Blankey Jet City

I cant believe I never put a post for Blankey Jet City. Even as a hardcore fan of TMGE that I am, I got to admit that 90's Japan belong to Asai Kenichi and his comrades. The trio-Asai Kenichi(vo/gtr) ,Terui Teshuyuki(bass) and Tatsuya Nakamura(dr.) first stirred the public when they won the Ikaten Grand Prix, a television show for amateur ' battle of the band' in 1990. They got signed with Toshiba-EMI shortly after and off to London to record their debut " The Red Guitar and The Truth".

Blankey Jet City bring the image of cool bad boys. . However Blankey's true strength is in their sound. Its core- a powerful, raw rock n roll spirit beautifully fused with a perfect portion of blues and jazz and rockabilly. Asai Kenichi is truly a certified guitar genius, nailing that sound unthinkable by others but a select few, the like of Jimmy Hendrix or BB King.
This was a fearless Japanese band with something to say. “Going to Disneyland”, was about “cold people” on what should have been a fun trip, captured the spirit of a dehumanized society. "

This band had been disbanded in 2000, with all member going different direction with their music. Asai Kenichi with his Sherbets, AJICO and Jude project, Terui Teshuyuki with Raven, Rosso and Joe Spider/Jim Brown, and Tatsuya Nakamura with his band Losalios.

Blankey Jet City - To Disneyland

r.i.p

The year 2010 just claim the life of two Englishman whose names are very big in rock music history.

"When I look in the mirror, I see an old bloke. But as soon as I strap on a guitar, I feel 18 again."

Michael Robert (Mick) Green
(February 22, 1944 – January 11, 2010)

This influential English guitarist died at age 65. Though never a household name, he is one of the first British guitar heroes. His unique playing style: able to play lead and rhythm line at the same time, inspired generations of great guitarist- most notably Dr Feelgood's Wilko Johnson, The Who's Pete Townshend and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant's Abe Futoshi.

Mick's eulogy( written by his son Brad Green)

Life is not a rehearsal.

This is something dad reminded us of on more than one occasion. If life is not a rehearsal then surely it is a performance and performing is something that encapsulated every fibre of dad’s being. In many ways it’s strange to hear people talking about dad as a legend, as a music icon because to Mum, Lloyd and me, he was above all a father a husband and a friend in equal proportion who simply happened to be a guitarist. I know those of us who knew him well will remember him for his humour, his sarcasm his razor sharp wit and his modesty. His ability to make even the most unlikely situation humorous will remain with us all.

Dad’s performance continued way beyond the realms of music industry prowess and achievement. As a husband, I know that he adored my mother Karen who was by his side every day of my father’s life and who stands by his side today. As a father-in-law he loved and was loved by his two daughters-in-law Alice and Hannah and of course by his granddaughter Isabelle.

The circle of life is as joyous as it is heartbreaking and only 24 hours after the birth of Lloyd’s son, and Mick’s new grandson Ashton Green, we were told that dad had passed away and his performance had come to an end.

My father has left the stage and for those of you waiting for an encore, go to the internet, search for Mick Green and you will see him how he wanted to be remembered.

Heaven just got a bit louder.

“Rock and roll doesn't necessarily mean a band. It doesn't mean a singer, and it doesn't mean a lyric, really. It's that question of trying to be immortal.”

Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren
(22 January 1946 – 8 April 2010)

Dead at 64 from suspected asbestos-linked rare cancer mesothelioma , this punk mastermind have his equal share of admirers and haters. He claimed to have single-handedly created punk, and its partly true. He gave punk The Music( The Sex Pistols), The Look( his destructive fashion with his S.E.X clothing) and The Attitude( firing songwriter Glen Matlock to fit in Sid Vicious). This is the guy who predicted the rise of PCs, mp3s and that soon major record companies would be fucked, and once run for London city mayor and he was standing to legalised brothels and alcohol in libraries!
What else did you expect from a person whose grandmother feed the child with ideas that " being bad is good..being good is boring"?

The world just lost the greatest rock and roll swindler. But his name will be forever immortal.