Last week also brought the news that we lost Scott Kempner, co-founder of The Dictators and The Del-Lords. The former are considered punk rock pioneers while the latter was a gloriously unbridled rock and roll outfit. Kempner epitomized the rock and roll ethos, combining a NYC attitude with raucous guitars.
Here are The Del-Lords performing “When the Drugs Kick In”, from their final album Elvis Club, back in 2012. And while searching for that performance, I found incredible footage of Kempner (accompanied by Dave Kinkaid) busking outside a record store in Sweden back in 1994. If that doesn’t demonstrate that he had the spirit of rock and roll deep down in his soul, I don’t know what would.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.