Dec 13th, 1978
Went into the city to see Howie Pyro but he called in sick from his job. We went to Next and Manic Panic instead and just hand out there. I bought some crosses for the Blessed.
Dec 15th, 1978
Went to see the Blessed at Max's. I was in a weird mood all night, maybe because it was a full moon. I gave Howie all the crosses. He kicked me in the face during the first set by mistake. I carved Blessed and a cross in my arm last night. Billy Stark dedicated a song to the people in the charge of the fan club. They did "Flagellation Rock." It was there 1 year anniversary for playing so they had baloons and streamers. Everyone from the Blessed filled out interviews for the fan club. I still need pictures from Eileen, their Manager. Cheetah Chrome was at the show and so was Sid Vicious's mom. Richie Lure said Hi & Bye. Frank Infante from Blondie was also there. We didn't really talk. Howie Pyro goes to England on Jan 8th and he'll probably be gone for 3 weeks. I still have his hand earring. I still wear it although it is really ugly. I can't not stand that groupie Trixie.
www.jlporiginals.com
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
I belong to the Blank Generation....
Dec 8th, 1978
Went to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids and the Erasers at CBGB's. I spoke with Susan Springfield and she watched Richard's second set with me. Jerry has a girlfriend. Richard Hell spoke to me during the first set and during the second set he came over and starting choking me all because I called him Ricky Heck. Richie Lure is so cute from the Erasers. Clement Burke from Blondie was there. I think Richard hates me but I don't know why since I am such a good fan.
Dec 9th, 1978
What a crazy night. I went to see Richard Hell at CBGB's again. First we went to see Howie at Village Oldies. We talked all about the Blessed Fan Club. He liked my cross earring so much that we traded. I am wearing his doll hand. I gave him my address and phone number. Howie calls Jerry some really mean names. I don't like Jerry anymore anyway. Richard almost slapped me during the first set and he said "Fuck you" to me at the end of the second set. They go to England next week so they can go to hell. We heard that Richard Hell has a terminal disease. Susan sat with me again during the second set of Rochard. Susan Springfield reminds me so much of someone I know.
www.jlporiginals.com
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Went to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids and the Erasers at CBGB's. I spoke with Susan Springfield and she watched Richard's second set with me. Jerry has a girlfriend. Richard Hell spoke to me during the first set and during the second set he came over and starting choking me all because I called him Ricky Heck. Richie Lure is so cute from the Erasers. Clement Burke from Blondie was there. I think Richard hates me but I don't know why since I am such a good fan.
Dec 9th, 1978
What a crazy night. I went to see Richard Hell at CBGB's again. First we went to see Howie at Village Oldies. We talked all about the Blessed Fan Club. He liked my cross earring so much that we traded. I am wearing his doll hand. I gave him my address and phone number. Howie calls Jerry some really mean names. I don't like Jerry anymore anyway. Richard almost slapped me during the first set and he said "Fuck you" to me at the end of the second set. They go to England next week so they can go to hell. We heard that Richard Hell has a terminal disease. Susan sat with me again during the second set of Rochard. Susan Springfield reminds me so much of someone I know.
www.jlporiginals.com
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Friday, June 13, 2008
Down at Max's......
Dec 6th, 1978
Went to Max's and saw The Fast & the Student Teachers. The Student Teachers were really good and so were The Fast. It was my first time seeing both bands. Walter Lure, Howie Pyro, and Jimmy Destri were there. I spoke with Howie a bit.
Dec 7th, 1978
I went to see "I want to hold your hand" & FM. I really identified with one of the girls in the movie. They just had to meet the Beatles and they tried all these ways to get into their hotel. Itw as great. Reminded me of David Bowie
http://www.jlporiginals.com/
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Went to Max's and saw The Fast & the Student Teachers. The Student Teachers were really good and so were The Fast. It was my first time seeing both bands. Walter Lure, Howie Pyro, and Jimmy Destri were there. I spoke with Howie a bit.
Dec 7th, 1978
I went to see "I want to hold your hand" & FM. I really identified with one of the girls in the movie. They just had to meet the Beatles and they tried all these ways to get into their hotel. Itw as great. Reminded me of David Bowie
http://www.jlporiginals.com/
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Saturday, June 7, 2008
More Richard Hell....
Dec 1st, 1978
Went to The Place to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids. There were only like 25 people there. I gave Richard my Bay City Rollers button and some champagne. He was really nice. Jerry looked good but I did not talk to him at all. After we went into NYC into CBGB's and ran into some of the usual gang. We saw Johnny from Phili who was staying in NYC so we went back to his hotel. Ricky was there also. Here is his phone number so I don't lose it. 609-423- _ _ _ _.
Dec 2nd, 1978
Went to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids again at The Place. It was empty again. We wrote down the words to "Shattered" and gave them to Gerry to give to Richard but Richard never sang it. Gerry was really nice though. Richard was nice to us also. I don't think that Richard could believe that we were there again and wait until he sees us again in NYC. I can't wait. When I yelled out for "Shattered" he went to me "Don't you ever learn" and I said "No, I don't" and he said "We're all a bunch of dimwits". It was really great. I am always so focused on Richard that I never realized what a great band that he has. Ivan and Bob are so good on guitar.
Went to The Place to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids. There were only like 25 people there. I gave Richard my Bay City Rollers button and some champagne. He was really nice. Jerry looked good but I did not talk to him at all. After we went into NYC into CBGB's and ran into some of the usual gang. We saw Johnny from Phili who was staying in NYC so we went back to his hotel. Ricky was there also. Here is his phone number so I don't lose it. 609-423- _ _ _ _.
Dec 2nd, 1978
Went to see Richard Hell & the Voidoids again at The Place. It was empty again. We wrote down the words to "Shattered" and gave them to Gerry to give to Richard but Richard never sang it. Gerry was really nice though. Richard was nice to us also. I don't think that Richard could believe that we were there again and wait until he sees us again in NYC. I can't wait. When I yelled out for "Shattered" he went to me "Don't you ever learn" and I said "No, I don't" and he said "We're all a bunch of dimwits". It was really great. I am always so focused on Richard that I never realized what a great band that he has. Ivan and Bob are so good on guitar.
Letter to Creem Magazine
Nov 28th, 1978
I mailed a letter into Creem Magazine today. It was my first letter to a magazine. It went something like this.
Just want to let all of you commercial idiots know the the Blessed are one of the best bands in New York. No one plays bass like Howie Pryo and he even cuts his own hair. Too bad Walter Lure wants his own band because he would fit in so great. Maybe Frank Infante should quit Blondie and join the Blessed or maybe just take a crash course to help his memory. And tell Ricky Heck to pick off his crabs before the show and not during.
A friend of the wide-eyed wonder
Somewhere in NJ
P.S. Deborah, you never ripped us to shreds in NYC
P.S.S. To those want to make music like the Cars (ugh): Go and suck it somewhere else.
I mailed a letter into Creem Magazine today. It was my first letter to a magazine. It went something like this.
Just want to let all of you commercial idiots know the the Blessed are one of the best bands in New York. No one plays bass like Howie Pryo and he even cuts his own hair. Too bad Walter Lure wants his own band because he would fit in so great. Maybe Frank Infante should quit Blondie and join the Blessed or maybe just take a crash course to help his memory. And tell Ricky Heck to pick off his crabs before the show and not during.
A friend of the wide-eyed wonder
Somewhere in NJ
P.S. Deborah, you never ripped us to shreds in NYC
P.S.S. To those want to make music like the Cars (ugh): Go and suck it somewhere else.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Somebody called me on the phone, they said Hey is Walter home...
Hope you enjoy this new interview with Walter Lure. He was a member of The Blessed for a short period of time as well a member of one of my favorite bands of all times, the Heartbreakers.
Me: How did you come to join The Blessed?
Walter Lure: I joined the Blessed as a last minute fill - in for Nick Berlin who had just quit. I forget the year - probably '77 or '78. I had seen them a few times at Max's and the Mudd Club and thought they were great to watch although a little raw musically. I knew their manager, Eileen Polk, and various others who were hanging around them. Eileen just asked me one night to fill in after Nicky quit for an upcoming Max's gig and I said I'd love to. We rehearsed a few times and played the gig and it was a blast. I was probably just hanging out at the time and didn't have too much Heartbreaker stuff to keep me occupied - Johnny might have already left to go solo but I forget the exact sequence of events. So I started doing gigs with the Blessed. They were quite the "flavor of the month" at the time and also were popular because they all ranged in age between 16 and 18. The gigs were great fun and I even managed to get a single recorded and released through a friend of mine
Me: Were you playing with the Blessed at the time they broke up or did you move on before then?
Walter Lure: I think I had already left before they broke up although I could see it coming. They were starting to develop egos and they were clashing over direction, songs, ideas, etc. Typical band problems. Things weren't happening as fast as they wanted and their popularity was starting to fade a little. I had some stuff coming up with the Heartbreakers and several other things at the time so it was probably just as well it happened when it did.
Me: What are you best memories that you have playing with The Blessed?
Walter Lure: Memories. Probably the teeny bopper type frenzy that surrounded them in the beginning - all these famous photographers and Warhol geeks were circling around them ( probably looking for a few young necks to bite amoung other things) and they had gotten some great articles in very popular pop magazines. There was always a fun atmosphere when I played with them even in rehearsals. They sort of looked up to me being older and having been in the Heartbreakers so they were having a great time too. I also used to wear the most ridiculous clothes I could find when I played with them ( and believe me, I could find some pretty ridiculous outfits). i wanted to look like some overgrown, teen circus clown because that's the feeling I got when playing with them.
Me: When did you first know you wanted to be in a band?
Walter Lure: Do you mean when I first wanted to be in the Blessed or just any band? It's a little unclear. I thought playing with the Blessed would be a cool side-thing to do, sort of an extracurricular activity. I was still in the Heartbreakers as the main band but things were looking a bit shaky at that point. So if I did something with the Blessed and it took off, so much the better. If nothing happened, then it would just be a fun gig. As far as any Band, I knew I wanted to be in a rock band around 18-19 years old when I was in College. it only took 5 or 6 years to finally get in the heartbreakers.
Me: How do you compare playing with the Heartbreakers and playing with the Blessed?
Walter Lure: The Heartbreakers were very different than the Blessed. The HB's ( in the beginning) were a serious band and everyone came from very well known bands previously. The music was very rock n roll and I really thought that we could have become a major band on the world stage. The Blessed was incredibly fun but I didn't have the confidence in them that I had in the HB's. Now of course worse bands have made zillions before on less talent but that was just how I felt. There was a chance something could happen if they had a little more time to mature and become better musicians but I think they got too much attention too soon and it sort of made them think they didn't need to work any harder to make it.
Me: What are you doing today?
Walter Lure: Today I am still working at a major Wall St brokerage Firm in the operations area. At one point I was a Vice Pres. at an earlier Firm but mergers wiped it out.
I have a Live in Berlin CD coming out on Nicotine Records sometime this year. I did it in Berlin April '07 when I did a 2 week mini tour thru France and Germany. Other than that I gig every other month or so in NYC with my band, The Waldos, that I've had for quite awhile although the members have changed over the years.
Look for upcoming interviews with other Blessed members as well as members from other bands as well as my continuing saga from 30 years ago. You can't put your arms around a memory, so don't try, don't try.
http://www.jlporiginals.com/
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Me: How did you come to join The Blessed?
Walter Lure: I joined the Blessed as a last minute fill - in for Nick Berlin who had just quit. I forget the year - probably '77 or '78. I had seen them a few times at Max's and the Mudd Club and thought they were great to watch although a little raw musically. I knew their manager, Eileen Polk, and various others who were hanging around them. Eileen just asked me one night to fill in after Nicky quit for an upcoming Max's gig and I said I'd love to. We rehearsed a few times and played the gig and it was a blast. I was probably just hanging out at the time and didn't have too much Heartbreaker stuff to keep me occupied - Johnny might have already left to go solo but I forget the exact sequence of events. So I started doing gigs with the Blessed. They were quite the "flavor of the month" at the time and also were popular because they all ranged in age between 16 and 18. The gigs were great fun and I even managed to get a single recorded and released through a friend of mine
Me: Were you playing with the Blessed at the time they broke up or did you move on before then?
Walter Lure: I think I had already left before they broke up although I could see it coming. They were starting to develop egos and they were clashing over direction, songs, ideas, etc. Typical band problems. Things weren't happening as fast as they wanted and their popularity was starting to fade a little. I had some stuff coming up with the Heartbreakers and several other things at the time so it was probably just as well it happened when it did.
Me: What are you best memories that you have playing with The Blessed?
Walter Lure: Memories. Probably the teeny bopper type frenzy that surrounded them in the beginning - all these famous photographers and Warhol geeks were circling around them ( probably looking for a few young necks to bite amoung other things) and they had gotten some great articles in very popular pop magazines. There was always a fun atmosphere when I played with them even in rehearsals. They sort of looked up to me being older and having been in the Heartbreakers so they were having a great time too. I also used to wear the most ridiculous clothes I could find when I played with them ( and believe me, I could find some pretty ridiculous outfits). i wanted to look like some overgrown, teen circus clown because that's the feeling I got when playing with them.
Me: When did you first know you wanted to be in a band?
Walter Lure: Do you mean when I first wanted to be in the Blessed or just any band? It's a little unclear. I thought playing with the Blessed would be a cool side-thing to do, sort of an extracurricular activity. I was still in the Heartbreakers as the main band but things were looking a bit shaky at that point. So if I did something with the Blessed and it took off, so much the better. If nothing happened, then it would just be a fun gig. As far as any Band, I knew I wanted to be in a rock band around 18-19 years old when I was in College. it only took 5 or 6 years to finally get in the heartbreakers.
Me: How do you compare playing with the Heartbreakers and playing with the Blessed?
Walter Lure: The Heartbreakers were very different than the Blessed. The HB's ( in the beginning) were a serious band and everyone came from very well known bands previously. The music was very rock n roll and I really thought that we could have become a major band on the world stage. The Blessed was incredibly fun but I didn't have the confidence in them that I had in the HB's. Now of course worse bands have made zillions before on less talent but that was just how I felt. There was a chance something could happen if they had a little more time to mature and become better musicians but I think they got too much attention too soon and it sort of made them think they didn't need to work any harder to make it.
Me: What are you doing today?
Walter Lure: Today I am still working at a major Wall St brokerage Firm in the operations area. At one point I was a Vice Pres. at an earlier Firm but mergers wiped it out.
I have a Live in Berlin CD coming out on Nicotine Records sometime this year. I did it in Berlin April '07 when I did a 2 week mini tour thru France and Germany. Other than that I gig every other month or so in NYC with my band, The Waldos, that I've had for quite awhile although the members have changed over the years.
Look for upcoming interviews with other Blessed members as well as members from other bands as well as my continuing saga from 30 years ago. You can't put your arms around a memory, so don't try, don't try.
http://www.jlporiginals.com/
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Stealing the Marquee
Nov 28th, 1978
Went to The Place in Dover to see The Invaders. We met Fin the drummer who turns out to be a real snob. I became friends with Lisa who I think is going out with one of them. We exchanged phone numbers. The best part of the night is that we climbed on the marquee of The Place and stole Richard Hell's name. They are playing next week. I took the Hell and J.S. took the Richard. I have my top favorite 3. Howie Pyro from The Blessed, Walter Lure from the Heartbreakers that is soon to have his own band, and Jerry from Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
"Love comes in spurts, Oh no it hurts" by Richard Hell
www.jlporiginals.com
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
Went to The Place in Dover to see The Invaders. We met Fin the drummer who turns out to be a real snob. I became friends with Lisa who I think is going out with one of them. We exchanged phone numbers. The best part of the night is that we climbed on the marquee of The Place and stole Richard Hell's name. They are playing next week. I took the Hell and J.S. took the Richard. I have my top favorite 3. Howie Pyro from The Blessed, Walter Lure from the Heartbreakers that is soon to have his own band, and Jerry from Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
"Love comes in spurts, Oh no it hurts" by Richard Hell
www.jlporiginals.com
www.myspace.com/jlporiginals
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