The Last Pogo Jumps Again

There is no justice.

Okay, we all know about the idiots who thought that Jimi Hendrix was singing “‘Scuse me while I kiss this guy” rather than the correct “‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky.”  Boneheads! Are you effing stupid?!  But…we humbly hung our heads in shame in a sad corner of Pogo H. Q. yesterday when we learned that we were just as guilty.   Being an instant and big fan of The Dictators hours after their 1975 classic album Go Girl Crazy hit Records on Wheels on Yonge Street, The Last Pogo Jumps Again co-director Colin Brunton thought that they were some of the best rock ‘n’ roll lyrics he’d ever heard.   But he thought it a bit weird when Handsome Dick Manitoba sang:  “I won’t be happy, ’til I’ve known foreign wine, with my face on the cover, of the TV Guide.”  This awesome, tough, street-level NYC punk who sings about smoking weed, watching TV, eating at McDonalds and sleeping with the TV on won’t be happy until he’s a wine connoisseur?  Wtf?!

Liner sleeve from Go Girl Crazy.

Earlier this week the teletype at Pogo H.Q. was buzzing with the news that none other Dictators songwriter/bass-player/keyboard player, the legendary Adny Shernoff was coming up to Ontario for a small tour, presenting a show called When Giants Walked The Earth – A Musical Memoir By Andy Shernoff.

Andy Shernoff coming to town, stop.

Our operators got on the Internet machine, and in a few hours Mr. Shernoff graciously agreed to be interviewed.  The Research Team delved into an intense eleven minute Google search and read potential half-truths and lies about the subject, and prepared questions.   They reported back that Adny had actually become a wine connoisseur.  Aha!  Now that old lyric made sense.  Thirty-five years ago Andy Shernoff must have had a tiny seed in the back of his mind that eventually sprouted into a love of wine;  from rock star to oenophile.  So after sending our initial list of questions to Andy (hey, we don’t need any “gotcha” moments in our interviews;  we like our friends to be prepped;  ‘spect, yo) we added one more:  “Andy, years ago you wrote that “I won’t be happy, ’til I’ve known foreign wine, with my face of the cover of the TV Guide.”  So Andy, are ya happy?”   Andy writes back, confirming our schedule and arrangement and adds “By the way, the lyric is actually “I won’t be happy, ’til I’m known far and wide…“   Oh.  35 year old mystery cleared up;  Pogo director feels like an idiot.

In any case, we urge everyone, idiots or not, to catch When Giants Walked The Earth (times and places below.)  At least thats what we think its called.

Cardboard Brains;  photo by Vince Carlucci

Former Cardboard Brains guitar-slinger Vince Carlucci‘s got stuff in a gallery!  “Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell” is a collection of pretty pics he took from 1977 to 1980.   Artists include Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Patti Smith, John Cale, The Viletones, Teenage Head, The Ugly, Cardboard Brains, The Ramones, Frank Zappa, and The Diodes.  Opening night is Thursday, June 10, from seven ’til eleven, and it runs to June 24.  Oz Studios, 134 Ossington, curated by photographer Joe Fuda.

Classic!

Once you’ve taken a look at some of Vince’s pics, you should not miss Andy (Adny) Shernoff, ex-Dictator and ex-cellent songwriter as he spins tales and plays acoustic guitar at Mitzi’s Sister in Toronto, starts at ten.   Teenage Head’s Gord Lewis opens.  If you can’t catch Adny in Toronto, he’s also doing “When Giants Walked The Earth — A Musical Memoir By Andy Shernoff” at Call the Office in London on June 11th, and  This Ain’t Hollywood in Hamilton on June 12.  Were The Dictators one of the best bands to come out of the U.S. of A?  Absolutely.  Did their roadie turned lead singer name himself after the province and/or state that most resembled a penis?  Sure did.  (Sorry, Florida, you just don’t cut it next to studly Manitoba.)  And did Andy write some of the funniest lyrics ever?  You bet:

“Oh Weekend
Bobby is a local punk
Cuttin’ school and getting drunk
Eating at Mcdonald’s for lunch

Oh Weekend
Soon he threw up in the store
But if he does it anymore
I’ll make him eat it off the floor.

The Horseshoe Tavern, June 1978.  So far we’re batting .500 on interviews from this poster.

We’re trying to work out an interview, and dying to ask the question that has been on many a Dictators’ fan’s mind:  Just wtf is a two tub man?  Check out The Andy Shernoff Appreciation Society on Facebook for dates in the States.

Meanwhile, while you’re all out there looking at pictures and listening to stories about growing up with Johnny Thunders and stuff, we’re working people!  Tomorrow night co-director Kire Paputts tracks down The Diodes.  News at eleven.