Blew my mind. “I Apologize” and “Celebrated Summer” killed. Pre-emo-punk anthems I sing in the shower to this day.

When I moved to the Yay and visited Gilman I was amazed and delighted at how many young bands covered “Celebrated Summer”. And in Bob’s new autobio even Pete Townsend gives the song props.

I was in the pit (a mere 100yards from GaTech Tower’s dorm via tunnel under I-75) for that tour at the 688 club. Bob was bloated and pasty white and sporting a toque as the weather was nearly as cold as Minny. But to finally see them live for the first time was amazing.

After that I backtracked to “Zen Arcade” and “Chartered Trips” became my fave song for years.

And also backtracked to “Metal Circus” and “Real World” is song that often pops into my head these days when I see the Black Bloc and such around the Mission.

After the 688 show I saw them live at the UGA cafeteria(!) with frenemy Bulldog pals. Bob mentions that show in the autobio. Soul Asylum opened and was the first we heard of them.

I also saw them at Emory U outside in Fall 87 when “Warehouse” was released and they were on the verge of breakup. I was new to the MathCS dept and bonded with another newbie and went to the show and have been best friends ever since (Hi Colm).

“Warehouse” was an (double) album I hated for the first 50 listens. Then I got it. Loved it ever since. “These Important Years” should be given to every college grad / young adult.

After the breakup saw a slimmed-down Bob and fancy-dressed high-priced players for the “Workbook” tour at the Cotten Club in Atl. “See A Little Light” is a post-depression classic.

I was not the biggest Sugar fan but Ioved David Barbe’s earlier band Mercyland. And he was living my dream playing with Bob. And he deserved it so much.

And I can’t resist adding at least one url here. My fave cover of all time is “Eight Miles High” by Huskers. Just fuckn rocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKyBlJ_JN8

Play it loud.

“Getting drunk out on the street or playing in a band /
When getting out school means getting out of haaaannd /
Is/Was this your celebrated summer?”

…gaak99

ps. In Bob’s autobio all the music info is great, but the surprise –wow– chapter is the pro wrestling script consultant one.

When is the Obey for Target line coming out???

Lo and behold, I came upon FOUR full-sized Shepard fairey prints in the mix, each signed and dated (from 96 and 97). One of the original Andre The Giant “NY Wall” prints, two prints from the Black Panther set, and one with an Andre superimposed over a Chairman-Mao looking fellow. Skeptically, I asked him, how much? $3 each, he replied. Five minutes and $12 later I was scurrying home with the posters in tow.

So that’s that. And for all the Shepard Fairey haters, I don’t give a shit about how original they are – I think they look fucking cool. That’s all that matters.

Is that so? Are they required to publicize this acknowledgement lest they be thought illegitimate? “But you see, he’s not a real pop artist…he doesn’t acknowledge his referents.”

And you really don’t see anything weird in how this incident of Nazi or whatever imagery just happened to be in some work he did for WALMART? Doy.

And there is not insubstantial evidence that he doesn’t even know the history of the pieces he’s stealing. Causing him to do things like sell a Nazi-tainted image via T-shirts at Walmart and then say he had no idea the underlying image was offensive.