There are many songs and bands that bring back specific Howe Military School memories. What might be my soundtrack for a movie about me at Howe.
8th Grade (82/83) – I remember hearing Stevie Nicks (I think Forbes-Watkins and Flesch had those cassettes from Columbia House) and Joan Jett for the first time. Wasn’t very impressed with Stevie Nicks (until years later). I remember some kids being very into Ted Nugent (the bossy little runt and … what was his name … Seymour) who I also wouldn’t appreciate until later. If you owned an electric guitar, like I did, there were these kids who would insist on asking to play “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath or “Smoke On the Water” by Deep Purplebut I didn’t like either of those bands either. These jerks had rank and were, generally, bigger than the kids who actually played and owned the guitars so they would blow out the amps, etc. with no consequences. For me, what I remember listening to (don’t laugh) was Arlo Guthrie, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and, oh … wait … I now do have memories of listening to Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, because instant, sweetened, iced tea always makes me think of that album. Or is it vice-versa? Also, I was introduced to Blondie and Elton Johnthat year. Again, either Forbes-Watkins or Flesch gave me Jump Up by Elton John and Hot Space by Queen – both of which are still two of my favorite albums.
Summer Camp (Summer of 1985) - Vivid memories of listening to We Sold Our Soul For Rock and Roll by Black Sabbath, an album or two by Venom, and to this day I can’t hear “Hotel California” by Eagles without thinking it’s about the Church of Satan because of all the conversations we had about it. Can you tell where I was spiritually at that point in my life? On a somewhat lighter note, I bought 2-3 albums by Lou Reed that summer – old stuff in the bargain bin like Street Hassle, Rock and Roll Heart and The Bells.
11th Grade (85/86) – Though I was mostly into the Doors, Twisted Sister’s Come Out And Play album was high on my rotation list (as were their other albums). I can still remember getting The Last Command by W.A.S.P.at Kmart and listening to it with my walk-man while I waited for the bus to come pick us up. Doug Knowlton introduced me to the Sex Pistols, Psychadelic Furs, and the Ramones.
Sometime in 1986 I fell in love with Lizzie Borden via their live album, The Murderess Metal Road Show, quickly followed by Menace to Society which I may have bought my senior year along with Me Against the World.
12th Grade (86/87) - Inside the Electric Circus by W.A.S.P. was a big moment for me that year, but mostly I remember getting a lot of Little Richard. Billy Idol’s amazing Whiplash Smile album also came out my senior year. This was also the first time I heard Bob Dylan and I was hooked. The most important album that year for me, though, was Blah Blah Blah by Iggy Pop. My first roomie in Echo company – also a teammate on the Cross Country (or was it Track?) team – got me into Ministry, Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys. My second Echo roomie brought a brand new tape back to school with him after visiting home and while I was trying to decide whether I thought the girls were kinda hot or not, he said these guys called Poison really rocked. And they did – at least for that first album, Look What the Cat Dragged In.
