This next entry (the first in a veryyyyy long time here) concerns another lost 80's group. This time its Straightjacketbazooka. They were a big beat Industrial duo from again Chicago (which of course all of these posts are concerned with in this blog) . Straightjacket consisted of : Mike Rawnsley on bass ,drums ,vocals and percussions and Pat Donavan on keyboards ,vocals and percussions.
They existed roughly from -'85 - '90 ,'91 from what I can gather. Musically it is as alluded to before Industrial, but not in a droning noise atmosphere Throbbing Gristle sense but more of the Wax Trax thing going on . Industrial Rock basically. . I was too young to see them live in their day but ive heard stories some of the shows got crazy around the Chicago clubs. I will need more help with stories please.
Only one full length LP was released and a few compilation appearances. WZRD 88.3fm also has an unreleased CDR that was donated to me when I was music director there in the early 2000's . I recall it being pretty good. ill have to track it down when I get back to the station one of these days .
I met Pat Donavan when I started going to this Chicago coffee shop/Music venue/general odd ball hangout in 1997 called " The Nervous Center". We had a lot of music conversations and he was a fun guy to hang with. About a short time after the closing of The Center in the early 2000's I heard Donavan had passed away . His back and /or legs were in a lot of pain and I remember him walking with cane. im not 100% if he committed suicide due to the pain or not , ill have to recheck this .
He donated some of his gear from the Bazooka days to me which i've used extensively in my own projects like Death Factory and Morlokk for many years after , so a little of Bazooka lives on through me I guess...…………..
links I could find...….. I need a lot more (pics , stories, video? ect.....) if any one has them please share !!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=QeUQxG4oCKk
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1839980-Straightjacketbazooka
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flyer from a show at Club 950 :
