Re: R.I.P. Greg Kihn

He managed to score a couple of power pop hits in the early 80s. For some reason he doesn't have an entry on this site, despite being on a New Wave oriented label from way back.

He was also an author of fun, intentionally schlocky horror novels. The only one I read was a thinly-veiled biography of Ed Wood, with supernatural elements thrown in.

we posted one minute apart!

"Jeopardy!" really needs to do something to honor him. The only reason a lot of people even know that show exists is because of Greg Kihn (and later Weird Al Yankovic.) That would be the right thing to do.

Ack … no! Greg may not have an entry in reviews section, but he was always in the TP fray. In the magazine saw articles and I’ll bet five or more album reviews (need to check ‘magazine index’ to verify)

He was sturdy. Reliable. I have many of his albums ( many bought used I admit) and never felt cheated. He was pretty prolific and a staple of Beserkley Records

Bip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the
> magazine saw articles and I’ll bet five or more
> album reviews (need to check ‘magazine index’ to
> verify)

Indeed! he was mentioned in the following issues:

Greg Kihn (Band) article 34, 68
live 44
Again 21
Next of Kihn 30
With the Naked Eye 42
Glass House Rock Hit and Run 53
Rockihnroll 63
Kihntinued Hit and Run 76
Kihnspiracy 87

And he is included on two compilation album reviews: "Spitballs," and "Beserkley Chartbusters."

I don't have an explanation as to why he is not included here.

Pretty sure he was included in at least the first print edition, no? I have a vague recollection of some "enough with the silly puns in the album titles" comment in the reviews. Can't find my 2nd edition right now, but can confirm that he was no longer included as of the 3rd edition.

My brother had a life-size cardboard stand-up of Kihn back in the day. I don't remember what album it was promoting, but I remember seeing a photo of Lene Lovich posing with the same stand-up, I think in Creem. Lene had a bit of a maniacal look on her face, which made the look on Greg's seem pretty queasy.

Dunno what ever happened to that Kihn display. I guess my dope of a brother took it with him to college and it likely got destroyed in his dorm room, the same as my cardboard promos for Zenyatta Mondatta, which he stole when I wasn't home and took to Carbondale with him. Jerk. We would've been sitting on some pretty decent money if we hadn't destroyed all the cool advertising promos Don the record store guy off-loaded on to us.

A real shame, and a loss to rock 'n' roll, for sure. His albums hold up well -- unpretentious, well-written power-pop, not really beholden to any specific era of music. His output tapered off after Beserkley folded in the Eighties, but he never turned his back on his signature sound. (I didn't pay a lot of attention to his later work, until I interviewed GKB bassist Robert Berry a few years ago.)

We did lights for the Greg Kihn Band when they played Colorado Springs in 1983. I remember Greg as an all-around good guy -- friendly, easy to talk to, and appreciative of everyone who was helping to put on a good show.

Rest in peace, Greg, and thanks.

Just saw the NY Times obit which quotes Karen Schlosberg in TP.

Since I've only heard "Jeopardy" and "The Breakup Song," what album(s) would people recommend as a starting point for him?

Personally, I’d start with Rockihnroll and Kihntinued from 81-82. You won’t need to dig too deep to decide if you like it or not. Consistent artist, nice songs on all his lps I thought

I have the Kihnsolidation CD, and it starts off strong with "The Breakup Song" and "Jeopardy" although a lot of other stuff was good too, including his Springsteen covers "For You" and "Rendezvous."