As some people know, I divide my time between Fantagraphics and non-profit radio station, KEXP, and yesterday, my worlds collided when my boss (the other one) played this on the radio: “The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo” by Memphis whiskey-rock* band Lucero (off their most recent-release 1372 Overton Park).
I caught the chorus — "Maggie the mechanic, punk rock girl, lonely saint" — and immediately bolted up in my chair. It's not the first time Love & Rockets has inspired a band, and I'm certain it won't be the last.
[* Yeah, I don't know what that is either. ]
And while on the topic of comic book inspiration in music, I wanted to direct you to the latest release from Dew-Claw, a solo project from Stephen Hunking, former guitarist for the excellent band Hypnolovewheel. The first track on his new EP, Holiday Compression, was inspired by noneother than the book Weathercraft by Jim Woodring. Wanna check it out? You can download it FOR FREE!
[And yeaaah, I know that image above is from The Portable Frank, not Weathercraft, so what?]
Now I'm kind-of obsessed with finding more songs inspired by Fantagraphics books. There's "Ghost World" by Aimee Mann. "Buddy Bradley" by Adam Green (formerly of the Moldy Peaches). Have Gwar written a song about Prison Pit yet?