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The Carmichael-Moenkhaus Society for the Appropriation of Hoosier Folklore (23 members)
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Bloomington - Indianapolis 1980s (136 members)

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Latest Activity

Jon Nelson replied to the discussion Where is so-and-so today? 1 day ago

AXA left a comment for Jon Nelson 1 day ago

Jon Nelson left a comment for AXA 1 day ago

AXA left a comment for Jon Nelson Jul 2

Jon Nelson left a comment for AXA Jul 2

Jon Nelson commented on the photo Walkng Ruins 6/20/08 Jul 1

Jon Nelson left a comment for Juliana Kate Greenfield Jul 1

Juliana Kate Greenfield left a comment for Jon Nelson Jul 1

Profile

What Instrument Do You Play: Other

About Me: I saw the Dale Lawrence Gizmos in Detroit in 1979. I had just quit my job as a weldor and thought I'd go to college. Moved to Bloomington a couple of weeks later. College lasted three semesters. I was too busy going to shows, drinking and working for campus bus. Finally left Bloomington, summer of '84. The scene was huge fun from '79 to '81, but collapsed horribly in '82. The Gizmos left town and the economy collapsed. Half the people I knew seemed to be homeless. Things were starting to pick up by '84, but I had met a girl from San Fran who was willing to import a heterosexual from Indiana. I've lived in Northern Cal ever since.

What bands are you or have you been in?: Do these count? Scarcity (one show) and I was almost in The Retarded Gods. I was invited to the one and only rehearsal, but couldn't make it. Missed their only show too.

What city are you from?: Santa Rosa

My Website:: http://poetryassholes.blogspot.com/

Comment Wall (24 comments)

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At 9:56pm on July 2nd, 2008, AXA said…: Hah ! Quite a story, Jon ! Good to meet you here, too. Thanks !

At 3:43pm on July 2nd, 2008, Jon Nelson said…: I'm sure we met but it was a long time ago. I can't remember the publication that I interviewed Burroughs for, although it was definitely when he was in town in 1981. I stayed awake most of the night before, drinking and doing speed. The interview was early and I was in that hell state where you are experiencing all of the misery of a brutal hangover, plus you have not quite sobered up. I'd imagine I looked horrible. I was with a guy named Sven Serrano, who was the actual interviewer, although he had never read any of Burrough's work. I was supposed to be the one familiar with him and I was supposed to ask the knowledgeable questions. In fact, the best question I might have come up with was, "Do you mind if I vomit in your toilet?" Fortunately, I had vomited on the way there.

The interview was a mess. We talked about guns for around half an hour. I was very keen on the subject of guns at the time. Someone else ended up using Sven's notes and the article did not include any mention of either of us. Given the quality of the notes, it was not surprising that the article did not make much sense.

I think the interview you are referring to was done by Shadow, the drummer for the Gizmos. That was a terrific piece and made me feel much worse about my interview.

I've been clean and sober since 1992. I had a lot of terrific opportunities come my way while I was in Bloomington. Unfortunately, I was usually too drunk or too loaded on something to take advantage of them. Still, I have fond memories of Bloomington and my friends there. One of the things I've enjoyed about Musical Family Tree has been comparing notes concerning my memories. It is good to have the facts established, because, as I say I was drunk most of the time.

I have an old friend who led a much more glamorous life than me. She also abused herself even worse than I did. She knew Iggy Pop in Ann Arbor, was friends with Debby Harry and the Ramones before they were famous, hung out at CBGB's in 1976/77 and married a painter who was an up and comer in the SOHO arts scene. I've told her many times that she should write her autobiography, but she always says that she remembers that she went to certain shows and events, but all she really remembers was shooting up in her apartment before she left for the show. It seemed like fun at the time.

Good to meet you again.

At 12:31pm on July 2nd, 2008, AXA said…: I'm surprised we never met. It was from WSB's 1981 visit when he and John Giorno performed at the Bluebird and the Dancing Cigarettes opened for them. I helped with interviews of both of them for the lit mag The Artful Dodge which Daniel Bourne is still publishing out of Wooster, Ohio where he teaches. Did you do the interview where he is on his way out of town and says "sinsemilla, sinsemilla ... " and that he planned to make Ginsberg go skydiving when he got to Boulder ?

"Jon Nelson said…
Charles, I can't say that I remember you from Bloomington, which is surprising because we certainly seem to know a lot of the same people. I have a question. That picture of William Burroughs(at your website); was that when he came to Bloomington circa 1983 or so? I interviewed him then. It was one of the great disasters of American letters. I winced when I saw the picture."

At 11:36am on July 1st, 2008, Juliana Kate Greenfield said…: Thank you so much for thinking of me and sending the links. I look very forward to checking out the article and images. I just find these photos/women so alluring!

Hope you are well.

My best,
Juliana
p.s. we should be friends on here. I believe we missed each other in B-ton. I arrived in the late summer of 1985. I will send you a friend's request, ok?

At 1:06am on July 1st, 2008, Billy Foster said…: Remember you? Every time I look at my sex pistols 7"s Oh wait I don't have those records any more. Of course I remember you.
What's up in wine country?
Billy

At 9:39pm on June 25th, 2008, Juliana Kate Greenfield said…: I simply adore your profile pic! Where did you find her? She is dazzling!

At 9:16pm on June 18th, 2008, Jack Whitebread said…: If i am ever on a bus out there I will assume that you are driving. If the driver refuses to answer to "Jon" I will assume that it is a major conspiracy and I will tell the reverend Malice. After that - whos your god now?!

At 11:21pm on June 17th, 2008, Jack Whitebread said…: Hi Jon
nice to know you are still around after all these years. everytime i ride a city bus i think of you. sometimes tho i think of someone else. whatever.

At 9:00pm on June 9th, 2008, Frankie Camaro said…: Hey Jon!

Thanks man, I'm playing live a lot again. I spent the last decade trying to make music on my computer for the internet, but playing live is where it's at. I've never really stopped, it's just hard finding good musicians that can keep up with fast rock and roll. It's really hard now that no one can make any money with free music on the web, CD sales down, and now to top it off gas is going to make touring really tough.

Yea '82 was a tough year in Bloomington. I finished school to find the worst unemployment since the depression. And herb was hard to find thanks to Columbian eradication. The only thing that salvaged that time for me was starting a band, Moto-X, with a bunch of high school kids. So there was a whole new crowd that turned in to the mid and late 80's scene, which was fun. The Gizmos found that out when they did a reunion show in the late 80's and found tons of new fans waiting for them.

I moved away from 84 to 86 and lived in Austin which was really kicking ass at the time. I ran out of money and came back, and could never make enough to move back there so I stayed here.