New York old school Punks: what can you tell me about "Beirut Slump"?

[CanuckAmok]

I have one of their records--I love it, but it doesn't have any liner notes, member bios, etc.

I know Lydia Lunch was somewhat involved with them. Beyond that, I know nothing.

Which one of you Alphabet-crawlin' NewYawkas can enlighten me?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Alphabet-crawlin is my middle name...

I remeber they played in real shitholes, it was one of those kind of "in the know" sort of groups.
As I recall, they fell apart over signing record contracts, the ones with talent (Lydia) were on their way, the others, well... they are sitting in the green up in Woodstock bitching about the inequality of life.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. I'm not from NEw York, but....

Here goes:


What I know of them is that they're featured on side three of my copy of "Hysterie," the Lydia Lunch comp that came out in the late eighties. Apparently she co-lead the band, and some of the memebers went on to play on "in Limbo." I believe Jim Sclavunos was on drums. I could be wrong. Sounds like the guy singing was French, too. Shit, they're kind of a mystery, I guess. Even my copy of the Trouser Press Record Guide says:

"Hysterie is an ambitious ten-year two disc career spanning compilation....{featuring} the little known-Beirut Slump...."

Frankly, I find 8-Eyed Spy to be the most musically satisfying of all of Ms. Lunch's projects. I always avoided side three of that set.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. personel list I can find...

Bobby Swope
Vivienne Dick
and I am pretty sure that Emilio Cubeiro had something to do with it.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Huh, Emilio Cubeiro....

Ever heard "Death of an Asshole," the spoken word alb he put out in 1990? Absolutely the most fucked-up record I own. "Mr. Officer, Sir!" is a classic of transgressive offensiveness.

HE was in Beirut Slump? Weird.....

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. I don't think he was IN it, but in the circle of those people

around it. It is hard to remember many of those nights and mornings, if you know what I mean.

[CanuckAmok]

5. "Hysterie" is what I have.

But the liner notes are long-gone (still have the poster, though!).

I used to avoid that one, too (oddly, my copy of Hysterie has Beirut Slump on Side 2), but the more I listen, the more I can hear a band which was obviously a big influence on Swans, Sonic Youth, Live Skull, etc.

It's quite good, although the recording quality is rather off-putting.

[RandomKoolzip]

8. Yep, yer right, I just busted out my copy...side two: Beirut Slump.

MAn, I used to be a total freak for No Wave....but I could never get into that side of the record. Too "gothy" or something.

"Hysterie" didn't come with liner notes, did it? I bought a sealed copy, and mine didn't have liner notes.

Gotta love that version of "Run Thru the Jungle" on side three....

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. I think we have the best assembled info in the world right

here on Beiruit Slump...

found this on women in punk...

Beirut Slump NY NY USA
Vocals/Guitar - Lydia Lunch
Keyboards - Vivienne Dick
Bass - Liz Swope


But, there were always guest artists, I am sure.

[RandomKoolzip]

9. That must be it....

Scooter, I'd love to hear some of your No Wave anecdotes sometime (if you can remember them...)! I woulda loved to be around that scene at that time. Alas.....

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. Well, I did piss on Joey Ramone's shoes once, because I was

too freaked out watching some girl squat on the sink to piss.
Joey turned to me and said... "No worries. I would have done the same thing, what a fucking scene, huh?"

[RandomKoolzip]

11. Damn, that's....cool

Henry Rollins once threw some sweat on me. I was in the front row, and he looked me straight in the eye, whipped his head forward, dousing me with his sweat, and smiled.

[roughsatori]

12. I saw them a few times. Hardly anyone in the audience

A bit disjointed but wonderful performances. I had liked Lydia since Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. I saw them as well as her incarnation in 8 Eyed Spy. I also saw one of her spoken words performances. But I prefer her solo albums. An all time favorite is "Suicide Ocean." A friend of mine had a crush on her and use to get us on the guest list somehow.

[CanuckAmok]

13. HAHAHAHA

A friend of mine had a huge crush on Ms. Lunch, and she even used to call him and hang out with him whenever she was in Toronto. This was after she and Jim Thirlwell split up, so maybe she was in the mood for some non-commital sex (and you know, someone like Lydia wouldn't have many options in that department...). Anyway, as in love with her as my friend was, he was tripping on Acid once while driving her somewhere, and he all of a sudden hated her through and through. This was a February night in Toronto...probably around -20 celcius. He screeched the van to a halt on the side of Highway 401, and told her to "get the fuck out!", for no apparent reason. So she got out, wearing nothing but a fishnet body suit, 5" stiletto heels, a leather biker jacket, and about 40lbs of hairspray. He took off and left her on the side of the highway...

About three hours later, the gravity of what he had done hit home, so he tore off to look for her, but she was long gone. He never even found out what happened to her!

Anyway, back to Beirut Slump. I like them more and more with each playing.

My UK pressing of Hysterie had sleeve notes and a Teenage Jesus poster. I took out the lyric/info sleeves to make room for good Angel sleeves (I used to do that with all my vinyl), and I couldn't get the original sleeves back in. Somhow, between 1986 and now, they got lost.