The Sonics
They came from Tacoma to terrorize Seattle and the suburbs for a few brief years, playing searing originals with titles like “Psycho,” “The Witch,” and “Strychnine.” All three songs were regional hits, despite subject matter decent folks deemed inappropriate for radio airplay and tender young ears. Contemporaries of the Kingsmen and the Wailers, the group had been kicking around since 1960, but ignited in 1964, when new singer Jerry Roslie assumed howling and songwriting duties. The seismic ripples have been radiating outward ever since: ’70s punks like America’s the Cramps and England’s the Fall covered their songs; LCD Soundsystem namechecked them (repeatedly) on their first big dance hit “Losing My Edge” in 2002; and the template was set for legions of garage bands that followed, whether it was Mudhoney in the late ’80s or, more recently, the Hives. They cut their full-length debut LP Here Are the Sonics on a two-track tape machine with a single microphone for the entire drum kit. The louder-than-loud signature sound made an impression on Kurt Cobain, who called it “the most amazing drum sound I ever heard.” Although they could command $1,000 a night close to home, they rarely strayed outside the area, and splintered apart between 1966 and 1968. But as of 2007, they were playing shows again—including a Halloween date this year at the Paramount Theatre—for the first time in 35 years. Older, yes, but loud and unfettered as ever. —KBR
Because of them… Punk rock happened in the Northwest a decade before anyone in New York or London claimed credit for the idea.
Now hear this: “Don’t Believe In Christmas” (“Hung my stocking on the wall / Didn’t get a thing at all”) is a bratty, garage rock, holiday rave-up amended to the CD reissue of Here Are the Sonics.
Soundgarden
They were all virtuosos, but they weren’t show-offs. Their Screaming Life EP in 1987, one of the earliest issues from Sub Pop Records, captured attention outside Seattle and eventually led to a national recording contract with A & M. They stood out thanks to their strong songwriting. With Chris Cornell taking lead vocals, guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassists Hiro Yamamoto and Ben Shepherd conjured hard-swinging noise that spawned a healthy number of classics. “Rusty Cage” was so good Johnny Cash covered it, while “Outshined” was so indelible that its best line (“I’m looking California / And feeling Minnesota”) was swiped for the title of a Keanu Reeves movie. And in 1994 Superunknown gave us “Spoonman” (about Seattle street busker Artis the Spoonman) and the inescapable “Black Hole Sun.” Sure, Cornell was married to Susan Silver, who also managed Screaming Trees and Alice in Chains. But in all the best ways, Soundgarden stands alone. —MM
Because of them… Grunge attracted its first major record label.
Now hear this: Superunknown persists as one of the greatest hard-rock albums ever made in Seattle or anywhere else.
Sleater-Kinney
Rising from the ashes of riot grrrl bands Heavens To Betsy and Excuse 17, Evergreen students Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein in 1994 decided to name their group after the road in Lacey where their practice space was located. Their self-titled debut was released the following year, but it was in 1996 with Call the Doctor—especially its cheeky track “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone”—that they became critical darlings. Once Janet Weiss joined up as their permanent drummer, the group grew even stronger. Eschewing major offers, they stuck with Northwest labels throughout their career (Chainsaw, Kill Rock Stars, Sub Pop). Their distinctive, invigorating take on alt-rock— a blend of grunge and punk propelled by genuine political concerns—won them praise from critics and plaudits from Pearl Jam (who invited them on tour as an opening act in 2003). In 2001, they were hailed as America’s Best Rock Band by Time magazine. Coming in the wake of their strongest album, The Woods, the unexpected announcement that the band was going on hiatus in August 2006 came as a sad surprise to fans. But the group’s accomplishments secured them a place in Northwest rock history. —GGG
Because of them… Women earned status as “best guitarist,” not “best female guitarist.”
Now hear this: Contrast the rawness of their self-titled debut album with the stunning power of their last effort, The Woods.
Published: December 2008
Agreed but would like to add another musician to list. Omar Torrez, most recently on world tour with Tom Waits as his lead guitarist. He is making a splash in other countries and has returned to his blues roots, but with an edgy quality that only playing with Tom Waits could achieve. Hot new music from Seattle’s own.
I have always thought this was true, so many people just………………?
Looking forward to watching this dvd.
I`ve been a Hendrix fan for so many years.
JIMI HENDRIX MURDERED? “NOT IMPROBABLE” SAYS NOEL REDDING…
The name Jimi Hendrix conjures up some of the most colourful and wildest moments that the sixties produced. Hendrix arrived, he conquered and took the music world by storm, got inside your head and went onto the great gig in the sky – all by the age of 27.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience , left you in no doubt that it was exactly that – an experience.
A trio of musicians who came together from both sides of the Atlantic and found common ground, fame and for one third of the group not very much fortune.
For Noel Redding the bass player in the group the experience was not to be forgotten. Since the death of Hendrix 40 years ago, much as been documented about him and the group.
Looking back to the sixties and you could be thinking you are on another planet. Any history relating to that period is taken up with music and culture. The Jimi Hendrix Experience played
it’s part.
Making a timely appearance is a DVD that is being put out by Discs International, containing a never before seen interview with Noel Redding recorded at his home in Ireland in 1988.
It makes fascinating viewing. All the years of seeing film of them in concert and photographs of Hendrix, Redding and Mitchell, you find yourself sitting in a living room not with just a legend – but an ordinary guy talking about his early days with the group. No rock star here, no pretentious name dropping, just plain talking. Listening to him you are left wondering how they made it to top.
I asked producer Will Scally who had the foresight to record this interview how it all came about. “ I had known and been friends with Noel for many years and always found him a very upfront, straightforward guy. We often spoke about doing an interview, he wanted to speak about the band, money, drugs and the death of Hendrix and much more – even speaking about the possibility of Hendrix being murdered. He was on good form that day and wanted to record this for posterity.Sadly Noel Redding died back in 2003 aged 57
For those interested in Hendrix, Redding and the history of sixties rock music this rare visual documentary should not be missed. The Redding Experience Release date
NOVEMBER 2010.
Barry LeveneThis comment has been removed.
Give Floyd Standifer some love, people. I’m sad he’s not on this list.
http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/300902_standifer24.html