In the second half of 1978, nocturnal rocker Moon Martin rose from regional subterranean obscurity to one of the international rock underground's best known victims of romance. Sure in the past few years he'd been a member of Southwind , played on a bunch of L.A. sessions for big-time artists including Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons, Jim Pulte, Jesse Ed Davis and Del Shannon and Jackie DeShannon~ after Jack Nitzsche got wise to him ~ had some of his tunes covered by Mink De Ville (Cadillac Walk), Michele Phillips, Robert Palmer and Lisa Burns. But Moon had a lot more to give rock roll than a few tunes in exchange for sporadically-delivered mailbox money.
Moon once characterized them as "decadent Chuck Berry" in style and his "there's not enough rock & roll on the radio today!" battlecry, and his producer Craig Leon (with albums by Blondie, The Ramones, Bangles, DMZ, Creeps, under his belt) was finally ready to launch his solo career with his look and music often compared to such new wave hit makers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, when they cut and unleashed “Shots From A Cold Nightmare”, Moon's first solo outing.
"Shots From a Cold Nightmare" was recorded very fast and simple. The musicians rehearsed for one week and then they went into the studio and made two or three recordings on each of the songs before they were satisfied. The album was released in 1978 and got very good reviews. The album consisted of an unusual synthesis of 50s rock 'n' roll and 80s new wave. Backed by a band that includes Phil Seymour (formerly with Dwight Twilley) on drums, Gary Valentine (formerly of Blondie) on bass and Leon on occasional keyboards, Martin plays guitar in a spare, rhythmically compelling style that makes every note count, and sings in a highpitched, bluesy moan that fits his lyrics perfectly. Moon recorded ten hooked wonders.
To follow up the album release he went on a late summer tour starting in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City and working his way towards the Eastern half of the continent. He also performed in Toronto, Canada at the El Mocambo in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Four songs from this concert is available on an record together with a studio recording of 'Victim Of Romance'.
By this time, the rumour had spread to Europe and in November it was time for Moon to start his "Moon's Over Europe Tour '78" . In Berlin at the Kant Kino the band played everything they knew, but it wasn't enough for the German audience, so Moon wrote a song backstage in four minutes so he and his band could get out of there alive. I've been told by Moon this song was "Hot House Baby" which then appeared on his next LP "Escape From Domonation -1979-". He also played (at least) in England and the Netherlands on this tour.
John Moon Martin : Guitars & Vocals
Gary Valentine : Bass
Phil Seymour : Drums, Vocals
Craig Leon : Keyborads
Willie Alexander : Piano
"I had a lot of songs with the word moon in them," he says. "I didn't realize it. They called me Moon and it kind of stuck. It was like I just woke up one morning and said , 'Hey, people are calling me Moon. That's a neat name. I'm going to use that.' I'd been a closet writer. From then on I could write and had a lot more confidence."
Moon Martin – Shots From A Cold Nightmare [Lp Capitol 1978]
Moon once characterized them as "decadent Chuck Berry" in style and his "there's not enough rock & roll on the radio today!" battlecry, and his producer Craig Leon (with albums by Blondie, The Ramones, Bangles, DMZ, Creeps, under his belt) was finally ready to launch his solo career with his look and music often compared to such new wave hit makers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, when they cut and unleashed “Shots From A Cold Nightmare”, Moon's first solo outing.
"Shots From a Cold Nightmare" was recorded very fast and simple. The musicians rehearsed for one week and then they went into the studio and made two or three recordings on each of the songs before they were satisfied. The album was released in 1978 and got very good reviews. The album consisted of an unusual synthesis of 50s rock 'n' roll and 80s new wave. Backed by a band that includes Phil Seymour (formerly with Dwight Twilley) on drums, Gary Valentine (formerly of Blondie) on bass and Leon on occasional keyboards, Martin plays guitar in a spare, rhythmically compelling style that makes every note count, and sings in a highpitched, bluesy moan that fits his lyrics perfectly. Moon recorded ten hooked wonders.
To follow up the album release he went on a late summer tour starting in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City and working his way towards the Eastern half of the continent. He also performed in Toronto, Canada at the El Mocambo in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Four songs from this concert is available on an record together with a studio recording of 'Victim Of Romance'.
By this time, the rumour had spread to Europe and in November it was time for Moon to start his "Moon's Over Europe Tour '78" . In Berlin at the Kant Kino the band played everything they knew, but it wasn't enough for the German audience, so Moon wrote a song backstage in four minutes so he and his band could get out of there alive. I've been told by Moon this song was "Hot House Baby" which then appeared on his next LP "Escape From Domonation -1979-". He also played (at least) in England and the Netherlands on this tour.
John Moon Martin : Guitars & Vocals
Gary Valentine : Bass
Phil Seymour : Drums, Vocals
Craig Leon : Keyborads
Willie Alexander : Piano
"I had a lot of songs with the word moon in them," he says. "I didn't realize it. They called me Moon and it kind of stuck. It was like I just woke up one morning and said , 'Hey, people are calling me Moon. That's a neat name. I'm going to use that.' I'd been a closet writer. From then on I could write and had a lot more confidence."
Moon Martin – Shots From A Cold Nightmare [Lp Capitol 1978]
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