Ephemeral Creation:
Music and Art in Chicago, 1978 - 1982                                 ← Part 3. →

by Ken Mierzwa

	Franke Nardiello, of Special Affect, 1980 Photo by Ken Mierzwa, copyright © 2003-2006
1979-1980 I hung around the clubs a lot through 1979 and 1980, but was pretty much just part of the crowd, there for a good time like anyone else. I still went there a lot with Al since we lived only about a mile apart. More and more out of town acts were coming through. Tuxedo Moon, an innovative San Francisco duo, played Tut's in September of 1980. New York's Bush Tetras were the opening act. November was a busy month, with the Psychedelic Furs in from Liverpool, followed a few days later by Toronto's Martha and the Muffins, then later in the month, 999. Late in 1980 I met Franke Nardiello, lead singer with a little known local band called Special Affect. One night a bunch of us went to three or four different clubs and got home near dawn. I vaguely remember seeing Scott Wilk and the Walls. That was the first night I remember taking photos at the clubs. Later I did more photos of Special Affect as they became a little better known, put out an album and played bigger clubs. Franke and Al Jourgensen were the band members I knew best. Franke eventually moved to England to front a band called The Drowning Craze, and cut a couple of obscure singles. He later returned to Chicago, I'm not certain exactly when, as singer for My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult. Al went through a succession of short-lived bands, then helped found Ministry and hit it big. Franke was maybe a little too creative for the mass-market; middle-America was just never going to get it. I'll always remember the mannequins in his second-floor apartment window on Diversey, every time we drove by we'd look to see how he had dressed them that day: Franke's mannequins - symbols of the city. Cold. Lifeless. Unfeeling. Emotionless. Not in control of their own destiny, and not caring, having no desire to change anything. Controlled by others. In late 1980, local hard core bands began to draw a little attention. Da and Strike Under played some of the smaller venues. Black Flag swept in from the west coast and played at Oz... more about Oz later. By this time I was starting to make a wider set of connections within the Chicago alternative scene. One day I was at WZRD, the basement radio station at Northeastern Illinois University, for some reason I can't recall now. Terry Nelson was the best known DJ there at the time. He was a little older than most folks in the music scene, mid 30s I think, and lived for music and nothing else. If a new record came out, any new record, he had it before anyone else. I don't think he had worked a real job, one that actually paid, anytime recently, and his girlfriend Lorna Donley (lead singer in Da!) later complained that he spent all their money on records. One entire room of their apartment on Lincoln Avenue was filled with metal shelves full of records. But he knew as much about music as anyone. That day at WZRD I also met another DJ, a new addition to the staff. Marilyn Mueller walked into the room, introduced herself with an assertive handshake, and over the next couple of hours we had an on and off running conversation about all sorts of things. She was hard to miss, with red hair, pale blue eyes, and a yellow Sex Pistols tee shirt cut a little ragged around the edges. She was also one of the more intelligent people I've ever met. Marilyn became a good friend, and it was possible to discuss almost anything with her. There was one sad note in March of 1980. Ian Curtis, singer of the Manchester band Joy Division, committed suicide after a long period of health and relationship problems. Joy Division never made it to the states, although a 1980 tour was planned. Chicago was one of the few places outside of England where the bands record sales were strong, thanks to a solid promotional effort by Wax Trax. The posthumous release of the "Closer" album continued the trend. It was another outstanding effort. Although often dark and moody, Joy Division's music was powerful - and unlike much of what was produced at that time, it is just as potent today. Although the band re-formed as New Order, they were never really the same without Curtis. continued..... ← back † next →
Chapter   one † two † three † four † five † six † seven † eight † nine † ten † eleven † twelve Home . Photography . Mixed Media . Exhibits Copyright and all other rights reserved © 2006 Kenneth S. Mierzwa shadowplay2@mac.com February 5, 2003 - Updated: March 27, 2006