Tag Archives: dead boys

May 3, 1978 – Journal Entry

Blondie closed out the Johnny Blitz Benefit at CBGBs with a cover of a Donna Summer hit. LOVE TO LOE YOU, BABY. I stood at the right of the stage with Excessive. This was punk’s woodstock. The benefit packed the house each night, despite rumors of funds being siphoned off for a continuous party. At […]

December 29, 1978 – East Village – Journal Entry

Disco was king on 1978 AM airwaves. Rock and roll came a distant second and punk barely scratched the airwaves. Everyone was into Disco. Donna Summer, a Dorchester native, struck platinum with MacArthur Park and Last Dance, Chic took over # 1 in December with Le Freak. The shout for Disco echoed across the country […]

Dead Boys Who?

In 2019 on a Halloween weekend I traveled to Cleveland for my nephew’s wedding. I arrived on Friday afternoon and left Sunday at noon. I asked scores of Cleveland natives, if they had ever heard of The Dead Boys, the fiery rebellious punk band from the shores of Lake Eire. “Sonic Reducer.” The song is […]

I’m A Poseur Too

This morning I re-wrote a story about the Damned’s show at Hurrah in 1978. I thought that the Dead Boys from Cleveland were touring with the British group. Cheetah Chrome emailed a comment excoriating my time-misplacement. What an honor. Here is his email. SONIC REDUCER rocks. The Damned Live 1978 Cheetah Nice story , too […]

Lame Ass Poser

Editors and agents have asked for a definition of my writing. Corporate executives like neat niches. I tell them the easy answer, “Semi-fiction.” “What’s that?” None of them are familiar with that genre, since it doesn’t really exist in their marketplace. “Whatever is interesting is true.” My employer Richie Boy had once described my story-telling […]