Modern Lovers

Ever Petulant Jonathan Richman

By: Charles Giuliano - Apr 10, 2016

Modern Lovers

Free Sunday concerts
Cambridge Common
Kid from Natick
Solo act
Jonathan Richman
Short hair
Blasting mantra
I'm Straight
Kind of a goof
Left for the Apple
Hung with
Velvet Underground
Worshiped Lou
After swigging
Bottle of Courvoisier
Pretty smashed
Asked him about
Modern Lovers
Lou just laughed
Told Jonathan
Shocked he asked
Lou said that
1973 neighbor Arthur Gallagher
Fallon Place
Hippie enclave
Looking for a band
College week spring break
Family hotel
Inverurie in Bermuda
A few kids came
Next night
Back with a few more
Became fans
Tourism supported
Picnics on the beach
Local band
Bermuda Strollers
Wings of a Dove
We heard them
Day after day
At night
Helping to set up
Kind of promoter
And roadie
Jerry Harrison's
Electric keyboard
Dave Robinson's drums
Ernie Brooks on bass
Classic Modern Lovers
Roadrunner
Massachusetts anthem
She Cracked
Johnathan always
Insecure and nerdy
Reflecting on why
Nobody Called
Pablo Picasso
An Asshole
After a week
Lovers wicked tight
Got them a gig
Sandy's
A scorcher
In and out of studios
Revolving door
Producers and demos
Jonathan ever restless
Wanted new sound
Softer more acoustic
Hand clapping
No more Velvets
Robinson joined
The Cars
Later Harrison
Split for Talking Heads
Brooks played with
David Johansen, Elliot Murphy
Jonathan well
Still Jonathan
Something About Mary
Cult following
Now middle aged
Adolescent

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Reader Comments

"I would say they were the greatest 1970s Boston band period. The biggest influence on what happened here in the local non blues non Aerosmith music scene"

Posted By: Jon Macey on 04-12-2016, 08:37 am
"Roger Lifeset to Danny Lipman I question the accuracy of this story esp. the no release...I believe they released on Beserkely. Lemme know > Roger Yes they were, Alan Mason’s buddy if I remember. Still makes me mad. Danny"

Posted By: Roger Lifeset on 04-11-2016, 05:37 pm
"People who know music know The Modern Lovers. Their reputation will continue to grow."

Posted By: Paul Carpenter on 04-11-2016, 05:30 pm
"I always thought he turned his back on 'making it' broke up the band to go solo and admired him for it."

Posted By: Don Doe on 04-11-2016, 05:29 pm
"I remember them and 'Robin Lane and the Chartbusters'"

Posted By: Chris Gauthier on 04-11-2016, 05:27 pm
"Very good again! I’ve forwarded it to Danny Lipman who in those daze was the bands muse, etc. I believe they did release one on Beserkely before the breakup....."

Posted By: Roger Lifeset on 04-10-2016, 03:38 pm
"Thanks--this is great. I forwarded the link to your poem and pictures to my sisters who are great fans of their 2nd/3rd cousin. I continue to be amazed by your energy and range! Gerry Richman, professor, Suffolk University"

Posted By: Gerry Richman on 04-10-2016, 01:46 pm
"I think the inclusion of a different cursive is very effective and you put it in key spots. it even works in tandem with the title. modern lovers the group is vaguely familiar. as I age things can run together. I remember barry and the remains. also when I briefly was lead singer for the hallucinations before uncle peter arrived and took over, I kind of remember performing at a big stage in boston with a packed audience of girls slightly over 18----there were about 3 or 4 boston bands performing. I really was not a musician. it was kind of fun for a short time, but I needed to spend more of my time painting. also, I have never been that involved with pop culture except for professional wrestling. I wish I were a lot bigger , I could have been a pro wrestler . the painter. a robe covered in paint. booed by the audience who hate abstract painting. I would have liked bobby the brain heenan as my manager."

Posted By: Arthur Yanoff on 04-10-2016, 01:43 pm