Join us for a new series of Cocktails and Conversation on Thursdays supporting our Punk is Coming exhibition! Listen to expert speakers, view the exhibition, and purchase custom cocktails. The events are free and open to the public; advance registration is requested. Click on each event below to learn more and register.
Thursday, April 7th, 2022, 6 – 7 PM
Speaker: Merrill Aldighieri, Punk is Coming artist, in conversation with Doug Tirola, award-winning director and President of 4th Row Films.
Engage with Aldighieri, considered the original video jockey, and see her rare and some never-before-seen videos of the era. Aldighieri is a multi-award winning independent filmmaker/artist/producer-director who has been involved in many different aspects of production.
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Thursday, April 21, 2022, 6 – 7 PM
Speaker: Monte A. Melnick – Ramones 101
Monte A. Melnick spent over 20 years as the Tour Manager for the iconic rock band Ramones, touring the world and working over 2,200 shows. Monte will be talking about the Ramones from the beginning to the end of their long historic career. His book ON THE ROAD with the RAMONES – BONUS EDITION tells his story of what it was to be on and off the road with the band. Monte will have a limited number of signed books available for purchase.
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Thursday, April 28, 2022, 6 – 7 PM
Speaker: Richard Hell
Richard Hell is a singer, songwriter, bass guitarist and writer. Hell was a founder of several important early CBGB punk bands, including Television and the Heartbreakers, after which he formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids, whose 1977 album Blank Generation influenced many other punk groups. Since the mid 1980s, Hell has devoted himself primarily to writing, publishing two novels and several other books, including his acclaimed 2013 autobiography, I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp. His Destiny Street Complete double CD version of the Voidoids’ 1982 album was released last year.
Hell will be in conversation with Rick Cooper, a reluctant attorney by day, a voracious reader of all subjects, art collector, music aficionado, and an admirer of Richard Hell and his talent, the rest of the time.
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Thursday, May 5, 2022, 6 – 7 PM
Speakers: Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong
If you think all punk sounds like the Sex Pistols, have we got news for you. Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong reach into their GoNightclubbing video Archive to share the dizzying variety of music that flourished under the “punk” banner from 1977-1980. From the dissonance and free jazz of the Lounge Lizards to the bouncy power pop of New Wavers like the GoGos, this screening of rare live performances will be followed by a lively Q&A with the filmmakers. MTV was never like this!
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NEW!! Thursday, May 26, 2022, 6 – 7 PM
Speakers: Chris Frantz in Conversation with Westport author, filmmaker and musician Robert S. Williams
The Talking Heads, one of the most dynamic groups of the ‘70s and ‘80s, was founded by drummer Chris Frantz, his girlfriend Tina Weymouth, and lead singer David Byrne. The band was integral to the music scene of the time, playing at CBGBs, touring Europe with the Ramones, and creating hits like “Psycho Killer” and “Burning Down the House.”
Featured Image: “Ramones New York 1976.” Roberta Bayley. Photograph. Courtesy of the artist and TMPG Gallery.