.

After 22 Years, The Vaselines Finally Invade America

By 
July 11, 2008 5:09 PM ET

Scottish indie-pop band the Vaselines formed in 1986 and existed just long enough to release a handful of much-loved cult EPs and a single album (and become Kurt Cobain's self-proclaimed favorite band) before splitting. This week the Vaselines played their first-ever string of U.S. shows, and last night at Brooklyn's beyond-sold-out Southpaw anyone who managed to score a spot caught an absolutely incredible set of the group's punky folk-pop classics, including the two tunes everyone wanted to hear: "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Don't Want Me For a Sunbeam," which Nirvana famously covered on MTV Unplugged. But the highlights of the Vaselines' set were some of the deeper cuts, including a sublime version of the haunting ballad "No Hope," which features the killer lyric, "My life is such a bore/ I need to drink more." On top of the ace performances, singers Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee (who doesn't look a day over 20) showed off their quirky sense of humor, exchanging sexual barbs much to the amusement of the crowd. "We're having a nice time tonight," McKee said, referring to her all-male backing band. "Well, except me. [The rest of the band] is having a ball. They're having a few balls." Kelly retorted: "We don't have any merchandise to sell you. But Frances will give you all a lap dance for $20."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Wayne Coyne: "The Who's Music Is Really Optimistic"
Music Main Next
New Guns n' Roses Song Premiering on "Rock Band 2"

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: 'Born Sinner' Series by J. Cole

Best Ever Lists
100 Greatest Guitarists

Other Lists

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »