Another blast from the past. The amazing, original line up of The Stranglers in their music video for “Duchess”. Ah, they just don’t make them like this anymore and you may say that’s a good thing. But it does have a nice and gritty cinematic quality using those old ’70’s film stocks. Directed by old school music video maestro, Russell Mulcahy. Whatever happened to him? Time relentlessly passes.
Tag Archives: music video
Suicide Live at Hurrah – “Ghost Rider”
Alan Vega was the vocal half of the synth duo, Suicide. Vega is no longer with us. Rev’s scary, repetitively sequenced synthesizer drives their songs accompanied by Vega’s frenzied, reverb-drenched rockabilly delivery. A very influential band whose work would impact many future musicians. Their early stuff is rawer and more intense.
ASHES TO ASHES – BOWIE – 1980
Fantastic, other worldly, freaky music video, “Ashes to Ashes”, from the late, great, departed, David Bowie. If you haven’t explored his music yet, do so now. What a magnificent, innovative talent! He literally owned the 1970’s and continued in to the early 1980’s. Bowie explored many personas and musical styles and penned some of the great classics of rock music. I count this song as one of his strongest. A bleak, melancholy reexamination of character Major Tom, the lonely, depressed astronaut stuck in his “tin can” in outer space wanting nothing more than to return to Earth, who was originally imagined in the tune, “Space Oddity”. I think it is safe to say that Bowie’s music and contributions to popular culture were triumphant. A truly, unique individual.
LOVE STINKS – J. GEILS BAND
More 1980’s music video hilarity, intentional or otherwise, from this big blues/rock band. The sentiment of the song is universal as well as we have all had our hearts ripped out at one time or another by the focus of our affections. Beautiful guitar break about 80% in to the song. My old friend once described it as “5,000 overdubbed guitars” crunching out some power chords. What’s not to love????!!!!!
NIGHT RANGER – “WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES” – LEAVE THE ACTING TO THE PROFESSIONALS
Night Ranger was a band that made it big in the formative days of MTV. Apparently, a film school friend recorded their music video and it was given heavy air play on the fledgling music video network. With a limited amount of content to air, Night Ranger’s “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” received heavy play on the network. The public took note and music video stars were born. A succession of pop metal hits was the spawn. “When You Close Your Eyes” follows the Night Ranger formula and features the band members exhibiting their thespian skills. The net results are lame and strained but what would you expect from the heady days of the early 1980’s? These guys were on fire and knew no limits. Looking at this video now, I’d say they met their match as they couldn’t act their way out of a paper sack. Nice try, though, as painful as it may be to sit through. Seeing the band perform now, I think it is bassist/singer Jack Blades who is dreaming about the mullet sporting dreamboat he once was. Time has its ravage and Blades is a perfect example. I am no exception. Rock on, Dudes.
SURRENDER – CHEAP TRICK – Houston Astrodome 1989
Cheap Trick giving a rousing performance of their classic, “Surrender”, live at the Houston Astrodome. Lovely 5-neck guitar action and a grand tour of the grounds in a flatbed truck. Featuring the late, great Bun E Carlos on drums. He is definitely missed.
NO MORE LOOKING BACK – THE KINKS
Great song from a great band. This number appeared on their concept album, “Schoolboys In Disgrace”. Haunting “lost love” song. From the fertile imagination of their prolific songwriter/genius Ray Davies.
F.M. – PHASORS ON STUN – 1976
Mid 1970’s “music video” featuring the great original lineup of the Canadian prog rock power trio, F.M. “Phasors on Stun” to me is their masterwork. One of my favorite songs of this and probably any lifetime, it highlights mandolin genius Jeff Plewman AKA Nash The Slash. The group manages to pull off a faithful rendition of the uplifting tune with the instruments at hand but I would highly recommend you seek out the original studio recording or song collection, “Black Noise”, and absorb its multi layered synth textures. If you enjoy that sort of thing. To me, the song is energizing and uniquely positive. The primitive video effects of this video are also to be cherished. Don’t make ’em like that anymore!
NEKTAR – “A TAB IN THE OCEAN”
“A Tab In The Ocean”: a 16 minute opus from the band Nektar. This is in many ways as much a rock opera as The Who’s “Tommy”. Riffs and phrases repeat throughout the extended length song. Monster riffs, guitars, a majestic organ line, and impassioned singing make this a truly memorable track. Did Rush get inspiration from this number and apply it toward their own epic composition, “2112”? You betcha.
ROXY MUSIC – “EDITIONS OF YOU”
Roxy Music, with their original lineup, perform “Editions of You”. Lovely stage performances by Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno. This band appeared around the era of ’70’s British Glam Rock and the costumes lent themselves to that genre. Roxy, though, was able to progress artistically beyond the confines of that particular music style and continue its career. Eno would leave the band soon after this performance.
LOU REED – METAL MACHINE MUSIC (COMPLETE)
Some call it a contract ending or breaking recording project turned in to his record label. Lester Bangs referred to it as garage electronic rock. Whatever Lou Reed’s intention, Metal Machine Music is pretty much a consistent recording: It all pretty much sounds the same after 5 minutes but there is over an hour of material on the record/CD to “indulge” in. What we hear are moments of interest, maybe even melody seeping briefly out of the multitracked noise sludge before being sucked back in by the feedback monster. I remember listening to this sort of thing being hungover. What’s a few more brain cells going bye-bye by that point? Best to avoid prolonged headphone usage on this one.
THE DAMNED – LOVE SONG
Another dittie – a love song. From The Damned. Singer Dave Vanian once upon a time favored a vampiric look. And guitarist Sensible wore feathers. Nice bit where they cavort around onstage with Sensible clinging to the broken neck guitar.