tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post4631974711476876827..comments2024-03-28T14:41:03.787-04:00Comments on PowerPop: Alison EastNYMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863355110457910935noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-64366388894575646052017-01-03T22:51:37.125-05:002017-01-03T22:51:37.125-05:00I went to the High School of Performing Arts with ...I went to the High School of Performing Arts with Allison in the mid-70's. We were both in the music department. She was a tremendous Bowie fan; she dyed her hair orange, wore a really neat blue pinstripe suit at times, and did her makeup just like Bowie. In fact, I'm convinced to this day that Bowie stole HER hairstyle and overall look! Most of all, Allison wss very kind and sweet to me; I was just a little, fat kid back then, but she always had a good word for me, turned me on to glam, and made a lasting impression. When she left school, I felt that I had lost a pal, and I never saw her or heard of her again. I had no idea that she was a monster guitarist, and I'm sorry I didn't get to see her rock or learn the circumstances of her untimely and tragic demise earlier. Allison was a lovely person and, over 30 years later, I continue to remember her with love and affection. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15362186490715627141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-51860954627171105972015-08-24T16:54:06.147-04:002015-08-24T16:54:06.147-04:00I went to p.s.21 with Allison. She was probably my...I went to p.s.21 with Allison. She was probably my first friend in the U.S. coming from Indonesia. But I lost touch with her because we moved to Maine. Sorry to hear of her passing. She will always be in my thoughts. P.S. She was also my neighbor on 26th Ave in Flushing.Horstnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-85875530588907799932013-08-20T09:06:17.948-04:002013-08-20T09:06:17.948-04:00Alison and I were friends from The CBGB's days...Alison and I were friends from The CBGB's days, Last time we spoke she was in the hospital, I was supposed to come see her play at Irving Plaza- Can't remember which band, but she was opening for the Plimsouls. Her death hit me very hard, so happy to find this page. East- I miss you terribly <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-10134251167983887872012-02-07T18:17:07.536-05:002012-02-07T18:17:07.536-05:00I just found out that Alison Agrest is dead. From ...I just found out that Alison Agrest is dead. From what the death records show, Alison died on May 1, 1982. We were at Bleeker J.H. together and she was strange and wonderful, a GREAT guitarist even in the 7th grade. We put a little group together and sang at a school dance. Used to go around school halls singing 'Walk on the Wild Side' when other girls our age were into Donny Osmond (they must have thought we were REALLY weird). We went to different high schools, lost touch and the next time I saw her she was playing at CBGB'S. Then I lost her again - moved back to Greece in 1983.<br />Today I decided I'd find her (I'd made a small search a few months ago) Still in shock. So, so sad. I'm happy that she reached for her dream and that people appreciated her and she is remembered after so long but I'd rather she were still alive. I will remember her always - the descriptions I read here do her justice. I was not a particularly good singer and I was just this little immigrant girl but she treated me with great generosity and warmth. <br />I am grateful to all who have written here, giving me a glimpse into her life. I always hoped I'd see articles about her in major music magazines and proudly beam that she used to be my friend. So, so sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-54889639306111791772011-04-08T23:24:56.887-04:002011-04-08T23:24:56.887-04:00Actually Alison passed in 1983 of Lymphoma......do...Actually Alison passed in 1983 of Lymphoma......doctors for years had thought she was developing asthma....she passed away in Flushing,NY at her mother's apt which was right down the street from where I lived at the time. She was an amazing guitar player, a great friend and way ahead of her time.....miss eating with her at Wo Hop, listening to all the cool pop bands she turned me onto and most of all mixing her band Minors Aloud.. I always wonder what she would be doing now......but I know somewhere there's an Orange amp cranked to eleven pumping out one pop gem after another...Go EAST !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-30788057284342616442010-11-19T21:59:14.738-05:002010-11-19T21:59:14.738-05:00I came up with "Minors Aloud" Who the he...I came up with "Minors Aloud" Who the heck is Lenny Breau? And it was leukemia that took my partner at 23.Mark Edmandsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-84620959404317574462010-10-18T14:04:29.008-04:002010-10-18T14:04:29.008-04:00Hi Guys, Alison was even better than you can imagi...Hi Guys, Alison was even better than you can imagine.We were friends 'til her death in '82. Her last name was Agrest. Her last band was her own "Minors Aloud" named after her favorite Lenny Breau album. She went went to the NY School of Performing Arts and fellow classmate Steve Stevens would skip his own classes to go watch her school recitals. That from his own lips while I was his guitar tech on the first Billy Idol tour in "82. She liked to describe her sound as "Cheap Trick meets the Raspberries" and the Village Voice called her something like "the heir to Mick Ronson"<br />Favorite axe was a '67 Gibson SG Deluxe with a third pickup added. God, do i miss her flawless technique and the way she laughed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-10865814933617973692010-10-12T16:29:57.667-04:002010-10-12T16:29:57.667-04:00Thanks, Steve, for resurrecting Alison, and for th...Thanks, Steve, for resurrecting Alison, and for the great pix and music clip. My recollection is that the cancer was Hodgkin's. Met her through my bass player in Anvil Chorus who was "dating" one of Alison's girlfriends, and at first I thought she was pretty scary. She was a sweetheart! Used to visit her where she worked and hang out, because she was hot, and fun to be around. Never heard her play, but I had no doubt that she was the real deal. <br /><br />I could be wrong, but I think her given last name was Agarest. Could anyone confirm this? Jesus, was it really thirty years ago?Adam Brillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-55384967373992673122010-07-17T00:19:58.811-04:002010-07-17T00:19:58.811-04:00Here's a link from Mark Edmands's Myspace ...Here's a link from Mark Edmands's Myspace page with more info about Spicy Bits and Alison East.<br /><br />http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=94544800&blogID=410082610Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-32199373092604617982010-07-10T08:28:45.526-04:002010-07-10T08:28:45.526-04:00Gone but not forgotten .
We talked for a minute or...Gone but not forgotten .<br />We talked for a minute or two at her Max's benefit , never before ,never again ...<br />A real (!!!) sweet heart.<br />We need more songs !!<br />Dot's,Bit's,Madisons !!<br />There is a short clip of Spicy Bits in the "PUNK ROCK" porno movie, (a fine period piece).<br />BG say's it the only East footage that he's aware of.<br />Someone call Paul Schinkle ! Find out if he ever filmed her .<br />Why is it that only the good die young?<br />Thank you for posting your thoughts about her,for us.nbm3https://www.blogger.com/profile/08282465477405107748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-66000051079468749562010-07-08T19:42:29.684-04:002010-07-08T19:42:29.684-04:00A little too early for the video age - MTV would h...A little too early for the video age - MTV would have made her a star.MBowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17992038501958547302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-18656897166355287312010-07-07T10:51:23.459-04:002010-07-07T10:51:23.459-04:00She was apparently also in the Spicy Bits and the ...She was apparently also in the Spicy Bits and the Dots.<br /><br />Here's a note from a member of Spicy Bits:<br />"Another goofy booking we had was in Jersey. New Years Eve. Opening for the chick that sang for Black Oak Arkansas. "Go Jim Dandy" Again not our crowd. Some guy tries to grab Alison by the leg and she clocks him with her SG. Like the London Calling cover except there's a rube's head in the picture." <br />Hah!MJConroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17372576965208949072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-38553640108454733322010-07-07T08:59:48.944-04:002010-07-07T08:59:48.944-04:0019?????
Fucking hell.
If this little clip is any...19?????<br /><br />Fucking hell.<br /><br />If this little clip is any indication, she was incredible.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18282613112168154071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-11898012021970851932010-07-07T07:50:07.262-04:002010-07-07T07:50:07.262-04:00FD -- if anything, I'm actually underselling h...FD -- if anything, I'm actually underselling her. Seriously -- I've never seen anybody on a stage who so obviously was gonna be a star. She was just bursting with talent and charisma....steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-52154852262860533652010-07-07T06:41:21.549-04:002010-07-07T06:41:21.549-04:00Powerful story.
ROTP(lumber)Powerful story.<br /><br />ROTP(lumber)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-86619135746145745972010-07-07T01:32:03.303-04:002010-07-07T01:32:03.303-04:00Now that I look closely at the pictures and some c...Now that I look closely at the pictures and some clouds free my brain, I could swear I saw her around the clubs at that time. What a shame, 19 and gone.FD13NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14964671671960423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-59603642058337976862010-07-07T01:26:19.574-04:002010-07-07T01:26:19.574-04:00I'm curious to hear more of Alison's chops...I'm curious to hear more of Alison's chops as well, sounds interesting enough. If you grab any of that stuff with her on it from Kristian, send some over, don't forget. ThanksFD13NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14964671671960423199noreply@blogger.com