Bananas & Dynamite

Mick & Kim
Originally uploaded by Theresa K.

Bananas & Dynamite is a song by Troy Gregory on his album, LAURA. It does, however, describe this photo of Mick Collins in his banana yellow t-shirt, and Kim Fowley in his explosive red suit.

I have wondered for years why Mick Collins is not a huge international superstar. He has the look, the chops, the finesse, pizazz, the you name it - to be an international superstar. He's a big sexy Black Man.

And I think that is the problem. The double edged sword, and it ain't cuttin so well.

The rock n roll we like is Black music that was co-opted by the British and sent back to us in glorious form - but no better or no worse than its original form. So why is the White Boy Rock the stuff of international superstardom?

Is the world not ready for a Black Man Superstar. OK - I give you Prince. But is he the only one? Michael Jackson does not count in my book. He's a white girl.

Mick Collins can take any genre of music and make it personal and then throw it back at you in a performance of universal relevance. He has the kind of guitar chops that aren't intimidating but are impressive. He has a true Soul Man's voice and his interpretations of his own music as well as other's is unparalleled. I'd have to say that The Dirtbombs' version of Phil Lynott's "Ode to a Black Man" is unstoppable and unbeatable.

Yesterday, I was in a pub with my roommate and "Hey Ya" by Outkast came on the jukebox. That track is phenomenal. Its got a little bit of every genre in it. That's something only a Black group could pull off with any sense of non-ironic authenticity. So outside have we made this group that really invented rock n roll that they can stand far away from it, as well as other so-called White Boy genres, take it in, pull out the best bits and go mix it up with everything else and come up with the best track around forever.

I always thought that Sting was the proverbial White Guy pretending to be a Black Guy (Bob Marley, in Sting's case) and everyone who copied Sting without knowing Sting's reference point was doing a weird thing --- copying a White Guy who copied a Black Guy. OK - you really should get your own gimmick, but if you're gonna copy a Black Guy, first: Be Very Good At What You Do. Second: copy the right Black Guy!

Bob Marley has no comparison. Neither does Mick Collins.

Please make Mick Collins the international superstar he was meant to be. Buy Dirtbombs records and go see them play. Put money in Mick's pocket so he can make more innovative records I like dancing to.