"But about punk rock, we thought once, ‘Wow. Maybe we can make everything sound the same like other bands.’ We used to think that, way back, but we realized that we were too gnarly for that."
We bid adieu to yet another idiosyncratic visionary who acquiesced not.
The Matablog reports the death of CHAIN GANG desperado RICKY LUANDA, one of the great characters to emerge from outsider music long before the Fuckin’ Record Reviews era, only to reemerge time and again during it. Jeez, we just saw the guy rip Hank’s Saloon a new one in September 2013.
This is the second weekend in a row we’ve been compelled to honor a recently deceased inspiration who was truly one-of-a-kind (last week being Arthur Doyle). RIP Ricky.
excerpts from FORCED EXPOSURE #13 Winter 1988 (pages 22, 23, 25 and some others)
1988 interview by Jimmy Johnson, Editor and Byron Coley, Jazz Editor
The entire Ricky Luanda interview can be read as easily as buying Forced Exposure #13, as readily available (for only $6.00!) as clicking this link.
From Gerard Cosloy 2/1/14: "It is with considerable sadness that we share the following news: CHAIN GANG’s Ricky Luanda passed away earlier this year from esophageal cancer. Chain Gang (in general) and Ricky (in particular) provided a window onto a side of NYC much of the city’s cultural gatekeepers would’ve sooner forgotten. Though their 1977 7″, “Son Of Sam” b/w “Gary Gilmore And The Island Of Dr. Moreau” has achieved mythic status in recent years (the A-side covered by JSBX, Ty Segall and Fucked Up amongst others), subsequent recordings, performances and films were that all too rare combo of the genuinely weird but always fully realized. Their discography is slim, but close to flawless. Bruce Springsteen recently argued that Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame is shamed by their oversight of Suicide ; whether or not you agree with this statement, Chain Gang long ago earned their place in the Smithsonian, the Museum Of Natural History, and perhaps even Universal Studios in Orlando, FL…We were very lucky to work with Ricky during the early days of Matador and we’re beyond lucky to have experienced his friendship and observed his artistry-in-action. NYC, nay, the world, is a poorer place without him. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and musical co-conspirators.”
