Part Time Punk

  So, I've been house sitting for my girls, Alex and Britt.  While they are hanging around in Seattle and Portland, I am here in the sunshine capital, manning their home and getting to spend some quality time with Teddy and Potato (their adorable cats).

  While looking for things to do, I came upon this book and decided to borrow it (thanks ladies!)  It is called Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk.  I was sold with that title alone.  Since high school, I've always had a little bit of lingering rebellion inside of me, but I was way too timid to fully commit to anything my parents wouldn't approve of. I had Goth friends and really wanted to be Goth.  I loved The Cure, and had wannabe Doc Martens, but that is as far as it went.  I didn't really think I would look good wearing black lipstick, witchcraft was never my forte, and hanging out in graveyards seemed too scary.  I never did drugs, never had the desire to, but knew some people who did.  The hardest thing I ever did in high school was take a few drags from my friend's clove cigarette.  How PUNK.

  In college, I got really obsessed with The Clash, and I only knew a few Ramones songs.  I've always loved the Talking Heads because my mom had Little Creatures on cassette tape, and would play this over and over.  If I were to label that band, it would be more "art rock" than "punk", I guess.  A teacher of mine, Michael Perkins, use to bring vinyl records to class, and that is when I first heard Funhouse.  You can literally feel the raw energy that Iggy projected onto that album.  It still gives me chills every time I play it.  And the saxophone, people!  That sax! 

  Right now, I am exploring the Velvet Underground chapters.  Unbelievable stuff!

  "IGGY POP:  The first time I heard the Velvet Underground and Nico record was at a party on the University of Michigan campus. I just hated the sound. You know, "HOW COULD ANYBODY MAKE A RECORD THAT SOUNDS LIKE SUCH A PIECE OF SHIT? THIS IS DISGUSTING! ALL THESE PEOPLE MAKE ME FUCKING SICK! FUCKING DISGUSTING HIPPIE VERMIN! FUCKING BEATNIKS, I WANT TO KILL THEM ALL!  THIS JUST SOUNDS LIKE TRASH!"

  Then about six months later it hit me. "Oh my god! WOW! This is just a fucking great record!" That record became very key for me, not just for what it said, and for how great it was, but also because I heard other people who could make good music-without being any good at music. It gave me hope."

I G G Y    P O P
I love him because he is fucking nuts

your friend,

ava