Johnny Marr (The Smiths guitarist) Mail-Artist?

[jon foster]

Yesterday I was floating around the Record Store Day website looking for limited releases coming out on that day. At the bottom of the page I noticed a trailer for a movie about independent British record stores. As I watched all of the talking heads flash on the screen, Johnny Marr appeared. On his jacket he had a button, and on that jacket was a Ray Johnson bunny pin.

 

I wasn't sure what to make of this? Is he a fan of mail-art, does he do mail-art, or is he just that cool?

 

You can see the pin at 2:19 in the trailer for the documentary Last Shop Standing

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTMe8p_Pxw

[Kerri Pullo]

I don't know. But his new album Messenger is pretty catchy!

[De Villo Sloan]

Jon, I know for sure there was a lot of cross over between mail-artists in Seattle in the 80s and the musicians who became Grunge. Maybe there were similar connections other places.

[De Villo Sloan]

Otherwise, Ray Johnson is pretty well known. There have been lots of shows in the last few years.

[jon foster]

@ Kerri - I haven't heard the record yet, but I have seen it on the record store shelves. Never really been a Smiths fan, but that's probably due to the general issues I have with Morrisey, but oh well.

 

@ DeVillo - Although there have been a few shows recently, Johnson still seems to be a guy on the margins. I guess Marr's just on it?

 

Also De Villo, I was wathing that documentary on Gensis O-Pioridge and she / he had a box in one of the shots marked "mail-art." Do you know if Genesis sends things out or...

[Kerri Pullo]

oh Jon. How Soon is Now I am not your friend. 

ha ha I joke.

[jon foster]

Sure, I mean...yeah, it's just one of those bands that I could never really get into. Too many friends have yelled at me for this.

[De Villo Sloan]

Jon, I only know of Genesis O. Pioridge because I saw Throbbing Gristle used Blaster Al's words as lyrics for "Hamburger Lady" song. Looks like someone who was involved in Neoism & thus mail-art. If you can get an address, I'll bet you get a response.

Istvan Kantor (aka Monty Cantsin, aka The Hungarian Bob Dylan) is still active doing music & performance in Toronto (?). Lots on Youtube. I'll bet you get lots of good stuff if you mailed him. I questioned him for the David Zack investigation. Seems accessible.

[jon foster]

I guess I need to do a little searching with Genesis. I'm sure the response would be something impressive.

 

Oh ok, I'll send these folks some mail.

[De Villo Sloan]

Great info, allison. There was a search for genesis a few years back related to this discussion. At the time, genesis was located in the NYC area. I'm not sure if anyone ultimately mailed anything.

I agree genesis left the network long ago but stayed involved longer than your estimates,I think. Some of the Neoists still at IUOMA were involved w/ on various levels. Blaster Al (sadly deceased) wrote a Throbbing Gristle song.

I did not know about the WS Burroughs connection until recently. G sent WSB a letter saying basically: "Stop using my name in public to advance your career." Burroughs found that hysterical, wanted to meet g and so it began.

[De Villo Sloan]

This was a fascinating thing: The m-a network of the 80s and 90s was an important (underground) conduit for a lot of bands and music that later became popular and influential. You have to consider tape circulation and music fanzines merged into the m-a network along w/ all kinds of experimental art. Industrial music came out of the network as did what later was called alternative and grunge.

So Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and others owe a great deal to pre-internet m-a. They were blocked from the mainstream but managed to build very large audiences.

[De Villo Sloan]

O geez, Johnny Marr is one of the greats, IMHO. Don't let Morrisey throw you off.

Kerri's been pimping that new album & I'm a believer.

Luis Drayton aka Queen of All Pus is an IUOMA member & great correspondent. Sends cds as well as art:

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profile/LuisDrayton

[jon foster]

Sorry, I just can't do it. Morrisey is just too annoying for me to get past his persona. Marr is great, great tone, and great player, but I cannot get into the Smiths even though I've tried and tried. I have similar issues with The Misfits, and for almost the same exact reason. Gotten yelled at a lot for that one too!