MADNESS - IT MUST BE MADNESS

I GIVE UP...... SERIOUSLY

This is like.. the upteenth time I've looked for the original album cover from an 80's band and came up with Greatest Hits or Millenium Series or Vintage this or other......

The track, "It Must Be Love" is brilliant. I even remember
the album cover on its original American release. And
guess what?
This Ain't It Folks.......


BUT ANYWAYS.... This video is well done and it has a lot of unexpected things in it. I like the fact that SUGGS, (lead singer) is standing over an open grave and singing into it. "I Never Thought I'd Miss You.... Half as Much...... as I do".... adds a whole new perspective on it.

The entire thing could have taken off this way but it didn't it's light hearted. This shot in particular really puts a brave new view on this entire song. Its incredible that such a small scene can bring so much more emotion into this song and video. I remember when this was on the tape it was more or less passed over. The gang I ran with fancied, "House of Fun" as opposed to this one..... "It Must Be Love" was a special track. I made a mental note to myself that I thought it was very good and left it at that.

Its a break away from their heavy SKA sound. But they managed to put a good measure of comedy into the visuals.
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Cantu- Fascube-2006

MADNESS - IT MUST BE LOVE

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE ADOPT PINKY !!!!????

THE REPLACEMENTS - LIVE IN 1981 - TWIN TONE RECORDS

This album, "Sorry Ma Forgot TO Take OUT THE TRASH !!!" is a classic. HEAR ME? A BONIFIDE CLASSIC !!! Its on Twin Tone Records and it captures 20+ odd songs all revved up at a feverish pitch. It encapsulates the outrageous momentum of The Replacements.

This Minneapolis quartet is a noise machine. Its rough, edgy, urban sound really is what is missing in a lot of our polished do-nothing bands of the current moment. Its authentic. That is Paul Westerberg up there working up a real rage. That is Bob Stinson on the far right before he sadly drank himself to an early grave. This is real raunchy in your face rock music.

These guys were a critics favorite and were passed up many times in more popular rock magazines. Once in a while you would hear about them in a small write up but not too often. They did do a brief appearance on Saturday Night Live once their inner fire slowed down. "Sorry Ma" is an instant classic. I got the whole thing memorized and have lived each song to the hilt in many cases.

Westerberg would later create music on his own and produce some prolific sounds. Still, for my money, I really adore these early clips. They contain the raw elements of what a good rock band should be. Its noisy but you don't get lost in it. And... AND... These guys are ANYTHING BUT BORING. They entertain.

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Cantu Fascube 2006

THE REPLACEMENTS - CARELESS - 1981

THE CIRCLE JERKS - BACK PORCH VIDEO

This is what Ann Arbor, MI kids looked like... the hip ones anyway. And this is what we watched, BACK PORCH VIDEO.... when we could find it. Mainstream radio would not allow these bands to put their music on in the mid-80's. That all changed with REM.

I sort of recoiled in horror as I watched this clip. I WAS AT THIS SHOW !!! I recognized the floor and the back stage wall and this was at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI. This was in 1987 and they played two shows. One was for the kids and the second show was for the "adults". I wanted to go to the kids show because we
could jump around like a bunch of wild ourangutangs and not get fined or kicked out. I liked the all ages shows anyways. Always have. There is an all out expression of sheer lunacy, rage and energy that the over 21 shows seem to lack. This was in 1987 after all and things have definately changed.

I had to be right in the smack dab middle of everything. I had to be right in the center of the pop explosion. I didn't like reading about the shows in the entertainment papers. I had to experience this stuff front and center.

If you want to hear what it was like at a real Circle Jerks show then check out, "GIG". Its a fine VINTAGE album that encaptures all the glorious fun and mayhem. Your ear drums will hum with reckless abandon. You may even make a new favorite tune or two.

Ted Cantu Fascube 2006

THE CIRCLE JERKS - WILD IN THE STREETS - BLIND PIG

SLOAN - THE GOOD IN EVERYONE - LIVE ON ODDVILLE

This show had a very short shelf life. I was too wrapped up in my miserale corporate job in the Sears Tower to truly enjoy its genius. BUT ODDVILLE WAS GREAT. IT was also very brief because it didn't last very long.

But, if I'd been more cautious I would have seen SLOAN'S LIVE APPEARANCE. The song is amazing on its own. But what is even more amazing is that aside from being completely lip synched its joined with a guy in a big dancing monkey suit.

They let the entire thing be shown coast to coast and this my friends is what is known as
GREAT TELEVISION.
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Ted Cantu is the creator of Mobile Cast and http://www.911copywriters.blogspot.comhe has handled the marketing for such innovative groups like http://www.WindsorBeauty.com and contributes to several blogs and podcasts such as….. http://911copywriters.podomatic.com. He served as a top rated art director for Interactive Web Marketing groups in Chicago and New York City.

SLOAN - THE GOOD IN EVERYONE - LIVE

THE BANANA SPLITS SHOW - HOW GREAT IS THAT?

This was my favorite show as a kid, (Gee, between that and the Ghoul, The Gong Show -- no wonder why I'm such a mess). !!! This is great enterainment. IF the kids weren't being entertained then SOMEBODY WAS. This came out at the height of hippie culture. This show screamed psychedelics.

Another invention of Hannah Barbara, designed by Sid and Marty Kroft all working with Kelloggs to sell more cereal. Hows that for conspriacy therorists!!?? Then the whole thing was launched on NBC where it ran until 1970,

The Dickies covered the theme song. And just a few years ago The Queers did a version of, "I Enjoy Being A Boy" and it was released on a EP, "Everything's OKAY". The show was released recently on the cartoon channel Boomerang TV.

This show had many levels. Kids were fascinated with the characters. Adults could be entertained with the audience laughter, (most likely canned laughter, did other adults really watch this?). And the pre-teenage set could be entertained with the weekly serial mystery segments on here most notably, DANGER ISLAND.

YEAH MAN !!!!! GAR-OOO-VAY

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Ted Cantu is the creator of Mobile Cast and http://www.911copywriters.blogspot.comhe has handled the marketing for such innovative groups like http://www.WindsorBeauty.com and contributes to several blogs and podcasts such as….. http://911copywriters.podomatic.com. He served as a top rated art director for Interactive Web Marketing groups in Chicago and New York City.

THE BANANA SPLITS SHOW - 1967

GAME THEORY - Live From The Metro - Chicago

This band was a gem from the 1980's. Sadly they are no more. Before you get all weepy they are reincarnated as THE LOUD FAMILY. The sound is mostly intact...... But this band had more interesting twists and turns into it. I rather liked them.

This one is from a very early release from 1985. I used to have this on vinyl. Its got the track, "Like a Girl Jesus" on it. Their work was artfully done. I heard them on a late night rock show coming out of Canada. The bit i heard was very thrashy and I mistakened them for sounding like Generation X of all things, (boy was I off). After making some purchases I discovered they sounded completely original and I liked them for their ability to write good pop.
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Ted Cantu is the creator of Mobile Cast and http://www.911copywriters.blogspot.comhe has handled the marketing for such innovative groups like http://www.WindsorBeauty.com and contributes to several blogs and podcasts such as….. http://911copywriters.podomatic.com. He served as a top rated art director for Interactive Web Marketing groups in Chicago and New York City.

GAME THEORY - I'VE TRIED SUBTLETY - LIVE FROM CHICAGO

THE BOOMTOWN RATS - ADDICTIVE BEATS

Man,.. I remember this thing. I only saw it once but the damn thing stuck in my head for the next 25 years and its just like I remembered it. Almost shot per shot which shows you how my mind is like a steel trap.

Its great to see this again. The song has great control and the video has a nice pace to it. Its got things to mimic in it. That is if you want to be percieved as "odd", (note how Geldolf dances while sitting down in one place) then you can copy his strange movements.

Its artfully done. The shots are at an angle. The headshots are great in that they sort of have a Devo look to it. Or to take it one step further a Jack Kirby Fantastic Four Cover... ha.. I got my comic friends out there grinning.......

The break "say it ain't so joe" has little to do with the rest of the song but ties in quite nicely. There were times when the Boomtown Rats could embarrass me even when i listened to them in private with no one around, ("Getting my Picture Taken" was a very goofy song). I'll never forget when Saint Bob hit the stage at THE LIVE AID CONCERT. He stumbled out and grabbed the mic like a dyslexic madman with brain damage. He could barely dance let alone walk that was his style and my mother exclaimed... 'oh my God!".

I know what your thinking when you are looking at this clip.

"When did Jerry Seinfeld have time to sing lead in a rock and roll band."

Right? LOL
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Ted Cantu is the creator of Mobile Cast and http://www.911copywriters.blogspot.comhe has handled the marketing for such innovative groups like http://www.WindsorBeauty.com and contributes to several blogs and podcasts such as….. http://911copywriters.podomatic.com. He served as a top rated art director for Interactive Web Marketing groups in Chicago and New York City.

THE BOOMTOWN RATS - UP ALL NIGHT - 82

MAN VS DEER - FIGHT TO THE FINISH

WESLEY WILLIS - A MUSICAL GOD?

Wesley Willis, to quote the man himself, was a silly maniac. He used the words Silly Manaic in just about all of his songs which was an understatement. Let me tell you about the real Wesley Willis that I remember.

Wesley Willis lived in Chicago, in fact, he lived in my friggen neighborhood. He used to push a shopping cart and wear a giant burlap bag. He was known in Lakeview as the Burlap guy. He was a total schizophrenic and weighed about 350 pounds. And he was tall too so he looked like a mountain. He used to hang out in the alley near Clark train station. I had to cross in front of this guy on my way to work. One morning I saw him screaming obscenities at a parked car for about 20 minutes when I was getting my paper at Caribou Coffee. To this day it was one of the most intense things I'd ever witnessed.

Wesley sang with his band THE WESLEY WILLIS FIASCO. He used to play every other Friday night at the Metro and some other joints but I never went. I figured I got my entertainment out of him on the street. But I was sadly mistakened. I heard his music when I left my Chicago homestead and lived in NYC. I then realized the treasure that I missed. This guy was a complete lunatic and he was hilarious.

He was featured on Stern a few times and he talked about freaking out on his tour bus in the song, "Bus Tour Hellride". This video was probably homeade. I dont think it ever played anywhere but it really fits the song. Its about as good as it deserves.

Legend or Goof, you decide.
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Cantu Fascube 2006

THE WESLEY WILLIS FIASCO -OPRAH WINFREY

THE DICKIES - STILL PARANOID

AHHHH THE DICKIES !!!!

I love the Dickies. I really thought they were like this joke band that would sooner or later go away. I never thought I would be still talking or writing about them in 2006. But here they are. And from as you can see they are still belting out tunes. The lead singer is still going through puberty and they still have great control over their sound.

"Bowling With Bedrock Barney" was my introduction to this over the wall band. And of course the ultra-unforgettable, "Knights in White Satin" (BECAUSEILOVEYOU) is another instant hit. The quivery vocals sided up to gnarley, (like that word?) guitars served up a mean serving of Brutal Pie with a side dish of hysteria.

Seeing them do a take on Black Sabbath is just too much.
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Cantu Fascube 2006

THE DICKIES - PARANOID - LIVE UK

THE CIRCLE JERKS - WILD IN THE STREETS INDEED !!!

Long before the dreadlocks this is what the band looked like.

Keith Johnny Morris was a one man army on the mic. This version of "Wild in the Streets" is pretty good but I like the studio version better. He shredded his vocal chords by the time he belted out this tune. This was not your fathers rock band.

The kids in the audience are pretty much the way I remember them. Although when I saw them at St Andrews in Detroit I distinctly recall bodies flying in mid air as they were continuously stage diving. Not all of these kids were caught in mid-flight as quite a few of them landed on the floor. One kid in particular broke his leg at the show I was at. Morris stopped the show and grumbled, "EVERY TIME, WE PLAY IN DETROIT, SOME KID ALWAYS BREAKS HIS LEG !!".... after the kid was wheeled out the show played on. It was brutal. You always ran the risk of getting your ribs shattered in the pit.

These guys just recently played in Brooklyn, NYC.
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Ted Cantu - Fascube - 2006

THE CIRCLE JERKS - WILD IN THE STREETS - LIVE

ZEITGEIST - ANOTHER "VINTAGE" ROCK BAND

Here is another case of the big record companies immediately writing off anything outside the norm a "vintage" rock band. As if its a temporary condition. All alternative rock bands are "Vintage" and all crappy metal bands are "classic".... immediately, no exceptions, those are the categories. Such a world we live in.

The Reivers were what the band Zeitgeist was later called. The airwaves in 1985 were cramming the next Van Halen hopefuls down our throats. After seeing the Xth version of Honeymoon Suite I know yours truly here was about to jump out the window, (and I lived on the first floor). But Zeitgeist showed a lot of promise, they hailed from Austin, Texas and I was thrilled to hear of a indy music scene.

This video is dated but the energy in it was great. The song, "Things Don't Change" prompted me to run out and get this on as soon as I heard it. The drummer for this band was incredible. He had the energy of Keith Moon -- seriously - he weighed in a little over 100 pounds but he could really wail on the drums. I was able to see this band live too at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. I met the guitarist Jim Croslin and the energy in the room was about as good as you see here in this clip. I really dug them and I will always remember seeing them belt out, "The Sound and the Fury".

The reason why I got so excited about seeing them on IRS, The Cutting Edge tv show was because there was news of underground rock scenes breaking out all over the country. And it wasn't long hair glitter rock. This stuff had soul. And I was a greedy eyed vampire who couldn't wait for things to BUST OPEN.
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Cantu Fascube 2006

ZEITGEIST - LIVE ON THE CUTTING EDGE 1985

THE TOY DOLLS - PLAYIN A BIT SLOW TONIGHT !!!

The track, "Yul Brenner" is a kicked up over the top turbo overdrive tune de force. But you'd never know it by listening to this live version, (sorry kiddies). The studio one is much better. Up until a few years ago this was very hard to find. Now you can get this CD online or in very smart music shops, (think Reckless Records).

These guys still tour, (even after their late 80's heyday) and I caught them in Chicago playing at the Metro of all places. They are still worth seeing. I was a bit surprised to see that the lead singer, Olga, hadn't aged! When they hit the stage I thought I was in some sort of time warp. They played, "Dig That Groove Baybeee" and all the hits that made them famous.
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Cantu has just created WebCrush - you can read about it here.....

THE TOY DOLLS - YUL BRENNER

Tom Snyder Interviews The Clash

A lot of people get on Tom Snyder and imitated him on Saturday Night Live. Some people really hated him when he was on television and found him to be a kiss up or to be very condescending. But in the early 80's. Snyder was a punks best friend.

In fact, Snyder interviewed a lot of acts the media wouldn't touch such as The Jam, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, PIL just to name a few. He had a show that would not only let them have talk but also perform. I would stay up and see these new groups being interviewed and was very fascinated with it all. If it wasn't for Snyders interviews I would have no real insight to what any of these groups were all about. Aside from an occasional video here or there on a late night video show you would never hear about these acts.

From a journalists perspective he really seemed to care about these acts. From a fans perspective he was an odd choice. This was long before any type of video djs from MTV. Now you can see why Martha Quinn and JJ Jackson, (who just died by the way) were such a big deal. Snyder comes off as a concerned dad who has just been brought up to speed on what the young kids have been up to while he was away on a business trip.

The Clash seems to be pretty sedate on this appearance. Its funny when the drummer leans over and puts a button on Snyders jacket. The button seems to have lost its place in modern day pop culture. But back then it was a real statement to wear them. You never see them anymore. It was seen as being a bit rebellious. Over the years its lost its meaning.
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cantu fascube 2006

THE CLASH - INTERVIEW on the TOM SNYDER SHOW 1981

IMAROBOT - LIVE ON DAVID LETTERMAN

OKAY - Before you jump all over me I know this isn't the right album cover. I also know this live performance on the David Letterman Show is a little crappy. Okay okay, so its a lot crappy.

BUT OH WHAT ENERGY these louts have eh? I rather enjoy them. And cheers to Dave for putting them on TV in the first place. You know he always had an eye for upcoming talent no matter how bad, strange or off the wall it may seem at the time.

This act though is kind of funny because halfway through it is completely unmusical. They lose the entire musical narrative and then the whole thing sort of falls apart. The audience starts to laugh but the frontman never cracks and just delivers the entire number no mater how terrible it looks.

And it does look terrible. But this album, this track rather.... Dynamite... actually got really great critical reviews and I liked them immediately when I saw them on MTV2. The studio version is pretty catchy and its great.
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Ted Cantu is the creator of Fascube 2006, and most recenty WebCrush.

IMAROBOT - DYNAMITE

JAMES - SOULFULLY CHARGED

James is a popular alternative rock band from Manchester, England, formed in 1981. After an uphill struggle throughout the 1980s, they went on to become one of the most consistently successful acts of the 1990s, scoring a string of hit singles throughout the decade including "Sit Down" and "Laid". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band has been inactive, although a split has never been officially confirmed.
Source Wikipedia.

These guys were also on 120 Minutes - A LOT in the early 90's. Yet when you go to search for them on www.CDUniverse.com nothing comes up -- you actually have to search for them by song title. And when you finally get there you will see something about.... 20TH Century Masters. Funny how in America you can be labled a 20th Century Master so quickly. I think I figured out the formula.

1. Be a sensation from some other country
2. Get one or two songs on American FM Radio
3. Get that same song included in a film
4. Disappear for 14 years.
5. Wait patiently and BOOM ...
6. Congratulations lad, you're a 20th Century Master.

I remember the clips in the early 90's heyday from the EP "Sit Down". In those clips I also remember seeing screaming fans and a myriad of lights. These were packed houses. The song, "Laid" from the same album also got a lot of airplay and made it into a few film soundtracks.

They may resurface again.
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Ted Cantu fascube 2006

JAMES - SAY SOMETHING

THE RESIDENTS - THIRD REICH AND ROLL

There is a video for this that is much longer. But how much can you take?

Just about anything these guys do disturbs me. But you cannot pull your eyes away long enough to turn it off. Something about the entire thing keeps you watching. Then just when you think you got it down they pull a whammy on you and blow your mind.

The final two second shot at the end is what I'm talking about. Heh...... Strange enough yet?

When the band came to Ann Arbor, MI they were wearing the famous eyeball masks. The fourth member of the band was wearing a large skull mask, (his eyeball mask was stolen while on tour).

This band had a series of CD-ROMS too from the Voyager label. These were based on the artwork by Jim Ludtke, one of my absolute favorite digital artists of all time. Sadly, he passed away but left us these gems... if you can find them. Most notably, FREAKSHOW.

Rumor has it that the Residents, (who never take off their masks) is noneother than The Talking Heads.... Give me a break, like David Byrnes had time. This band does a 360 departure from making catchy melodious pop music. They are a hardcore thinkers dream delight. A cerebral headfest for the know it all hippies and beyond.
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Cantu fascube 2006

THE RESIDENTS - THIRD REICH AND ROLL

BOW WOW WOW - WELCOME TO THE NEW ERA

THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT.

This song is deceptively simple. But when it came out it ushered in a whole new form of entertainment.... namely the rock video. IT also brought in a whole new wave (.... eh.. NEW WAVE... GET IT?... ) new wave of sounds, colors and visual forms, (not to mention some off the wall haircuts).

This was the invention of Malcom McLaren, (sex pistols, adam ant etc). This band also had the tribal look like his other creations. Artist Vivianne Westwood created their clothing and encouraged them to look as bizarre as possible. When this look came to America it really shook up the airwaves. Kids became addicted to MTV. Mostly because no one really knew what they were going to show next..... that was the fun.

These new record covers really sort of trivialize the bands. They immediately slap THE BIG 80'S on all the releases. But in reality this was not about THE BIG 80'S. The entertainment industry had to let these bands in the MTV network. Americans had very few rock videos to promote. The other thing is that the original album art has been discarded. This is what made these bands notorious in the first place. Controversial. It got people talking. Crikey, the girl singer was only 14 years old when this band started. If you didn't know that then this band loses quite a bit of punch.

Everyone thought there was a British Invasion in 1980. But in reality the Europeans were the first ones to create rock videos. America was behind and had no choice but to show these acts on the MTV network. Eventually Americans would create their own rock videos, (really over budget productions.... seriously) and would filter out the British influence. Then the whole thing was dropped down to the lowest common denominator and became a rap network.... for the most part.

The Brits are still cranking out amazing POP as we speak, (check out the BBC online, or AP Magazine) but we don't celebrate their bands as much in this country like we used to. I actually heard Madness on my hometown radio in Muskegon in 1982 and I thought that was really strange. This music had powerful reach. IT would be the equivalent of hearing the latest BLUR song in my hometown today..... You see? It just isn't going to happen. The early 80's were indeed a magical time.

I really don't know how powerful Malcom McLaren was in the music scene. According to Virgin Records CEO Richard Branson, he was pretty influential. Its difficult to judge exactly what happened in reality. Malcom has a way of making himself shine brilliantly like a superstar. But the truth was this entire evolution of the post punk movement never made it into the books until the late 80's. I'd like to think Malcom was responsible for all this ecentric living. I definately can say he had a vision but I don't know how much of this entire genre is attributed to him directly.
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Ted Cantu - Fascube - 2006

BOW WOW WOW - I WANT CANDY

THE SPECIALS - DOING THE DOG !!!

THE SPECIALS

This is a rare clip from Japan. "Do the Dog" is an ecentric SKA romp with a lot of fury. Lead front man Terry Hall leaps around with enough venom and energy - as if he were going to kick your teeth out one at a time, (no worries kiddies, I hear he's quite harmless).

This frenetic version rushes past a little too quickly. The chorus of course saves it. There is so much character to the studio version and that gets sort of lost when its performed live.

The story is these guys were doing their own thing while the punk scene was spiraling out of control. Joe Strummer from the Clash attended one of their gigs and invited them to open for him. From there this caught the eye of Elvis Costello. Then after hearing them Costello produced their first album and introduced them to the states.

Their later tracks lost some of the pure SKA sounds. The Specials went off on a psychedelic oddysey -- it wasn't pure SKA. I liked the first album because it was incredibly raw and it sounded new to me -- with a touch of rudeness.

And..... I liked that.
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Cantu - The Fashion Culture Beauty Network - 2006

THE SPECIALS - DO THE DOG - LIVE IN JAPAN