![]() ![]() Thom produced hits for the O’Jays, the Stylistics, and the Spinners. He worked with Thom Bell, one of the stars of the “Philly Soul” scene in the 1970s. He just wanted to be a singer on the sessions, didn’t even want to play the piano. Q: While writing your latest book, did you find ties between Elton John and Seattle?Ī: He recorded an album here. I liked going to the Comet, even though they didn’t have music then. The other club I remember going to was Squid Row. I don’t recall seeing a big-name act at the Breakroom. They didn’t have a liquor license, so you’d go to the Sea Wolf next door for mixed drinks. It was small, so you always felt like you could see the bands perform. The club I remember most from the 1990s is the Breakroom, which is now Chop Suey. One night, he had a load of guitarists doing Link Wray’s “Rumble.” That was fun. Q: What were some of your favorite Capitol Hill clubs 30 or 40 years ago?Ī: Larry Reid of COCA would do great shows at Oddfellows Hall. You can get downtown easily-even walk there if you want. Now, it seems more limited, and everything’s more expensive. It was also great to have Safeway, QFC, and Fred Meyer so close to each other. ![]() At one point, there were three magazine stores on the Hill. I miss all the record stores and magazine stores. I think the 1990s was my favorite period. Q: When you moved to Capitol Hill in the mid-1980s, what appealed to you about the neighborhood? What appeals to you now?Ī: It was the cool, hip neighborhood. When I walk down Broadway, I often think he must’ve walked down the same street numerous times. But as a child, he walked around everywhere. Q: How about connections between Hendrix and the Hill?Ī: I don’t know any specific connections besides his attending Meany Middle School. He turned around, and it was Kurt Cobain! That was a big surprise. ![]() I was waiting to use the machine, and a guy in beat-up clothes was ahead of me. Actually, I saw Kurt at the US Bank ATM at the intersection of Broadway and John. They also played at Squid Row, also long gone. In all your research, did you find interesting connections between the band and Capitol Hill?Ī: They recorded the Blew EP at the Music Source on Pike Street. Q: You’ve written five books about Nirvana. Recently, Gaar stopped by Top Pot on Summit Avenue to discuss her new book and her long connection to Capitol Hill. Her new book, Elton John 75, was published in September, just in time for the Rocket Man’s shows on Oct. She was a project consultant for Nirvana’s 2004 box set With the Lights Out and editorial assistant for Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic’s book From Grunge to Government: Let’s Fix This Broken Democracy! In addition to writing 18 books about Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Sub Pop Records, the history of women in rock ‘n’ roll, and other music-related topics, Gaar’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Seattle Times, Goldmine, MOJO, AV Club, No Depression, and American Songwriter. “I guess I was always interested in sharing with other people what I thought was cool and interesting.” “I always had an interest in writing,” said Gaar, who can be spotted around the Hill wearing a black leather docker cap that has become a signature accouterment in her author photographs. She later published and wrote for fanzines about Kate Bush and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, respectively, and spent 14 years as a journalist at The Rocket - the music and culture magazine launched on Capitol Hil l - beginning in 1983. She moved to the Seattle area from California in the late 1960s with her parents, and her affinity for music formed after she started playing clarinet in the Shoreline High School marching band. Gaar has lived on Capitol Hill almost as long as she’s been writing professionally about rock ‘n’ roll-nearly 40 years. ![]()
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