When Big Stick's "Drag Racing" 7-inch came out in 1986, it was one of those you-hadda-be-there moments-- I'm sure it doesn't translate the same way now, but at the time it was so out of left field from everything else that was going on that it was about as unbelievable as it was hilarious. I no longer have the original 7", of course, but I have the one that came with the Blast First "Devil's Jukebox" box set, which gives the same effect of feeling like your guts are getting pulled around while you listen to it.
About a year later I saw Big Stick opening for Sonic Youth at Maxwell's in 1987, and it made the whole concept seem a lot dumber. Yanna Trance couldn't actually play the drums, much less keep a simple beat, and the humongous rock-star costume that John Gill wore on stage was sorta belied by the fact that before the show he was dragging around his own amps with his real name, "Galeski", stenciled on the side. I had a phone conversation with John around that same time, where we talked about including a Big Stick record with the next issue of my zine; he had a song idea that he was working on, based around Vince Neil's car accident that killed the drummer from Hanoi Rocks, called "Vince Neil Has Death Appeal". Too bad that one never came about.
I can also vaguely remember a "Drag Racing"-type song that Big Stick had on a compilation tape or something, making fun of hardcore and specifically mentioning bands like PTL Klub. I wish I still had a copy of it, because I'm sure it was awesome.
"Drag Racing"
(this file is now listen-only)
7 comments:
They had the multi-version thing down. 2 song 7", 4 song 7", 5 song 12", cassette with bonus live track(s?). Too bad nothing that came after was all too hot.
I thought "Jesus Was Born on an Indian Reservation" was pretty cool, and "Crack Attack" was good for a few laughs... but yeah, they sure got a lot of mileage out of one song.
I STILL get mileage out of that "crack attack" couplet...maybe it's a buy our records thing?
"Iraq Attack...I want my money back"
MR> HCI should own all their LPS like me. all pretty solid stuff- although kind of a 1 trick pony. but aren't most bands.
played this song very often on my various WXCI redio shows "Radio Underground" and "LArge...with Everything".
greg vegas
Someone's gotta have that PTL Klub song. It was a riot.
The mp3 file on this post is now a listen-only (non-downloadable) file. For those of you who missed the boat, I will do my best to respond to any e-mailed requests for the original file.
nice post, what arrogant horse shit for commentary though...he had to push his own amp on stage? fUCK YOU...any ways prodrag is great, hedonist chariot is great, hot from the strip is great, ...they're still working on stuff. it'll all be great, or at least more bettererer than whatever you'll do for the next 20 years....
Post a Comment