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[Dancing Divertimentian]

Dude. You rule.

And it was a horrible shame about Metal Church, such a mega-promising debut.

I believe the future will be more kind to Fates Warning.

[Jay F]

Excellent choice.  0:)

Do you have an Italian Greyhound?

[Dr. Dread]

Do you have an Italian Greyhound?

I want one.

[Sergeant Rock]

...ran the gamut of all the coolest bands, attended as many concerts as possible in whatever decrepit dump would bother to build a stage and let bands perform there before the fire marshal condemned the place, watched the skinheads turn a thriving scene into a war zone, talked to Bad Brains' lead singer in the men's restroom while he preached about Jah...

I never talked to H.R. but I danced with him once    I was at the front of the stage at a Bad Brains concert (in Tübingen Germany, 1983), when I was somehow elevated onto the stage. I danced a bit and then dove off into the crowd.

Here's a pic of me shortly before my ascension    Click on thumbnail:



We (my punk friend and I) often encountered skinheads at punk concerts but we could usually handle them with little problem. The funniest instance was at a club that was featuring German punk bands. For some insane reason, a hippie, in flowing robes, decided to get out on the floor all by himself and do some kind of lame ballet. A skinhead took him out...which angered a girl I was talking to. She was a communist, a street performer, about five feet tall. She rushed out onto the floor, confronted this hulking 6 feet plus skinhead and shamed him into retreating.    One of the bravest, and coolest things I've ever seen.

Musicians I did manage to talk to in my punk days: Henry Rollins after a Black Flag gig at the Löwenbräü Keller in Munich. We invaded the dressing room and gave Henry a 13 ball (long story) we'd stolen from the company day room. We had a drink with Charlie Harper (singer of the UK Subs) after the Sub's show in Heidelberg.

Sarge

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I never talked to H.R. but I danced with him once    I was at the front of the stage at a Bad Brains concert (in Tübingen Germany, 1983), when I was somehow elevated onto the stage. I danced a bit and then dove off into the crowd.

Here's a pic of me shortly before my ascension    Click on thumbnail:

Nice! Looks like a great time for all. So were you actually a Sarge at that time?

I have to say the memory of that Bad Brains "sermon" in the men's room has stuck with me to this day. The most memorable line: "No worry. No fears. No World War III, man. There will be no WWIII. The missiles, when they are up in the air...Jah will pluck them from the sky" - all while motioning with his hands in a plucking motion.

It might have been pure fantasy but it sure had the men's room crown hanging on every word!

We (my punk friend and I) often encountered skinheads at punk concerts but we could usually handle them with little problem. The funniest instance was at a club that was featuring German punk bands. For some insane reason, a hippie, in flowing robes, decided to get out on the floor all by himself and do some kind of lame ballet. A skinhead took him out...which angered a girl I was talking to. She was a communist, a street performer, about five feet tall. She rushed out onto the floor, confronted this hulking 6 feet plus skinhead and shamed him into retreating.    One of the bravest, and coolest things I've ever seen.

That is brave! Unfortunately something like that in my neck of the woods (Dallas) probably would've netted her a kick in the head. We had the misfortune of having a rigorous and very well organized skinhead movement. Started small but eventually grew so large that they would show up in Deep Ellum (the hardcore/punk hangout in downtown) in such numbers they seemed like locusts. They were everywhere. And they weren't looking to have a nice tea with the lads. They were out to bust heads.

It got so bad the police finally had to step in - in equally large numbers, of course. So now the scene had to withstand a double-whammy from two sides: the skinheads who wanted to destroy everything and the police who began to practically infiltrate our every move - for our protection, I suppose, or the protection of the city streets. The weight of it all eventually helped fragment the hardcore scene - almost to the point of collapse. There simply were no places (halls/dumps) left willing to cater to such an incendiary crowd. 

Luckily the Feds eventually broke up the skinheads and normalcy again returned to the alternative scene. But Deep Ellum was never the same. Though honestly we really have the next great organized movement to thank for that: the yuppies. Hey, they can see dollar signs in anything!

Musicians I did manage to talk to in my punk days: Henry Rollins after a Black Flag gig at the Löwenbräü Keller in Munich. We invaded the dressing room and gave Henry a 13 ball (long story) we'd stolen from the company day room.

Ok, 13 ball?

Ironically, one of THE coolest talks my friends and I ever had was with the band Agnostic Front (back when they were punk). Ironic because they were thoughtful, articulate, pacifist...and one of the leading skinhead bands around. They were themselves puzzled at all the violence in the scene but hadn't a clue how to stop it.

We had a drink with Charlie Harper (singer of the UK Subs) after the Sub's show in Heidelberg.

Cool, Sarge!

One of my all-time favorite shows was the twin-bill of The Exploited and the UK Subs. I don't think I'd ever seen the Twilight Room (the scene's "premier" hall) so packed! Absolute wall-to-wall people. Despite this I managed to plant myself right up front and remained there the whole show.

Ah, those were the days...

[Dr. Dread]

Arthur Brown

[knight66]

Well Dave, that diet he has been on has had both positive and negative effects; but over all, a success I feel.

Arthur Brown


Mike

[Dr. Dread]

Well Dave, that diet he has been on has had both positive and negative effects; but over all, a success I feel.

Arthur Brown


Mike

Hm. Might be a different guy, Mike. 

[Haffner]

Why why WHY can't I be him ?

[ChamberNut]

Sara!!  I do believe that is the first time I've seen you change your avatar. 

No more talky cat? 

[Lethevich]

Indeed! I've had about 4 avatars in as many years - they don't change very often 0:) The cat will be back after Newman has either been beaten or run off

[ChamberNut]

Indeed! I've had about 4 avatars in as many years - they don't change very often 0:) The cat will be back after Newman has either been beaten or run off

Well, then we have a goal to achieve!!  The cat simply must come back! 

[Lethevich]

By the way, I commend you on the striking dissonance between your nickname and avatar! It gave me a bit of a shock when Brahms disappeared for Bruckner.

[Dr. Dread]

An angry baby.

[ChamberNut]

By the way, I commend you on the striking dissonance between your nickname and avatar! It gave me a bit of a shock when Brahms disappeared for Bruckner.

I know.....I actually thought about that the other day.  People will think I am a nut for calling myself ChamberNut and having an avatar of a predominantly orchestral composer! 

I change mine regularly, so I'm sure Brahms, et al will make a re-appearance.

[Valentino]

So Sarge's stage diving? Better wear a hat then.

[ChamberNut]

I like Dave's wolf avatar the best it this point in time.  I think we should all change our avatars to wolves.  Our gangs of wolves unite in support of our beloved Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

0:)

[Dr. Dread]

You're hungry...like the wolf.

[George]

I like Dave's wolf avatar the best it this point in time.  I think we should all change our avatars to wolves.  Our gangs of wolves unite in support of our beloved Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

0:)

"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah - boys becoming men, men becoming wolves" 

[ChamberNut]

"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah - boys becoming men, men becoming wolves" 

Now there is a scary avatar.