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He played a London gig on January 17, 1985, as 'Astro-Unicorn Experimental Jazz Ensemble', before recruiting Murray Mitchell, John McKenzie and Andy Anderson to record tracks which became the album Wildweed, the first on which Pierce played the majority of guitar parts,[14][15] and material released later in the year as the "Flamingo" E.P. And it was there that the next stage of The Gun Club began to take gestate. [4], Pierce's early musical interests were glam and progressive rock, including bands such as Sparks, Genesis, and Roxy Music. EXCLUSIVE: Jeffrey Lee Pierce, frontman singer of seminal LA punk rock band The Gun Club, is the subject of a new feature documentary. Their problem was that they bamboozled everyone, including themselves in all likelihood. But I think it was very difficult for him Jeffrey very often didnt make sense. They were musical geniuses. A lot the bands that I work with owe a debt to The Gun Club, and that includes The Jim Jones Revue.. He represents the Americana I hate. So Chapter 1: Verse 1 in the Punk Bible, then. English Wikipedia. "[25], Pierce contacted Powers in early 1996 to work together on a new iteration of the Gun Club, and they began making plans, with Powers looking to recruit musicians in New York. Around this time Pierce met Los Angeles musician Phast Phreddie Patterson, who introduced Pierce to American roots music. Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 - March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and author. Which is why 13 years after his death, a loss I only discovered on an Internet forum somewhere around the turn of the millennium Jeffrey Lee Pierce deserves this long-overdue eulogy-apology for reminding me that, sometimes, for loves sake, in the face of the nights chilly indifference, the only thing left for us is to shriek and cavort and kick the campfire sparks and temporarily lose our minds in the music. By Gregg L. Friedman MD, I really miss the great musical groups of the 1960's. Jeffrey Lee Pierce's been dead and buried for some years 3 now. Jeffrey Lee Pierce. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/02/arts/jeffrey-lee-pierce-rock-musician-37.html. Pierce was also known for his strong admiration for Debbie Harry of Blondie, and was president of the Blondie fan club. Every generation since the boomers onwards has had a gateway band into the blues, and for those taken by punks brief but seismic blast, that group was The Gun Club. Elvis From Hell will tell the story of Pierce, a. But Jeffrey did make efforts to stay on top of all that sort of stuff. Jeffreys idea was to be as antagonistic as possible. Theres a clip out there of him performing Alabama Blues by Robert Wilkins, which seems wrenchingly poignant to me, the woe writ large on his face, the naked self-deprecation at the end after he stumbles, the hollow weariness when he looks right into the camera, even his apparent lack of awareness at the questionable spectacle of a white man singing Brownskin women, gonna be the death of [me]. Perhaps he no longer cared. Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the leader of the Gun Club, a trailblazing Los Angeles band that began mixing punk rock with American roots music in 1979, died on Sunday at Utah University Hospital in Salt Lake City. It must have been so hard for him. Look! Pierce continued working despite failing health, and reformed a Gun Club lineup for two shows in Los Angeles in August and September 1995, including guitarists Powers and Mike Martt, formerly of Tex & the Horseheads, and the Wayne Kramer rhythm section of bassist Randy Bradbury and drummer Brock Avery. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. All rights reserved. See the article in its original context from. Hes never name-checked Jeffrey and I think thats a little rude., Rupert Orton is quick to acknowledge where he hears The Gun Club now: Guadalupe Plata are, I think, the people closest to re-inventing it in a way thats interesting.