G.G. Allin Beyond the Grave

While he was alive, G.G. Allin was best known for his blood-and-guts live show, which included such crowd pleasers as defecating on stage and brawling with the audience. In other words, everything but his music. But since his heroin-related death in 1993, Allin's legend has spread, thanks in part to the Todd Phillips-directed documentary Hated and artists like Mike Patton, CKY and Hank Williams III covering his songs.

According to Allin's brother (and bassist for his last-ever backing band, the Murder Junkies) Merle, demand for new G.G. product is at an all-time high. And by offering CDs, videos and merchandise on ggallin.com, Merle plans to keep feeding the growing market. Tops on the list is an in-the-works documentary by filmmaker Mark Hejnar, which threatens to dig even deeper than Hated. "He traveled with us back in the early Nineties," explains Merle. "He's got tons of interviews with G.G. and footage that I've never seen."

Also upcoming is a DVD of 2003's "10 Year Anniversary Show," which was held this past summer in Littleton, New Hampshire, where G.G. is buried. The event featured reunion sets by G.G.'s original band, the Jabbers, as well as the Murder Junkies, with Antiseen frontman Jeff Clayton assuming G.G.'s spot behind the mike.

And Merle has more tributary plans: "I'm going to start working on a scrapbook/photo album, and then eventually a real book. Other then that, we're trying to put out some singles collection compilations."

With so many holes in G.G.'s discography, a career-spanning box set might seem a natural next step, but don't hold your breath. "I don't think there will ever be a G.G. box set," Allin says. "There's just too many fucking labels involved."

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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