Ivan Julian

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ivan Julian


Img_capt = Ivan Julian
Img_size = 250px
Born = Birth date and age|1955|6|26|mf=y
Instrument = Guitar, Bass guitar, Vocals,
Genre = Punk rock
Rock & roll
Occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter, producer
Label = Sire, Warner Bros.
Associated_acts = The Voidoids, The Outsets, Lovelies

Ivan Julian (born June 26, 1955) is a guitarist and bassist, founding member of the seminal Punk/ New Wave group Richard Hell and the Voidoids, The Outsets and Lovelies

He has performed with the Isley Brothers, The Clash, Matthew Sweet, and Shriekback.

Biography

Early life and career

It would be easy to say that Ivan Julian was inspired the day he saw Jimi Hendrix play but his story is not that simple. Although this day did change him it had nothing to do with Hendrix’s style of playing that influenced him, but what he represented and exuded in his performance- a freedom of expression. Ivan went home and burnt his Chuck Taylor shoes in his backyard- a symbolic gesture that conformity would not be a part of his life anymore.

Being the child of a Navy officer, he spent his formative years living in such exotic places as Haiti and Cuba. He enjoyed spending time alone and was an avid reader of such interesting material as Edgar Allan Poe, Ovid and he enjoyed putting his own thoughts in writing.

When he was 13, he was a singer in a Led Zeppelin cover band, which led him to pick up the guitar at 14. Prior to this, he also studied the bassoon and sax. He spent his high school years as a part-time student in a college program studying music theory. And then at the age of 17, the wanderlust spirit took over and Julian found himself in London as a member of The Foundations with notable hits as “Build Me Up Buttercup” and “Baby Now That I Found You” touring Great Britain, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.

The Voidoids, Blank Generation

In 1977 Julian returned to the U.S. to New York, where he was a founding member of the seminal Punk/ New Wave group Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Soon after the band recorded an EP that was heralded by the Village Voice as one of the best records of the year. Early traces of Julian’s prowess grace two sides of this historical platter.

Later that year they were signed to Sire/Warner Brothers, and with the band and Richard Gottehrer producing came the Blank Generation LP. This album set a new standard for a whole generation of guitar players. Two of Julian’s songs (co-written with Richard Hell), Liars Beware and Betrayal Takes Two appear on side one. He is also credited with writing the intro to the title song, Blank Generation. The reviewers gave Blank Generation high accolades and singled out the guitar work praising its merit. The album stands the test of time and today is still considered the quintessential record of that period.

The Outsets (1980-85)

Ivan formed The Outsets just after the break up of Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 1980. The first step would be to scower the clubs looking for the 'right' drummer. He remembered seeing Vinny DeNunzio, of The Feelies, playing with Richard Lloyd's band and being impressed. As it turned out Vinny was ready for a change so they started holding auditions for bass and the other guitar. When the word got out, Fred Smith (Television, Blondie), Ted Niceley (producer Girls vs. Boys), Tommy Keene were among the people that came to play. Eventually the positions were filled by Bob Albertson on bass and Simon Chardiet on guitar. Soon after the band went into rehearsals and prepared for live dates at CBGB's, Max's Kansas City. At this point there were more venues opening up such as the Mudd Club, Danceteria catering to a new minimal, percussive style of music and Ivan wanted to be part of it. The plan as always was to venture out with fresh ideas and to new places, so the first gig was booked at Tier 3, a perfomance space in Soho.

After several months the band was signed to Contender Records and released their first single, 'I'm Searchin' For You b/w 'Fever'. Much has been made of the misprint on the label that incorrectly list the publishing rights for the B side. As a result the record company corrected the mistake after the first pressing which has made it somewhat of a collectors item. (When the band found out about this they were so outraged they gathered all the copies they could find in local record stores and replaced them at a reduced price with disks they had modified by painting on one side in bright yellow, "Under Construction" on the actual vinyl. Though these modified versions are more valuable, if one comes across a copy you are advised not to attempt to play it on your turntable).Soon it was apparent that the band needed a new engine so Danny Hirsch from Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers came in on bass. He proved not only to be an amazing musician but a gifted writing partner for Julian, as well .

The songs on THE PUNK/FUNK VOODOO COLLECTION were recorded in the basement studio of Georgio Gomelsky, Yardbirds producer and early manager of the Rolling Stones. He persuaded Ivan Julian and the band to explore sounds outside of the boundries of American pop music, most notably Fela Kuti. The music and the lyrics resound with the rough and tumble immediacy of East Village New York in the early '80's. Included as Bonus Tracks are remastered versions of The Outsets first single originally released as a 45 on Contender records.

Garland Jeffreys approached Ivan and offered to produce The Outsets forthcoming EP “The Ice Man”, which also involved Bob Clearmountain as engineer. During this time he also recorded with Tomas Donker from Defunkt, Afrikka Bambaata and Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic fame. Originally released in the U.S. on Plexus Records playing keyboards on the bonus tracks is Marsha Sardy who also played with The Fall.

Soon after Julian’s close friend and partner in The Outsets and Lovelies passed away. His friend had a white Stratocaster that was literally broken in pieces that he never fixed but kept around. Ivan decided to put it together and keep it as a remembrance of their friendship. Oddly, his playing took a noticeable difference with this guitar.

The Clash, Shreikback, Matthew Sweet & Producer

The Clash were at Electric Lady Studios recording what would become the Sandinista! LP. Mick Jones and Joe Strummer wanted Julian to join them in the studio but he was touring with his band, The Outsets. Upon his return he recorded with them and help to develop the only single from Sandinista! entitled “The Call Up” backed with “Ivan Meets G. I. Joe.”

The English bands Shreikback, founded by Dave Allen from the Gang of Four and Barry Andrews of XTC, asked Julian on two tours of the North America and Europe.

Julian’s thoughts on being compared to Hendrix? “I never wanted to emulate him because he is someone that can’t be touched, but I am honoured that people would say that about me.” With his influences being such notable figures as Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler and Charlie Christian it is no wonder that he has developed a distinct style all his own. Julian states, “There is a piece of their soul in every note they play.” During most of the nineties Julian recorded and toured the world with Matthew Sweet as lead guitarist earning him three Gold Record Awards.

Ivan Julian continues to write and produce music at his analog tape/digital recording studio, NY HED where he has produced the last 2 Fleshtones LP’s, mastered Five Dollar Priest among others. His production skills have been praised being compared to George Clinton and Joe Boyd. To summarize what you can see is that the one thing he does is make music.

Further reading

*Clinton Heylin. "From the Velvets to the Voidoids", Penguin Books (1993) ISBN 0-14-017970-4
*Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain. "Please Kill Me, the Uncensored Oral History of Punk" , Grove Press (1996) ISBN 0-8021-1588-8
*Al Spicer. "The Rough Guide to Punk", Rough Guides/Penguin (2006) ISBN 1-84353-473-8

External links

* Ivan Julian Website: [http://www.ivanjulian.com Official Site]
* Ivan Julian Official Myspace: [http://www.myspace.com/ivanjulian Official Myspace]