Clouds in My Coffee

Sometimes you can actually witness an artist's tastes and styles evolve over time.

In 1990, Faster Pussycat provided a song for Rubaiyat: Elektra's 40th Anniversary. The songs on the four disc set are covers. Faster Pussycat chose "You're So Vain" originally performed by Carly Simon. Even way back at the turn of the nineties, it was pretty clear Taime Down was moving to a more "industrial sound." Even the video looks industrial, with the extreme coloring of the film (yes, they still used film in 1990). Take a look for yourself: Faster Pussycat "You're So Vain."

Rewind just a few months, and Faster Pussycat was at the top of the Sunset Strip sleaze-Metal game. In 1989, Faster Pussycat released Wake Me When Its Over. The album spawned two signature songs: "Poison Ivy" and "House of Pain." At this point in the band's career, it was still hairspray and screams, as it should be. Taime still had his blonde mop, which I love. This isn't to say I don't like the frontman with his black hair. The dye just signaled a different move for the band I suppose. See for yourself. Here's Faster Pussycat "Poison Ivy." Rejoice in the long hair and leather.

So, was the image change a result of Taime's evolving musical tastes, or was it out of necessity because grunge was sweeping the industry? You decide.

Comments

[Vince Neilstein]

He has black eyebrows in the second video, so obviously the dark hair was his true color!

[Allyson]

Vince,

I have no doubt Taime has naturally dark hair (every glam band needed one bleach blonde member), but I highly doubt it's jet black. I have jet black hair...and it costs a lot of money to keep it that way!

Allyson

[aXe mAn]

I think it was a little bit of both...the changing of Taime's musical tastes, and the changing music scene.
But, I like both of those songs/videos.
I really don't care for Faster Pussycat's latest album though.
Good observations Allyson.

[Christian Graus]

I *love* this cover of You're so vain. I also love that second FP album. Despite having sworn never to listen to them again after Rocklahoma ( where FP was without a doubt the biggest disappointment/disaster of the three days ), I think I may crank them out today, after reading this.

[Rachel]

I didn't think FP was the biggest disappointment at Rocklahoma, I rather liked their performance actually (the biggest disappointment for me was Warrant. Sorry, but I'm a big Jani Lane fan).
I love both videos, & I love Taime either way. It doesn't matter to me why he changed.

[bobvinyl]

At least Taime tried something new. It doesn't always work out and it sounds like it's time for him to move on , but at least he wasn't cashing in on the past the whole time.

[Christian Graus]

Wow - did you see the same show I did ? FP was a train wreck. And they were high on the list of bands I wanted to see. To each his own, I thought Skid Row and Warrant both did a fine job without their respective lead singers.

[Rachel]

I loved Skid Row's performance. I think Johnny Solinger's a great singer. But I just wasn't impressed with Jamie St. James. Nonetheless, Warrant seems to be doing just fine without Jani.

[Katie]

Ohhh, I just discovered your blog last night when I did an image search for "Taime Down." GREAT concept, I'm so glad you're doing it. I'm a few years older than you are so when I was around 12 I was OBSESSED with glam/pop metal (and even some legit, harder metal). Axl Rose and Taime Down both had a lot to do with my early, um, adolescence. I loved them both so much. I just finished reading Chuck Klosterman's Fargo Rock City, which led me to get Slash's autobiography from the library, which has got me thinking about all these bands I used to love so much. I'm glad to know about this blog. And thanks for posting the videos—I haven't seen these in, what, 15 years?!

[Katie]

Ohhh, I just discovered your blog last night when I did an image search for "Taime Down." GREAT concept, I'm so glad you're doing it. I'm a few years older than you are so when I was around 12 I was OBSESSED with glam/pop metal (and even some legit, harder metal). Axl Rose and Taime Down both had a lot to do with my early, um, adolescence. I loved them both so much. I just finished reading Chuck Klosterman's Fargo Rock City, which led me to get Slash's autobiography from the library, which has got me thinking about all these bands I used to love so much. I'm glad to know about this blog. And thanks for posting the videos—I haven't seen these in, what, 15 years?!

[Katie]

Ohhh, I just discovered your blog last night when I did an image search for "Taime Down." GREAT concept, I'm so glad you're doing it. I'm a few years older than you are so when I was around 12 I was OBSESSED with glam/pop metal (and even some legit, harder metal). Axl Rose and Taime Down both had a lot to do with my early, um, adolescence. I loved them both so much. I just finished reading Chuck Klosterman's Fargo Rock City, which led me to get Slash's autobiography from the library, which has got me thinking about all these bands I used to love so much. I'm glad to know about this blog. And thanks for posting the videos—I haven't seen these in, what, 15 years?!

[kyle]

i was injail with the drummer in Tulsa , Oklahoma.He was in there for a parole violation.Back in the 90's he got caught mailing himself heroin.