October 2011
2 posts
16 tags
DVD Review: Fested: A Journey to Fest 7 →
DVD review of a documentary about The Fest, a punk rock festival held yearly in Florida.
8 tags
Review: Johnny Winter Live at Rockpalast →
A review of a DVD release of Johnny Winter playing the Rockpalast show from Germany in 1979, where he returned to his blues roots along with some rock numbers.
September 2011
32 posts
30 tags
Concert Stubs From Long Ago →
Doing some cleaning, I recently came across a stack of ticket stubs from shows and events I had seen in New York. While the shows the tickets represent is hardly inclusive to the shows I have attended. I have listed them in order of date.
10 tags
Remembering Christine Nystrom →
Along with Neil Postman and Terence Moran, Christine Nystrom helped co-found the Media Ecology department at New York University during the very early 1970s. I had the fortune to spend some time with her over the last couple of decades. This is in memory of her.
11 tags
DVD Review: David Bowie: Rare and Unseen →
Review of DVD featuring rare clips, photos and interviews with the king and queen of glam rock, David Bowie.
12 tags
DVD Reviews: Two of the America’s Music Legacy... →
This is just two of a series of six DVDs that have been released to promote a collection of television specials from the 1980s that highlight specific genres of music, with each disc focusing on a one at a time.
13 tags
DVD Reviews: Two of the America’s Music Legacy... →
This is just two of a series of six DVDs that have been released to promote a collection of television specials from the 1980s that highlight specific genres of music, with each disc focusing on a one at a time.
14 tags
Bruno Arts Bank and All Citizens' Cafe, January... →
A picture essay of the small Saskatchewan town of Bruno, about 40 minutes east of Saskatoon. It is here that many independent artists travel stop on their travels through the province to play music to an enthusiastic group. Though the audience number is small, the reception is large.
Bruno, FFanzeen, Kerri Reid, Marcus Miller, Mindy Yan Miller, Robert Barry Francos, Saskatchewan, Susan Shantz,...
24 tags
Punk Primer #2: The British Second Wave →
Recently, I was asked by some friends to teach them a little about the history of punk. For this second class, I played them some records (both LPs and 45s) and CDs for a history of British punk, or the Second Wave. This is what I chose.
12 tags
The Rage May Surface: An Op-Ed Piece →
This opinion piece was originally published in FFanzeen No. 3, dated Winter / Spring 1978-79, which was the first newsprint version of the ‘zine. Art Editor of the issue Alan Abramowitz discussed the then-current state of music and the cultural milieu in which it existed.
30 tags
CD and DVD Reviews: Quiet Corner Column, New Year... →
Robert Barry Francos reviews CDs and DVDs by a number of genres and artists. These reviews also appeared in Jersey Beat webzine in my Quiet Corner column.
20 tags
Videowave Clips Vol. 1: Joey Ramone, Lydia Lunch,... →
Clips from the cable access show, Videowave, produced by Alan Abramowitz. While the show is still in existence, here are some clips from the 1980s on which Robert Barry Francos participated. RBF also relates annecdotes on the shoots.
10 tags
Tommy Boyce: The Fifth Monkee →
Interview and article of Tommy Boyce, reprinted from 1986 issue of FFanzeen by Nancy Foster of one of the key songwriters for the Monkees during their heyday, as well as a performer.
10 tags
DVD Review: Alien 2: On Earth →
Review of Jesus Franco (aka Jesse Franco) horror film originally from 1980 and now re-released. This is a non-related, yet supposed sequel to Alien.
14 tags
A Look at Paste’s Webzine's 100 Living Songwriters →
Robert Barry Francos looks at Paste Magazine’s list of 100 living songwriters, and makes comments on some of who they have and are missing.
15 tags
Videowave Clips 2: Hüsker Dü, The Murmurs,... →
Clips of interviews from cable access show Videowave from the 1980s, written by Robert Barry Francos
8 tags
DVD Review: The Walking Dead Girls! →
Review of humerous DVD documentary about zombie culture.
7 tags
DVD Review: Creep Creepersin’s Frankenstein →
Review of director / singer / actor / writer Creep Creepersin’s independent film about a lonely man in search of love, and his pet mouse.
10 tags
Connecting with HUMAN SWITCHBOARD →
Reprint of 1986 interview with indie band Human Swtichboard, back stage at Irving Plaza by Jim Downs. Original photos by RBF
16 tags
Oral Fuentes Band, Live at the Bassment, February... →
Performance review and photos of the Oral Fuentes Band.
9 tags
Vanity Plate Volume 1: AC/DC →
Interview with FFanzeen publisher Robert Barry Francos about his photos of AC/DC performance in 1977 at CBGBs. Conducted by Niclas Müller on the Metal Shrine website.
10 tags
DVD Review: Sister Smile (Suor Sorriso) →
Review of independent film, Sister Smile (originally titled Suor Sorriso), about the adult life of the Singing Nun. It was directed by Roger Deutsch.
14 tags
DVD Review: The Pisim Project →
DVD review of a documentary concerning rural Saskatchewan First Nations school kids who tackle building an eco-friendly house.
11 tags
Vanity Plate Volume 2: mentions on other's sites →
Websites where FFanzeen publisher Robert Barry Francos is mentioned or interviewed.
12 tags
DVD Review: Jim Settee: The Way Home →
Review of a touching documenary about First Nations spirtual leader Jim Setee, from Saskatchewan (near Prince Albert). Directed by Jeanne Corrigal.
15 tags
DVD Review: Derailroaded: Inside the Mind of Larry... →
Review of DVD about “outsider” musician Larry “Wildman” Fischer, who had some minor hits in the 1960s and 1970s with “Merry-go-Round” and the theme to the Rhino Records chain stores. He even appeared on Laugh-In. This is a look at where he was, and where he is now.
11 tags
DVD Review: History Lesson Part 1: Punk Rock in... →
Review of DVD filled with performances and interviews from 1984 in Los Angeles of punk bands Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Redd Cross, and Twisted Roots.
14 tags
THE GANG OF FOUR – They Really Mean it, Man! →
Reprint of a 1980 interview published in FFanzeen of the British group Gang of Four members Jon King and Hugo Burnham. It was conducted and written by Dale Ashmun.
6 tags
Vanity Plate 3: The Peat Marwick Mitchell... →
A 1980 in-house newsletter article about FFanzeen publisher Robert Barry Francos published by the Fortune 500 accounting firm, Peat Marwick Mitchell.
10 tags
Book Review: Hüsker Dü: The story of the noise-pop... →
Review of Andrew Earles’ book Hüsker Dü: The story of the noise-pop pioneers who launched modern rock. Husker Du were infamously secretive about themselves, and Andrew digs deep.
13 tags
Theatre Review: La Maculée / sTain, March 2011 →
Review of French / English play titled “La Maculee,” or in English, “sTain.” Performed by La Troupe du Jour, the play was written by Madeleine Blais-Dahlem and was directed by Marie-Eve Gagnon.
7 tags
Dancing with Joey Ramone” →
A look at the influences behind Amy Rigby’s song, including many classic great ’50s and ’60s tunes.
9 tags
THE BEACH BOYS – Mike Love, 1984 →
Reprint of a 1984 interview with Beach Boys’ singer Mike Love as he embarks on a solo career. He also discusses his days with the BBs and what went wrong with Brian Wilson. Conducted and written by Mary Anne Cassata.
10 tags
DVD Review: Johnny Winter Live at Rockpalast →
Review of a DVD taken from a 1979 concert by Johnny Winter on German television, as he returns to his blues roots, with some rock and roll thrown in.
August 2011
25 posts
5 tags
ORAL FUENTES: Bringing Positive Belize Riddems to... →
Profile of Belize reggae musician who now lives in Saskatoon, Oral Fuentes.
16 tags
Book Review: Trouble in the Camera Club, by Don... →
Book Review of Don Pyle’s book about Toronto Punk in the 1970s and 1980s, chock full of stories and his photos.
18 tags
Vanity Plates No. 4: Webshots →
My most viewed photo sets on Webshots.
8 tags
A Brand New Bag for JAMES BROWN →
The following reprinted profile of James Brown was written by Tom Bingham for FFanzeen 1981.
25 tags
Rare Boston scene photos from the 1980s by Rocco... →
Photos by Rocco Cippilone of the local Boston scene in the early ’80s. Very rare shots from a missing photographer. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Rocco, please let us know.
9 tags
The NW Rivals form to take Seattle (and beyond) by... →
Formation of an independent DIY supergroup in Seattle, as told by the band
4 tags
Announcing the Birth Day of Robert Barry Francos:... →
A photo history of the publisher of FFanzeen
10 tags
DVD Review: Worst Horror Movie Ever Made →
Richard Gary reviews director Bill Zebub’s horror opus.
5 tags
“King" of the Tex-Mex: Joe Carrasco Crows →
Reprint of John Jorge’s 1982 FFanzeen interview with Joe “King” Carrasco.
11 tags
DVD Review: Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies, by Jesus... →
Review by Richard Gary of the 2011 rerelease of Jesus Franco’s 1981 cult horror flim, Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies.
18 tags
DVD Review: Stripperland →
Richard Gary reviews this comedic spoof of the film Zombieland (yes, a spoof of a spoof) where all the zombies become strippers.
12 tags
Book Review: Swedish Sensationsfilms, by Daniel... →
An alphabetical overview of Swedish exploitation films, reviewed by guest Richard Gary.
7 tags
ConsentFest and SlutWalk, Saskatoon, May 28, 2011 →
An essay and many photos about Saskatoon’s version of the SlutWalk under the umbrella of the ConsetFest.
10 tags
DVD Reviews: Two by Creep Creepersin: Ding Dong... →
Guest reviewer Richard Gary looks at two films by independent director Creep Creepersin: Ding Dong Dead and Corporate Cutthroat Massacre.
8 tags
DVD Reviews: Two More by Creep Creepersin: he and... →
Guest reviewer Richard Gary looks at two independent films directed by Creep Creepersin: he and Peeping Blog.
6 tags
DVD Review: The Puppet Monster Massacre →
Guest film reviewer Richard Gary takes a look at indie horror film in which all characters are puppets!
