Richard Hell: Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

 Of Television, Heartbreaks and Voids

Richard Hell
02.Oct.1949

Richard Lester Meyers, better known by his stage name Richard Hell, is a singer,songwriter, bass guitarist and songwriter. Hell was in several important, early punk bands, including Neon Boys, Television and The Heartbreakers, after which he formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album Blank Generation influenced many other punk bands. Its title track was named "One of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock" by music writers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listing.

Discovering Punk as music to me had different phases... initially it was The Pistols bridge me to punk music. But it was actually the american hardcore /punk thing ( plus a couple of local too) that really got me into it. Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat... Dead Ends, G.I. + Idiots then Brit punk, The Pistols, The Toy Dolls, The Exploited...
As the information during that time was scarce, with a few zines, i rely on peers recommendations .. The Compilation albums did wonders as well and helped in a lot of ways.. Punk and Disorderly series, Dischord hardcore Compilation, BYO's "Someone's Gonna get their head into something" , "Oi' Chart Buster series" .. and a particular album that represents the early CGBG / proto-punks
"The Blank Generation" The New York Scene 1975 -1978... All of these albums were important as it lead me different bands to listen and while most would give me the idea of the things that went together geographically and time line wise.... The Cassette connected me to some bits and pieces that i heard before The dead Boys, Johnny Thunders and The Ramones... The heralded me a new hero Easily Richard Hell ... The Album title, incidentally was a Richard Hell song was compelling enough that there's something about the guy.. though far from the really fast and aggressive music Ian McKaye or Jello Biafra.. ..but absolutely the anti thesis of what whats happening around him during their time..
This time it wasn't only the music , it's how the music evolve and how certain individuals would would take the unpopular path that would carve history and influence significant people that would took what they had to a different level...