Memphis Egypt

The Mekons

NEXT TO MY TURNTABLE I have an old 80GB iPod hooked up directly to powered speakers in my office — thousands and thousands of songs ready for quick shuffling. This morning MEMPHIS EGYPT came on and it just set the momentum for a happy, happy day of prepping for tomorrow’s film shoot. These guitars just rip and I loved jumping into this one.

I first heard this tune on MTV’s 120 Minutes in the 90’s which directly led to me becoming a life long Mekons fan.

Destroy your safe and happy lives before it is too late,
The battles we fought were long and hard,
Just not to be consumed by rock n' roll...
Rock n' roll

Ten years ago I was at the Cucalorus Film Fest in Wilmington for a REDWOOD HIGHWAY screening, and I got to meet Jon Langford when he performed a set in support of my friend Joe Angio’s great doc REVENGE OF THE MEKONS. Langford’s a LEGEND who started the band in England back in ‘77! The remarkable thing is they are still together and making great music. What a discography — over 45 years of work that transcends genre. The thing I love most about the Mekons is how Langford and Sally Timms trade vocals and share these big, wonderful personalities. They are fun and fearless artists.