Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

The sleaze king of rock and roll is dead!" Captain P.J. tragically announced during a phone call several weeks ago. El Duce of the infamously infamous and Mentors was killed on April 19 after he walked into a train. "He was drunk and out of it, I guess," said the host of WCUW's Rockin' Revolution, who's been known to cross the borders of good taste himself. "He was the founder of porn rock. The Mentors played offensive stuff." Of course, a good death will always help record sales, though the verdict is out how much Duce's passing will help sales of Slave to Thy Master (Red Light), with heartwarming songs like "Gassholeen," "Meat Rack," and "Living on Welfare." "It sounds like your typical Mentors' album," said P.J., adding a second belated disc, Karaoke King, is also on the way. "It's hard to imagine what that one sounds like. I did a Mentors tribute a few weeks back. I pulled it off -- one straight hour. All their stuff was about sleaze and sex. They had good controversial songs."

On the tasteful side of things, P.J. celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Party in May with two hours of rockabilly, R&B, and Mersey Beat classics, when he filled in for regular host Fran Ritchie. But it's on the Rockin' Revolution that P.J. spotlights regional releases of all rock genres, and he reached into his record bag to review his latest finds. "I've been playing Classic American Hamburger's self-produced and self-titled cassette. They're an up-and-coming, happening local band." New Boston-area releases rockin' his garage include What About George?'s six-song CD EP Just a Touch (Spinning). "They're a typical band." The Deniros' More of Us (Mean Street) harks back to Beantown's glory days, especially on "Paralyzed." "They have the energy of the best Boston bands of the '80s, but they do it in their own style, just like the Neighborhoods and Pastiche. It's a little bit of power pop, but they know how to do it right." Angry Salad's Bizarre Gardening Accidents (Breaking World Records) features a version of Nena's "99 Luftballoons." "It's a bit of a take-off, but they do a good job." Other top tracks include "Empty Radio" and "Coming to Grips."

He's also been playing the Pristines' new 45. "They're from New York City. One side is `The Hound,' which is the typical girl angry at her boyfriend type of thing. The other is `Wild Man,' originally done by an obscure '60s band called the Tarmonn. They do justice to the song."

P.J., who's been called a carnival unto himself (complete with lights during the holiday season!),spends the warm weather months running amusement rides and games throughout New England. He'll kick off his 1997 season at Millbury's Windle Field for the town's Fourth of July week celebration. "Come down and check me out!" invited the never bashful host, who'll still continue captaining the Rockin' Revolution every Tuesday night/Wednesday morning from midnight to 2 a.m. on WCUW (91.3 FM).

---

With the Summer Nationals just around the corner, the Rock and Roll Party, heard Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m. on WCUW, is revving up its annual car-song spectacular. Host Fran Ritchie will feature hot-rod classics from the '50s and '60s, making for excellent cruising on both June 28 and July 5. . . . Joni Mitchell's 1979 Forest Hills (New York) appearance is featured on the June 30 Sunday Night Concert Series, airing at midnight on WCUW.