Some people spend their teens and early 20's with their nose in a book; others spend them with their mouth on a bong. Not me. I spent those formative years bringing rock and roll happiness to whoever would listen -- and, through that process, to myself as well. Oh, all right, all right: Pabst Blue Ribbon helped, too. Lots was happening in the late 70's. The eight-track tape was dying and punk rock sprung to life. As a coolness-deprived youngster, I thought the high school jazz band and the song stylings of Chicago were "boss." Maybe it was the Pabst that helped me change my mind. The first such band to catch my ear was Devo. Are We Not Men? Couldn't believe that shit. Then I gave in and bought Never Mind the Bollocks by the Sex Pistols. I remember it replaced Bob Seger in my "heavy rotation" car tape holder. The end was near. Soon, I was buying every "weird" album I could afford. Many of them are among my favorites today: Producers, the Beat (Paul Collins, not the English guys), Sorrows, Silencers, Psycotic Pineapple, Dead Milkmen,

Phred experiences a post-show high.

Elvis Brothers, the Sweet, Deaf School, (of course) Ramones, Plasmatics (R.I.P. Wendy), you name it. (Webmaster's note: See LINKS for more info on some of these bands). I loved the bombast of it, the mental picture you got by staring at the album cover while you listened, imagining a live show. MTV? It didn't even exist. Eventually, I grew curious. They said this was "DIY" rock -- Do It Yourself. Could I do it myself? Ask my next-door apartment neighbor, The Above Average Mickey Jartt. He had to listen as I bought a bass at the J.C. Penney Outlet Store (two fewer strings to learn, right?) and used my stereo as an amplifier. I suppose he joined in so that the noise wouldn't drive him nuts.

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