tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89877270115557324732024-03-13T10:48:32.595-07:00Gift for the ScreamersCraig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-41555498144207965472008-09-29T08:02:00.000-07:002011-06-30T13:16:56.873-07:00Project History<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Scf2sR7DD1I/AAAAAAAAAVo/e5NCd3QaXdI/s1600-h/Screamers+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Scf2sR7DD1I/AAAAAAAAAVo/e5NCd3QaXdI/s200/Screamers+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316489125719904082" border="0" /></a>While rooting around in the York University archives I came across material from the Centre for Experimental Art and Communication (Toronto 1973-78). In summer 1977, CEAC housed the first punk club in Toronto (hosted by the Diodes) under the banner "Crash & Burn". Documents from the Crash & Burn events include show posters, photos and a small collection of audio recordings. One of these recordings is a "lost" demo tape from the legendary Los Angeles punk band the Screamers. During their active years (1977-81) the Screamers played several electrifying live shows but never released an official record. While in Los Angeles for an artist residency at Raid Projects, my aim was to find the former members of the Screamers (Tommy Gear, KK Barrett, Paul Roessler, David Braun, and Jeff McGregor; lead singer Tomata du Plenty passed away in 2000) and give them exclusive copies of the "Crash & Burn Demos" in the form of handmade vinyl records. The blog entries below chronicle the project's development.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-30440546239396474522007-09-05T06:04:00.000-07:002008-04-28T20:56:22.390-07:00Screamers in Toronto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rt6sPncCrKI/AAAAAAAAAFs/tBTVHeNc-fE/s1600-h/Screamers-Horseshoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rt6sPncCrKI/AAAAAAAAAFs/tBTVHeNc-fE/s320/Screamers-Horseshoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106708411769334946" border="0" /></a>A flyer for a show at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Horseshoe Tavern</span> gives evidence of a Screamers performance in Toronto on Halloween (see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/08/still-searching-for-screamers.html">August 6, 2007</a>). Unfortunately, there's no year on the poster, but Imants Krumins who sent me the document attests the show happened in <span style="font-weight: bold;">1978</span>. This event would have been promoted by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2 Garys</span> (Gary Topp and Gary Cormier) who at the time booked everyone from The Buzzcocks to Talking Heads. The 2 Garys appeared in the film <a href="http://www.thelastpogo.net/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Last Pogo</span></a> (1978).<br /><br />The flyer also features a third Gary, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gary Panter</span>, and his iconic drawing of Tomata du Plenty.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-84139899316519342382007-08-26T14:43:00.000-07:002008-03-31T06:30:05.108-07:00For Tomata du Plenty<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">A record left for Tomata at his memorial site in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RtH0vXcCrII/AAAAAAAAAFc/92Zi1g0Z_CE/s1600-h/Tomata_memorial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RtH0vXcCrII/AAAAAAAAAFc/92Zi1g0Z_CE/s400/Tomata_memorial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103128947370142850" border="0" /></a><br />Tomata du Plenty (1948-2000)<br /><br /></div>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-66434254808545400592007-08-21T09:48:00.000-07:002007-08-21T10:30:48.359-07:00Ground Control to Tommy GearStill no luck finding <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tommy Gear</span>. Leads via <a href="http://www.kristianhoffman.com/">Kristian Hoffman</a> of The Mumps and <a href="http://www.vaginaldavis.com/">Vaginal Davis</a> have been fruitless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff McGregor</span> is also off the radar even though his acclaimed solo project The Solipsistics has a minor, though obscure, web presence. I'm trying to make contact through his former <a href="http://www.invisiblemachines.com/snotpuppies1.htm">Snot Puppies</a> bandmate Kevin Hunter (now with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/wiretrain">Wire Train</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bellanovamusic">Bella Nova</a>).<br /><br />On the positive side, I've made contact with a friend of a friend of <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Braun</span>, which looks hopeful.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-38003878486408534422007-08-13T11:59:00.000-07:002008-04-28T20:57:10.261-07:00ArtipediaL.A. art blogger <a href="http://the-flog.com/">Fette</a> led me to this unexpected posting on <a href="http://artipedia.org/artsnews/exhibitions/2007/08/13/to-craig-leonard/">Artipedia</a> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippe Mogane </span>regarding my Screamers project. (Philippe started the record label <span style="font-weight: bold;">Siamese Records</span> in 1977 with guitar-demigod James Williamson of The Stooges, which devotees know is the label that released the rawest of <span style="font-style: italic;">Raw Power</span> before David Bowie's weakened remix for Columbia Records.) Because of my own typo in the email address for Raid Projects, Philippe's email messages were bouncing back. Philippe wrote:<br /><br /><p style="font-family:courier new;">I just wanted to tell M. Leonard that, as the founder of the first LA punk label <span style="font-style: italic;">Siamese Records</span> and the Editor of the <span style="font-style: italic;">I Wanna Be Your Dog</span><span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>fanzine</span>, I befriended Tommy and Tomata of The Screamers. Our paths did cross many times. The LA music scene was quite small in the early 70’s. Specifically in the punk world.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;">I have some candid shots of both of them and some on stage as I was one of their biggest fans.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;">I understood as soon as I met them that they had plenty of talent.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;">I do hope this project will bring them to the light. They do deserve recognition and fame.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;">Thank you,<br />Philippe Mogane</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;"><a href="http://siamesedogsrecords.com/">Siamese Dogs Records</a><br />Home of The Godfathers of Punk and out of control Rock & Roll!</p> <span style="font-family:courier new;"></span>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-59223840489895355332007-08-08T01:12:00.000-07:002007-08-23T00:56:11.956-07:00Still Searching For Screamers<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm still searching for Tommy Gear, David Braun, and Jeff McGregor</span>. I've now connected with <span>KK Barrett</span> and <span>Paul Roessler</span>. (Paul actually showed up at the opening reception.) I'll have to redouble my efforts to find the others since I'm only in LA for another three weeks.<br /><br />Regarding the <span style="font-weight: bold;">gift</span> <span>exchange</span>, the agreement is that the records be kept on display until August 25th then given to the band members before I return to Halifax at month's end.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-82174275461134288172007-08-06T00:29:00.000-07:002008-10-15T11:14:55.798-07:00Finding KK BarrettI've been in contact with <span style="font-weight: bold;">KK Barrett</span>, the drummer for the Screamers, through email correspondence. KK has shed some valuable light on the source of the demo tapes, demystifying their rarity to a degree, but his information satisfyingly closes the chapter on the origin of the recordings. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Eva Braun</span> tape is from a video made at UCLA and retained in their archives. The versions of <span style="font-style: italic;">Peer Pressure</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Punish or Be Damned</span> are from the '77 recording sessions with Pat Garrett (see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/07/july-6-2007.html">July 9, 2007</a>). Chronologically, this would explain how the demos could have ended up in the CEAC collection in Toronto, since Crash & Burn operated in the art centre's basement from May to August 1977 before being shut down. The Screamers did not perform at Crash & Burn during its brief existence.<br /><br />However, according to KK, the band eventually made it to Toronto for a gig in 1978. (Anybody out there remember seeing this?) KK remembers "playing at a club in the basement of the George Nelson Hotel" and "going to the FILE magazine offices and also spilling [his] college French to a drunken fan outside." I double-checked this with <span style="font-weight: bold;">AA Bronson</span> (KK->AA!) who wrote that the Toronto venue was the <span style="font-weight: bold;">King Eddy</span> (King Edward Hotel) not the George Nelson. (AA Bronson published FILE magazine with Jorge Zontal and Felix Partz under their collective name General Idea.)<br /><br />KK recalls that tapes of that show circulated, which he's never heard. Rarities for sure! AA Bronson says he isn't aware of these tapes, but pointed me in the direction of FILE's punk issue, which may have information on the Screamers' stint in Toronto.<br /><br />KK Barrett is now a successful production designer and art director. He has worked on <span style="font-style: italic;">I Heart Huckabees</span> (2004), <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost in Translation</span> (2003), <span style="font-style: italic;">Adaptation</span> (2002), <span style="font-style: italic;">Human Nature</span> (2001), <span style="font-style: italic;">Being John Malkovich</span> (1999), <span style="font-style: italic;">Crack House</span> (1989) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Cheerleader Camp</span> (1987).Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-88448875435511835372007-08-05T15:40:00.000-07:002008-03-31T06:34:50.617-07:00Opening Reception @ Raid Projects<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZUvT-p1PI/AAAAAAAAADc/sxxS9bSM3l8/s1600-h/1019688622_aa3b8743e1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZUvT-p1PI/AAAAAAAAADc/sxxS9bSM3l8/s200/1019688622_aa3b8743e1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095353200209941746" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZSiD-p1KI/AAAAAAAAAC0/1Ru5q-OOoeE/s1600-h/1018675421_2e1d2b7414.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZSiD-p1KI/AAAAAAAAAC0/1Ru5q-OOoeE/s200/1018675421_2e1d2b7414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095350773553419426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZUvT-p1PI/AAAAAAAAADc/sxxS9bSM3l8/s1600-h/1019688622_aa3b8743e1.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZZpD-p1RI/AAAAAAAAADs/W8Twdt1fgok/s1600-h/1019701792_55e4a7ad94.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZZpD-p1RI/AAAAAAAAADs/W8Twdt1fgok/s200/1019701792_55e4a7ad94.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095358590393898258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZS4j-p1MI/AAAAAAAAADE/NJb3HO4_cwA/s1600-h/1018809275_206fd43cf5.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZe3T-p1VI/AAAAAAAAAEM/oglujRFJg6U/s1600-h/1019645082_2f2bf735ba.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZe3T-p1VI/AAAAAAAAAEM/oglujRFJg6U/s200/1019645082_2f2bf735ba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095364332765173074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZS4j-p1MI/AAAAAAAAADE/NJb3HO4_cwA/s1600-h/1018809275_206fd43cf5.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZSLj-p1II/AAAAAAAAACk/rRLTs8nRtsU/s1600-h/1018673839_1b0b88a172.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZSLj-p1II/AAAAAAAAACk/rRLTs8nRtsU/s200/1018673839_1b0b88a172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095350387006362754" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrrMKT-p1cI/AAAAAAAAAFE/m1lQGqbU7s4/s1600-h/1018851731_341416b424.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrrMKT-p1cI/AAAAAAAAAFE/m1lQGqbU7s4/s200/1018851731_341416b424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096610405856957890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZSLj-p1II/AAAAAAAAACk/rRLTs8nRtsU/s1600-h/1018673839_1b0b88a172.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrZS4j-p1MI/AAAAAAAAADE/NJb3HO4_cwA/s1600-h/1018809275_206fd43cf5.jpg"> </a><br /><br />Photos by Jennifer Leonard. More photos at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenlen/sets/72157601238510969">http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenlen/sets/72157601238510969</a><br /><br />Paul Roessler pictured in bottom right-hand photo.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-82611957723371291652007-08-05T05:15:00.000-07:002008-04-28T20:14:15.980-07:00Installation ViewsA few shots of the installation at Raid before the opening:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaP9jMA4XI/AAAAAAAAAF0/EHE1j5ZxfX0/s1600-h/07CL2007Screamers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaP9jMA4XI/AAAAAAAAAF0/EHE1j5ZxfX0/s320/07CL2007Screamers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194497507798868338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaQQTMA4YI/AAAAAAAAAF8/pHL__ARSTUk/s1600-h/08CL2007Screamers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaQQTMA4YI/AAAAAAAAAF8/pHL__ARSTUk/s320/08CL2007Screamers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194497829921415554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaR7zMA4ZI/AAAAAAAAAGE/peABu1BwRbk/s1600-h/Screamers+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/SBaR7zMA4ZI/AAAAAAAAAGE/peABu1BwRbk/s320/Screamers+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194499676757352850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrXAfj-p1EI/AAAAAAAAACE/HtsjGNNeang/s1600-h/plynth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrXAfj-p1EI/AAAAAAAAACE/HtsjGNNeang/s320/plynth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095190201906091074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrYJQT-p1HI/AAAAAAAAACc/g8Jnw1rQX94/s1600-h/albums.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RrYJQT-p1HI/AAAAAAAAACc/g8Jnw1rQX94/s320/albums.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095270204261913714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rrprsj-p1aI/AAAAAAAAAE0/VtX3IO_tMMA/s1600-h/covers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rrprsj-p1aI/AAAAAAAAAE0/VtX3IO_tMMA/s320/covers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096504341639583138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rrpriz-p1ZI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qaDSfrapgBA/s1600-h/stencil_used.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/Rrpriz-p1ZI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qaDSfrapgBA/s320/stencil_used.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096504174135858578" border="0" /></a><br />Photos by Craig LeonardCraig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-57764809191363738032007-07-30T08:46:00.001-07:002007-08-13T12:50:59.435-07:00Finding Paul RoesslerI was honoured last night with a visit to Raid by former Screamer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Roessler</span>. He was extremely gracious about the project and found it to be an overwhelming tribute to the Screamers. Paul shared details about the history of the band and gave his perspective on some of the pervasive mysteries surrounding the band's breakup.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tommy</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomata</span> were the conceptual forces behind the Screamers (see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/07/july-7-2007.html">July 9, 2007</a>) . Besides the unquestionable intensity of the band's music, live shows were exhausting theatrical affairs that were constantly changing in order to keep the performances unpredictable. The band had always been concerned with progress and towards the end emphasized its performance over its musical content. In this direction, the involvement of filmmaker <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rene Daalder</span> sealed the band's demise.<br /><br />Daalder provided the resources to construct a film studio that would indulge the Screamers' interest in its theatrical evolution. Daalder's "unwatchable" film <span style="font-style: italic;">Population One</span> featured Tomata as the last living human after a nuclear blast. The film was constructed around flashbacks and music videos. Somewhere during the filming, creative differences rose to the surface and the core band members felt the need to part ways.<br /><br />As <span style="font-weight: bold;">Geza X</span> states, "When Rene became involved, the artistic vision of the band got derailed...Rene had them playing to loops, run off a tape recorder--an extremely interesting idea, granted, kind of an early industrial techno twist to that--but it really wasn't the Screamers anymore. The Screamers' magic when they rocked out with those Tinkertoy synths slowly turned into this low-budget multimedia nonextravaganza which wasn't really that good, and the band started withering behind it" (<span style="font-style: italic;">We Got the Neutron Bomb</span>, p. 215).<br /><br />Paul has never stopped making music. Since the Screamers, on top of his solo work, he's played with Dc3, Nina Hagen, 45 Grave, Twisted Roots, Nervous Gender, Prick, Abby Travis, Leah Andreone, Geza X and the Mommymen, Mark Curry, The Joykiller, The Controllers, The Mourning Glorys, Crimony, Mike Watt and the Secondmen, Pat Smear, Saboteur, and Josie Cotton.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-68180037352977547822007-07-27T22:31:00.000-07:002007-08-13T14:16:14.128-07:00Installation PreviewI found a copy of an original <span style="font-weight: bold;">Screamers Fan Club</span> flyer in the Xeroid Records bootleg CD <span style="font-style: italic;">In a Better World</span> and used it to turn the gallery at Raid Projects into Screamers HQ. (The Screamers Fan Club was started by Herb Wrede and Diane Grove.) More installation photos to follow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqrVBj-p1AI/AAAAAAAAABk/K_X4v4ZoUYU/s1600-h/Fan-Club.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqrVBj-p1AI/AAAAAAAAABk/K_X4v4ZoUYU/s320/Fan-Club.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092116551510381570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqrZcD-p1BI/AAAAAAAAABs/mgI6vNCRdSE/s1600-h/Wallpaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqrZcD-p1BI/AAAAAAAAABs/mgI6vNCRdSE/s320/Wallpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092121404823426066" border="0" /></a>Installation views (north wall) at Raid Projects.<br /><br /></div>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-44803000732190828592007-07-19T16:01:00.000-07:002008-09-15T18:42:31.804-07:00Record TestIt's taken nearly a month to locate a working turntable, but the wait has been rewarded with a handmade record that actually plays. The audio is far from flawless and is only worsened with video compression, but it's surprising enough that there's sound there at all! The quality should improve after cleaning the record surface with an anti-static solution. Check it out:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='280' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzT3q3nCWRtl7Xrm_7JY0KLLuUG2VeudRO-8lJaW-CzhgXKx7y4Qyn8eEKwQUQN03f37VCosorL3kA-RIhSkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-67829623236790182392007-07-13T12:27:00.000-07:002007-08-26T21:49:54.980-07:00Handmade RecordsThe first records are out of the molds. The grooves are clearly rendered, but some tiny imperfections are visible (which might add something interesting to the audio). Any excess plastic around the edges was easy to trim off with a roller cutter; however, the use of a Dremel in areas with thicker plastic was necessary. The audio quality test follows as soon as I can track down a turntable...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RtJX2HcCrJI/AAAAAAAAAFk/qR3behBLGwQ/s1600-h/Finished-Record.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RtJX2HcCrJI/AAAAAAAAAFk/qR3behBLGwQ/s400/Finished-Record.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103237914985409682" border="0" /></a>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-60894444548841302142007-07-11T15:48:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:36:41.377-07:00Rubber & PlasticThe liquid plastic is curing in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">rubber molds</span>. The finished records will be a <span style="font-weight: bold;">translucent</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">white</span>. It was difficult to judge the exact amount of plastic needed to fill the mold without spillover. When the plastic hardens and is able to be removed from the mold I'll have to cut off and sand any excess around the edges. (The grooves, of course, are on the bottom side.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpVjKdsVdvI/AAAAAAAAABM/f6pXWmWKCQs/s1600-h/plastic-records.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpVjKdsVdvI/AAAAAAAAABM/f6pXWmWKCQs/s320/plastic-records.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086080385605269234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />To create the mold I poured the liquid rubber compound over a <span style="font-weight: bold;">dub plate</span> I had manufactured from the original demos (see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-25-2007.html">June 25, 2007</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqACmzYCeDI/AAAAAAAAABc/LeJX1N4btSQ/s1600-h/Mold-pour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RqACmzYCeDI/AAAAAAAAABc/LeJX1N4btSQ/s320/Mold-pour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089070444577978418" border="0" /></a>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-58845811993956372722007-07-09T12:46:00.000-07:002007-08-25T18:14:38.146-07:00Members of the ScreamersThe core members of the Screamers were <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomata du Plenty </span><span>(lead vocals, d. 2000),</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tommy Gear </span><span>(Arp synth, vocals),</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">KK Barrett </span><span>(drums), </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">and Paul Roessler </span><span>(Fender Rhodes synth). In 1978, Paul replaced <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff McGregor</span> who briefly replaced the band's original Fender Rhodes keyboardist <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Braun</span>. <span>As the band's live shows became</span><span> more and more theatrical,</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Sheila Edwards</span> was added to the group as Tomata's foil briefly before its disbanding in summer 1981.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>I made contact today with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Roessler</span> through his website (<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.myspace.com/paulroessler">www.myspace.com/paulroessler</a>) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">KK Barrett</span> through the website of his wife. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tommy Gear</span> still remains elusive. A memorial website for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomata du Plenty</span> can be found at <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.myspace.com/tomataduplenty">www.myspace.com/tomataduplenty</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Cake Nunez and <span style="font-style: italic;">Not For Hire</span> magazine writer/publisher Kim Buresh (via Bill Lopez) for the leads.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-50799204557477067472007-07-09T11:10:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:42:34.733-07:00Cake NunezI was contacted by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Carlos "Cake" Nunez</span> (<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.myspace.com/cakeflip">www.myspace.com/cakeflip</a>), the friend of Bill Lopez (see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-22-2007.html"><span>June 22, 2007</span></a>) who used to write for <span style="font-style: italic;">Flipside</span>. We exchanged some emails about the Screamers and the demo tapes:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Which Screamers demo tape did you find there? The 1977/1978 demos, by any chance? I know that it's out on both LP and CD (bootleg) already. I know KK Barrett and Paul Roessler and met Tomata before he passed (hung out with him at Mr. T's Bowl when Nudist Priest played some years back).</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The demos I found in Toronto may be the same as those already floating around: Peer Pressure, Punish or Be Damned and Eva Braun.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Peer Pressure and Punish or Be Damned may very well be from the First Screamers demo session (7-7-77 on a TEAC 2340 4-Track) produced by Pat Garrett (which appeared on the Scuzzy the Death Cone Clown vinyl AND the Trying To Be Like Jesus bootleg CD), but I can't say for sure since I haven't heard either to compare. They're definitely not live recordings, which in the case of Punish or Be Damned rules out the Target Video soundtrack.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I'm pretty sure they're not the 1978 demos produced by Geza X because there's no presence of an "audible whine" , which these demos reportedly have.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The third song is Eva Braun and this may be the Geza X version that shows up on Trying To Be Like Jesus bootleg OR it may be the soundtrack extracted from the (unknown?) video for the song. The version I found doesn't have the "whine" present in the Geza X recordings, so I'm guessing it's from another source. I haven't heard the video soundtrack, so on that I can't say.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">It would be great to compare the demos found in Toronto -- let's call them the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crash & Burn Demos</span> after the punk venue where they were submitted in '78-- to those produced by Garret ('77) and Geza X ('78). Do you have a copy of either of these recordings or know someone who might?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I went through my collection of Screamers stuff and couldn't locate those three tracks, so you most certainly have some rarities on you there! </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I would love to hear those tracks someday!</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake</span></span>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-13149568351829659222007-07-03T15:55:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:44:32.025-07:00Novelty ButtonsI made up some buttons of the album cover to hand out before the exhibition. Contact me if you'd like one...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpJxJdsVdpI/AAAAAAAAAAc/6pIpYnpSCqA/s1600-h/Buttons_web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpJxJdsVdpI/AAAAAAAAAAc/6pIpYnpSCqA/s320/Buttons_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085251336658056850" border="0" /></a>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-83747909951333386152007-07-03T15:45:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:44:58.082-07:00Record CoversI'm using glossy black spray paint on white record sleeves. Since I have to produce two distinct single-sided records from the double-sided dubplate when using the rubber mold technique, I'm using <span>"gatefold" sleeves</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpPpWdsVdtI/AAAAAAAAAA8/aBKSSOJoG94/s1600-h/Cover_finished_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpPpWdsVdtI/AAAAAAAAAA8/aBKSSOJoG94/s320/Cover_finished_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085664976368400082" border="0" /></a><br />I used two packs of 2" stencils, poster board, and masking tape to lay out the lettering for the album cover.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpPqQ9sVduI/AAAAAAAAABE/kBB4zmNf8As/s1600-h/Stencil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bFoCo0wtqEI/RpPqQ9sVduI/AAAAAAAAABE/kBB4zmNf8As/s320/Stencil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085665981390747362" border="0" /></a>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-59201003906504579642007-07-03T15:29:00.000-07:002007-08-13T14:22:28.390-07:00The Bags<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.jennylens.com/">Jenny Lens</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>(see <a href="http://giftforthescreamers.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-23-2007.html">June 23, 2007</a>) led me to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alice Bag</span>'s blog <a href="http://alicebag.blogspot.com"><span>Diary of a Bad Housewife</span></a>. With <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pat Bag</span> (Patricia Rainone), Alice formed the notorious Los Angeles punk band <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bags</span> in 1977. I sent Alice an email hoping she'd know how to contact the Screamers.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-25339141345689092792007-07-03T15:26:00.000-07:002007-08-01T10:15:18.172-07:00Harmony In My HeadI sent details about the Gift for the Screamers project to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Henry Rollins</span> (Black Flag, Henry Rollins Band) through his radio program <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harmony in My Head</span> (<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.harmonyinmyhead.com/">www.harmonyinmyhead.com</a>). I think it's a safe guess that he's still a diehard supporter of DIY ventures and may put a word out on his radio program.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-683625147607311872007-06-27T12:50:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:47:44.660-07:00Mike Watt & Letter To The ScreamersI contacted bassist <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Watt</span> through his website (<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.hootpage.com/">www.hootpage.com</a>) after discovering that he is the former brother-in-law of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Roessler</span>, keyboardist on the Fender Rhodes for the Screamers (1978-81), through past marriage to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kira Roessler</span>, bassist in Black Flag (1984-86) and in the duo Dos with Watt since 1986.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">• • •</span><br /><br />This is a copy of the letter I am forwarding whenever possible to people who might have contact with former members of the Screamers:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Dear Screamers,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">While rooting around in some archives in Toronto, I came across materials from the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Center for Experimental Art and Communication</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> (Toronto, 1973-78). CEAC, you might recall, hosted some of the first punk concerts in Canada under the banner "Crash & Burn". Documents from the Crash & Burn events include show posters, photos and a small collection of audio recordings. One of these recordings is a Screamers demo tape. Apparently someone associated with the band or in the band itself submitted the demo to possibly play Crash & Burn in '77 or '78 (?).</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I was able to get a copy of the recording and I've brought it with me to L.A. It consists of "</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Peer Pressure</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">", "</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Eva Braun</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">" and "</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Punish or Be Damned</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">". All great versions, though a little muddy. To improve this, I've remastered the audio to hopefully capture the energy and intensity of your music. These are rare demos, I believe, as they're not on the Xeroid Records Screamers compilation, which seems to hold claim to being authoritative.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">My reason for being in L.A. (I live in Halifax, NS, Canada) is to hopefully find all the former members of the Screamers in order to give you copies of this recording.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">As strange as it sounds, giving "gifts" like this is the core of my art practice. For me, the application of a gift economy counteracts the state of hyper-commodification the art world is currently in. Although this is an "art" project, it isn't "candid camera" or "punk'd" or any crap like that. In no way do I want to visually document my personally giving you the recording: that would be a double-edged gift, wouldn't you say? The condensed version of my ethos and approach is the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />"Two activities are central to my art practice: research and gift-giving. Through loose research within archives, private collections, libraries and other sites, I am interested in recovering lost histories found in the form of overlooked objects or information. My primary objective is to return this material to the individuals and communities that have direct interest in the subject matter. The material I exhibit in art spaces is the documentation and residue from the processes of research and gift preparation."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I hope this is clear but if you have any questions, please ask!</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I would be grateful if you could let me know your whereabouts so I can bring you the recording. I am in L.A. until the end of August.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Looking forward to meeting you soon,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Craig Leonard</span>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-23294368530656292842007-06-25T19:50:00.000-07:002007-08-01T00:48:16.947-07:00Crash & Burn DemosToday I remastered the Screamers' <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crash & Burn demos</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Peer Pressure, Punish or Be Damned, </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Eva Braun</span>) then had a dub plate made of the recordings. The final result is mind-blowing. I'll be using the dub plate to make a mold in order to create my own vinyl. More on this process soon....Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-26377803414087380402007-06-25T19:38:00.000-07:002008-03-31T06:33:24.160-07:00Punk Photographer Jenny LensI contacted the punk photographer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jenny Lens</span> through her website (<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.jennylens.com/">www.jennylens.com</a>) thinking she might know how to find some of the Screamers. A few emails later, we discussed the idea of sharing the exhibition space at Raid Projects so her archival photos of the Screamers can be shown alongside my record project. Damn good idea, I'd say. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.raidprojects.com/leonard.html"></a>Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987727011555732473.post-16245626946395669242007-06-25T19:27:00.000-07:002007-08-13T12:53:43.508-07:00The Neutron BombWhile carrying a copy of <span style="font-weight: bold;">We Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A. Punk</span> by Marc Spitz and Brendan Mullen, I was stopped on the corner of Arcadia and Alameda by a man named <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bill Lopez</span>. He was keen to chat since he was deeply involved in the LA punk scene in the 70's and 80's. I asked him if he knew the whereabouts of any of the former members of the Screamers. He didn't, but he took my contact information and said he would put me in touch with a former contributor to <span style="font-style: italic;">Flipside<span style="font-style: italic;"> Fanzine </span></span>(1977-84) who might.Craig Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722766868094023347noreply@blogger.com0