Is There Any Escape...From Noise?

Posted over 5 years ago

Artist:
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Negativland

I knew there was some band in the back of my mind that was urging me to make it a mog subject. It's the Northern California multi-media hacker collective NEGATIVLAND!Brought to life in the 80's when Mark Hosler, Don Joyce and Chris Griegg began hosting "Over Ther Edge" on radio KPFA. They used many forms of pranksterism in their work such as phone calls, ripped off sound bites from famous bands (see U2 Negativland) and rare live shows that inspire stories for one's grandchildren.I will attempt to recount part of a show I witnessed in about '91 at Bogart's in Long Beach, Ca:Picture 2 card tables on either side of the stage draped with red & white checked table clothes. Atop each table a vintage toaster of the chrome variety. During the song, "Christianity is Stupid", the tables lit up with strobe lights hidden beneath. The lights came through big crosses cut into the cloth. While everyone was being hypnotized by light and sound, we failed to notice that at the beginning of the number, slices of bread had been loaded into each toaster. By the middle of the song the whole club was filled with acrid, burnt toast smoke. Folks ran for their lives in all directions! Smoke alarms went off and I assume it was the end of the show.I can only scratch the surface of the history of this great, super smart and funny "rock" band. Check out the websites. Also SST website. If you like to laugh at how dumb the world is you can do it right along with Negativland.

Comments (8)

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DUSTdevils says XXX

Permalink posted 10/20/2006
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RobP says Ain't these the same guys who did the brilliant track with Casey Kasem swearing left and right in the studio? (I believe that one's pretty limited, what with lawsuit threats and all, cuz it's actually Casey badmouthing U2's music and swearing about ineptly stupid lead-ins). I know little about them, but what I know is fine fine shit. And I've got the Kasem piece on cassette somewhere, god you'll have me digging through bins.

Permalink posted 10/20/2006
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Dirk1 says How odd -- I just finished listening to the track Escape From Noise and then I came to the mog-o-sphere page and saw your post. Synchronicity!

Permalink posted 10/20/2006
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bubb says U2 all the way. "I Will Follow' is a Classic!

Permalink posted 10/20/2006
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Tony Scalzo says "That's the letter U and the numeral 2!" "These guys are from England, and who gives a fuck?"

Permalink posted 10/21/2006
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d0gstar says here's a link to MP3's of a recent lecture Mark Hosler, of Negativland, gave in NYCNY lately. I regret, sorely, not going to see them a few years ago when they were at a really small club near here. http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/10/negativland_ill.html

Permalink posted 10/21/2006
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Kate says I try to read Negativland's essays on Fair Use and Copyright every so often, just to refamiliarize myself on the subject and its importance, especially in these days of DRM. I have about 6 of their CD's, and while I don't listen to them very often, I feel like they are really important to have.

Permalink posted 10/23/2006
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deadmandeadman says i've always liked the dispepsi CD

Permalink posted 10/26/2006