Sorry for the slowdown in posting, but the holidays will do that. Also, most of the stuff I’m inclined to write here, these days, is just bilious spleen-venting with each successive news item about the impending Trump presidency, and -– frankly -– I’ve already alienated enough people on Facebook with that stuff.
In any case, in depressing news of an entirely different variety, it seems one of the fabled awnings of CBGB has found itself onto Sothebys, aimed at fetching a high price between $25,000 to $35,000. That said, the awning in question is a latter-era iteration, for those purists out there who might care about such stipulations. Allegedly, Arizona skate-punk stalwarts JFA stole (and still possess?) one of the earlier, arguably “more authentic” versions, but they’ve as yet to come clean about it.
This whole thing reminds me a bit of a news item last week regarding Malcolm McLaren’s son’s burning of some British punk memorabilia of an estimated value of five million pounds. Obviously, that was RIDICULOUSLY short-sighted of him. For a start, it's not really HIS to destroy. Secondly, those items could have fetched handsome sums at an auction benefiting any number of worthy charities. Thirdly, I STRENUOUSLY doubt his father would have approved. Despite his con-man status, McLaren was very proud of his legacy. All told, it's a hollow and wasteful publicity stunt designed to make a statement about a cultural movement McLaren's son ultimately has no right to opine about. I don't dispute the allegation that "punk is dead," but it's not for him determine. I just can't help thinking that many millions of pounds could have been put to use in some way.
Similarly, I doubt the proceeds from the CB’s awning will go to a charity, but that remains to be seen, I suppose.
Say what you will about the alleged stunt, but that was a pretty ballsy move – if true – by JFA. Despite not being able to credibly skate worth a damn (as documented here and here), I always liked the early JFA records, notably “Beach Blanket Bong-Out” and their surprisingly faithful cover of “Walk Don’t Run.” Here they are actually playing at CBGB in 1984. Not sure if this was the same instance wherein they allegedly stole the awning.
In case you’re not a fan of JFA – fair enough – skip to 42:14 into the proceedings for some period-specific footage of the Bowery outside of CBGB (obviously including the awning in question).
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