Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Buthole Surfer Gibby Hynes Gets Into Fight, Is Arrested While Performing



(image via myspace)



(image via brooklynvegan)

In college, because The Corsair was young and didn't know any better, we listened to a little band called The Butthole Surfers. Yes, we know. It's not something The Corsair is proud of, sonically, but it is a part of our narrative and we own it. There are no words to express how crass and dissonant and, well, ugly the music sounds. But that -- the punk phase -- is probably what appeals so much to young men before they learn to appreciate, say, the beauty of Miles Davis or the rhythmic magnificence of Claudio Monteverdi.

Anyhoo: Butthole Surfers. As you can imagine, their live shows are probably quite swishy affairs. From BrooklynVegan:

"After playing for almost an hour and a half, Gibby Haynes got mad at the sound guy who was on the side of the stage - something about not turning up the monitors. I don't know his name, but the sound guy was one of the Bowery Presents regulars. Gibby walked over and punched him and/or threw a bottle at him. Next thing you know security escorts Gibby off the stage mid-song. Nobody really knew what was going on. The band continued to play for at least one more song, and then left in a proper manner with lots of applause and high fives to the front row. Everyone started going crazy (in a good and drunken way), demanding an encore. It's not often you hear the crowd actually scream for a band to come back. We're all so spoiled. We just assume they always will. Of course there was the confusion about the way Gibby made his exit, and that was probably why people were chanting 'Gibby' even louder and longer than usual.

"The only people who came back to the stage though, were big security guards, and the occasional School of Rock kid to clean up some gear. Then all of a sudden Genesis P-Orridge saunters on stage and strangely had people shouting louder, but was also telling people to be silent. Security then pulled Genesis off the stage and more and more security filled it up. Finally the video guy came back to grab his laptop and turn off the projections (which by the way had still been running along with background music that whole time). The lights were also still off. I was close to the video guy and he was one who told me the show was over because Gibby got arrested. I guess he won't be DJing at the afterparty."

Gee, ya think? More here.

3 comments:

Wolfhound said...

My dear Corsair,

Crass & dissonant is the point! This fellow alum hopes you aren't so sophisticated now that you no longer appreciate that. I'd also like to gently point out that young women also appreciate the dissonant magnificence ... not to go all "language police" on you but I'd hope for more inclusiveness from my dear friend.

Looks like the update from your source blog indicates our hero Gibby was not arrested after all but merely kicked out of the venue. My one regret about living in the wilds of Vermont is that I miss such stellar performances.

The Corsair said...

Crass & dissonant is the point, Amy. Although I am a Miles Davis-Monteverdian now, I did have some good crass and dissonant nights listening to The Butthole Surfers. Thanks for reminding me,

xo,
R

Wolfhound said...

I forgot to mention that I'm delighted to finally know of one of the people you're talking about!