R.I.P. KIM SHATTUCK, GONE WAY TOO YOUNG

It's hard to believe that someone so young and full of life suddenly has passed away. Rest in peace Kim Shattuck, age 56, gone this morning (10.2.19) of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The horrible news was confirmed by her husband Kevin Sutherland.

C.V.: Bassist in first era of the Pandoras, the Mach. 6 or so one with her close friends Melanie Vammen and Sheri Kaplan Weinstein; singer/guitarist of the last reunion of The Pandoras; singer/guitarist of The Muffs; briefly bassist of The Pixies replacing Kim Deal (Shattuck reputably was canned for stage diving); and as of 2019 singer/guitarist of The Coolies with her chums Melanie Vammen and East Coast icon Palmyra Delran, favorites in rotation on Sirius XM radio. Kim was one of the most active performers onstage I've ever photographed, bouncy and attentive to both audience and band members. She had a deceptively girlish soprano (given her mischievous lyrics) that she molded into whatever garage-punk form she required for these assorted groups.

The second photo above shows her hugging 1960s historian author/gig compère Dominic Priore at a show wherein The Pandoras opened for the reunited LOVE Revisited with original guitarist Johnny Echols. Shattuck was an extremely popular musician with her peers and fans alike, and will be missed notably from the L.A. scene.

Above, The Pandoras -- Kim Shattuck, Hilary Burton, Melanie Vammen and Karen Blankfeld -- at a Rodney Bingenheimer party in 2016.  Below, proof sheet frame of Melainie and Kim in the earlier version Pandoras helmed by the late Paula Pierce (Do click LINK*.A longtime fan wrote that Kim's demise was yet another horrid jaw-dropping surprise in the saga of The Pandoras, whose singer/songwriter Paula Pierce dropped dead of an aneurysm at age 31.)

 

  One must note that all of the proceeds of Kim's newest release, the EP Uh Oh It's The Coolies! goes to the ALS Association Golden West Chapter. Kim Shattuck's own seriocomic quotation, "Caretaker or diseased it (ALS) is not something I would wish on anyone, even Trump."  You can purchase the Coolies' EP with its free 3-D sunglasses here: LINK**. Kim's friends and admirers also are urged to contribute in Kim's honor to this Facebook fund to the very same ALS foundation to find a cure : LINK*** 

 *https://fastfilm1.blogspot.com/2010/07/lost-tale-of-paula-pierce-and-pandoras.html 
**https://thecoolieswcr.bandcamp.com/album/uh-oh-its-the-coolies
*** https://www.facebook.com/donate/391407704870919/

LOVE REVISITED, THE PANDORAS at the 50th Anniversary of the RIOTS ON SUNSET STRIP

Left,
Love 
Revisited. Right, Johnny
Echols
of Love
ReVisited

The night of Nov. 12, 2016 was dedicated to its 50th Anniversary of the Riots on Sunset Strip that sprang from Pandora's Box club in Hollywood, Calif., 1966, but this multi-artists' gig's highlights unquestionably were by two bands with more in common than first appears, Love Revisited and The Pandoras. Both Love and The Pandoras lost their guiding lights, singer/songwriter/guitarists Arthur Lee of Love in 2006, and Paula Pierce of the Pandoras in 1991 (both of natural causes.) Then, both bands decided that the canon of each was just too good to remain unperformed indefinitely. New fans far and wide now may hear these great songs performed with the gusto that only original players and close associates of those icons can bring.

The Pandoras, 2016: lead vocals/guitar Kim Shattuck (The Muffs, The Pixies, long ago Pandora,) keyboardist Melanie Vammen and bassist Karen Basset (Paula Pierce Pandoras 2.0,) and drummer Hilary Burton.

Kim Shattuck gets a hug after an onstage dancing bout by the show's promoter, author/1960s pop culture expert Dominic Priore joining the two Go Go dancers, also seen with Love Revisited below.

 

Left, Love Revisited singer/guitarist Rusty Squeezebox. Right, Love ReVisited guitarist Mike Randle. They made sure the classic songs rocked and that proto-speedmetal manifesto "7 And 7 Is" was played at Mach 10.

Love Revisited's pedigree hails from Arthur Lee's last backup band Baby Lemonade (including Squeezebox and Randle,) with assorted worthy musicians and highly distinctive Love guitarist Johnny Echols, Lee's BFF from not only the original Love psychedelic daze, but also from their mutual pre-Love, Memphis TN/L.A. roots playing in bands with Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix. 

A compelling "Signed D.C." was sung by Johnny Echols (pictured above and below) with the coda of this ballad's haunting chorus "...no one cares (pause) for me" changed to "... signed J.E." One should note that this appeared on Love's debut album in 1966, whereas another song with the same chords and tempo "Knights In White Satin" by the Moody Blues sprung forth in 1967...

PHOTO OPS:

  Above, Evita Corby, Tim and Terry Moreland Henderson, Shelley Mitchell.

 Below, beautiful couple Johnny Echols and Georgiana Steele-Waller.

 Below, multi-talented musician John Tyree (The Richmond Sluts, Cheap Tissue) and Ignacio Gonzalez of Creation Factory / Lolipop Records

 

 Above, Johnny Echols and Shelley Mitchell

Below, Betsy Tucker and fellow photographer Dianne Carter

 

 ↑ Happy all ages audience for 1960s thrills. Note David Arnson of The Insect Surfers and The Raw Power Rangers, curly-haired with glasses, in crowd. ↓

SUSAN HYATT's PERFECT PARTY MUSIC, PINUPS & TRUMPETS

 

 
Susan Hyatt is a now Nashville-based singer with a clear, clean soprano she can twist into sultry contortions, and a pop music historian's P.O.V. for inspiration. For instance, my above left photograph documents Susan performing 1967's "How Does It Feel To Feel" by The Creation in 2014! The formula worked profoundly with her band Stimulator's 2010 original cut "Lovelier In Black," a celebratory morbid ditty that should have been right up there with Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like A Hole" for altGoth anthems.

Her newest effort PinUps & Trumpets, to be released 5.23.16 on Orchard Records, is perfect party music for any fun but slightly unsettling occasion as rather pretty offerings that challenge. An effective career-oriented musician, Susan and her past musics have been heard on all manner of mainstream television broadcasts, so there's no reason to doubt this offering will as well.

The official press release as follows: 

Susan Hyatt’s new record “Pin­Ups & Trumpets” is an all covers album celebrating her favorite rock songs growing up. Recorded in Nashville, the album was co­-produced with trumpet player Zack Leffew.

The record marks a new musical direction for Susan, who thus far was known as a rock chick fronting bands Pillbox and Stimulator. This record melds indie rock with prominent jazzy flavors and sultry female vocals  on cuts by Motley Crue, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, The Eagles and The Cars.

 Left, Susan Hyatt, center, in the 21st Century Pandoras (see LINK); right, promoting a book proposal with her own guided, free Pilates/gym workout for the press and others!

BEST LOCAL ROCK & ROLL WEEKEND EVER- THE DOGS, DR. BOOGIE, THE PANDORAS

 




 
It was the perfect, genuine Rock and Roll weekend in the Greater Los Angeles Basin: Friday 11.20.15 THE DOGS at Valencia's VU Bar, Saturday 11.21.15 Dr. Boogie at Silverlake's El Cid and on Sunday the reunion of The Pandoras 11.23.15. 

Above and below, rowdy, legendary Detroit/L.A. ruckus-raisers THE DOGS (history, see LINK)-- singer/guitarist Loren Molinare, bassist Mary Kay, drummer Tony Matteucci-- headlined a punk/shock rock bill with theatrical, pointy-coiffed and becostumed Rebel Rebel in tow, the latter's singer Jet Jupiter appearing very Kabuki. THE DOGS performed three new songs from their forthcoming Smelvis Records' release Ain't Going Nowhere as well as an assortment of their hardest rock, fan favorite classics like "Slash Your Face," "John Rock" and "Sleaze City."

   PHOTO OPS: 

 

 Above, Loren Dog, Rebel Jet Jupiter and California Rocker editor Donna Balancia.

 ←Loren Dog, Julie Scher Molinare and Mary Dog with Blackstar Amplification execs. Set list → LINK for info.   

Proactive entreaties to dance and rock were well met by Dr. Boogie and fans alike.

Fresh from their tour of up and down the West Coast, Saturday night, 11.21.15's record release party for
Dr. Boogie
at El Cid packed 'em in as they played raucous selections from their new Got To Get Back to New York City cd/download/vinyl. This hot collection of true rock and roll, reminiscent of The Faces and The Stones, can be purchased from Deadbeat Records here: LINK

I reiterate the bandmembers names because this is one aggregate that truly is the sum of its well-honed parts: each is indispensable and strong-- Chris P on lead vocals and guitar; Dustin James on guitar, Jeff Turpin on bass, Luis Herrera on drums.

 

Our local gig of THE PANDORAS' first reunion in about three decades fulfilled a much anticipated show for longtime fans as well as the storied girl band geeks. The 11.22.15 performance at The Satellite followed a vigorous summer European tour of festivals, so the band's garagey sounds were super tight despite the interim.

                                                           Joyous and sexy though their music is, The Pandoras have a fairly tortuous history: some two or three dozen bandmembers all total in their perpetual game of musical chairs, early death of their singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder, complex musical prodigy Paula Pierce (who easily could fit in the subset of Sandy Denny and Janis Joplin for unfulfilled promise,) bisection, lawsuits etc. Do click my first-person thinkpiece on them, it's some of my best writing LINK. Originally part of the 1980s Paisley Underground, they evolved to presage riot grrrls by half a decade and remain influential.  Fortunately, bouncy, effervescent Kim Shattuck (The Muffs, The Pixies [briefly]) was up to belting out the innuendo-heavy set comprised of a great mix of tunes from The Pandoras' first two albums, pre-fame demos and later songs. She originally was bassist in the group.  Hillary Burton on drums and bubblegum replaced Pandora Sheri Kaplan Weinstein mid-tour.

 

Tambourine Queen as well

  as keyboardist Melanie Vammen; former drummer turned bassist Karen Bassett.

SET LIST: Haunted Beach Party, Want Need Love, Let's Do Right, 

You Don't Satisfy, It's About Time, You're All Talk, I Want Him, Hot Generation, Getting Harder, I Want My Caveman, You Lie, That's Your Way Out, The Way It's Gonna Be, You Won't Know, I Live My Life, You Burn Me Up And Down, It Felt Alright.

Opening act The Woggles presented their Chesterfield Kings/Brian Jones' Rolling Stones' soul with their active singer serenading from the rafters, literally as well as figuratively.

PHOTO OPS:       

 ← Shelley Ganz (The Unclaimed) and 
Kim Yee.  

Unidentified
biting objects 
backstage. →

 
Yours truly in action at this gig, always the oldest blonde in the room with the cameras: photo courtesy of John Stardust Alvarez