Killer Weekend in SD, New Bike to Show for It

Killer weekend in San Diego, but gott a get the important shit outta the way... Bought a 1961 BSA C15 for $200 from Mikey Ratt's friends. This is what it looked like at one point, but it doesn't look like that now, needless to say. It's kind of a half-basket case -- engine and tranny together, but nothing else attached. Big plans, we'll see what happens with this. Someone is bringing it to me tomorrow.

Friday night was a shindig! Rhino's pool photos are killer as usual (and AZ was well represented). Ray Stevens II happened to be in town for his mom's 75th B-day, so he and I spun some tunes (and he brought his equipment, saving me the headache of doing so).

Ray got a little loose.

Horsepussy made a showing.

Meg, Ray, his mom and I at the B-Day party.

Mikey Ratt's Trump and Steve Claar's Harley at the Tower Bar.

Oops, sideways... but you get the idea. Antenna Weiner!

Rhino and Mikey Ratt, who was spinning the killer tunes (and Julian did later).

The Widows!

Shark Blood (NOT "Sharted Blood").

Why did these load sideways? It was Beans' B-day. Killer jams, some bands, then karaoke!

Beans was cuttin' loose!

Saying goodbye for now to Rhino, Debbie, and Iggy!

Rest In Peace Michael Davis of the MC5

The MC5 is down to two. Yesterday was a sad day for the world of real Rock 'n' Roll with the passing of Michael Davis of the MC5 and Destroy All Monsters. Got turned on to the MC5 in the mid-'80s through the ROIR cassette "Babes in Arms" from the guys at Fallout Records in Seattle. I couldn't believe there were other mid- to late-sixties bands besides the Sonics and the Stooges that weren't all hippy dippy and were forefathers of punk (remember, I was a 16-year-old punk skater kid who had been listening to hardcore for the previous couple of years). Simply put, the MC5 blew my mind. I got original copies of all of their records, even though they were pricey at the time. And I always played them and turned my friends on to them. I still listen to them all the time. In 2004 the three surviving members (Davis, Wayne Kramer, and Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson) did a reunion tour. I saw them twice, once in Tucson at the Club Congress and in Tempe at the Marquee. I interviewed them with Mark Arm -- who did some vocals, along with Evan Dando, on the tour -- at the cafe there, and brought all of my MC5 records to get autographed. I've only done that for 3 bands in the nearly 20 years I have been working for Thrasher. Before the show, Wayne Kramer asked me what I wanted to hear. I think he was testing me -- did I really know the MC5 song catalogue? Without hesitation I started naming all of my favorite songs, and I think he figured out I was a fan and not just some autograph hound. Those records are framed and hanging in my office -- I bought duplicates to play. They were all super nice, and even though Kramer did  most of the talking, Davis was super friendly and warm. They fucking blew doors both shows. The Congress -- a small- to medium-sized venue -- was packed, and the band went off. Dando made an ass out of himself. The next night, I had finangled 16 or so free tickets to the Marquee. It was a Sunday night, they had sold very few advanced tickets, and they were papering the room to get people in there. I called all of my friends trying to give away tickets, leaving a bunch in my mail box. At the show, there were about 250 people in the big venue. The band fucking killed it -- I was psyched that even though the crowd was small, everyone was into it. Well, almost everyone. One acquaintence after the show remarked how it was terrible to see old men get up and do that. "I wish I could have just seen No Means No." What a fucking idiot. My buddy Jake and I let him have it. We'd just witnessed history, albeit history about 35 years too late. I shot photos at the Tucson show, and wrote up the interview in the OCtober 2004 issue of Thrasher. Tried to find it online, but I don't think it is available. I fucking love the MC5, and yesterday and today and for a while to come are gonna be sad days. But fuck it, we all gotta keep kickin' out the jams, as corny as that might sound.

Scam Diego comin' up

Been blagging again. Still getting Maaike's CB200 together, postponing the 350F/400F. Still meaning to post a roundup of some of the killer photos from the Love 3rd Anniversary Party. But mostly just busy as hell, so I'll post some stuff I've ripped off from others (check that killer white CB160!). Heading to Scam Diego today, gonna DJ Rhino's photo show tonight (with special guest Ray Stevens II!):

Um, yeah dude, that Ray Stevens II. Los Olvidados, Faction, Odd Man Out, Odd Numbers, Clay Wheels, RSII Solid Sound, etc. Photo above is from Los Olvidados.

Fun fact trivia #2341: Both Rhino and Ray were in my wedding -- because they fucking rule. This is gonna be a good one. And damn, how could I forget? Davey Rogers and his family will be there too. And the usual heads. Where's Mikey Ratt? Danielle and Mick? Debbie? And I think it's Beans' birthday.

Evidence LI: Same Day Service

Quick session today, caught up with Joe, Craig and Mike (who'd been scoping and hitting othe shit all day). This one is high profile these days, new owners, redoing the place. New roof, new interior. Joe Dirt gets up frontside in the shallows...

... And the deep. Tony don't fade.

Craig munches box. We'll be back.

Gigi and the Charmaines

I usually don't post a song of a record that I'm looking for (in case others like it and theyn they're lloking for it too and then it makes it harder for me to score), but I'll make an exception in this case. And I'm still looking for the "Guilty" 7" so if you got it, lemme know!

Gigi and the Charmaines (later just the Charmaines) were outta Cincinatti, and put stuff out from 1960-67. They also worked as back up to James Brown, Little Willie John and a host of others. Never charted very high, but they've got some killers. "Guilty" is my pick. There's a reissue CD, but you know me: strictly vinyl. Lemme know if you find it for me, and have a sweet weekend!

CB350/400F Update, More Cafe Racer Culture, Love Cycles Fallout

Blew the deadline for the CB350/400F, but that's OK as it lets me spend some more time polishing up the miscellaneous bits. Swing arm and axle on there, other bits polished up, still gotta put that engine together, but waiting for Maaike's bike (today? tomorrow?).

More great stuff from Cafe Racer Culture. Some photos of sidecar racer Dane Rowe, who raced in the '60s and '70s with her husband. Fearless. These photos and others are a few pages back, but that's OK, relax, spend some time scrolling through. You'll enjoy yourself.

They get a little cheeky over at CRC too.

And this tank's ripped off from there as well.

Eric from Bob's Triumph. Nope, don't believe that oil stain belongs to this bike.

SaTURDay was the 3rd Love Cycles Anniversary party and bike show. I DJed it, so didn't get around to take too many photos. Fashion Serial Killer has some good ones posted already (and is always a good read). Lady Hump is another (gotta update my blodge roll), and I'm not just saying that 'cuz there's a photo of me up there. He's consistently hilarious, calling out the ridiculous "conventions" of the chopper crowd, and making pointed fun of all the shitty custom bikes out there that are completely ridiculous. Saw the dude with a Lady Hump patch and figured it was him, next time I'll say hi.

L: Done Blaggin?

Still catchin' up. Sunday's session at Adam's. Spent most of the time skating and battling the box, so didn't take more photos of the shreddage. Did get P-Stone killin' a FS rock in the shallow...

And Josh Borden crail slide!

Evidence XLIX: More Blagging

Still catching up, this is from last Saturday. 2Sean, BS, shallow end.

Santa Cruz riders in town for a few days, including the Screaming Lord himself, FSG on the Anthony.

Evidence!

Tacos for lunch before more shredding. Cabeza, anyone?

Salba again, somewhere else.

Josh Borden boardin', ass-grab on the way in,

E-Man, FS feebs, Rhino got the shot.

Livingston, not a bail but a motherfuckin' fast plant.