“We Never Learn”
Eric Davidson
In what’s probably the only true documented account on the subject, New Bomb Turks howler Eric Davidson took on the rather enormous task of chronicling the underground rock ‘n’ roll scene all over the world for a span of 13 years, 1988-2001. We Never Learn is the story behind so many bands that were on the brink of conquering the world, their regions, their cities, or in some cases just their small dank scenes if only for a split second, before the whole damn music industry changed, before people changed, and before mortgages, family life and in certain cases the utility bills left the majority of them in the dust or simply crushed their spirits. It’s probably better that most of these bands didn’t ever truly blow up because then we wouldn’t have ever had nearly the amount of incredible music and tales that inspired this book. With most, it was all about the rock ‘n’ roll and debauchery anyway. Whenever there was money (especially from record companies) bands burnt it up as fast as they got it – just the way it should be. There’s some quality interviews with a lot of underground rock’s heavy hitters of the time including Blag Jesus (Dwarves), Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion), Eddie Spaghetti (Supersuckers), Speedo (Rocket from the Crypt), Corey Parks (Nashville Pussy), Rick Sims (Didgits, Gaza Strippers), as well as Davidson’s insight with his own heavy-hitting Turks of the time, and a boatload of now-defunct record company heads, many who suffered similar or worse fates than the bands did. While much of the book leans on Davidson’s personal experiences and also lends a great deal of insight to scenes near and dear to many of us in Cleveland and Columbus, the author explores rock around the globe with tremendous insight to bands like Guitar Wolf, Teengenerate, The Hives and The Spaceshits. It’s no easy task compiling this many years of rock and hitting up every angle with equal conviction, but Davidson comes about as close as you can get. As always with books like We Never Learn, there will be some debate as to who should’ve gotten more ink, who should’ve gotten less and so forth. Being a large fan of this time period of rock and being in a band that Davidson himself once interviewed for Scene Magazine in Cleveland, Hellvis, around 2001, I have my own personal biases like anyone. But this is exhaustive without being overbearing, and really just about all of the truly meaningful bands of the time at least get a mention or two if not interviewed. A free 20-song download also comes with purchase, and like the book is certainly up for a little debate but offers an excellent glimpse into the sounds Davidson put to words so well. A must read for anyone even remotely involved in “gunk punk” anywhere from the early 80s to those that still plug away at it today. 10/10 – B.J. Lisko – weneverlearnbook.com
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