You crazy adults turn that noise down! Some of us kids have to work in the morning!
18
Sweet and sad - I applaud the fact that they still have enough of the vital life force to be able to do this, but the ravages of age I see in these photos are the same ones I see in the mirror every day, and that ain't no picnic.
I ran the streets of NYC in the late 70's, and saw a lot of the bands mentioned - I was young and strong and a worldbeater. My appetites for all of the world's pleasures were prodigious.
But, really, there is nothing I despise more than a bunch of old guys (guys my age) sitting around talking about everything was better "back then". You know, the beer was colder, the music really meant something, the girls were prettier, rents were cheaper, etc.
We were young then, and still intoxicated by our newness to whatever was around us.
7
A crowd of 80-something merits an article?
Fine by me.
But remember that next time a random bunch of old friends get together to hang out and play some music.
1
Um, "most of the Ramones" did not fall victim to "drugs and hard living" unless Dee Dee counts as "most" or unless by "hard living" you mean lymphoma, prostate cancer, or bile duct cancer.
14
Remember when you looked at your grandparents and thought, "How can you watch Lawrence Welk?" This is no different. Resist. Live in the present. It may be different from what you know, but do not become like your parents who thought everything was better in the good old days. It was not.
2
So, what exactly does that mean to you, to live in the present (musically speaking)? If you're old, don't play live music, but if you do, play covers of Maroon 5? Start a new band with new songs you've written in the "genre" of today? Seriously, if you play music and an audience is there to listen, dance, groove, you are living in the present. There is nothing more present than live musical performances, for both the musician and the audience.
16
Anyone seen Peter Pan lately?
2
Frank Zappa said everything there is to be said about punk rock in these immortal lines:
They used to play all kinds of stuff
And some of it was nice
Some of it was musical
But then they took some guy's advice
To get a record deal, he said,
They would have to be more punk
Forget their chops and play real dumb
Or else they would be sunk
So off they go to S.I.R. to learn some stupid riffs
And practice all their poses
In between their powder sniffs
3
Live music is where it is at. A performance between artist and audenice. You're not going to find that excitement from a download and listened to on a pair of wireless headphones. The social context is lost.
7
Through the great Facebook group NY Rocks, I became aware of what was happening downtown. In 2014, I attended my first Puma's Pandemonium at the Bowery Electric, a night of poetry and music curated by the poet Puma Perl. A world of music and performance opened up, a world where, in my 50's, I felt like I belonged, and many a night I left the shows with a feeling that I was transported back to my nights at Max's. When I hear people say the music scene in NYC is dead I tell them there are bands and performances happening every night, just go out.
4
First photo ... big difference in time periods, people who show up and spend the night as a photo op rather than listening to music. Please get you camera (sorry, cell phone) out of my face.
4
A touch younger than these rockers, but I remember NYC of the 1970's fondly. Yes, it was a filthy, graffiti-ridden place, but it was alive, pulsating with creativity and originality!! Definitely a more interesting place then than the sanitized, corporate version it is today.
11
Nice article.
4
If any proof were needed that punk is indeed dead, this is it.
3
I ran the recording studio Noise New York in the 80s and recorded a ton of great music. I was somewhat surprised that the writer limited her focus on what I would describe as some of the lesser bands from that era - perhaps she was getting her history lesson from her parents. I would have preferred to see an article that focused on the resurging Bust Tetras, Pat Irwin of the Raybeats, 8-Eye Spy, the B-52s, etc. who is still composing and playing, and Peter Gordon of Love of Life Orchestra who has never stopped for a moment making great NYC music, just to name a few.
5
Although the article mentions Manitoba NYC, not sure why it doesn’t mention the Dictators more explicitly - surely they were among the best and most influential bands of that era. I will always fondly remember seeing them at CBs the weekend it closed.
11
Ew, and lol. How your teenage punk rock selves would have hated this, the way we hated the Rolling Stones' disco songs and stadium tours, old men in high school football jerseys drinking to their glory days, and that one hippie who thought he was still in the Haight. And now you're the gatekeepers (it's not enough to have just *played* at CBGB...say people no one's ever heard of)?? The prices of those drinks, and the rents on the apartments upstairs, are not punk rock at all.
I know, I KNOW...ageing is a struggle, people need to have fun, and creativity has no expiration date. Some manage to navigate the minefield gracefully--- David Bowie, Patti Smith, and John Waters come to mind. Richard Hell is a writer now, and Soundcloud rappers are the ones who piss people off and OD.
4
My best story from the Olden Days: Playing with Frank Maya at Gerde's Folk City back in '83, I think. Halfway through the set, in comes Madonna with entourage. I never went to see her, but she's seen me. I'm a weekend warrior these days. If anybody had told me then that I'd still be getting paid to play Whole Lotta Love...crazy world, eh?
7
Love it! But stop with the age thing…alive is alive….dead is dead. I've seen 25 year olds that have less life in them than 85 year olds and vice versa….it isn't about age its about realizing that alive is alive and dead is dead and either getting on with it and doing whatever you want when you want or sitting and regretting because you are believing in false limits. Alive is alive!
51
Sing it, sister! I couldn’t agree more, and anytime “age” tips into the “should I do this” I remind myself (and anyone within earshot) — I’m humbled and overjoyed that I am alive! And I’m going to do any and all!
8
These folks should get on their knees and thank their lucky stars that the Times was willing to print their old tall tales as fact. You fill a room with people who played at Max's and CBs (and Trax, and Hurrah, and Tramps, and TR3, and the Rock Lounge, and Irving Plaza, etc.) back in the '70s and '80s and you'll have a roomful of people talking about how they were "almost signed" by a big label, how they used to have groupies, how they used to make a thousand bucks a show.
10
Checking a 60 year old's ID at the door?
I'll take back the streetwalkers & muggers over the pasteurized, nanny state, theme park NYC has become any day.
48
Amen to that!!
5
Music is a life force.
15
So glad to see this community of rockers get it's moment of fame. My pal Matt Langone has gone out and given it his all night after night for decades, just for the love of rock'n'roll, an inspiration to all of us. And the same is true for the other guys and gals featured in this piece. Thank you!
14
What a great article. How wonderful to read about these group's and how they still have an audience and it's growing!
I'm reminded of the Tuff Darts, who were part of the scene back in the 70's ("All for the Love of Rock and Roll"), and in particular Jeff Salen, who played guitar with them. I got to play with Jeff in the early 00's and it was a real thrill. He was the nicest man who always greeted you with a generous handshake, a warm smile, and endless encouragement. His love for playing music was really infectious and inspiring. I recall his wonderful laugh and smile while I read this article.
18
Walter Steding, Joff Walter, & Puma Perl opened that show at Arlene's. Also, leaving out The Bowery Boys & Puma Perl & Friends are rather glaring omissions, methinks. Oh wait. Is it because...POETRY? Someone better get on the horn to Patti Smith & tell her that.
Joff Wilson. Not Walter, obviously. This is what happens when I comment in the middle of the night. If this can't be corrected please take it down.
2
It's better to burn out than it is to rust.
14
No. It's not.
15
Boomer Nostalgia Trip. Dig it. But the Lower East Side ain't xactly what it used to be, is it kids?
11
A7's on Avenue A and East 7th fell victim to gentrification long ago.
remember the Tompkin's Sq. riots of 1988? Those anarchists were right for protesting. I still remember seeing the Times reporter getting wacked by a cop with his billiclub while he was on top of a car. Man that was an insane night and not one cop got prosecuted or kicked off the force for their crimes.
5
What ever happened to the Divided Alien Clockwork Band?
Anybody remember The Cosmopolitans and Viet Nam?
Some rock bands made drug use popular. Punk made drugs gross. Parents everywhere ought to thank punk and hardcore even if the haircuts were stupid.
Live fast, die last.
1
Drug use became popular due to the hippies and Woodstock, not due to the punk rockers. Selective memory on your part i think.
4
Wow, I’m impressed the NYT can publish an article about something other than race! Great story and brings back memories.
12
Fantastic article that I will share with my Calif (and British) friends who could never really place this period in time. For me, it was the time of my life, from being a sort of displaced rock n roll kid on Long Island and then discovering Max's Kansas City. Thanks for this article! ...Hoping the SoCal punk scene will do the same.
5
Great article! I can totally relate - I'm 69 years old and still playing bar gigs. It's always been for love of music, certainly not for the money. A good night is one n which we still connect with the audience and each other, and folks are dancing and grooving. A great night is one in which I have a little money left after gas, tolls and the bar tab. I can't imagine not playing.
9
Bravo. Since when did having fun or playing music have anything to do with age ?
I didn't think that way then and don't now.
3
That era will always be Rock and Roll's best. Still holding out hope a new crop of rock bands will emerge, but I'm not holding my breath.
7
Self taught on the piano, I joined a cover band at age 59 and have never regretted it. I found out I could play by ear, covering dozens of rock songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and even a few recent tunes, all for live audiences.
Only problem I found is that many of my band mates didn't recognize some of the classic songs from my childhood. It's been quite the learning experience.
Age has nothing to do with it when playing music. Maybe some of us can't sing very well at this age, and maybe tinnitus is a bit of a problem at times, and maybe staying up until 1 AM for a bar gig doesn't have quite the appeal it did decades ago....but we're still having a blast.
Rock and roll, baby!
21
Old age should burn and rave at close of day
40
Always loved "Bob Dylan Thomas"......
This is great, better than just great. As the man said,”Just let me hear some of that rock n’ roll music, any old way you choose it”.... you know the rest.
13
Horribly ageist article. Age has nothing to do with talent or motivation. Give the woman who wrote a free AARP subscription so she can become more familiar with active talented older folks.
18
You're too sensitive, Martin. It's not ageist to talk about age.
"Age has nothing to do with talent or motivation." Yeah... that was sort of the point here.
10
Loved the Bush Tetras. "Too Many Creeps" still plays in my head all the time.
4
"Hope I die before I get old"?
Not a chance.
16
Glad to see others survived to get jobs. Somehow.
Thanks New York Times and Helene Stapinski for this wonderful article with shout-outs to many talented friends, D Rock ON, everyone!
24
Good lord where is Glenn Branca when you need him? Or maybe Zev the pots and pans guy? Let's remember the high brow pretensions behind downtown.
This article smacks of the bridge and tunnel scene.
4
This comment smacks of unwarranted Manhattan elitism.
15
You and me both. Who the heck are these never-was types? A couple years later I and everybody I knew was getting in the van and working. These people seemed to sit around, making a grand per gig (that’s a lie), and waiting for their big break that would never come. Forty years later they’ve started up a senior doubles tennis game. Eek.
Dunno about Z’ev (I’ve wondered myself), but certainly Branca soldiers on. I’ve seen him s few times over the last decade.
yup
Punk was something I listened to growing up, but it wasn't my go to genre. Now that I'm old, and we have Trump, listening to Punk helps me to stay sane.
... Because, you know, it makes more sense.
65
Who says you can’t go back? It’s all in the head. Why does everything else have to be so stubborn though?
2
Rock and Roll is for everyone, but .... Joe Strummer is in his grave and he's rolling over.
5
Just like Beethoven?
3
Given the age angle and your emphasis on the early show times, I’m surprised you didn’t mention the CB’s weekend matinee shows, which were specifically intended for underage punk fans. I attended my first one shortly after arriving in NYC in 1982. By then I had graduated from my punk/mod revival days in Brighton, England to jazz fusion and other musical forms, and was also old enough to buy booze, but I was nevertheless thrilled to see Richard Hell play there one Sunday afternoon, then the U.K. Subs, among other bands.
I wonder what the children of these elder states(wo)men of punk are doing these days?
12
ya cant kill rock and roll. YEAH!!!!!!!!!
1
It's so fab to see not only old scenesters still rocking but also venues happy to book their bands. Rock and roll may have been for the young in the beginning but then it grew up, grew out, and diversified into an everlasting tree of life bearing sweet fruit for all who love to rock, no matter the age.
25
Rock and roll never dies...it just gets arthritis, at least until dementia kicks in.
Great article!
38
How'd this appear in print two days in the future? I want some of that.
This is happening all over the country - I know of bands and clubs in the midwest and california doing this too. Sometimes just for a couple of gigs and sometimes more. It turns out it's not better to die than to fade away......
23
No matter how edgy something seems today, eventually it will be a nostalgia act. Would that knowing that would somehow make us wiser. Or the music, better.
15
Great to see them clean and sober and playing music better than they ever did. I was around that scene back then and can vouch for the craziness and wild partying that went on. From 1975-1994(when Mayor Mussolini, I mean Guiliani took office) the music , dance, club scene in NYC was not like anything anywhere else in the world. Yes, we were able to get into the clubs and most bars in the 5 boroughs at the age of 15 or 16 without being carded. "Carded" what's that? No iphones, Smart phones, cell phones. The only cameras had were by a house photograher or a rare visit by a magazine photographer taking pictures for a small spread like in Punk or The New Yorker Magazine. You enjoyed the music, the dance without any of today's distraction or need to photograph or video every single move anyone made. Sad state of affairs these last 10-15 years. Oh how i wish i could go back in time, now and then.
53
Agreed. Smartphones have ruined live music. On both sides of the stage.
7
Lisa G here. The Dragons! Great to see Don here and know that the music in him remains vibrant and powerful. Musicians gotta play, artists like Don are wired to do what they truly NEED to do. This article is joy, all the way through.
22