THE QUICK AND....
My dad played classical piano, so I've always loved it (and organ). I guess Elton John was my first real pop influence. In high-school I listened to all the stuff that stoned students listened to. Later, when I wasn't high, I realized how cruddy and self-indulgent some of it was (e.g. the bloated horrors of Pink Floyd). In 1979, disgusted by the musical taste I had picked up after spending a year in Louisiana (stoopid white rock, not Jazz) my sister introduced me to punk (and CREEM Magazine). I flipped, the Pistols, Clash, DK's and Elvis were my new friends. I probably started damaging my hearing around this time. My first major discovery of my own was Husker Du. I was listening to KALX one night and they played "59 Times the Pain." I waited hours for the lazy college DJ to back-announce what he had played, and the next day I went out and bought "New Day Rising." I was hooked. I bought every thrash album I could find. Then I heard Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC. Shortly thereafter the Beastie Boys came along and made Rap safe for White guys. Of course, Alternative Music has come along and ruined all this. I do love Nirvana, and am fond of the Stone Temple Pilots (I know, I know, derivative .. but anyone who moves from Alice in Chains to the Beatles is at least deriving it from the right sources).
I still have the stereo cranked.....
DIDs (Desert Island Disks)
- Never Mind The Bollocks (Sex Pistols)
- Zen Arcade (Husker Du)
- Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
- The Clash (The Clash)
- Elvis Costello Boxed Set
- Any Bach compilation with the Toccata and Fugue in D minor
- Physical Graffitti (Led Zepplin)
- Singles Going Steady (The Buzzcocks)
- Some Girls (Rolling Stones)
- Licensed to Ill (Beastie Boys)
- Zen Arcade (Husker Du)
Hmmmmm... all White Males.....
Someone get the canon!
Really Brave? Check out the alleged music of Charles Montgomery