Richard Hell & The Voidoids “Blank Generation” 1977. Today, October 2nd, is Richard Hell’s birthday (b. Richard Lester Meyers, 1949). One of the original American punk rockers: his earlier band, Television, was the first rock band to play CBGB’s in 1973 and Hell’s ripped clothes, safety pins and spiked hair helped inspire Malcolm McLaren’s styling of the Sex Pistols.

“Blank Generation” is Richard Hell & The Voidoids debut LP; its nihilistic yet catchy title track Richard Hell had previously performed with Television and the Heartbreakers.  The songs, while generally slower tempo than most 70′s NYC punk tracks, are snotty, sneering, messy and abrasive. Also hilarious and adolescent – particularly “Love Comes in Spurts.”