Thanks for this! 20-year Army here (combo of active/deployed and reserve), graduated HS in '89 from Hagerstown MD. Also, love boxing gyms. All this doesn't make us cousins or anything, but it's nice to know you are out there. Love the writing.
Not sure if you've ever done this, but it might make sense to write a piece on the punk-jazz connection. It's pretty deep, going back all the way to the Stooges at least and cutting through to SST groups like Saccharine Trust, GONE and of course the Minutemen and Byron Coley's obsession with Free Jazz, etc. Plus I used to have a punk rock gf who could geek out with the best of them as far as jazz went. That was never me, but I'd certainly read somebody who could connect those dots.
I'm flattered that you think I know anything about the jazz but my knowledge is limited to the names of some of the major players. I bet you Thurston Moore or his buddy Byron Coley would have a lot to say on the subject. But you're right in that it would be an interesting avenue to explore.
The last conversation I had with Byron, he mentioned a free jazz book he wrote with Thurston and Mats Gustaffsson that he published earlier this year. It’s called Now Jazz Now. Again, jazz is not my area of expertise, tho I did interview Sun Ra as a teenager. That was a thrill, but I’ve otherwise left it up for others to take that universe on.
It’s not much but I had an experience a couple years ago, I had a new job and a long drive to work in dismal rain and I had Sonny Rollins on my car’s CD player — I need to track down the name of the song — but there is a squeaking note he plays at one or two points that is the most soul-bereft sound of loneliness and just clinging to life by your fingertips. I’m not a Sonny Rollins expert but I find I like him in a melancholy mode just as much as when he’s faster and explosive.
Thanks for this! 20-year Army here (combo of active/deployed and reserve), graduated HS in '89 from Hagerstown MD. Also, love boxing gyms. All this doesn't make us cousins or anything, but it's nice to know you are out there. Love the writing.
Gracias 🙏 Much appreciated.
Not sure if you've ever done this, but it might make sense to write a piece on the punk-jazz connection. It's pretty deep, going back all the way to the Stooges at least and cutting through to SST groups like Saccharine Trust, GONE and of course the Minutemen and Byron Coley's obsession with Free Jazz, etc. Plus I used to have a punk rock gf who could geek out with the best of them as far as jazz went. That was never me, but I'd certainly read somebody who could connect those dots.
I'm flattered that you think I know anything about the jazz but my knowledge is limited to the names of some of the major players. I bet you Thurston Moore or his buddy Byron Coley would have a lot to say on the subject. But you're right in that it would be an interesting avenue to explore.
The last conversation I had with Byron, he mentioned a free jazz book he wrote with Thurston and Mats Gustaffsson that he published earlier this year. It’s called Now Jazz Now. Again, jazz is not my area of expertise, tho I did interview Sun Ra as a teenager. That was a thrill, but I’ve otherwise left it up for others to take that universe on.
Have you ever seen the follow-up where they find the zebra guy? He's like this normal dude and had no clue Heavy Metal Parking Lot was a thing.
No I haven’t. I need to see that!
https://youtu.be/u4TIOKT2uig?si=c_BVNxrn4P-mkjK0
This video starts with the original and then goes into the one where they track him down.
Gracias!
You're welcome
"We didn’t make them to share them with the world. They were for us. That’s the difference between my generation and all that came after."
Fucking preeeeach.
It’s not much but I had an experience a couple years ago, I had a new job and a long drive to work in dismal rain and I had Sonny Rollins on my car’s CD player — I need to track down the name of the song — but there is a squeaking note he plays at one or two points that is the most soul-bereft sound of loneliness and just clinging to life by your fingertips. I’m not a Sonny Rollins expert but I find I like him in a melancholy mode just as much as when he’s faster and explosive.
That’s beautiful. I totally agree.