One of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult bands. Out of the San Francisco area in 1965, they were part of the flower-power scene but their music, 3-minute power-pop blasts, wasn't. Numerous classic albums including 'Flamingo', and 'Teenage Head' appeared, the punk era brought a second life and a hit, the classic 'Shake Some Action'.
At the end of 1966 the Flamin' Groovies are between 17 and 19, the "psychedelic volcano" explodes on the bay and all over California. A flower summer where everybody was nice and pretty. They were part of it, taking acid, sniffing coke, and believing in the flower power - even if they were more interested by the Kinks and the Stones and only playing 2-3 minute high energy songs, dressed up as dandies. They were part of the scene, not of the sound! By 1968 they release on their own label 'Sneakers', a 10" LP. They then get signed to Epic in '69 and put out their fresh & fab 'Supersnazz', with cover by Bob Zoell; nothing psy in it but comix RnR!
They have to wait until 1970 to get signed by Kama Sutra, with two albums, 'Flamingo' and 'Teenage Head', a classic rock album that some critics compare to a teenage version of the Stones 'Sticky Fingers'. Then in '71 they decide to become promoters by taking over the 'Fillmore West' (as Bill Graham gave it up). They rehearse over there and start doing gigs with other bands like Alice Cooper, MC5 and the Stooges from Detroit (those bands who were never 'touched' by the 'flower fever').
After that, the Flamin' Groovies are signed by Andrew Lauder from United Artists for 2 singles (Slow Death/Tahalassie Lassie, Get A Shot Of Rhythm'n' Blues/Married Woman) in 1970 in England. Everything was ready for a bright future, then of course they got deported from England for offensive weapons and coke possession!
Then, I split to the US to see my friends in San Francisco in February 1973… Trips rich in emotions, vibrations, when discovering the New York Dolls at the Donkey Club in Boston, the Lenny 'Nuggets' Kaye in New York, Kim Fowley in L.A., and Loose Gravels (Mike Wilhelm Band) in San Francisco.
After spending the night getting stoned (smoking and so), Cyril Jordan gave me tapes recorded on a 2-track Akai machine in his garage. We decide, as our label Skydog was taking off, to release them in Europe, the legendary 'Grease' mini-LP (April 1973). The cover is designed by Vidal, a famous psychedelic comix artist.
In 1974 'More Grease' was released. We get on a European tour, starting in Paris, at the Olympia Feb. 1st 1975. Chrissie Hynde and The Frenchies were support band. Most of the kids were waiting for them as teenage Rolling Stones, but they jumped on stage dressed as the 'New Beatles'. They gave the Olympia a magic touch again! Bruno Coquatrix was more than impressed by their show, reminding him of the Beatles performance their of '65. Elton John, dressed up in a Gorilla suit, watches the show, arrives backstage and wants to sign them on his new label 'Rocket'. Seymour Stein from Sire Records will offer the best deal and the story will go on.
After many come backs in Europe, Groovies mania submerges Europe. The critics loved them, the musicians loved the; still, 'Shake Some Action' won't become the major hit expected. After a few fantastic albums, at the end of '78, they return to San Francisco, stuck with some ego problems!
In 1981, I flew over to the East Coast and offer them an album on Skydog. We decide to go to Los Angeles in the summer of '81 where we stayed at Chateau Marmont. We chose the big room at Goldstar Studios, where Phil Spector recorded and produced Ike & Tina, the Ronnettes and most of his work. Then, we decide to cover 'River Deep, Mountain High'. Due to going overbudget, the album will never be accomplished. 12 tracks were planned, among them 'Do I Love You' (Darlene Love) and 'Long Way To Be Happy' (unreleased Phil Spector songs). Here you are with 4 rough mixes which already sound like hell!
As far as I am concerned the story stops here. Long live to the Flamin' Groovies and to the punk dandies all over the place.
Those 16 tunes are dedicated to my brother and friend Pierre Thiollay. See you boys and take care.
FREUDCD072 - GREASE