The Penetrators: Walking the Beat
(Excerpts from Ray Brandes’ definitive history of a band that shaped San Diego music. Read the full version in Che Underground’s Related Bands section.)
On October 8, 1977, Santana and Journey played to a sold-out crowd at the San Diego Sports Arena. That same night, across town at the Adams Avenue Theater, a decrepit former cinema, the Zeros, Dils and Hitmakers were making history by playing what has since come to be considered a milestone San Diego concert: the first big punk show.
The audience was full of artists, musicians and poets, future movers and shakers who would go on to form bands, create fanzines, open independent record stores, and promote shows and galleries for decades to come. Among those in attendance were several young misfits who were drawn together by their love for early rock and roll and beat music and who would eventually change the local musical landscape as the Penetrators.
At the height of their popularity, the Penetrators were San Diego’s hometown heroes and media darlings, the local entry with the best chance to win the big-label sweepstakes. They took punk rock out of the downtown dives and brought it into suburban living rooms and car-radio speakers. In doing so they became bona fide local celebrities, selling out large arenas and hobnobbing with the Rolling Stones, Ramones and B-52s.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer or more deserving group of young men. They were kind and generous with their fans; supportive of local music; friendly, gregarious and fun. Most importantly, however, they were ever conscious of their roots and grateful for the opportunity to be the rising tide that would lift the boats of all of San Diego’s bands.
Queenie
The Penetrators can trace their roots to the late ‘60s, to a group of kids who used to gather at the home of popular Emerald Junior High School English teacher John Kmak, whose sons Joel and Jeff would listen to and play along with Beatles 45s. Among the musicians who found themselves at one time or another at the Kmaks’ Grand Central Station were Scott Harrington; Steve Kelly (later of the Hitmakers); and Dan McLain, whom Joel Kmak described seeing for the first time in his living room: “He was a tall, whippet-like kid who was just beating the crap out of the drums.”
By the time they got to high school in the early ‘70s, drummer Joel Kmak; bassist Steve Kelly; Dan McLain (who had now switched to piano); and guitarists Brian Quinn and Brian Bardot were already musically out of step with their peers. The band they formed, Queenie (named for the Chuck Berry song “Little Queenie”), was far more interested in Buddy Holly, Little Richard, the Kinks, the Who, the Animals and the Stones than the progressive hard rock favored by the unwashed masses at Grossmont High School. They were led by popular ASB Vice President McLain and soft-spoken musicologist Brian Bardot, who was so obsessed with tracing the Beatles’ and Stones’ roots that “the joke was that Bardot was going to get as far back as the Big Bang and disappear,” says Kmak.
Queenie loaded Dan’s upright piano into his Ford Econoline van and traveled all over San Diego for gigs, even appearing several times at Jerry Herrera’s club JJ’s on Pacific Coast Highway. The band made sure to play obscure covers only, and often became antagonistic with the crowds who would clamor for the popular hits of the day. After playing “Bad Boy” or “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” someone might call out for a Beatles song, Joel remembers. “Brian would shout out, ‘We just played a Beatles song, you bitch!’ We had an aggressive attitude,” says Kmak, “and when punk came along, we could totally relate to it. “
The Big Guy
Eventually, Queenie’s plans to move to LA to record and make it big were dashed when Bardot and McLain had a bad falling-out and McLain quit the band. McLain married soon thereafter; became president of the San Diego Kinks Fan Club; and began to collect the records he would eventually use to open his own store, Monty Rockers.
It was at Monty Rockers, out on El Cajon Boulevard, west of College Avenue, that McLain took on the role of den mother to a motley little collection of brilliant, funny, creative people. He was at home in his natural habitat, conducting impromptu rock-and-roll history lessons and sharing his favorite music with the clientele. McLain was the best kind of rock-and-roll mentor, encouraging kids to start bands; create their own fanzines; and of course, buy cool records. It’s hard to imagine a more important tastemaker in the early days of the San Diego scene.
Meanwhile, over at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, former drummer Scott Harrington was deciding to learn the guitar. “During my senior year I decided I wanted to play guitar like Jimi Hendrix,” says Harrington. “I soon realized that’s a bad place for a guitarist to start. I started listening to Keith Richards, and through the Stones and Beatles, Chuck Berry.” After high school, Harrington and Kmak became reacquainted at Grossmont College and played together for a year or so at Harrington’s aunt’s house, sometimes joined by former Queenie bassist Steve Kelly. “At the time (1975-1976), there were no places to play unless you were a disco or Top 40 band,” recalls Kmak. “We’d put all our shit in our cars, go to biker bars and ask if they needed a band. A lot of the bikers wouldn’t be too happy because they’d have to stop playing pool!” Harrington adds, “At the time we were into British Invasion stuff, but speeding it up, making it faster and harder. I was scouring magazines like Creem and Trouser Press for new bands to listen to. It was all about not being Styx and Fleetwood Mac.”
Then, according to Kmak, “Punk hit, and within six months it seemed like the whole world had changed. There were all these kids hanging out at Monty Rockers. Every day you’d see somebody new, and you’d think, ‘Now there’s someone else on the team!’ ” Harrington recalls: “I said to Joel, ‘There is some new stuff going on, and we really need to get with it.’ We didn’t want to get left behind in the ‘70s, so we put an ad in the paper for people who were into Beatles, Kinks, Stones.”
At the time the Hitmakers — Joseph Marc, Jeff Scott and Ron Silva — were running a nearly identical ad in the Reader citing the Beatles, Stones and Kinks as influences. Harrington answered the ad and spoke to Jeff Scott, who invited Harrington, Kelly and Kmak to a party in Oceanside. The Zeros were playing, along with an embryonic version of the Hitmakers (Silva, Marc, Jeff Scott, and Silva’s brother on drums). The Hitmakers were looking for some other members and ended up taking Steve Kelly for bass. That left a frustrated Kmak and Harrington looking for a new bass player. The solution to their problem, in the form of a tall skinny kid with a jet-black pompadour and juvenile delinquent sideburns, showed up for an audition at the Harrington practice space a few weeks later.
“Three chords and an attitude”
Chris Sullivan was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in a cross-section Italian and African-American neighborhood. He grew up in a household full of music — Johnny Cash and Duane Eddy were constantly on his older siblings’ turntable — and he started noodling with a guitar at age three. Sullivan remembers that “the lights came on for me in 1964 when the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show.” He tried to put a band together that same week. “I went to Flagg Brothers for Beatle boots, but my parents wouldn’t let me get them,” he says. His father, who worked in elevator construction on the World Trade Center, pitched in 15 dollars to help him buy his very first electric guitar, a $40 metallic-blue Norma with four pickups. “I used to walk the streets, playing that guitar all day,” Sullivan remembers. “It was all three-chords-and-an-attitude music,” he says.
Sullivan’s other love was baseball — he would later be drafted by the Kansas City Royals at age 16 — but recalls a turning point occurring on his 14th birthday. “I had to choose between a Rawlings Brooks Robinson baseball glove and a wah-wah pedal,” he says. “I went with the wah-wah pedal.”
Due to his father’s poor health, the family packed up and moved to the warm climate of San Diego, where Sullivan finished his senior year at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley. In 1972, he was sporting an Elvis haircut and long sideburns and was listening exclusively to old blues, country and British Invasion music. “I didn’t get along with or hang out with too many people — they just didn’t know what to make of me,” Sullivan says. “But I wasn’t picked on because I had grown up in some pretty tough New York neighborhoods. I learned pretty early on to fight the leader of the group first.”
Sullivan graduated in 1973 and began attending Grossmont College, where he became acquainted with Sam Sanford, former guitarist and singer with ‘60s garage band the Gants. The two played a few military bases and frat parties in a group called Thunderbuck Ram. In early 1977 he answered the Reader ad placed by Harrington and Kmak and ended up at his first-ever music audition. “We played six or seven songs, and right away we clicked,” he recalls. “They took me aside and said, ‘We’d like to make you an offer to join our band.’ ”
Just as Sullivan, Kmak and Harrington began to amass a catalog of songs, the Hitmakers again came calling. Kmak remembers: “After a couple of months, Joseph Marc decided he wanted to switch from drums to guitar. So one night, Steve Kelly came around to my house and said, ‘Guess what? These guys want you in the band. We got a gig in Hollywood. Are you in or out?’” Kmak was admittedly starstruck with the Hitmakers, who had some big shows lined up in Los Angeles. He joined without much thought. “The first gig I played with them was at the Masque with the Germs and the Bags,” he says. “Rodney Bingenheimer was sitting at the side of the stage.”
They had no drummer, and they had no singer, but Harrington and Sullivan had a band name, courtesy of Mark Williams, a high school friend of Chris’ who suggested “Rock Jetty and the Penetrators.” They once again resorted to their Reader ad. This time, however, they tried a new tactic. “We would go around to record stores like Blue Meanie and stick flyers in the bins next to cool records,” says Harrington. The flyers read: “Do You Want to Be a Penetrator?”
In the months that followed, word had began to circulate around town about a wild-eyed singer named Gary who fronted a band called Monotone and the Nucleoids. Harrington and Steve Kelly had seen him in line at the Ramones, taunting some jock types by dancing on the ground like a fried egg. Later, Sullivan would remember him as the fellow Elvis fan he met while camped out for tickets at the Sports Arena in 1972. Encountering Gary would be another critical moment for the band.
“We had heard about this party in La Mesa where a group called Monotone and the Nucleoids were playing,” says Sullivan. “We went there specifically to check out the singer.” According to Sullivan, Gary was “flapping around like Daffy Duck.” Harrington recalls: “The band wasn’t very good, but the singer had an energy and a personality, and we said, ‘Let’s talk to this guy and get his number.’ ” “Gary jumped on it right away,” says Sullivan. The three began rehearsing nearly every day.
Sensitive Boy
Gary Heffern’s early childhood in a Finnish orphanage was well-documented in John Caldwell’s 1957 book Children of Calamity. The youngest of eight abandoned siblings found in a barn, he was adopted and raised by a strict, conservative family in Solana Beach.
He has always been an outsider. At the height of the psychedelic era, when his classmates were growing their hair long and participating in protests against the Vietnam War, Heffern’s parents made him keep his hair short and refused to allow him to speak about the events happening overseas. His escape was music, and he says he sought out the “craziest album covers I could find.”
When Heffern was in the seventh grade at Earl Warren Junior High School, a confrontation with his parents galvanized in him a view of music as the ultimate form of rebellion. “One day I was going through the medicine cabinet at home and found a bunch of Nembutals that belonged to my mother,” he recalls. “Throughout the day I ended up taking eight of them and passed out at the dinner table. I woke up in the hospital having my stomach pumped by a doctor who also turned out to be my Boy Scout leader. It was then decided that I was no longer allowed to be a scout.”
Gary watched in horror as his parents went into his bedroom, collected about 50 of his albums, and shattered them into tiny pieces. They then burned all of the covers and inner sleeves in the fireplace. “The albums I watched burn,” says Heffern, “included the 13th Floor Elevators, the Blues Magoos, the Velvets, Love, the Monkees, the Turtles’ ‘Happy Together,’ the Mothers’ ‘Freakout’ and ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ by the Jefferson Airplane.”
In November 1968, at age 13, Heffern snuck out of his bedroom window and hitchhiked to the Hippodrome in downtown San Diego to see the Velvet Underground and the Quicksilver Messenger Service. “At the time you had to be 16 or 18 to get in, so I gave the doorman a joint to let me sneak in,” Heffern remembers. “I got to see the VU booed off the stage. I remember they were wearing suits and Beatle boots and were pissed at the audience.”
In March of the following year, Heffern saw Janis Joplin at the San Diego Sports Arena. “I think it was the first time I saw someone really emote in front of a crowd, and it mesmerized me,” he says. “I knew then — that’s who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.”
Heffern’s family moved to Point Loma when Gary was in the ninth grade, and at Point Loma High School he continued to escape through music and drugs. “I would wake up in the mornings, smoke pot on the way to school, meet at the church across the street and get white crosses,” he says. “I would usually take anywhere from four to five daily, and then go play handball for two to four hours. At lunch I would go to the record store right down the street, and since I was always working jobs, I would buy whatever had come out that day. At this point I don’t think that I was really searching for anything musically, other than the way that albums would make me feel.”
After high school Heffern began writing songs for friends’ bands and began developing his rock and roll persona. “My style was straight-leg pants, striped shirts, Beatle boots and really old suits,” he says. “In the beginning, my attitude was just to stir shit up. I was no saint — let’s put it that way — but I also wanted to do music that would affect people.”
Another key moment in Heffern’s life came at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in April 1977. Iggy Pop was performing his last encore, a cover of Them’s “Gloria” with David Bowie on backing vocals. Heffern remembers: “I was near the front and Iggy gave me the mic … so I sang! The next night I was in the second row at the San Diego Civic Theater, and he again he handed me the mic. I knew then that I had to start a band!”
The formation of Heffern’s first band occurred under unusual circumstances, to say the least. “Right after the Iggy show, I thought up the name ‘Monotone and the Nucleoids,’ put it on a T-shirt and wore it to a show at Montezuma Hall,” laughs Heffern. “These Mexican guys in suits came up and started asking me about that band, as they had never heard of them. I told them it was my new band and asked them if they wanted to join! We exchanged info, they called me and that was that!”
The search for a drummer
With most of the band in place, the search for a drummer intensified. Countless auditions were held, but Harrington, Sullivan and Heffern knew most of them would not work out even before their gear was fully unloaded. “These guys would keep showing up with massive sets with two kick drums,” says Sullivan. “We could tell by the haircuts with most of them.” Finally, out of desperation, they approached McLain at Monty Rockers. “I asked Dan,” says Harrington, “’Look — we need a drummer. If we put a kit together, could you come out and sit in with us?’ We put this ramshackle set together, and he started playing and it sounded great.” Sullivan remembers that first practice: “Dan wasn’t a great time keeper, but he had a great feel for the drums — he had rock and roll in his soul. We all generally accepted that since he had that feel, he was only going to get better.”
The now complete Penetrators began to write their own songs and develop a set list. “Early on we were doing as many originals as possible,” Sullivan says. “I wasn’t a very good cover player,” he adds. “It was easier for me to play what I had written. So I’d start with a bass hook, Scott would help me with the chords, and then Gary would write the lyrics.” Rounding out the set were songs like ‘Do You Love Me?’ by the Contours; ‘Don’t Lie to Me’ by Chuck Berry; and some Bo Diddley, Sex Pistols, Ramones, and Kinks.
The Penetrators’ debut took place in the recreation room of the Sea Colony Inn in Ocean Beach. Soon afterwards, they played their first club gig at Abbey Road, located on the 3100 block of University Avenue in North Park. The club was originally a small discotheque, complete with disco ball and strobe lights, but in the early days of the burgeoning San Diego punk scene, Abbey Road began opening on Mondays for “New Wave Night.” It wasn’t much, but at the time it was one of the few games in town.
Sullivan remembers the house bouncer used to give him a hard time, calling him “John Travolta.” Harrington laughingly recalls a show in early 1978 when he, McLain and Steve Kelly, playing in a side project called The Mondellos, opened for the group X. Somehow, the Mondellos’ onstage antics were insulting to the members of X. “They thought we were mocking punk rock,” Harrington says, “and became very upset. Exene and John Doe got in a fistfight with us outside the club!”
The Penetrators rapidly developed a following around town, playing house parties and shows at the North Park Lions Club; the VFW Hall in La Mesa (where the La Mesa Police showed up with their canine units); the Skeleton Club; and the San Diego Yacht Club.
Their popularity was due in large degree to their charming, unreserved personalities. They were natural public-relations representatives — friendly, outgoing and well-spoken — and it was easy to root for their success because they were such genuinely nice guys. They wanted to see other bands do well and were supportive of younger musicians and fans. Harrington, Sullivan, McLain and Heffern worked every room of every party they attended, and Chris, as de facto leader of the band, typed press releases and invitations to members of the local press. “My approach,” says Sullivan, “was the same approach I took with bullies. I pitched us to the very top. And one by one, these guys started showing up for our shows.”
Untamed Youth
In the summer of 1978, the Penetrators arrived at a small eight-track studio Harrington had found in Pasadena, Calif., called Hound Dog Studios. It was the first experience for any of them in a real recording studio. Sullivan remembers, “I was really impressed. They gave us books of matches with pictures of hound dogs playing cards — I was hooked right away. When we started to record, we were so excited that we were playing extremely fast.”
The band’s exuberance is evident from the opening drum beats of “Untamed Youth,” the first of three songs they recorded that day. The engineer shouts into the microphone, “Hang on. Hang on! HANG ON!!!” as the band barrels into the opening chords. Harrington’s guitar draws inspiration from the Sex Pistols and Exile on Main Street-era Keith Richards. Sullivan’s distinctive Rickenbacker bass sound is already developing, as is McLain’s brash drumming style. While Heffern is still finding his voice, his lyrics reveal the painful alienation that will later dominate so many of the Penetrators songs: “You walk into that room and you feel those stares/ and everybody wishes that you weren’t there,” he sings on “Vengeance.”
The Penetrators play “Untamed Youth.” Listen now!
The EP they recorded, featuring the songs “Untamed Youth,” “Vengeance” and “Be American,” is youthful, energetic and aggressive, a perfect snapshot of an evolving garage band. It was released on M.R. Records (Monty Rockers Records) at the end of 1978. By that time, the Penetrators had a new guitarist.
Read the full Penetrators story!
— Ray Brandes
Photos and flyers used courtesy of Chris Sullivan and Joe Piper.
Also by Ray Brandes:
- Dream Sequence: The history of the Unknowns
- Let the Good Times Roll: The untold history of the Crawdaddys
- The Zeros: I Don’t Wanna Be a Hero, I Just Wanna Be a Zero
- Lend Me Your Comb: A short history of the Hedgehogs
Tags: Abbey Road, Brian Bardot, Brian Quinn, Chris Davies, Chris Sullivan, Dan McLain, Earl Warren Junior High School, Gary Heffern, Grossmont High School, Jeff Kmak, Jeff Scott, Jerry Herrera, Jim Call, Jim McInnes, Joe Piper, Joel Kmak, Joseph Marc, KGB, Mojo Nixon, Monotone and the Nucleoids, Monty Rockers, Paul Sansone, Pont Loma High School, Queenie, Ray Brandes, Rodney Bingenheimer, Ron Silva, San Diego punk, Scott Harrington, Steve Kelly, the Beat Farmers, the Dils, the Hitmakers, the Penetrators, the Skeleton Club, the Zeros
September 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Nice Ray! They played San Dieguito HS gym maybe around 1980 or 81? I was a student at Point Loma HS at the time but was visiting some friends from Dieguito and one of them knew Mr. Sullivan and introduced me before the set. I totally dug the button tucked upholstered bass rig he had -- and I was jumping like a mad boy when their set started. That was the first time I saw them, must have seen them at least 10 times more over the next few years.
September 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Nice Ray! They played San Dieguito HS gym maybe around 1980 or 81? I was a student at Point Loma HS at the time but was visiting some friends from Dieguito and one of them knew Mr. Sullivan and introduced me before the set. I totally dug the button tucked upholstered bass rig he had -- and I was jumping like a mad boy when their set started. That was the first time I saw them, must have seen them at least 10 times more over the next few years.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:27 am
To add to the historical significance of the Penetrators, (Zeros, Hitmakers)…because of these bands, and Monty Rockers, there was now a venue for the spectre haunting North Park Lions Club and Skel Club 1: The spectre of the Exterminators, The Dinettes, The Injections, DFX2, Claude Coma,and many others.
The Penetrators paved the way for the crush of new bands that had places to play and an audience that would listen.
Also, Dan Mclain, Laura Frasier, Gene King…all very instrumental to the birth of SD Punk.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:27 am
To add to the historical significance of the Penetrators, (Zeros, Hitmakers)…because of these bands, and Monty Rockers, there was now a venue for the spectre haunting North Park Lions Club and Skel Club 1: The spectre of the Exterminators, The Dinettes, The Injections, DFX2, Claude Coma,and many others.
The Penetrators paved the way for the crush of new bands that had places to play and an audience that would listen.
Also, Dan Mclain, Laura Frasier, Gene King…all very instrumental to the birth of SD Punk.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Ray, that was simply terrific! Thanks so much for documenting the history of such an important (and personal favorite) band.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Ray, that was simply terrific! Thanks so much for documenting the history of such an important (and personal favorite) band.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Kavika may remember that the first couple of songs I tried writing in high school were very bad Penetrators knockoffs! (I mentioned a while back that 15 years later, I slipped a little “Nervous Fingers” homage into my song “Brother P-Touch.”)
Like Hobie, Eddie Vedder, Tammy Pollard, Margarat Nee, Todd Barker, Steve Duke, Hannes Kling, Kavika Rives and a host of others, I was at that great San Dieguito High School gig with the Pens and the Unknowns. As Ray documents later in the piece, the school administration freaked out about the pit and the vibe … One of our shorter, female friends was carried bodily out of the gym by security guards, kicking wildly at their testicles — I don’t remember the show being shut down, though. Anybody?
Anyway, the Penetrators were hands-down the first local band that I emulated. And they’re still great, and Ray Brandes has brought it all back, and I’m super-grateful for that!
September 6th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Kavika may remember that the first couple of songs I tried writing in high school were very bad Penetrators knockoffs! (I mentioned a while back that 15 years later, I slipped a little “Nervous Fingers” homage into my song “Brother P-Touch.”)
Like Hobie, Eddie Vedder, Tammy Pollard, Margarat Nee, Todd Barker, Steve Duke, Hannes Kling, Kavika Rives and a host of others, I was at that great San Dieguito High School gig with the Pens and the Unknowns. As Ray documents later in the piece, the school administration freaked out about the pit and the vibe … One of our shorter, female friends was carried bodily out of the gym by security guards, kicking wildly at their testicles — I don’t remember the show being shut down, though. Anybody?
Anyway, the Penetrators were hands-down the first local band that I emulated. And they’re still great, and Ray Brandes has brought it all back, and I’m super-grateful for that!
September 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Tremendous labor of love here, Ray! At the age of 13, one of my first purchases on my walks from my parent’s sandwich joint near SDSU to Off the Record on El Cajon Blvd. was the Untamed Youth EP. I remember how awestruck I was over those guys. They were, from my perspective, rock stars, and yet by the following year I was hanging out at parties with them and had started my own band. What I remember well is that Gary was always encouraging, friendly and enthusiastic. Also, they were a really fun band to see live. Like a lot of the kids in the scene, I preferred the earlier, more punk rock Penetrators, but I never thought of them as sellouts. I was excited that they were getting popular and putting San Diego on the new music map. And who didn’t love Nervous Fingers?
September 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Tremendous labor of love here, Ray! At the age of 13, one of my first purchases on my walks from my parent’s sandwich joint near SDSU to Off the Record on El Cajon Blvd. was the Untamed Youth EP. I remember how awestruck I was over those guys. They were, from my perspective, rock stars, and yet by the following year I was hanging out at parties with them and had started my own band. What I remember well is that Gary was always encouraging, friendly and enthusiastic. Also, they were a really fun band to see live. Like a lot of the kids in the scene, I preferred the earlier, more punk rock Penetrators, but I never thought of them as sellouts. I was excited that they were getting popular and putting San Diego on the new music map. And who didn’t love Nervous Fingers?
September 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Just spent the morning in Cambridge, Mass., with Paul Kaufman — and of course we talked about this article … And again about how great all the members were as supporters of local musicians, both during the Penetrators era and after.
I was remembering how engaged Jim Call seemed when 3 Guys played the Spirit. (Was he booking there a while in the mid ’80s?) The Spirit was never a venue I found particularly friendly on the occasions my bands performed there … but that evening, Jim really seemed to give a rat’s ass — it made a difference to me. (Jim, if you’re reading … Thanks!)
September 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Just spent the morning in Cambridge, Mass., with Paul Kaufman — and of course we talked about this article … And again about how great all the members were as supporters of local musicians, both during the Penetrators era and after.
I was remembering how engaged Jim Call seemed when 3 Guys played the Spirit. (Was he booking there a while in the mid ’80s?) The Spirit was never a venue I found particularly friendly on the occasions my bands performed there … but that evening, Jim really seemed to give a rat’s ass — it made a difference to me. (Jim, if you’re reading … Thanks!)
September 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Hey, that all sounds so familiar…O , wait, that’s because we lived it! Those were some great times, creative times. Thanks to all of you(us) for opening the door. See you all at the next show!!!
September 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Hey, that all sounds so familiar…O , wait, that’s because we lived it! Those were some great times, creative times. Thanks to all of you(us) for opening the door. See you all at the next show!!!
September 6th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Besides the rehearsal footage for News 8, is there any extant performance video of the Penetrators back in the day?
I know Eric Rife shot the band’s reunion show at the Casbah in January 2009 … I’d love to see that as well!
September 6th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Besides the rehearsal footage for News 8, is there any extant performance video of the Penetrators back in the day?
I know Eric Rife shot the band’s reunion show at the Casbah in January 2009 … I’d love to see that as well!
September 7th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hello words cannot express how humbled and grateful I am to Ray and Matthew for doing this. And thank you all for the kind words! I’ve always just thought of us as a band, thats all. I am and always will be a fan of music all kinds. For myself, and I know Dan as well, we were just excited to see all these new bands that were coming out. I honestly feel that I can’t take credit for alot of things that people want to bestow on us good or bad. One thing I will say from the bottom of my heart is that we cared about the fans. We gave our all every night. Thank you all so much for coming out to the shows, buying the records, starting fanzines, starting bands and inspiring me. I want to also thank Tom Griswold who in the beginning I spent many a day with just listening to 45′s with and talking about this new music! I know that Chis Davies has the whole Ramones show, and other footage from the Catamaran.
Thank you all,
heff
September 7th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hello words cannot express how humbled and grateful I am to Ray and Matthew for doing this. And thank you all for the kind words! I’ve always just thought of us as a band, thats all. I am and always will be a fan of music all kinds. For myself, and I know Dan as well, we were just excited to see all these new bands that were coming out. I honestly feel that I can’t take credit for alot of things that people want to bestow on us good or bad. One thing I will say from the bottom of my heart is that we cared about the fans. We gave our all every night. Thank you all so much for coming out to the shows, buying the records, starting fanzines, starting bands and inspiring me. I want to also thank Tom Griswold who in the beginning I spent many a day with just listening to 45′s with and talking about this new music! I know that Chis Davies has the whole Ramones show, and other footage from the Catamaran.
Thank you all,
heff
September 7th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Lori Woods shared a few photos with me from Mike’s collection. These pictures of Dan McLain performing with the Beat Farmers are hanging on the family’s photo wall. I thought this spot was as apropos as any to share ‘em!
September 7th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Lori Woods shared a few photos with me from Mike’s collection. These pictures of Dan McLain performing with the Beat Farmers are hanging on the family’s photo wall. I thought this spot was as apropos as any to share ‘em!
September 8th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Ah yes, that was me getting dragged out of the San Dieguito High School show by a huge bouncer who had a strategic hold on my shirt so that if I squirmed too much it would’ve pulled up (and yes, I was aiming my kicks as Matthew described, my chance came when he fell on me).
I remember going to the Penetrators show at La Paloma and getting punched in the face by Terry Marine’s cousin, then mocked by the SD crowd when my dad picked me up at the curb after the show.
Wow… makes my early days sound so violent, haha!
September 8th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Ah yes, that was me getting dragged out of the San Dieguito High School show by a huge bouncer who had a strategic hold on my shirt so that if I squirmed too much it would’ve pulled up (and yes, I was aiming my kicks as Matthew described, my chance came when he fell on me).
I remember going to the Penetrators show at La Paloma and getting punched in the face by Terry Marine’s cousin, then mocked by the SD crowd when my dad picked me up at the curb after the show.
Wow… makes my early days sound so violent, haha!
September 8th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Ray, Thank you so much! You have honored us (The Penetrators) with the article! At times I wanted to cry, for the way you approached the story. We were always about the scene as a whole and having us all do well together. You captured the feeling …of “all for one, and one for all”! What a swell bunch of guys (band and crew) I was able to be pals with, during some of the best years of my life. The kindness I hear (and feel) daily, from those involved “back in the day” energizes me, each and every day! I have two teenage boys (that play better than I), and there are so many places we go (guitar shops, music stores,ect.) that treat us so well! My sons ask all the time, ” Why does everybody like yo so much and is everybody so nice to you dad?” It makes me smile and all I can say is, “What goes around, comes around”. These folks were not fans, they were our friends! What a great job we had, where all your friends could come to work with you each day? Truly humbled by this honor. Thank You, Chris Sullivan Read More
September 8th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I think the very first show I ever attended was Mature Adults opening for the Penetrators at some High School gym (Torrey Pines? not sure) with my future band mates Bart Mendoza and Kevin Ring. This was pre-Manual Scan, so I’m guessing ’79? A transforming event to say the least. This was before things were factionalized, so all the town’s coolest people were there to listen to the town’s coolest music. Thanks guys for the memories!
September 8th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I think the very first show I ever attended was Mature Adults opening for the Penetrators at some High School gym (Torrey Pines? not sure) with my future band mates Bart Mendoza and Kevin Ring. This was pre-Manual Scan, so I’m guessing ’79? A transforming event to say the least. This was before things were factionalized, so all the town’s coolest people were there to listen to the town’s coolest music. Thanks guys for the memories!
September 8th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
If the Penetrators weren’t heroes to me on their own merits, Heff’s attendance at that VU show at the Hippodrome at age 14 would alone win my respect.
Lester Bangs totally savaged the San Diego audience in an essay written later … Always wanted a show of hands of what cool people turned out and caught that gig!
September 8th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
If the Penetrators weren’t heroes to me on their own merits, Heff’s attendance at that VU show at the Hippodrome at age 14 would alone win my respect.
Lester Bangs totally savaged the San Diego audience in an essay written later … Always wanted a show of hands of what cool people turned out and caught that gig!
September 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
PS: Chris Sullivan helped me think about the bass in different, more-expressive ways … Thank you for joining us here! I always did feel like I was with you guys at your shows. Very honored to have you on the blog!
September 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
PS: Chris Sullivan helped me think about the bass in different, more-expressive ways … Thank you for joining us here! I always did feel like I was with you guys at your shows. Very honored to have you on the blog!
September 8th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Thanks! I always felt lucky to be able to play the bass. Its in a space all its own. Think about it. You get to play percussion (keeping the beat with the drummer) and you get to play melodies (with the guitar). Two for the price of one, a bargain! And I’m a sucker for a cheap hook. I think my speciality was the 7 to 9 note melody you could walk away humming…I don’t hear alot of hooks anymore. So sad.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Thanks! I always felt lucky to be able to play the bass. Its in a space all its own. Think about it. You get to play percussion (keeping the beat with the drummer) and you get to play melodies (with the guitar). Two for the price of one, a bargain! And I’m a sucker for a cheap hook. I think my speciality was the 7 to 9 note melody you could walk away humming…I don’t hear alot of hooks anymore. So sad.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Bravo! Bravo! Author and Rockers! First of all, another “Hats off!” to the very talented Ray Brandes; who once again proves that beyond being a gifted musician in his own right, he has developed into a damn good rock historian! I guess putting all those hours in at record stores, concert halls, gigs, and taco stands while hanging out with the other musicians of his day (such as The Unknowns, The Crawdaddies & The Penetrators) has a way of seeping a special richness into his portraits that can not be manufactured or bought!
Ray, reading this story on the Penetrators has been a real treat! It has brought back memories gone foggy with time, and brought light on some aspects of the band I had never known before.
Also, Your focus on each one of the band’s members reminds me of why the group was so impactful and endearing. I don’t know about other young girls in San Diego back in the day, but I think I had rotating crushes on each of the band members-because they were each very distinctive and seemed so talented and mysterious in their own unique wayss! And the music was energetic and willfil and edgy! The Penetrators moved the room, and their music j just made me want to dance and dance and dance the night away! I remember leaving gigs from Adams Avenue Theatre, The San Diego Yacht Club, The headquarters and many other Dance Halls in my MOD get-ups, sweatty haired, sweat dripping down my neck…with a big smile ear to ear! Those were the days!
PENETRATORS…RAY..CONGARATS on a profile so powerful! It is a testament to the importance and impact of your music to a generation of Southern Californian Kidz!!
September 9th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Bravo! Bravo! Author and Rockers! First of all, another “Hats off!” to the very talented Ray Brandes; who once again proves that beyond being a gifted musician in his own right, he has developed into a damn good rock historian! I guess putting all those hours in at record stores, concert halls, gigs, and taco stands while hanging out with the other musicians of his day (such as The Unknowns, The Crawdaddies & The Penetrators) has a way of seeping a special richness into his portraits that can not be manufactured or bought!
Ray, reading this story on the Penetrators has been a real treat! It has brought back memories gone foggy with time, and brought light on some aspects of the band I had never known before.
Also, Your focus on each one of the band’s members reminds me of why the group was so impactful and endearing. I don’t know about other young girls in San Diego back in the day, but I think I had rotating crushes on each of the band members-because they were each very distinctive and seemed so talented and mysterious in their own unique wayss! And the music was energetic and willfil and edgy! The Penetrators moved the room, and their music j just made me want to dance and dance and dance the night away! I remember leaving gigs from Adams Avenue Theatre, The San Diego Yacht Club, The headquarters and many other Dance Halls in my MOD get-ups, sweatty haired, sweat dripping down my neck…with a big smile ear to ear! Those were the days!
PENETRATORS…RAY..CONGARATS on a profile so powerful! It is a testament to the importance and impact of your music to a generation of Southern Californian Kidz!!
September 9th, 2009 at 6:45 am
thanks Ray -- this is a great article.
ah, that show at san dieguito… the bouncer was just looking for any excuse: he said Margarat was “attacking” people. (some of us were bopping around in a little mini-pit. it was not even a real pit. it was like a bubblegum version of a pit.) but since Mrat looked the most punk -- and was also about 1/4 his size -- he decided to target her. he grabbed her shirt and started dragging her towards the doors, and i grabbed her belt. so he was dragging TWO of us along, as Mrat desperately tried to keep him from tearing her shirt off. what a jerk! we’ve laughed since then, realizing it would’ve been better if he’d succeeded -- as it likely would’ve gotten HIM thrown out, if not arrested. eventually i realized Mrat’s distress, and that i was actually making it harder for her to keep her clothing intact, so let go. when the bouncer tripped up, another bouncer, or some school official, had come over and joined the fray. god, they were stupid. i can’t remember if we sat outside and listened to the rest of the show, or if they forced us to leave campus. Margarat -- do you recall? at least we’d seen the Penetrators, other times. and we got to see the Unknowns, who were really good!
September 9th, 2009 at 6:45 am
thanks Ray -- this is a great article.
ah, that show at san dieguito… the bouncer was just looking for any excuse: he said Margarat was “attacking” people. (some of us were bopping around in a little mini-pit. it was not even a real pit. it was like a bubblegum version of a pit.) but since Mrat looked the most punk -- and was also about 1/4 his size -- he decided to target her. he grabbed her shirt and started dragging her towards the doors, and i grabbed her belt. so he was dragging TWO of us along, as Mrat desperately tried to keep him from tearing her shirt off. what a jerk! we’ve laughed since then, realizing it would’ve been better if he’d succeeded -- as it likely would’ve gotten HIM thrown out, if not arrested. eventually i realized Mrat’s distress, and that i was actually making it harder for her to keep her clothing intact, so let go. when the bouncer tripped up, another bouncer, or some school official, had come over and joined the fray. god, they were stupid. i can’t remember if we sat outside and listened to the rest of the show, or if they forced us to leave campus. Margarat -- do you recall? at least we’d seen the Penetrators, other times. and we got to see the Unknowns, who were really good!
September 9th, 2009 at 9:56 am
JOYCE ROOKS….JOYCE ROOKS!!!! MAN!!! I can’t believe that none of us has mentioned her…SHAME on us!!!
heff
September 9th, 2009 at 9:56 am
JOYCE ROOKS….JOYCE ROOKS!!!! MAN!!! I can’t believe that none of us has mentioned her…SHAME on us!!!
heff
September 9th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
In an addendum to my previous post…the impact of The Penetrators ans the words ans music of Gary Heffern run much deeper than just impacting the “Untamed Youth” of Southern California. as ray so skillfully yarns in his blog entry, The Penetrators travelled well across The United states in their hey day. The fact that they were kneck and kneck with The police for a breakthrough record deal gives us just a glimpse of just how visionary and skillful the band really was.
and it wasn’t just kids these young men effected…but young people like Ray and other young writers, thinkers, musicians who later would grow into great artists themselves. Hey, I’m no Eddie Vedder…but I must have seen The Penetratrors about 50 or more times, seriously. Right up there with The Crawdaddies and The Tell tale Hearts. But when I took up a friendship with Gary on myspace this past Summer, I had an A-haaa moment when I realized that my “edgy” vocal stylings in Everybody Violet had Gary Heffern and The penetrators written all over it! His many performances had really seeeped into my subconcious and affected my vocal stylings and personae with Everybody Violet without me really knowing it…AND THAT is POWERFUL.
Ever since, Gary has been a great friend and Mentor. Any maturing Penetrator fan would buy themselves a real treat by getting themselves a copy of his recent release Consolation…and see how far he’s grown! “Nuf Said!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
In an addendum to my previous post…the impact of The Penetrators ans the words ans music of Gary Heffern run much deeper than just impacting the “Untamed Youth” of Southern California. as ray so skillfully yarns in his blog entry, The Penetrators travelled well across The United states in their hey day. The fact that they were kneck and kneck with The police for a breakthrough record deal gives us just a glimpse of just how visionary and skillful the band really was.
and it wasn’t just kids these young men effected…but young people like Ray and other young writers, thinkers, musicians who later would grow into great artists themselves. Hey, I’m no Eddie Vedder…but I must have seen The Penetratrors about 50 or more times, seriously. Right up there with The Crawdaddies and The Tell tale Hearts. But when I took up a friendship with Gary on myspace this past Summer, I had an A-haaa moment when I realized that my “edgy” vocal stylings in Everybody Violet had Gary Heffern and The penetrators written all over it! His many performances had really seeeped into my subconcious and affected my vocal stylings and personae with Everybody Violet without me really knowing it…AND THAT is POWERFUL.
Ever since, Gary has been a great friend and Mentor. Any maturing Penetrator fan would buy themselves a real treat by getting themselves a copy of his recent release Consolation…and see how far he’s grown! “Nuf Said!
September 9th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Oh Joy, Oh Joyce! Joyce Rooks…What a great gal! Not only was (and is) Joyce a great musician, great vocalist, but a great friend and great soul! Joyce kept us between the lines, and had the patience of a saint. We (The Pens) were a tough crew to keep together and focussed, especially on the road. It must have been like herding cats. We all probably had varying degrees of ADD or whatever you want to call it, daydreamers, easily distracted. Where was I going with this…? Oh yeah, we would hit a town, pair up and take off in different directions…thrift stores, museums, record stores…no real plan, just go go go…too much stimulation! The first time Joyce went on the road with us, this happened, and I could see her looking at us, shaking her head and thinking, “what have I gotten into”. We would play practicle jokes, rubber snakes, oh and yeah, I have a problem with fireworks. In states where fireworks were legal, I would succumb to my pyro urges and load up on rockets. Then late at night while traveling on the interstates, I would lean out the car window and shoot the rockets at the others in our caravan. Anyway Joyce tolerated our frat house antics, tried to make us eat right, and loved us as much as we loved her!
Thanks Joyce for being part of this tribe of misfits!
Next time we can talk about the time at Perkins Palace, when I filled her shoes with sugar and champagne (I thought they belonged to the bag from Missing Persons). Sorry…
September 9th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Oh Joy, Oh Joyce! Joyce Rooks…What a great gal! Not only was (and is) Joyce a great musician, great vocalist, but a great friend and great soul! Joyce kept us between the lines, and had the patience of a saint. We (The Pens) were a tough crew to keep together and focussed, especially on the road. It must have been like herding cats. We all probably had varying degrees of ADD or whatever you want to call it, daydreamers, easily distracted. Where was I going with this…? Oh yeah, we would hit a town, pair up and take off in different directions…thrift stores, museums, record stores…no real plan, just go go go…too much stimulation! The first time Joyce went on the road with us, this happened, and I could see her looking at us, shaking her head and thinking, “what have I gotten into”. We would play practicle jokes, rubber snakes, oh and yeah, I have a problem with fireworks. In states where fireworks were legal, I would succumb to my pyro urges and load up on rockets. Then late at night while traveling on the interstates, I would lean out the car window and shoot the rockets at the others in our caravan. Anyway Joyce tolerated our frat house antics, tried to make us eat right, and loved us as much as we loved her!
Thanks Joyce for being part of this tribe of misfits!
Next time we can talk about the time at Perkins Palace, when I filled her shoes with sugar and champagne (I thought they belonged to the bag from Missing Persons). Sorry…
September 10th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Having been on both sides of the ink myself I have to congratulate Ray on the most comprehensive and accurate story on the Penetrators yet. What a great nostalgic pleasure to read. I even learned new things about my cohorts. And yes — Joyce. You know, in most of the writing about us we were described as a 5 piece. Joyce did sometimes get overlooked because she wasn’t on all of the songs. She was always more than a guest performer tho. Where she sings in our songs, Joyce is a powerful and essential presence. She added her own parts to our songs and was a part of the songwriting process. From very early on in our history and until we concluded, Joyce was part of nearly every performance we did. We always thot of her as “the fifth Penetrator.”
September 10th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Having been on both sides of the ink myself I have to congratulate Ray on the most comprehensive and accurate story on the Penetrators yet. What a great nostalgic pleasure to read. I even learned new things about my cohorts. And yes — Joyce. You know, in most of the writing about us we were described as a 5 piece. Joyce did sometimes get overlooked because she wasn’t on all of the songs. She was always more than a guest performer tho. Where she sings in our songs, Joyce is a powerful and essential presence. She added her own parts to our songs and was a part of the songwriting process. From very early on in our history and until we concluded, Joyce was part of nearly every performance we did. We always thot of her as “the fifth Penetrator.”
September 10th, 2009 at 8:53 am
>>We always thot of her as “the fifth Penetrator.”
Jim: Nice image, given there were five other members — I picture one of you moving over one place to make room for Joyce.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:53 am
>>We always thot of her as “the fifth Penetrator.”
Jim: Nice image, given there were five other members — I picture one of you moving over one place to make room for Joyce.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:24 am
I’m reminded of what my friend Maure used to say when asked who his favorite Beatle was: “Murray the K.”
September 10th, 2009 at 9:24 am
I’m reminded of what my friend Maure used to say when asked who his favorite Beatle was: “Murray the K.”
September 10th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
>>Next time we can talk about the time at Perkins Palace, when I filled her shoes with sugar and champagne (I thought they belonged to the bag from Missing Persons). Sorry…
Chris/Jim: Groucho Marx famously referred to Margaret Dumont as “the fifth Marx Brother” (sorry, Gummo!), and she was on the receiving end of some notorious pranks.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
>>Next time we can talk about the time at Perkins Palace, when I filled her shoes with sugar and champagne (I thought they belonged to the bag from Missing Persons). Sorry…
Chris/Jim: Groucho Marx famously referred to Margaret Dumont as “the fifth Marx Brother” (sorry, Gummo!), and she was on the receiving end of some notorious pranks.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Yeah, like that “fifth Beatle” thing. Groucho’s remark about Margaret Dumont, which I didn’t know, illustrates it even better. But I’ll be sixth to Joyce’s fifth any day.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Yeah, like that “fifth Beatle” thing. Groucho’s remark about Margaret Dumont, which I didn’t know, illustrates it even better. But I’ll be sixth to Joyce’s fifth any day.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:33 am
So I want to see a reunion, although I’m currently in currency in Jersey.
Eric Rife tells me he shot some great video at the Casbah last January, as well as great rehearsal footage.
I sure hope you guys get together again! Maybe I can even make it out west … Or you can make your long-delayed NY debut.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:33 am
So I want to see a reunion, although I’m currently in currency in Jersey.
Eric Rife tells me he shot some great video at the Casbah last January, as well as great rehearsal footage.
I sure hope you guys get together again! Maybe I can even make it out west … Or you can make your long-delayed NY debut.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hey Gang! Tim Mays & I are talking, maybe Pens at the Casbah in January. Two nights (Friday & Saturday) and we record it. We will see!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hey Gang! Tim Mays & I are talking, maybe Pens at the Casbah in January. Two nights (Friday & Saturday) and we record it. We will see!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:11 am
so…lets talk about opening acts?
injections? shambles? blues gangsters? hedgehogs… any ideas? I’ve heard great stuff about the gay denny’s!
heff
September 14th, 2009 at 7:11 am
so…lets talk about opening acts?
injections? shambles? blues gangsters? hedgehogs… any ideas? I’ve heard great stuff about the gay denny’s!
heff
September 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I know I speak for the whole band when I say Manual Scan is up for it.
More importantly, Gary, Chris, Jim — I just want to say how important The Penetrators were (and are) to me. While I was already playing guitar when I saw my first Penetrators show, I was constantly inspired by your energy, showmanship, and musicianship. You are one of the primary bands (not local — *any* band) that shaped my view of what a band could and should be, and one of my fundamental influences.
Thanks for being such an incredibly great band.
--Kevin
September 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I know I speak for the whole band when I say Manual Scan is up for it.
More importantly, Gary, Chris, Jim — I just want to say how important The Penetrators were (and are) to me. While I was already playing guitar when I saw my first Penetrators show, I was constantly inspired by your energy, showmanship, and musicianship. You are one of the primary bands (not local — *any* band) that shaped my view of what a band could and should be, and one of my fundamental influences.
Thanks for being such an incredibly great band.
--Kevin
September 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
(And saying M.Scan over The Shambles isn’t to slag our alter-egos, it’s just that I feel Scan — however similar we may be to Los Shambles — are just a better fit for the Pens.)
September 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
(And saying M.Scan over The Shambles isn’t to slag our alter-egos, it’s just that I feel Scan — however similar we may be to Los Shambles — are just a better fit for the Pens.)
September 14th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I’ll probably piss off the rest of the band…but I’m contacting some other folks… ok…the scan…and i’m trying to get peter case for one night…I’d fucking love this…also talking to cliff from social spit as well. Looks like injections can’t do it…but you never know…I’d really like to have either blues gangsters or everybody violet on one of the nights.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
killer another shot at seeing The Penetrators, missed the last show, was kind of broke $20 to get in.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
killer another shot at seeing The Penetrators, missed the last show, was kind of broke $20 to get in.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I’m with Dylan--I couldn’t manage to fly down last time and would really try to make it if given another chance! I’m not a musician, but the impact the Penetrators had on the youthful me is like that described by Kevin. I’d love to see Manual Scan again, too. I saw a great show by Peter Case maybe a year-and-a-half ago. I believe he’s been out of commission, health-wise, since then, but I’m hoping this means he’s feeling strong again. I’m so hopeful I can make it this time…
September 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I’m with Dylan--I couldn’t manage to fly down last time and would really try to make it if given another chance! I’m not a musician, but the impact the Penetrators had on the youthful me is like that described by Kevin. I’d love to see Manual Scan again, too. I saw a great show by Peter Case maybe a year-and-a-half ago. I believe he’s been out of commission, health-wise, since then, but I’m hoping this means he’s feeling strong again. I’m so hopeful I can make it this time…
September 14th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
The Town Criers and/or the Mirrors could be great for this. An embarrassment of rockin’ riches! (Noise 292 would totally lobby for a spot, but our lead guitarist will be off the mainland at that time.)
September 14th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
The Town Criers and/or the Mirrors could be great for this. An embarrassment of rockin’ riches! (Noise 292 would totally lobby for a spot, but our lead guitarist will be off the mainland at that time.)
September 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
wow…i ‘ve never heard of either of those bands…but I would KILL to see the town criers…ah you young kids…you know when I lived in Seattle I would do these shows with 8 to 10 bands on a night , I mean whoever said there only has to be 3-4 bands on a bill? As far as the ticket prices go…I’m really sorry that they have to be higher than normal but honestly, even with the prices last time, and tim mays paying my airfare…I still ended having to pay over 1000 euro’s out of pocket, as where i live is so isolated.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
wow…i ‘ve never heard of either of those bands…but I would KILL to see the town criers…ah you young kids…you know when I lived in Seattle I would do these shows with 8 to 10 bands on a night , I mean whoever said there only has to be 3-4 bands on a bill? As far as the ticket prices go…I’m really sorry that they have to be higher than normal but honestly, even with the prices last time, and tim mays paying my airfare…I still ended having to pay over 1000 euro’s out of pocket, as where i live is so isolated.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
>>ah you young kids..
Heff: Snot-nosed 40-somethings! LOL
September 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
>>ah you young kids..
Heff: Snot-nosed 40-somethings! LOL
September 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Simon: the last Manual Scan show I saw was great!!!
you guys could alway have The Green Stamps open, just kidding thats my band.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Simon: the last Manual Scan show I saw was great!!!
you guys could alway have The Green Stamps open, just kidding thats my band.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Just left Heff a message. Injections/Penetrators gig would be historic!!
If we added the Zeros and Battalion of Saints it would represent the first four bands really!
As always, Injections would require some beefed up security…logistics would be tough…bass player dead.
I’m game in January some time but we’d need help with equipment, etc…can’t speak for the rest of the band yet.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Just left Heff a message. Injections/Penetrators gig would be historic!!
If we added the Zeros and Battalion of Saints it would represent the first four bands really!
As always, Injections would require some beefed up security…logistics would be tough…bass player dead.
I’m game in January some time but we’d need help with equipment, etc…can’t speak for the rest of the band yet.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Why only two shows, BTW? I’d bet the Pens could sell out far more than just two shows.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Why only two shows, BTW? I’d bet the Pens could sell out far more than just two shows.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I WILL be there if this happens! I missed the last Pens reunion so I won’t miss this one. I would love to see Manual Scan again, they were the best band (among many great bands) at the Che reunion!
It would be amazing to see The Zeros and The Injections on the bill! But wouldn’t it have to be the Neutronz (neutrons?) instead of Battalion of Saints? How ’bout The Standbys? Or The Unknowns!!!
September 14th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I WILL be there if this happens! I missed the last Pens reunion so I won’t miss this one. I would love to see Manual Scan again, they were the best band (among many great bands) at the Che reunion!
It would be amazing to see The Zeros and The Injections on the bill! But wouldn’t it have to be the Neutronz (neutrons?) instead of Battalion of Saints? How ’bout The Standbys? Or The Unknowns!!!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Oh shit!! Now you’re talking about an all 70′s Punk re-union show….How cool is that??
My bad..Neutrons at that point!!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Oh shit!! Now you’re talking about an all 70′s Punk re-union show….How cool is that??
My bad..Neutrons at that point!!
September 14th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Would the Penetrators consider taking its reunion act on the road? A big chunk of our crowd is in the SF Bay area … And then there are even us outliers on the Right Coast.
I’d love to see the band claim a little new territory along the way!
BTW, what’s with this Johnny-come-lately Penetrators surf band I keep tripping over on Google? It’s almost as irksome as Jakob Dylan stealing the Wallflowers name for his vanity project. I want the real Penetrators to take their victory lap!
September 14th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Would the Penetrators consider taking its reunion act on the road? A big chunk of our crowd is in the SF Bay area … And then there are even us outliers on the Right Coast.
I’d love to see the band claim a little new territory along the way!
BTW, what’s with this Johnny-come-lately Penetrators surf band I keep tripping over on Google? It’s almost as irksome as Jakob Dylan stealing the Wallflowers name for his vanity project. I want the real Penetrators to take their victory lap!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Just talked to Tim Mays…this could be a possibility. (Injection/Zeros/Penetrators)
East Coast sure would be better for me ….but there’s something authentic about SD!
VERY hard to get the Injections together after 30 years…I don’t remember the songs…we would almost be a cover band of our former selves!!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Just talked to Tim Mays…this could be a possibility. (Injection/Zeros/Penetrators)
East Coast sure would be better for me ….but there’s something authentic about SD!
VERY hard to get the Injections together after 30 years…I don’t remember the songs…we would almost be a cover band of our former selves!!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
computer problems!!! aaach…leave the billing to us…I love the zero’s …but they can do well enough on thier own…Not saying i wouldn’t love to play wth them….but let me and the pens do the bookings I have also asked cliff for social spit…also I want to do one nite with mods…sorry to be strict on this…but its better to lay this out ahead of time…so there’s no hurt feelings!!! and i dig the iea of town criers, manualscan, and bluesgangsters for other nite??? i still am n limbo about this as I don’t know yet if Its at l possible n my end to make it…
heff
September 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
computer problems!!! aaach…leave the billing to us…I love the zero’s …but they can do well enough on thier own…Not saying i wouldn’t love to play wth them….but let me and the pens do the bookings I have also asked cliff for social spit…also I want to do one nite with mods…sorry to be strict on this…but its better to lay this out ahead of time…so there’s no hurt feelings!!! and i dig the iea of town criers, manualscan, and bluesgangsters for other nite??? i still am n limbo about this as I don’t know yet if Its at l possible n my end to make it…
heff
September 16th, 2009 at 9:14 am
…not to be your dad or anything!!! I appreciate the enthusiasm… and we are now talking about 3 nights…so maybe thats a good thing…????
love,
heff
September 16th, 2009 at 9:14 am
…not to be your dad or anything!!! I appreciate the enthusiasm… and we are now talking about 3 nights…so maybe thats a good thing…????
love,
heff
September 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I so want to see these shows!! Please keep us posted on the dates, Heff. I’m time zone-challenged but will do my level best.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I so want to see these shows!! Please keep us posted on the dates, Heff. I’m time zone-challenged but will do my level best.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Like a lot of people here, the Penetrators were one of the biggest influences for me when I was a kid that led to me getting into playing music. The first show I ever saw was the Penetrators with the Standbys at the Backdoor in 1978. My band, The Rockin’ Dogs opened for the Penetrators at what was one of their very last shows before they broke up… that was at Dance City.
Does anyone have a copy of that “Two Dollar Tour” article from the Reader? When that was published I thought it was the most glamorous exciting thing I’d ever read… I saved it for years, but its gone now. I can still remember parts of it… like Dan McClain eating at Taco Bell and claiming that food with too many vitamins made him throw up… haha.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Like a lot of people here, the Penetrators were one of the biggest influences for me when I was a kid that led to me getting into playing music. The first show I ever saw was the Penetrators with the Standbys at the Backdoor in 1978. My band, The Rockin’ Dogs opened for the Penetrators at what was one of their very last shows before they broke up… that was at Dance City.
Does anyone have a copy of that “Two Dollar Tour” article from the Reader? When that was published I thought it was the most glamorous exciting thing I’d ever read… I saved it for years, but its gone now. I can still remember parts of it… like Dan McClain eating at Taco Bell and claiming that food with too many vitamins made him throw up… haha.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Dave,
I’ve got the article scanned--Joe Piper gave it to me. I’ll look for it and send it your way.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Dave,
I’ve got the article scanned--Joe Piper gave it to me. I’ll look for it and send it your way.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
>>I’ve got the article scanned--Joe Piper gave it to me. I’ll look for it and send it your way.
Ray (and Penetrators): I do believe I’d like to transcribe and post it. …
September 16th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
>>I’ve got the article scanned--Joe Piper gave it to me. I’ll look for it and send it your way.
Ray (and Penetrators): I do believe I’d like to transcribe and post it. …
September 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Thanks, Ray! Maybe it could be scanned and go up on Flicker… I think that might capture more of the vibe than transcribing it, plus it’ll save Matthew all that typing… I remember it as being pretty long.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Thanks, Ray! Maybe it could be scanned and go up on Flicker… I think that might capture more of the vibe than transcribing it, plus it’ll save Matthew all that typing… I remember it as being pretty long.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
>…not to be your dad or anything!!! I appreciate the enthusiasm… and we are now talking about 3 nights…so maybe thats a good thing…????
love,
heff
That’s not good, that’s GREAT! Thanks for doing this Gary, and thanks for planning a night for the mods! Any idea of the expected dates?
September 17th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
>…not to be your dad or anything!!! I appreciate the enthusiasm… and we are now talking about 3 nights…so maybe thats a good thing…????
love,
heff
That’s not good, that’s GREAT! Thanks for doing this Gary, and thanks for planning a night for the mods! Any idea of the expected dates?
September 18th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Seriously, would the Penetrators consider doing any traveling to bring this reunion elsewhere?
I know the East Coast would be a major logistical deal, but I bet our Bay area contingent could rally a substantial audience in the SF area.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Seriously, would the Penetrators consider doing any traveling to bring this reunion elsewhere?
I know the East Coast would be a major logistical deal, but I bet our Bay area contingent could rally a substantial audience in the SF area.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Gary’s new band, Beautiful People, makes its debut tonight, Septemeber 18.
On September 25. Glitterhouse Records will release “GOT NO CHAINS – The Songs Of The Walkabouts,“ featuring a cut from Beautiful People. Here is the tracklisting:
01 Grand Theft Auto – Chris Cacavas
02 Cold Eye – Hugo Race
03 Got No Chains – Terry Lee Hale & The Seattle Clams
04 Acetylene – Walter Salas-Humara
05 This Rotten Tree – Willard Grant Conspiracy
06 Sundowner – The Bambi Molesters
07 Christmas Valley – Jon Langford
08 Fuck Your Fear – Chris Brokaw
09 Nightbirds – The Minus 5
10 Jack Candy – Steve Wynn & Lin da Pitmon
11 Specimen Days – Savoy Grand
12 Wondertown – Whip
13 Nights Between Stations – Al DeLoner
14 Unholy Dreams – Gary Heffern & Beautiful People
15 The Light Will Stay On – Locas in Love
September 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
>>On September 25. Glitterhouse Records will release “GOT NO CHAINS – The Songs Of The Walkabouts,“ featuring a cut from Beautiful People.
Where can we buy??
September 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
>>On September 25. Glitterhouse Records will release “GOT NO CHAINS – The Songs Of The Walkabouts,“ featuring a cut from Beautiful People.
Where can we buy??
September 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“I know the East Coast would be a major logistical deal, but I bet our Bay area contingent could rally a substantial audience in the SF area.”
An SF Penetrators show would be awesome! There are lifelong Pens fans in the Bay Area, meself included…
The Penetrator’s dual-Chris guitar factor was huge, both are enormously influential, innovative players on 6 and 4 strings. Mr. Sullivan’s angular bass riffs framed the tunes and Mr. Davies cooked up some seriously unhinged riffs (‘Sensitive Boy’, fer instance, is absolutely masterful) — look forward to witnessing some more big ‘Twin’Verb tone in person.
Congrats on your band debut Gary!! Can’t wait to hear your new music!
September 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“I know the East Coast would be a major logistical deal, but I bet our Bay area contingent could rally a substantial audience in the SF area.”
An SF Penetrators show would be awesome! There are lifelong Pens fans in the Bay Area, meself included…
The Penetrator’s dual-Chris guitar factor was huge, both are enormously influential, innovative players on 6 and 4 strings. Mr. Sullivan’s angular bass riffs framed the tunes and Mr. Davies cooked up some seriously unhinged riffs (‘Sensitive Boy’, fer instance, is absolutely masterful) — look forward to witnessing some more big ‘Twin’Verb tone in person.
Congrats on your band debut Gary!! Can’t wait to hear your new music!
September 19th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I’m totally going to beat the drum for a Penetrators show in SF!! We have so many expats there, you guys would get a rousing welcome. Maybe our Bay area contingent could even help with logistics.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I’m totally going to beat the drum for a Penetrators show in SF!! We have so many expats there, you guys would get a rousing welcome. Maybe our Bay area contingent could even help with logistics.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:21 am
wow…thanks for all the kind words on this…I doubt seriously if SF would be able to be done as far as everyones schedule…and i’m still trying to figure out if SD can even be done, and unfortunately won’t know for some time…it just takes alot of organization …I think the only way to gt that cd is going to be by mailorder through the glitterhouse website…first show with beautiful people went better than expected and much larger crowd than we expected as well…whew…feet are wet and it feels good!
heff
September 20th, 2009 at 10:21 am
wow…thanks for all the kind words on this…I doubt seriously if SF would be able to be done as far as everyones schedule…and i’m still trying to figure out if SD can even be done, and unfortunately won’t know for some time…it just takes alot of organization …I think the only way to gt that cd is going to be by mailorder through the glitterhouse website…first show with beautiful people went better than expected and much larger crowd than we expected as well…whew…feet are wet and it feels good!
heff
September 20th, 2009 at 10:32 am
>>first show with beautiful people went better than expected and much larger crowd than we expected as well…whew…feet are wet and it feels good!
Heff: Wish I could make it to Finland! If there’s ever any video or other media you want to post, consider this site your bully pulpit. As you can tell, there are a lot of people here who care a great deal about the Penetrators and all its members!
BTW, I don’t usually share this kind of inside baseball ’cause I think it’s arcane, but … Ray’s story on the Penetrators attracted our biggest audience ever (thousands of readers).
Rest assured it’s not just the commenters who’ve taken an interest!
September 20th, 2009 at 10:32 am
>>first show with beautiful people went better than expected and much larger crowd than we expected as well…whew…feet are wet and it feels good!
Heff: Wish I could make it to Finland! If there’s ever any video or other media you want to post, consider this site your bully pulpit. As you can tell, there are a lot of people here who care a great deal about the Penetrators and all its members!
BTW, I don’t usually share this kind of inside baseball ’cause I think it’s arcane, but … Ray’s story on the Penetrators attracted our biggest audience ever (thousands of readers).
Rest assured it’s not just the commenters who’ve taken an interest!
September 20th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
jeez…I don’t even know how to respond to that…it’s way overwhelming…Okay, I will let another cat out of the bag, finnish tv is doing a documentary on me, and they came to Oulu a week ago and have been filming me and the band, and also they filmed the show (or parts of it) as well…we do more filming in mid january as well and so that has abit to do with scheduling for me, but I think they might let me put some footage somewhere, I’ll see what I can do…really…thank all of you so much…you have no idea how hard all of you are pulling on my heartstrings!
heff
September 20th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
jeez…I don’t even know how to respond to that…it’s way overwhelming…Okay, I will let another cat out of the bag, finnish tv is doing a documentary on me, and they came to Oulu a week ago and have been filming me and the band, and also they filmed the show (or parts of it) as well…we do more filming in mid january as well and so that has abit to do with scheduling for me, but I think they might let me put some footage somewhere, I’ll see what I can do…really…thank all of you so much…you have no idea how hard all of you are pulling on my heartstrings!
heff
September 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
also there may be another reAson you are getting alot of hits, as I live on a river, and here in finland they only allow a certain amount of gigabites per area…like where I’m at, its only 8 and since i have the only computer here…it doesn’t work that well…I am constantly being bounced of the computer, if there is a windstorm or rain, which happens every few hours…it’s completely frustrating…i’ve been trying to respond to your and Bruces agoraphobia…you are not alone in this…and despite what anybody tells you…unless you’ve been through it…you don’t understand!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
also there may be another reAson you are getting alot of hits, as I live on a river, and here in finland they only allow a certain amount of gigabites per area…like where I’m at, its only 8 and since i have the only computer here…it doesn’t work that well…I am constantly being bounced of the computer, if there is a windstorm or rain, which happens every few hours…it’s completely frustrating…i’ve been trying to respond to your and Bruces agoraphobia…you are not alone in this…and despite what anybody tells you…unless you’ve been through it…you don’t understand!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
>>also there may be another reAson you are getting alot of hits
Heff: Just to be pedantic, our boom has been driven by a rise in the number of unique visitors, which is based on each visitor’s distinct IP address … No matter how many attempts you make from your Finnish redoubt, you’re still one unique individual in the eyes of the blog. (Kind of a heavy statement, huh?)
… So you guys come by your popularity honestly, same as ever!
Actual agoraphobia aside, there’s also a natural kind of reticence that I think starts to take over as people age … Maybe especially male people, although the women in the crowd can set me straight on their own experience. (Nancy tends to agree with me on the gender thing.) I don’t find it as easy to get out and be instant best friends with people as I used to — too many distractions, too much clutter in the head, different priorities.
Bottom line: I’m an extrovert with some very introverted nooks and crannies. My peaks have gotten higher (viz. all this Interweb nonsense we’re sharing), and my valleys have gotten more profound (I never would have realized as a young man how important I’d find time alone with my family and my thoughts).
This online spot has been a very important way for me to achieve some balance at about the right altitude! I hope it’s doing that for others, too.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
>>also there may be another reAson you are getting alot of hits
Heff: Just to be pedantic, our boom has been driven by a rise in the number of unique visitors, which is based on each visitor’s distinct IP address … No matter how many attempts you make from your Finnish redoubt, you’re still one unique individual in the eyes of the blog. (Kind of a heavy statement, huh?)
… So you guys come by your popularity honestly, same as ever!
Actual agoraphobia aside, there’s also a natural kind of reticence that I think starts to take over as people age … Maybe especially male people, although the women in the crowd can set me straight on their own experience. (Nancy tends to agree with me on the gender thing.) I don’t find it as easy to get out and be instant best friends with people as I used to — too many distractions, too much clutter in the head, different priorities.
Bottom line: I’m an extrovert with some very introverted nooks and crannies. My peaks have gotten higher (viz. all this Interweb nonsense we’re sharing), and my valleys have gotten more profound (I never would have realized as a young man how important I’d find time alone with my family and my thoughts).
This online spot has been a very important way for me to achieve some balance at about the right altitude! I hope it’s doing that for others, too.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I don’t find it as easy to get out and be instant best friends with people as I used to — too many distractions, too much clutter in the head, different priorities.
EXACTLY!!!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I don’t find it as easy to get out and be instant best friends with people as I used to — too many distractions, too much clutter in the head, different priorities.
EXACTLY!!!!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 am
ok so the rules of the sleazy bar tour was that we had to wear the same clothes every night, and no bathing or brushing our teeth for a week…remember this is far before the pogues were around…I could go into further detail about this….dan had some wild ideas at the time…and this was before aids came around…so alot of other factors came into being in this….oh god….the rest of the band knows about these things…man, i miss dan so much….he was so much bigger than life…oh my soul.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 am
ok so the rules of the sleazy bar tour was that we had to wear the same clothes every night, and no bathing or brushing our teeth for a week…remember this is far before the pogues were around…I could go into further detail about this….dan had some wild ideas at the time…and this was before aids came around…so alot of other factors came into being in this….oh god….the rest of the band knows about these things…man, i miss dan so much….he was so much bigger than life…oh my soul.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Dan sure had that lust for life / gusto / whatever you want to call it. What an amazing guy. Wish I had known him better. It seemed like Mojo Nixon kind of had that same wild gusto in his days in San Diego.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Dan sure had that lust for life / gusto / whatever you want to call it. What an amazing guy. Wish I had known him better. It seemed like Mojo Nixon kind of had that same wild gusto in his days in San Diego.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
>>It seemed like Mojo Nixon kind of had that same wild gusto in his days in San Diego.
I think your comment may be our first ever to mention Mojo Nixon, which does seem a significant oversight!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
>>It seemed like Mojo Nixon kind of had that same wild gusto in his days in San Diego.
I think your comment may be our first ever to mention Mojo Nixon, which does seem a significant oversight!
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Again…out of the loop, BUT what happened to Dan Mclain???
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Again…out of the loop, BUT what happened to Dan Mclain???
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Bruce,
Didn’t you read the little story that precedes these comments?
“McLain passed away in 1995 doing what he loved best: performing.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Bruce,
Didn’t you read the little story that precedes these comments?
“McLain passed away in 1995 doing what he loved best: performing.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Wow!! What a GREAT story…
Brings back a lot of memories and answers a lot of historical questions!!
Thanks!
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Wow!! What a GREAT story…
Brings back a lot of memories and answers a lot of historical questions!!
Thanks!
September 24th, 2009 at 12:54 am
hard to believe mcLain’s been gone that long…..i always kind of considered him the everrrready bunny…..he just kept on ticking.
what did jim call go to jail for?
can’t imagine such a pleasant guy having a criminal-bone in his body!!!
September 24th, 2009 at 12:54 am
hard to believe mcLain’s been gone that long…..i always kind of considered him the everrrready bunny…..he just kept on ticking.
what did jim call go to jail for?
can’t imagine such a pleasant guy having a criminal-bone in his body!!!
September 24th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Jim was holding 2 kilo’s of coke for a friend of his…I don’t know how it all came down, but he being the guy he is took the time, and did not rat his friend out…that’s the kind of guy he is.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Jim was holding 2 kilo’s of coke for a friend of his…I don’t know how it all came down, but he being the guy he is took the time, and did not rat his friend out…that’s the kind of guy he is.
September 24th, 2009 at 5:42 am
also just to give you an idea of who is playing on this walkabouts
compilation see my additions below also I fly to Germany next week for release party:
01 Grand Theft Auto – Chris Cacavas (GREEN ON RED)
02 Cold Eye – Hugo Race (NICK CAVE BADSEEDS)
03 Got No Chains – Terry Lee Hale & The Seattle Clams
04 Acetylene – Walter Salas-Humara (SILOS)
05 This Rotten Tree – Willard Grant Conspiracy
06 Sundowner – The Bambi Molesters
07 Christmas Valley – Jon Langford (MEKONS!!!)
08 Fuck Your Fear – Chris Brokaw
09 Nightbirds – The Minus (5 PETER BUCK SCOTT MCCAUGHEY)
10 Jack Candy – Steve Wynn & Lin da Pitmon (DREAM SYNDICATE)
11 Specimen Days – Savoy Grand
12 Wondertown – Whip
13 Nights Between Stations – Al DeLoner (MIDNIGHT CHOIR)
14 Unholy Dreams – Gary Heffern & Beautiful People
15 The Light Will Stay On – Locas in Love
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Apropos of little but Dean’s comment above, here’s a nice Harold Gee photo of Mojo Nixon and Cindy Lee Berryhill:
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Apropos of little but Dean’s comment above, here’s a nice Harold Gee photo of Mojo Nixon and Cindy Lee Berryhill:
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
>>also I fly to Germany next week for release party:
Heff: Cool! Berlin?
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
>>also I fly to Germany next week for release party:
Heff: Cool! Berlin?
September 24th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
EDITOR’s NOTE: I should have mentioned this before. … The circumstances of Jim Call’s incarceration were published here with his generous permission.
We remain steadfast in our commitment not to disseminate sensitive information without the subjects’ consent. Thanks to Jim, Heff and the rest of Ray’s sources for sharing their stories — and to Ray for doing the journalistic diligence to verify that all the details were copacetic with the subjects.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
EDITOR’s NOTE: I should have mentioned this before. … The circumstances of Jim Call’s incarceration were published here with his generous permission.
We remain steadfast in our commitment not to disseminate sensitive information without the subjects’ consent. Thanks to Jim, Heff and the rest of Ray’s sources for sharing their stories — and to Ray for doing the journalistic diligence to verify that all the details were copacetic with the subjects.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:13 am
just in-between flights in Helsinki coming back from Germany had a great private-party-show with various walkabouts, and did some really cool stuff with chris cacavas from green on red, and al deloner from midnight choir from Norway…about 50 guest came in from 9 different countryies!!! and we are already working on setting up a project together!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 10:13 am
just in-between flights in Helsinki coming back from Germany had a great private-party-show with various walkabouts, and did some really cool stuff with chris cacavas from green on red, and al deloner from midnight choir from Norway…about 50 guest came in from 9 different countryies!!! and we are already working on setting up a project together!!!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
>>just in-between flights in Helsinki coming back from Germany had a great private-party-show with various walkabouts, and did some really cool stuff with chris cacavas from green on red, and al deloner from midnight choir from Norway…
Heff: Cool! Anything get posted online we can link to?
… Man, I haven’t heard Green on Red in forever!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
>>just in-between flights in Helsinki coming back from Germany had a great private-party-show with various walkabouts, and did some really cool stuff with chris cacavas from green on red, and al deloner from midnight choir from Norway…
Heff: Cool! Anything get posted online we can link to?
… Man, I haven’t heard Green on Red in forever!
October 7th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I don’t think anything is posted yet…but there were a lot of tapers there i guess some pretty renowned tapers amongst their community…yea green on red is/was huge in my book…and al deloner is both gracious and completely a musician 24 hours a day…I think I only saw him during meals without a guitar in his hands.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I don’t think anything is posted yet…but there were a lot of tapers there i guess some pretty renowned tapers amongst their community…yea green on red is/was huge in my book…and al deloner is both gracious and completely a musician 24 hours a day…I think I only saw him during meals without a guitar in his hands.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:20 am
heres one of those complete circle stories…mid nineties I got an email from a guy named roscoe telling me that he knew bout penetrators (I can’t remember if he saw is in LA or not), and had been to the same germs show on halloween that I had been to at the hotel roosevelt with go-go’s(either 1st or 2nd show) and mau-maus…there were about 30 people there, I was walking by, and john doe and exene yelled to me to come there. Anyway, there is a pretty legendary punk rock story about how darby crash was the one who told joan jett who should be her guitar player in the blackhearts…well this was the guy! also he got his germs burn from darby etc….I met roscoe (Eric Roscoe Amble) a while later when he became the guitarist and producer for Steve Earle and the Dukes, and also the Yayhoos. I’m proud to say that he just sent me tracks for 2 songs that he’s playing on with beautiful people! It’s such a small world!
Also It looks like the Penetrators will be at the Casbah Jan 29 and 30th…and maybe a sunday afternoon show as well…i’ve sent in to tim mays confirmation today…so you guys have to talk lou scum into playing… also Blues Gangsters, Town Criers, and Manual Scan for one night..more to come about this.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:20 am
heres one of those complete circle stories…mid nineties I got an email from a guy named roscoe telling me that he knew bout penetrators (I can’t remember if he saw is in LA or not), and had been to the same germs show on halloween that I had been to at the hotel roosevelt with go-go’s(either 1st or 2nd show) and mau-maus…there were about 30 people there, I was walking by, and john doe and exene yelled to me to come there. Anyway, there is a pretty legendary punk rock story about how darby crash was the one who told joan jett who should be her guitar player in the blackhearts…well this was the guy! also he got his germs burn from darby etc….I met roscoe (Eric Roscoe Amble) a while later when he became the guitarist and producer for Steve Earle and the Dukes, and also the Yayhoos. I’m proud to say that he just sent me tracks for 2 songs that he’s playing on with beautiful people! It’s such a small world!
Also It looks like the Penetrators will be at the Casbah Jan 29 and 30th…and maybe a sunday afternoon show as well…i’ve sent in to tim mays confirmation today…so you guys have to talk lou scum into playing… also Blues Gangsters, Town Criers, and Manual Scan for one night..more to come about this.
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Gary I was at thatAdams Ave showand at the Civic the nite you were given the mike by James Osterberg oh I mean Iggy Pop. And tyhe nite at the Roxy and when you guys praticed at the old KGB station across from MCRD and many many more shows like O’Brian and Bing Crosby Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds or the riot at the 20/20 show at the CA> Theatre. Great Great Times. I miss them days. Love Louie
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Gary I was at thatAdams Ave showand at the Civic the nite you were given the mike by James Osterberg oh I mean Iggy Pop. And tyhe nite at the Roxy and when you guys praticed at the old KGB station across from MCRD and many many more shows like O’Brian and Bing Crosby Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds or the riot at the 20/20 show at the CA> Theatre. Great Great Times. I miss them days. Love Louie
January 6th, 2011 at 8:22 am
Ray Brandes put together this “5th & Bop” photo montage: