*It's worth reminiscing about, now that I read it over.
I first saw Lydia Lunch perform at the Mabuhay Gardens in late 1978/early 1979. But my memory of her performance was made blotto by her opening act, which was the first "performance" I ever saw by Mark Pauline, Survival Research Laboratories' founder.
I had first met Mark Pauline around October 1978. He had just moved to San Francisco from Florida where he had attended art school (with Arto Lindsay, as I recall). He described what he wanted to do, and later he told me I had encouraged him to do it ALL.
On stage in the Mabuhay Gardens, Mark Pauline set off the loudest explosion any of us had ever heard. Fortunately, no police showed up. But everyone stood around stunned, like: "WHAT?!? What was that about?!?"
It seemed like the whole rest of the evening was dominated by that huge sound. Probably because none of us had earplugs, and that night everyone's ears were ringing—seemingly forever… and our hearing seemed reduced and full of white noise.
After that deafening and terrifying explosion, no matter how incendiary Lydia's words to the audience may have been, her performance seemed comparatively "quiet". The explosion had filled the room in a way a musician could only aspire to. Despite this, Lydia did make an impression. I remember her yelling at the audience, and she was dressed all in black—most of the audience at least wore dark clothing, if not all black.
I remember there weren't many people in the Mabuhay; it was a weeknight. But probably "everyone" in the audience knew who Lydia was, because the Brian Eno-produced "No New York" green album had recently come out and been on constant rotation—at least at the SEARCH & DESTROY house on 2436 Jones St, across from the S.F. Art Institute. The Teenage Jesus and the Jerks tracks were standouts.
The songs were overlaid with screaming vocals and bottleneck guitar, underpinned with thunderous bass. Minimalist, yet powerful.
That night I met Lydia for five seconds, and like everyone, expected her to be kind of "nasty/confrontational". But if you actually talked to her, she was "nice" (but not one to "suffer fools gladly", as the saying goes). She seemed extremely "reasonable".
Much more than a No Wave innovator, Lydia Lunch is polymath autodidact whose oeuvre encompasses virtually all of the Seven Arts (and then some). She's also one of the most fascinating conversationalists around. A few years ago we collected our Lydia Lunch interviews into a small, profound book designed to inspire the reader.
In the book Lydia explains how she's survived as an artist all this time—essential reading for creators.
While supplies last, all orders for our rare Lydia Lunch book will also receive a bonus photo print of the artist flipping you off. Photographer V. Vale will sign all photos. (A larger print of this image was featured in our art show at Mule Gallery in San Francisco, and sells for $150.)
We think everybody should have this image as a kind of inspiring "saint icon" in their home.
Click here for full details:
https://www.researchpubs.com/shop/lydia-lunch-special/
Best,
V. Vale
