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RIP OLGA De VOLGA March 26, 2008
| 2008-04-04 07:50:18 |
In 1981, as I was earning a reputation as a hard-assed band leader who took no shit in the NYC scene; friends who had transplanted from California were talking of Olga de Volga – bassist in THE LEWD, one of San Francisco’s premiere punk bands. The running joke was that we were both “Drill Sargents” – who emphasized the importance of hard work in making a band succeed.
When the original lineup of THE UNDEAD broke up, I learned that THE LEWD had also split and Olga was looking to get into a new band. Since I admired the stories I’d heard – through a mutual friend, I asked if Olga would join a new UNDEAD. She agreed… and I made arrangements to relocate to San Francisco.
For the first two weeks – we were both so intimidated by each other’s reputation, that we went out of our ways to avoid running into each other. When we finally did muster the courage (151 proof, I believe), we hit it off greatly. I moved into her apartment – which was dominated by Albert, her psycho white cat – and we started working on our songs, while discussing possible drummers.
Before I came to SF, Olga had been planning on relocating to LA – so the plan was for me to head to LA ahead of Olga while she handled a few personal matters before relocating. Shortly after I relocated, Olga was in an accident on her motorcycle and broke her arm. It ended our plans for the new UNDEAD, but we maintained a long distance friendship for a few years after.
Olga moved to Hawaii – and basically retired in paradise. Just before getting the email, notifying me of her death, I was thinking of where I’d like to be when I die – Hawaii is a pretty good choice, if you ask me.
In San Francisco, she’d worked as a Motorcycle Escort in the Funeral Industry. She almost always got some kind of ticket, for some petty ‘violation’ and it sure as hell did seem as if certain cops had ‘it out’ for her. On the back of the postcard that this picture comes from, she wrote – “If I had any balls, I’d say they got me by the balls”. It leaves me wondering if she had a motorcycle escort at her funeral. It’d be a crime not to.
TALES OF HORROR: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD
| 2008-04-04 07:51:09 |
TALES OF HORROR: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD (Limited Edition Book Now Available)
Current UNDEAD drummer Joel Gausten has recently published his first book, "TALES OF HORROR: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD."
"TALES OF HORROR: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD" is a limited edition, professionally printed and manufactured 56-page excerpt from Gausten's full-length book-in-progress, "Albums that (Should've) Changed the World."
"TALES OF HORROR" offers a complete history of legendary horror-punk bands THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD, as well as full-length Q&A interviews with MISFITS founding member Jerry Only and former MISFITS/current UNDEAD guitarist BOBBY STEELE. This "mini book," full of rare and recently unearthed information, is A MUST-READ for all fans of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD
The book is available for purchase at this location:
http://www.lulu.com/content/517902
"I decided to publish "TALES OF HORROR" as a limited-edition book in response to repeated requests from visitors of my official Myspace page (www.myspace.com/gaustenbooks) to make my MISFITS and UNDEAD material - originally slated to appear only in the 'Albums' book - available as a stand-alone item," Gausten says. "When I recently posted brief excerpts from these two chapters on my Blog, the response was phenomenal -- I was receiving 3000-plus views a day at one point! With interest in these chapters growing by the day, I decided to provide an affordable way for diehard fans to enjoy the complete MISFITS/UNDEAD material now instead of waiting until August 2007 for the finished 'Albums' book to be released. Also, TALES OF HORROR will appeal to those readers who are interested in reading the MISFITS/UNDEAD material without purchasing a full-length book featuring unrelated artists."
"TALES OF HORROR" is the first release in Joel Gausten's newly launched "Music Mini-Book Series." TALES OF HORROR and every other limited-edition book in this series will be at least 50 pages in length and available in both PDF download and 6x9 softcover book formats.
Joel Gausten is the former managing editor of Liner Notes Magazine. A longtime musician, he has appeared on over 40 releases and has worked with a vast array of artists including THE UNDEAD, PIGFACE and ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN. He got his start in the music business as a promoter for THE MISFITS.
IT'S ALIVE!
| 2007-05-12 20:44:24 |
This is the all new UNDEAD website! Since you've followed us from our former WorldWidePunks site, to Myspace... to here… you’re well aware that we’ve just overcome some major hurdles and several ‘unfortunate’ circumstances that threw into chaos. But, some things just refuse to die, and I’m about the most tenacious motherfucker there is.
Browse around. Let me know what you think by posting on our new Forum section. We’ve got a Store, where you can order T-shirts, CDs, Vinyl and Posters through Paypal, Mail-order or CDBABY. We’ll be adding more items as the inventory is sorted out. Click on our Streaming Music Player, and listen to THE UNDEAD as you browse the rest of the website. We’ll be rotating the song playlist, as well as adding occasional rarities and amusing outtakes from sessions and gigs.
And of course, there’s STILL UNDEAD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS… a tribute to our recent legal victory. This 19 track CD will be available on May 15th in the U.S. on our own Post Mortem Records, and in Spain on Undertaker Records. This release will be followed up with a mini-tour – about 6 East coast gigs and 5 on the West coast. Then, keep your eyes on the new Calendar and News sections for show dates. Afterwards we’ll be back in the studio, finishing up another 45, and then commencing work on our next full length album.
Thanks to all you DEADicated fans for sticking with us, supporting us and for staying UNDEAD all these years!