GIMME A WRISTBAND

In just two short weeks from today, Duranies from around the globe will descend upon New York City to witness Duran Duran blowing the roof off of Madison Square Garden. There is no question that an event such as this calls for celebration, so G!MME A WR!STBAND! has planned an epic night for you on October 24, the night prior to the gig. For just $15 in advance ($20 at the door), you’ve got an amazing place to meet up with your friends — plus you’ll rock outs to the final show of Duran tribute band Chekhov’s Wig, dance your ass off with DJ Candy Durant, and belly-laugh with comedian Anthony DeVito.

G!MME A WR!STBAN!D knows the power of party, so beyond creating just an epic bash, we’re gonna do a little bit to change some lives in an even bigger way with a raffle to benefit The Amy Winehouse Foundation, which has been set up in Amy’s memory to support charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support or care for young people, especially those who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction.

Donations of incredible merchandise, memorabilia and experiences are still pouring in, but here’s a little taste of what you could win just by purchasing $5 raffle tickets at the party:

T-Shirts from the brand-spankin’ new Punk Masters line by Patty Palazzo, as recently worn by Duran Duran

Rare and signed vinyl from Mark Ronson and the Business International and Duran Duran

Signed copies of Put the Needle on the Record the 1980s at 45 Revolutions per Minute, the definitive guide to 80s album art by Matthew Chojnacki

T-shirts and gift certificates from the lovely Julie Anne Rhodes and her tasty blog, Jewels from the Roving Stove

Signed and numbered original prints by Duran Duran Unseen photographer Paul Edmond (he’s gonna be at the party, too!)

And… AND…

A personal phone call or studio Skype chat with ANDY TAYLOR! OHHH EMMM GEEEE!!!

Oh, and we’re also going to be screening loads of previously unseen footage from the absolutely amazing documentary, ‘Something You Should Know: The Duran Duran Fan Documentary’. Creator of the film, M. Douglas Silverstein is also making DVDs of the film available to purchase for a price so low we can’t even say it here — but ONLY at this event!

Paul Edmond Photography

PLUS, there will be a full exhibition of original Duran Duran Unseen photographs by Paul Edmond on display at The Knitting Factory, and available for purchase at a crazy discount and all ready for you to take home.

If you’re coming from out of town, the idea of getting around might be a little daunting. Perhaps you’ve booked a room in a hotel across the street from Madison Square Garden because your fear of public transportation won’t let you enjoy more than a few square blocks of New York City during your entire visit. Well, put those troubles to rest and come join the party.

The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn

The Knitting Factory

Opened in 1987, The Knitting Factory became one of the city’s premiere venues showcasingindependent music. After more than 20 years on Houston Street, The Knitting Factory followed thescene to Williamsburg, the Brooklyn neighborhood that’s become synonymous with the hipster movement. Taking over the former Luna Lounge at 361 Metropolitan Avenue, The Knitting Factory quickly established itself as a destination for the urban indie sound. With a full bar and lounge in thefront and a large event space and bar inside, there’s nowhere in the Big Apple more perfectly suited forthe party!

For more on the Knitting Factory, visit: bk.knittingfactory.com

Getting there

The Knitting Factory may be located in Brooklyn, but it’s still just right around the corner no matter where you might be in Manhattan. Share a cab with friends and the ride will be quick and easy. Better yet, jump on the subway and be whisked away to one of the hippest neighborhoods in Brooklyn and beyond: Williamsburg.

Getting to the venue is easy!

Taking the subway to (and from) the Knitting Factory is remarkably simple: All you need to do is get to the L train, an east-west line that runs along Manhattan’s 14th Street from one end to the other. No matter where you’re staying in the city, chances are you’re near a subway line that intersects directlywith the L train in Manhattan:  The A,C,E,F,M,1,2,3,N,Q,R,4,5 and 6 lines will all take you right to the L.

There are only five stops on the L train in Manhattan, and the very first stop in Brooklyn (BedfordAvenue) is where you’ll disembark. Come up the steps on the Driggs Avenue side and you’re just a fewblocks’ walk from the party. Walk south on Driggs toward N. 4th StreetTake a left on N. 4th StreetBear left on Metropolitan. The Knitting Factory is located at 361 Metropolitan. The walk is around five minutes – It’s just that simple!

For more on the Metropolitan Transit Authority (including maps; a Trip Planner with up-to-the-minute info on all public transportation in the city; and the easy-to-use NextStop iPhone app), click here

Chekhov’s Wig

Tribute bands take on many forms. In the case of Chekhov’s Wig, the tribute is paid to the music of Duran Duran exclusively. None of the band dresses like Duran Duran, and they don’t particularly sound like them, either. But their setlist – all reimagined Duran Duran songs – pays the highest tribute theycould imagine.
For more on Chekhov’s Wig, visit: gimmeawristband.com/chekhovs-wig-no-sleep-til-brooklyn/

DJ Candy

DJ Candy Durant

Based in Charlotte, NC, DJ Candy Durant got her start as an online DJ five years ago in Second Life. She’s since expanded her reach into a pair of weekly online radio shows, a podcast and a series of liveevents where she’s spun a mix of ’80s, New Wave, Synthpop, Indie Rock, Post Punk, and Shoegaze. She’s bringing her mixing talents to NYC for the first time for the G!MME A WR!STBAND! party.

For more on DJ Candy, visit: http://www.djcandy.us/

Anthony DeVitoAnthony DeVito

Anthony DeVito

Brooklyn native Anthony DeVito is a comedian, actor and writer with a professional resume as long as his inseam. He’ll make his second stand-up appearance alongside Chekhov’s Wig, his first happening at SBS 2008, where he talked about his experiences growing up in Brooklyn as a bona fide Durmanie.

For more on Anthony DeVito, visit: http://anthonydevito.com/HOME.html

Mr. Mishlove

Mr. Mishlove

Ersatz manager of Chekhov’s Wig, Mr. Mishlove has even won the hearts of Duran Duran during a confab in Chicago in October 2006. The notoriously curmudgeonly and perverse fellow will turn up in some form or fashion at the party, though it’s too early to reveal exactly how.

For more on Mr. Mishlove, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Mishlove/29251269952

Accommodations

If you’re coming in from out of town, it’s possible you’ve already set yourself up somewhere comfortable. If not, here’s a few possibilities for the hip urbanite…

The Pod Hotel
The Gershwin Hotel
Yotel
Hotel Pennsylvania

Hotel Le Jolie
The Box House Hotel

Also consider: www.airbnb.com, a short term apartment rental service.

Here’s a few spots right near the Knitting Factory you might consider hitting before the party kicks off at 7pm!

Fette Sau BBQ
Unbelievably delicious barbecue. Seriously. Swing by on your way to the party and have the brisket or Berkshire cheeks with a side of Guss’ half-sour kosher pickles!

Momofuku Milk Bar
Amazing sweets and pork buns. Just had the birthday truffles a week ago and I’m still smiling.

St. Anselm
If you hit Williamsburg on the peckish side and aren’t into loading up on BBQ before hitting the show, this is where you need to go. Grilled foie gras, burrata and grilled tomato and eggplant three ways with fried goat cheese and caramelized onions should whet your appetite.

Spuyten Duyvil
Down for some pre-show drinks and aren’t ready to hit the front room at the Knitting Factory? Hit Spuyten Duyvil at 5pm and you might even hear Chekhov’s Wig sound checking right around the corner!

Roebling Tea Room
For a more sophisticated pre-party experience, have some tea or alcohol and grab an early dinner here.

It’s all happening just a few steps from the Knitting Factory!

Just get there any way you can, and bring all yer friends… it’s gonna be a night to remember! It’s gonna sell out, so purchase your tickets in advance HERE.

Gentle readers, as G!MME A WR!STBAND! prepares for the party of the century, happening October 24th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, I’d like to share a little bit of my own personal party planning hell. Following is a missive from a certain Mr. Mishlove, manager of indie band Chekhov’s Wig, whose farewell performance of rearranged Duran Duran songs will be the highlight of the evening’s festivities.

Mr. Mishlove

Dear Ms. Amsbry,

I understand you’ve been in talks with Chekhov’s Wig to put together a party in New York City to celebrate the music and sexy moist lips of British mega-group Duran Duran. As I represent Chekhov’s Wig as their manager, guru and body waxer, I feel it is my duty to inform you that you will no longer be able to work directly with the band and will have to run all discussions relating to this show through me.

While the little scamps declined to tell me how the presumably byzantine discussions had been coming along, rest assured that you are no longer dealing with some pink-cheeked amateur any longer. I was, after all, the man who advised A Flock of Seagulls to simply keep folding their hair over and over until it looked like an actual flock of seagulls. While that turned out to be a monumentally bad idea, you should know I learned from mistakes like those and similarly career-leveling advice offered Men Without Hats (I lost their hats) and Frankie Goes to Hollywood (they wanted California; I gave them Florida) and have emerged a shrewd businessman who always has the best interests of his charges at the fore. Which is why I would first like to present to you the standard backstage rider.

(This rider isn’t for Chekhov’s Wig, who will be perfectly content if given a single jug of tepid tap water from which to share and a bit of stale bread with which they will sop their virgin brows.)

 

(file under "blackmail")

MR. MISHLOVE’S RIDER

1. A single dressing room no smaller than 20′X20′. The room shall be draped in gossamer lace with the lurid scent of licorice in the air. That air must circulate by no less than three eunuchs gently waving palm fronds in front of their mangled genitals.

2. Two teenage boys. Plump.

3. A bottle of the third most expensive champagne within a 30-mile radius of the venue. This bottle must be at least half as large as the one drunk by Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki after his team won the NBA Finals this year. I’d attach a photograph for reference, but I’m sure you can imagine the fucker was pretty big.

4. A deli platter containing a selection of meats from endangered animals and cheeses from the breast milk of celebrities (Note: ABSOLUTELY NO KARDASHIANS!)

5. A paracetamol and opioid analgesic milkshake.

6. The complete Songbook collection by Rod Stewart and a large hammer. Vinyl is best if they even bothered to release it that way, but CD is also acceptable.

Mr. Mishlove with Chekhov's Wig

7. No less than three armed guards, preferably ex-Mossad. This is primarily to keep my relationship with the members of Chekhov’s Wig civil, though a brief fling with a member of Duran Duran that went sour rather quickly also cannot be ignored.

8. One copy each of: The Bible (King James Version), Jenna Jameson’s autobiography, Fisting for Dummies, Everyone Poops and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

9. Drugs.

I trust your thoroughness and discretion in assembling these items, without which I will not be able to approve the appearance of Chekhov’s Wig at your function. Also, don’t tell Chekhov’s Wig about any of this; they’re very sensitive and prone to extended crying jags (especially Carl.)

Fondly,

Mr. Mishlove

Duran Duran at The Joint in Las Vegas

Everett. Portland. LA. Vegas. San Diego…

The boys are back, and so are the fans. Like the scattered parts of a demented Rube Goldberg device, divinely constructed of individuals from around the world to form the glittery and indestructible Duranie machine created by the band “designed to make you party”… and then some.

The tour kicked off in Everett (outside of Seattle) with a small but wildly enthusiastic crowd of 3,800. This particular show will remain forever hallowed,  as the band made pre-show magic with Andrew Golub (a.k.a. Durandy), Duran Duran archivist extraordinaire. Executing on a perfectly planned maneuver, Simon Le Bon was on hand like the best man of our dreams (ok so yeah, he’s never just the “best man” in our dreams) to aid Andy in his proposal to his longtime love, Christine, and went on to dedicate ‘Come Undone’ to the already blissed-out couple. Can you imagine? Click here to watch the most awesome marriage proposal EVar, complete with Simon pretending to pull the ring out of his arse. Sigh.

Dreams come true for leukemia survivor Jenny George

Also at the show was leukemia activist, survivor, and cutiepie Jenny George, who finally got to fulfill her Make-A-Wish dream of meeting the band after launching a massive Facebook campaign. As Jenny put it, the experience was “one beautiful gesture that touched thousands of our hearts.” Very cool of Duran management to respond so positively, and what a great way to kick off the tour.

My feisty friend Mikala over at indie rock blog Backstage Rider was there too, and wrote a pretty spot-on review of the Everett show, which you can check out here.

Brummie mates reunited

Next up was Portland, where yours truly had the pleasure of reuniting John Taylor with Duran Duran Unseen photographer Paul Edmond. Again, it’s all about coming together, staying in touch, reconnecting with the things in life that truly matter. And JT — totally adorbs with the blonde bangs, all smiles and laughing like a man who is truly happy from the inside out — had such supersweet things to say about G!MME A WR!STBAND! that I’m still flat-out, full-on goofed.

Oh and hey — my girl Suzanne brought a funny little baby washcloth frog puppet to the show as a gift for Roger’s new baby, Julian. Silly, right? But OMG look what has taken the place of honor on Roger’s drumkit for every show! Seriously, how freaking sweet is this band?

Froggy and Froggy

Next off, the band hit the picturesque Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Kerry Benefield generously wrote an exclusive review of the show for G!MME A WR!STBAND! — click here to check it out. Overall, I felt that the first three shows of this tour were pretty rough.  The band was a little uptight, definitely not relaxed… but clearly determined. Simon was cautious, judging how to pace and take care of his voice, which he mentioned in his blog this morning. I think we all felt a bit teased with the “wet dream” set lists of the rehearsal shows, so for many, it was a letdown not to have any treats like ‘Secret Oktober’. ‘Tiger Tiger’ was pretty rad, though, and I maintain that ‘Before the Rain’ is a fantastic opener in the great Duran tradition of kicking off the show with a heavy dose of anticipation and drama. The band’s determination and focus paid off as the shows rolled on to LA, Vegas, and San Diego, and each night the shows became more energetic and confident — and Simon’s voice is thankfully and without a doubt growing ever stronger.

Haunted Duranmansion

With a new stage set, Duran Duran made a solid effort to get us to look away from the bass pout and hand-licking for a few seconds. Halfway through the Everett show, I noticed four giant white masks hanging from almost the center of the arena (really, what would Spy Matthews have to say about that?). The bandmembers’ faces were projected on to the masks, just like at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Nick has been super into masks lately, so… umm… ok. Later down the line the band started showing Twitter messages with the hashtag #DuranLive. This has become de rigueur for touring bands lately, but I think it’s always fun, and totally in line with John and Simon’s affection for social networking. Some folks grouse about Roger and Nick not being on Twitter, but I think it’s really ok, because they’re not doing it just because some flack tells them they have to… JT and Simon do it because they like it, and if the others are kinda meh about it, it’s really best not to fake it.

JT rocks the new Punk Masters tee

So I dunno… should we talk about Simon’s blue snakeskin shirt? Everyone else is. I guess since we’ve all pretty much accepted Le Beard, we have to bitch about something. I thought it was ok. Kinda dorky, but hey, it’s all silky and blue like his eyes, right? And the studded red leather jacket is sort of interesting, but I think the bigger issue was the way they dressed Dom… the cap sleeves with sequined accents make him a bit like a fill-in pinched from the Riverdance tour. Oh, but Nick’s leopard top… ooh la la! All sultry and kinda Joan Crawford-y in a sessy sorta way. But the prize or most fashion-forward goes to JT in Vegas and San Diego, proudly sporting a t-shirt from the hotly anticipated new line from Punk Masters by Patty Palazzo.

Ok, ok… less talk more pictures. Many thanks to the lovely Suzanne Schroeder and Jody Ritacco for sharing these incredible shots. If you feel like sharing pics (got any good ones from LA?) or personal reviews, please do send them along to kitty@gimmeawristband.com and I will be delighted to post them.

[Show as slideshow]

Crispin at Arlene's Grocery 2009

Dylan Bangs profiles the legendary band headlining the G!MME A WR!STBAND! party in NYC at the Knitting Factory on October 24.

Chekhov’s Wig is a Duran Duran tribute band. You might be forgiven if the first thought that popped into your head was the idea of note-for-note reproductions of classic tunes by a group of gentlemen in ruffled shirts, teased hair and too much eyeliner. But Chekhov’s Wig is something altogether different.

Formed in late 2006 by four friends who originally met because they were fans of Duran Duran, Chekhov’s Wig was never going to be a proper tribute band with replica costumes and replica sounds; even if they had the musical skills to pull off carbon copy renditions of Duran Duran songs, it wouldn’t interest them in the slightest. Tribute bands come in many different colors, and to the members of Chekhov’s Wig the highest tribute they can imagine is to completely re-imagine the music of one of their favorite bands. After all, that’s what Duran Duran themselves have done when they’ve performed cover songs.

It’s a philosophy that’s worked well for Chekhov’s Wig, four music fans from different parts of the world with often widely disparate tastes that come together in a wonderful noise. Influences from art-rock to Krautrock, punk to funk make it into the mix, giving fans a whole new way of appreciating Duran Duran’s songs

(L-R) Mark and Les at Arlene's Grocery 2009

The band’s first gig was in the summer of 2007 at the now shuttered Baggot Inn, one night before Duran Duran’s fan show at Hammerstein Ballroom. Fans turned out in droves, surrounding the tiny stage and dancing from start to finish. The night was such a resounding success that Chekhov’s Wig experienced the rarest of New York City occurrences: Extra drink tickets from a visibly grateful barkeep.

Chekhov’s Wig was formed in late 2006, after a request for some live music by Sheila Germain, who hoped to build upon a successful theater screening of Duran Duran tour documentary Sing Blue Silver and subsequent party thrown earlier that year. The 2008 version of that event, which took place at New World Stages in NYC, was a much grander affair, and featured Chekhov’s Wig on a stage in the middle of the complex’s vast lobby.

The roots of Chekhov’s Wig can officially be traced back to an early morning visit to a NYC pub to catch a football match over a proper English breakfast. Fittingly, it featured one of Birmingham’s EPL clubs.

“Chekhov’s Wig was conceived watching a Villa game,” said English bass guitarist Les Leeson, who grew up just outside Birmingham in the town of Stourbridge. “I even remember that we were playing Watford. It was a draw; we should have won.”

Chekhov's Wig at SBS 2008

By the time the last pint was drained, Chekhov’s Wig had been formed: Mark Smith, who grew up in the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, would sing lead and play guitar; Carl Mello, a Boston native, would be the other guitarist; and joining Leeson in the rhythm section was New York drummer Crispin Kott. The band’s conceit of paying tribute in a non-traditional way freed them up to be themselves rather than pretend to be someone else. It also allowed for the twin-guitar attack to fill in space and sound on Duran Duran songs often occupied on the originals by distinctive keyboard sounds.

“Once we decided on the four of us, I didn’t want to have to go out and recruit a ‘Nick Rhodes,’ you know?” said Smith, a sentiment echoed by Mello.

“I love that I’m in a Duran cover band with NO keyboard player,” Mello said.

Don’t take that to mean Chekhov’s Wig don’t love and respect Rhodes or the rest of Duran Duran; it was that music, after all, which brought them all together in the first place.

Carl at the Baggot Inn 2007

Kott wrote extensively about his love of Duran Duran here on G!MME A WR!STBAND!, but he certainly wasn’t alone. Mello began playing guitar at the age of 12, inspired by the music of Duran Duran he fell under the spell of that same year. For Smith in Dublin, being a Duran Duran fan was like drawing a line in the sand.

“Duran Duran was such an important band for me as a youngster,” he said. “I really liked their music, but when you’re a kid whatever band you pick as your favorite is going to become part of your identity. That’s how I met earlier friends, because we liked a band that other people didn’t always like. Not everyone liked five poncey guys in makeup and cravats. I’m sure the experience was different for people in different areas. Here (in the U.S.), they maybe came across as having a little bit of cache because they were foreign and cool. We didn’t have that in Ireland.”

Leeson, who grew up a stone’s throw from where Duran Duran’s early sound was established, wasn’t entirely aware of what was happening locally until it had already exploded worldwide.

“When the first (Duran Duran) album came out, I was six years old, you know? I lived in Birmingham, and we didn’t have MTV,” Leeson said. “I didn’t even know this band who was living around the corner from me.”

His oldest brother knew, though. And that’s how Leeson became a fan.

“He was a New Romantic, and he used to go down to Birmingham and see them at the Rum Runner,” Leeson said. “He was seeing Human League, Ultravox, all that scene. And he was playing that music in the house.”

Mark in front of the Knitting Factory

Leeson’s brother, now a lawyer, had already planted the seeds by playing Duran Duran around the house. A gift was all it took to see that seed bloom.

“I know exactly the day I became a fan,” Leeson said. “I was 10 years old, and I had a little crap tape deck, a little boombox. My brother bought me a present, and it was Seven and the Ragged Tiger. And that was it. I was loving Duran from listening to the odd couple of songs on the radio, but after listening to that album, total fan.”

Though the guys in Chekhov’s Wig became music fans and musicians in part because of their love of Duran Duran, it didn’t end there. They all moved on to experience music in different ways, and when they decided to go ahead with the Chekhov’s Wig project, they brought all those influences into the mix, deliberately looking for ways to creatively incorporate their styles with the music of Duran Duran.

“I like that we all bring difference influences to the table,” Smith said. “The most important thing was to not sound like a covers band, because there are lots of other bands doing that already.”

Leeson agreed.

“We take Duran Duran songs and totally rework them and put our personality on them,” he said. “People ask what we sound like, and I always say we sound a little bit dark, like Joy Division. Unless you’re a fan, you would have no fucking clue some of these are Duran Duran songs at first.”

Leeson also said that while his playing is influenced by Duran Duran bass guitarist John Taylor, he didn’t want to pay tribute through mimicry in any form or fashion.

“People ask, ‘What, are you ‘John Taylor?’ and I say, ‘No, I just play bass. I don’t dress like him or look like him,’” Leeson said.

Crispin 2008

Kott said that when he began playing the drums at 14-years of age, he knew that he didn’t have the skill or patience to try and duplicate what Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor was doing, instead trying to find his own niche that incorporated the music he loved hearing on the streets of New York blaring through different radios.

“I love Roger’s drumming, and I think he’s seriously underrated,” Kott said. “But I don’t want to play anything note-for-note no matter how much I love it. I didn’t avoid taking lessons for all these years to be technically on point.”

Smith started playing guitar after learning chords from his younger brother who was taking lessons at the time. Not long after, he had his first public performance.

“I remember being on the double-decker bus going between two friends’ houses, and we were playing ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen live, busking right there in the stairwell,” Smith laughed. “It’s one of those weird little things. At that time in Ireland, everybody was in a band and you’d be tripping over buskers in the street. Everyone wanted to be the next U2. There was nothing else to do. There were no jobs, dude.”

Smith played in a variety of bands while still in Ireland, beginning with comedy-troupe Mangled Ferret and moving on to acts like the Nursery, the Danger, and Superhate, the latter going on what eventually became a permanent hiatus when he moved to the U.S.

Carl at the Motor City Bar

“It was one of those things,” Smith said. “I emigrated to the States and I’m still here all these years later.”

The first Chekhov’s Wig rehearsal took place in what has affectionately become known as the Boston Bunker, a foul windowless, airless room in a vast complex that Mello’s primary band, Halston shares with other bands. Though the concept seemed like it could work, it wasn’t until they actually plugged in and started playing that they realized they were on to something special.

“We developed a sound from the first day we played together,” said Mello, one half of a guitar duo with Smith that from the word jump had an innate sense of how to work together without working against one another, filling in the space beautifully and managing to bring completely different guitar sounds to Duran Duran songs.

“I hadn’t played with a second guitarist in a zillion years, but playing with Mark is just wonderful,” said Mello, who also performs with Halston and Muscle Milk.

“Those two sound amazing together,” Kott said. “I sometimes forget what I’m supposed to be doing in rehearsals because I’m so bowled over by the guitars.”

The rhythm section also came together quite fluidly. Crispin hadn’t really played in ages before that first rehearsal, though he did continue to absorb rhythms as always, allowing influences like funk, hip-hop and Afrobeat to increasingly inform his style. And before Chekhov’s Wig, Les hadn’t really ever taken the bass guitar seriously. Any concerns about that going in were quickly forgotten once he picked up the bass and settled in.

“Les immediately became one of my favorite ever bass guitarists to play with,” said Kott. “He had an innate sense of groove that I noticed right away. He’s so reliable, and when some sloppy attempt at a Keith Moon fill goes horribly awry for me, I know I’ll be able to find my way back without too much damage because Les will be there.”

(L-R) Crispin and Les at Arlene's Grocery 2009

“Les never picked up a bass until the Wig, yet makes far less blunders than the rest of us,” said Mello.

Leeson, too modest to even call himself a musician, recalls a number of early attempts at mastering a musical instrument back in England.

“I just bought things and found out I couldn’t play them,” Leeson said. “I actually had a bass guitar for two years when I was a student, and I didn’t tune it because I didn’t even know you had to tune it. It was mainly used as a coatrack. I sold that and bought a keyboard and just played ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ and then I sold that. I actually wasn’t too bad at drums…actually, I was useless. And then I came here and obviously I had to learn bass guitar very quickly.”

Kott had similar humbling experiences as a teenager with the guitar, keyboards and even singing before settling in behind the drums. He went the standard garage punk route in high school (the Psychotic Circus, the Ungrateful Living), had a brief foray into Beefheart-lite (Shirgo-Head and the Prellgian Waffle) and was in his last serious band in college – Flo-Tight Funk – before the eventual tension left him happy to just play music on rare occasions just for the sake of making some noise with friends.

“The problem with being in a band is that musicians are assholes,” Kott said. And when you get a group of assholes together in a small room to make a big noise, it can only work for so long before you’re consumed with irrational rage. That rage is magnified by how bad musicians smell, too. I’d been through that and hated it, so I knew I didn’t want to be in a band again unless it was kind of low key, and even then I’d only play with people who were already friends.”

“I’m shocked that Crispin hasn’t been poached by hipster Brooklynites with funk pretensions,” Mello said. “You can have him when WE’RE through with him!”

This brings us back to Chekhov’s Wig, a band that pays tribute not only to the music of Duran Duran, but to friendship itself. That friendship extends to the band’s fans, who’ve traveled great distances to Chekhov’s Wig shows; they sing along to songs like “New Religion,” “Girls on Film” and…well, we can’t reveal all their secrets.

Mark pondering on the stage at the Knitting Factory

Chekhov’s Wig will play their final show at a party hosted by Gimme a Wristband at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on October 24, just one night before Duran Duran returns to Madison Square Garden. The setlist Smith, Mello, Leeson and Kott have been crafting is a closely guarded secret, one they aren’t willing to even let me have a peek at. They did say they believed Duranies at the party will be pleased with the choices, some of which are songs Duran Duran themselves haven’t played in a long time. There might even be a few they’ve never played at all.

“Any fan that’s followed the band or has occasionally popped in is going to find something in our set they’re going to like, and I think they’re going to be surprised by some of our choices,” Smith said. “And we’ve really changed the setlist since our last show, as well.”

Chekhov’s Wig may be coming to an end, but it’s still much more sweet than bitter.

“I think we all feel like we’ve accomplished what we wanted with this band,” Kott said. “I love these guys like they’re my brothers, and I’ve been so glad to be able to have excuses to spend lots of sweaty time with them, getting blisters and ruining our hearing.”

— Dylan Bangs is a NYC-based music writer

For more information on Chekhov’s Wig, visit…

www.facebook.com/pages/Chekhovs-Wig/15041385244

@thechekhovswig

Click here for tickets to the final Chekhov’s Wig performance at the G!MME A WR!STBAND! party in NYC 10/24

For lovers of 80s music, image may not be everything, but it’s pretty freakin’ important. Sure, the music is what’s kept us hooked to this day, but more often than not it was the visual aesthetic of those artists that lured us in like neon colored jiggly-worm bait. Performers like Annie Lennox, Devo, the B-52s, and of course Duran Duran defined the looks that our teenage selves would aspire to, and their calling card — the first place they set the tone for who they were and what we needed to be — was on the record sleeve. A new book coming out thismonth by Matthew Chojnacki called Put The Needle On The Record, The 1980s at 45 Revolutions per Minute is set to become the definitive guide to seven and twelve-inch vinyl artwork from the ‘80s, undoubtedly the most musically distinctive and visually provocative era of the last millennium.

Chojnacki has lovingly collected the previously unheard stories from over one hundred musical artists, designers, and cover artists to create a pop-cultural feast for the eyes that no coffee-table should be without. The collection is thoughtfully curated, the images paired and placed to inspire connections and new ways of thinking about the moment of the imagery. Put the Needle on the Record takes you on a journey that is, just like its period of focus, full of substance and relevance while remaining fun-loving and sexy-sleek.

It’s no surprise that Matthew is a huge Duran Duran fan, priding himself on having seen them more times than any other band; no small feat for an ardent music lover who manages to catch about fifty shows a year. The book features some excellent examples of cover art from Duran Duran and Power Station, elaborated upon with direct commentary from Simon Le Bon and John Taylor. But the real whopper is the generous afterword written by Nick Rhodes. As the author explains, “There is nobody else in pop music who is more knowledgeable about both music and art scenes than Nick.” I won’t give it all away here, but the eloquence is classic Nick Rhodes and worth the cover price alone. Here’s a little taste of what Nick wrote for the book:

“I am unable to think of a record I ever bought without finding something aesthetically pleasing about the design of the sleeve. It is possible that, on a rare occasion, I may have turned a blind eye to a dodgy typeface or perhaps even forgiven the over enthusiastic cropping of a photograph, but in general, I am simply drawn to the things I find appealing.”

Rhodes savors the appeal of Put the Needle on the Record, and G!MME A WR!STBAND! is sure that you will feel the same. In honor of the book’s upcoming release on September 28, G!MME A WR!STBAND! is offering you the chance to win a veritable cornucopia of extravagant prizes leading up to the book’s launch. You could win one of six limited 7”editions of ‘Girl Panic’, a signed (by Mark Ronson) copy of the 12” single of ‘The Sound of Plastic,’ Nick’s collaboration with Mark Ronson & the Business International, or a CD of ‘All You Need Is Now’ signed by Simon, John, Nick and Roger, all courtesy of Put the Needle on the Record.

There are two ways to win: 1) be a fan of G!MME A WR!STBAND! on Facebook and watch for your chance to answer what will probably be some daft trivia questions or 2) tell us here right in the comments what your favorite 80s record sleeve is and why. Winners will be scientifically chosen at random, which means I will close my eyes and huck a wad of chewing gum at my monitor while shouting “winner winner chicken dinner!” before notifying you via the email you registered to comment with.

Pre-order your copy of Put the Needle on the Record here:

http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-US-Preorder

http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-UK-Preorder