Inspirational Imagery: lydia lunch

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ZE Records

ZE Records was started in 1978 by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban in NYC at a time when the music scene was mixed up, artsy, amateur, creative, and beyond fun. ZE's "Mutant Disco" roster included many of my favorite funky no/new-wave buddies including James Chance, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Suicide, Ohio's The Waitresses, Lydia Lunch, and Cristina.

Fun fact: Michel Esteban was dating Anna Wintour around this time. Her friend, Chris Blackwell of Island Records, helped ZE get worldwide distribution with a licensing deal.

The label closed in 1984, but was re-established by Esteban in 2003.

Cristina, Cristina, ZE Records US LP, 1980

This is the cover for the US version only.

Lio, Pop Model, Polydor France LP, 1986

Not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban.

Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Best Off, ZE Records France CD, 2006

Various, Zevolution - ZE Records Re-Edited, Strut UK 2xLP Compilation, 2009

Also not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban. The taxi illustration is what's used on ZE's generic sleeves

Material ‎with Nona Hendryx, Bustin' Out, Celluloid/ZE France 12", 1981

This cover is not exactly the same as this release, but it's closest to it. I'm not entirely sure which specific release this image is of.

Like a moron, I forgot that I already made a post featuring a bunch of ZE covers, so feel free to check out more.

New York Rocker

The New York Rocker was a monthly paper dedicated to underground music, published from 1976 to 1982. It covered all my favorites, as well as employed awesome music photographers, Laura Levine and Ebet Roberts.

The Clash, 1979

Devo, December 1979

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I (of course) favor the style used from 1980-1981. Elizabeth van Itallie was the art director.

Lydia Lunch and Lene Lovich, May 1980

Pretenders, June 1980

X, September 1980

Pylon, March 1981

Prince, June 1981

Olde New York

I haven't listened to this early 80's, all-girl, no wave band yet, but they have all the ingredients that make me fall in love. Here's an article about them published earlier this year in the Village Voice

New York subway, shot by Erik Calonius, May 1973

CBGB, NYC, 1977; © Bob Gruen. Looks fun!

No Wave all-stars hanging out on the Bowery. Shot by Godlis, summer 1978.
I'm not cool enough to be able to identify all of these people, but I do see Diego Cortez, Anya Phillips, Lydia Lunch, and James Chance.

Skins on Ave A. Looks mid-80's

Miscellaneous

Siouxsie, from the Spellbound video. It's been kind of hard to find it online lately (it has been recently removed from YouTube). Here is a link to the video.