G.G. Allin

Res-Erected (ROIR)
by Jon Sarre

Shoulda called this one Having Fun With G.G. On Stage, justa compare one legendary performer (Elvis Aaron Presley) with another (Kevin “G.G.” Allin), see clean livin’ in public, depravity in private vs depravity in public, assumed depravity in private (seein’ whist he was alive, I, for one, wouldn’ta wanted to hang out with the guy Behind The Music, tho’ I’ve heard enough tales to wager that there wasn’t much of a line the Shame of Hooksett, NH woulda had to cross ‘tween being biggest asshole to hit a stage and just being himself) probably woulda appealed to G.G. and appalled the Big E (who didn’t much cotton to performance artists and gutter troubadours, no sir).

If yer not familiar with G.G. Allin, check out Todd Phillips’ fine documentary Hated (available at yer better video stores) and then you’ll understand what the scumfuk was all about. G.G. was more clown than rock’n’roll animal; abuse of both the audience and himself was his life’s schtick, extremity to the max, y’know, but mostly his life was just schtick, like a Gwar show, but with real blood, real piss, real shit, and a whole lotta laughs, ‘specially if ya can get off on G.G. announcin’ most songs as “This next one is called ‘We Better Get Fucking Paid Tonight'” and then lurching thru his schlock-value set list: “Bloody Mary’s Bloody Cunt,” “Teenage Cunts,” “I Wanna Rape You,” “I’m a Rapist,” “Expose Yourself to Kids,” and Charlie Manson’s “Garbage Dump” (the political number). As always, that kinda stuff draws the celeb crowd, past temporary G.G. sidemen have included Dennis Thompson and Wayne Kramer (if I remembered that right, those two ex-MC5ers played as MotorCity Madmen), J. Mascis and Homestead/Matador founder Gerard Cosley (both with G.G. as part of the New York SuperScum). Res-Erected is no exception, Cosley is back as guitarist of backing band the Holymen on the “Live at the Lismar, NYC 1987” selections. The studio cuts boast the talents of Dee Dee Ramone and Chrome Crank/Candy Snatcher Will Weber (at the time a full-time member of Allin’s best known band, The Murder Junkies). Don’t think for a second any of these people add anything to G.G.’s rite of self and everyone around abuse, cuz it’s his show, he’s the star, and the interview soundbites that crop up between tracks give the man (plus brother/bass player Merle) the opportunity to philosophize on life, which, for G.G., petered out, not via a shoot-out with the whole Bolivian Army on some grimy stage, but due to a shoot out with the needle in 1993.
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