New York Rocker
Hollywood Stars, The, Runaways, The, New Order (US), The, Iggy Pop: The LA Rock Explosion
Overview by Phast Phreddie Patterson, New York Rocker, February 1976
IN THE BEGINNING... ...
Mumps ...And Other Childhood Diseases
Profile by Lisa Persky, New York Rocker, February 1976
IN THE MUSIC biz, even on the chic Bowery, many a band are slain in the taking. An attempt on the life of one band ...
Interview by Lisa Persky, New York Rocker, May 1976
Suicide Note: "The thought of suicide is a great consolation; with the help of it, one has got through many a bad night."– F. Nietzsche ...
Ramones, The: Are the Ramones, or Is the Ramone?
Interview by Lisa Jane Persky, New York Rocker, September 1976
PUNK IS A word described in many dictionaries as that which is used to light fireworks; and in this case it is. Eager to pin ...
Jonathan Richman: Town Hall, New York NY
Live Review by Lisa Persky, New York Rocker, December 1976
AFTER AN almost unmentionable flight into vaudeville with the opening acts (a magician and a juggler) who suffered limitless abuse from the audience, Jonathan Richman ...
Interview by Alan Betrock, New York Rocker, March 1977
NORMALCY FADES into obscurity as insurgents seek deliverance. Abruptly the backbeat returns. Then it all seems so clear. The Nerves are at one with the ...
Sex Pistols, The, Television: Pimp-Rock?
Comment by Lisa Jane Persky, New York Rocker, June 1977
EVERYTHING happens to us all so quickly these days that even before something is completed, it is dated, labels must be attached for definition and ...
Ramones, The: The Ramones: Rockets Or Rubberbands?
Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, November 1977
I. Punk rock’s charter band will be your mirror. ...
Boyfriends, The: The Boyfriends: CBGB's, New York NY
Live Review by Alan Betrock, New York Rocker, November 1977
THE BOYFRIENDS got it. Only they don't know it. ...
Fleshtones, The: The Fleshtones: Max's Kansas City, New York NY
Live Review by Alan Betrock, New York Rocker, November 1977
THE FLESHTONES at The Village Gate were fun (not funny), like somewhat talented High Schoolers of the past apeing the newest sounds of the Shadows, ...
Jam, The: The Jam: Environmental Music
Profile and Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, November 1977
LAST MONTH the Jam travelled to America for a short promotional tour, playing dates in established new wave centers, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and ...
Report and Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, November 1977
AC/DC PLAYED their West Coast debut at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, with the club fully living up to its legend ...
Dils, The: West Coast Waves: The Dils
Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, 1978
THE ENGLISH NEW WAVE appears to be firmly rooted in the politics of frustration. It should be no shock that the acutely class-conscious British have ...
Nuns, The: The Nuns: Whisky a Go Go, L.A.
Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, 1978
SOMEHOW THE NUNS manage to transcend the traditionally (like in "traditionally moronic") rivalry between San Francisco and LA. Perhaps that’s because the Nuns are as ...
Sex Pistols, The: Sex Pistols: Tour Notes
Report by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, February 1978
In case you were incommunicado for the last month, the much-ballyhooed Sex Pistols American tour has come and gone. ...
Live Review by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, April 1978
THIS EVENING at CBGB's was a showcase for two bands newly signed to recording contracts by Blank Records. ...
Boomtown Rats: Boomtown Rat: A Cup of Instant with Modest Bob Geldof
Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, April 1978
THE LINE IN front of the 100 Club snaked endlessly down Oxford Street. The idea of standing on it — and for a Rich Kids ...
Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks: Teenage Jesus and the Jerks: Out To Lunch
Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, July 1978
A Dialogue between Roy Trakin and Lydia Lunch of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks ...
Idols, The, Heartbreakers, The, New York Dolls: The Jerry Nolan Story!!
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, July 1978
JERRY NOLAN is 32 years old. He has been in the New York Dolls and the Heartbreakers. He has made three albums which did not ...
Cramps, The, Mutants, The: The Cramps/The Mutants: Napa State Hospital, Napa CA
Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, July 1978
"LET'S DRIVE UP to the funny farm. The Cramps and Mutants are doin' a concert for the nuts; should be lotsa yuks." I wanna take ...
Obituary by Alan Betrock, New York Rocker, September 1978
SO TELEVISION has broken up and most people want to know why. ...
New Wave Goodbye? Some Thoughts On The Economic State Of The New Wave Industry In America
Overview by Greg Shaw, New York Rocker, September 1978
LET ME BEGIN by saying that I’ve written many articles on New Wave, most of which have dealt with the exciting possibilities of making permanent ...
Flamin' Groovies, The: The Return of the Flamin' Groovies
Report and Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, September 1978
IT ALL BEGAN on a slow summer afternoon with a frantic phone call from Miriam Linna. The Flamin' Groovies (or someone speaking for them, perhaps ...
Dictators, The: Rock'n'Roll Made Me A Mensch: The Dictators Reach Maturity
Profile and Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, September 1978
The IntroductionWHEN THE Dictators proudly declared themselves the "next big thing" on their rock ‘n’ roll-icking debut album Go Girl Crazy!, they were not, as ...
Cars, The: The Cars: The Bottom Line, New York
Live Review by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, September 1978
ONE THE face of it, one is forced to admit that the Cars, Boston’s latest pop machine, are an entirely unwelcome corruption of any new ...
Ramones, The: Road To Ruin: One Small Step For Man, One Giant Step For The Ramones
Review by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, September 1978
AS THE NEW WAVE bubble bursts and explodes into a thousand tiny particles, the Ramones remain as true survivors, one of few punk acts to ...
Blondie: Parallel Lines (Chrysalis)
Review by Alan Betrock, New York Rocker, September 1978
BLONDIE IS NOT a fun group and the age of innocence is over. True or False? I'm reviewing Side Two first because no side was ...
Public Image Ltd.: Public Image Ltd. (Virgin)
Review by Kris Needs, New York Rocker, February 1979
THE EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED debut offering by Public Image Ltd. landed like a depth charge in the mire of self-congratulatory entrenchment that unfortunately bogs down much of ...
Elvis Costello: Armed and Dangerous: The Rise of Elvis Costello
Profile by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, February 1979
Oh, I just don't know where to begin... ...
Clash, The: The Clash: The Fillmore, San Francisco
Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, March 1979
EXCEPT FOR THE fact that they're probably the best performing band around, there's something almost superfluous to Clashness about the band's shows. Wait a minute ...
Knack, The: The Knack: Starwood, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Don Waller, New York Rocker, April 1979
ONCE UPON a time, The Knack was a movie starring (I believe) Michael Caine and Rita Tushingham. Set in swinging London, the plot revolved around ...
Profile and Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, April 1979
ARE THE B-52s now America's most popular unsigned "new wave" band? Not on the West Coast perhaps, where the group has yet to tour and ...
Patti Smith: The Patti Smith Group
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, June 1979
A WAS LOST. He pulled the Toyota over to the curb, parked, and flicked on the overhead light to check his road map. Should he ...
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, July 1979
AFTER THE FIRST 500,000 albums, you kind of stop rooting for a band. It's a familiar feeling of having discovered something ahead of the pack, ...
David Bowie: From Low to Lodger
Retrospective by Paul Yamada, New York Rocker, July 1979
THE LAST TWO studio LPs by David Bowie seem to make up some sort of unit. The release of a third album in collaboration with ...
Report by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, August 1979
JUST A SCANT eight months ago, Blondie the group was seemingly nowhere. Their third album (and second for Chrysalis), Parallel Lines, was languishing in the ...
Stiv Bators, Dead Boys, The: The Resurrection of Stiv Bators
Report and Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, September 1979
STIV BATORS is just about the easiest interviewee I've ever met. Just push "Record" and he'll talk for hours about anything that might make good ...
Tom Verlaine Without TV: The New Season
Review and Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, September 1979
THE BREAK-UP of a band, in the wake of our experience with the Beatles and countless others, should no longer be a traumatic event, but ...
Alex Chilton, Cramps, The, Tav Falco's Panther Burns: The Cramps' Big Break
Report and Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, September 1979
"Give Me Memphis, Tennessee..." ...
Undertones, The, Sam & Dave, Clash, The: The Clash/Undertones/Sam & Dave: The Palladium, NYC
Live Review by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, November 1979
THIS REVIEW is being turned in weeks late, and I know why. After all these years and all these bands, all the disappointing second albums ...
NRBQ: Desperados, Washington DC
Live Review by Paul Yamada, New York Rocker, January 1980
AFTER A quarter-century of rock 'n' roll, it should be obvious that the idiom (if it can be classed as such) must be maintained by ...
Iggy Pop: The Discreet Charm of Iggy Pop
Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, January 1980
Mr. and Mrs. Osterberg's favorite (and only) son learns 'tis better to consume than to be consumed, or "They call me Mister Pop." ...
Gang War, Richard Lloyd: Heat, New York NY
Live Review by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, February 1980
WITH HIS bluish pallor and chopped fringe of hair, Wayne Kramer looks like an ex-con. But in his best moments with Gang War, he plays ...
Specials, The: Live In NYC: The Specials
Live Review by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, March 1980
IF THE REACTION of the New York rock press is any indication (and it usually isn't), the Specials are going to be Very Big In ...
Public Image Ltd: Lydon In New York: The Image Goes Public
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, May 1980
IT IS TWO O'CLOCK in the afternoon, and John Lydon has just popped his third or fourth Heineken of the day. ...
Report by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, May 1980
THE DILS, ONE of California's premier new wave bands, have broken up for keeps after three years together. ...
8-Eyed Spy, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, Lydia Lunch: Way Out West With 8-Eyed Spy
Report by Byron Coley, New York Rocker, May 1980
IF LYDIA LUNCH'S Queen Of Siam hadn't come out when it did, I'd probably still be freezin' my butt off in Ketchum, Idaho, a town ...
Profile by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, May 1980
EVERY NOW and then, we critics drop our objectivity – believe it or not – become emotionally involved with a band. For slightly over a ...
Cristina, Suicide, Lydia Lunch, Kid Creole & The Coconuts: ZE Night: Hurrah, New York City
Profile by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, June 1980
THE RICH ARE different from you and me, my friends. While we content ourselves with free promos and an occasional "plus-one" at a local bistro, ...
Falcons, The: The Falcons: Starwood, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Don Waller, New York Rocker, June 1980
I dig rock 'n' roll music I can do the Twine and the Jerk I wear strictly Continental suits and high collared shirts I got ...
Pretenders, The: Think Fast! It's The Pretenders!
Report and Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, June 1980
DUSK. THE rain falls in a thick gray curtain for as far ahead as we can see through the windshield of the battered compact, crawling ...
Interview by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, June 1980
THE GO-GO’S are a great rock ‘n’ roll band, pure and simple. ...
Runaways, The, Joan Jett: Joan Jett: Joan Alone
Interview by Kris Needs, New York Rocker, June 1980
Ex-Runaway leaves a London Launching pad ...
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, September 1980
EN ROUTE to London, X stopped over in New York in June for a round of interviews and two live performances, at the '80s and ...
Selecter, The: The Selecter: Beyond Black And White
Interview by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, September 1980
JERRY DAMMMERS must be reeling. The Specials' gap-toothed leader created a movement when he started the 2-Tone label, figuring that his own band would be ...
Cramps, The: The Cramps: Songs The Lord Taught Us (IRS)
Review by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, September 1980
TO TRASH THE trashiest, that was the Cramps' initial challenge to the burgeoning punk scene. Lux Interior threw down the gauntlet in 'Garbage Man', snarling ...
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, October 1980
CAN A NEW York City-bred rock poetess find happiness in her new life as a Detroit housewife? If the poetess in question is Patti Smith, ...
Captain Beefheart: If It Weren't For Bad Luck
Report by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, January 1981
NEW YORK – Did ever a man suffer such unrelenting abuse, incomprehension, and just plain bad luck at the hands of the American record industry ...
Dictators, The: The Dictators: Back From The Bronx
Report by Gary Sperrazza!, New York Rocker, February 1981
NEW YORK– "You know how Teddy Pendergrass only lets women into his concerts? Next time we play here, we're only gonna allow 300 Ib. men ...
Blasters, The: The Blasters: Down Home with The Blasters
Profile and Interview by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, March 1981
FIRST THINGS first: I love roots music but I'm no great rockabilly fan. The part I like best – the beat – is pure black ...
John Lennon: My Brilliant Career
Obituary by Simon Frith, New York Rocker, March 1981
'Death Of A Hero' it said in big black letters across the front of the Daily Mirror, and if I hadn't known already I'd have ...
Jam, The: The Jam: Sound Affects (Polydor)
Review by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, March 1981
SOUND AFFECTS finds the Jam stretching out, once again successfully staying off the (seemingly) inherent limitations of a three-piece lineup. ...
Review by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, June 1981
THE ALBUM TITLE is part of a motto on the British Royal Coat of Arms, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." "Evil to him who ...
Bongos, The: The Bongos: Bongo Journalism
Interview by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, June 1981
THE BONGOS are part of a small brigade making pop music that remains fun to be part of. They are engaging entertainers. ...
Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo and the Bunnymen/Insect Surfers: The Blitz, West Hempstead, NY
Live Review by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, June 1981
THE TIME: DAWN, a few weeks after the police raid on and the closing of Danceteria. The Place: The entrance to the Queens Midtown Tunnel, ...
Prince: A Dirty Mind Comes Clean
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, June 1981
WHO IS THE REAL Prince, anyway? The flashy, high-energy black pop star with the Stratocaster wearing Iggy Pop's underwear? Or the pleasant, soft-spoken fellow who ...
Blondie: The Chick Side of Blondie
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, June 1981
...AND SO IT came to pass, in the first months of 1981, that the white rock and roll band called Blondie appeared in the Top ...
James Blood Ulmer: Blood in the Grooves
Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, October 1981
1. A LOT OF different people are going to like Free-Lancing, the new album by James Blood Ulmer. ...
Black Uhuru: My Father's Place, New York NY
Live Review by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, October 1981
I HAD TO choose between this and the Palladium show (the entire Black Uhuru American Tour) and I figured this was the show to see. ...
Go-Go's, The: The Go-Go's: Beauty And The Beat (I.R.S.)
Review by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, October 1981
THE DIFFICULT thing here is reconciling expectations based on long-time familiarity with the vinyl reality. For you, the Go-Go's are the all-female L.A. quintet behind ...
Cars, The: The Cars: Shake It Up
Review by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, 1982
THE CARS have achieved success the-way Henry Ford build autos – by creating interchangeable, streamlined riffs that are assemble to mass-produce pop hits. In 1982, ...
Interview by Jon Savage, New York Rocker, 1982
"Well I say what I mean/I say what comes to my mind" – 'Boredom' "Whatever makes me tick/It takes away my concentration" – 'Breakdown' ...
Interview by Annene Kaye, New York Rocker, 1982
SHAKING IT UP WITH DAVID (THE ARTISTIC ONE) AND RIC (THE TALL ONE) ...
Gregory Isaacs: Savoy, New York NYC
Live Review by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, January 1982
SMOOTH IS the word for Gregory Isaacs. So smooth, and so suave. The cool king of that gentle, romantic Jamaican reggae called lover's rock. ...
Profile and Interview by John Morthland, New York Rocker, January 1982
"THIS NEXT one is called 'Arise'. It's a Western song; not a country song, a Western song. Okay, hit it, boys," commands Norman Odam, a/k/a ...
Profile and Interview by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, February 1982
IT'S BECOMING readily apparent that one salient characteristic of the first batch of Los Angeles bands (let's leave those lovable beach punks out of this) ...
Morells, The: Midwest's Mighty Morells
Profile and Interview by Gary Sperrazza!, New York Rocker, May 1982
WHO? THE MORELLS are/were the Skeletons are/were the Symptoms, also known as the Original Symptoms. They have 4 singles, an EP, an LP, and have ...
45 Grave, Vox Pop: California Screamin': 45 Grave and Vox Pop
Profile and Interview by Byron Coley, New York Rocker, September 1982
"All I can say is that everyone in Vox Pop is smarter than everyone in 45 Grave."--Jeff Dahl, May '82"I'm smarter than everyone in Vox ...
Individuals, The: Thinking Aloud: The Individuals Discuss Their Fields Of Expertise
Interview by Roy Trakin, New York Rocker, November 1982
VOCALIST/GUITARIST Glenn Morrow you already know about: former managing editor of the rag you hold in your hands, all-around nice guy, and one of the ...
Bob Segarini, Teenage Head, Diodes, The: Teenage Head, Diodes, Segarini: Toronto Punk Albums
Review by Gary Sperrazza!, New York Rocker, January 1984
Teenage Head: Frantic CityDiodes: Action/Reaction Segarini: On The Radio ...
Alley Cats, The: On The Street With The Alley Cats
Profile and Interview by Don Snowden, New York Rocker, March 1990
THE ALLEY Cats may play a bad set some night but I'll probably be long dead and gone before it happens. Sure, some sets are ...
back to LIBRARY
Best Databases: RBP is Runner-up in Best Niche category
Video: Johnny Marr talks about Rock's Backpages
download eBooks and audio interviews
RBP on Spotify: The Very Best of 40-year-old Virgin
RBP Album Club, June 13th: Miki Berenyi and Lucy O'Brien celebrate a Blondie classic
Essential Listening: Green Day grilled by Roy Trakin
RBP Album Club, July 11th: Nick Hornby and Nick Coleman celebrate Southside Johnny's debut
Essential Reading: Bud Scoppa's 1971 Byrds classic