A GORIES REUNION?

It's been a rumor -- but it looks like it's going to turn into a reality next summer, at least according to Greg Cartwright's posting yesterday on the Goner Records message board. But let's just allow our pal Chris Handyside to tell the story, since he does it better than I ever could. This was nicked from his upcoming ON THE DOWNLOAD column, which'll hit the stands this coming Wednesday:

I'll take pretty much any opportunity available to further extol the glory of seminal Detroit blues-punk-minimalist-Back From the Grave-worshipping primitivist trio the Gories. Guitarists Mick Collins (Dirtbombs), Dan Kroha (Demolition Doll Rods, the Readies) and drummer Peg O'Neil ('68 Comeback, Darkest Hours) had a chaotic and blissfully raw six-year run. They disbanded spectacularly at the end of a European tour in 1992 in a flurry of the kind of interpersonal stresses that bring down many working bands. They left behind a booty of recorded work that can rightly be called Ground Zero for Detroit's late-'90s/early '00s rock boom as well as inspiring countless punks around the country and Europe to pick up instruments and throttle a racket.

So what, exactly, does this have to do with the Internets, you ask? Here's the thing: Last Tuesday, Reigning Sound mainman Greg Cartwright posted a simple confirmation on the Goner Records message board that the Gories would re-unite for two U.S. shows this summer with their Memphis doppelgangers and fellow seminal rawk neanderthals, the Oblivians (of which Cartwright was one-third of the racket). One show in Detroit; one in Memphis (with some European dates, too). "Wait, what? Fuck yeah!" seems to be the general consensus. If you haven't already, take a look at the Gories' comprehensive myspace page, what are you waitin’ for? There's steaming vids of the boys 'n' girl live in action back in the day. Really, it's hard to overestimate how exciting this news is and this is certainly the kind of info that can nurse a fan through a long winter. --Chris Handyside

Access the myspace page Chris mentions right here...