There
are woefully, so many-phenomenally talented artists who lived-and
died-in obscurity, but managed to make enough of an impact on just the
right-number and type of-people to influence an entire movement.
Jeffery Lee Pierce was just such an artist. He pretty much invented Alt-Country.
Jeffery Lee Pierce was just such an artist. He pretty much invented Alt-Country.
Jeffery
Lee Pierce was a Meso/American musician from Southern California, who
came up during the formative L.A. Punk years in the mid to late 70’s. He
began as a music journalist and president of the west coast chapter of
the BLONDIE fan-club. He ultimately met Debby Harry, who recognised his
potential and, with her husband Chris Stein, championed his burgeoning
musical career.
With his band The Gun Club (that basically consisted of Jeffery, and anyone who could stand to be in the same room with him.) he created a unique style of American music that amalgamated Punk, Delta-Blues, Rockabilly, Country and what later became known as Goth. His songs were catchy, cinematic and often anthemic, always dark, and strangely beautiful. His lyrics were at once starkly intimate, and phantasmagorical, incorporating mystical imagery from the American Natives, Santeria and Voudo, and Mexican Folk-tales and superstitions. The confessional tone of his writing was made all the more heartrending when sung in a voice that his good friend Nick Cave once observed: “could tear your heart out”. Spanning a range from a smokey baritone to a high, bleating falsetto, he seemed to deliberately sing off pitch in order to elicit a viscerally emotional response in the listener. He used vibrato to great effect, as well, and even managed a few classic “olde timey” yodels, yet the result was never kitsch. He expressed himself like a wounded animal-a primal howl in a wilderness of alienation, heartbreak and substance abuse.
It was only after his untimely death in 1996 that he began to earn the reputation as a formidable musician and songwriter. A series of tribute albums was released that included tracks from artists such as the a fore mentioned Cave and Harry, as well as Iggy Pop, and Henry Rollins, to name only a few. His songs have been reverently covered by Mark Lannegan, The Sadies, and Jack White. Johnny Cash was rumoured to have been considering recording a cover of one of Jeffery’s songs before his own death preempted the possibility.
“Go Tell The Mountain” part autobiography, part back catalogue of lyrics, was released soon after his death, and proved he was a fine author of prose as well. It contains a few snippets of what may have been autobiographical fiction that was beautifully crafted, and at times, hard-hitting and emotionally difficult to navigate. One piece in particular stands out, a surprisingly intimate erotic character study of two doomed lovers, that is both vulnerable and voluptuous. It’s truly heartbreaking to think of the creative potential that was lost far too soon.
Finally, there are at least two documentaries waiting to be green lit, and a completed film sits shelved, awaiting the music licensing regulations to clear. There's something resembling a doc roughly cobbled together on YouTube, but it's unfairly unflattering.
Perhaps Jeffery Lee Pierce will finally be able to take his rightful place as one of America’s great and influential songwriters. Not many artists can lay claim to having invented an entire genre.
**********************
Personally, I discovered The Gun Club in my teens, and was instantly transformed. He became-and remains-a huge influence on my writing and even my singing style. Through the miracle of social media, I have been privileged to befriend both his Mother and Sister-the executrix of his estate-and have recently been given their gracious blessing to record my own album of JLP songs. Hopefully, my own humble labour of love can help bring the art of this virtually unknown genius to a new and varied audience…
With his band The Gun Club (that basically consisted of Jeffery, and anyone who could stand to be in the same room with him.) he created a unique style of American music that amalgamated Punk, Delta-Blues, Rockabilly, Country and what later became known as Goth. His songs were catchy, cinematic and often anthemic, always dark, and strangely beautiful. His lyrics were at once starkly intimate, and phantasmagorical, incorporating mystical imagery from the American Natives, Santeria and Voudo, and Mexican Folk-tales and superstitions. The confessional tone of his writing was made all the more heartrending when sung in a voice that his good friend Nick Cave once observed: “could tear your heart out”. Spanning a range from a smokey baritone to a high, bleating falsetto, he seemed to deliberately sing off pitch in order to elicit a viscerally emotional response in the listener. He used vibrato to great effect, as well, and even managed a few classic “olde timey” yodels, yet the result was never kitsch. He expressed himself like a wounded animal-a primal howl in a wilderness of alienation, heartbreak and substance abuse.
It was only after his untimely death in 1996 that he began to earn the reputation as a formidable musician and songwriter. A series of tribute albums was released that included tracks from artists such as the a fore mentioned Cave and Harry, as well as Iggy Pop, and Henry Rollins, to name only a few. His songs have been reverently covered by Mark Lannegan, The Sadies, and Jack White. Johnny Cash was rumoured to have been considering recording a cover of one of Jeffery’s songs before his own death preempted the possibility.
“Go Tell The Mountain” part autobiography, part back catalogue of lyrics, was released soon after his death, and proved he was a fine author of prose as well. It contains a few snippets of what may have been autobiographical fiction that was beautifully crafted, and at times, hard-hitting and emotionally difficult to navigate. One piece in particular stands out, a surprisingly intimate erotic character study of two doomed lovers, that is both vulnerable and voluptuous. It’s truly heartbreaking to think of the creative potential that was lost far too soon.
Finally, there are at least two documentaries waiting to be green lit, and a completed film sits shelved, awaiting the music licensing regulations to clear. There's something resembling a doc roughly cobbled together on YouTube, but it's unfairly unflattering.
Perhaps Jeffery Lee Pierce will finally be able to take his rightful place as one of America’s great and influential songwriters. Not many artists can lay claim to having invented an entire genre.
**********************
Personally, I discovered The Gun Club in my teens, and was instantly transformed. He became-and remains-a huge influence on my writing and even my singing style. Through the miracle of social media, I have been privileged to befriend both his Mother and Sister-the executrix of his estate-and have recently been given their gracious blessing to record my own album of JLP songs. Hopefully, my own humble labour of love can help bring the art of this virtually unknown genius to a new and varied audience…
