02 May 2008

If AIDS Don't Get You Then The Warheads Will...


I can't recall when I first met John Joseph. I think he was on his way to an old school boxing gym on the Lower East Side; its probably another stuffy chalkboard café by now. It must've been 1995. At that point I was just really getting my feet wet with bands in the NYHC scene and he was already a revered and respected, controversial icon; which he remains to this day.

My old band played some shows with his project at the time, Both Worlds. Eventually the Cro-Mags got back together here and there and he always looked out for us and we played a bunch of shows with them up and down the East Coast; in fact one of our first shows at CBGB's was on a bill opening up for the newly reformed Cro-Mags.



He and I became friends and kept in touch through the years. We're both Libras and therefore spent many a night talking over IM about everything from our mutual love for writing to 9/11 conspiracy theories. Once John realised I was cool with the Sick Of It All guys he really let his guard down and remains one of most sincere and intense dudes I've ever met.

I've always said if you were around long enough in the New York scene to have a nickname you must be a bona fide lunatic, and he is, but he's the thinking man's lunatic; he's wild while introspective.

His raspy, quiet, somewhat Southern drawl betrays the manic hurricane you see on stage who can barely stand still long enough to scream a single word. The dude you run into on the street, while he's training for yet another triathlon, speaks deliberately and honestly, as he bikes home to do a few sets of crunches and voice warm ups before the matinée.

The book he's been crafting for years is finally done and getting the attention it deserves. This is a dude who was around when Avenue C meant Crazy and Avenue D meant Dead. Check out the article The Voice did on him this week.

The Bloodclot Diaries: The brutal life and times of John 'Bloodclot' Joseph: New York hardcore icon, Krishna devotee, hustler, survivor {The Village Voice}


The Evolution Of A Cro-Magnon
In his new autobiography, NYHC legend John "Bloodclot" Joseph recounts his hard times and spiritual redemption. A traumatic childhood in foster homes was just the beginning of John's evolution. Before fronting one of the most important bands in the underground punk scene, the Cro-Mags, John faced homelessness, addiction, betrayal and insanity. Still, even his success couldn't save him from a relapse that set him back to square one - rock bottom.

The book is a raw and unapologetic autobiography about his life. Consider yourself warned.

Softcover. 428 pages w/ full colour photos.
$20.00

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