Great spotlight, Charles, on Chrissie, and as you said, an influential band! I've always been impressed by Chrissie as one of the few gal rockers who seemed completely unfettered by celeb conventions. At some point, most of the others were self-conscious and cloying, to a degree. From Debbie's pouty Marilyn schtick to Pat's leather/pixie-cut poster chick to even Suzi's and Joan's denim'n'leather uniforms and stadium anthems, Chrissie had no time for all that!
For her, it was just head-down, balls-out, real rock'n'roll. And, after a time, she had to deal with the real-life loss of two of her band-mates. She had no time or interest in preening for the camera!
You writing about the band, though, makes me think of just how ground-breaking Sire Records was! Not content with blindly signing (like other labels seemed to do) the new wave flavor-of-the day, Seymour and Company brought us The Ramones, Talking Heads, and The Pretenders.
Just those three should warrant a bust of Stein in the R'n'R HOF! Sure the Tuff Darts was a swing and a miss (and the Dead Boys were on the bubble), but Richard Hell and Renaissance were unique and too far overlooked and underheard as worthwhile in their respective lanes! Anyway, you got me thinking! So, thanks!
I can always count on you to know the backstory on the production/promotion side, where I am woefully thin. But yes, Ramones, TH and Pretenders are quite the Trifecta. As it happens (I didn't pay attention to who produced them) I saw Renaissance live at their height. That sort of epic, romantic classical/folk-infused rock had a moment here, and then died, but it became huge in Europe and Asia where it continues to thrive today. I missed it and went years without knowing it was alive and well, just not here. Interesting loop, Paul Samwell-Smith, of Yardbirds renown, produced Renaissance as well as lots of others. He clearly bridged many different genres and styles, while others remained stuck in one thing or another.
Great spotlight, Charles, on Chrissie, and as you said, an influential band! I've always been impressed by Chrissie as one of the few gal rockers who seemed completely unfettered by celeb conventions. At some point, most of the others were self-conscious and cloying, to a degree. From Debbie's pouty Marilyn schtick to Pat's leather/pixie-cut poster chick to even Suzi's and Joan's denim'n'leather uniforms and stadium anthems, Chrissie had no time for all that!
For her, it was just head-down, balls-out, real rock'n'roll. And, after a time, she had to deal with the real-life loss of two of her band-mates. She had no time or interest in preening for the camera!
You writing about the band, though, makes me think of just how ground-breaking Sire Records was! Not content with blindly signing (like other labels seemed to do) the new wave flavor-of-the day, Seymour and Company brought us The Ramones, Talking Heads, and The Pretenders.
Just those three should warrant a bust of Stein in the R'n'R HOF! Sure the Tuff Darts was a swing and a miss (and the Dead Boys were on the bubble), but Richard Hell and Renaissance were unique and too far overlooked and underheard as worthwhile in their respective lanes! Anyway, you got me thinking! So, thanks!
I can always count on you to know the backstory on the production/promotion side, where I am woefully thin. But yes, Ramones, TH and Pretenders are quite the Trifecta. As it happens (I didn't pay attention to who produced them) I saw Renaissance live at their height. That sort of epic, romantic classical/folk-infused rock had a moment here, and then died, but it became huge in Europe and Asia where it continues to thrive today. I missed it and went years without knowing it was alive and well, just not here. Interesting loop, Paul Samwell-Smith, of Yardbirds renown, produced Renaissance as well as lots of others. He clearly bridged many different genres and styles, while others remained stuck in one thing or another.