The Cartoon Worlds of Byron Wilkins

Having been introduced to Guitar Wolf's music here in the past couple days, which to me is plain and simple punk rock, I wanted to share some thoughts on "noisy" music. I am a fan of more melodic music by nature (not that GW's music lacks melody, it's in there). You may or may not know I'm a student of the classics... symphonic music. Beethoven was the heavy metal of his time. HUGE music coming at you like they had never heard back then. Gone were the simple string quartets, here comes the massive orchestra with brass, percussion and about 100 players! I cut my teeth listening to symphonies by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and Beethoven, so it is only natural I'm drawn to this type of music in rock and roll. I like hard rock and heavy metal, and this explains why.

But I never picked up on the "noisy" rock scene. One, it is very hard music to play if you try, and two, on the surface it seems like it's only noise. It is not, but that's the first impression. I'm also a fan of vocalists like Ian Gillian, CF Turner, Bob Seger and others in that stream of music, so a vocalist screaming at me is hard to take. I have a hard enough time understanding lyrics as it is, and then to just scream them at me makes it even worse... so simply I don't get it most of the time.

But I'm not intolerant of any musical talent. I picked up Guitar Wolf's "Jet Generation" today on iTunes and will be giving it a listen. I'm a hard sell on music, but so far I'm liking what I hear.

So, to show I'm not completely devoid of liking "noise" music, I give you Terry Kath of Chicago from their first album "Chicago Transit Authority". Terry Kath at his very best... this nearly seven minute piece was recorded 'live' in the studio in one take using an over-driven Fender Showman amplifier and a Fender Stratocaster guitar (on the album's gate-fold sleeve, however, Kath is pictured playing a Gibson SG). Now this is noise... good noise.

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To follow up on a comment by TAFKAN and dee from 1977 the Comic... here's Guitar Wolf's "Kung Fu Ramone" Now, this particular song off Guitar Wolf's album "Jet Generation" is not one of my favs (that would be "Refrigerator Zero" and "Summertime Blues"), but it is a great representation of their music.

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Wake up in bed with Bud this morning!  It will be a Kodak moment... Here's "This Morning" Enjoy!

Bud hangs out at the local bar and finds a new friend.  Check out "Polythene Pam" at 1977 the Comic!  Enjoy!

The Adventures of transformed Bud in L.A. starts today! Here's "I'd Rather Be A Man" Enjoy!

Check out Fridays' 1977 the Comic and see if you can go "2000 Light Years from Home" Here's "You're My Best Friend" Enjoy!

The drum sticks are flying today over at 1977 the Comic! See how Robyn handles Karen Carpenter in "Trampled Under Foot" Enjoy!

See who's tapping on Robyn's shoulder today over at 1977 the Comic! Here's "Surrender" Enjoy!

Get your kicks with Robyn over at 1977 the Comic today! Here's "Big Balls" Enjoy!

Come strut your stuff with Bud over at 1977 the Comic this morning! Here's "Her Strut" Enjoy!

Monday's comic is up! Bud's transformation completes today with a little excitement! Here's "How Many More Times" Enjoy!

A change in the wind for Bud over at 1977 the Comic? Find out in today's comic! Here's "No More No More" Enjoy!

Holy crap! Forgot to post that today's 1977 the Comic is up! Feels like a Friday but it's only Wednesday! Dr. Carlin comes to the rescue in today's comic entitled "Stuck in the Middle with You" Enjoy!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA readers!

Robyn is going to show L.A. how things are done back in Chicago in today's 1977 the Comic! Here's L.A. Woman" Enjoy!

A little TV Studio time for Bud in today's 1977 the Comic! Here's "Signs" Enjoy!

Why is Bud cringing with Lorraine's hair wrapped in a towel? Find out in today's 1977 the Comic! Here's "Jet Airliner" Enjoy!

FRIDAY! That means LET'S ROCK! How about a little BTO to get the job down. Turn it up!
:)

Over at my comic, a reader replied to a conversation about Corporate Radio and how the "freedom" we DJs use to have to insert songs of our liking, or a song that was new or different.  With radio/TV being so corporate, good music is flushed while the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton get the lime-light.  That triggered the comment pasted below from me.  I am not a fan of corporate Amercia at all, as you'll see...

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Corporate America has sucked this country dry of every last resource it ever had... from good health-care to good radio, it has all been taken over by "large corporations".  And we know how large companies cater to our every need... um, not! 

As long as accountants run the country, we'll never have the lifestyles, freedoms and prosperity that was so hard fought for in the World Wars.  The generations that grew up in the 40s and 50s are long gone in the control of what is right and good.  Corporations don't care about if a child dies because it's family cannot afford health-care, they only care about the bottom line... Making billions while people suffer is the very heart of why America has decayed.  Until we the people take back our country, we'll be living in constant fear of loosing our homes and our lives.  It is ridiculous and a peaceful revolution is on the horizon... if it doesn't happen, then the masses will get ugly and we'll see the riots of the 60s look like a playground scuffle compared to the outrage that is boiling in America today.

I ranted... sorry, but I remember what a GREAT country this place use to be, and it can be again if people started using their heads and not their pocketbooks to think.

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As an addendum to that rant, I have always said I am not a good employee because I can make a decision.  I don't have to wait for a "corporate suit" to tell me what to do.  I have a head on my shoulders and it is blessed with a very firm foundation of common sense.  But corporations and lawmakers (those "chosen" to run our country) do not use common sense, as common sense does not make money!  There are SOOOO many examples of when the "right" thing to do was completely ignored in the name of profit.  I won't get into them as you can name TEN without even blinking an eye and that is my point.  When are we Americans going to start using our heads and stop listening to corporate run radio programs (hello, Rush Limbaugh says what he says to make money... nothing else... wake up and smell what he's pushing as well as the other idiots on talk radio on BOTH sides).  Until we do, this is the mess we're going to face.  

Wake up people.  Just my 2-cents.  And you know what that's worth these days. :)

Over at Webcomic Planet, a great gathering place for webcomics and information, they are running the annual Webcomics Reader's Choice Awards for 2009.  1977 the Comic has been nominated in four different categories and I'm very honored by that.  I'll go over each one below!

Category: Author Congeniality.  Well, I'm a sure winner here! I have had many discussions with other comic creators and cannot fathom why anyone would not want to interact with their readers?  It's nutty NOT too!  This is also the number one reason why I chose to do a webcomic opposed to trying for syndication: interacting with my readers.  Getting daily feedback on where the comic is headed, character development, future storylines and more all come from my having great conversations with those that are most important to the comic: the readers!  If you don't like the public lime-light, then this form of media is NOT for you. 

Category: Art.  Man, this is honor just to be mentioned.  I know of SOOO many other comic artists that just shine so far above me it's not funny.  My drawing talents come from a few courses I took back in the early 70s and just hard work every time I pick up my "pencil" to draw (I draw digitally, so there's no real pencil here...).  With that long handicap facing me, I am so pleased that someone out there felt my artwork strong enough to be nominated.  I know I'm not going to win this category by a long shot, but thanks to those of you who appreciate my efforts... and I'm getting better almost daily!

Category: Supporting Character.  Now this is funny in a way.  Yes, 1977 the Comic is really about Bud, and Jeff, Robyn and Lorraine all "support" him.  But as the comic has grown, I feel that they all four are main characters.  None-the-less, our fun loving and sweet Lorraine has been nominated for Supporting Character.  The irony is she lacks any form of support for those fantastic breasts of hers yet she is being nominated for supporting Bud. And that she does very well.  I see Lorraine and Bud becoming very good friends (no, not THAT kind of friends) and I'm glad she's being recognized in this manner!  Rock on Lorraine!

Category: Design.  Man, about time someone noticed the site design!  I mean, it's a freaking bar theme for a comic based on Sex, Drugs & Rock and Roll for God's sake!  A lot of time and effort went into making the site easy to navigate using a very clean and simple theme.  Gone are most of the annoying ad banners and the blog entries.  It’s all about the comic and the characters and me.  Plain and simple.  I think the new site is deserving of this recognition and I’m glad it’s been nominated!

You can vote at the website once you Log-In.  It is free and simple to create a log-in.  The log-in is designed to eliminated cheating (or at least slow it way down).  So, if you’re so inclined and have a few minutes.  Go on over and review the comics there and vote for those  you think are deserving.  And if you so desire, vote for 1977 in those categories!  Thanks!