Just to reiterate that I am in no way officially associated with Rowland S. Howard or his estate or any other entities. This site is a labor of love as I wanted to gather everything that I could find on the internet about him. Contact me for credit or removal.
Music continues to save my life, especially during these trying times. I listen to Rowland and a small handful of other artists, daily. Check out these important links:
Rowland S. Howard Tribute Page on Facebook
From the Archives: Rowland S. Howard Chronology, Discography, and Videography.
So a long time ago, me and my merry band of underage cohorts in Los Angeles, went out to clubs, a lot. We loved the music, above all else. I guess you’d call most of the clubs “goth”, but labels are for jars.
This was before the internet. Can you even imagine?
Enter The Birthday Party.
I heard Mr. Clarinet for the first time on the dance floor of Helter Skelter. Yes, that’s an accurate link that described our dancing. Clad in all black with our grand sweeping movements that I christened “the blooming flower” and the “floor sweeper”.
I couldn’t believe that what I was hearing was coming from a guitar!!!
I was stunned as I’d never heard anything like Rowland S. Howard before.
I’d never be the same after that night. I didn’t have a big allowance at all but would window shop and peek through the glass at Vinyl Fetish on Melrose.
Remember that life existed before the internet and you had to do things like order your monkey boots and Doc Martens via mail order. Imported records were even more difficult. And were they $$$$..
In between now and then, I got old. I’m so grateful to have made it this far!
We’re almost a year into the pandemic endemic of COVID-19. When going through hell, keep going?
I’ve had some time on my hands as I’ve been (un)fortunate to be holed up indoors during this time. What better way to stay safe at home by using some of that extra time working on this site?
I wonder what Rowland’s take would be on 2020?
A few months ago, the title track from his Pop Crimes album (criminally underrated) came on, and the bass line haunted me all over again.
I picked up my bass with renewed enthusiasm and printed out the tabs! I’ve been stumbling along with it ever since but am getting better. Rowland’s music comforts me during these trying times.
Rewatching the documentary about him further renewed my interest in developing this site.
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