Courtesy of Daryl Rhodes
Daryl Rhodes has been a fixture of the Atlanta music and comedy scene because the Nineteen Seventies. Born in 1950, Rhodes grew up in Forest Park. He got here of age throughout Atlanta’s hippie motion, which was centered round Piedmont Park, and town’s first rock golf equipment usually developed within the space.
In 1975, he fashioned Daryl Rhodes and the Habishnu Orchestra (the title was a spoof of the groundbreaking jazz group Mahavishnu Orchestra), a 12-piece band that toured nationally and included outrageous efficiency artwork with songs usually laced with humorous satire. Cart Loader, Er The Rolling Stones and MTV fame, wrote on the time that Rhodes was “one of the vital wildly gifted author/actors within the nation at present.”
Rhodes later fashioned the Males From Glad Band, a distinguished Atlanta group within the Nineteen Eighties. In 1988, he moved into stand-up comedy. Whereas he nonetheless releases music, stand-up has turn into his major focus.
He just lately revealed a memoir, The Street to Nearly: The Lean Years. . . 1950-2024 One which intertwines with tales of Atlanta’s early rock scene, his usually wild stage antics, and his wry humorousness. Rhodes just lately spoke with us in regards to the guide.
Within the phrases of the late Colonel Bruce Hampton, our tradition is dropping its “character,” those that stretch the boundaries of what’s thought of regular. You’ve had one of the vital eclectic lives you may think about. What impressed you to put in writing a guide and the way troublesome was it to convey these tales to life on the written web page?
I wrote the guide after being reminded by some lifelong buddies that the lives many people used to dwell not exist. There aren’t any teen golf equipment, fewer golf equipment promote authentic and various music, and concert events are much less accessible, with ticket costs rising to make up for misplaced income from streaming music.
Bruce was proper about dropping “character”, however it’s greater than that. The beginning of influencers, units that promote intimacy from afar, and the concept copying is extra wanted than originality make the world smaller. I additionally wrote the guide as a result of I did not need anybody to make up or change the story after I could not discuss anymore.
You got here of age and have been entering into music throughout the “hippie period” in Atlanta, when youngsters flocked to tenth Avenue and 14th Avenue and town’s first rock golf equipment have been opening. How would you describe that scene to individuals who have not skilled it firsthand?
On one finish the vibe was very chill, introducing music and new sounds and smells—my first expertise with a fog machine, which smelled like a Mercedes-Benz with a leaking gasket, occurred whereas enjoying within the Catacombs—and whereas being near-mind.
I grew up in Forest Park and felt fairly remoted apart from a couple of buddies. It wasn’t unusual for a development employee to throw a bottle at me from their truck due to my hair. Being round others with a ardour for music and a seemingly open thoughts was a brand new world for me.
It was additionally after I was launched to how harmful it may be to be within the incorrect place on the incorrect time. The police are all the time on the lookout for a purpose to go looking you and hoping to get a response that can immediate them to handcuff you and throw you within the again seat. I’ve by no means taken medication however have been in two totally different conditions the place buddies have been busted for medication, and in each conditions I used to be met by the cops. Since I did not have drugs, I used to be let go, however I am undecided everybody was handled that approach.
I met so many fantastic folks whereas working within the Catacombs; Sadly, many are not round. Listening to Ellen McIlwain as a songwriter, singer and the most effective slide gamers I’ve ever heard was mind-changing. Many individuals, like Joe South and Ray Whitley (each inducted into the Georgia Music Corridor of Fame), have been my mentors. I do not hear any ghosts after I stand on the nook of 14th and Peachtree nowadays; The site visitors jam drowned them.
Courtesy of Daryl Rhodes
When the Intercourse Pistols made their notorious North American debut on the Nice Southeast Music Corridor in Atlanta in 1978, you sat via the Cruise-O-Matic opening act. How was that insanity?
I used to be requested to take a seat in on the finish of their set and do a track I’ve carried out many instances with the Habishnu Orchestra, “Boots in Your Face,” which was a take-off from The Ramones however nonetheless had the facility to piss off punk followers, particularly Intercourse Pistols followers. We knew there can be pushback, actually, we anticipated pushback, and the goal was hit.
Sure, it was a circus. I sat within the dressing room with these guys, and so they regarded nervous, apart from Sid Vicious. He regarded like he was transferring round one other galaxy. When Cruz-O-Matic hit the stage, they encountered some resistance. Pistol followers most likely aren’t dialed in to “I am a Woman Watchman” or “Secret Agent Man.”
After I was launched, I used to be carrying a baseball jersey with “Kill Me” spray painted on my chest. I had an enormous security pin created from a garments hanger caught in my mouth, and an extremely giant security pin fabricated from solid steel round my waist that regarded prefer it was going via my abdomen. I used to be the recipient of a number of tomatoes and sufficient eggs to make a small omelette. The pistol was warned to not spit on anybody, however I picked up the slack as I wasn’t.
Courtesy of Daryl Rhodes
Your music profession was marked by your band, the legendary and notorious Habishnu Orchestra. It was half comedy, half efficiency artwork, half music. How do you replicate again on that band?
It was an period that produced [Frank] Zappa, The Bonjo Canine Band, The Tubes and some different bands that appealed to my style. I wrote then the way in which I do now, no matter struck my groove. I began writing easy, enjoyable songs like “Leprosy Queen,” “The Tune Is Boring,” and “Suicide” that have been so excessive that it snowballed.
After I began hanging out with [legendary New York City songwriter] Doc Pomas, he was enthusiastic and received each angle of what we have been doing. Martin Mull was a fan, however he noticed us as rivals. I do not imply it as criticism; He was one in all my heroes. He instructed me he was humiliated when he needed to comply with us and I understood what he meant. He got here out alone, sat on a sofa enjoying guitar, and carried out well crafted songs behind our over-the-top, circus-like efficiency, costumes, dancers, backup singers and a really tight band enjoying every kind of music.
You have made a number of appearances on WTBS. And also you have been a part of Tush Universe, a cutting-edge comedy present hosted by Invoice Tush within the Nineteen Eighties that launched a number of notable careers, together with Jan Hooks, who later turned a Saturday Evening Stay solid members, and Bonnie and Terry Turner, who created the latter third rock from Solar And That Present from the 70s. What’s your favourite reminiscence from that present?
The section we did as a takeoff on the Johnny Carson Present was simply my favourite. Jan performed a self-obsessed well-known singer and throughout the Havishnu Orchestra interval I wrote the Helen Reddy parody of “I Am Girl”. I wore a lime inexperienced leisure go well with, a wig that regarded like street kill and a Mr. T starter package round my neck. Jan was as candy and humorous as marketed. He has been to a number of of my WTBS appearances and has all the time been nice. However this one episode will all the time hit the groove for me.
Though you continued to launch music, you turned to stand-up comedy in 1988. What prompted that transition and what has confirmed to be the most important problem in comparison with performing music?
Being on the street with 14 folks is sort of a cat escape. Sustaining a big band on a nationwide tour with a number of autos was difficult, however including within the difficulties of doing so underneath a much less pleasant funds made it virtually unimaginable.
After Males From Glad disbanded in 1988, I entered some comedy competitions and shortly began getting work and a gentle paycheck. It glad my must be on stage and I choose to be alone more often than not after I journey. The draw back is lacking the camaraderie on stage and the banter you might have with good buddies.
My comedy is somewhat totally different from everybody else I’ve labored with. I went straight from standup to music, spoken phrase and a cappella singing. Generally I will work the group for a very good bit, however not often do blue work and politics. I’d most likely piss off lots of people if I went in that route as a result of I see what I see and listen to what I hear. I nonetheless get pleasure from rise up however solely attempt to work the locations I get pleasure from. I am not chasing something; I’ve received issues to do on daily basis irrespective of the place I’m.
In the event you may return and provides your 21-year-old self one piece of recommendation, what wouldn’t it be?
I haven’t got a protracted checklist. I’ve performed the whole lot I wished to on the time and the whole lot I have not performed but is on my to-do checklist. I’ve surrounded myself with nice buddies, damaged a couple of hearts and damaged mine a couple of instances, so I might say we’re even.
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