20 Years and Counting…
I know – it is 50 year anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama’s exile from Tibet. Being a big fan of His Holiness, you might be asking yourself why I’m not in a more somber mood…
Well, today also marks the 20 year anniversary of my first ever Dead Milkmen show. It’s the only show where I remember the date - March 10, 1989 at the Phantasy Theater in Lakewood, Ohio. Starvation Army and Government Issue opened the show. I just remember that one band came out saying they were the overlords of the universe or something like that. Eventually, a sick Dead Milkmen (they were all battling the flu) came on stage. At that time, they were supporting what was probably their biggest album (Beelzebubba). I can’t remember if the show was before or after “Punk Rock Girl” started getting MTV play. I would see them many more times over the years – ending with one of the Dave Blood Memorial shows in Philadelphia a couple years ago.
After all this time, they are still my favourite band – very influential in my own music (along with Robyn Hitchcock) when I have a chance to write any. Great proof that humour more than belongs in music. My plan was to listen to nothing but Milkmen today at work, but I didn’t listen to anything (I listened to them on my train ride to and from work). Even with songs 25 years old, they still sound great – either shows how well their music ages or shows that I haven’t aged well. I’d like to think it’s the former.
Anyway, they’ve been playing shows here and there (I think they have a show in New York soon), and, still, no one compares.
Really? I never thought we were that good. I may now have to reevaluate my position.
Definitely. As your fans start breeding tiny fans, the fanbase will hopefully just continue to grow – like I said, the music still sounds current (to me, at least). Thanks for all the years of great enjoyment and for the many more years still coming. Looking forward to the day when I hear my son singing that “I can’t piss. I can’t shit. I get no relief. People shake their heads in disbelief.”