Ivan Julian

All Music Guide:

Ivan Julian is best known as a firebrand guitarist who made his mark on the early New York punk scene, but he's also served as a sideman for a diverse range of artists, as well as working as a bandleader, producer, and engineer. Julian was born in 1955, the son of a naval officer, and his father's occupation meant his family moved a great deal in his younger days, spending time in Cuba and Haiti before the family settled in Washington D.C. As a youngster, Julian studied bassoon and saxophone, and at 13 he joined his first rock & roll band, singing with a group that specialized in Led Zeppelin covers. Not long after, he took up the guitar and continued to focus on the instrument while studying music theory during a short stint in college. He also lived for a time in the U.K., touring as a guitarist with the Foundations, the British R&B outfit that scored a global hit with "Build Me Up Buttercup." After returning to the States, Julian relocated to New York City, where the nascent punk rock scene was catching fire at CBGB's and Max's Kansas City. When former Television and Heartbreakers bassist Richard Hell decided to form his own band in 1976, Julian was tagged to play guitar, and Richard Hell & the Voidoids became one of the seminal bands on the early New York punk scene, with Julian forming an impressive guitar duo with Robert Quine. Julian also co-wrote two songs on the group's classic debut album, 1977's Blank Generation, but the original Voidoids lineup didn't last long, and by 1980, Julian was free to form his own band. The Outsets were a combo who fused rock, funk, and R&B and cut an EP in 1983 with production help from Garland Jeffreys and Bob Clearmountain; they became a staple on the New York club scene, and the Clash were impressed enough with their work to invite Julian to add some guitar licks to their album Sandinista!, but the Outsets never broke out to a larger following. Julian retired the group to form the Lovelies with vocalist Cynthia Sley, formerly of the Bush Tetras; their sole album, Mad Orphan, was issued in 1988. Julian went on to become a touring member of Shriekback and was invited to play guitar on Matthew Sweet's 1991 album Girlfriend; the album became Sweet's commercial breakthrough, and Julian joined Sweet on-stage and in the studio regularly over the decade that followed. In 2001, Julian and the original lineup of the Voidoids reunited with Richard Hell to record a new song, "Oh," and in 2009 Julian teamed with Hell to record guitar leads for a reworked edition of Hell's 1982 album Destiny Street. Near the turn of millennium, Julian partnered with Matt Verta-Ray (of Madder Rose and Speedball Baby) to open a recording studio in New York City, NY Hed, and since then he's recorded and produced sessions for the Fleshtones, Jon Spencer, the Master Plan, and many others. Despite his busy schedule, Julian continues to write and record his own music, and after producing sessions for the Spanish band Capsula, he struck up a friendship with them. Capsula were accompanists on Julian's first solo album, 2011's The Naked Flame, and were his backing band on a tour of Spain.

Wikipedia:

Ivan Julian (born June 26, 1955) is a guitarist and bassist, founding member of the seminal Punk/New Wave group Richard Hell and the Voidoids, The Outsets and Lovelies.

He has performed with the Isley Brothers, The Clash, Matthew Sweet, and Shriekback.

Biography

Early life and career

Julian was inspired after seeing Jimi Hendrix play, not so much by Hendrix's guitar style, but the freedom of expression that Hendrix represented. Julian apparently went home and burned his Chuck Taylor shoes in his backyard- a symbolic gesture against conformity.

The child of a Navy officer, Julian spent his formative years living in exotic locales like Haiti and Cuba. He enjoyed spending time alone and was an avid reader of books by Edgar Allan Poe and Ovid. He also enjoyed putting his own thoughts in writing.

When he was 13, Julian sang in a Led Zeppelin cover band, which led him to pick up the guitar at 14. Prior to this, he also studied bassoon and saxophone. He spent his high school years as a part-time student in a college program studying music theory. And then at the age of 17, Julian toured the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the former Yugoslavia as a member of The Foundations, known for hits like “Build Me Up Buttercup” and “Baby Now That I Found You.”

The Voidoids, Blank Generation

In 1977 Julian returned to the U.S. to New York, where he was a founding member of the seminal Punk/ New Wave group Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Soon after the band recorded an EP that was heralded by the Village Voice as one of the best records of the year. Early traces of Julian’s prowess grace two sides of this historical platter.

Later that year they were signed to Sire/Warner Brothers, and with the band and Richard Gottehrer producing came the Blank Generation LP. This album set a new standard for a whole generation of guitar players. Two of Julian’s songs (co-written with Richard Hell), Liars Beware and Betrayal Takes Two appear on side one. He is also credited with writing the intro to the title song, "Blank Generation". The reviewers gave Blank Generation high accolades and singled out the guitar work praising its merit. The album stands the test of time and today is still considered among the quintessential records of that period.

The Outsets (1980-85)

Ivan formed The Outsets just after the breakup of Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 1980. The first step would be to scour the clubs looking for the 'right' drummer. He remembered seeing Vinny DeNunzio, of The Feelies, playing with Richard Lloyd's band and being impressed. As it turned out Vinny was ready for a change so they started holding auditions for bass and the other guitar. When the word got out, Fred Smith (Television, Blondie), Ted Niceley (producer Girls vs. Boys), Tommy Keene were among the people that came to play. Eventually the positions were filled by Bob Albertson on bass and Simon Chardiet on guitar. Soon after the band went into rehearsals and prepared for live dates at CBGB's, Max's Kansas City. At this point there were more venues opening up such as the Mudd Club, Danceteria catering to a new minimal, percussive style of music and Ivan wanted to be part of it. The plan as always was to venture out with fresh ideas and to new places, so the first gig was booked at Tier 3, a performance space in Soho.

After several months the band was signed to Contender Records and released their first single, 'I'm Searchin' For You b/w 'Fever'. Much has been made of the misprint on the label that incorrectly list the publishing rights for the B side. As a result the record company corrected the mistake after the first pressing which has made it somewhat of a collectors item. (When the band found out about this they were so outraged they gathered all the copies they could find in local record stores and replaced them at a reduced price with disks they had modified by painting on one side in bright yellow, "Under Construction" on the actual vinyl. Though these modified versions are more valuable, if one comes across a copy you are advised not to attempt to play it on your turntable). Soon it was apparent that the band needed a new engine so Danny Hirsch from Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers came in on bass. He proved not only to be an amazing musician but a gifted writing partner for Julian, as well .

The songs on The Punk/Funk Voodoo Collection were recorded in the basement studio of Giorgio Gomelsky, Yardbirds producer and early manager of the Rolling Stones. He persuaded Ivan Julian and the band to explore sounds outside of the boundaries of American pop music, most notably Fela Kuti. The music and the lyrics resound with the rough and tumble immediacy of East Village New York in the early '80s. Included as Bonus Tracks are remastered versions of The Outsets first single originally released as a 45 on Contender records.

Garland Jeffreys approached Ivan and offered to produce The Outsets forthcoming EP “The Ice Man”, which also involved Bob Clearmountain as engineer. During this time he also recorded with Tomas Donker from Defunkt, Afrika Bambaataa and Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic fame. Originally released in the U.S. on Plexus Records playing keyboards on the bonus tracks is Marsha Sardy who also played with The Fall.

1988: Lovelies

Julian formed a group called Lovelies which included his then-wife, former Bush Tetras vocalist Cynthia Sley in 1988. Mad Orphan (an early version of the band was called The Mad Orphans) is their one and only release. This release is characterized by percussive downtown NYC post-punk.

The Clash, Shreikback, Matthew Sweet and producer

The Clash were at Electric Lady Studios recording what would become the Sandinista! LP. Mick Jones and Joe Strummer wanted Julian to join them in the studio but he was touring with his band, The Outsets. Upon his return he recorded with them and help to develop the only single from Sandinista! entitled “The Call Up” backed with “Ivan Meets G. I. Joe.”

The English bands Shriekback, founded by Dave Allen from the Gang of Four and Barry Andrews of XTC, asked Julian on two tours of the North America and Europe.

Julian’s thoughts on being compared to Hendrix? “I never wanted to emulate him because he is someone that can’t be touched, but I am honoured that people would say that about me.” With his influences being such notable figures as Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler and Charlie Christian it is no wonder that he has developed a distinct style all his own. Julian states, “There is a piece of their soul in every note they play.” During most of the nineties Julian recorded and toured the world with Matthew Sweet as lead guitarist earning him three Gold Record Awards.

Ivan Julian continues to write and produce music at his analog tape/digital recording studio, NY HED where he has produced the last 2 The Fleshtones LP’s, mastered Five Dollar Priest among others. His production skills have been praised being compared to George Clinton and Joe Boyd. To summarize what you can see is that the one thing he does is make music.