Q: Your full name, age and city.
A: Steven Blush, older than you, NYC
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: author/filmmaker – American Hardcore, American Hair Metal. New York club DJ 1985-2005
Q: What was your first album? How did you get it? At what age? Can you describe that feeling? Do you still have it?
A: Johnny Cash Ring Of Fire and I Walk The Line. I
was like seven years old, my dad bought em for me at Sam Goody’s on
Route 18 in East Brunswick, NJ. I realize I was into to the fact that
he was The Man In Black. And yes, I still have them.
Q: What prompted you to start collecting? what age did you start ?
A:
In high school, I had 25-30 Hard Rock albums, Led Zep, Jethro Tull, Bad
Company, Mott The Hoople and UFO. At 16, I went to London and caught
the last whiffs of the Punk scene, like I saw The Clash before they
toured the US (the show in their film Rude Boy when
Sham 69’s Jimmy Pursey joined on “White Riot”). After that, I was
hooked. Back in Jersey, and in the Lower East Side where my dad worked,
I spent endless hours in record stores, taking home what I could afford.
Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, from 1977's classic Tejas LP, posing as Steven Blush
Q: Do you remember the day when you switched from being a record listener to a record collector?
A:
Not the exact day, but as music director of my college radio station in
the early 80s, I contacted every underground band and label I could
find listed in any music mag or zine. This was way before
“Alternative,” when these bands were a true alternative… Anyway,
between the station’s 20,000+ record library plus the hundreds I had
coming in, it kinda took over my life…
Detroit Rock's answer to a Soul band, made one 1970 self-titled album with a minor hit cover of "House of the Rising Sun"
Q: what was your Initial interest in music? did you get influence from your family?
A:
There was very little music in the Blush house. My mom had a few Nat
King Cole and Harry Belafonte albums, and my dad had a batch of bad
operettas on 78rpm. As for instruments, the piano teacher told my
parents not to waste their money. When I got really into music,
everyone seemed very surprised.
Q: Why vinyl?
A: Vinyl is music’s organic fruits and vegetables, CDs and MP3s are crappy junk food.
The very first Sex Pistols single, 1977's infamous "God Save The Queen"
Q: Any specific genre?
A:
No limits, but heavy concentrations on Hardcore Punk, Hair Metal, DC
Go-Go Funk, 80s NYC Hip Hop 12”, Christmas novelty records and lots of
crazy cover versions.
Q:
Hair metal….?!!? what the hell? Is it the music or the hair or the
tight crouch area? Most people would have these records locked deep
down in the basement.
Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg in 1985 before he joined Whitesnake
Tony Harnell from NY and three guys from Oslo who rocked in a Bon Jovi style
Wrathchild's Stakk Atack (1984), the worst example of airbrushed album art
1988's hit album by Britny Fox set new standards for big hair and frilly clothes
Tigertailz, Britain's biggest contribution to the Sunset Strip Hair Metal scene
A:
Hair Metal is one of those guilty pleasures few people will admit to. I
never dressed the part, so I have little to be embarrassed about. My DJ
friends like to drop the occasional Rock breakbeat — AC/DC, Billy
Squier — but I can blow them all away with phat beats by Poison or
Warrant.
Q:
So you decided to make a book out of it. That’s interesting. As a
documentarian, I wish I was there to document the book launch party.
A:
The book release party in Hollywood was an outrageous mix of those who
totally got the joke and those who definitely didn’t. At the end of the
night, I had a lingering feeling that the joke was on me!
Q:
Another famous hair piece, this time without the Metal, is the Wham
picture disc laying proudly on your desk. what's your excuse?
A: I went into my wife’s parent’s basement to look at an old box of records, but only found one worth keeping!
Q: Do you travel to find records? where? how often?
A:
I never travel to find records, but everywhere I travel, I search for
used vinyl. So 4-6 times a year I come home with a stash. I’ve slowed
down by buying habits, but I still get about 100 albums per year.
Texas musical mutant Daniel Johnston's vinyl debut from back in 1985
Q: How do you organize the collection?
A:
Alphabetically, with separate smaller sections for 12”s, compilations
and specialty records. It took me a full weekend, over 75 hours, to
finally organize the collection, and it was the best thing I ever did.
Now I can actually find what I’m looking for.
Q: Tell me a useful record storage / shelving tip!
A:
Whatever you do, get all your records off the floor — own your record
collection, don’t let it own you! And build or buy very sturdy shelves
because record collections weigh a lot. I built a half-wall to support
my shelves from collapsing, as it weighs well over a ton.
Q: What do you look for in a record?
A:
I believe that every collector has an impulsive, uniquely personal
reaction to vinyl. The artwork of course attracts me enough to check
out the package, but that doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily buy it. I
particularly dig cover versions of hit songs, the more over-the-top the
better. But to find good records, you have to know a lot about music,
you can’t fake that. You gotta know what you’re looking at. At the end
of the day, it’s all about the music…
The original wigger, world-famous crooner Al Jolson, wore a black face
Q: What's your partners' reaction to this obsession?
A: Positive enough to marry her.
Q: Have you ever kept a particular purchase secret from your wife?
A: Other than drugs and hookers, no.
Q: Tell me about a closed down record store you will grieve all your life!
A: I never got over the closing of Freebeing Records (129 Second Avenue) in the 80s. Not sure I ever will.
Q: Tell me about the most unlikely place/occasion where/when you found records?
A: I got a Link Wray album at a Christian vegan restaurant in South Dakota.
1987's handmade, spray-painted debut album by Detroit band Art Phag
Q: Name some golden finds from your collection.
A:
I own two copies of the first Nirvana 7” individual numbered of 1000
copies, for which I was recently offered a few thousand dollars. I
don’t even know how much a Minor Threat test pressing or an original
Sex Pistols single would fetch. I also have the first House Music hit
“Jack Your Body” by Steve “Silk” Hurley (that I got for a quarter) and
a whole bunch of Frankie Knuckles’ original 12”s on Trax that I know
are worth a few bucks…
1988's first Nirvana single, "Love Buzz," with a young Cobain with hippie hair
Q: Do you have a record collecting philosophy or routine when you enter a store?
A: I go straight to the used records and look for the dollar bin. That’s where magic still happens. Never ever pay full price!
Q:
That leads into a fierce discussion. Some people say that there is not
such thing as “digging” in record shops. Even if it’s in the one dollar
bin. What’s your observation?
A:
Any vinyl junkie will tell you that New York is totally picked over,
and true, there’s no more dingy record shops to do serious “digging.”
But you can still find plenty of stores with a box of used records out
front, or if you go to the usual vinyl shops they still have used
records but you may have to pay up to $5 per. But when I travel to LA
once or twice a year, I still make a pilgrimage to Amoeba on Sunset and
spend an hour on my kness flipping through their extensive dollar bin,
spending $20-$50. And a few months ago in the California desert, I did
such serious digging through a filthy vinyl-filled shed at a flea
market where I seriously scored, that I had to to go take a shower. So
there’s still plenty of places to go “digging” — it just might not be a
conventional record shops.
Punk revival pioneers D Generation's 1996 No Lunch album on double-10"
Q:
Out of your great collection, there must be a few records that you like
going back to at any time. What makes them so special for you?
A:
I constantly go back to the same 25 or so albums, and they do transport
you back to another time — similar to a drug fix but different in that
with music the perfect high can be recreated… Recently there’s been a
lot of: the first House of Pain album, Social Distortion Mommy’s Little Monster, Bob Marley Catch A Fire, Stills-Young Band Long May You Run, and Manowar Battle Hymns.
Q: What is your favorite album art? Any special reason?
A: Black Flag’s Damaged (SST, 1981). A 19-year-old Henry Rollins punching a pane of glass, shot
by the world’s premiere Rock photographer Edward Colver. There’s
nothing more visceral and Hardcore than this…
Rare 1984 photos of Henry Rollins of Black Flag with long hair and wearing a Speedo
Q: can you tell me more about your obsession for Black flag? what is it that made you collect all their records?
A:
Black Flag was the definitive band of the early 80s — they were the
suburban American response to Punk. For a few years, they were the
greatest band on the planet. Their ferocious music, tireless work ethic
and independent attitude changed the course of music history. They
certainly changed me. I saw Flag play over 20 times and own every one
of their records, from singles and albums to interview discs, demos and
bootlegs. Every band I have seen since pales in comparison. Their
historical minutiae gets well documented in my American Hardcore book
and film (with director Paul Rachman).
The Black Flag catalogue on vinyl, autographed by Greg Ginn
Q: so who's got the 10 1/2 inch???
A: Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler
Black Flag's 1984 live album Who's Got the 10 1/2?, signed by Greg Ginn
Q: Dirtiest, sexiest , filthiest album cover you know or own?
A: Nig-Heist Snort My Load
Q: Tell me about a dollar bin record you would never part with!
A: William DeVaughn Be Thankful For What You Got or the first album by Tupelo Chain Sex.
Q: Is there a specific musical instrument that attracts you when listening to music?
A: Loud electric guitar still makes me lose my mind!! And smooth Jimmy Smith-style organ still groove me.
Q: Name a record cover that makes you laugh
A: Told Her Twice by Pitboss
Q: What is the future of vinyl?
A:
Record collecting is coming back in a big way. After the introduction
of the CD, vinyl sales plummeted — there was only a small handful of us
diehards keeping it alive. Now with the introduction of the MP3, CDs
are now of zero value and vinyl has made a huge comeback. The future of
vinyl looks strong.
Q: This is your question… Anything you want to say, add, observe, critisize, compliment
A:
Record collections should be carefully cultivated, like in
horticulture, where the healthiest plants get trimmed. Whenever I purge
my collection of duplicates and duds, I enjoy it far more. I know too
many “vinyl junkies” who’ve allowed the sheer size of their collections
to overwhelm their lives — in every nook and cranny of their house or
apartment. I love and respect many of these people, but it’s clearly
made them severly mentally ill. I strive for a healthy relationship
with my vinyl obsession….
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, signed by Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill
Led Zeppelin I, autographed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
To learn more about steven www.stevenblush.com
Posts 
11 comments:
great to see a new posting on this blog. interesting to see a "celebrity" being interviewed here.
Black Flag definitely sounds best on wax.
I'm perplexed by that House of Pain Sub Pop release. Where did that come from???
i love this blog!!!!
this is a great blog. keep up the good work!
great blog, thanks for all the hard work!
A minor point:
"Anarchy in The UK" was the first Sex Pistols single, released in late '76. Maybe this was only released in the UK which would then make "God Save the Queen" the first US single.
(From someone who was there - ha!ha!)
Great blog, as always. Thanks.
Not one but two "Love Buzz" 45's!!! - Can I be your friend!
I had a copy of that House of Pain 7" on green wax on Sup Bop. Shamrocks and Shenanigans I think it was titled. It's pretty easy to come by on Ebay or it was.
Great stuff, man!
Frijid Pink had 4 LPs not 1.
I Love your blog.
One of my first internships in 1995 was for Seconds Magazine with Steve and George Petros, which was run right out of this very apartment that Steve is still in. Glad to see some things never change.
-Noah
www.coffeebreakradio.com
Wow, this could be quite possibly the most overrated collection of average rarities i've ever seen.
Dope,Guns and Fucking
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