Gainsbourg: La vie heroique

Saw the new Serge Gainsbourg biopic earlier this week. Not sure what to make of it: the tone and pacing of the film strange and uneven, some of the more whimsical bits really grated on me (am unconvinced by the puppet representing Gainsbourg’s subconscious – if you see the film, you’ll know what I mean!). On the plus side, it looked stunning, the performances were great (was really enjoyable seeing how the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Juliette Greco portrayed) and Gainsbourg’s music on the soundtrack gave me goose bumps. Many years ago I wrote a piece about Gainsbourg for the punk zine Razorcake. Seeing the film inspired me to dredge it up again: I’d write it very differently now, but in any case here it is!

The UK trailer for the film:



Gainsbourg at his finest:

2 August 2010 Dr Sketchy at The Paradise in Kensal Green

Felt like one of the sweatier, more chaotic Dr Sketchy nights, but still fun – some challenges can really keep you on your toes and keep you focused. The main technical glitch was that no one could locate a microphone for the master of ceremonies Dusty Limits to use. It stressed me out, but Dusty is such a consummate pro he was completely nonchalant about it and just projected his voice a bit louder. (Anyway, a mic was finally sourced midway through the night for him). The two exquisite models were Miss Johnson (aka Ruka, the brains and beauty behind Sugarlesque) and Vee Worldmistress. Towards the end of the night they posed together. I had an elegant French chanson number cued up and ready to play, but then I saw their pose: Miss Johnson sprawled across Vee’s lap, ready to be spanked, straight out of an Irving Klaw / Bettie Page bondage photo session. So I scrambled to find and cue something more raunchy and lewd: “Here Comes the Bug” by The Rumblers (the percussion almost sounds like spanking noises anyway).

Catwalk - Jack Constanzo
All of Me - Little Jimmy Scott
Pick Up - The Corvettes
Beat Generation - Mamie van Doren
Little Ole Wine Drinker Me - Robert Mitchum
Oh Baby - Esquerita
I Would If I Only Could - Ruth Brown
After Hours - Bob Taylor
Jim Dandy - Ann-Margret
Nosey Joe - Bull Moose Jackson
Destination Moon - Dinah Washington
Astrosonic - Jimmie Haskell
Fool I Am - Pat Ferguson
Frenzy - The Hindus
That Makes It - Jayne Mansfield
The Strip - The Upsetters
Vesuvius - The Revels
It's Legal - Shirley Ann Field / John Barry (Beat Girl soundtrack)
Cafe Bohemian - The Enchanters
Mi Palomita - Yma Sumac
Cha Cha Cha du Loup - Serge Gainsbourg
The Lady is a Tramp - Hildegard Knef
Street Scene - Lou Busch
The Strip - The Upsetters (played again in error. It was that kind of night!)
Oh Honey - Gloria Wood
Fever - Timi Yuro
I'm a Bad, Bad Girl - Little Esther
A Woman Wouldn't Be a Woman - Eartha Kitt
Harlem Nocturne - Martin Denny
Honky Tonk - Bill Black Combo
I Got a Right to Sing the Blues - Billie Holiday
Travellin' Light - Chet Baker
Work Song - Nina Simone
Born to Cry - Johnny Thunders
Pink Champagne - The Tyrones
Blue Kat - Chuck Rio & The Originals
Bachelor in Paradise - Ann-Margret
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - Ann Richards
Do It Again - Eartha Kitt
Chery Pink - Bill Black Combo
Love Me - Marlene Dietrich
Shangri-La - Spike Jones
Take It Off - The Upsetters
Night Train - Alvino Rey
Blondie's Strip - John Barry (Beat Girl soundtrack)
Kiss - Marilyn Monroe
Here Comes the Bug - The Rumblers
La Javanaise - Juliette Greco
Mack the Knife - Hildegard Knef
C'est Si Bon - April Stevens
Let's Get Lost - Chet Baker
Makin' Whoopee - Marlene Dietrich

Jane Morgan singing "C'est Si Bon": not the version I played (in fact I'd never heard of this singer before), but this clip is so irresistably kitsch (the ultra low-budget set! The pouting, crotch-thrusting go-go dancers! That cotton candy bouffant wig!) I had to include it on here.




The late Johnny Thunders singing Dion’s “I Was Born to Cry”. His second last record was Copy Cats, a brilliant album of covers on which he duets with smoky-voiced Noo Yawk bloozie chantoozie Patti Palladin. I bought it on vinyl when it first came out in 1988, then many years later bought it again when it was reissued on CD. Yes, a heroin-ravaged Thunders looks distressingly cadaverous here, like a corpse being dangled on wires (he only had a few more years to live – he was dead by 1991) but he’s still in great, powerful voice and what a magnificent pompadour!



Keep track of future Dr Sketchy nights here

Dr Sketchy Set List for 14 July 2010

Another great Dr Sketchy night at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, probably my favourite venue to DJ at. Because it fell on 14 July, the night had a Bastille Day theme -- which explains why you see more French music than usual by the likes of Serge Gainsbourg, Juliette Greco, Edith Piaf and Brigitte Bardot twined amongst the customary vintage sleaze. A particular highlight: our glamorous Parisian model Mam'zelle Maz demonstrated she was talented as well as beautiful by warbling a husky-voiced French chanson.

Frankie and Johnny - Bill Black Combo
Wino - Jack McVea
Wait a Minute Baby - Esquerita
Evil Gal Blues - Ann Richards
Bop Pills - Macy "Skip" Skipper
Cafe Bohemian - The Enchanters
Baby Let Me Bang Your Box - The Bangers
Monkey Bird - The Revels
Taki Rari - Yma Sumac
Chihuahua - Luis Oliveira and His Bandodalua Boys
Jim Dandy - LaVerne Baker
Frenzy - The Hindus
Salamander - Mamie van Doren
Drive Daddy Drive - Little Sylvia
Tight Skirt, Tight Sweater - The Versatones
Nosey Joe - Bull Moose Jackson
The Whip - The Originals
Rock Me All Night Long - Ella Mae Morse
Roll with Me Henry - Etta James
Fool I Am - Pat Ferguson
Blue Kat - Chuck Rio & The Originals
I Was Born to Cry - Dion
Fever - Ann-Margret
Beat Girl - John Barry (Beat Girl Soundtrack)
Crazy Horse Swing - Serge Gainsbourg (Strip-Tease soundtrack)
Lover - Peggy Lee
Paris Canaille - Juliette Greco
Sexe - Line Renaud
Dormir - Denise Darcel
The Touch - Eartha Kitt
The Beast - Milt Buckner
Night Train - Alvino Rey
Je Sais Que Vous êtes Jolie- Marlene Dietrich
My Man - Denise Darcel
T'es Beau Tu Sais - Edith Piaf
He Is A Man - Lizabeth Scott
My Man - Eartha Kitt
I Want a Boy - Connie Russell
Bewildered - Shirley and Lee
Yogi - Bill Black Combo
Call Me Irresponsible - Dinah Washington
Hearts of Stone - Rudy Grey
Sous Les Ciels de Paris - Juliette Greco
The Girls of Paris - Lee Hazlewood
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Sam Butera
Je T'Aime, Moi Non Plus - Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot
La Vie en Rose - Edith Piaf
Uptown to Harlem - Johnny Thunders & Patti Paladin
No Good Lover - Mickey & Sylvia
Lucille - Little Richard
Little Things Mean a Lot - Jayne Mansfield
Chicken Grabber - The Nite Hawks
I'm In Love for the Very First Time - Diana Dors
Shangri-La - Spike Jones New Band
All of Me - Mae West
Oh, Baby - Esquerita
I'm a Bad, Bad Girl - Little Esther
Je Me Donne a Qui Me Plait - Brigitte Bardot
Les Cigarillos - Serge Gainsbourg

The delectable Brigitte Bardot in her sex kitten prime singing "Je Me Donne a Qui Me Plait" in a strange bouffant black wig:



One of my perennial favourite tunes to play at Dr Sketchy is the sleazy and atmospheric bump and grind instrumental "Blue Kat" by Chuck Rio & The Originals -- that saxophone! I first heard it on the soundtrack of John Water's 1974 trash epic Female Trouble and it's haunted me ever since. (John Waters soundtracks are an endless source of inspiration for me). I can't imagine not playing this song at a Dr Sketchy.



Keep track of upcoming Dr Sketchy events here.

Rock Chicks Unite!

Rock chicks unite! Ian from The Baby Janes and Jane, formerly of Naked Ruby now in The Deptford Beach Babes, photographed on 13 July 2010 outside The Royal Vauxhall Tavern where The Baby Janes later played a memorable gig. Moments earlier Ian had serenaded Jane with a medley of songs from Marianne Faithfull’s Broken English album. It was like a twisted variation of those scenes from old Elvis Presley films where he sings to his leading lady (say, Ann-Margret or Nancy Sinatra) and they stare dreamily into his eyes. This being Vauxhall, the bystanders included the local outdoor Special Brew drinkers.

Watch this charming clip of The Baby Janes in action from that night. Punk performance art at its finest!

Rachael's Birthday 2010

Everyone’s favourite gritty Yorkshire lass Rachael turned 32 on 2 July 2010. She celebrated her birthday with a boozy and raucous party on Saturday 3 July at the appropriately louche and theatrical Phoenix Artist Club in the heart of London’s glittering West End. The hostess looked radiant in a faux-vintage halter neck black dress, her hair styled by Miss Betty of It's Something Hell's on Carnaby Street. Take a peek at these exclusive pics!

Dr Sketchy 23 June 2010 Set List

A great night! I love DJ'ing at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and got some really appreciative feedback from both audience members and the cabaret performers, which had me buzzing. The featured cabaret artistes were Mr Meredith and Tricity Vogue. I was blown away by Tricity’s “Blue Lady” act – a tribute to the (in)famous / ubiquitous/ iconic 1950s kitsch painting Blue Lady by Vladimir Tretchikoff (also sometimes known as Green Lady or Chinese Girl) of the serene-faced, enigmatic Oriental woman with the peculiar cadaverous turquoise complexion. It culminated in Tricity doing an eye-popping striptease down to nothing but blue skin – it had to be seen to be believed!

/ The original "Blue Lady" ... /

/ Tricity Vogue pays homage ... /

/ Tricity Vogue posing. Photo by Paul Monckton /

/ Tricity Vogue and I. Photo by Paul Monckton /

/ Clare Marie (the promoter / brains behind Dr Sketchy in London). Photo by Paul Monckton /

My set list:

Sometimes I Wish I Had a Gun - Mink Stole
Work Song - Nina Simone
Little Ole Wine Drinker Me - Robert Mitchum
The Beast - Milt Buckner
Destination Moon - Dinah Washington
I Was Born to Cry - Dion
Vesuvius - The Revels
Go Calypso! Mamie van Doren
I Ain't Drunk, I'm Just Drinking - Jimmy Liggins
Green Mosquito - The Tune Rockers
Red Hot - Billy Lee Riley
My Daddy Rocks Me - Mae West
Groovy - The Groovers
Suey - Jayne Mansfield
Blockade - The Rumblers
Heartbreak Hotel - Ann-Margret
Train to Nowhere - The Champs
Die Herren (Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love) - Hildegard Knef
Mambo Miam Miam - Serge Gainsbourg
La Javanaise - Juliette Greco
Misirlou - Laurindo Almeida
Gopher Mambo - Yma Sumac
The Strip - The Upsetters
Beat Girl - Adam Faith
Honey Rock - Barney Kessel
Revellion - The Revels
Evil Gal Blues - Ann Richards
Cherry Pink - Bill Black Combo
Love Me - Marlene Dietrich
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Sam Butera
The Blues - Eartha Kitt
The Blues Are All I Ever Had - Julie London
Shangri-La - Spike Jones New Band
Petit Fleur - Chet Baker
Falling In Love Again - Billie Holiday
Yogi - Bill Black Combo
Heatwave - Marilyn Monroe
A Week from Tuesday - The Pastels
Don't Fuck Around with Love - The Blenders
Take it Off - The Genteels (see video clip below)
I Want a Boy - Connie Russell
He Is a Man - Lizabeth Scott
Sexe - Line Renaud
What Is a Man? Denise Darcel
Anytime - Bill Black Combo
Daddy Daddy - Ella Mae Morse
Tall Cool One - The Wailers
Happy Birthday Baby - The Tune Weavers
Drums-a-Go-Go - The Hollywood Persuaders
Fujiyama Mama - Annisteen Allen
A Guy Who Takes His Time - Mae West
Topsy - Joe Bucci Trio
Commanche - The Revels
Caravan - John Buzon Trio
Mack the Knife - Hildegard Knef
You're My Thrill - Chet Baker (swinging, finger-snapping instrumental; not his better-know vocal version)
Romance in the Dark - Dinah Washington
Honeysuckle Rose - Marlene Dietrich (see video below)
Harlem Nocturne - Martin Denny
Easy to Love - Eartha Kitt
Jungle Drums - Earl Bostick
Let There Be Love - Diana Dors
Black Coffee - Julie London
Crawfish - Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin
Bewildered - Shirley & Lee
I'll Upset You, Baby - Lula Reed

/ Below: Take It Off by The Genteels (the clip features Mamie van Doren gyrating to the ultimate titty twister anthem!) /



Marlene Dietrich singing Duke Ellington's "Honeysuckle Rose" in 1963 (annoyingly, embedding is not allowed, but here's link . It's a great clip and worth watching. Dietrich at her purring, mature sexiest):

Keep track of future Dr Sketchy events in London here

A Date with El Vez! El Vez at The 100 Club in London

El Vez is one red hot tamale! Routinely described as “The Mexican Elvis”, that only hints at what El Vez (aka Robert Lopez) actually does. Injecting the Elvis Presley song book with a jolt of spicy ancient Aztec blood, El Vez looks like a black velvet painting come to life, and his shows are a riot of rock’n’roll, punk energy, kitsch, sex appeal, politics and humour.

Sadly he rarely performs in London these days, so when El Vez returned to play at the 100 Club attendance was mandatory! True to form, he put on an explosive show backed by his band The Memphis Mariachis and accompanied by the Elvettes.

The whole night was a bit of a reunion and nostalgia trip: it was my friend Sparkle Moore (the platinum blonde doyenne of the London vintage / retro scene) who first brought El Vez to London in the mid-90s for his London debut at The Garage. A gang of us who were at that historic gig also went to this and we were dazzled by El Vez all over again.

Postscript: It looks like I’ll be interviewing El Vez for Nude magazine, so watch this space.

/ Mexican Elvis Impersonators Prefer (Platinum) Blondes: Vivien (aka Vivien of Holloway), El Vez and Sparkle Moore /

El Vez and I: Unfortunately I seem to be doing an imitation of Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel from The Simpsons.

See all the photos on my flickr page

Check out the official El Vez website