Under the Big Black Sun – A MUST READ!

I’ve been reading John Doe and Tom DeSavia’s new book “Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk.” It is the most true-to-form account of the provocative early L.A. punk rock days with stories from major players like John and Exene of X but also Jane and Charlotte from the Go-Go’s, Robert Lopez, Teresa Covarrubias, Mike Watt, Chris Morris, Henry Rollins, Dave Alvin, Jack Grisham, Chris D., and more.  The book is a collection of perspectives and stories from that time that leave you with a good sense of the DIY community that was burgeoning.  The culturally significant late 70’s and early 80’s in L.A. was a huge influence on my musical tastes, my art, my punk rock sensibilities and it’s been a nostalgic and inspiring journey to read this document of music history.  In my opinion, there has never been a book about this era that narrows in on what was happening from the perspective of the people that were making it happen.

I was also incredibly honored when Tom DeSavia describes the importance of flyer art and the ubiquitous flyer culture of the time and accurately points to how this untraditional art form seeped into the creative minds and souls of artists – both music and visual, and inspired the likes of me and Banksy. That’s very true; I’m not sure if he’s heard me mention flyer culture as an inspiration in interviews, but if the connection seemed obvious to him intuitively, he was correct.