ROCK Sex: "Electric Ladyland" - Peggy Moffitt > Janelle Monae

J a n e l l e ➤ P e g g y

Janelle Monae's new album, THE ELECTRIC LADY, expands her Sci-Fi opus about an android sent to save humanity. Besides continuing themes from the classic silent film Metropolis (1927), the title alludes to the album "Electric Ladyland" (1968) by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The cover art is a direct homage to a scene from the French film, "Who Are You, Polly Magoo?" (1966). This satirical film by esteemed photographer William Klein was a mock documentary about the fashion world which ridiculed its excesses, our voyeurism that empowers it, and the loss of real identity in an exploitative media.

In the scene above, supermodel 'Polly' (Dorothy McGowan, third from left) is lost in a sea of clones of real-life model Peggy Moffitt (far left).

_______________

P E G G Y
M O F F I T T

Peggy Moffitt is the most radical fashion model of all time.

In the Mod '60s, she created an andryogyne character in futurist kabuki makeup who, wearing the abstract designs of Rudi Gernreich, came to us from a world and timeline all her own.

Working with her husband, photographer William Claxton, Peggy approached the fashion shoot as a forum of conceptual art, challenging the viewers' preconceptions about gender, identity, consumerism, and modernity.

_______________

P E G G Y
M O F F I T T :
Her Influence On Rock'n'Roll Style
It's a safe bet that her influence on Rock'n'Roll is incalculable.

From David Bowie and Siouxsie Sioux and Soo Catwoman, to Grace Jones and Annie Lennox and Boy George and Robert Smith (The Cure), to Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Chicks On Speed and Janelle Monae, her revolutionary influence continues today.

1) David Bowie, 1972.
2) Lou Reed, 1974; Split Enz, 1976.
3) Siouxsie Sioux.
4) Adam Ant and Jordan, 1977;
Soo Catwoman, 1976 (Ray Stevenson).

Annie Lennox; Grace Jones; Boy George; Robert Smith.

Marilyn Manson; Peaches; Karen O;
Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)

---

And here's a video I made about her:

ENNIO MORRICONE / EDDA DELL'ORSO
-"Ma Non Troppo Erotico" (1971)



© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• Peggy Moffitt on TUMBLR

• Peggy Moffitt on PINTEREST

• Mod Color: Peggy Moffitt

• "Cultural Touchstone: Peggy Moffitt", LA TIMES


• Rene Magritte > THE EXORCIST > THE POSSESSION

• MAGRITTE = The Beatles > Jeff Beck > THE EXORCIST > Jackson Browne > Styx > TWIN PEAKS

• Astounding Science Fiction > Queen

• PLANET STORIES - Whip It Good!

---

---

ROCK Sex: "Suzie Q" - Dale Hawkins > Creedence Clearwater Revival

ROCK Sex likes 'the way you walk and the way you talk'.

Creativity compounds itself in unexpected directions. Here's another example.

_______________

The original version of "Susie Q" was by unsung swampabilly guitarist Dale Hawkins.

(The slamming guitar break by James Burton shows how Rock'n'Roll was the Punk of the times).

DALE HAWKINS -"Susie Q" (1957)



In the early to mid-'60s, it was subsequently covered by luminaries like Lonnie Mack, Gene Vincent, The Rolling Stones, The Everly Brothers, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and even the early Velvet Underground.

But it was the epic workout by Creedence Clearwater Revival on their debut album that many folks remember so well that they think it's CCR's song.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -"Suzie Q" (1968)



Glam queen Suzi Quatro built her style out of '50s boogie-woogie and leather, and it was an easy association to make likening her to a real-life "Suzie Q":

SUZI QUATRO -"Can the Can" (1973)



Suzi's image clearly inspired Joan Jett and Gaye Advert, and her name may have inspired the Punk Suzie Q, SIOUXSIE SIOUX; on their first gig, they were called 'Suzie and The Banshees' before the spelling change.

© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• 1950s PUNK: Sex, Thugs, and Rock'n'Roll!, with Music Player

• 1950s Rock, A: The '60s Disciples, with Music Player
• 1950s Rock, B: The '70s Disciples, with Music Player

• HERE IN PURPLE VELVET NOW: The Psychedelic Revolution, with 2 Music Players!


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: A Music Player Checklist

---