Rio Grande Hotel / Hungarian / We Need More Power / Isotope Soap / Paranoids
Pony Ride / Funky Monster / Practicing Mice / I Hate Punks / Mean Mr Mommy Man
Crazy Zappa influenced LP from one of the inspirational members of the original L.A. punk scene, Geza X.
Text below ripped from allmusic.com.
Best known for his work as a producer on the L.A. punk scene, Geza X also cut one bizarre solo album that remains a cult item for scene aficionados. Born to Hungarian parents, Geza (his real first name) adopted the “X” moniker in tribute to Malcolm X, and got his first recording studio job in the mid-’70s.
He soon moved on to become the soundman at the legendary L.A. punk club the Masque, and spread the word that he was interested in producing. The Germs’ Darby Crash tapped him to produce the band’s landmark debut single “Lexicon Devil,” and from there X went on to helm seminal Cali-punk moments like the Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia” and Black Flag’s “Six Pack.” He also worked with the Weirdos, the Avengers, and new waver Josie Cotton (“Johnny Are You Queer?”), among others, and played as an instrumentalist in both the Bags (a female-fronted group who wore bags over their heads) and the Deadbeats.
X started recording his own songs in the early ’80s, influenced as much by avant-rock weirdos like Zappa, Beefheart, and the Residents as by punk. His “We Need Power” appeared on the second Rodney on the ROQ compilation, while “Isotope Soap” was included on Jello Biafra’s Let Them Eat Jellybeans! sampler.
In 1982, X released his only solo album, You Goddam Kids, on the small Final Gear label. It featured a scenester-heavy backing group called the Mommymen, which included contributions from Josie Cotton, X drummer D.J. Bonebrake, keyboardist Paul Roessler (DC3, the Screamers), drummer Brendan Mullen, 45 Grave drummer Don Bolles, and more. X handled guitar, vocals, and studio treatments, and got a chance to indulge his bizarre sense of humor and his love of dissonant experimentalism.
As the L.A. punk scene wound down, X left town for a while to work through a drug problem. He returned to action first as an equipment reviewer for Spin magazine, then as a house audio engineer for Paramount. He came back to music in the late ’80s, working with mostly local rap and alternative rock artists, and several years later opened his own studio, City Lab, in partnership with Josie Cotton.
pedro
January 30, 2009 at 8:14 pmused to have the single with mean mr mommy man on it years ago. fantastic.
Chris
January 30, 2009 at 10:07 pmI would kill for the single of ‘isotope soap’ – LOVE that track!! IMO by faaaaaar the best thing on ‘jellybeans’. there used to be a great clip of them doing it on some american TV show up on you tube but it appears to have been removed or i’d have posted a link to it. can only find a rather crap version live at the Knitting Factory now 🙁
Nic
January 31, 2009 at 3:55 amGreat record, great producer…
It’s interesting to consider the way in which the L.A. scene in the late 70’s/ early 80’s embraced the Brown with as much gusto as the London-centric scene…
Any thoughts on ‘Why’?
(The fall of the Shah? The Soviets in Afghanistan? Or earlier?)
andus
February 2, 2009 at 11:56 amhttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YvcK3Gg2DLs
chris
February 2, 2009 at 5:04 pmAndus: oh thank you, thank you, thank you for that!!!! That is the funniest thing i have seen for fucking years!! Absolutely classic and some of the comments are glorious too. More! more!!
Nic
February 2, 2009 at 5:07 pmI was nearly put in a FAME Camp once for wearing the wrong coloured leggings and refusing to dance with a Cello…
chris
February 2, 2009 at 5:13 pmHoho…sure you don’t mean DREAMING of being put in FemDom Camp for wearing the wrong coloured gimp mask and ballgag. 😉
andus
February 2, 2009 at 6:40 pmWhat would be funny, is you ended up in one of them, now that would be hilarious. !
andus
February 2, 2009 at 7:05 pmThis ones even better.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RG0CoZNRtrY
chris
February 2, 2009 at 7:25 pmQUOTE: What would be funny, is you ended up in one of them, now that would be hilarious. !
An unlikely scenario. There’s a bit of a clue as to the clip’s veracity in the bit near the end when the presenter goes “hold on, it says ‘user created’ here…” (not to mention the newly appended disclaimer at the start)
🙂
That christian video just depressing, though not as depressing as realising from some of the comments that some folk actually appear to believe what a fruitbat like this goggle-eyed nazi loon comes out with:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-05TZAT5s3o
“No matter what you think of me…or crackpots…” Classic!!
andus
February 2, 2009 at 10:06 pmThe christian one is sick, actually made my blood boil, so this is how these creeps would react if that kind of threat came along. The word vermin comes to mind, god wants you to go to the gas chambers, well god can fuck off and die an agonising death in that case, if thats what god is like, I think I will hang out with Satan. Hi Nik
chris
February 2, 2009 at 11:15 pmIronically, I always think that the conspiracy lobby in fact have a great deal in common with evangelical christians in that both theories effectively emasculate those that believe in them, rendering one powerless against forces beyond our control. As far as the relinquishing of forging ones’s destiny goes there really isn’t a big difference between believing that the pantagon slaughtered 2,750 of its own subjects – AND THERE’S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT and Jesus died for our sins so if you sin against him you’re going to burn in hell – AND THERE’S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. the difference being that most folk know religion is a load of fanny-batter whilst some otherwise radical folk DO get conned by the the likes of Mr ‘American Patriot’ above because no matter how right-wing, reactionary or downright fascist their agenda is, they cloak it with a seductive veneer of anti-authoritarianism. And to what end? Following link after link after link on the internet or buying an endless stream of books and DVDs. Making their authors very rich men, like the TV evangelists before them. When obviously, if these self-appointed champions of the people really gave a flying fuck about anything other than lining their pockets they’d be devoting their energies towards protesting against the military policies which caused America to become a country on terrorist alert in the first place.
Jay Vee
February 3, 2009 at 12:37 amWell said Chris, my thoughts exactly.
andus
February 3, 2009 at 2:02 amI tend to agree with you Chris. I actually put the link up for a doss, and you got the wrong end of the stick as usual. Camp grayling is actually a National guard training centre. Your comments above I think are 95-99% spot on. But I will add this. I don’t think America is on terrorist alert purely because of their military policies, thats more to do with their bare faced and blatant bias towards Israel. Why did they choose Israel to be biased in favour of, I mean why did they not choose say Kenya, or Belguim. or Jamaica, Why is the US so in love with Israel, I don’t get it. Not a good choice really.
Quote. they cloak it with a seductive veneer of anti-authoritarianism. And to what end? Following link after link after link on the internet or buying an endless stream of books and DVDs.
Yes, they sound very similiar to most lefties and anarchists. just substitute books and dvds for fanzines and records. or even drugs.
chris
February 3, 2009 at 4:03 amyes, very good point, andus, and i totally agree.
Actually, I did think you put it up for a laugh but must admit I had my doubts after your following comment! Sad to say, but I have a mate who seems to be convinced of the existance of Fema camps, which is unfortunately a manifestation of what would appear to be an advent of paranoid psychosis. Something I witnessed before with another friend who Andy was quite close to for a while as well, who went from conspiraloonery top full-on religious cult involvement. Same coin, different sides.
andus
February 3, 2009 at 10:48 amActually Chris Fema camps do exist as national emergency centres, they were first set up during President Carter’s watch, but they are apparently there to deal with a national disaster, such as a hurricane, a nuclear terrorist attack, and such things, they would not be able to invent them completely, there has to be at least a shred of truth in these things otherwise they would not be able to roll with them. if you do the google earth like that chap does and unclick the user content box, a few appear as national emergency centres or similiair titles. a lot of them are actually prisons or defunct WW1, WW2 internment camps.
With Israel I reckon the US had to have a little country to support so they pulled one out of the hat, and went, shit, its Israel. I mean everyone has to have their little country to support. Britain has Nothern Ireland, China has Hong Kong, Russia has Georgie, its just the done thing,
Nic
February 3, 2009 at 11:36 amAndus: America’s continued close relationship with Israel may well be linked to the way in which Israel can act as a strategic base for America in the heart of the Middle East (Kenya, Belgium or Jamaica don’t possess such desirable locations in terms of strategic global policy)…
It’s also worth remembering the power and influence which the pro-Israel lobby wield in American cultural and political life…
andus
February 3, 2009 at 12:18 pmThats true Nik. but the US did not always have close links with Israel, I think it came about during the 60s, specifically during the 6 day war. I expect its also got something to do with the fact that America is very christain, and Israel being the Holy land and all, and Judaism being fairy close to Christianity, (although not as close as most people think) that would help a bit, yes the pro-Israel lobby is very powerful in America, if you show any sympathy for Palestinians you’re anti-semetic, if you’re not with us you’re a racist, thats their general mantra.
But hell, god wants us to go to a Fema camp. If we don’t we get sent to hell.
andus
February 4, 2009 at 12:20 pm(rofl). lets see if this smiley face works
andus
February 4, 2009 at 12:20 pmnope
Nic
February 5, 2009 at 10:53 amHi Andus – enjoying the winter wonderland?
I imagine you’ve got ‘Midwinter’ by The Apostles on…
😉
andus
February 5, 2009 at 6:25 pmNo I am listening to Havergal Brian, bloody awful he is as well. theres a geezer slagging you off on the other post. I am gonna sort him out for you in a bit.