nov. 5 , 2004 --

Started putting together the debut Live Blowoff show with Bob . It will be happening on Thanksgiving @ the 9:30 club (main room) here in d.c.. We’ll be djing and playing a live set as well. Loads of fun for sure.

While going through my fall wardrobe I realized this:
Homo is the new black.

A funny new blogger sent me an email. He wrote: “OMG u r SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Cuuute! ......” Being smart enough to throw a compliment to an old man is worthy of a link right there...
but as it happens his blog is campy and funny. Appearently he is sending love to lots of blogs to get footing. For this I applaud him. Whats the point of sitting in your room waiting? clubutaunt.

nov. 3, 2004--

We’re playing a show tonight in Charlottesville VA. Band plays at 10:00 p.m..

Lets pretend its 1982 and we’re going to the disco.... It won’t be hard ...

email of the day:

From your lyrical content and other things it seems that you are a fascist or like the nazi party!!!!!!!!!!!

While sexual fascism has its appeal in a master and servant way , as a political ideology its not my bag. I do like fascist metaphors ... Even this morning when they seem so real.

reccomended reading: The U.S. Constitution

nov. 2, 2004 -9:00 a.m.- Election Day : weather fraud.

nov. 1, 2004 --Tomorrow is election day. I hope it is not close. If we go through all the bullshit that happened last time around (on both sides) it will leave us once again split apart and wounded. I think that the division does far more damage then either party is capable of on their own. The sad part is that the parties themselves are responsible for the division in the first place.

I will be voting for John Kerry. I can not support the Republican party after it has singled out my people for discrimination by pushing for a constitutional amendment to deny us the same rights that everyone else is given just because they are born straight. Everyone has got their issue -- that’s mine. A vote for any other candidate would be a vote against my interests, and more importantly the primary intent of our Constitution, and the core values put forth in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,---That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government .

All men are created equal and the pursuit of happiness is a right “endowed by their creator”. All men are created equal. ...

nov 1, 2004 - great show last Thursday in Baltimore. Thanks to all who came out.

I Went back to Baltimore last night to hang with some of the guys for halloween. For me Baltimore is an easier city to have fun in then DC. I think its because few in Baltimore are on their way to "some place else". Guys in Baltimore are home already.

New review of "Lucky Strike" in this week's Billboard.

OCTOBER 28, 2004 --I've gotten a lot of emails and phone calls from friends about the story in OUT magazine this month. Thanks for the good words. I will post the story and the photos Jack took as soon as I get a minute.

Morel show tonight in Baltimore at The 13th Floor .

also: Blowoff this weekend.

october 27, 2004 -- "Lucky Strike" is back up on Itunes. You can check it out here:

october 25, 2004 -- We had a great time Saturday night at the Velvet Lounge. Much love and thanks to all who came out for the show.
This Thursday night we will be playing in Baltimore at The 13th Floor. It is an old timey club on top of the Belvedere Hotel.

Velvet Lounge Washington D.C. 10-23-04 --- photo:Scott Bolgiano

also: I had fun djing with Bob at the Blogjam event on Sunday. I got to meet many of the guys I enjoy reading on line.

october 21, 2004 - Getting geared up for the Morel show on Saturday night at the Velvet Lounge here in D.C,
“Lucky Strike” was released on Tuesday. The show on Saturday will celebrate its release. Thanks go to many.

We’ve put together some extras for both Saturday's Show and next week's show in Baltimore . If you are in the area - come down and say hi. --love Rich

p.s. I wish I could tell you “Lucky Strike” was back up on I-tunes- but my label has bla bla blahhh... No lost love. I’ll let you know as soon its up...

also: I'll be djing at Blogjam with Bob on Sunday night. I was thinking about reading at it - but my story will be told on Saturday night .. more love -Rich

October 18, 2004 --- "Meantime" video: I wrote and recorded "Meantime" in an evening. It almost didn’t make it on to The Queen of the Highway cd- (thanks to my buddy Nick's insistence it made the record).

For me "Meantime" is about being wrapped in shame and being locked out of everything and everyone you want , including your own family . In the video I represented the sameness of family: the sameness of father to son to grandson, and the difficulties intrinsic within those relationships.

I made the video for "Meantime" using Flash to animate and alter all the images.. I then edited it using I-movie. Nick shot the video sections. I used pictures by Mark Morrissroe, Jack Pierson, David Armstrong and Nick Lopata - as well as old family and army photos of my dad and my grandfather. The video was made in about 2 days - with virtually no sleep.

"Meantime" (QuickTime movie)

october 17, 2004 - 4:15 a.m. Fun time this weekend. Went out to dinner Saturday night to celebrate Bob's birthday with a group of friends. The birthday cake was from Cakelove, my favorite bakery in DC. It was delicious..
Blowoff was a blast - good music and good people.

october 15, 2004 --

Late nights and early mornings - not my favorite ride.
Get your beauty sleep -- Blowoff tomorrow night.

october 14, 2004 - 4:30 a.m. - Just as photography, film and recorded music became the new art of the 20th century - so now is the web site. Don’t be fooled by utilty, function, porno or facts.
Everyone is a radio now. Everyone is a station.

Wait and see what the kids will do.

Been low- been high. Been recording more blues.

october 12, 2004 --

“Laziest Girl In Town”. I recorded this song in 1994. It was originally released on the “Peterbilt Angel” cd.
I wrote the song for my buddy Mark Morrissroe after he died of that mother fucker aids. The above photo is a self portrait of Mark.
We never secured the Beach Boys' bass and organ sample (or the usage of the verses from "Good Vibrations") so it had to be pulled from the Itunes release of “Peterbilt" earlier this year. It came before "The Stoning of Steven” on the original cd ( for the purists who have gotten "Peterbilt Angel" from Itunes and want to hear it right). Here it is - in all its bootleg glory - for you to have and share.
Love Rich.

"The Laziest Girl In Town" mp3

Lyrics here.

october 10, 2004 - Here’s the plan: build a really phat dance and electronica mp3 download site and load it up with all of the dopest and most obscure records and 12 inch singles. The rub: do all this without securing the rights to the majority of the records you have available for purchase and listening on the site.

That’s exactly what JETGROOVE did. Because of their guerilla business model , word about JETGROOVE is traveling fast.

Here’s the creepy part : they have a 12 minute dub mix I did of “Under A Disco” from my new record. That mix has never been released and will not be released until next year. That's how deep this site is.

Don’t get me wrong: I don't mind. In fact I think its sexy -- I love buying and selling music online and more is better as far as I’m concerned. My advice to all the labels and friends in the business who have emailed me because they are pissed off: Don’t fuck it up ! Save your legal expenses and negotiate a deal so Jet groove can sell your music. Join the 21st century mate.

October 8, 2004 --
Been working with the band putting together the set for the up coming morel shows. We’ve been kicking around some old songs plus getting into the new songs off of “Lucky Strike”. After all the fun on Tuesday night I’m really psyched about getting out and playing.

Watched a great documentary on L.A. dj and massive music fan Rodney Bingenheimer . It follows his history from the 60’s till now. An amazing chunk of the movie centers around his “English Disco” bar in the early 70’s, which was a glam rock disco - frequented by all the boys making the music at the time. Its a bitter sweet , kind of sad film . The Mayor Of Sunset Strip.

also: The movie , almost inadvertently, makes clear how radio has destroyed itself and its importance by discarding the guys, like Rodney, who truly loved music. These guys would play records that they actually loved instead of playing what was paid for by the labels (like now). They would break bands and records because of a love for the music.

The end of rock n roll is never pretty.

october 7, 2004 -1:00 a.m.-- I posted another video. This one is a live recording of "Funny Car" from 2002. It was shot on digital video by Terrie Stubbs.

Terrie used to shoot video of all the bands that played the old 9:30 club. She'd sit up in that chair over the crowd and shoot the band on stage. She did an amazing job back then and on this one. There are no edits.

"Funny Car " (QuickTime movie)

october 6, 2004 -- Great time at Wedrock. Heads up to Bob for playing a bomb set and being the guy who pulled it all together- from start to sound check to show.
We got to throw in an extra song last night. We played: “Heaven 65”, “Driving to Heaven” and ‘”True”.

I'll post some pictures later.

october 5, 2004 --

Wedrock show tonight at the 9:30 club in D.C.. Afternoon sound check - show starts at 8:00 p.m. Grab your brother and come on down. Its gonna be a blast.

october 3, 2004 3:40 a.m.

A guy from Epic records saw my mention of the Clash in Paper magazine and took it on himself to send me the newly released London Calling cd- dvd package. It's a dope re-release. Its as good as the first time - only louder.

I was in high school when "London Calling" came out. I was fortunate enough to score tickets to their show at Boston's Orpheum theater later that year. It was a show and night that will remain un paralleled for me.

The new release includes all the demos for the record as well as a bonus dvd. On the bonus dvd Mick Jones talks about how in 1979 London, there were what he called "the punk police" - guys who thought any music embracing reggae and dance etc. was not cool. Apparently the Clash didn't give a fuck- and continued to make great records that were ultimately wrapped in disco, funk, reggae and blues. Man are we lucky...

october 2, 2004 --4:50 a.m.-up late recording a cover of a Willie Dixon song... I don't want you 'cause I'm sad and blue - I just wanna make love to you .. love to you baby......
Amongst all the emails for hot teen sex and constant hard ons - I actually got one that will let me screw the man...
And god knows I love that - check it out here. Love Rich.

october 1, 2004 - There's a new review of "Lucky Strike" in this weeks L.A. City Beat . You can check it here: L.A. City Beat.

september 30, 2004 -- nice feature in this weeks Metro Weekly about the upcoming WEDrock show.

Some words on the issue:
The reason homo marriage is in the spot light now is because our culture is under going a major rule set change. It parallels the changes that we went through addressing racial equality. The concept of same sex marriage is very difficult for some. That's o.k. Desegregation was difficult for many as well.

The thing that makes me sad is that NOT ONE LEADER ON EITHER SIDE is stating the obvious: Gay people are our sons, daughter, brothers, sister, fathers, mothers, neighbors, and friends. They are not a radical group that is trying to destroy America. With out them this amazing country of ours would be much less amazing. Gay’s contribute to society in ways that can not be quantified. It is shameful that we as a society would even entertain the idea of leaving them out in 2004 much less push to change our constitution to do so legally. It is most ironic when you consider that we are recently sacrificing our own lives to bring freedom to foreign countries .

september 29, 2004 -- 2:00 a.m. --
Beth Orton has been one of my favorite singers of the last 6 years.
I often play her song “Galaxy of Emptiness” at Blowoff . She has a voice that sounds so easy and beautifully melodic.
A couple years back I did this mix of Beth Orton's “Central Reservation”. Its a down tempo mix I built on the guitar riff from America’s “Horse with No Name”. My percussionist Dwayne played the conga’s and triangle - his buddy Junee played the bass. I played the rest and sang back up.
I got an email today asking about this un released mix- so here it is.
You can check it here:

"Central Reservation (Pink Noise Mix)"

september 28, 2004 --Did an interview with a guy named Peter from Dj Times last night. He came by the studio to talk. Cool kid. We wound up talking about music for a couple hours. The story will run in the December issue.

"Information has come to the attention of the Civil Service Commission that you are a homosexual. What comment do you care to make?" The political arguments that are being used today against homos are not new. Here’s a great book that puts it in historical perspective: “The Lavender Scare” . Don't let the war on terror limit your wardrobe.

I was also glad to see that the lovely state of Virginia has about as much tolerance as those progressive middle eastern countries we are desperately trying to bring into the 21 century. Check the map and plan your next vacation.

september 24, 2004 -I’ve added a video page to the site. The first one up is a vidoe for “Robber’s Prayer” from the “Peterbilt Angel” Cd. It was inspired by an obsession with trashy drag, violence, sex and death. The still photos are by David Armstrong .

"Robber's Prayer" (quicktime movie)

september 23 , 2004 -- I did a remix of a new Le Tigre song called “After Dark” which will be coming out this fall. Le Tigre is kind of a chick punk dance thing . They are very fun in an early B-52’s kinda way. I did a Pink Noise rock -funky mix as well as a Pink Noise dub mix. I will be dropping both mixes on Saturday night at Blowoff.

I wrote a christmas song last night. Its called “Merry Christmas Everyone” . A bit of a downer - but in a Christ -world -mess kinda way.

september 22 , 2004 - heads up - for some un known marketing reason - my lovely label has pulled my new record from I-tunes. I know from the emails I've recieved that a number of you guys have already gotten it and are enjoying it--- thanks for letting me know. I will post more about it later and let you all know when it will be back up. Love Rich.

september 18 , 2004-

“Lucky Strike “ is available on I-tunes as an exclusive -- before the cd comes out next month. Thanks go to many.
check it here.

"lucky strike" at the i-tunes store

I’m off to NYC on Monday to speak on a panel at The Billboard Dance Music summit. It will surely be packed with remixers - dj’s and the like.

September 15, 2004 -- poster for WedRock show. Spread it round.

september 14, 2004 -3:30 a.m.--

Some press on “Lucky Strike” and what I’ve been thinking about, in this month’s Paper magazine. Plus a profile shot by Nick.
You can read it here.

Lots of love in between the lines.

september 13 , 2004 -- Blowoff was a blast. Sexy crowd (all types) - great music (including some new phat jams from Bob). A fun time with all the regulars and all the new ones.
No shirts up stairs and down. From the left : “nice cock” from the right: “no shirts - no service boys” ....

All the best to everyone.

Morel will be playing at Wedrock here in DC on October 5, 2004. Wedrock is a benefit to support Freedom To Marry.
This is a cause I am psyched to support - and a “rule set” I am eager to see changed.
Big heads up to Bob for pulling this together. He will be performing as well as this dope assortment of talent:

Henry Rollins (Master Of Ceremonies)
Sandra Bernhard
John Cameron Mitchell
Avenue D
Ben Jelen
Purty Mouth

The WedRock details:

The date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
The time: 7 PM
The place: Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St NW, Washington DC
The tickets: $40 / $100
 

september 9, 2004 -- anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for the glam rock of the early 70's. To this day I still think rock star means: make up and cocaine. A Brit mag has compiled all of the NME's and Melody Maker's glam rock articles and reviews- from 1970 to 1975 complete with original and color pictures.. Its pretty much a wet dream for this kid. Lets smoke a joint and go to the Bowie show......

Went to NYC last week to do a photo shoot with Jack for a story for Out magazine's November issue. The pictures are very Jack. Almost dirty. Had fun. Will post later.

Here's an article by an intense man, Thomas Barnett, that's got me thinking about where we are in the world. I saw him on cspan and was riveted. Barnett's perspective is deeper than a soundbite.

Past blog entries

august 26, 2004 --The Beloved "Three Steps To Heaven" (Pink Noise Mix) .

I did this mix back in 1996. At the time my studio was centered around my akai s1000 sampler, roland jupiter 6 and mks 80 keyboards, a couple Roland drum machines and a power mac 7500 computer . I would run the vocals out of the mac and all the rest would be sequenced. I had to time stretch and pitch shift all the samples in the s1000 which was a bitch back at that time (this was pre Acid, or Live , software that makes it easy and enables endless options today)

I'm glad to see that the Beloved have also posted my remix on their site. With the exception of an mtv moment in the 90's with "Hello", the Beloved is an over looked electronic band here in America. They're 1996 record "X" is an early slice of what is now neatly called "electronica". At the time American radio and music television was dominated by pop r+b as well as all the bastard children of Nirvana. It was hard for record's like this to get any notice here.

On a personel note I remember meeting with label brass at Capitol, Epic, and others in the 90's who would say things like: "I like your songs- what if you add more guitars and produce it more like grunge?". Obviously , for better or worse, I didn't change what I was doing . Not so much out of conviction- more because I do what I do.

I'm happy to have dug this remix up and will be playing it at Blowoff when we kick in next month.

"3 Steps To Heaven (Pink Noise Mix)"

Love Dick.

august 23, 2004 -- I was in nyc last week for press and handshakes. I stayed with my buddy Jack. He was fun as usual .

Jack told me an old friend of ours, Joe, had died of an o.d. a couple months ago. I hadn't seen Joe in probably 16 years but he is someone I thought about often because he was so sweet, sexy and kind. Its funny that someone I knew only for an instant made such a lasting impression on me.

When I first met Joe he was wearing a motor cross t-shirt. I told him I loved the shirt. He took it off and gave it to me. There are only a handful of people who have that much.

Jack has a dope new book out called : every single one of them .

august 18, 2004 -Thanks to dinner talk with Bob and John I've decided to start posting unreleased remixes I've done over the years. Some were released as promos only. Some where not released for other reasons, like sample clearance, or simply because the band didn't dig my vibe.

In 1995 I did a remix of Tina Turner's "Wildest Dreams". I did two mixes. One was a very funky r+b mix that got released on the cd single. This mix is the second mix I did. This remix more reflected where I was at at the time -- then the song itself. It was a bit of a downer and too fucked up to make the cut. Barry White is singing back up.

"Wildest Dreams (Morel's Downer Mix)"

August 11, 2004 - My sister and nephews stayed with us for the weekend. We went down and did the tour of the Capitol . The tour was the bomb.

I get into American history. Its hard to keep up with all the re-writes that go on as we advance. It's as if everyone is an historian with a 21st century agenda.

I choose to believe the paintings, the walls and the statues. Besides they make the myth a hell of a lot sexier.

Its all myth anyway.

I'm locked up inside flushing out disco beats for a couple remixes - I couldn't be happier.

august 2, 2004 --Last week was a good week. This weekend was the same. I'm still turned on by my own humanness (my ego at times demanding a blow job). In fact humanness is the only rush that really counts.

Why not pull your pants all the way down in the car?

Amidst some good behavior- some bad behavior - some talk- and some sexy, I started to think that maybe I've been looking at things backwards. Cancer might be the best possible response we have to carcinogens - not the other way around.

Spent 3 hours late last night watching an interview with Simon Winchester on cspan. This guy is sexy. He is most sexy because of how he thinks. That is usually the case.

july 28, 2004 -2:19 a.m. - Barack Obama's speech at the dem's convention was beautiful . I didn't think it was possible for a politician to move me on that level. It's bitter sweet to hear such a gifted man and not be able to vote for him. Maybe next time.

july 23, 2004 - 4:00 a.m. .. I was a fan of Todd Rundgren when I was a kid. When a band or musician is a part of my life for a period of time I continue to check in. I never see them as disposable, especially the ones that got me through adolescence and teenage hormones. Todd has a beautiful new song called "God Said", plus a good take on the music bizzzz .

"God Said" on ...

July 22, 2004 -

Nick took a series of photos. Rich shower door 11. more to follow.

The way it works: wake -tea - work -break- phone - downtime- work - music. I've been foggy for the past couple of weeks. Things are picking up now with the release etc. which is great. Everything gets a bit nervous. The whole thing makes me get inside.

Except for the daily ritual of taking the Chief to the park.........

So if you roll the window
Let the outside in
Take a look at the scenery baby
Let love start to begin
Start to begin

BLOWOFF THE WEEKEND

july 21 , 2004 - While scanning the tube the other night I realized that reality tv shows have taken over. They are killing the tube and the music industry with shows like "American Idol" and all the dating -fear- fat girl- pretty girl crap. These shows are like gossip: entertaining enough while on, but of no value afterwards. Everyone loves the car crash.

Warhol's prediction that in the future everyone would be famous for 15 minutes left out one key observation. What he failed to mention was that fame, as a result, would loose all of its appeal and become as generic as those who are wearing it.....

While everyone is worried about the corporate sexy messing with our political system and government how about all the crap its putting on the airwaves?

july 14, 2004 - The solution lies in communication. Thanks mate.

Well put . Thanks for listening .

Why do all cars look a like now? What the fuck happened to chrome?

Past blog entries