Monday, July 11, 2016

Who Wants to Be a Patron of the Arts?

So Creem (aka America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine -- and yes, it really was) is finally getting the documentary film it deserves.


Here's a little promo clip that's part of the Kickstarter project to fund the doc. Act now!



I'm proud to have had a couple of reviews published in Creem at its peak, and I actually auditioned -- unsuccessfully, alas -- for the guitar slot in Creem's resident genius Lester Bangs's band. (For what it's worth, I did teach them the right chords to the Velvets Undergound's "Femme Fatale," for which I am justifiably proud even now.)

And as you can see, I also gave Creem a lot of free promo back in the day. (Don't worry -- I'm no longer as cute as I was then, so there's no chance I'll be in the movie.)


Nevertheless, this is a film that really, really needs to be made, and I urge you to send them some coin at the link HERE. I know I will.

14 comments:

steve simels said...

I'm trying to remember what I reviewed for them. The only one I can recall for sure was something by Fanny. But I know there were one or two others....

Anonymous said...

Steve,

Glad to hear about the documentary, hope it does get made. But with all due respect, I think you SHOULD be in the documentary. You wrote for CREEM (albeit just two or three reviews) and were a fan of what they did; you obviously knew Lester and hung out with him (eg. at the 1973 Rock Critics Convention in Memphis); you worked for a music magazine that competed with CREEM (I know the tone and the content were miles apart but still...); you probably edited a lot of the pieces that Lester wrote for STEREO REVIEW; and, most importantly, you're articulate and ALIVE (unlike Barry Kramer or Lester) to share your memories and perspective. If they ask you, I hope you do it.

J. Lag

steve simels said...

J. Lag -- I was invited to appear, but declined. Being in one upcoming doc -- The PowerPop Movie -- is more than what the moviegoing public needs to endure.
:-)

Anonymous said...

Well, I give up trying to guide your career. And, you know, I really hate
modesty in an icon.
:) :)

J. Lag

pete said...

I don't know, Steve. There are people in this world (like me) who just can't get enough Simels.

Anonymous said...

Have every issue. Even the crazy rare early embarrassingly amateur ones on newsprint. In storage (archives) unfortunately. I have a Boy Howdy! beer can on my office shelf along with a souvenir Boy Howdy! Frisbee.

Hope they don't just round up the usual suspects for the doc. I get tired of seeing the same people, many of whom weren't even there, making comments and extolling virtues.

Creem got pretty shitty during the last half of its run. Lotsa Madonna and Boy George covers. Yikes.

Rock Scene was pretty cool while it lasted. I read every rock mag there was from US and UK and kept literally tons of them.

VR

buzzbabyjesus said...

I think it was Creem, not Crawdaddy, that ran an article in the late '70's entitled "Gram Finale" about Mr. Parsons that I would love to re-read if I could find it.

Billy B said...

Loved CREEM magazine. Didn't miss an issue for years in the 70s.

Anonymous said...

BBJ: Re: the Gram Parsons article

It was Crawdaddy. The Runaways were on the cover. October 1976 issue.

Believe me, I'm a mag freak. Got all the Crawdaddy's too. Along with anything else you can think of.

I like the British mags. Have NME and Melody Maker, Record Mirror, Music Echo, Pop Weekly, you name it from 1962 forward. Somebody's gotta do it.

I remember Chrissie Hynde reviewed Grevious Angel in New Musical Express shortly after it came out.

VR



buzzbabyjesus said...

VR-

You're killing me. Somehow I'm not surprised.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

BBJ:

Anytime. I can read it to you, but that's extra:-)

VR - off to Big Bear - trust that you must catch as catch can

buzzbabyjesus said...

VR-

Of course it checks out. I haven't found the article, but I have found the magazine cover and the table of contents.

How much extra?

-BBJ

Anonymous said...

BBJ:

Depends on how expressive you want me to be. My voice is sultry. Like honey, smoke, bourbon and wine. My rhythm and timing's impeccable. And I make sensational use of the pause. Unfortunately, the Parsons story doesn't have a happy ending:-).

So, how much? Your soul. And your hard adulation.

VR - squeeze it for me

buzzbabyjesus said...

I know I have a soul around here somewhere.......