Alle Gegen Alles with LA Punk Museum Compliments Celebrations Across North America
By AMES FLAMES
LOS ANGELES – The Alle gegen Alles Punk @ 50 event was historic in so many ways. It was the greatest serving of “stone soup” ever. This heartfelt reunion of punkers was the brainchild of the curator of the LA Punk Museum, Tequila Mockingbird, in conjunction with the Goethe Institute Of The Arts.
Tequila is a performer, booker, and artist, among other things, and the crossroads of all things music in the LA scene. I have known her since 1992 and been involved with several past Punk Museum events over the years. We have even performed together, She started the LA Punk Museum in 2011. She was the magnet that drew this event together.
Everything on display are contributions from people in our scene. This is a product of our community. This is not a monument or an attraction, but instead it is a labor of love by all involved. The event was free admission, with free pizza and drinks too. The room was packed with people in the scene from every facet over the last 50 years.
Bandmembers, photographers, publicists, club owners, local associated businesses, book writers, radio DJ’s, poets, artists, fans, and more. I can’t even begin to list everyone and everything involved. So I am going to tell you of my experience and the people I am directly involved with, although everyone deserves mention.
My contributions were a PIL poster, Plasmatics poster, X poster, LA Weekly awards poster featuring Exene, and a Texas Terri tank top.
I rode to this event with famous photographer Dawn Laureen, with whom I was also in a band, Bossy Boots. Dawn’s contributions were a Frank Infante art shirt, Joey Ramones’ mic stand, and Clem Burke drumsticks.
Jula Bell whom I roadied for with her all-girl band Bobsled, the second band I worked with, contributed the actual Bobsled we used on stage instead of a banner. Melanie Vammen whom I roadied for with the Leaving Trains and Pointy Kitty, contributed stuff from her band The Pandoras, and a Kim Shattuck dress. I roadied for Kim Shattuck also, with The Muffs.A
Evil E supplied LA Derby Dolls stuff including a pair of skates. Her husband Bruce Duff is a friend of mine who is always involved in numerous projects, including one of my favorite new bands, Fingernail. Check them out if you get the chance to see them.
I talked with scene photographer Apollo Star, and the legendary Texacala Jones of Tex and the Horseheads, bassist Dave Travis who is the former owner of local punk club Cafe Nela and is brother of bassist Abby Travis whom I also roadied for, bassist David O Jones whom I worked with with Alice Bag and Lysa Flores at times, drummer John Montgomery all around nice guy whom I have known for years and so many more.
There was also Lemmys’ hat, Anthony Ausgang’s jacket, and pieces of wall from The Masque. There is a slew of poster and photos on display and other cool artifacts as well. A band from Berlin, Cava, played live and thrilled the audience with a rousing performance.
Upon my arrival Tequila did a couple of short videos of me telling stories. I was wearing a one of a kind custom Ames Flames art shirt made for my by punk hairstylist Atila (RIP) made for me, my Sylvain Sylvain hat and gauntlet made by Sylvain and given to me, and David Johansen’s harmonica. I am so happy I am able to represent David and Sylvain now that they have left the planet. The New York Dolls was a band that kicked down the door and helped punk come into being.
After the band played, something totally unexpected happened without advance notice. Tequila was speaking on the mic and out of the blue she said, “I want Jula Bell, Ames Flames, and Dawn Laureen up here.” She wanted us to tell stories.
First Jula told a story and Tequila wanted more but Jula had to think about it. So she told me to tell New York Dolls stories. I gave an encapsulated account of the 2011 tour I was on and I showed my artifacts and Atila shirt. I was a walking art display. I talked about the Texas Terri tank top, then how I met Tequila in 1992 when I started working with Duchess DeSade and she was manager. I noticed people were listening to me speak.
Jula returned and told an outrageous story, and then Dawn Laureen held court. Linda Kaye read some poetry next. I can’t remember if anyone else spoke people were thanking me for my stories. Someone I didn’t even know informed me I was legendary. I never knew! I can’t believe I was asked to speak out on the many legends in attendance and I am very proud to be a part of the massive LA music community, I am happy to know people remember me.
I thank Luisa Rath-John Director of the Goethe Institute for providing the space for this event. I thank Ilka Erren Pardinas of Fly PR for coordinating things behind the scenes. She has been involved with several bands I worked with since my Bobsled days.
I thank Tequila Mockingbird for creating the LA Punk Museum and allowing me to be a part of it. I have to thank all the great bands I have worked with and performed with over the years. Without them I would be nothing. I thank Donna Balancia of US Rocker who put me on staff as a consultant and a writer. That is why I’m able to share this story. Lastly I thank everyone who has been a part of out wonderful LA music community. I encourage you to check out this pop-up presentation at the Goethe Institute thru October 7th. It is well worth your time.
The celebration of Punk at 50 continues in Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Mexico City, New York and Houston. For more information go here.
