Nora Novak

PENELOPE SPHEERIS: FILMING ROCK & ROLL

Nora NovakFebruary 5, 2020

Penelope Spheeris jolted the cinema world with her debut feature The Decline of Western Civilization in 1981, a blistering look at the LA punk scene, and then c...

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Carol Kaye started as a jazz solo guitarist, working the club scene of 1950s LA, when she was asked to work on some studio tracks for Sam Cooke. Though she loved the bebop jazz scene, Carol was a single mother with three kids and so to the studios she went, eventually switching to bass. She ultimately changed the very sound and role of that instrument in pop music as a member of what drummer Hal Blaine dubbed The Wrecking Crew (but which Carol has called The Clique). By any name, these were the session musicians who shaped some of the biggest hits of the 1960s, after which she went back to playing live gigs and working in movies and television, writing and teaching, which she is still doing in her 80s. Michael Shelley talks with the amazing Carol Kaye for PKM. Read more!

Roger Dutton on REMEMBERING MICHAEL MCCLURE: THE REAL LIZARD KINGTosh Berman's article on Michael McClure is fabulous. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every word. I agree wholeheartedly with his outlook on MIchael as a person and a poet. I'm a little soft, however, on the idea of Michael inheriting JDM's Lizard King moniker. Thanks for the article and
John Battles on PRIVATE SORROW: REMEMBERING PHIL MAY OF THE PRETTY THINGSA fitting tribute to an uncompromising Artist. Simadis summed up The Pretty Things' importance very well. I had the good fortune to see Phil May perform three times , and he never faltered as a charismatic frontman with remarkable conviction.The man kicked serious ass , in other words.
Maryjane Calyx on FRED WILLARD WAS FOREVER YOUNG: AND REALLY REALLY OLDThis is news to me, and very sad news; a real loss certainly. But wow! I sure as heck am thankful that Fred Willard was here and gave me so many reasons to laugh heartily over and again. My faves: Fernwood, Tap, History of White People... Thank you Fred! Love,

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TAQUILA MOCKINGBIRD: KEEPING PUNK HISTORY ALIVE IN L.A.

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Nora Novak

PENELOPE SPHEERIS: FILMING ROCK & ROLL

KEITH RELF: WHEN A YARDBIRD FLEW SOLO

VISUALIZING ROKY & THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS

THE CULT OF COSMOPOP: TRUE BELIEVERS IN THE ARIZONA OUTBACK