WHERE MUSIC LISTENS TO YOU

Scene On The Street

Posted about 1 year ago

It must be Rock And Roll Wednesday. The "turn it up!" kids are out on the street: too tall, too skinny, too much black, too many bangles, too much hair styling, all rocking the music on their t-shirts. In five minutes of walking I see:

Sonic Youth logo
T-Rex logo
A Sounds magazine cover from 1976 featuring Thin Lizzy
First Joy Division cover (a day not seeing that is a day you spend at home)
Led Zeppelin US Tour 1975 (ditto)
A Germs Starwood poster (liquid nitrogen cool, that one)
"Lewd, Rude and Tattooed" (no prizes for guessing what this boy looks like)
Jimi Hendrix
Kurt & Dave & Krist
Your Son Is In Good Hands (the guy she is with looks justifyingly smug)

As I turn the corner, Pete Doherty passes me, disguised by a snazzy green hat. I didn't realise he was so tall, over six feet. Fittingly, he wheezes a consumptive cough in my ear. Two doors up, the people sitting outside the retro clothing shop are discussing him. "It's so sad," says the lady, looking as though tears are about to start.

Then I see my friend Ian, just back from overseeing merchandise on a 39-date tour by Kiss. Ian is like a talking spreadsheet, maybe exaggerating, but full of rock and awe. In one night in Oslo, they made $1.2 million from merchandise. Charging $1,000 for the privilege of meeting the band backstage, Kiss made $100,000 a night. What else can you say to that, but 'Rock! And! Roll!'

Comments (23)

  1. Robin Danar says

    i knew i should have joined KISS...........

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  2. steve simon says

    kiss was my 2nd rock show ever as a 10 year old in 76' at market sq arena in indianapolis( after seeing dylan with my pa as a 9 year old). i was hooked when gene blew fire on "firehouse". there is no question he is one of the most astute businessman in rock n roll

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  3. Rawkkiddoh says

    that sounds like the scene from a movie........... and for the record I am floored that KISS can still rake it in like that. Didnt the Gene Simmons sex tape hurt his character?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  4. steve simon says

    it helped!

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  5. contrabandwidth says

    I heard they just covered Genes package with a floating Kiss logo and sold it at the merch table.

    My question is what Kiss Creature would Robin Danar have chosen?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  6. ivylander says

    Will the young people never learn?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  7. shmilykiky says

    [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] I am Shmily, 42 years old girl, living in New York. Last month I met my boyfriend on a 40+ singles dating site. It is so nice for me. But my girlfriends Julia, Galina, Irina did not find thier love. What are you waitting for?? Come on, nice guys. See their photos @ [ www.JSeniorMatch.com ] ASAP. [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  8. Mike the Knife says

    I'm with Kevin. Are you sure this isn't the opening scene from "Absolute Beginners '08"?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  9. Spike says

    I bet she says that to all the guys.

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  10. Spike says

    Jonh, your neighborhood is far livelier than mine, but the rock acts your flaneurs advertise are all from many decades ago.  Are today's young blacks this retro?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  11. Jonh Ingham says

    Spike, I agree, but how many new bands have good logos?

    Permalink posted 08/06/2008
  12. Spike says

    How standards have fallen!

    Permalink posted 08/07/2008
  13. ivylander says

    By the way, Jonh, I neglected to mention the first time what a fine track you posted here. I had 1969 on vinyl long, long ago, and still think that it's one of the great neglected live albums - all the more so for its recorded-on-a-cassette-player-in-a-bar feel.... 

    Permalink posted 08/07/2008
  14. HelenMarie says

    Interesting stroll you had.  I'm a little jealous of the scenery, with the exception of Pete coughing your direction.

    We need a favorite band logo post now!

    Permalink posted 08/07/2008
  15. Lizziegreeneyes says

    so long as they don't look like my avatar ;)

    Permalink posted 08/07/2008
  16. nicki says

    Damn. And I had to put on my new Bloc Party t-shirt before reading this post.

    Permalink posted 08/08/2008
  17. Robin Danar says

    CB--

    funny question.  quick answer?  the one that gets paid first so i could then take the paint off and go back to my own stuff!

    Permalink posted 08/09/2008
  18. Anna says

    What a day you had!

    Did they sell any Kiss coffins? ;)

    For me, a day not seeing this: http://www.kasiradikal.es/tienda/images/Ramones-T-shirt.jpg  is a day I spend at home...

    Permalink posted 08/09/2008
  19. Anna says

    Sorry, this one should work: http://www.kasiradikal.es/tienda/images/Ramones-T-shirt.jpg

    Permalink posted 08/09/2008
  20. Jonh Ingham says

    Anna - You're right about that! My favourite exchange on TV was a couple of years ago. The week's IT girl was being interviewed on TV by a hip male presenter. He's not liking her and his eyes fall on her Ramones t-shirt. He says, "Ah, The Ramones...Heard any of their songs?" She looks panicked. "Mmmm, thought not."

    Permalink posted 08/09/2008
  21. Anna says

    ahahhahahha

    About one year ago, I'm at a bar, and I see an 18 year old boy wearing a Led Zeppelin T-shirt. The boy also sports long bangs, and seems to be going through an identity crisis. I'm pissed, feeling a bit sadistic, and his overall demeanor annoys me, so I walk up to him and say:

    - Hey, that's a cool T-shirt you have on.

    - Erm....thanks? 

    - So, which is your favourite LP album?

    - Ummmm......{silence}...erm.....um.........the one with Whole Lotta Love...

    - Hahahahahaha you bloody kids today.

    ;P

    Permalink posted 08/09/2008
  22. Jonh Ingham says

    At least he didn't say, 'What's an album?'

    Permalink posted 08/12/2008
  23. ongoingly says

    we here in bethel Ct have been waiting for some of thurston's cool to rub off on us. not happening. and i hope you used some of that hand sanitizer after being exposed to the Doherty cough, Jonh! it'll be the black plague all over!

    Permalink posted 08/12/2008

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