Flamin' Groovies -- "Teenage Head" (1971)

When you see me

Better turn your tail and run

'Cause I'm angry

And I'll mess you up for fun

In the last 2 or 3 lines of 2013, I told you about winning free tickets to the Flamin' Groovies' first-ever live performance in Washington, DC, and giving one of those tickets to Diana Quinn (the lead singer for  Tru Fax and the Insaniacs, which was one of the great DC punk/garage bands of the 1980s).  

Diana returned the favor by introducing me to several other luminaries of the DC music scene who were in attendance at the show.  The evening was capped off when we met Flamin' Groovies lead singer Chris Wilson and the group's guitarist and co-founder, Cyril Jordan, after the show.

Click here if you missed that post.

This 2 or 3 lines features my interview of Diana Quinn, who may be the hardest-working musician in your nation's capital.  Diana is not only still a member of Tru Fax and the Insaniacs, but also performs with Honky Tonk Confidential (a retro country-western band), the Fabulettes (a classic sixties "girl group") and Diana & Mike (a country/rock/rockabilly acoustic duo).

Diana Quinn and David Wells of
Tru Fax and the Insaniacs (circa 1980)

Diana also has a day job: she's a producer/writer for CBS News.

And if that's not enough, she's also a serious collector of vintage clothing.  (Another term for such a person is "hoarder.")

One of the younger lawyers at my firm met Diana after a recent performance, and offered this one-sentence description:  "She was super cute and energetic and I dug her rockabilly shirt."  (I couldn't have put it better myself.)

Here's are the highlights of the interview:

2 or 3 lines:  Diana, you must have been terribly excited when I asked you to be interviewed for 2 or 3 lines.  How are you doing?  Not too nervous, I hope?

Diana Quinn:  Oh, no -- not at all.

2 or 3 lines:  I understand you’ve played at some pretty amazing venues – like the legendary New York City punk club, CBGB’s, as well as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, which was the home of the Grand Ole Opry for many years.  

Diana:  The best thing about Tru Fax and the Insaniacs playing CBGB’s was the photo we got taken of ourselves outside the club. The show was OK – it was a showcase with some other DC bands, including the Nurses and I can’t remember who else.  I do remember that our drummer, Michael Mariotte, broke some ribs a few days before the show, but he insisted on playing, all bandaged up.  That was Tru Fax and the Insaniacs.

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Diana & Mike
(Diana Quinn, Mike Woods)

2 or 3 lines:  You say you can’t remember who else was on the bill when you played at CBGB’s.  Could it have been the Ramones?  The Talking Heads?  Blondie?  Joan Jett?  All those groups played at CBGB’s, didn’t they?

Diana:  Well, yes – they did.  But not the night we played there.

2 or 3 lines:  But you said that you didn’t remember who else played that night.  So you can’t be sure it wasn’t one of those groups.

Diana:  I’m pretty sure I’d remember if we played with one of those groups.

2 or 3 lines:  There’s one other possibility.  Maybe you played with the Ramones or Joan Jett but you don’t remember because of all the drugs you took that night.  

Diana:  Oh, no.  We never – 

2 or 3 lines:  I withdraw the question, Diana – there's no need to air a lot of dirty laundry from the ancient past.  Let’s move on to your Grand Ole Opry appearance, shall we?    I assume it was your country band, Honky Tonk Confidential, that played there -- am I correct?

Diana:  That’s right.  Honky Tonk Confidential performed at the Ryman Auditorium with Bob Schieffer of CBS News – he’s the moderator of “Face the Nation” and anchored the “CBS Evening News.”  Bob is a great lyricist, and he and I have collaborated on many songs.

Bob Schieffer with Diana Quinn

2 or 3 lines:  Ryman Auditorium is one of the most famous live-music venues in the country.  What was it like to perform there?

Diana:  Walking on the Ryman stage the first time -- for our sound check -- was truly magical.  And playing was a blast.  After the previous act finished playing, we had maybe a minute to get onstage, plug in our guitars, and get to the microphones before we were announced, and we had to be on time because the show was being broadcast on the radio.  [Click here to read more about the Ryman Auditorium appearance.]

2 or 3 lines:  Now let's move on to . . . 

Diana:  Could I mention one other thing before you ask the next question?  We also appeared once at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.  It was quite an honor to meet Tony Bennett, who performed a song before Honky Tonk Confidential took the stage.  We like to flatter ourselves by saying that Tony Bennett opened for us at the Waldorf Astoria that night.

2 or 3 lines:  I'm confused.  You’re not saying Tony Bennett actually opened for Honky Tonk Confidential, are you?  Because it doesn’t sound like that is what happened.

Diana:  No, no.  It was just a little joke.

Honky Tonk Confidential

2 or 3 lines:  As I understand it, you were not familiar with 2 or 3 lines before we met at the recent Flamin’ Groovies show in Washington, DC.  Frankly, I find that a little hard to believe given that 2 or 3 lines is kind of a big deal – so are you, of course.  

Diana:  First off, I am definitely not a big deal, but it’s very nice of you to say so.  As for your blog, someone sent me a link to your piece about Tru Fax and the Insaniacs several years ago.  [NOTE: Click here to read that post.]  I was pleased to read it – it was very nice.

2 or 3 lines:  2 or 3 lines has featured over 600 songs, and I’m sure you’ll want to read each and every one.  I’ve sent you links to some of the posts that I’m sure will be of great interest to you – about how many have you read so far?

Diana:  Uh, I'm not sure.  But I’ve read a number of them.

G:  I see.  Exactly how many is “a number of them”?

Diana:  Mmmm . . . I would say several.  Definitely more than just a few.

2 or 3 lines:  Which one would you say is your favorite so far, and why?  It's probably very hard to choose just one.

Diana:  They are all interesting, but I especially liked your Matthew Sweet post -- the one about girlfriends.  I thought that was a very nice one.  I liked that you included a quote by Jane Austen.  [NOTE: Click here to read that post.]

The Fabulettes

2 or 3 lines:  That’s high praise indeed, coming from a big star such as yourself -- thank you, Diana!  As for the Jane Austen quote, I’ve found that chicks usually dig that kind of thing.  But let’s get to the Flamin’ Groovies.  As I understand it, you had also sent an entry to “DC Rocks,” hoping to win the drawing for the two free tickets that I ended up winning.  It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it – I’m the big winner, and you’re just another loser, but you still got to go to the concert for free thanks to my generosity.  Any comment on that?

Diana:  No . . . I can’t really think of anything.

2 or 3 lines:  Are you sure?  You can think about it for a minute or two before you answer if you need to – there’s no hurry to respond.  And you really haven’t said that much so far.

Diana:  . . . .

2 or 3 lines:  I have to admit, I was a little surprised when you accepted my offer of one of the two free tickets I won.  I mean, it wasn’t like we were going on a date or anything, but you obviously didn’t know me – I think a lot of women would have been a little suspicious of some unknown guy who popped up out of nowhere and offered them a free ticket to a concert.  I assume you Googled me before you responded?

Diana: Of course. You appeared to be harmless enough.

2 or 3 lines:  I did, huh?  Thank you -- I think.  So what was your impression of me when we met in person – what did you think of me in the flesh?  Besides being “harmless enough,” that is.

Diana:  You seemed very nice. [NOTE:  Diana uses “very nice” a lot, doesn't she?]  You were solicitous. Extremely polite.  Even charming.  And you were dressed somewhat appropriately, although you didn’t dress like most of the Washington law firm partners I know.

One of Honky Tonk
Confidential's albums

2 or 3 lines:   Anything else you wanted to say about me before we move on?  Anything particularly impressive that you noticed?  

Diana:  Mmmm, let me think . . . well, you’re very tall – I noticed that right away.  And you’re trim.  It’s obvious that you keep in shape.

2 or 3 lines:  Thank you!  Hey, I figure that if I don’t watch my figure, no one else will – right?  Hahahaha.

Diana:  Ah, you’re a fan of Ziegfield Girl, I see – that’s a great movie with a great cast.  Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr . . . and one of my personal favorites, Dan Dailey.

Dan Dailey

2 or 3 lines:  I'm afraid you've lost me.  What in the hell are you talking about, Diana?

Diana:  Ziegfield Girl – it’s a classic Busby Berkeley movie.  You just paraphrased a line from it -- the line about watching your figure.

2 or 3 lines:  Did I hear you correctly?  Did you say Dan Dailey is one of your favorite actors?  The guy from “The Governor and J.J.”?

Diana:  Yes, although I like him more because of his movies.

2 or 3 lines:  Diana, no one reading this interview has a clue who Dan Dailey is -- maybe their grandparents knew who Dan Dailey was, but those grandparents are either dead or don't have a computer or both.  So let’s move on.  By the way, how’s the interview going so far?  Having a good time so far?

Diana:  It’s been . . . uh . . . different.  Not exactly what I was expecting.

2 or 3 lines:  Thank you!  I appreciate the compliment, and I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.  Speaking of the Flamin’ Groovies . . . would you describe yourself as a big fan?

Diana performing with Tru
Fax and the Insaniacs

Diana: Not as big a fan as I am of the Stooges or the New York Dolls or the Ramones, which were other huge influences on Tru Fax and the Insaniacs.  But Teenage Head was on one of the first albums that David Wells, who was the co-founder of Tru Fax, ever played for me.  We hadn’t formed our band yet, but we were talking about it, and I think that what we wanted to do was similar to what the Flamin’ Groovies did in that we wanted to have hooks and a kind of raw power and play songs crafted like “Teenage Head.”  Also, the Groovies had the same kind of tongue-in-cheek attitude that we had.  

2 or 3 lines:  What songs by the Groovies were the best in your opinion? 

Diana:  Of all the Flamin’ Groovies’ songs, I think “Teenage Head” and “Shake Some Action”  were the two most influential on  punk/new wave bands and musicians.  Most of the songs on the Teenage Head album were pretty straightforward rock/blues tunes.  What set it apart was the rawness and the sloppiness of the recordings and performances.  From my point of view, that is a good thing, because the overriding factor that makes the album so good was the pure energy of those performances.  

2 or 3 lines:  What about "Teenage Head" in particular -- I'm referring to the song, not the album.

Diana:  While I like the album Teenage Head, it wouldn’t be on my list of influential albums without that seminal title track.  I found “Teenage Head” absolutely mind-blowing.  It transfixed me.  When I hear it, my head starts nodding to the beat.  The beat then invades your body and takes over.  “Teenage Head” is the perfect protopunk song.  It has thumping power, it has feigned malevolence, it even has a sense of humor.  It’s full of teenage angst, but it’s tongue-in-cheek.  We know that we’re searching for meaning, floundering through life, but it’s not the end of the world, for crying out loud.  

2 or 3 lines:  The Groovies' original lead singer, Roy Loney, left the band after it released Teenage Head in 1971.  Chris Wilson eventually replaced him, and the band went to England several years to record their next album, Shake Some Action, which was one of three albums they did for Sire Records in the late 1970s.

Diana:  I really loved that first Sire album, Shake Some Action -- especially the title track.  The band made a continental shift when Roy Loney left, moving into pure pop territory -- not that there’s anything wrong with that.  The Groovies sort of threw themselves back into England at the time of the "British Invasion," and some of the resulting songs are beautiful, little pop gems.   

2 or 3 lines:  Speaking as an accomplished musician in your own right, what do you think made the Flamin' Groovies so special as a band?  What were their greatest strengths?

Diana:  The hooks and the inimitable guitar sound.  You hear some Groovies songs and you know right away who that guitar player is -- it’s Cyril Jordan.  I love that jangly, Byrds-ish guitar sound.  Also, the group’s unpretentious and friendly attitude and their willingness to make fun of themselves.  That may not seem like a strength, but it is.

2 or 3 lines:  What did other musicians of your acquaintance think about them?  They never achieved a great degree of popularity with the public at large – were they a favorite of other musicians?

Diana Quinn, Mark Noone (the Slickee Boys) 
and Lynda Cokinos ("DC Rocks" blog)

Diana:  Yes, definitely – and you noticed that at the U Street Music Hall show we went to.  There were a lot of musicians and fans there from back in the day, all there to pay their respects to the Groovies:  Mark Noone and Kim Kane of the Slickee Boys . . . Bob Boilen, who played with Tiny Desk Unit and who hosts NPR’s All Songs Considered show . . . and many others.  Even Steve Lorber, who introduced so many punk and new wave songs to us on his "Mystic Eyes" radio show, was there.  So was Skip Groff, who owned "Yesterday and Today Records" in Rockville, Maryland.  [NOTE: Groff also owned Limp Records, which released 20-odd punk records by local artists between 1978 and 1982.]

2 or 3 lines:  I think the Groovies' “Shake Some Action” is one of the very best rock songs of all time. 

Diana:  “Shake Some Action” was very influential in the early punk/new wave scene.  It’s just about perfect -- a guitar-driven, power-pop  masterpiece.  Compared to the growling, bass-driven “Teenage Head,” “Shake Some Action” is light and jangly, with that syncopated chorus that just makes you want to pogo up and down.  The producer, Dave Edmunds, had a big fat sound on his own records, and you can clearly see his influence with all the layering, especially of guitar tracks, on “Shake Some Action.”  It was a great song and it should have made the Flamin’ Groovies famous. 

2 or 3 lines:  Any other Groovies’ songs you particularly like?

Diana:  Of their other poppy songs, I’d have to say that  I love “You Tore Me Down” the most.  It’s a beautifully sad song about breakup and romantic sorrow and it’s perfectly crafted with lush, jangly guitars and sweet and simple harmonies.

2 or 3 lines:  “Shake Some Action” was the 500th song to be featured on 2 or 3 lines, and I interviewed the band’s lead singer, Chris Wilson, for that post.  [NOTE: You can click here if you missed it.]  Tell me how great it was for you when I introduced you to Chris after the concert and got him to agree to pose for a picture with you.

Two legends meet: Diana 
Quinn with Chris Wilson

Diana:  Oh yes, I did read the interview you did with Chris Wilson.  He mentioned how odd David Bowie was when the Groovies toured with him, but you didn’t follow up, so I’ve been wondering exactly what he meant.  [NOTE:  As for not following up with Chris Wilson concerning why he thought David Bowie was odd, I guess I didn’t feel the need to ask why Chris felt that way because David Bowie is just about the weirdest effing guy who ever recorded an album.]  What was the question again?  Oh yeah, you asked me about meeting Chris Wilson.  I do have to say that he was a truly nice, gracious guy, and it was fun talking to him.  But I wonder how much of our conversation he remembered the next morning, though.   

2 or 3 lines:  Diana, it’s been fun talking with you.  I want to feature songs from all of your groups on 2 or 3 lines  in the future.  So let’s keep in touch -- OK?

Diana:  Sure, Gary.

"Teenage Head" is a great song, but it really shouldn't have been featured in this 2 or 3 lines.  You see, I asked Diana to pick a song that met two simple criteria.  First, it had to be a song that the Groovies played at the concert we attended.  Second, it had to be a song that was recorded when Chris Wilson -- he's my BFF! -- was the lead singer (not Roy Loney, the original Flamin' Groovies lead singer).  

But Diana said she wanted to talk about "Teenage Head" -- which was recorded long before Chris Wilson replaced Roy Loney, and which the Groovies did not play the night we saw them.

Cyril Jordan and Chris Wilson
of the Flamin' Groovies

What could I do in the face of Diana's seeming inability to follow simple directions?  Nothing, really.  I just let it go.  Because this is the business that I have chosen.  Capisce?

One final note about "Teenage Head."  In a 2011 interview that appeared in the Los Angeles music magazine, L.A. Record, Cyril Jordan was asked where the song's name came from:

Interviewer:  Didn’t you get the phrase "Teenage Head" from some time you were on acid with [the colorful musician and record producer] Kim Fowley at a folk festival?

Cyril Jordan:  That’s true!  I dropped two tabs that were 1500 mg each.  [Kim] was getting a contact high off me!  He had me in hysterics!  Every time some little chippie would walk by, he’d immediately come on to her.  "We’re available . . . we’re looking for teenage head!"  I laughed so hard that when I woke up the next morning, my mouth was wide open and stuck that way for an hour.  We even said it to Linda Ronstadt!  Let me tell you, she was not pleased!

Click here to read the entire L.A. Record interview.  

Here's "Teenage Head":

Click below to buy the song from Amazon: