blank generation Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

The Heartbreakers “What Goes Around…”

sfilzen — Fri, 07 May 2021 16:55:57 +0000

The Heartbreakers “What Goes Around…” 1975/1991. Bomp! Records. Today, May 7th, would have been Heartbreakers/New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan’s 75th birthday (b. Gerard Nolan, 1946, d. 1992). What Goes Around… is live album, recorded at CBGB’s on July 7th, 1975 and at Mother’s on November 16th, 1975. The CBGB’s gig was one of their first; after forming out of the dissolution of the New York Dolls, Nolan along with Doll Johnny Thunders and Television’s Richard Hell, they played a gig in May and then added Walter Lure (from the Demons) and hit the stage at CBGB’s for this July show. Some of the songs performed there that are on this LP are “Can’t Keep My Eyes on You,” “Stepping Stone” and the punk anthem “Blank Generation” (written by Richard Hell originally for Television, it was performed live by them and the Heartbreakers and then appeared on the Voidoid’s album Blank Generation in ‘77). Included from the Mothers show are “So Alone,” “Pirate Love” (which is on The Heartbreakers only studio album L.A.M.F., 1977) and the other great punk anthem “Love Comes in Spurts” (also by Hell and on Blank Generation).

The post The Heartbreakers “What Goes Around…” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Richard Hell and the Voidoids “Blank Generation”

sfilzen — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:02:01 +0000

Richard Hell and the Voidoids “Blank Generation” 1977. Today, October 2nd, is Richard Hell’s 70th birthday (b. Richard Meyers, 1949). A punk rock classic, both Richard Hell and Blank Generation solidified the tone – in style (punks are still imitating his look 40+ years later) and sound – of non-conventional rock: punk, art and experimental rock, post-punk, etc. Its title track, “Blank Generation,” even provided a punk rock anthem. (In an interview with Lester Bangs, Hell stated “To me, blank was a line where you can fill in anything … It’s the idea that you have the option of making yourself anything you want, filling in the blank. And that’s something that provides a uniquely powerful sense to this generation. It’s saying ‘I entirely reject your standards for judging my behavior.’” On a more nihilistic note, Blank Generation can also be interpreted as the meaninglessness and depressive state of the late 70′s youth, particularly in New York. Hell actually wrote “Blank Generation” back when he was with Television, around 1975. Other classics on Blank Generation include “Love Comes in Spurts” (so adolescent, so funny, so clever), “Liars Beware,” “Who Says?” and I even like their cover of “Walking on Water” by John and Tom Fogerty – and I can’t stand Creedence Clearwater Revival. I probably like Hell’s version because he and the Voidoids utterly destroy it.

The post Richard Hell and the Voidoids “Blank Generation” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Richard Hell & The Voidoids “Blank Generation”

sfilzen — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:05:35 +0000

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.”

The post Richard Hell & The Voidoids “Blank Generation” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.