Everett True

Last updated

Everett True
Everett True.jpg
Everett True in 2007
Background information
Birth nameJeremy Andrew Thackray
Also known asJerry Thackray
The Legend
Born (1961-04-21) 21 April 1961 (age 63)
Chelmsford, Essex, England
GenresRock
Years active1982–present
Labels Thick Syrup Records

Everett True (born Jeremy Andrew Thackray on 21 April 1961) is an English music journalist and musician. He became interested in rock music after hearing The Residents, and formed a band with school friends. He has written and recorded as The Legend.

Contents

Career

In 1982, he went to a gig by The Laughing Apple and met the group's lead singer Alan McGee. According to McGee: "there used to be this guy who'd stand at the front of all the gigs and dance disjointedly". They became friends and when McGee started the Communication Blur club, he offered Thackray the role of compėre, stating that Thackray "was the most un-enigmatic, boring, kindest, shyest person you could ever meet – and it just appealed to my sense of humour to make him compère." [1] He was originally billed as "the legendary Jerry Thackray", eventually shortened to simply "The Legend". [1] McGee also offered him a column in his new fanzine, also called Communication Blur, but Thackray left after two issues, because he objected to McGee's proposal to put a flexidisc of The Smiths on the front cover. He instead started his own zine, The Legend!, under which name he recorded the single "73 in 83", the first to be released by McGee's Creation Records. [2] In 1984, he released a second single, "Legend Destroys the Blues", but his performing career did not take off. He puts this down to that he "didn't like to perform a song more than once", although he has continued to make occasional appearances. [3]

In 1983, Thackray began working at the New Musical Express . In 1988, he was sacked from the paper, and instead took a job at its rival, Melody Maker . He was told to adopt a new pseudonym, as the "Legend!" name was too closely associated with the NME. He chose "Everett True", from the early twentieth century cartoon The Outbursts of Everett True . [4]

Within months, he was sent to Seattle to cover the emerging grunge scene. He helped to publicise the music and befriended many of the bands. In 1989, as The Legend!, he performed guest vocals on a single with Calvin Johnson and Tobi Vail's band The Go Team. In 1991, he introduced Kurt Cobain to Courtney Love at a Butthole Surfers and L7 gig. The three became close friends, and, in 1992, True wheeled Cobain on stage at the Reading Festival. [2] In 2006, True published Nirvana: The True Story, a book about his personal relationship with the band and the grunge scene. [5]

In the early 1990s, True lived in Brighton, East Sussex, with members of the band Huggy Bear.

Leaving MM in the late 1990s, he became editor of Vox , reverting on this occasion to his real name. It has been claimed that the band theaudience were formed after founder member Billy Reeves bet True £100 that he could form a band and get it signed. [6]

In 1998, True returned to Seattle, where he worked for a year as music editor for The Stranger, [7] before heading for Australia, where he freelanced at Melbourne broadsheet, The Age . He also recorded an album under the name The Legend!. Back again in the United Kingdom, he set up the magazine Careless Talk Costs Lives in 2002. Issues of this publication began at No. 12 and counted down, claiming that "we have set out to replace the decaying music press in Britain, so by issue zero we will either have achieved our objectives or given up trying". [8] By the twelfth issue (#1), it was clear that it would not achieve its ambitions, and True instead founded Plan B .

Between 2004 and 2009, True helped oversee Plan B alongside others, notably Frances Morgan, Chris Houghton and designer Andrew Clare. He has also contributed to many magazines and newspapers, and has written many books, including ones on the Ramones, The White Stripes, as well as an account of his time with Nirvana. In 2008, he relocated with his family to Brisbane in Australia, apparently on a whim: "It was a nice day when we stepped off the plane," he told several interviewers. Up until the start of 2009, he wrote a weekly column for VillageVoice.com, [9] and The Guardian – with the latter, entering into conflict with Australia's music street press. [10] There was also a fair amount of controversy over some unguarded remarks True made on Twitter with regard to the usage of Kurt Cobain's image in Guitar Hero 5 . [11] [12] These led to immediate furious denials from Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. [13] Later, Courtney Love denied she had that they had anything to do with the matter, but it was then revealed that Love had worked with Activision on crafting Cobain's look for the game. [14] The family subsequently returned to the United Kingdom.

True currently contributes columns to Sweden's Go Magazine, New York City's Bust magazine, the Something Awful website and writes for various Australian online publications including Mess And Noise and The Vine. [15] True also fronts two Brisbane bands: The Deadnotes and The Thin Kids, [16] the latter of which caused some controversy when they picked up a plum support to Kate Nash midway through 2010. [17] For several years, he was the main editor and writer for the Brisbane-based online magazine, Collapse Board. [18]

His most recent project is Rejected Unknown, a media/publishing company set up in response to the 33⅓ series of music books; it takes its name from the album by Daniel Johnston. The first book came out in 2016, and is entitled 101 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, a critique of the sacred cows of the rock music canon. [19] This was followed in 2017 by his biography The Electrical Storm: Grunge, my Part In Its Downfall, [20] and in 2018 by the short story collection Ed Sheeran Is Shit. [21]

As Jerry Thackray, he is Course Leader in BA (Hons) Music Journalism at BIMM London. [22] He still performs on stage as The Legend!. [23]

Discography

The Legend

Albums

  • Some of Us Still Burn (mini-LP) (1985), Vinyl Drip
  • Everett True Connection (2001), 3 Acre Floor

Singles and EPs

  • "'73 in '83" (1983), Creation
  • "Destroys the Blues" (1984), Creation
  • "Talk Open (live)" (1984), Legend! (free flexi-disc given away with Legend! fanzine)
  • Everything's Coming Up Roses EP (1986), Vinyl Drip
  • "The Ballad" (1987), Constrictor
  • "Step Aside" (1988), Constrictor
  • "Breakfast in Bed" (1990), K Records (as guest vocalist with the Go Team)
  • "Do Nuts" (1991), Sub Pop
  • The Legend! Sings the Songs of Daniel Treacy (2005), Unpopular
  • The Thin Kids w/ Kate Nash - The Thin Kids theme b/w Kate Nash ft. Everett True - Warrior in Woolworths (2012), Have 10p Records
  • The Thin Kids ft. Kate Nash - Free Pussy Riot Now! (2013), Have 10p Records

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Cobain</span> American rock musician (1967–1994)

Kurt Donald Cobain was an American musician who was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge rock band Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establishment persona, his compositions widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock music. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is widely recognized as one of the most influential alternative rock musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirvana (band)</span> American rock band (1987–1994)

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers, most notably Chad Channing, before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Nirvana's success popularized alternative rock, and they were often referenced as the figurehead band of Generation X. Despite a short mainstream career spanning only three years, their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grunge</span> Genre of rock music

Grunge is an alternative rock genre and subculture which emerged during the mid-1980s in the U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal. The genre featured the distorted electric guitar sound used in both genres, although some bands performed with more emphasis on one or the other. Like these genres, grunge typically uses electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Grunge also incorporates influences from indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as social alienation, self-doubt, abuse, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, addiction, psychological trauma and a desire for freedom.

<i>Bleach</i> (Nirvana album) 1989 studio album by Nirvana

Bleach is the debut studio album by American rock band Nirvana, released on June 15, 1989, by Sub Pop. After the release of their debut single "Love Buzz" on Sub Pop in November 1988, Nirvana rehearsed for two to three weeks in preparation for recording a full-length album. The main recording sessions for Bleach took place at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington between December 1988 and January 1989. It is the only Nirvana album released on the Sub Pop label and their only studio album to feature drummer Chad Channing.

<i>Foo Fighters</i> (album) 1995 debut album by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is the debut studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on July 4, 1995, through Roswell and Capitol Records. Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl wrote the entire album. He recorded it himself in six days with the assistance of producer Barrett Jones at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington, in 1994. Grohl said that he recorded the album just for fun, describing it as a cathartic experience to recover from the suicide of Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain. The album is considered to have started the post-grunge genre.

<i>In Utero</i> 1993 studio album by Nirvana

In Utero is the third and final studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 21, 1993, by DGC Records. After breaking into the mainstream with their second album, Nevermind (1991), Nirvana hired Steve Albini to record In Utero, seeking a more complex, abrasive sound that was reminiscent of their work prior to Nevermind. Although the singer and primary songwriter Kurt Cobain claimed that the album was "very impersonal", many of its songs contain heavy allusions to his personal life and struggles, expressing feelings of angst that were common on the band's previous album.

Frances Bean Cobain is an American visual artist and model. She is the only child of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Hole frontwoman Courtney Love. She controls the publicity rights to her father's name and image.

<i>Heavier Than Heaven</i>

Heavier Than Heaven is a 2001 biography of musician Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. It was written by Charles R. Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Bloom</span> 1992 single by Nirvana

"In Bloom" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the second track on the band's second album, Nevermind, released by DGC Records in September 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">About a Girl (Nirvana song)</span> 1989 song by Nirvana

"About a Girl" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the third song on their debut album, Bleach, released in June 1989.

"Love Buzz" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue. It was written by Robbie van Leeuwen and first released on the group's 1969 album At Home. The original song is notable for its psychedelic rock style and its extensive use of the sitar, played by Leeuwen.

"Negative Creep" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the seventh song on their debut album Bleach, released in June 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Son</span> 1993 single by Hole

"Beautiful Son" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, co-written by frontwoman Courtney Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson, and drummer Patty Schemel. The song was released as the band's fourth single in April 1993 on the European label City Slang. To coincide with the song's lyrics, Love used a photograph of her husband, Kurt Cobain, at age 7 as the single's artwork.

Careless Talk Costs Lives was a British music magazine, published from January 2002 until November 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doll Parts</span> 1994 single by Hole

"Doll Parts" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love. The song was released as the band's sixth single and second from their second studio album, Live Through This, in November 1994 to accompany the band's North American tour. It was also the first single to be released following the death of bassist Kristen Pfaff in June 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eighties (song)</span> 1984 single by Killing Joke

"Eighties" is the lead single from English post-punk band Killing Joke's fifth studio album, Night Time (1985), produced by Chris Kimsey. The song had been premiered during a three track live performance for UK TV show The Tube in December 1983. Upon its release, the single reached No. 60 in the UK Singles Chart.

The Thin Kids are a band from Brisbane. Featuring British music critic Everett True, Triple J personality Maggie Collins, musician Edward Guglielmino and drummer from The Gin Club Scotty Regan. Ryan Jarman from The Cribs once listed them as something "Right now I love."

Aaron Burckhard is an American musician who was the first drummer recruited for Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic's rock group that soon came to be known as Nirvana. Burckhard performed as a part of this band until October 1987. Burckhard was no longer a part of Nirvana by the time it recorded its first demo at Reciprocal Recordings in Seattle on January 23, 1988.

<i>Live at the Paramount</i> (video) 2011 video by Nirvana

Live at the Paramount is a live video and album by American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 2011. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc as part of the 20th anniversary of the band's second album and mainstream breakthrough, Nevermind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty on the Inside Tour</span> 1991 concert tour by Hole

The Pretty on the InsideTour was the first international concert tour by American alternative rock band Hole in promotion of their debut album, Pretty on the Inside. The tour began in the summer of 1991, and concluded in December of that year. The tour largely had Hole as a supporting act, with them performing as an opener for Mudhoney's European tour, as well as The Smashing Pumpkins in the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 Dee, Johnny (1988) "It's Different For Domeheads: Alan McGee recalls the most memorable Creation creations", Underground, April 1988 – issue 13, p. 28
  2. 1 2 Creation Records: The Legend! Archived 20 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Matthew Fritch, Magnet Magazine: Everett True Archived 17 June 2003 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Poptones: Questions of Doom – Everett True Archived 24 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Omnibus Press, 2006, reprinted as Nirvana: The Biography by Da Capo Press, 2007
  6. Soph-ology: a Sophie Ellis Bextor fansite Archived 23 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. The Stranger Timeline
  8. Digital Hardcore: Careless Talk Costs Lives – Biography Archived 1 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Village Voice, Hugs and Kisses: The Continued Outbursts of Everett True Archived 18 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Music That I Like: Everett True vs the Australian Street Press
  11. The Gawker: Twitter Crazed Courtney Love Wants Dave Grohl *** ***** By Everett True Archived 1 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. The Guardian: Guitar Hero upsets Nirvana Fans
  13. Music That I Like: Kurt Cobain vs Guitar Hero pt 2
  14. Cobain's Guitar Hero Cameo Brings Legal Threat. Shacknews.com. Retrieved on 2 April 2012.
  15. Unconvention Brisbane: Presenter Announcement – Everett True Archived 24 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Faster Louder: The Cribs + The Thin Kids". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  17. Mess And Noise: True’s Thin Kids Land Kate Nash Supports Archived 17 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  18. Collapse Board: Whatever Happened To The Music Press
  19. "Book Review: 101 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear". Saatchi Gallery. 13 June 2016.
  20. Adcock, Lee (6 February 2017). ""Why Aren't These People My Friends?": DiS Meets Everett True". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  21. "Ed Sheeran is shit, and other major musical malfunctions".
  22. "JERRY THACKRAY - HEAD OF MUSIC JOURNALISM".
  23. "Jerry Thackray". SoundCloud.