So yesterday, as will happen on occasions too numerous to mention, I got sucked into the YouTube vortex, searching for more bits of my partially squandered youth.
I was reading this post on Dooce.com about YouTube, and how back in the PYT (pre-YouTube, not Pretty Young Thing) era you'd have to stay up to see MTV's 120 Minutes in the hopes of getting any sort of video coolness.
And that is what leads me to today's post. Well, that…and this:
We are driving home from Nisswa, Minn., last Sunday afternoon, and pull into a St. Cloud BP right off of Highway 10, to get some snacks for the kids and use the facilities. As we are standing in line, something happened that has never, not in my 41-plus years on this earth EVER once occurred: Bela Lugosi's Dead began to play on the PA system. In the gas station convenience store. In St. Cloud, Minnesota.
I looked at Dan. He looked at me. I looked around, thinking, "Is this some sort of a hidden camera deal, and any minute, a chorus line of young black-clad, goth kids are going to come out doing freaky (but way cooler than YOU can do) dances?"
I actually said outloud: "I cannot believe what I'm hearing." And the 50-ish man standing in front of me asked me what that was. And i said: "They're playing Bela Lugosi's Dead. In a gas station," which was pretty much a conversation killer. He really had no where to go with that information.
And that's what propelled me into the YouTube vortex. Memories of Pete Murphy and Bauhaus, a band I started listening to in 1984, a full year after they broke up. A band that got me in touch with my dark side. And, a band that I actually saw in 2003, from my seat in the 2nd row, when they reunited and toured. And it was the gothic, feel-good concert of the year.
I just found out they made a film about that tour, called Gotham, which i plan to order later today.
I do firmly believe that Peter has one of the coolest voices in music, and cheekbones that could cut glass. He's a complete original (except when they're covering Ziggy Stardust, then they're just doing Bowie, but some would argue they're doing Bowie one better). And here's a song that I always adored. And it's very cool to see the clips interspersed.
Undead, indeed.
Jen Adams Donnelly says
They must have had XM playing- I’m telling you, you NEED Fred (Ch 44). They play lots of Crowded House, too…
Jill says
Wow, some random scrapbooking diva listened to Bauhaus. I still do! I still want to see Peter Murphy live. One day…
Karen Breen-Bondie says
I was introduced to this song when I saw David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon in 1983’s “The Hunger” at the theatre. I love the setting of the song in the movie. Such a cool club. Here’s the link to the movie version of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7xyjU-jsU&mode=related&search=
My sister and I constantly forward YouTube links of various “120 Minutes” artist videos back and forth. I miss that type of musical excitement! Music just isn’t as exciting as it was from the 60s, 70s and 80s! (Yes, I know I sound like an old fart!)
I bought the “Just Say Yes” CD compliation back in the ’90s (Just Say Mao, Just Say Anything, Just Say Yo, Just Say Da, etc. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-9620447-7658526?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=just+say+yes) because it was such a great mix of stuff and I never got to hear it on a regular basis and still needed my fix. Our best radio at that time, WLBS 102.7 for fellow Metro Detroiters who may be reading, only lasted a few years but they were glorious. Such a forward playlist. I also have the “Living in Oblivion” CD compilation (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-9620447-7658526?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=living+in+oblivion+80%27s+greatest+hits)
I don’t totally live in that era, but it was such a cool, unusual and varied movement. FWIW, my favorite band is XTC.
Michelle says
I pretty much hate it when you do youtube posts….I pretty much forget about that damn site until you remind me about it’s wonderfulness. Then I end up spending my work day there. I don’t have time to spend my work day there, as I’m sure you can imagine. So damn you woman. Damn damn damn.
Elaine says
OMG, that voice. It just does something to me. I think I could listen to him read the phone book. I’m not crazy about Bauhaus, but Peter Murphy himself is something else entirely.
lyndaparedes says
oh wow, bauhaus in a gas station, how better does that get? love them, brings back my dark side and the guys i used to date….. that’s a whole other conversation..
i still have a bauhaus tape floating around my garage…..
have a great day
lynda in calif
lyndaparedes says
oh wow, bauhaus in a gas station, how better does that get? love them, brings back my dark side and the guys i used to date….. that’s a whole other conversation..
i still have a bauhaus tape floating around my garage…..
have a great day
lynda in calif
lyndaparedes says
oh wow, bauhaus in a gas station, how better does that get? love them, brings back my dark side and the guys i used to date….. that’s a whole other conversation..
i still have a bauhaus tape floating around my garage…..
have a great day
lynda in calif
Amy Sorensen says
Sometimes your blog freaks me out. Well, today it freaked me out, as I spent hours on Tuesday night, downloading Bauhaus. And a few how-did-I-forget-this? Peter Murphy songs, too (rocking out to “You’re So Close” as I type, lol). But seeing my third-favorite Bauhaus song (“Burning from The Inside” and “She’s in Parties” holding spots 1 and 2) just put the icing on the cake! I never saw Bauhaus but I did see Peter Murphy in 1990…awesome night. Thanks for this today!
Chris says
Did you hang around for the Muzak version of Skinny Puppy and Sisters of Mercy, lol?
I told you about our theory that everyone related to The Hunger is really a vampire, right? I mean, how else do you explain Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie *and* Peter Murphy *still* all looking as good as they do?
Chris says
Did you hang around for the Muzak version of Skinny Puppy and Sisters of Mercy, lol?
I told you about our theory that everyone related to The Hunger is really a vampire, right? I mean, how else do you explain Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie *and* Peter Murphy *still* all looking as good as they do?
melanie says
Everytime you blog about your musical tastes, I am always blown away at how similar they are to mine.
I haven’t listened to Bauhaus in years, but I did catch a PM tune on an 80’s alternative radio show a few weeks ago, and it was an instant throwback. He’s got such a fab voice- saw him here in the early 90’s and it was a great show. 🙂 Cool guy.
melanie
suetreiber says
wow. Bauhaus. They must have had XM. It’s the only logical and sane explanation. I would have felt like I was in a time warp.
kareninflorida says
So cool. I love when you post this stuff. I had totally forgotten about this song! And now I’m going to check out some of the other ones that people posted in the comments.
Angie says
Hi Cathy –
I truly love reading your blog. I’m not that familiar with Bauhaus, but I’ll have to check them out. I just wanted to say hello from St. Cloud! It was funny reading your latest post. I use to live over on that side of St. Cloud and filled gas their all the time. Fun to see you were in my “neighborhood”. Have a great weekend! Angie
Danielle says
I had the same feeling when I was in some random store and a cover of “Lips like Sugar” from Echo came on. One of my favs. So is PM, Bauhaus and the Thin White Duke.
Shannon Lowe says
Oh Man! What a COOL flashback! Truly just what I needed. I grew up in a small town and was one of the few who listened to or even knew about Bauhaus. I caught SO much crap from all the Cowboys and Jocks! And THEN… I started dating a guy who wore eyeliner (GASP!) Thanks for the memories love!
Shannon
mellymel says
it’s probably not a good sign when i’m happy about the music being played while i’m grocery shopping. thanks for bringing back peter – loved cuts you up. totally ahead of his time.
rubberbandgirl says
CZ You made my day with this post. Always nice to hear someone giving Peter some awesome respect. Thank you for sharing the YouTube links as well. Such an amazing voice! Yours and Peter Murphy’s.
katarainasmama says
Awwww…Bowie is *BOWIE* and yes, Bauhaus is cool but Bowie was Ziggy for a short time…and the Bauhaus version is pretty good still not up to the original tho’…and it’s very scary to think that you heard “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” at a gas station…in middle America!
sugarsweetsunshine says
I too, have had one those random happenings. Maybe it was the grocery store or some other “non clubesque” establishment, but, yes, out of the blue, a really awesome song from my past that perhaps, no one knows about, comes on. Utterly and completely RANDOM!!
I too agree with the first post – YOU MUST LISTEN TO XM FRED!!!!! It is the best station ever! BTW, if you are an AOL member, you can listen to ALL of the XM stations ALL DAY for FREE!!!
Love you blog and your scrapbook pages!
caroline in canada says
i heard them on the radio recently while driving and screamed in excitement (much to my 12 year son and his friends chagrin!!)
i love them…and love an rockets…do you remember them? but i have to say that i am having a really hard time with all the 80’s music on commercials these days…i was shocked when i heard a violent femmes song used in a fastfood commercial; i couldn’t stop talking about it for days!
Susan says
120 minutes used to be a major highlight of the week when I was in grad school – thanks for the memories. And you DO need to get XM, I agree.
carrie says
I’m a 120 minutes fan too, though a little younger. I watched in 1990, though possibly earlier. I was a junior in high school. I don’t much remember Joy Division, though I have a record of theirs that I listened to a few time way back when…
Ah, Peter Murphy…I love HOLY SMOKE. What a phenominal piece of work. Listened to it a lot in undergrad.
kelly says
Wow, playing that You Tube clip was cool. Takes me back to my high school days. Makes me want to dig up all my old stuff. 🙂
Leah says
been reading July and August for the past hour.
-the OCB post has me in tears/my husband came in to check and see if I was gonna be allright…made him read it.
-Loved listening to CH
– just wanted to say thanks for the entertainment!!!
Bethany says
I saw this on etsy and thought of your podcast from NZ – hooray for Ali and toast!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6573990
tammy t says
Such a random thing, I would have thought I was about to be “Punked” or something. Peter Murphy! So amazing in concert. I am having a flashback Monday for sure. Dig out all those old mix tapes from college…
t