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Bernie
On Bernie:
Yes, I formed a band a few years back called Bernie and the
Invisibles. It all happened when this slush started seeping
into the holes in my shoes as I waddled down the Avenues of
the East Village. It occurred to me that no one in NY was interested
in forming a band with me. So, as I was on the verge of pneumonia
due to the seeping slush, I said, "Aha! I will call my
band bernie and the Invisibles!"
I got an audition at CBGB's on January 23rd, 1978. Despite the
great audience reception my "band" got, I was not
asked to come back. The door-man told me my act "still
needs work". So, when I was almost broke, I went back to
Cleveland and met a drummer (Peter Ball) who lived in a Bratenahl
mansion. Soon we were able to be a backup band for the Pagans
after a very productive meeting with their Mgr. Johnny Dromette.
We got to play a bunch of seedy bars around town, which got
us some exposure. Now, it must be said that half of what is
written in my bio is true and half of it isn't. (I'm not going
to tell you what is and what ain't.)
And, yes, I'm still alive despite almost having given it up
due to a car hitting me on foot in late March of 2003. Now,
I am not too disappointed that my band never "made it"
by signing a big record contract or playing in football stadiums.
I was never in it for the money. I was in it because so many
bands are/were both lame and have almost nothing worthwhile
to say. I hope people found the Invisibles to be an alternative
to all that. I was happy that I met the Pagans because they
struck me as having an attitude. I like that. I wanted to prove
that I could play on the same bill as they did. I hope I succeeded.
My most enjoyable concert was my debut at the Pop Shop borrowing
drummer Linda from the Easter Monkeys. My least enjoyable concert
was my debut at Swanky's in Athens Ohio. I saw a Beyond Bizarre
program recently that said that Ohio U. is haunted with all
the tortured souls of those who were lobotomized. It was creepy
as hell, so yes, I hitched back to my beloved town of Cleveland!
I was not and still am not angry about it. I just needed to
skedaddle! I am also not too bummed out that I did not get too
much wax out with bernie and the Invisibles songs on them.
I thank Mike Hudson for putting my band on two Cleveland Confidential
sampler albums. If someone wishes to put out a bootleg Invisibles
album that's fine with me. But as I said, I was never in it
for the money. And if this album ever occurs, and you are thinking
of listening to it please remember that there are many bands
who have a better singer than I am, there are many bands who
have a better guitar player than I am, there are many bands
who have better musicians than I did, but very few bands that
have had the magic my band had when we were at our best. You
either loved us or you hated us. Either way, I appreciated it
all...
Thank You!!! Truly,
Bernie.... |
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I
was fortunate enough to have played a half a dozen shows with
Bernie as his drummer. Once we went down to Athens Ohio to play
some college bar on the OU campus. We turned the corner onto
the main drag and there was this huge banner strung across the
street that said OU welcomes the Pagans and Bernie.
No one had thought of where we would sleep, so the Pagans and
the rest of the Invisibles had to curl up on chairs in the lobby
of one of the dorms. A cousin of mine who I hadn't seen in at
least 5 years was a student there so I got to sleep in the girl's
dorms and had a nice hot shower and pleasant company. As I walked
out of the room all refreshed and saw my comrades I thought
how the Pagans looked peaceful, innocent and maybe even cute,
curled up like children.
Bernie recorded material for a full length Lp at Styrenes Studio
with Titsch and Peter. Bernie had been unhappy because Johnny
Dromette had promised to release something but it wasn't happening.
Maybe the recordings in question are those Hudson wrote about
as having been produced by Tony Maimone
In any event, they recorded just about all their songs in two
days of sessions, without any need for "a producer" and the
tapes sound great. If anyone from the band wants to see the
stuff released, I'd be more than happy to oblige.
(Paul Marotta) |
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Well
let's see... I have a Bernie story. My sister Laurie and I met
Bernie in I would say end of 1978 or very early 1979. (My memory
is a bit fuzzy too.) My story is so relative to this site because
after our initial meeting where I gave Bernie a big Birthday
Kiss... He then out of the blue came over to my parents house
one Friday evening.(this was March of 1979). I was somewhat
exhausted from working my mail room job at Motch and Merryweather
Sawblade Mfg. Inc., but there was the knock on the door and
low and behold it was that Bernie guy. Well we hung out in the
basement of the house for a while just talking, I probably gave
a swift introduction to my parents for Bernie but at the time
they were like glued to their Lazy Boy Recliners and not much
interested in anything except making sure we were not smoking
pot, of course all the siblings definately were, and their were
six of us. Anyway there was no way we were going to hang out
at my folk's house so I assembled my needs for the evening which
included a warm bottle of beer hidden in the rafters of the
basement and whatever was left from my stash of smoke. ( Bernie
did not partake in any of this) So, he suggests we take a bus
to Mike Hudson's house which we did and I think that was around
East 200th street in Euclid somewhere, Or did we walk? ( it
was a very rainy evening I might add.) I think we were a surprise
visit there but never the less we all pile into this car and
drive to a party in Richmond or Highland Hts.
The Party was in honor of David Thomas's girlfriend Lynn who
was going back to England. I remember being quite high and fascinated
at all the guest... Band people and all. People I had seen around
but too shy to really talk to. I am left somewhat alone because
Bernie had been talking to some friends. I ended up talking
most of the night with Tony Maimone and his buddy Mik Melon.
(Does any one remember this party? Ties were handed out and
a single played constantly which was Tv O.d. Tv O.d.) The evening
was pretty good but I was a bit ruffled when Bernie tells me
he is leaving with Johnny Dromette and asks Tony if he would
drive me home...I hardley knew the guy but I thought his friend
Mik was kinda cute. So Tony drives me home. Very gentle man
like I might add. The next day he calls and asks me if I would
join him for a film at the Art Museum. and I did. We went to
the Plaza later and their was his friend Mik, in the parking
lot passed out from the evening before. Good thing there was
a matress by the dumpster. Well after that Tony and I hung together
for about eight years got married and the whole bit. Now he
lives in Brooklyn. So maybe this story encompasses more of the
people in the scene of the day, and living at the Plaza was
one of the most rewarding times of my life. I miss alot of the
people there, some have passed on too. But thanks to Bernie
whom I still see once in a great while and always has some words
of wisdom to share, my life had taken a turn on a path that
has been filled with many a great time. I have been really lucky
in some ways and I am still learning about alot of the twists
and turns of that path and all it's avenues.
See ya around Bernie and Hi to Tony too.
(J.D.) |
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I first met Bernie at a restaurant where we both worked, myself
a busboy and he a dishwasher. I'd first heard of him five years
earlier from my dorm friends/bandmates (at ohio U.) who'd worked/hung
at the Drome record store. We started to talk a bit about music,
and at one point he told me something that I will always remember,
that dishwashing had taught him him everything he knew about
rock 'n roll (maybe it was vice versa, no matter). If you've
ever really washed dishes, then you've seen the connection.
Not too long after this, my group had a gig at the Pop Shop
and we could choose our own opening band. I asked Bernie and
he agreed to do it. The set was a treat - Bernie singing and
playing one of our guitars and Linda Hudson from the Easter
Monkeys on drums. It was great, someone was heckling Bernie,
but his comebacks made it seem like the heckler was a plant
(example: "Hey Bernie, where are the invisibles? Bernie's
answer: "in New York" at which point he launched into
his tune "In New York". Perfect. I still see him around
every once in a while; it's always good to see him. |
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