Issue #318 - Feb '12

December 1989 - Issue #90

Cover: Mr. Butch

Bands: The Titanics, Hell Toupee, Hovorka, Mikey Dee, Cluster, the Stains, Cxema, Red Bliss, Raging Lemmings, Medicine Ball, the Pact, the Five (whose singer Reid Paley is still at it in New York), the Unattached (who had something to do with selling a song to Alice Cooper), Buffalo Tom (who is playing the Orpheum with Lyres, and a Neats reunion, for First Night this New Year’s Eve—2009).

Inside: Rita and Lolita ask who is the couple of the decade—some answers are George Bush & Dan Quayle, Kenne Highland & Miss Lyn, Gene Simmons & Liza Minelli, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and Enderby’s balls. I was in the running for this until I broke up with myself. *** There’s a double page spread Beehead comic that is set in 2024 AD with the band reminiscing about their worst gig ever at the Guillotine club. 2024 doesn’t seem so far away now. *** Molly’s in Allston has to pay off a lawsuit ($190,000) where one of their customers had their lip bit off by another costumer. No truth to the rumor that it was T Max trying to get some tonsil-hockey action from a local floozie. *** Other clubs are being fined for illegal postering—so The Noise offers bands half price ads to try to help the situation. That was one of the best business decisions I ever made in The Noise. That, and the naked French girls (see 10 Years Ago, below).

15 YEARS AGO

December 1994 - Issue #145

Cover: Velvet Crush, Kruller

Bands: Upper Crust, Aimee Mann, the Nines, Letters to Cleo, Mistle Thrush, Jennifer Trynin, Dinosaur Jr., Cobalt 60, Expanding Man, Rippopotamus, Emergency Broadcast Network, Sirensong, Pie, the Exis (no relation to the Exes, subject of a Boston-based novel by Pagan Kennedy in which the big local fanzine is The Sound, wink wink.)

Gossip & Stuff: Oona’s Boston location moves in with its Harvard Square location. *** There’s one ad that lists all the local music shows. Maybe that should come back. Yes. Why’d it stop? Too many unreported changes left it inaccurate. *** Jonathan Richman unveils his star in front of Tower Records. What store is there now? A sex toy shop called Jiffy Lube. Lawsuits pending. *** Videos by both Letters to Cleo and Aimee Mann are aired on Melrose Place. *** Boston Rock Opera is doing a benefit that features a performance of the Who’s “A Quick One”—a self-contained 11-minute rock opera. *** Matt Ashare (Boston Phoenix) marries Kristen Day (Ultraviolet) in Las Vegas. *** George Hall (Cxema/ Dogzilla) forms a band called Seks Bomba. And they fucking rule. *** Buffalo Tom shows up on TV in My So-Called Life. Bill Janovitz even gets a line. *** Modern Farmer lays down tracks with David Bowie in New York. *** The Dambuilders release a video with a recreation of Ted Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick incident. When asked about pre-production snafus, a band member is quoted, “We’ll drive off that bridge when we come to it.”

10 YEARS AGO

December 1999 - Issue #197

Cover: The Gravy, Betwixt, Helicopter Helicopter, Boston Rock Opera’s S.F. Sorrow

Bands: The Shods, Neptune, Mistle Thrush, Willie Alexander, Jed Parish, Boy Wonder, Meat Depressed, Victory at Sea, Nancy Mroczek PhD

Gossip & Stuff: The centerfold is one of my first Photoshop jobs where I put Kevin Stevenson (the Shods) in the ring with Al Janik (Plastic Cheese Band)—it’s the beginning of a Photoshop series called T.R.U.E. Facts (They’re Really Untrue…Ed.). *** Bleu releases a Christmas compilation, Big Bang Holidang, which includes Dickie Barrett, Bill Janovitz, Kay Hanley, and many more. *** Not to be undone, Q Division celebrates Christmas with songs from the Sheila Divine, Jen Trynin, Aimee Mann, the Gravel Pit, and more on their own compilation. I made a Christmas compilation too. I had a barbeque with all the coal I got. *** Chandler Travis announces his plan to release 26 CDs within the next year—he falls short by only four CDs. *** The Countess is created by Cynthia von Buhler and Adam Buhler and they perform a mini rock opera about the music business for their set. No truth to the rumor that their next project, “Tommy,” is about Mumbles Menino. Decorum prevents me from elaborating on the deaf, dumb, and blind part. *** The Upper Crust runs a full-page ad that features the band hanging out with a few beautiful bare-breasted French women. Ah, the French. Should we love them for French fries, or hate them for liking Jerry Lewis? What's wrong with Jerry Lewis? Exactly. *** Jeff Hudson’s film Black & Chrome includes a sex scene between Oedipus, Cynthia von Buhler, and a gun. No truth to the rumor that Oedipus shoots blanks.

5 YEARS AGO

December 2004 – Issue #247

Cover: 27, Scamper, Passenger, Winifred Chane, Rock ’n’ Roll Library, Count Zero’s tour diary, Christmas discs reviews

Bands: Bleu, Dropkick Murphys, Muck & the Mires, Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women, Caged Heat, Dear Leader, Taxpayer, the Buckners, Mach V, Dresden Dolls, Garage Dogs, Skating Club, Mollycoddle, the Charms, the Marvels, Sugabomb, Lyres, Black Helicopter

Gossip & Stuff: This issue has a review of the 2004 Boston Music Awards that includes a tribute to Mark Sandman. *** Little Steven produces the Charms’ version of “Frosty the Snowman.” No truth to the rumor that Steven waxed the carrot for the cover shot. *** Robby Roadsteamer wins a raffle at New Alliance and receives 20 hours of recording time, 100 CDRs, a mastering session, and hoodies for the band. *** All Mod Cons get a verbal endorsement from Rick Buckler (the Jam). *** Martin Doyle is booking the Overdraft. What’s the over/ under that he’ll drink all the draft? *** The WBCN Rumble plans to shift the event to April in 2005. *** Doubting Tom gets on the ballot for eight Grammy awards. No truth to the rumor that they were later invited to pose with the Upper Crust as a booby prize. *** The Rudds swing out their Cheap Trick tribute band—Clock Strikes Ten. *** Rock School deals with the band selling out to gimmickry when they all dress as Santa with beach apparel and call themselves Sandy Claus. Tragedy ensues when band members try to pull their sacks over their shoulders.

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