GB-SPRING/SUMMER-2016

It seems like Jean Beauvoir has seen and done it all.  An integral part of New York City’s rich music history of the 70’s with The Plasmatics.  One thing he’s most proud as he reflects on that band is “we transcended genre, transcended color, being a black bass player with a blonde mohawk in a band where things were really segregated for one thing I think was an important point of The Plasmatics.  When people left the show, it was something they’d never forget.” 
Then he goes solo with Drums Along The Mohawk, which might’ve thrown his fans for a loop, but clearly proved he had ambitions beyond punk.  “This thing of black artists only doing R&B, I didn’t believe in that.  Even the blonde mohawk kind of played this racelessness opinion that I had in something I wanted to portray,” he says.  Soon after,
bands like King’s X, Living Color, Dan Reed Network all emerged.  Jean believes he helped pave that road.
Find out the details of how his collaborations with Paul Stanley came to be.  Songwriting still at the core of Jean’s work, recently reaching a #1 last year on Billboard’s world chart with Korean recording artist Jonghyun.
Hear what else is in store for him in this info packed interview.  Download it here.

GLAMBONE!

Marky Ramone "Punk Rock Blitzkrieg"

Punk Rock Blitzkrieg by Marky Ramone tells the story of his journey from the burgeoning NY scene of the 70’s on through to the present.  From his early music beginnings of being signed to Neil Bogart’s first label, to Wayne County, the man who took gender bending to a whole other place.  Under the management of MainMan, Bowie’s people at the time, interesting anecdotes of how rumors went around that MainMan only kept Wayne on their roster so Bowie could knick ideas from Wayne.  When that band didn’t pan out, Marky went on to join Richard Hell & The Voidoids, who in many ways would inspire the UK punks when their Sire Records debut was released.
Once he hooked up with The Ramones, let the games begin.  Talk about a disfunctional bunch of bandmates, whether it be pulling knives on each other, stealing girlfriends, or Joey’s OCD condition, Marky tells it in a way with a ray of humour. 
His own battles with alcoholism, led to a wake up call when he was told he could no longer be in the band.  The final straw, finding himself in a furniture store, and it wasn’t to buy a new sofa.  His father’s stern words left an impact, and it was time for AA. 
His second chance at a healthy life would eventually coincide with a second chance in The Ramones. 
It’s a captivating book from a stand up guy who’s been through the high’s and low’s and has found a comfortable place on the other end of it all.  How many artists can say they recorded with Phil Spector?  How many can create a movement?  This one has lasted, influenced countless others, a musical legacy that continues to be as strong as ever.  This book is a must read for any self proclaimed music aficionado, or those wanting a history trip through the roots of punk/rock and New York City.