius

Aretha Franklin

David Bowie - One of only 2 white performers ever to perform on Soul Train, preps to sing FAME

The Soul Train Dancers

The Line

Sly Stone