JASON & THE SCORCHERS

“White Lies” (Live at the Uptown Theater, Kansas City 1985)

Jason & the Scorchers and R.E.M. were the two most important Southern rock bands in the 80s.

R.E.M. got lucky; they signed to a failing, semi-independent new wave record company. Once Murmur sold 100,000 copies, they became IRS Records’ great hope for the future, got full label support and R.E.M. waited out the 80s as America’s biggest cult band.

The Scorchers had grander ambitions; they wanted reform the system from the inside. Even though the band had strong supporters at the record company, EMI America’s corporate culture forced them into compromises that tore up the band.

If R.E.M. had signed the contract offered by RCA Records, I’m certain they wouldn’t have made it either.

The Scorchers should have been recognized as the American Rolling Stones. They used punk rock as a platform to cross-breed country music and heavy metal the same way the Stones electrified the blues to create garage rock. No Scorchers, no alt-country.

This version of “White Lies” was recorded in 1985 for ABC Radio’s “In Concert” series and features Jason’s sermon about keeping rock & roll with the “sweat and blood of living people.” I’m sure the anti-Crüe sentiments didn’t go over well with the radio stations that were supposed to broadcast this show, but at this point the Scorchers had probably realized they were on a kamikaze mission.

Drummer and “White Lies” songwriter Baggs needs a new kidney. The Scorchers played an amazing benefit show on June 2nd at Nashville’s Exit/In. Perry played as many songs as his health would allow, Warner’s mom sang “Walking the Dog” and ex-Scorchers Ken Fox and Andy York joined them for a set of A&M-era songs. Jeff Johnson was missed but this was by far the best Scorchers show I’ve seen without him.

Make a donation to the Perry Baggs Medical support fund here.

• Download “White Lies (live 1984)”
• Watch (part) of “White Lies” from the Perry Baggs Benefit show here
• Watch the band try to make friends with the 80s in the “White Lies” video here

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Rock, Nashville, 80s. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.