Friday, January 16, 2009

The poster that changed Orange County



MORNING READ: John Van Hamersveld wasn't searching for an endless summer, but maybe he found it

By TOM BERG

The Orange County Register

FIRST OF TWO PARTS


Back then, no one knew.

No one even suspected how huge this would be.

So in November, 1963, they made a little deal. In a Dana Point cafe. And it changed the face of Orange County.

One of the young men was a local filmmaker's assistant; the other an art student.

Can you make us a poster?

Sure.

The price was $150. Good money for a struggling student.

So John Van Hamersveld agreed to make a little poster for a little movie called "The Endless Summer."

"It was a, 'Hey-could-you-do-this?' thing," says Van Hamersveld, 67, of Santa Monica. "I had designed his business card and he liked it,"

Van Hamersveld had seen other posters around Dana Point for other movies made by Bruce Brown. They were low-budget surf movies; made with friends; and shown in high school gyms. No big deal.

That winter Van Hamersveld made his poster. And forgot about it. Until two years later when his classmates at Chouinard Art Institute in L.A. huddled around him:

Did you see it?


To read the rest of this intriguing article go to:

The poster that changed Orange County

Cover Art Gone Wrong

Ok, I know all about freedom of speech and artistic freedom, but where does it end? To use an image of a slain police officer as an album cover not only show a gutless disregard for human life, but a blatant disregard for the family and friends of the deceased officer.

I will not name the band, nor would I post the image, I feel that strongly about it. Sure, I have posted some images that some would find obscene; some naked images, some devil-type figures, and cartoon creatures- all part of album cover art. But this crosses a line, morally, spiritually and humanly; this isn't "art," it is an attempt of sensationalism that this group thinks will help sell their music.

Read the opinion of the newspaper as they try to justify their publishing of the photo. Then read the comments from their readers; there is much to be debated about this scenario. How could a record company allow this? How do these idiots think that this is appropriate? This in the name of art? You can count me as one of the people who thinks that this is unbelievable and just plain wrong; no matter what side you take.


Opinion

STORY
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/275938


Band's cover art shows shocking lack of sensitivity

Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.15.2009


A Tucson punk-rock band has plumbed the depths of crassness and insensitivity by using the photo of a dying police officer as its album cover.

The actions of the band — which will not be named here as to not afford it further publicity — are repulsive and were rightly condemned this week by local police.

The Star's Alexis Huicochea reported Wednesday that the band, without permission, used an Arizona Daily Star photo from last year that showed Officer Erik Hite lying on the ground mortally wounded as two fellow officers rendered aid.

The band's lead singer told Huicochea that the album cover was an attempt at "dark humor."

We see nothing funny about the death of a police officer, and neither does the police force.

"What part of an officer giving his life is humorous?" Capt. Clayton Kidd, a Tucson police chief of staff, told Huicochea. "I ask for the community's support in recognizing this as an absolute disgrace to Officer Hite, who gave his life defending our community."

The band is probably relishing the attention.

It's a time-honored tradition for musical groups to do something controversial and anti-establishment to set themselves apart from the crowd and get rebellious peers interested in their music.

However, that doesn't make the band's actions any less callous and despicable.

The Star was roundly criticized by police and the community for publishing the photo in the first place.

The difference between the Star's use of the photo and the band's is that the paper used it to inform the public and to help tell the story of a major news event. The Star followed the story all the way — from the shooting to Hite's touching and memorable funeral services.

The band that will not be named is using the photo to promote its music and make money.

The band goes on to pay homage to "cop killers" on its album, mentioning John Montenegro Cruz, who killed Tucson Officer Patrick Hardesty in 2003, and David Delich, who is accused of killing Hite, Huicochea reported.

The band's actions are a violation of federal copyright law and MySpace has removed the image.

The band's members are not immature teenagers, but are grown men who should have the developed the sense to know right from wrong.

The band's singer says he does not apologize to anyone the group may have offended.

We can only hope band members somehow find their moral compass, apologize and stop using the photo. They're a punk-rock band, but they don't have to be punks.


71 Comments on this story

OPINIONS http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/comments/index.php?id=275938

Classic Rock Videos

Born On The Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Rock & Roll Tidbits

The bass drum head with the Beatles logo that Ringo Starr used during the band's first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show was bought by a memorabilia collector in the mid-1990s for around $50,000. By 2006, it's estimated value had risen to half-a-million dollars.

Jethro Tull's 1968 debut single, "Sunshine Day" was erroneously credited to Jethro Toe.

When Roberta Flack was awarded a gold record for her 1973, number one hit, "Killing Me Softly With His Song", she wanted to listen to her song etched in gold. She removed the disc from its frame and placed it on a turntable, only to hear "Come Softly to Me" by The Fleetwoods.

The studio musicians who recorded the music for many "bubblegum" hits credited to The 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express and many others, were actually former members of The Shadows of Knight, who had a hit of their own with "Gloria".

In February and March, 1964, The Beatles sold 60% of all the records sold in the U.S.

The first recording that Ray Charles made was called "Confession Blues", but at the time of the session, the American Federation Of Musicians was on strike. The violation cost Ray $600 and left him penniless.

For their first two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Beatles were paid just $3500 per show. The expenses alone to bring them to America totaled over $50,000, which was paid for by their manager, Brian Epstein.

When record executives at RCA gave a song called "Rock and Roll Waltz" to Kay Starr, she thought they must have been kidding, as rock and roll was still frowned upon by serious musicians. After many arguments, RCA still insisted that she record the song. Their hunch proved to be a good one as the record went to number 1 in the US in February, 1956.

Carl Perkins, the rockabilly pioneer who wrote Elvis Presley's hit, "Blue Suede Shoes", was a sharecropper's son who learned to play music on a guitar fashioned from a cigar box and broomstick.

In the late 70’s, while at a stadium show in Toronto, the members of Aerosmith actually boarded limousines to travel the one hundred yards from their dressing rooms to the stage.

Beach Boy Carl Wilson got so excited the first time one of their songs was played on the radio-that he threw up when he heard the song.

The Odeon label was created in Germany in 1904 by the International Talking Machine Company. Odeon pioneered something they called the "album" in 1909 when it released the "Nutcracker Suite" by Tchaikovsky on four double-sided discs in a specially designed package.

Dion DiMucci of Dion and The Belmonts was a part of 1959's Winter Dance Party with Buddy Holly. When Buddy suggested that Dion fly with him after their show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 2nd, Dion declined because he didn't want to spend the extra money. It was a decision that saved his life.

Buddy Holly and The Crickets recorded their hit "Maybe Baby" in the officer's club at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

The publishing rights to most of Buddy Holly's songs are owned by Paul McCartney.

The first time that Don McLean performed "American Pie" on stage, it didn't get a very good response from the audience. McLean would later remark that "People didn't know what the hell I was singing about."

Jimmy Hart, one of the original members of The Gentrys, who scored a US number 4 hit with "Keep On Dancin" in 1965, went on to become a popular wrestling character in the WWF, calling himself the "Mouth of the South".

The popular 1970s group, Super Tramp, turned down a five million dollar offer from the Greyhound corporation to use their song "Take The Long Way Home" in bus commercials.

Including Ringo, there have been at least five drummers for The Beatles. Norman Chapman (for the Silver Beatles), Tommy Moore, Pete Best and Jimmy Nichol.

Worst Album Covers Of 2008

Yesterday we looked at Gigwise.com's list of their best album covers for 2008. Today we explore what made their list for the worst album covers for 2008 (only the top 5, to see the rest of this amazing list go to): Gigwise-worst Covers 2008


5. The Superimposers: 'Harpsichord Treacle' – Looking like it was knocked up on Paintshop on the Amiga twenty years ago by a blind man with no hands or limbs, there are absolutely no redeeming features about this record cover.






4. The Dodos: 'Visiter' – Taking minimalism to the extreme, San Francisco's The Dodos adorned their third studio album with a yellow blob and the word 'visitor' scribbled on in crayon. A truly terrible album cover.






3. Manda Rin: 'My DNA' – The former Bis singer has enjoyed limited success since the demise of her band a few years back. They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but would you buy this album after seeing this wretched front cover?






2. LL Cool J: 'Exit 13' – Tacky as hell, preposterous and overblown, the image of a giant microphone smashing into a highway is laughably bad. Widely panned by the critics, the artwork fits in perfectly with the music, then.






1. Guns N Roses: 'Chinese Democracy' – A rusty, battered old bike with a massive wicker basket on a run-down street, it's like something out of a Hovis advert! (a TV commercial set it the nineteenth century northern England for those American readers out there). The sleeve had people guffawing when it was first unveiled earlier this year and it still raises a laugh now.

Music News & Notes

Details of Jon Snodgrass's new album revealed

By Dave Herrera


Jon Snodgrass, one-half of the almighty Drag the River, is preparing to release his debut solo effort. The album, Visitor's Band, which is slated for release on Tuesday, February 4, on Suburban Home Records, features a slew of guests including, Two Cow Garage, Chad Rex, Joey Erg, Chris Pierce and Eric Powers, among others. According to label owner Virgil Dickerson, the tracks melds the "hard-edged rock you expect from Armchair Martian," Snodgrass's previous band, with "the more rootsy sounds you might expect to hear with Drag the River."

Last week, we debuted a track from the record called "Remember My Name" on Mile Hi-Fidelity and have had the chance to listen to the rest of the disc. Needless to say, Dickerson's assessment is pretty spot on.

Visitor's Band will be available on disc and vinyl -- 300 copies on black vinyl and 700 on clear vinyl -- and Dickerson reports that he's currently trying to get Snodgrass to co-sign a batch of new merch, in particular, a shirt with his face above the slogan, "What would Jon Do?" So far he's not having much luck. Ditto a "What would Jon drink" pint glass.

And just in case you couldn't get enough Drag in your diet, the band is also preparing to issue a new release with a title that is bound to continue to confound fans regarding the band's status. Broke up? Not broke up? That disc, fittingly titled Bad at Breaking Up, will reportedly contain tracks that were previously only available on 7-inch vinyl, B-sides and tunes from the group's split with the Dents.

If all that sounds good to you, head over to the Suburban Home website to listen to tracks from Jon's new record and to pre-order both releases. If you're one of the first 1,000 folks to purchase the Drag disc, you'll get your hands on a Drag the River guitar pick. In the meantime, here's the full tracklisting for Visitor's Band.

Track Listing:
1. Brave With Strangers
2. Thru The Fan
3. Remember My Name
4. Song For Jake Nichols To Sing
5. Finally
6. Fast In Last
7. Long Way Found
8. Fast One Sloe
9. Not That Rad
10. Murderfield
11. Visitor's Band

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Jamey Johnson Releasing Vinyl LP, Appearing on Tonight Show

Jamey Johnson will release a vinyl LP version of his Mercury album, That Lonesome Song on Jan. 27 and has scheduled a Feb. 5 appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Johnson has received three nominations at the Grammy Awards show taking place Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. That Lonesome Song is up for best country album, and one of the tracks, "In Color," is nominated for best male country vocal performance and best country song. Johnson co-wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto. Johnson says, "The critical acclaim for the album and the Grammy nominations are so cool, but what has been the most overwhelming thing for me so far is when we're playing live and the crowd sings every word of 'In Color' back to us. As a songwriter, I can't even explain what that feels like."

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News - Minus the Bear Release "Acoustics" on Vinyl

"Minus the Bear is excited to announce the release of "Acoustics," an exclusive seven-track EP, available from Suicide Squeeze in a limited edition run. "Acoustics," couples newly recorded acoustic versions of fan favorites from the Seattle quintet's prolific career with a new track, entitled, "Guns & Ammo." Originally released as a tour-only CD - during the band's 2008 headlining tour - this is the first time "Acoustics" will be available on vinyl, in stores, anywhere. Limited to 5000 copies pressed to baby-blue/crème wax. Order your copy from Virgil over at www.vinylcollective.com

Track Listing for Acoustics EP: Release Date Feb 17
Guns & Ammo
We Are Not a Football Team
Burying Luck
Knights
Pachuca Sunrise
Throwin’ Shapes
Ice Monster

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Get Up Kids Release

Doghouse Records has announced plans to reissue the Get Up Kids favorite, Something To Write Home About, on vinyl next month. The CD was released ten years ago, on Vagrant Records. Doghouse is promising that only 2000 copies will be made available and that they will be pressed on Opaque Purple vinyl. The record is due out February 17, 2009. The disc is the second in a series of vinyl reissues that Doghouse has begun. The label released 1997's Four Minute Mile in December.

This Date In Music History-January 16

Birthdays:

Jim Stafford turns 65.

Nick Valensi- The Strokes (1981)

Maxine Jones- En Vogue (1965)

Ronnie Milsap (1946)

Bob Bogle- The Ventures (1937)

Barbara Lynn is 67.

Pop diva Sade (1959)


They Are Missed:

David Seville (creator of the Chipmunks) died of a heart attack in 1972.

James "Pookie" Hudson, lead singer of the Spaniels, died of cancer in 2007.

Clara Ward died in 1973. With the Ward Singers, she helped gospel cross over from churches to concert halls, and was cited as an inspiration by Aretha Franklin.

Coasters singer Will Jones died in 2000 (age 71).


History:

Del Shannon recorded his first single, "Runaway" in 1967 which would top the US charts by April.

Wayne Newton performed his 25,000th Las Vegas show in 1996.

Jamaican authorities fired upon on Jimmy Buffett's seaplane in 1996, after mistaking it for a drug trafficker's plane. U2 singer Bono was with Buffett, but neither was hurt.

In 1987, the Beastie Boys became the first act censored on "American Bandstand."

In 2005, Elvis Presley's rereleased hit "One Night" knocked his "Jailhouse Rock" off the top of the U.K. singles chart, becoming the 1000th #1 since the chart was inaugurated.

In 1980, Paul McCartney was thrown into a Tokyo jail after he's discovered in possession of a half pound of marijuana at Narita International Airport. He was incarcerated for ten days.

Peter Frampton's "Frampton Comes Alive!" was released in 1976. The album took just five weeks to go Gold and turned Platinum in less than three months. It sold over 19 million copies in its first year.

In 1986, ABBA performed together for the last time at a show honoring their manager Stig Anderson on the Swedish TV show This Is Your Life.

In 1965, the Supremes' "Come See About Me" knocked the Beatles' "I Feel Fine" off the #1 spot in the US.

In 1970, Scotland Yard confiscated eight John Lennon lithographs from a London art gallery for being obscene.

Little Richard recorded "Lucille" in 1957.

The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool in 1957. It became the home of many Liverpool bands including The Beatles who appeared at the club 292 times.

The Beatles played two shows at the Olympia Theatre, Paris, France in 1964, the first of an 18-night engagement. This first show was attended mostly by Paris' "top society" members (all dressed in formal evening attire). The French press had little good to say about The Beatles in the next day's papers, but The Beatles didn't care, because they'd just received news that their single ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ had hit #1 in the US, selling 10,000 copies an hour in New York City alone.

Bruce Springsteen appeared at Villanova University in 1973, appearing to an audience of 25 people.

George Michael went to #1 on the US album charts with his debut solo album 'Faith' in 1988. It went on to sell over 8 million copies.

Tina Turner gave herself a place in the record books in 1988 when she performed in front of 182,000 people in Rio De Janeiro. It was the largest audience ever for a single artist.

In 1988, 24 years after The Beatles first topped the chart, George Harrison went to #1 on the US singles chart with 'Got My Mind Set On You'.