the Stooges | The Che Underground

Leighton Koizumi talks ‘Power Hits’

July 15, 2021 by Mmrothenberg

While his musical roots lie deep in the sandy soil of San Diego, Leighton Koizumi has spent recent decades thousands of miles up and to the right, rocking venues from Spain to Sweden (with side trips to China and other ports of call).

Now, the legendary frontman for The Morlocks and The Gravedigger V has crafted a double album in collaboration with Italy’s Tito and the Brainsuckers — and you don’t want to miss these 24 tracks of pure chewing satisfaction.

Due out August 13, Power Hits comprises covers from the Stooges, Love, Moving Sidewalks, Kinks, Eyes, Banshees and even Gordon Lightfoot.

Leighton kindly provided Che Undeground: The Blog insights into his history with lead Brainsucker Tito Macozzi and their creation of Power Hits.

There to Here: Todd Lahman,
Sweeney Todd’s Barber Shop

July 5, 2012June 23, 2012 by Mmrothenberg

(In this installment, Che Underground: The Blog examines a Wallflower’s journey to hair theater. If you’d like your story told, e-mail cheunderground@gmail.com!)

The last time I saw you was around 1985, when you were playing guitar with San Diego’s original Wallflowers. How did you get from rock-‘n’-roll in Poway, Calif., to ownership of one of LA’s best-known barber shops, Sweeney Todd’s?

Hmmmm … I’m not sure I can draw any correlation between my experience in the Wallflowers and my career in the tonsorial arts except to say that I probably cut hair a lot better than I played guitar! But seriously, I guess if there was anything to compare, it would have to be that like the guitar you’re constantly honing your chops (pun intended!) There’s always some new technique or some new flourish to add to your bag of tricks if you keep your eyes and ears open.

Songs for the DIYper set

January 6, 2011May 15, 2010 by Paul Kaufman

(Paul Kaufman kicks out the jammies with new kid-friendly lyrics to old favorites.)

I’ve mentioned before that a little bundle of joy arrived at our house last fall. Our daughter is six months old now, and she’s a wonder to behold. She’ll soon reach the age at which I have to stop singing the real lyrics to “I Wanna Be Your Dog” during our musical play times.

But I’m thinking that instead of discarding such classics altogether, how about substitution of age-appropriate lyrics? I think Dr. Seuss could probably help with a lot of these situations:

“Somebody’s calling on the phone,
A voice says, hey, is Dee Dee at home?
Do you want to wear some socks?
Do you want to box a Gox?
Do you want wear some Gox box socks?”

RIP: The legendary Ron Asheton

December 13, 2017January 7, 2009 by Mmrothenberg

(Wallflower David Rinck remembers the man who pulled the Stooges’ strings.)

Everyone who grew up rocking to “T.V. Eye” and “No Fun” should pause for a moment of silence tonight: Legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead in his Ann Arbor home. Another sad day for underground music. This guy was seriously one of its real giants, possibly the greatest underground guitarist of all time…

Okay, on second thought, forget the silence! Silence and Ronny Asheton do not go together. Instead, throw that dog-eared old copy of the first Stooges album on and reverently play “1969” with the volume turned up to 11!!! I think that’s way he’d want to be remembered.

The Wallflowers: “TV Eye”

December 31, 2010December 4, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

The night I met the Wallflowers, the Stooges’ “TV Eye” was playing on the stereo. I know it was the summer of 1983, when I met so many of you, and I believe my introduction was brokered via Rockin’ Dog Dave Ellison.

That moment forged a lasting connection in my mind between the Wallflowers and the Stooges, an impression that was reified by the Wallflowers’ blistering interpretations of the older band’s oeuvre — including “TV Eye,” presented here in all its synapse-rattling glory.

Per vocalist Dave Rinck, “‘Walldrugs’ and ‘TV Eye’ were recorded in a ‘studio’ at Music Power; ‘Raw Power’ was, too, but not until a little later than the other two.”