The Story Of A Band
BP Fallon and his band played in Texas.
Photography: BP Fallon & his band by Dawn Laureen
The band: BP Fallon vox, Aaron Lee Tasjan who’s played with The New York Dolls on guitar plus the celebrated Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame Blondie rhythm section of Nigel Harrison bass and Clem Burke drums.
“I didn’t exactly plan this” says BP. “I simply thought ‘I have a record out – I guess I should have a band’. I made three phonecalls and everyone said yes. Then I thought ‘God, what have I done?’
Photography: The New York Dolls – Sylvain Sylvain & David Johansen & Aaron Lee Tasjan – South America 2009
“Aaron’s the hottest young guitarist in New York. In Texas, people were going ‘Who’s the kid?’, all knocked out by this baby-faced demon and his full-on twanging. Hell, the cat can play! No wonder when The Dolls toured South America last year and Steve Conte couldn’t make it, they asked Aaron to play guitar with them. He’s ace. It was Aaron who came up with the riff in my song ‘I Believe In Elvis Presley’ that Jack White plays so fantastically on the record.
Photography: Nigel Harrison & Iggy Pop & Ron Asheton @ Rodney’s English Disco Hollywood by Julian Wasser 1974
“And Nigel and Clem… I’m honoured to have them in the band. Nigel’s one of my best friends since 1972, when he was in the great English group Silverhead and we came to America for the first time together. Ah, rock’n’roll and sex and drugs (chuckle). Then Nigel played with Iggy and Ray Manzarek and played the bass on The Runaways records before joining Blondie. Which is where I met Clem.
Photography: Blondie – Nigel Harrison & Chris Stein & Clem Burke & Frank Infante & Jimmy Destri & Debbie Harry 1979. The Blondie song ‘Union City Blue’ written by Debbie Harry/Nigel Harrison. Dig Clem’s suit!
“Clem’s recognised as one of the greatest rock’n’roll drummers in the world, he’s played with everyone from the Ramones to Bob Dylan via Brian Wilson and Patti Smith. Nigel and Clem, they’re the ‘Heart Of Glass’ rhythm section – indeed, all the Blondie mega hits – the power behind Debbie Harry when Blondie conquered the world. Amazing to have them on board, this skilled powerhouse…
“We rehearsed in New York and then near Austin in the house of Kathy Valentine from The Go-Gos, in her studio. Thank you, Kathy!
Photography: Live! BP Fallon & his band by Bob Gruen
“We played our very first gig at Frank Murray’s ‘1st Annual Austin Fleadh’ and in the audience grinning away digging it were Lenny Kaye, Bob Gruen and Michael Des Barres from Silverhead. And it was an incredible gig. Our very first review
Photography: Live! BP Fallon & his band by Dawn Laureen
“We played at Jovita’s in Austin, at the Roggie Bear-organised Victoria Williams Sweet Relief charity benefit. Another amazing show. Another amazing review
Photography: Michael Des Barres & Danny B Harvey & BP Fallon @ Red Horse Ranch by Little Deb
“We played in the wilds of Texas at Jimmy Quill’s Red Horse Ranch in a loose conglomeration with stellar players like Jesse Dayton and Jimmy Quill and Michael Des Barres and Danny B Harvey. This magical event was the icing on the cake…
“All the members of the band including me wish to continue”.
What are they going to do next?
“Ah” says BP, chuckling again. “Ah…”
Watch this space.
Photography: “We’ll meet again…” by Dawn Laureen
See! Many more killer pictures – including Marc Bolan, Andy Warhol, Johnny Thunders, Bob Dylan, Joey Ramone, Sable Starr and Iggy Pop
plus Elvis, Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon and Jack White – in
‘The Story Of A Band (The Flickr 12″ Mix Of Pix)’
