Track Listing

1. Raw Power
2. So Cold
3. What Love Is
4. Ain't It Fun
5. Transfusion
6. Life Stinks
7. Muckracker
8. 30 Seconds Over Tokyo
9. Satisfaction
10. Sonic Reducer
11. Never Gonna Kill Myself Again
12. Final Solution
13. Foggy Notion
14. Amphetamine
15. Read It & Weep
16. Seventeen
17. Frustration
18. Down In Flames
19. Search & Destroy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45690 in Music
• Released on: 2002-02-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Album Description
Cleveland's only legitimate claim to house the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is a band that will never be inducted there. In fact, it is more than 25 years after the group broke up that a legitimate album of their material is now available on Smog Veil. This was Rocket From The Tombs--the mutant daddy to Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. Originally, singer David Thomas started the band in May 1974 as a kind of vaudeville act, though later the group would have a good grasp of theatrics. A gifted guitarist/writer named Peter Laughner showed up at some of the farce-filled gigs, jammed with the band and joined soon after. Thomas and Laughner would make a new more musical lineup that included Gene O'Connor (Cheetah Chrome), Greg Bell, and Johnny Madansky (Johnny Blitz). Somehow this disparate crew got opening gigs ranging from Iron Butterfly to Captain Beefheart to Television (who Laughner joined briefly). Without Rocket From The Tombs, the world may have never heard "30 Seconds Over Tokyo", "Final Solution", "Ain't It Fun", "Sonic Reducer", and "Down In Flames"--all Rocket's originals, and all contained on this release, along with 14 other tracks culled from archival live recordings, some of which have never previously been bootlegged. Comprehensive Liner Notes and never before seen photos are jam-packed in this complete retrospective that showcases the true inception of the Cleveland underground sound.

Amazon.com
Sometimes, obscure history is important enough to study and can even provide entertainment. Such is the case with the early '70s Cleveland aggregation known as Rocket from the Tombs. Seemingly out of nowhere in the Midwest, they were able to create their own little punk community even before any such New York or London band was on any writer's radar. Like the original Modern Lovers, their material never came out while they were together--a few bootlegs and a limited-edition album were their only recorded legacy. Singer David Thomas and guitarist Peter Laughner would later form Pere Ubu, while guitarist Gene O'Connor (Cheetah Chrome) and drummer Johnny Madansky (Johnny Blitz) would form the Dead Boys, with each of these bands taking Rocket songs with them. In addition, everyone from Mission of Burma to Guns n' Roses to Wilco would cover their songs. Though the CD lacks Laughner's inspirational speeches, it contains the Rocket's loft tapes and live shows in their ragged glory. On some songs Rocket wear their influences (the Velvets on "Foggy Notion" and the Stooges on "Raw Power" and "Search & Destroy") on their sleeves; on others they explore teen angst in savage, seething workouts like "So Co ld," "What Love Is," "Sonic Reducer" (later a Dead Boys staple), and "Final Solution" (later an Ubu staple). In all, a wonderful piece of garage-land, pre-punk history with matching audio. --Jason Gross

About the Artist
Members of Rocket From The Tombs later formed the Dead Boys and Pere Ubu. David Thomas continues to release music under the Pere Ubu moniker as well as a number of solo projects and improvisational works. Gene O'Connor recently released a solo CD on the DUI Label.

Customer Reviews

Good stuff
Great if you are either a Dead Boys or Ubu fan. Better recording quality than Ubu stuff from the same time. Two very diferent roads taken from the Rocket begining.

The Reverend
Listen well brothers and sisters, if this album rocked any harder it would not only blow your head too pieces but make any woman in a twelve mile radius give birth prematurely to any children that she might be carrying at the time. So use with extreme caution and respect for it will treat you with the same.

Fantastic document for all Per Ubu and Dead Boys fans!
Absolutely fantastic document for all Per Ubu and Dead Boys fans, tracing the early development of these two legendary groups.I know this may sound like sacrilege to many Per Ubu fanatics but Rocket From The Tombs versions of 'Life Stinks', '30 Seconds Over Tokyo' and 'Final Solution',in my opinion, are far more superior.