FRIEND REQUESTS - I pretty much want to keep to people and bands where we have a connection. Send a message if you think I'll need reminding. Thanks.
Alot more stuff at http://rogerm.net
I have plenty of unrecorded songs and even a few new ones laying around. Recording is currently sort-of in progress.
Over the past year I've had a new life as a budding clarinetista with the fabulous Rude Mechanical Orchestra (see them in my friends section below). It's been really great.
The first Roger Manning album was released in 1989 by California punk recording label SST (Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.). I toured the U.S., and occasionally Europe, for over 10 years performing lyrical-solo-rock accompanied by highly amplified bass-heavy guitar playing.
My music developed in the streets, subways and dance clubs of New York City throughout the 1980s. The result was a style of solo performing that was dynamic enough to allow me to play in places where solo acts were not ordinarily accepted such as rock and dance clubs.
The viewpoint conveyed in the dense lyrics was shaped by a life of hitchhiking, street singing, low-income living, disgust with authority, and pondering the mysteries of love and beauty.
"People work hard and end up with nothing. I ain't got nothing either, but at least I didn't work hard for it" (from the 'Pearly Blues').
The beat for many of my songs was inspired by the music being spun by DJs in New York clubs like Danceteria, The Ritz, and Palladium.
By the end of the 80s, the songs had evolved into a style where Jack Kerouac meets Led Zeppelin meets Joni Mitchell meets Sonic Youth meets Public Enemy meets the Clash meets Woody Guthrie meets Big Audio Dynamite. Various fellow downtown New York performers, including King Missile (John S. Hall) and Billy Syndrome were strong influences as well. These others, and I are associated with the beginnings of New York's "AntiFolk" scene which came together in the mid 80s. Later influences include My Bloody Valentine, Elysian Fields (NYC) and various forms of electronica.
Roger Manning vintage video - 1991- video bio Produced by Kristen J.
NEW - 11-7-07: Roger Manning - The Coney Fiery Island Blues
Live in County Clare by Toby from Doolin
Roger Manning vintage video - 1988 - The 16 Blues by Dave Fleischer
Roger Manning vintage video - 1996 - The Perisa Blues
Early online video by Nels Johnson.
Live at the Great American Music Hall, SF
A (Black) Flag Day Benefit Sunday, June 14, 7-11pm
Come to the lovely 6th Street Community Center to support A New World In Our Hearts and celebrate (Black) Flag Day in style!
FEATURING: Ghost Mice Heathers Brownbird Rudy Relic Hubby Jenkins Apocalypse Five and Dime - A little bit folky, a little bit brassy, a little bit punk/ragtime, and a little bit queer. and more t.b.a.!
$6-10 sliding scale.All ages. 6th Street Community Center, 638 East Sixth Street (Between Ave B & C) NYC
thank you roger! I'm looking maybe to come through nyc on my way to europe and back. trying to find a gig. any ideas? before june 15 and/or after july 16 x
Hey, Rog. Thanks for being my Friend. Thought of you last Tuesday when I saw a book review in the NY Times. It's a book of photographs by Q. Sakamaki. Check it out if you haven't already. Love, H
on the streets of London Panic on the streets of Birmingham I wonder to myself Could life ever be sane again ? The Leeds side-streets that you slip down I wonder to myself Hopes may rise on the Grasmere But Honey Pie, you're not safe here So you run down To the safety of the town But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle Dublin, Dundee, Humberside I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco Hang the blessed DJ Because the music that they constantly play IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE Hang the blessed DJ Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down Provincial towns you jog 'round Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ HANG THE DJ
