Don't Be A Dummy

Fun little novelty track from my main man John DuCann, best known as the guitarist for Death Walks Behind You-era Atomic Rooster, and the brain behind the lesser-known but equally awesome Hard Stuff, among others. The tale of how he came to sing this is a strange one.

Originally it was the jingle for a zombie punk commercial selling Lee Cooper jeans, sung by none other than Gary Webb (aka Numan), then front man for Tubeway Army. Once he struck the big time, the record execs wanted him to re-record it as a single, but he wanted nothing to do with it. So in steps John DuCann, now working on a solo album described as "Status Quo meets the Sex Pistols," who turns it into a smash hit on the UK singles chart. Here they are back to back.

Maximum Overdrive

Two things:

Boneheaded cyclists are no different than angry drivers.

And passive aggression is truly the worst.

Darkness Descends

Among the sounds of my youth, Dark Angel's "Darkness Descends" cassette occupies a huge place, having spent many hours blasting it in my parents' old Toyota Camry. So it was with great excitement that I finally scored the LP version in Berkeley today.

To commemorate this joyous occasion, I bring you this amazing vid, featuring the unholy fatman himself, Gene Hoglan, and a pre-born again Ron Rinehart (whose post-DA project, Oil, I just learned recorded a live album at the First Baptist Church in Downey, California). He also shares a striking resemblance to Conan the Barbarian. Enjoy!

Crocodile Tears

Distressing piece on the future of a liberal arts education in America:

"In a response to last week’s column on “Howl,” the movie about Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem, Charlie from Binghamton asked, “What happened to public investment in the humanities and the belief that the humanities enhanced our culture, our society, our humanity?” And he speculated that it “will be a sad, sad day if and when we allow the humanities to collapse.”

What he didn’t know at the time is that it had already happened, on Oct. 1, when George M. Philip, president of SUNY Albany, announced that the French, Italian, classics, Russian and theater programs were getting the axe.

It is the job of presidents and chancellors to proclaim the value of liberal arts education loudly and often and at least try to make the powers that be understand what is being lost when traditions of culture and art that have been vital for hundreds and even thousands of years disappear from the academic scene. President Philip cries crocodile tears. Real tears are in order. "

Beatniks

Still can't believe I saw the Clean in SF the other night. After the whole one-NYC-show-ever-so-rarely situation of the last few years, I had essentially given up any expectation of seeing my favorite roadtrip/driving band. Next thing you know I'm watching these three goofy Kiwis blurting out Don't Point That Thing At Me and a rack of other hits. Hell, they even finished with Tally Ho, something that seemed entirely too obvious to even consider including in the setlist. So yeah, I'm a lucky duck, although now that I want to revisit the damn Beatniks video, its nowhere to be found.

While searching for it, I came across this cool documentary focusing on the Enemy and the scene they jumpstarted in Dunedin, New Zealand. Truly fascinating stuff from a place almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world. Here's part one and part two.

MRR Presents...