I did not until reading Keith Richards‘ new autobiography, Life.
Actully, I was reminded of this not too long ago, having been surprised at that time to learn she was alive, but I guess I didn’t believe it. Prior to that, I should have at least remembered she was alive at the time of her appearance on Absolutely Fabulous. If you tell me next week that Anita Pallenberg is still alive I’ll be surprised all over again. Even more than Keef she seemed like a goner.
What’s your most-recent rock-oriented Didja know… moment?
Mick Jagger, acknowledged by even straight guys as one of the Sexiest Men in Rock (and yes, even sexier than Chris Squire) – not to mention among the coolest, in his prime, has nevertheless committed some of the most egregious Rock Crimes in history, many of them involving poor choices in fashion.
Early Jagger, when his hair was merely shaggy and he was supported by an energetic Keef and a silken-haired Brian, was nothing but cool. Even when he looked like he’d just gotten the shit kicked out of him in one of those “kitchen-sink dramas” of England’s early ’60s film movement (eg, any film based on a story by Allan Sillitoe and/or involving Tony Richardson), he looked as comfortable in his clothes as in his skin. He was so cool, in fact, that he made an Oxford shirt and sweater smolder. In 1964, not even a proto-mullet could bring the man down.
I don’t think Jagger had a bad rock fashion day until he and his mates attempted to jump onto the psychedelia craze. Although this 1967 Look is not a terrible Look by any musician’s standards, it’s among the first signs of Mick’s worst fashion impulses. Although Mick’s flirtations with androgyny are a key facet to his Rock Superpowers, the bright colors, silken fabrics, and general blousy-ness of the psychedelic era would bring out his inner-Linda Richman. No one asked for a Rock ‘n Roll “Babs.”
Although psychedelia wasn’t the best fit for Mick, it was some of his stage wear for the initially aborted Rock ‘n Roll Circus event that first fully crossed the Egregious Fashion Faux Pas Line. Nothing says “smacked ass” like Mick Jagger in a top hat.
When he wanted to – or needed to – Jagger could always recover from his most egregious fashion faux pas to date by throwing on a stylish suit. In 1971, for instance, following this disastrous Look, Mick went formal to great effect. His new bride’s choice in bridal wear didn’t hurt matters. (It should be noted, however, that the ill-fitting, mustard jacket worn on his second wedding day to an equally oversized-bride may have been Mick’s most egregious fashion faux pas in terms of formal wear.)
Do you agree this is enough background reading? Let’s get to the heart of the matter!
Once and for all…What is Mick Jagger’s Most Egregious Fashion Faux Pas?
Keith Richards‘ autobiography, Life, is due October 26. In an effort to show just how smart Townspeople are and how able we are to move beyond cliched rock journalism and blog discussion, why don’t you see if you can use the time from now until the book’s release to tell us something we don’t already know about Keef, something off the beaten path, something fresh and insightful? Why wait until Keef tells us himself – if he even does get around to telling us something we don’t already know?
The Townsperson who tells us the Most Interesting Previously Unknown Fact or Anecdote about Keef – true or not – will be awarded a copy of the man’s new book! This contest runs through 11:59 pm EST, October 25, 2010. Contestants will be judged on Originality, Historical relevance, Avoidance of well-established Richards cliches (eg, Jack Daniels, blood transfusions, fights with Mick), etc.
A special message from our Celebrity Judge follows the jump!
Universal Music came back this afternoon (I don’t think they slept) and we just picked up the party where we left off. And they’re like “Hey” how about we get our rocks off and toss in a sweet DVD of The Stooooooones circa Exile babies?! And we’re all like, yeah babies, let’s let it loose. STOOOOOOOOOONES! Then we clapped our hands on each side of our heads and did another line, soft drink.
Now all we have to do in The Back Office is figure out what the hell kind of contest involves both The Stones and The Gin Blossoms. Any ideas?
As any heterosexual guy who grew up in the 1970s can tell you, maybe the toughest fantasy sex choice that could be made was whether, if given the choice between Heart‘s Wilson sisters, you would sleep with Ann or Nancy. Which one of Charlie’s Angels you’d sleep with was another challenging question, but with a trio to choose from (not including the Fourth Angel, Cheryl Ladd) most guys could at least feel like they were making some progress toward a resolution by eliminating one.
Some of you may remember how the conversation started in schoolyards, lunch rooms, and ballfields across America:
Q:Ann or Nancy Wilson?
A:[Pause]
Sometime in the mid-1980s Townsman chickenfrank finally determined the appropriate answer to this delicate question, an answer we’ll term the Wilson Choice:Continue reading »
How deep should first musical impressions cut? Is there more in a track that may have first caught my ear? Do I clutch too tightly to the romantic notion that no record should ever sound different than how I first heard it, or more accurately the collective power of the record’s first 100 spins? It’s not like I listen to my childhood vinyl on the same record player I had as a kid, but I run up against such questions any time I pick up a reissue of a beloved album that’s been remastered or released in its original mono form, a German true stereo mix, or what have you. Like my friend who can’t get past any digital remastering of “Satisfaction” in which you can hear the acoustic guitar and piano, which were buried in the rhythm section on the vinyl versions of the song we grew up with, I tend to get a little attached to how records sounded when I first heard them.
I recently downloaded a rare mono mix of The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed, my favorite post-Brian Jones Stones album and, from my years of spinning it on vinyl, the best-sounding Rolling Stones album. I’ve never been that much of a purist about mono vs stereo mixes; in fact, any purism I hold in this regard is centered around my personal experience. If I first heard an album in mono, then mono is the “correct” format, and vice versa. The mono mix of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, which was included with stereo version on some CD reissue from a few years back, does not impress me. I continue to hold true to the magic of the flimsy, $2.99 Spanish vinyl pressing I fell in love with after bringing home from the Temple U. bookstore in the early 1980s. Continue reading »
