Vince Taylor was black leather and chains, the final rocker.


From the start, Pepsi has been based on a single age-old precept: it's fun to be a freak. And it is, of course. It's fun to get stoned and float on giant cushions, to stay up past your bedtime. And it's fun to visit Hair, to go up on stage and dance with the kids, belonging, and believe that you've had access to secret knowledge, revelations that the straight world doesn't even suspect. It is even fun to be misunderstood, to feel yourself martyred, a rebel and outsider. What isn't much fun, though, is to be punched in the face and thrown into jail. Not at all, it isn't and, therefore, the political and philosophical basis of the movement has been more or less forgotten. In the heart of the Pepsi Rock fan, there lurks a secret shame at the blatancy and vulgarity of the music's past, Elvis in his gold lame suit, Little Richard jumping on the piano and Jerry Lee Lewis so greasy, all those wild and orgiastic exhibitions. Just like the jazz fans of 1960, who preferred Dave Brubeck to John Coltrane, they want it both ways: they want to be hip, to be in the game and yet, in the end, they don't want to get their feet wet.

5 comments:

  1. thank you for this! Cohn is always welcomed, and your updates too!

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  2. found your blog on the twilightzone... thanks for offering this great collection. having trouble downloading Cohn's Awopbop... as well as Swinging London. any chance for reups? Dave -dsamp812@gmx.com

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    1. Anon,
      Just put a new link for Awopbop: http://arouseyourpassion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/visions-of-kids-copulating-on-dance.html
      'Swinging London' ?
      all the best,
      Johnny

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  3. Much appreciation for the reup - such a fantastic book - he nails the stones in real time butter than anyone looking back (i love the stones...). And apologies for the confusion - Swinging London was what stuck in my mind - I meant Ready Steady Go by Shawn Levy - http://arouseyourpassion.blogspot.com/2015/02/english-girls-take-to-sex-as-if-its.html. dave

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    1. Dave,
      Just put a new link in the Levy post. Do you know if Cohn's 60s columns for the Observer etc are available anywhere?
      Johnny

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