Alison Cecile Johns's Page

Hey, luv -- you're so welcome.  Thank you for your supportive words, too.  They mean so much, especially with Poly's passing.  It was so hard hearing the updates of the hell she was in as the cancer spread from her breasts to her back and bones.  It's so hard to lose her, but I'm so glad for her that she's not in pain anymore.  I'd like to think Ari was there to greet her.  I'm just numb with things right now, but I'm trying to sort through it and channel the pain.  And keep that grief monster in its place.  I'm inspired with the painting I told you about with the breakthrough.  I've been working on it a lot over these days this week...trying to stay mindful of the gentle discipline, you know??  Working a little bit every day, even on those "blah" days. I love having the streaming hours when I'm on my feet and the energy is flowing from my hands and I lose track of time, but I'm reminding myself that even if I only do a half hour or an hour a day it's progress -- instead of being consumed by the monster.

Your new work sounds so incredible.  Poly really did leave us a beautiful last gift with Generation Indigo.  When I think of how you described where you are in "birthing" something new, it reminds me of her earlier solo work on Translucence and Gods & Goddesses.  She got so much shit for exploring new sounds on those albums, but she was truly following her muse and visions.  She was still the same conscious, spiritual outspoken punk.  It's worth a listen if you've never heard them.  Very jazz-inspired, even using eastern/Indian influences with sitars and drum styles.  I had a chance to interview her a few times for my radio show after Gods & Goddesses was released in '86 (or '87?).  She was so passionate about what she was creating. Keep listening to your spirit and follow your hands and voice. Let your gift flow, chica. She knows where you need to go.

It's so awesome to meet you, too, luv. Take care and be well. x0x

Thank you, luv.  I feel that hug, and I'm sending one right back to you.  It's so good to meet others who can relate.  I love some of the kids here on AP, but a lot of them just can't quite relate to where some of us geezers are.  They're going on about being pissed about hipsters invading their scene or who isn't dressing punk enough...it's hard to talk about losing dear friends you've known for 20 or 30 years.  In my heart I know one day they'll understand.  I just hope none of them feel the kind of grief some of my friends and I have been struggling through with all of this loss.  I don't think I mentioned this but I'm an oil painter when I'm not doing my social services job.  I've been trying to channel my grief and other troubling feelings into a few paintings in a series I'm doing on loss and grief.  Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite painters and she's been inspiring me lately to use the pain and let the brushstrokes come.  I had a real breakthrough today on a canvas I've been stuck on for over a year.  I've been working on it for the past 10 hours and I'm so worn out, but it's a good kind of worn out.  As a singer/musician I know you know what I mean -- I can see you up til the wee hours working on ideas or sorting through sounds in the studio in marathons.  Your music really is incredible, chica.  I meant every word of what I said.  I hope I can catch you sometime whenever you play San Francisco.  You know the kinds of people who call themselves "foodies"??  I'm that way about music -- if I had a choice for a dream job and a few million to create something I'd open my own independent record store.  I have enough vinyl records in my dinky storage unit for a small studio apartment plus the beloved stuff I have in the storage stacks in my pad.  I'm passionate about the music I consume. You really have a gift, luv.  Keep up the amazing work x0x

Hey, chica!  Thank you for the compliment.  It's so great to meet another kindred spirit and a rocking sista.  I wish you great things with your musical gift and what you're creating.  Stay true to your vision and keep discovering and challenging yourself.  I wish I had some saved copies of my old zine.  It was called The Spike and I worked on it roughly from about 1981 to '88.  Really stripped-down, little orphan of a thing. Are you old enough to remember the old mimeograph machines (and the super rad smell left behind on the papers that were copied)??  I had an awesome teacher in high school who fed my punk ideals and always looked the other way while I commandeered the mimeograph to crank out issues.  I gave away my last issues in '88.  I do wish I saved some, but tapping into that spirit I just started writing a blog: http://confessionsofanoldpunkchick.blogspot.com/.

Sometimes I feel like a bit of hermit dinosaur. I've lost a number of great old friends to illnesses like cancer and AIDS over the decades, especially this last year.  Ari Up of The Slits was a dear friend.  I'm still having a hard time processing her death.  I feel like one of the last guards standing.  It's hard to see Poly Styrene fighting hard against breast cancer now...and then we just lost Gerard from TVOTR.  We're losing so many great people. Now, I have another old friend who is struggling with lung cancer and it's killing me. I started doing this blog as a bit of therapy.  It's helping me stay connected to things I care about and reminds me of the energy I put into the old zines and the radio show I did in college in the 80's.  It's just a way to express and get a lot out of my head -- share some music I adore and other things I want to share.  Stop by sometime if you ever need to a place to wander.  I'll definitely check out your site and your music.  Stay strong x0x

I came across you on the Afropunk to Afropunk love discussion. I would like to hear more about your musical project though. Sounds interesting. Always have time for Stevie :o)

I just finished a project myself. More about the Blues but here it is if you're interested: http://bulletsoverromance.bandcamp.com/album/jukin

hey go to my page and the group is there. fairly new (no members) lol

Hey Miss! What you been up to?
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Good Morning Alison!...Just passing through to see how U were doing.U BE SWEET!!!!

Welcome to Thickness, sista! Peace.