Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys

[schwenko]

I was just listening to their "Max's Kansas City-1976" and trying to make out the bands that (s)he names. I can get most of them, but then the words come fast and furious and I can't make them out. Anyone know of a link to the lyrics?

And was there really a band known as The Psychotic Frogs?

[jetboy]

The names Wayne County reels off in the song are;

The Heartbreakers
Cherry Vanilla and her Staten Island Band
Wayne County & the Backstreet Boys
The Fast
Pere Ubu
John Collins
Harry Toledo
Suicide
The Ramones
Blondie
The Dolls
Television
Talking Heads
August
Fuse
Mumps
The Poppies
The Marbles
The Planets
The Miamis
Just Water
Tuff Darts
Day Old Bread
Richard Hell
Lance Loud & the Mumps
Another Pretty Face
Mink De Ville
... and the Psychotic Frogs.
The Psychotic frogs were indeed a makeshift band put together by scenester Jimi La Lumia. They released one live single in 1980 (Johnny Thunders even appears on it).

[LadyLazarus]

I LOVE Wayne County! What a sassy bitch! [:D]

[Mr. DNA]

Has anyone read his/hers book "Man Enough To Be A Woman"...I've been meaning to pick that up...but just haven't got around to it...

and yes...anyone who busts Handsome Dick Manitoba's head clean open is a sassy bitch...

[ExRat]

I haven't yet read "Man Enough To Be A Woman" but I did pick up Legs MacNeil's "Please Kill Me" and it is an absolute treasure trove of insights into the New York Bowery scene - Wayne/Jayne included. Definitely worth a read!

I'm also a big fan of Wayne/Jayne and nearly pissed myself laughing while reading about the encounter between her and Handsome Dick Manitoba - all of the NY bands choosing sides and hiding Wayne out from the the police.

[Mr. DNA]

I actually read 'Please Kill Me' in one sitting...i love that book...another good read is 'We Got The Neutron Bomb' about LA Punk...done the same format as 'Kill Me'...

baby, you're so repulsive

[schwenko]

[quote]Originally posted by ExRat
[br]I haven't yet read "Man Enough To Be A Woman" but I did pick up Legs MacNeil's "Please Kill Me" and it is an absolute treasure trove of insights into the New York Bowery scene - Wayne/Jayne included. Definitely worth a read!

I'm also a big fan of Wayne/Jayne and nearly pissed myself laughing while reading about the encounter between her and Handsome Dick Manitoba - all of the NY bands choosing sides and hiding Wayne out from the the police.
[/quote]

It's amazing how a lot of the bands (s)he names are totally unknown to me, and probably didn't even get recording contracts (obviously not Television, Blondie, Talking Heads). I mean, Day Old Bread, August, Fuse, etc. Besides Blank Generation, there is even very little visual record of this scene.

[LadyLazarus]

You all know that she and Handsome Dick have since kissed and made up, right? [:D]

[ExRat]

A really great documentary simply entitled "Punk" from 1976 includes many of the NY bands of the time: Wayne County, Tuff Darts, Television, Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and a few of the lesser known bands. It often shows up on the Independent Film Channel. It is great record of the era and definitely worth catching.

[Ollie Stench]

I'm a huge Wayne/Jayne fan. She was supposed to play here this month but the booking got mixed up. My band was slotted to open and I was so psyched I almost shat myself.

I read her book a few years ago and found it very interesting. Being a straight white male I didn't identify with the transgender aspect, but as a fan of NYC punk rock I was enthralled page after page.

And as she points out in the book physically she still is technically "Wayne".

[schwenko]

[quote]Originally posted by Ollie Stench
[br]I'm a huge Wayne/Jayne fan. She was supposed to play here this month but the booking got mixed up. My band was slotted to open and I was so psyched I almost shat myself.

I read her book a few years ago and found it very interesting. Being a straight white male I didn't identify with the transgender aspect, but as a fan of NYC punk rock I was enthralled page after page.

And as she points out in the book physically she still is technically "Wayne".
[/quote]

What's the name of the book?
And I thought that (s)he had IT done.

[LadyLazarus]

"Man Enough To Be a Woman" is the title of the book, also a great song of her ouevre.
I thought she had 'it' done as well? [?]

[ExRat]

I was fairly certain she had IT done also![:0]

[toyah]

Jimi La Lumia & the Psychotic Frogs ,a band who played frequently at Max's released their first single "Death To disco(Disco sucks) /"Wipeout" in 1978; it sold 10,000 copies, started the anti disco movement, and became Melody Makeer's single of the week in England.'
In 1979, the band issued the four song
Typically Tasteless" E P featuring "Mangle Me" "You'll Never Walk Again" the xxx version of "Eleanor Rigby"(All you f**kin people") which wound up on the Killed by Death Vol 14 series, and a cover of Wayne County's "F**ked By The Devil".Another big seller for an indie release back then.
In 1980, a very rare third single "Palisades Park"/"Loser" was releassed on clear see thru vinyl; this recently sold on e bay for $400.00
In 1984, a "live" cassette Jimi La lumia & the Psychotic Frogs Greatest Hits; LIVE! at Max's Kansas City was released on the Rather Rude label. In 93, this was issued on CD on the ESP Disk label, now very rare.
In 90, two tracks from the "live" album, "Twist and Shout" and "Boys" were released as a gold vinyl picture sleeve single. These two tracks feature Johnny Thunders on guitar, and backup vocals from Donna Destri, Cherry Vanilla and Jayne County.
La lumia is currently doing techno, and charted last year with "The Anthem-I Need To Take Drugs" on Strong Island Records.
http://www.strongisland.com

[jetboy]

Pretty comprehensive! Can't argue with that. Well done Toyah.

PS-Jimi La Lumia still posts regularly on several 70s punk related message boards, usually plugging his latest works, but often offering his insight & memories of the scene he was once a mover & shaker in.