GB22 (Tommy Gunn interview, Taz, Warrant)

Glitter bells, glitter bells, glitter all the way...oh what fun it is to put on eyeliner today.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Glambone!  Are you ready for it?  Well, someone’s ready for you, as K.K. from Taz anthemized on their very first demo from 1986 when the band wore their glam stylings to the max.  Yes, the band progressed after that, and who could blame them for stretching their creativity.  “Desert Dog Night” from their last recordings is as equally captivating as any of their glam gems.  But enuff about the changes, let’s celebrate the glam that once was and is forever kissed and sealed with lipstick.

We are pleased to bring you another exclusive interview.  This month shines on legendary NYC club promoter Tommy Gunn.  The man behind the metal years of the Cat Club.  He’s full of great stories and recollections of the early days of club culture in New York during the 70’s and 80’s. 

“Max’s (Kansas City) on the other hand was totally different, it was more of a low key rock ‘n roll hang out.  You would hang out at the bar and you’d always have this feeling like something’s about to happen.  Somebody cool’s gonna walk in, or something’s about to break.  People would walk in but at that point it was like oh that’s only Joey Ramone, or that’s only Blondie, or that’s Andy Warhol.  You’re like, okay something’s gonna happen, and you want to be part of it.  But you don’t realise until many years later it was happening around you and you were waiting for something else to happen.”
Tommy tells us briefly about the book he’s writing, his autobiography.
As he’s sent a couple of chapters to Glambone already, I can only tell you that it is one entertaining ride that’s gonna keep you glued to the pages.  And I’ve read tons of these rockstar autobio’s... Tommy’s stories are stuff of rock ‘n roll dreams.  In his own words, Tommy says
“it is about an adventure in life that we all participated in one way or another.  If someone does not tell the story, one day it will not be even a memory, and no one will ever know what fun we had.”

One of the Cat Club regulars is featured on the ‘cast in the form of Roxx.  A personal favorite of Tommy Gunn’s at the time.  “Give Up Your Heart” is straight outta the TNT “Intuition” meet’s Bon Jovi “Slippery When Wet” book of rock.  Fit for the arena’s for sure.  It’s a catchy song, with solid production that tips the hat to the aforementioned records.  Gotta smile for the sax solo, a task that only east coast and UK bands seem to properly pull off.

What’s an episode without “Doucheband of the Month?”  Um... we’d rather not know.  Find out who’s crap is served up on a silver platter this time around.

Special shout out to Katja from Norway, for winning the Pharoah “Rocksville Station” contest.  Visor Boy is on his way!

The podcast closes with a 1987 demo track from Warrant.  It’s one of those semi-ballads that Jani did oh so well.  “Only A Man” is the track,
what...was Jani listening to Kiss’ The Elder way too much and thinking how he could put a spin on “Just A Boy?”  Or was he just keeping in line with his “Heaven” and “Sometime She Cries” type numbers?  Either way, two words for you Jani: Plain Jane.  Time to resurrect.

Get your free download of GB22 here


'twas the night before glam...

GB21 (Scott Lipps interview, Lions & Ghosts)

21 to “officially” get your drink on, 21 for a winning hand in blackjack, how ‘bout GB21 for a hairspray superhold to satisfy your tease n’ please needs?  Yeah, I thought you’d concur.  

The neon was aglow on the crest of the millenium in Las Vegas, years

before bands from the casino cesspool would surface with their Nord’s and neckties, there stood Kenward Cooper.  Much in the way how Nancy Boy was poised for a revival, Cooper (pictured above) was dropping hints of 80’s before it became the norm from ’04 to present.

“Don’t Get Emotional” off his 2001 debut cd is a saccharin sweet glam pop confection that mixes Suede with The Cars.  

What if Jimmy Thrill went on to be the next Hugh Hefner, or Brent Muscat went on to become a restaurateur ala Eric Ripert?  Ok, maybe

not Brent, but maybe Keri Kelli if we were talking about sushi bar franchises.  One L.A. rocker did just that, reinvented himself.  

Scott Lipps was the drummer of Black Cherry.  The band that featured

original LA Guns singer Paul Black.  He would flyer the streets with the best of ‘em, promoting his gigs, schlepping his drums around, living and breathing rock ‘n roll.  10 years ago, after stints with working at record labels, Scott upped the ante and started his own modeling agency.  Today, One Management represents a bevy of top models like Bar Refaeli to Claudia Schiffer and is a household name in the industry.

Lots of recollections about the early days here... we also find out who his all time top faves are in music, models, and fashion.  “John Varvatos.  John is more knowledgeable about music than I’d say 98 percent of the musicians I’ve met.”

We also spotlight one of the bands Scott manages, in the form of Arckid, (pictured here) featuring Royston Langdon (ex-Spacehog) on vocals.

A cool hooky guitar driven tune that’ll get you yearning to breakout the “Chinese Album” all over again.  

When “Velvet Kiss Lick Of The Lime” by Lions & Ghosts was released in

1987, if you had good ears then you immediately noticed something different about this band.  A certain sophistication that separated them from their Hollywood neighbors.  The songs had class.  Sure, Tony Visconti laid some magical string arrangements down on the record.

But as we hear on the demo track of “Man In A Car” that we uncovered from ’85, that happy-go-lucky violin melody was already in place.  

After the second record when L&G split, guitarist Michael Lockwood put together a more powerpop outfit called Wink.  The band had a great live energy about them, that of which is captured even on their studio

demos.  We close the podcast with “How Can I Tell You Goodbye.”

Glambone is having its 1st contest giveaway.  The sexglamgloom guys in Pharoah are part of a new comic book series called Rocksville Station.  They’ve supplied us with one plush toy of the series character “Visor Boy.”  One lucky listener will win this and have it sent to them before Xmas.  All you need to do is email ( glambone @ hotmail ) or Facebook message me with your name/address and it will go into a fishbowl, to be picked out on Thanksgiving day.

You can listen to the GB21 podcast now on this page at the top of the header.  Go green!  If you’re on the run, as always you can download it here

GO GLAM!

GB20 (Jimmy Thrill interview, Japan, Lypswitch)

Fall arrives with glam-goodness as we kick off GB20 with a rare demo track from one of England’s influential commodities, Japan.  Before the band went pioneering underground in their art/ambient/electronic direction, Japan were quite keen on sounding brash and explosive, mixing up New York Dolls glam with Parliament Funkadelic groove.

Their debut “Adolescent Sex” is a classic must-have.  We uncover a rough demo from 1977 of the song that would become the titletrack for that 1st release.

Rattlesnake Shake were one of L.A.’s hopefuls from ‘87-’89... How bands like Junkyard and The Hangmen got deals when they didn’t is one of those head scratchers that leaves you guessing.  Jimmy Thrill had all the goods of a superstar, and is out to prove now that he's still got that 'crazy look.'

In our exclusive interview, Jimmy recounts his working relationship with the late legendary Kiss manager Bill Aucoin, his days of running rampant with Taime Downe as he recalls “I hung out with their band, I was part of their band.  It was weird, it’s like Vicky Hamilton would order them a limo for a show let’s say at the Troubador and I was in that limo with them.  I was just sorta Taime’s dude.”

He also talks about the new EP that’s released this month, that of which is worth checking out.  Hell, it’s worth the 5 bucks alone just for the greatness that is “Shooting Daggers.”

Rattlesnake’s seemed to be everywhere back then, you had Motley singing it, Electric Angels had theirs, so no surprise to find another L.A. band with their street appeal called Lypswitch (pictured above) singing a sleazy lil ditty “Rattlesnake Skin.”

There’s only one doucheband contestant this month, and when you get a load of Rockdolls, you’ll understand just why.

The ‘cast closes with ex-Jellyfish guitarist Jason Falkner doing his nicely beat up version of Def Leppard’s “Photograph.”

Download your GB20 episode here

Sleazy does it!

Second Strike!

Second strike!  Pharoah returns to the stage this month, see the band perform live in NJ!

GB19 (Keith Varady, China, Plain Jane)

Sparks fly in July with GB19.  Two for Tuesday, or Thursday, er... whichever day you’re not hungover enough to put your earbuds in and indulge in the mascara and rouge goodness of Glambone.  Get your download here.

The ‘cast lights it up first with 2 songs of the same name, but different.  China (pictured above) was a band on the L.A. scene once known as Barbie.

They had a healthy dose of sleaze in their presence, and as evident on

their song “Heartbreak City” a bit of The Cult stylings in their favor too.  Sadly they drifted to other projects, with guitarist Jim Torgeson forming Virgin with Riki Rachtman, and Clark James moving on to Cathouse, before smack would get the best of him.

Plain Jane would’ve been a far cooler band than Warrant had they hit.  Hell, they were.  Jani crafted a sing-along summer type of song with his “Heartbreak City.”   The great part of this song is the bridge, which takes on a more darker tone, like from day to night.  Jani, try ressurecting your old Plain Jane tunes, it’s a hell of a lot better than anything you’ve done in the last 20 something years.

One of Gazzarri’s mainstays finds themselves reaching for the trophy in this show’s “Doucheband of the Month” in the form of Brunette.  Find out who their opponent is in this face-off.

Kings of L.A.’s glam scene in the 80’s - Keith Varady of Ruby Slippers fame drops by the studio for an exclusive interview.

We chat with him about everything from the infamous “cleavage” pic to his metamorphosis into becoming a film maker, and his most recent movie Tenderloin.

Speaking of Ruby Slippers, it’s more than suitable to play a lil something by Michael Arden’s post-Slippers band Mon Cheri.

Serious Pleasure was another L.A. band from the mid to late 80’s.  With their sound leaning toward the funk/pop hybrid of Dan Reed Network and Darling Cruel. 

Git'cha bone on!

Demand your Bone!

Looking for GB19?  Leave your comments here, and I'll meet the supply with demand.

GB18 (The Biters, Electrik, Ghost Of Lovers)

Ready to get your toes burried in the sand?  GB18 heats up and brings a track to you from the demo vaults of L.A. band Electrik.  These guys carried over the Sunset Strip party into the 90’s.  Whenever the band played “Sunshine And Rollerskates” live, they would come out on stage wearing their skates and shimmy around like they were cruising the boardwalk.

The Vamps originated in Baltimore in the 80’s, with a sound more akin to the new wave/rock n roll mix of The Alarm.  It’s founding members Jimi K. Bones and Johnny Vance would later head to NYC where they re-made themselves as a sleazy GNR inspired outfit known as Skin & Bones.  We uncover the track “Don’t Go” by The Vamps.

In our “Gem of the Month” segment, former Exboyfriends member Paul Ciconne brings to us a track from the band Tommi & The Love Tribe (pictured above).

Glambone’s infamous “Doucheband of the Month” battle continues, as we expose Syren (how doucheband is it if ya gotta spell siren with a Y?!) and the band Shame, that not even Gene Simmons could help save.

In a time when everything seems to have been done already, it’s hard sometimes to get excited about a new band.  But there’s reason to be thankful for rock n roll again, with a band from Atlanta, GA called The Biters (pictured right).  Not only do they proudly profess their love for being influenced by the best of glam like classic Bowie, golden era Alice, Slade, and TRex, but instead of being a parody of those artists (as loads of bands tend to do), The Biters injects their own personality & serves up a platter of catchy gems with just the right amount of punk attitude.

The podcast closes with a band from the UK that loves their hairspray and Hanoi-tinged threads.  Ghost Of Lovers, with the track “Iona.”
Download the podcast here http://glambone.mypodcast.com


Swallow this and
say...Ahhh!!

GB17 Glam Goes Pop! (20/20, Monsters Are Waiting, Melody Club)

April fools on those looking for your regular dose of lipstick pouting Hollywood rockers.  Glam goes pop in this episode.  Need not worry, you’ll find plenty of commonality that runs a thread through these bands and what you usually fancy.  Download the podcast here http://glambone.mypodcast.com
We kick it all off with the band 20/20.  They made their name on the Hollywood scene in 1977.  Catchy songs like “Nuclear Boy” & “Yellow Pills.”  We take a listen to the later.  Note the vocal stylings that certainly rubbed off on Enuff Z’Nuff.

Sure the L.A. circuit dried up in the early 90’s...but there will always be bands hailing from sunny California, no matter what the current wave is.  In 2006 the band Monsters Are Waiting put forth their debut indie release, combining British elements and danceable grooves lined with silky cute girl vocals. The podcast spotlights the opening track, “Last Goodbye.”

During a time when music needed a serious kick up its own arse, a band from Oklahoma of all places stood apart. Appealing to many genres, they depressingly got lost in bins of college
rock.  Chainsaw Kittens singer Tyson Meade’s influences were firmly rooted in Bowie, T-Rex, the Dolls, and Cheap Trick.  “Pop Heiress Dies”
is a glorious tune from a record that was poised to put the band on the map.

Powerpop tunesmith Matthew Sweet in recent years has made records with the Bangles Susanna Hoffs, among others.  We go back to his early solo records and present the track “Vixen.”  Is it a song about Roxy Petrucci’s nice looking bum?  Hmm...

Another band from the land of ABBA comes in the form of Melody Club (pictured in front of automobile).  If the Ark had a band of brothers, it would be these guys.
Although they mix synths with crunchy guitars, they look like they’d sound more sleazy than they actually do.  They craft great melodies with ultra polished production.  “Where Do I Belong” is addictive stuff.

The podcast closes with a classic from The Flamin’ Groovies.  Michael Monroe did a great job covering it on his Nights Are So Long album and keeping it true to the original, yet putting his stamp all over it. From the Groovies 1976 release of the same name, here’s the title track “Shake Some Action.”

Can’t get enough pop?  Head over to http://soakthecork.blogspot.com for more goodies.




Now show me some
titties!!!

Tommy Gunn... 20 years later

Cat Club's famed main man Tommy Gunn throws a one night only bash at Bowery Electric in NYC
April 1st, 2010.  Bands will reunite for the special event.

GB16 (Vince Votel interview, The Lawyers, Saigon Saloon)

Download the new episode now at http://glambone.mypodcast.com

GB16 welcomes former Ruby Slippers/Spiders & Snakes bass player Vince Votel (pictured live with Ruby Slippers and Street Angel promo shot) 
to the studio for an exclusive interview.  While today he spends his time on ice playing hockey for the San Diego Bruins, he sets the story straight on KV’s notorious bustier wearing antics, and recounts the days of teaming up with L.A. legend Lizzie Grey.  “Originally he just asked if he could borrow my bass, and not really my bass playing, but I ended up being his bass player for many many years,” quips Vince.  Hear the entire interview on the podcast for more rock n roll tales.

The episode kicks off with The Lawyers (pictured below).  A band from the late 70’s that featured pre-Wasp/LA Guns drummer Steve Riley, and Randy Rand pre-Autograph on bass.  The band released one record, and at the time of recording The Lawyers also featured guitar player Jeff Lebansky, who later went on to 28if (as featured on GB10).
We take a listen to the track “I Don’t Need Nobody” from the hard to
find debut.

From the New England scene comes a band from the mid 90’s called
Ill Starred.  Sounding like they wore out their vinyl copy of “Whatever
Happened To Fun.” 

What episode would be complete without an installment of Glambone’s
infamous “Doucheband of the Month” segment?  We listen as 2 bands
battle it out this show.  Find out who’s crap reigns supreme.

Closing with a track from L.A. street glamsters Saigon Saloon (pictured above).  It doesn’t get any glammer than having a guy in the band named Scarlet
Rowe.  Saigon Saloon’s sound was more rooted in The Faces, and the
Dolls, as evident on “Damn This Heartache.”  In keeping with the tradition of Motley by posing with naked bimbos in porn mags while trying to survive on the L.A. scene, for all you fanatic collectors out there - Saigon Saloon can be seen in the December 1989 issue of Hustler with Christy Canyon on the cover, in a 3 page “spread” displaying the backstage shenanigans of their aftershow activities.
Now that’s rock n roll.  I bet some of you are looking for the back-issue
as you read this.

 

Lick my BONE!

Doucheband Extravaganza!

Is Axatak a doucheband?  We know Hans Naughty is.  Download the
special extravaganza episode at http://glambone.mypodcast.com and
find out who's at the top of the list!

GBnewyear (Vanity Kills, Kill For Thrills)

Download the free GB New Year episode here:
http://glambone.mypodcast.com

Champagne hangovers but the glitter lingers.  The new year podcast kicks off with Vanity Kills (aka In Vogue).  Back in the late 80’s In Vogue came on the scene with their Gene Loves Jezebel “House Of
Dolls” inspired look and befriended Julian Raymond as they were
inspired by his glam synth flop - Bang Bang.  This relation would prove solid when Julian landed his first A&R gig at Hollywood Records and took along In Vogue for the ride.  Producing the record, it’s apparent that the direction was not to make Life Part III, but instead give them a high fashion gloss that would flatter the likes of Bete Noire-era Bryan Ferry.  Prior to release of the record, the band would scale down to a 3-piece and change their name from a Japan titled song to an ABC titled song.  From the 1991 Vanity Kills record, “Holiday Of Passion” shines, complete with its Rod Stewart “Lost In You” influenced riff.

SuccSexx and Mannekin duke it out for the 2010 Doucheband of the Month award.

Another gem in the treasure chest of Pharoah is uncovered here in the form of “Fall In Love.”  With its addictive hook line “get out you gotta get laid” this song takes elements of The Clash’s “Rock The Casbah” and applies doses of chocolate vanilla hair dye and lipstick into the mix.

Also from the New Jersey/New York City scene come Cat Club favorites Monroe (pictured above).  Big chorus and sleazy vibe, the band was known to have an equally entertaining stage show.  One of those bands that always drew the big crowds and did as much as they could to promote themselves,
Monroe simply fell threw the cracks in the late 80’s.

We take a look at Florida band Young Turk.  These guys were sandwiched somewhere between Ratt & Guns N Roses when they came on the scene in the mid 80’s with a much more commercial hard rock vibe than they turned out with on their Virgin debut in ’92 when they went in a more Blind Melon direction. 
Even the band TRYX couldn’t resist taking one of their early songs in the form of “Hold On” and adopting it as a mainstay in their own catalog.  From the “Train To Nowhere” recording, we offer up one of their finest - “Disinauguration Day.”

Glambone highlights an unreleased track from the Kill For Thrills “Dynamite From Nightmareland” demo sessions in the form of “Transylvania.”

From the ashes of L.A. band Sister Scream comes Torry Morgan’s current project G.O.D.  (pictured left).  It’s a sick guitar heavy groove with the modern appeal of Marilyn Manson’s “Mechanical Animals.”  The podcast closes with the track “Born Again.”

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GLAM ON!!!