Gelesen: 03.01. – 25.01.2012 (Zeit nicht genommen), netto 790 Seiten plus 29 Seiten Anhang.
Ein großartiges Buch, schon 1991 erschienen aber erst mit der Neuauflage 2006 offensichtlich für den Deutschen Markt interessant geworden. “True-Crime” wird das wohl genannt – es ist schlicht und einfach die detaillierte Beobachtung eines Polizeireporters, der ein Jahr in der Mordkommission von Baltimore im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes “gesessen” hat (heute wird das wohl “embedded” genannt).
Das Pensum: 234 Morde in einem Jahr. Die Aufklärungsraten so um die 70%. Die Stadt: Am Verfallen. Wer hier aufmerksam mitliest wird a) über die meisten TV-Polizeiserien lachen und b) die harte Realität im die Ohren gehauen bekommen. Realität ist dabei im Baltimore der beginnenden 90er Drogen, Drogenmorde, wirtschaftliche Rassentrennung und eigentlich alles üble was man sich so aus der Ferne vorstellen kann u.a. das die Stadtpolitik eigentlich die Statistik bestimmt.
Mit ruhiger, distanzierter Beobachtung und lakonischer, faktischer Sprache schafft es David Simon ein absolut plastisches Bild der Arbeit der Mordkommission zu schaffen und die Detektives und ihre Bosse mit all ihren Stärken und Schwächen darzustellen. Dazu gibt es – durch die Bank – interessante “Fälle” bei denen der Leser der Aufklärung beiwohnen kann.
Wie alles, was lakonisch die blutige Realität beschreibt, großartig. Soundtrack dazu: The God Awfulls.
I am busy reading an 800 page monster, so rare updates here. But something caught my eye recently, a nice 1977 article in a german youth music magazine (“Bravo”) where the music industry is complaining about the billion $ losses from … recording vinyl onto cassettes.
Bravo 1977 ( (c) Bauer Media KG, Hamburg)
A gentle reminder that they could not think at all ahead. Now they are faced with the transition from
glory old days!
to
dangers of the net!
Suggest you enjoy, especialy when your where stupid enough to put your mp3 collection onto “MEGAUPLOAD” and shared it with friends…or strangers. All gone, all gone!
SNFU – If you swear, you catch no fish (Better Youth Records BYO017, 1986)
This blog entry already sends shivers down my spine. This is one of the bands that realy mean a lot to me and i have always adored (little did i know about the in’s and out’s of SNFU). Regular records, regular tours and both records and shows where great – with a bonus for a real energetic live show. Over the years they went silent and by the end of the 80’s they broke up. Only to re-surface in the 90’s even stronger, disappear again and pop by another time and then go bust when Singer Ken Chin decided on a full blown meth carrer incl. loosing all property and becoming homeless.
Nevermind, next to their 1996 Album “FYULABA” on Epitaph this is one of the best hardcore records from over there (and not US, this is CAN) and i think at least one SNFU records will make it into my alltime top 10. Thus the verdict:
1977 – sure thing. a variety of speed, great axe-work and eye-watering slow songs like “Black Cloud” – true 1977! published by a cool lable – Better Youth Records from LA, no question about coolness thanks to the Stern-Brothers of Youth Brigade/BYO fame (and a cool name too, btw) found in a cool shop – that was Konneckschen again, all my 70’s and 80’s records are from there! catching sound – if this is not catching you, then you have a musick-al health problem! not too bad words – a song about the struggle with parents who dislike the music with a small shiny light on record collectors feelings – i was touched forever, see yourself:
I pride my record collection,
it's the only thing I like to do
But, my dad insists they're evil things
with satanic messages in their grooves
He says he knows this for a fact
cause the good lord told him so
And he doesn't want the voice of Satan
raging through his humble home.
Those records are the devil's music
And no son of mine's gonna listen to them
Sorry son, but you have no choice
I just can't have you hearing that devil's voice
I told him to shut up and he punched my face
He then grabbed a sledgehammer from out back
and sabotaged my record rack
He crushed all my imports and rarities
He didn't even save the picture sleeves!
Afterwards I felt so weak
with each broken record died a part of me
Those records are the devil's music
And no son of mine's gonna listen to them
Sorry son, but you have no choice
I just can't have you hearing that devil's voice
Sorry son, you have no choice
i said you have no choice
do you have choice?
(c) 1986 Better Youth Publishing (ASCAP)
And, to round it off, the back cover shows the band with a hockey stick – something that did touch me even more, esp. as i spend all of the 80’s watching and supporting hockey in Hamburg.
And now listen up:
See them live, back then, Feb 1987 in Kansas:
And this is the 2014 re-incarnation in the rehersal studio:
And the downhill struggle for Kevin is a sad story and was captured in a touching movie, see the trailer:
Nowadays Kevin seems to be back alive – i assume he is trying to earn a living. Still – shivers!
SNFU, Kevin Chinn – THANK YOU! See their 2014 show in Hamburg featured here!
Sad update in July 2020:
Ken aka Mr. Chi Pig has passed away on June 16th, 2020. His medical condition was bad and i guess his body finally gave up. RIP Mr. Chi Pig – your leave a great legacy!
