RED WEDDING Interview with Michael Ely 2023

RED WEDDING

Interview with Michael Ely 2023

by Alexander Laurence

LA music scene 1977-1985 + New Wave Theater

As the early LA punk scene of the late 1970s morphed into the new era, many things took place. Many bands had broken up by 1982 and some had not succeeded in getting signed and breaking into the national scene. The Germs and X more or less crashed and burned. The least likely candidates The Go-Gos had a hit record by 1982, and were touring nationally. The punk rock scene at first was inclusive to anyone with an attitude and a counter culture sound.

Independent Music and labels went into different genres. Punk became more hardcore and anti commercial and local. Other bands who might have been punk in the past were now Goth, Rockabilly, Roots Americana, New Wave, Techno, Ska, Reggae, Disco, Metal, Cabaret, or all of the above. People like Henry Rollins, Nick Cave and Lydia Lunch read their poetry at Club Lhasa. The birth of MTV emphasized the importance of image.

The original punk scene was also hated and banned. Clubs like the Cuckoo’s Nest and the Masque had closed down. The scene documented in The Decline of Western Civilization was fading by 1980. Public Image Ltd played at the Olympic Auditorium in May 1980 to almost five thousand people. Other punk nights were staged by the Stern Brothers soon after that at the Hollywood Palladium. Shows were getting big with the introduction of Goldenvoice. Cops hated the punks. Punk rock had to soften its image, or go underground and be hardcore punk and exist on the margins.

Many new clubs were born like the Anticlub, the Fake Club, Rajis, Al’s Bar, Club Lhasa, the ON Club, Club Lingerie, Club Fetish, The Vex. and the Cathay de Grande. They existed to present a new era of bands that formed in the wake of punk. Some clubs like the Whisky a-go-go and the Roxy existed along side of Goldenvoice events that catered to the new sounds. While conventional rock bands headed over to Gazarri’s or the Troubadour. In downtown LA, there were illegal warehouse parties, at Power Tools, Scream, Dirt Box, and Brave Dog.

There was also New Wave Theater. It was hosted by Peter Ivers and appeared around 1982. Many older bands played on it like Fear, Dead Kennedys and Circle Jerks. But there was also newer bands like 45 Grave, Monitor, Killer Pussy, Suburban Lawns, Mnemonic Devices, Red Wedding, Surf Punks, The Plugs, Legal Weapon, and the Blasters. The new scene had arrived and girls actually attended these gigs. UK bands like Adam and the Ants and Psychedelic Furs were widely accepted and very influential. LA had it’s own Paisley Underground scene, which was a 60s based retro scene based on Syd Barrett and the Velvet Underground.

Red Wedding stood out among the bands. They existed for about five years 1981-1985. They released a few EPs and played many venues and supported many of the local bands. I saw them play at Club Lhasa and the Anti-Club. They also played in San Diego and San Francisco. They never played England or did a national tour, where they may have found more support. I spoke to lead singer, Michael Ely, of Red Wedding. Recently he has formed a band in Tuscon, Arizona called Elegant Rabies.

Red Wedding existed for about five years 1981-1985. They released a few EPs and played many venues and supported many of the local bands. I saw them play at Club Lhasa and the Anti-Club. They also played in San Diego and San Francisco. I spoke to lead singer, Michael Ely, of Red Wedding. Recently he has formed a band in Tuscon, Arizona called Elegant Rabies. Website: http://michaelandspider.com/ Theoretical: http://www.theoretical2.com/redwedhom... Red Wedding: https://redweddingoriginal.bandcamp.c... The Elegant Rabies: https://elegantrabies.bandcamp.com/al...