R
Benjamin Horrendous
website index
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Rap / metal crossover pioneers .Right
- on angry young men who believe the evils and injustices of the world
can be put right with rock n' roll, and all power to them for so believing.
Respect.
Essential
"Rage Against the Machine" l.p.
http://ratm.com/
RAMONES
Gabba Gabba Hey! Is this the most important band in the world? Quite
probably, yes. The inventors of punk rock. Nobody else gets that sound
so RIGHT, though many have tried. They had a winning combination with Dee
Dee's powerful angst ridden songwriting; Johnny's incredible and unique
guitar sound, achieved solely by immensely fast and powerful wrist action;
and Joey's perfect voice, kinda sneery and vulnerable at the same time,
with a great way of pronouncing words. e.g. me = meah; baby = bayubeh;
night = niatt; gonna = goona etc.etc.
Some of their songs only have one or two lines of lyrics, and I believe
when they first started they had problems getting the songs published,
cos the publishing companies wouldn't accept that they were complete songs.
But what more can you add to
"I don't wanna walk around with you
So why do you wanna walk around with me?"
or
"I don't care about that girl
I don't care about this world"
for example.
They looked great as well. The first album cover, a black and white photo
of four sullen delinquents slouching against a brick wall, was perfect,
and copied by most of the bands that followed in their wake. It's hard
to over estimate the importance of that first record, it literally changed
the world. When I first heard it, I thought it was a joke, and laughed
at it for having no guitar solos. It took several listens before I began
to see the light.
I met Joey and Dee Dee very briefly at a Clash/Buzzcocks/Slits gig
in Brighton once. Dee Dee signed my Ramones T shirt. I still have it, doesn't
fit anymore though.
Saw them 6 or 7 times, in Brighton and London. Always magnificent,
sometimes a bit like an endurance test for the band and audience. I loved
the way they would start a song before the last one had finished. Johnny
would play the last note, and before it had died away Dee Dee would shout
"1234", and they'd be into the next one .
Essential
Everything really, but the first four albums especially so.
http://www.redshift.com/~jpeoples/ramones.htm
RESIDENTS
Anonymous eyeball - mask wearing weirdo experimentalist Yanks.
all the stuff is interesting and worth a listen, but I have a particular
fondness for the earlier sonic mayhem stuff, especially the "Duck Stab"
e.p.
http://www.residents.com/
REZILLOS / REVILLOS
Scottish punkers with a pinch of 50's/60's pastiche. Fronted by Eugene
Reynolds and Fay Fife, two of the hardest working performers I've ever
seen. Caught the Rezillos in Reading, and was amazed at the high energy
level they maintained throughout the set. Songwriter and guitarist Jo Callis
left to help the Human League achieve
fame and fortune, and Eugene and Fay roped in some new musicians, and carried
on as the Revillos, with less emphasis on punk and more on pastiche. Just
as much energy, and just as much fun. Saw the Revillos at the Hungry Years,
Brighton, and was amazed all over again.
I believe some ex members later reunited and toured as the Rexillos,
but I never got to see them.
Essential
Rezillos: All the singles, and "Can't Stand the Rezillos" l.p.
Revillos: all the singles, and "Rev Up" l.p.
TERRY RILEY
Early experimenter with multi tracking. Created some beautiful long
many layered pieces.
Essential
"Rainbow in Curved Air" and "In C" l.p.s.
ROLLING STONES
The first record I bought was "Satisfaction" at age 10. These guys
were my heroes until I discovered Beefheart.
Although I no longer found it imperative to buy
their every release after 1975, I still feel a thrill when I hear Jaggers
voice and Keiths guitar. They were the most important band in the world,
at least until the Ramones came along. Both bands have a similar image
; ugly outsider misfits who love rock n' roll.
Saw the Stones once, at Earls Court. Magnificent show, you couldn't
fail to be awed by them. I really felt they were giving their all to the
fans.
Essential
Everything pre 1975, and a fair bit post.
ROOGALATOR
Danny Adler's rock - funk outfit. Danny was an excellent guitarist
and songwriter, and a friendly frontman. They really got going live, but
the records never really showed them at their best. Still worth a listen
though. Saw them several times, always well worth the trip
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