Back to the Bandshell: False Prophets at Rock Against Racism, 1988
I’ve written about False Prophets before (most recently here). I’ve also penned some posts about the old Rock Against Racism shows in Central Park (notably here and here). In any case, at the bottom of this post is a clip of False Prophets playing that same Rock Against Racism showcase in May of 1988 in Central Park, opening for Nausea. George Tabb is still in their ranks here, fresh from his formative days in Roach Motel, and soon to de-camp to join Letch Patrol, Iron Prostate and, later, Furious George (among others … ever the prolific punk).
The video quality is really top drawer (for 1988), finding the inimitable Stephan Ielpi in classic, surrealist agitator form. Below is the original flyer for the gig in question. Also on the bill were storied NYC ska-vets The Toasters (who I wrote about here) and fledgling hip-hoppers Stetsasonic, who scored a hit that same year with “All That Jazz.”
Actually, here’s a not-so-quick aside about Stetsasonic…
I remember going to the the New Music Seminar in 1990 (about two years after this Rock Against Racism show) and attending one of their panels (this at a gigantic hotel on Times Square whose name escapes me). Among this panel’s participants were Ice Cube (who left early), Queen Latifah and Peter Hook, then still of New Order (although, at the time, I suppose he was in the throes of promoting his ill-fated side-project, Revenge). This esteemed gaggle of musicians were all gathered on a dais in this main conference hall, tasked with discussing the state of the music business at the time.
At some point in the discussion, the topic of “bootlegging” was introduced, prompting a spirited round of debate. There was, however, something of a fundamental misunderstanding going on. At the time in New York City, there was a rash of street vendors hawking cheap-o ripoff (i.e. home-burned) copies of various hit albums on compact disc (usually Hip Hop). These shoddy knockoff CD's were awkwardly referred to as “bootlegs,” not to be confused with the older definition, which referred to covertly recorded documents of concerts (of the sort fanatically collected and traded by Deadheads). In any case, Queen Latifah — as was her wont, I suppose — was roundly outspoken in her disapproval of bootlegging, whereas Peter Hook — invariably thinking everyone was talking conventional bootlegs (i.e. concert recordings) took more of a “what’s the big deal?” stance. In any case, they got well into it, and Peter Hook (of whom I was and remain a major fan) said something cheekily dismissive of Queen Latifah — which prompted me, standing in the back of the room, to snort and laugh loudly. This, in turn, prompted a phalanx of gentlemen standing in front of me to all whip their heads around and glare venomously at me (presumably for showing disrespect to Queen Latifah). I suddenly found myself being stared down by the ranks of Stetsasonic.
It was awkward, but nothing happened. To be fair, Stetsasonic were pretty great. Check out their video for “All That Jazz,” finding them posing manfullly all around upper Manhattan.
Anyway, back to the False Prophets clip. If you enjoy it, there are about five others. Unlike many of their scene-peers, False Prophets never really hit the big time, so to speak (not that it was necessarily their intention to). I believe Stephen still fronts an incarnation of the band today. Nausea, meanwhile, broke-up around 1992, and I’ve heard from a reliable source that Amy from Nausea (formerly married to Agnostic Front’s Roger Miret) is now a doctor ( … and, strangely, now a Republican). The Toasters are still going in one form or another. Stetsasonic initially broke up in 1991 (doubtlessly divided by their decision whether or not to pound me into submission), but then evidently reconvened in 2008.
But here, meanwhile, is another glimpse of that Spring afternoon in Central Park....
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Back to the Bandshell: False Prophets at Rock Against Racism, 1988
I’ve written about False Prophets before (most recently here). I’ve also penned some posts about the old Rock Against Racism shows in Central Park (notably here and here). In any case, at the bottom of this post is a clip of False Prophets playing that same Rock Against Racism showcase in May of 1988 in Central Park, opening for Nausea. George Tabb is still in their ranks here, fresh from his formative days in Roach Motel, and soon to de-camp to join Letch Patrol, Iron Prostate and, later, Furious George (among others … ever the prolific punk).
The video quality is really top drawer (for 1988), finding the inimitable Stephan Ielpi in classic, surrealist agitator form. Below is the original flyer for the gig in question. Also on the bill were storied NYC ska-vets The Toasters (who I wrote about here) and fledgling hip-hoppers Stetsasonic, who scored a hit that same year with “All That Jazz.”
Actually, here’s a not-so-quick aside about Stetsasonic…
I remember going to the the New Music Seminar in 1990 (about two years after this Rock Against Racism show) and attending one of their panels (this at a gigantic hotel on Times Square whose name escapes me). Among this panel’s participants were Ice Cube (who left early), Queen Latifah and Peter Hook, then still of New Order (although, at the time, I suppose he was in the throes of promoting his ill-fated side-project, Revenge). This esteemed gaggle of musicians were all gathered on a dais in this main conference hall, tasked with discussing the state of the music business at the time.
At some point in the discussion, the topic of “bootlegging” was introduced, prompting a spirited round of debate. There was, however, something of a fundamental misunderstanding going on. At the time in New York City, there was a rash of street vendors hawking cheap-o ripoff (i.e. home-burned) copies of various hit albums on compact disc (usually Hip Hop). These shoddy knockoff CD's were awkwardly referred to as “bootlegs,” not to be confused with the older definition, which referred to covertly recorded documents of concerts (of the sort fanatically collected and traded by Deadheads). In any case, Queen Latifah — as was her wont, I suppose — was roundly outspoken in her disapproval of bootlegging, whereas Peter Hook — invariably thinking everyone was talking conventional bootlegs (i.e. concert recordings) took more of a “what’s the big deal?” stance. In any case, they got well into it, and Peter Hook (of whom I was and remain a major fan) said something cheekily dismissive of Queen Latifah — which prompted me, standing in the back of the room, to snort and laugh loudly. This, in turn, prompted a phalanx of gentlemen standing in front of me to all whip their heads around and glare venomously at me (presumably for showing disrespect to Queen Latifah). I suddenly found myself being stared down by the ranks of Stetsasonic.
It was awkward, but nothing happened. To be fair, Stetsasonic were pretty great. Check out their video for “All That Jazz,” finding them posing manfullly all around upper Manhattan.
Anyway, back to the False Prophets clip. If you enjoy it, there are about five others. Unlike many of their scene-peers, False Prophets never really hit the big time, so to speak (not that it was necessarily their intention to). I believe Stephen still fronts an incarnation of the band today. Nausea, meanwhile, broke-up around 1992, and I’ve heard from a reliable source that Amy from Nausea (formerly married to Agnostic Front’s Roger Miret) is now a doctor ( … and, strangely, now a Republican). The Toasters are still going in one form or another. Stetsasonic initially broke up in 1991 (doubtlessly divided by their decision whether or not to pound me into submission), but then evidently reconvened in 2008.
But here, meanwhile, is another glimpse of that Spring afternoon in Central Park....
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