‘Inside of Emptiness’ by John Frusciante

  There are certain people in history that were meant for nothing else than what they did. For some it’s as if they were built and bred to become great. Socrates was born to question life. Edison was born to invent. Orson Wells was born to do… well whatever the fuck he wanted to do really. As for John Frusciante, he was born to be an artist. 

  Many of you know John from his work with the band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. After the death of the RHCP original guitarist, Hillel Slovak, died of an overdose. John eagerly joined the band after being a long time fan. Unfortunately, John left the band after two albums because he was not comfortable with their sudden success after ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ and started with a major drug problem of his own. During this time John started his solo career and made some very challenging albums. Luckily for John and everyone else on the planet, in 1998 he recovered from his serious addiction and returned to the Chili Peppers, who he played with until recently. Between June 2004 and February 2005, John released 6 albums all of very different styles and influences. This album, ‘Inside of Emptiness’ was one of them. 

  ’Inside of Emptiness’ is straight rock’n’roll all the way through. It’s a proper mix of fast and slow and each song has a very unique emotion to it. Weather John is screaming at the top of his lungs or whispering soft subtleties through your headphones, each note is felt. The album cover perfectly visualizes the feel of the album. The blue overtone gives you a sense of the deep thought and feeling of the album while the out of focus, shaky photograph gives you that very rough and raw sensation. With this album you see John a complete artist and not just a guitarist. While the guitars are amazing as always, the lyrics, composition and especially the way he sings, shows that his abilities go far beyond that of a guitarist and into a musician and artist. 

  In fact for me, John Frusciante is much more than all those things. Johns work, specifically ‘Otherside’ by RHCP, is what got me into music in the first place as well as literally saved my life. For that, John and the Chili Peppers will always be very special to me. I know you probably don’t want to hear more of my personal bullshit, but I feel it ties in. Back in 6th grade, my manic depression was very bad. Mainly because I didn’t know I had it yet, therefor I couldn’t take steps to prevent it from getting bad. Regardless, I felt in 6th grade (as I do from time to time still) like I had nothing to live for and was just wasting space. At this time in my life I had no real friends and wasn’t good at anything I knew of. Nothing interested me. I just felt out of place, unaccepted and ostracized. Within the school year I attempted suicide 3 times. On the third time, I was one cut down when ‘Otherside’ came on over the airwaves. I froze in place. I can’t explain what it was but I knew this music was for me. After the song was over I turned off the radio, cleaned up and walked to the library to check out any CD labeled rock. Without that track, I’d be dead. 

  Needless to say I’ve never been the same and it’s in part thanks to this guy. He will always be someone who makes my short list of heroes that I would love to meet and thank for all the incredible music they’ve made. It’s albums like ‘Inside of Emptiness’ that inspire kids to pick up a guitar and start bands. It’s like a rock’n’roll recruitment film for an army of musicians I’m proud to be a part of.

Song: ‘666’

‘Suicide’ by Suicide

 I’m moving to New York City. I am very excited about it. So much so I started making a playlist of songs about New York and bands from New York. There are a few artist that I think of when I think of New York City. You have folk music like Woody Guthrie, Dylan, etc. There’s jazz greats like Monk and Miles, and then there’s 70’s punk like The Ramones, New York Dolls and Patti Smith. One band that is often left out of that last group is Suicide, who are one of the most innovative and confrontational bands ever. 

 In early 1971, Alan Vega and Martin Rev came together to make Suicide. They were one of the first bands to advertise their shows using the term punk. Now I know what you’re thinking. How’re drum machines, syths and organs punk rock? To which I’d answer with a slap in the face and “DID YOU LISTEN TO THIS?!”. Punk, in my opinion, isn’t about what is being played. Punk isn’t always four guys, one guitar, one bass, one drummer, one singer, loud fast and angry. Punk is making music with whatever you have, no matter what you skill level. Punk is a DIY ethic put forward in music. Punk is just doing whatever you want in a stripped down way. All of these things make Suicide punk. 

 This album is simple. You have Martin on what are now out of date syths and drum machines and Alan Vega calling out lyrics like spells that raise the dead. If the infectious track ‘Ghost Rider’ doesn’t get you tapping your foot than the part of your brain that responds to good rhythm is dead. The way the drum machine pounds away throughout the album feels like a blacksmith creating a weapon to destroy his enemy. 

 Alans vocals are the part of this record that knocks me flat. Live, Suicide would usually be booed from the second the walked onstage. Shows only lasted maybe a half hour before the crowd would riot and take the mic out of Alans hands. Onstage, Alan would often have a chain that he would whip around. Most of these stage antics were inspired by a Stooges show Suicide saw and loved. But I’ll go into why Iggy is king another time. 

 Back to Alans vocals, they really reach their full effect on the track ‘Frankie Teardrop’, a ten minute song about a vet in financial trouble that kills his wife and kid before sending himself to hell. This song is one of the scariest and most intense songs in history. While listening you can’t help but think to yourself, “Please Frankie, don’t do it.”, but Frankie does. It’s truly a heart breaking song.

 Suicide would become legendary after this record but not for sometime. Bands from Sonic Youth to The Kills and even Bruce Springstein would site Suicide as a major influence. They would never sell millions of records or sell out Madison Square Garden but they did something much more important. They experimented and didn’t accept failure in the face of what seemed to be mobs of people disagreeing with what they were doing. For that, all rock’n’roll is grateful. 

Song: ‘Ghost Rider’