Run-DMSteve

  • Bonnie Hayes: Brave new girl

    Bottom line: Forgotten bands finishes with Bonnie Hayes, who emerged from the San Francisco punk scene of the 1970s and with Bonnie Hayes & The Wild Combo produced an ’80s landmark that was buried by bad breaks and marauding girl groups. Moment of glory: Hayes has supported herself as a…

  • The Beat: Based on a true story

    The bottom line: I’m stretching the forgotten-bands rules even further this evening. I originally wanted to nominate only those bands with track records – that is, more than one good album. But not tonight’s guests. Though they produced just one superlative album and one underwhelming reprise (and some forgettable tracks…

  • Ashford and Simpson: Remember me as a sunny day

    The bottom line: I’m stretching the rules of the forgotten bands game with this choice, because songwriters Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson are remembered – but only by writers and music nerds. Songwriters don’t become famous unless they become famous performers. Just ask Bernie Taupin, the lyricist behind Elton John.…

  • Last train to Torksville

    I’m back from my away mission. It wasn’t the away mission I would prefer to go away for. Some guys go to New York, London, Paris, Munich. I go to Fall River, San Jose, and Merced. Merced. Fall River without the glitter. If I owe you an email, I’ll reply…

  • The Flamin’ Groovies: Let me bust out at full speed

    Bottom line: Five boys from San Francisco who formed a hard-rock outfit in 1965, made three records (Supersnazz, Teenage Head, and Flamingo) that nobody listened to, then switched in 1976 to power pop and made twice as many records that nobody listened to. Flamin’ is sometimes spelled without the apostrophe.…