JOHN GIORNO BAND, THE - I'm Rock Hard (1982 - 1989)

Original 2017 LP. Factory-sealed. 

"American label set up in 1972 by the poet John Giorno. Mostly credited on releases as Giorno Poetry Systems records, Giorno Poetry Systems tapes and Giorno Poetry Systems video.
The earliest releases were exclusively poetry collections of the "Dial-A-Poets" (John Giorno, William S Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Allen Ginsberg, John Cage etc.): "In 1961 I was a young poet who hung out with young artists like Andy Warhol, Bob Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, as well as with members of the Judson Dance Theatre. The use of modern mass media and technologies by these artists made me realize that poetry was 75 years behind painting and sculpture, dance and music. And I thought, if they can do it, why can't I do it for poetry. Why not try to connect with an audience using all the entertainments of ordinary life: television, the telephone, record albums, etc? It was the poet's job to invent new venues and make fresh contact with the audience. This inspiration gave rise to Giorno Poetry Systems" - Giorno Poetry Systems

"By the end of the 70s, Giorno had expanded his sound compositions into the world of music, live performance and created his own record label called “Giorno Poetry Systems Recordings” –- a platform where vinyl, video works, CD’s, tape compilations, radio broadcasting and telephones could be used as a tools to extend the boundary of poetry and literature. In 1981, when Giorno felt he had done every thing possible using the electronics available at the time, he took a hiatus from his “Sound Poems” and employed the genre of rock ‘n’ roll to form The John Giorno Band. Comprised of a rotating cast of talented musicians (Lenny Kaye on guitar, C. P. Roth on synthesizers, Paul Duggan on bass, David Donen on drums), the group was invited to perform at various punk rock venues and new wave clubs including the Pyramid, Danceteria, Mudd Club, Roxy, Irving Plaza, Palladium and CBGBs. Performing his poems in front of a crowd of night-time revellers, Giorno developed a new avenue to employ his poetic language – one that merged his spoken-word poetry slams into electrifying performances." - Vinyl Factory

Nine tracks over 2 vinyl:

Scum & Slime (1985)
Stretching it Wider (1982)
Life is a Killer (1982)
Sucking Mud (1986)
Exiled in Domestic Life (1983)
It’s a mistake to think you’re special (1989)
I gambled with my anger and lost (1983)
The Strength of Pleasure (live) (1984)
Stretching it Wider (live) (1982)

Edition of 200, artist edition double LP. Hand signed foreword by John Giorno. Includes a 20pp booklet containing exclusive images. Custom made gatefold sleeve.