Here In 1975 - here in 2009    
Marlo RIP
home | interviews | photos | features |BGN issue list | reviews
links | contact us

Marlo

Boston Groupie News Issue 23

Marlo on the bar at Cantones

    AN INTERVIEW WITH MARLO HAS BEEN A STRONG FORCE IN THE BOSTON NEW WAVE SCENE FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO BUT SHE ALSO SPENT MUCH TIME IN HER HOME LAND OF CANADA BECAUSE OF LEGALITIES AND REPEATED DEPORTATIONS. NO SOONER DID SHE RETURN THIS TIME THAN SHE WAS TOLD TO GET THE FUCK OUT. WE NEED MARLO HERE! THERE WOULD BE NO "SPACE" IF NOT FOR HER.

Marlo BGN-So how did you get here in the first place?
M- I was in a band in Canada called The Yazoo Band. We were coming down to play music but they wouldn't let me in cause I was coming down for rock & roll. So I snuck through the woods that first time.

BGN-What happened to The Yazoo Band?
M-Our first gig was at The Rat. We were supposed to play with The Lazers but they didn't want to cause they thought we played jew's harps & banjos. We changed our name to The Ann Prim Group. I said "I'm not going back to Canada. The band is staying here." It was a hassle and some people split I worked in a Deli for a week and said "Fuck this! I'm going to Cantone's and TELL them I'm gonna manage it." So I went and said "Hey I can put this place on the map. I know rock & roll." I worked one day on the door. 4 days waitressing then I was manager.

BGN-What year was this?
M-1977.

BGN--How'd you get to start The Space?
M-I got to know the people there cause I'd go over for drinks. They had been in the area long enough to see. They said "Wow, that place is packed now. It never was before." One day they talked to me and said "Look we' not making it with Disco. We want to keep our jobs. Would you do it rock and roll?" I said "Sure but I have to talk to the community." I did the thought it was cool so I did it. ....and it did me!

BGN-You got arrested right in the beginning of it?
M-They came in cause they got a phone call: 7 cops, 4 plain clothes, 3 migration cops and 2 vice squad. They arrested me for prostitution! I was on my way out the door to do a guest number at The Boston Rock Review when they nabbed me. They took me downtown and handcuffed me to a chair said "You're prostituting!" I said "You're sick!"

Marlo4654.jpg - 38.71 K BGN-So then you're back up in Canada again.
M-Yeah. It took me three days to get a band together. But the music scene up there is awful. Like it's 'sex, drugs and country and western'? I got banned from a lot of the clubs coz I would wear my leather. I'd get so frustrated I'd go around singing "I'm a degenerate..." or "I want to be Jackie Onasis..."

BGN-Let's talk about 'blind authoritarianism' Why so much trouble ?
M- Well I've been deported three times. First time was when I came through the woods. I'm in the middle of Maine, it's pouring rain and I said "Fuck it I'm flagging down the next car." I did and I thought "Oh my God! There' a cherry on top." He pulls over and it was the border patrol. He radioed my description and they took me back, I came back the next day. The 2nd time they deported was at the beginning of The Space and the 3rd was 2 months ago. Two friends came up to smuggle me back. They stop us and did the whole number.

BGN-How'd you worm your way back in this time?
M- I had a return flight ticket when I flew down here. So I think I'm getting married. That's why I haven't been around cause I'm in love. Oh, and then I'll be legal and I'll get the Space back and I'll get my band together and watch out! But when they got me that time at the Space everyone was just....they had me in the kitchen and I had this scarab ring that they broke. they cut it off my finger! They were saying "Open it. Open it!" they had one of my hands up in the air and the other one on the table with my finger on the table. I said "I can't open it." They were dying for me to have drugs on me hidden somewhere. The funniest part was everyone had gotten drunk cause they were so depressed cause I was leaving so Kate comes bursting in, and there's five cops there, . she says "Alright Marlo, out the elevator door. Run!" I said "I can't Kate. I'm handcuffed.' So they got me to jail and I said "Wait a minute. I've watched enough TV I have a phone call." They said "No. not till you answer all the questions and sign the papers."

BGN-Oh, they know what they're doing, huh? Do you have anything to say to the people who will read this?
M- Oh my God. Just never say die to rock and roll!! BGN- If anyone YOU ought to know that!

Marlo's hat


home | interviews | photos | features |BGN issue list | reviews
links | contact us

Copyright © 2011 Paul Lovell. All rights reserved.