Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
guitarist and composer/performer of Iggy and The Stooges' iconographic
1972 sea change/game changer "Raw Power" (which begat all hard
rock/punk/metal related genres) James Williamson just released a biography by his son James Y. Williamson. It is available on Amazon, and is lavishly illustrated with photos
from his entire life, many of his most important Stooge and solo
occasions documented by me.
Besides detailing all the astonishing
events and correcting misconceptions, son James Y. presents his unique
perspective of having had a superhero for a father complete with a
secret identity, as Dad was first the Stooges' legend, then a Silicon Valley technology executive who worked his way up to Vice President of Technology Standards for the entire Sony Electronics company, then post-retirement back to being a Stooge and playing his unique music, both old and new, all over again.
photo of James Williamson for Blackstar, left, by Heather Harris. Dec Martens pic uncredited. On the record covers below, my photos are indicated, otherwise pictures are by other photographers.
On June 5th 2020 guitarist Loren Molinare of The Dogs/ Little Caesar/ Michael Des Barres and the Mistakes' interviewed James Williamson of Iggy and The Stooges and Dec Martens of Oz' hottest hard rockers Amyl and the Sniffers for Blackstar Amplification via its Facebook page (LINK*.) Detroit/L.A. legend Loren and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Stooges' guitarist, fellow Detroiter James have been my longtime, frequent clients plus their music shaped my life even before any association--Iggy and The Stooges whom I first photographed in 1973, and The Dogs whom I first reviewed in 1978: both found their places of honor in my 1978 book "Punk Rock 'n' Roll"--so this was a "must listen."
Loren Molinare in The Dogs and Little Caesar (photos by Heather Harris)
(Using my skill set to get these screen captures of all three looking good simultaneously during the broadcast is also the closest I've come to live music photography in thirteen weeks because of the CoVid 1984 lockdown/complete self-isolation house arrest for those of us over 65/cessation of live music for the foreseeable future and/or 2021 in Los Angeles.)
James recounted highlights of his Stooges' career, including the most anarchic set the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has experienced, and his (few, since he's so sui generis) teen influences including Bob Dylan. He admitted that he had seen Dec's band Amyl and The Sniffers on one occasion
while he was jamming live with his friend Cheetah Chrome of the Dead
Boys, and quite naturally was impressed with their extreme vitality. James then outlined his many solo projects since the final Iggy and The Stooges tour of 2013 (of which I photographed four of their gigs inclusive of the very last Stooge gig ever at LINK**.) I am proud to note that I have done the art direction for them, and lots of their photography too. Blackstar Amplification will archive this streamed broadcast and offer it on demand on their Facebook page in future.
Below, his solo albums Re-Licked, Behind the Shade with James Williamson and The Pink Hearts, the EP Acoustic K.O. with Deniz Tek, the singles "Sickkk" with Maia, "I Got A Right" and "I Love My Tutu" with Lisa Kekaula, "Open Up And Bleed" with Carolyn Wonderland and "Blues Jumped The Rabbit" with Petra Haden. ( I also drew his Leopard Lady Records logo.) He also can be found playing smoldering guitar on recordings by Cherie Currie of The Runaways, O.G. punk Robert Gordon, David Hasselhoff (don't snicker, it's the elegant Lords of the New Church should-have-been punk classic "Open Your Eyes," strangely relevant anew,) Mitch Ryder's adrenaline-charged "Devil With A Blue Dress On" for his 2019 DetroitBreakout LP and Wendy James of TransVision Vamp's sterling cover of Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma I'm Only Bleeding."
↑ James Williamson and The Pink Hearts (Petra Haden, James Williamson, Frank Meyer, photo by Heather Harris. They were absolutely MIGHTY and magnificent performing live! Go to LINK*** which features a precious few live concert videos of them by Allison Ayala.)
Somehow the bookers/promoters of a well known mid-sized Los Angeles Theatre lost the plot and cancelled a gig 18 hours before it was supposed to begin (2 weeks is rather more customary for changes) along with its corresponding San Francisco show two nights later. Heroically, James Williamson and Pink Hearts sprang into action for their fans and played two pop up performances on those very same nights, mid-sized Alex's Bar, Long Beach on 6.29.18 and at Los Angeles' Monty Bar, the proverbial intimate club on 7.1.18.
Both triumphant gigs featured selections from the band's new Behind The Shade album (Williamson's second solo release with all new material) emblazoned with many Iggy and The Stooges' Raw
Power and Kill City classics co-written by Williamson. What's it like see one of Rock's greatest living guitarists ever from about 8 feet away? Well, the Pink Hearts' "Johanna" featured the most intense version I've ever heard Williamson play live, and that includes all the Stooges' shows I've photographed from 1973 to 2013.
Plus, the Pink Hearts are about surprises. All material, from most raucous rockers to alt ballads is co-written by Williamson and singers Frank Meyer, exhuberant yet tuneful frontman of the Street Walkin' Cheetahs (once the backing band of James' pal Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys,) and Petra Haden, esteemed pitch-perfect vocalist with a pronounced quirky side. To wit she covered the entire The Who Sell Out album a capella, including her singing all the instrumental parts. The male/female trade off then blending in hard rock is a great asset sorely missing in this genre today, and it was Williamson's unique vision that first brought the two together for the first time on Behind The Shadethen these performances.
Dramatis Personae:
James Williamson, guitar
Frank Meyer, lead vocals
Petra Haden, lead vocals
Andrea Wasse, backing vocals
Gregg Foreman, keyboards
Jason Carmer, bass
Michael Urbano, drums
"The Pink Horns," Geoff Yeaton, saxophone, Mark Pender, trumpet
The closest you'll get to a deserved smile of satisfaction from ringmaster/guitar virtuoso James Williamson.
~ ~ ~ Downtown Los Angeles' Monty Bar featured funky ambiance, bison head taxidermy above the shelf they call a stage, absolutely no stage lighting, and a wildly enthusiastic crowd, many of whom were there for the opening act Medicine Bird (pix later) and of course were uproariously pleased at the surprise headliner. Monty Bar live shots:
Andrea and Petra made a lovely eyeful of excellent singers, Petra in the same blue frock for this gig that she wore for our photo session for Blues Jumped The Rabbit by Petra and James, outtake from the session at left.
Openers Medicine Bird, the ostensible headliners were only to happy to have a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Stooges' guitarist magically appear and play after their own set. Medicine Bird featured acclaimed singer/songwriter of The Blessings Jeremy White with his Nashville friend guitarist Tobin Dale on guitar. The twosome wrote and recorded an EP of all new material, much of it reveling in their respective, authentic Southern roots so handily showcased here.
Jeremy remains known for the rootsy, bluesy, Stonesy, countrified sounds he blends into Blessings' songs (which feature over a decade of recorded material that sounds impeccably A List) so Medicine Bird plied the same strengths with a different gloss. The band had debuted live earlier that same week, not that one could tell.GlitterTrash drummer Boomer Bearman, a popular musician on our local scene, can be spotted
herein as a Bird.
PHOTO OPS from Alex's Bar
Above, James Stolz and Amy D'Allesandro Stolz, cinematographer and director of The Making Of Re-Licked documentary accompanying James Williamson's first solo album Re-Licked, and esteemed rock photographer Kurt Ingham, who photographed The Stooges for one of their first magazine covers, Creem in 1970. He is also my beloved better half. ↓Below, Jenna Talia, singer of GlitterTrash and Donna Balancia, California Rocker editor.
↑A live shot photo op, with, left, David Arson, singer of The Raw Power Rangers,
a Stooges' tribute band, showing support for anything Stooge by fondling Frank's shoe. David is also in longtime L.A. favorites the Insect Surfers.
PHOTO OPS from Monty Bar
↑Evita Corby, rock and roll couturier/animal rescuer backstage
with James Williamson, two very longtime friends.
That's Evita whom you see on the back cover of the original Kill City album by Iggy Pop and James Williamson, recorded circa 1975 but awaiting release until 1977. Kill City now has been remastered, remixed and restored by James himself correcting the duo's original poverty regarding its recording. One of the best re-do's you'll ever hear, with lots of photographer Suzan Carson's outtakes for the album included.
You need the Merch!
James Williamson and the Pink Hearts- Behind The Shade available at LINK* and all retail and streaming outlets. Try their Facebook pages as well as straightjameswilliamson.com
--Yes, I did the art direction for James Williamson and the Pink Hearts Behind The Shade with Joel Pelletier and drew the logos for the Pink Hearts and Leopard Lady Records. Also co-art-directed everything you see in the above photo...
--Yes, reflecting nothing on the superbness of these bands, this has not been published in a timely manner. 'Happens...
Now...get ready for some videos of these rare sets filmed by Alison Ayala, both new material and some classic favorites!
Fantastic new album of ALL NEW MATERIAL arrives soon by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Stooges' guitarist James Williamson, who chose some fascinating Los Angeles locals with whom to collaborate: Frank Meyer, head howler/crooner of the Street Walkin' Cheetahs, and perfect pitched Petra Haden (the one who sang the complete album a capella of The Who Sell Out, inclusive of all the instrument parts.) Entitled James Williamson and the Pink Hearts Behind the Shade, it will be released June 22, 2018. Here are more pertinent and fun details, via the Rolling Stone Magazine feature published today LINK*
(album cover design by yours truly and Joel Pelletier)
And here's where to pre-order it from Cobraside: LINK**
and a taste of its music, promo film directed by Amy D'Allessandro, cinematography by James Stolz:
