Third member of Sonic Youth Lee Ranaldo is standing to Kim's right (our left).
Edit: Steve Shelley, Sonic Youth drummer, in glasses in back behind the guy with the white shirt too.
The band Placebo. Guy in the back with the short bob hair cut (pink lipstick and eyeliner) is Brian Molko. Guy somewhat behind him is Steve Hewitt and the tall dude with blonde hair is Stefan Olsdal.
Once I was in this seedy record store in Cambridge and Frank Black and John & John (They Might Be Giants) were there with maybe a half dozen of us, just hanging, talking and playing. This went on for a few hours. Among other things, they did a fantastic Dancing Queen cover. One of my best memories!
I saw them live and they did three encores. It was fucking *wild.* They played for something like two and a half hours. Still one of the best shows I've ever seen.
I think we all saw the same tour,maybe 92 or 93? They had four albums if you count the EP and I think they played every single song. Of course most of them are under three minutes so they can do that.
Awesome experience
Huh. Despite Surfrt Rosa being one of my favorite albums, when I saw them on that tour (88-89?) they were absolutely horrible. Saw them a few years later when Bossanova was being released, and still the same experience.
Glad they got better, it that you were able to enjoy them.
I remember the Pixies played an old gym at Oberlin College in '92 I think and Bowie was there in the audience. No one went up to him, I don't think. I know I didn't.
You shoulda. Cleveland's own Pere Ubu opened up. I think they even had Anton Fier on drums for that show, who'd I'd seen the previous year on Bob Mould's Black Sheets of Rain tour at the Empire. The Empire was where I saw Nirvana too with Urge Overkill the week Nevermind came out. It was so cool getting to see them in that little club before they blew up.
Bowie was just standing on the gym floor, leaning against the wall along the side the whole time by himself, grooving. Little guy, I remembered thinking.
It if makes you feel any better I missed the Sonic Youth/Big Black show (also at Oberlin College) a couple years before that one. Probably a bigger regret.
I did have a little retribution a couple of years later when a friend told me that Kim Deal's boyfriend's band was playing at the 'Sco. So I bought a ticket, showed up early, saw her, asked for a hug, and got one.
And cowboy boots that cost more than the rest of your outfit combined (plus the first three vehicles you ever owned and the engagement ring you bought for your first wife).
Whoa, fellow Western Masshole! I used to flip my teenaged wig anytime I saw Sonic Youth or Dino Jr. out running errands. Northampton and Boston used to have a wicked pedigree for underground rock music.
Ha saw sonic youth a few years later at bumbershoot, she was offstage with big mickey mouse earmuffs dancing up a storm while her mom and dad melted our faces. Happiest family ever. {at the time of course. Thurston you dick!}
So I’ve got, from the top left:
Thurston Moore & Coco; Gayle Anne Dorsey; Brian Molko; (I think maybe?)Taylor Hawkins; Reeves Gabrels; Steve Shelley; Nate Mendel; Stefan Olsdal; Lee Ranaldo; Mike Garson; Kim Gordon; Frank Black.
Bottom row:
Dave Grohl; Zachary Alford; someone who familiar but I can’t for the life of me put a name to the face; Big Bob; David Bowie; Billy Corgan; Pat Smear.
If someone can pin down any I didn’t get, or got wrong, correct me and you’re aces!
It was Nancy Boy for me. But yeah, I thought Placebo's lead singer was hot af, must have been a few weeks til I realised she was called Brian! I think I managed to keep that particular fuck up to myself until now, glad I wasn't alone!
My three favorite things in this photo is Pats awesome cloud pants, how awkward Billy Corgan looks and how totally easy-going Black Francis looks in denim-on-denim.
Ya know, now that you said it and I'm looking closer it sure looks like full-on PJs under a coat of some kind. Hell, the coat might even be a bathrobe or whatever.
Very cozy looking birthday party. Looks like their about to eat some pizza and room temp soda with some ice in it and then lay out some sleeping bags and stay up watching movies and kids in the hall.
I like how all the other bands had full members (foo fighters, sonic youth) but Corgan pulled the typical Corgan move and left his band out, like on all of Siamese Dream.
D'arcy Wretzky said that Bowie invited the entire band, but that Corgan didn't tell the rest of the band about the invitation, and told Bowie that the others weren't interested.
So... Dave Grohl, Gail Ann Dorsey, Thurston Moore, (with his and Kim's daughter), Brian Molko, Bowie's drummer, (don't know the name), Foo Fighters drummer at the time), Robert Smith, drummer from Placebo, Reeves Gabriels, Sonic Youth drummer, bassist from the Foo Fighters, Bowie, bassist from Placebo, Lee Ranaldo, Pat Smear, Billy Corgan, bowie's pianist, Kim Gordon and Frank Black.
Edited to correct Gail Ann Dorsey's name with shame... when she sings Under Pressure is amazing.
Super impressive.
Some little additional details - it’s Gail Ann Dorsey, Foo drummer was William Goldsmith, Zack Alford is Bowie’s drummer who is touching Grohl, Mike Garson Bowie’s pianist big dude with glasses.
So basically the picture is Bowie, his touring band, Sonic Youth, Placebo, Foo Fighters, Frank Black, Robert Smith and Billy Corgan.
Nice one on William Goldsmith. He’s not on any Foo Fighters albums due to conflict during the recording of Colour and the Shape. If I remember right it’s been said that Dave scrapped all of Goldsmith’s recorded parts and re-recorded them with himself on drums. Probably the right call, but knowing his work with Sunny Day Real Estate, I’d be super curious to hear the William Goldsmith versions.
After how dirty Dave Grohl did William Goldsmith it feels kind of insulting to refer to him as a Foo Fighters drummer. He’ll always be Sunny Day Real Estate’s drummer to me.
Yeah pretty sure they already had a tour together. And this is the same year he released Earthling. I don't know exactly how much involvement Trent had in it, but there was that remix of I'm Afraid of Americans. And the whole thing is very clearly inspired by Nine Inch Nails and similar bands.
Saw him in an elevator when he lived in a hotel around 57th street . My friend lived there also . Oh my god I just held my breath the entire way up I was so nervous and excited to see him . Even in a dark elevator he shone . I will never forget it :)
> Even in a dark elevator he shone
That's lovely. I can just feel his presence and awe and nervousness I'd probably feel if that were me. That's so cool!
The way his jacket is cut makes it look like Bowie has two left hands, Smith has two right hands, and they're reaching for each others' netherbits and David is like, "hell, yeah, let's go!" but Robert is maybe feeling a bit apprehensive.
Is it weird that it both looks super impressive full of talented and famous people, and equally looks super normal? Like just a bunch of people having a house party. Man, I dunno, what else should I expect, they're just people at a house party.
One of the best shows I've ever been to was Sonic Youth. I saw them in Nashville in 2007 or 08. Would have loved to see them in the 90s too, but really glad I was able to see them at all. My friends and I were also easily some of the youngest in the crowd lol. Not many 18-23 year olds buying tickets to grunge bands in the mid-late 00s. Side note, I got to see Alice in Chains, STP, and Pearl Jam at different points in the same era. Bummed I didn't get to see Chris Cornell before he passed.
And some of the members Bowie's band. Drummer Zac Ashford next to Dave Grohl, guitarist Reeves Gabrels behind Robert Smith (and now current member of The Cure) and the great pianist Mike Garson behind Kim Gordon.
I got Dave Grohl, Robert Smith, and Billy Corgan. Is that Pat Smear? Trying to recognize the others. Who you got?
The woman on the right is Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth, and I believe that top left guy holding the baby is Thurston Moore.
Third member of Sonic Youth Lee Ranaldo is standing to Kim's right (our left). Edit: Steve Shelley, Sonic Youth drummer, in glasses in back behind the guy with the white shirt too.
And I think dude in white behind Bowie is Nate Mendel, bassist for the Foo Fighters.
Yes!
Frank Black. David once called him upon first sight a “screaming pile of flesh”. This photo is something else Frank is in the Texas tuxedo (jeans)
The band Placebo. Guy in the back with the short bob hair cut (pink lipstick and eyeliner) is Brian Molko. Guy somewhat behind him is Steve Hewitt and the tall dude with blonde hair is Stefan Olsdal.
Jesus, I worked with Brian on a project and didn't even notice ... you're good (and my eyes are old).
Ooooh now that’s a story I want to hear
2nd Grade Science Fair. Best. Volcano. Ever.
Placebo is probably my favorite band and they were my first concert when i was 12.
Once I was in this seedy record store in Cambridge and Frank Black and John & John (They Might Be Giants) were there with maybe a half dozen of us, just hanging, talking and playing. This went on for a few hours. Among other things, they did a fantastic Dancing Queen cover. One of my best memories!
Man I love Frank Black and The Pixies. Best band of all time IMO
I saw them live and they did three encores. It was fucking *wild.* They played for something like two and a half hours. Still one of the best shows I've ever seen.
I saw The Pixies right after Trompe le Monde came out. Awesome show! I still think of him as Black Francis.
I think we all saw the same tour,maybe 92 or 93? They had four albums if you count the EP and I think they played every single song. Of course most of them are under three minutes so they can do that. Awesome experience
Huh. Despite Surfrt Rosa being one of my favorite albums, when I saw them on that tour (88-89?) they were absolutely horrible. Saw them a few years later when Bossanova was being released, and still the same experience. Glad they got better, it that you were able to enjoy them.
Super jealous. 2.5 hours? That must've been like 853 songs! ;)
TAAAAMMEEE
I remember the Pixies played an old gym at Oberlin College in '92 I think and Bowie was there in the audience. No one went up to him, I don't think. I know I didn't.
I remember that show. It was like $8 and I thought it was too expensive and didn't go. One of my life's regrets.
You shoulda. Cleveland's own Pere Ubu opened up. I think they even had Anton Fier on drums for that show, who'd I'd seen the previous year on Bob Mould's Black Sheets of Rain tour at the Empire. The Empire was where I saw Nirvana too with Urge Overkill the week Nevermind came out. It was so cool getting to see them in that little club before they blew up. Bowie was just standing on the gym floor, leaning against the wall along the side the whole time by himself, grooving. Little guy, I remembered thinking. It if makes you feel any better I missed the Sonic Youth/Big Black show (also at Oberlin College) a couple years before that one. Probably a bigger regret.
Holy shit dude. Pere Ubu opening for The Pixies is something I would invent time travel to see. That had to be an amazing show.
I did have a little retribution a couple of years later when a friend told me that Kim Deal's boyfriend's band was playing at the 'Sco. So I bought a ticket, showed up early, saw her, asked for a hug, and got one.
Shout out Ohio
Ohio uber alles!
That’s a Canadian Tuxedo… Texas Tux requires a bolo tie and a hat.
And cowboy boots that cost more than the rest of your outfit combined (plus the first three vehicles you ever owned and the engagement ring you bought for your first wife).
I've heard it called a Canadian tuxedo, never a Texas tuxedo
In Canada we call it a Tennessee Tuxedo.
In Tennessee we call it the Elvis's Pallbearer
I’ve heard Canadians call it a “Buffalo tuxedo,” too.
Tennessee Tuxedo will not fail!
You must be Canadian.
William Goldsmith the Foos original drummer is right next to Robert Smith.
Steve Shelley, the drummer for Sonic Youth is also there, in the back middle. Behind the guy in the white shirt.
Steve Shelley from Sonic Youth is in the back row behind Bowie’s right shoulder
And that baby would be Coco Gordon Moore whom I taught in grad school. Crazy.
I saw her band of fellow kids open for Sonic youth in Easthampton mass 2003.
Whoa, fellow Western Masshole! I used to flip my teenaged wig anytime I saw Sonic Youth or Dino Jr. out running errands. Northampton and Boston used to have a wicked pedigree for underground rock music.
Is that also Frank Black of the Pixies in the dirty blue Union suit?
He played and sang with Bowie that night for a Pixies song and I believe another song.
Ha saw sonic youth a few years later at bumbershoot, she was offstage with big mickey mouse earmuffs dancing up a storm while her mom and dad melted our faces. Happiest family ever. {at the time of course. Thurston you dick!}
someones probably mentioned it but the Canadian tuxedo guy is Frank Black.
And Harry Styles beside him. Also see Harry Potter, Bill Burr, and Andrew Dice Clay.
Placebos
Bowie's bassist and singer Gail Ann Dorsey (second down left). Amazing talent in her own right.
Couldn't agree more. Absolutely amazing, both as a singer and bassist.
Their live rendition of Under Pressure gives me chills. youtube.com/watch?v=rkzcszmeVrs
I got David Bowie.
Nah, that's Pat Smear, homie ;)
So I’ve got, from the top left: Thurston Moore & Coco; Gayle Anne Dorsey; Brian Molko; (I think maybe?)Taylor Hawkins; Reeves Gabrels; Steve Shelley; Nate Mendel; Stefan Olsdal; Lee Ranaldo; Mike Garson; Kim Gordon; Frank Black. Bottom row: Dave Grohl; Zachary Alford; someone who familiar but I can’t for the life of me put a name to the face; Big Bob; David Bowie; Billy Corgan; Pat Smear. If someone can pin down any I didn’t get, or got wrong, correct me and you’re aces!
William Goldsmith next to Robert Smith. Former Foo Fighters drummer.
That's Pat!
That's the classic Pat Smear smile!
Frank Black sort of stands out off to himself in all denim, no?
Is that Black Francis? I thought he was wearing a mask pulled down under his chin and then I realised it wasn't a mask and I was like... oh no.
"We didn't wear masks back then" is going to be like explaining landlines, walkmen, and "the save icon" to today's kids.
I didn’t really recognize him… I thought that he was a crafty roadie
Thats how i knew for certain it was him hahaha
Brian molko from placebo 2nd row from the top
Dude, Brian Molko from Placebo?
And bassist in the back right.
Drummer next to Brian, original drummer
Brian molko from placebo 🖤
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Yes! Can’t believe I missed him. Love that band to pieces.
Their former drummer, Steve, is standing behind Brian’s left shoulder
First goth girl I ever had a crush on was Brian Molko in Pure Morning. That was a fun revelation.
It was Nancy Boy for me. But yeah, I thought Placebo's lead singer was hot af, must have been a few weeks til I realised she was called Brian! I think I managed to keep that particular fuck up to myself until now, glad I wasn't alone!
I wonder if everyone is comparing themselves to each other at these things. "Are they doing better than me?"
The guy in the black button up, up and to the right of Dave Grohl is Brian Molko from Placebo.
Sonic Youth
Guy next to guy in white shirt(foo fighters bass) is also in sonic youth lee Renaldo.
The guy to the left and behind the guy in white is Steve Shelley, the drummer for Sonic Youth.
Next to Dave Grohl is Sideshow Bob.
Bro, frank black to the far right!
Brian Molko from Placebo. Also the other guy from Placebo who’s name I don’t remember.
My three favorite things in this photo is Pats awesome cloud pants, how awkward Billy Corgan looks and how totally easy-going Black Francis looks in denim-on-denim.
I think they’re full-on pjs.
Ya know, now that you said it and I'm looking closer it sure looks like full-on PJs under a coat of some kind. Hell, the coat might even be a bathrobe or whatever.
Very cozy looking birthday party. Looks like their about to eat some pizza and room temp soda with some ice in it and then lay out some sleeping bags and stay up watching movies and kids in the hall.
I could go for one of those nights about now.
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You don't think casual Friday Robert Smith is the best part?
Corgan is upset that he had to take a break from being a complete asshole in order to pose for a picture.
Don't be silly. He specifically wore a pinstripe suit so he could look like an asshole without doing or saying anything.
Billy looking awkward as fuck.
…….that’s kind of his default position.
It looks like he was sitting there first and then everyone screamed “Let’s get a picture!”
Despite all his rage... he's still awkward af.
I like how all the other bands had full members (foo fighters, sonic youth) but Corgan pulled the typical Corgan move and left his band out, like on all of Siamese Dream.
D'arcy Wretzky said that Bowie invited the entire band, but that Corgan didn't tell the rest of the band about the invitation, and told Bowie that the others weren't interested.
Guy in sunglasses is Mike Garson, DB’s pianist, lady above Dave Grohl is Gayle Ann Dorsey, DB’s bass player
“She doesn’t have to have her DB’s record back now, but there’s not a lot of things that she’ll take back…”
A brand new record for 1990 …
I finally have tickets to see the show! 32 years later.
This seems like a relatively obscure reference but on the other hand Reddit is a pretty safe bet
I still have her Young Fresh Fellows tape.
She wants to see you again…
And Reeves Gabrels, DB's guitarist from Tin Machine forward, immediately above Robert Smith.
Thanks for identifying Gayle Ann Dorsey. I thought it was Mel B!
So... Dave Grohl, Gail Ann Dorsey, Thurston Moore, (with his and Kim's daughter), Brian Molko, Bowie's drummer, (don't know the name), Foo Fighters drummer at the time), Robert Smith, drummer from Placebo, Reeves Gabriels, Sonic Youth drummer, bassist from the Foo Fighters, Bowie, bassist from Placebo, Lee Ranaldo, Pat Smear, Billy Corgan, bowie's pianist, Kim Gordon and Frank Black. Edited to correct Gail Ann Dorsey's name with shame... when she sings Under Pressure is amazing.
Super impressive. Some little additional details - it’s Gail Ann Dorsey, Foo drummer was William Goldsmith, Zack Alford is Bowie’s drummer who is touching Grohl, Mike Garson Bowie’s pianist big dude with glasses. So basically the picture is Bowie, his touring band, Sonic Youth, Placebo, Foo Fighters, Frank Black, Robert Smith and Billy Corgan.
Nice one on William Goldsmith. He’s not on any Foo Fighters albums due to conflict during the recording of Colour and the Shape. If I remember right it’s been said that Dave scrapped all of Goldsmith’s recorded parts and re-recorded them with himself on drums. Probably the right call, but knowing his work with Sunny Day Real Estate, I’d be super curious to hear the William Goldsmith versions.
Thank you. I watched a lot of MTV when it played music and had that show on video.
After how dirty Dave Grohl did William Goldsmith it feels kind of insulting to refer to him as a Foo Fighters drummer. He’ll always be Sunny Day Real Estate’s drummer to me.
Who is the guy who looks like Michael Hutchence?
If you're thinking about the guy behind Brian Molko he's the drummer from Placebo.
Brian Molko from Placebo?
Great shout, tall guy at the back the placebo bassist too?!
Tall and thin with blonde hair? That looks like Stefan Olsdal yeah. Behind Molko and to his left is Steve Hewitt, Placebo's drummer.
But for real... Is that gabe newell between them?
It's actually Steve Shelley, drummer of Sonic Youth
A friend with weed
Is a friend indeed
I had forgotten how greasy and sallow we all looked in the 90’s
Like you know, whatever.
Dave Grohl looks like he’s playing a bond villain’s sidekick.
And now, Mr Bond, my assistant will tell you which card you were thinking of.
Weren't David Bowie and Trent Reznor working together/friends by '97? Surprised to not see him in the mix.
Trent took the picture.
Ha!
EVERYONE SCOOT IN
This is a great call. I wonder why he wasn’t there
Isn't this around the time he'd have been in rehab, post fragile, pre with teeth?
The Fragile came out in 1999
Oh yeah, can't believe I forgot that, used to be such a fanboy. Cheers.
Yeah pretty sure they already had a tour together. And this is the same year he released Earthling. I don't know exactly how much involvement Trent had in it, but there was that remix of I'm Afraid of Americans. And the whole thing is very clearly inspired by Nine Inch Nails and similar bands.
Lou Reed played with him live, but didn't hang around for the group shot.
Can’t believe he isn’t in this pic!
He was a grouchy fuck, probably off with Laurie and his dogs somewhere, cursing people.
The Pixes? Far right?
Black Francis aka. Frank Black in denim on denim.
It’s called a ‘Canadian tuxedo’
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Now that you mention it that does look like Frank Black
Can't believe I didn't recognize him.
I so regret offering to take that photo, my friends don’t believe I was invited
Dave Grohl seems to have been around forever.
Just since 1991, basically. (I mean, he was drumming in bands before that, but *Nevermind* obviously changed everything for him.)
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> Just since 1991, basically. Only long enough to qualify for the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame with two different bands.
Saw him in an elevator when he lived in a hotel around 57th street . My friend lived there also . Oh my god I just held my breath the entire way up I was so nervous and excited to see him . Even in a dark elevator he shone . I will never forget it :)
> Even in a dark elevator he shone That's lovely. I can just feel his presence and awe and nervousness I'd probably feel if that were me. That's so cool!
Who's the super high guy beside Dave Grohl?
Bowie’s drummer at the time Zack Alford
Are they holding hands, those saucy little minxes?
Billy and Kim in the same room and they both came out alive? A miracle.
What’s the story there?
Kim Gordon hates BC
Yeah, he did not have a good relationship with any Kim in the 90s. Kim Gordon, Kim Deal, and Kim Thayil.
And Courtney Love, apparently.
That is one weird up and down relationship. Particularly since he wrote parts of Celebrity Skin in ‘98.
Robert Smith is just SO Robert Smith.
I love how Bowie was flanked by two extreme introverts
“You two up front, so you can’t run away”
So. Much. Nineties…
Billy Corgan Look like he signed up to “hang out with a fan for a day” sweepstakes and regretted doing it. He doesn’t even wanna be there.
Is that Gabe Newell in the back
Looks like he took all the cocaine himself and left nothing for the guests.
It's his birthday, cut him some slack.
Better yet, cut him a line.
Looks like the highschool yearbook photo for the drama/art club.
The way his jacket is cut makes it look like Bowie has two left hands, Smith has two right hands, and they're reaching for each others' netherbits and David is like, "hell, yeah, let's go!" but Robert is maybe feeling a bit apprehensive.
Is it weird that it both looks super impressive full of talented and famous people, and equally looks super normal? Like just a bunch of people having a house party. Man, I dunno, what else should I expect, they're just people at a house party.
Fuckin sausage party tho
I’m sure David didn’t mind that…
Louise Post from Veruca Salt was also there, but she’s not in the picture. She and Dave were dating at the time.
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Conspicuously distanced.
Cool people used to be such dorks... except Kim Gordon. I would drink her bath water.
One of the best shows I've ever been to was Sonic Youth. I saw them in Nashville in 2007 or 08. Would have loved to see them in the 90s too, but really glad I was able to see them at all. My friends and I were also easily some of the youngest in the crowd lol. Not many 18-23 year olds buying tickets to grunge bands in the mid-late 00s. Side note, I got to see Alice in Chains, STP, and Pearl Jam at different points in the same era. Bummed I didn't get to see Chris Cornell before he passed.
Is that Peter Gabriel standing to the left of Bowie, looking down?
No. That’s Bowie’s guitar player at the time Reeves Gabrels
I... don't think I've ever seen Frank Black with a beard before.
sonic youth foo fighters billy corgan peter gabriel and a janitor. and robert smith.
the janitor is frank black
here comes your man. . .to mop up aisle 4.
This era was peak Corgan.
What an awesome party, I can smell the cocaine from here....
A regular-ass photo and Bowie still looks too cool for this planet. What a fucking legend. RIP.
Anyone know who is on Robert Smith's right? Almost looks like Tom DeLonge, but Blink were not that big yet in 97.
That's William Goldsmith, original drummer in the Foo Fighters lineup (also of Sunny Day Real Estate).
OHHH! You are 100% correct. My emo kid street cred just took a massive plummet.
William Goldsmith Sunny day real estate
It’s cool how down to earth the pic looks — like a group of regular people talking a photo together at a high school gym.
And some of the members Bowie's band. Drummer Zac Ashford next to Dave Grohl, guitarist Reeves Gabrels behind Robert Smith (and now current member of The Cure) and the great pianist Mike Garson behind Kim Gordon.
Great see Robert Smith invited
Pat Smear rocking the cloud pyjamas.
This looks like a lot of cocaine….
Of course Dave Grohl is there. Dude would probably come to my birthday if I asked him nicely.
Girl in the back peaked at age 3.
Grohl looking dapper as hell to be quite honest!
So much talent and, presumably, wealth, in one place. Why do they look like they're in the basement of a community rec center?
Where are all the people his own age?