CYRIL JORDAN FromComic Art toMagic Christian
1992’s Rock Juice proved to be the final Flamin’ Groovies album, and Cyril Jordan slipped off the musical radar for several years. (Incidentally, Rock Juice is an extremely under-rated record, containing several excellent Jordan originals). Jordan did the cover paintings, reflecting his consistent interest in art dating from the band’s very early days, when he drew posters, covers and promo material. In the late ’80s he began working for the Gladstone company, who then had the license to produce Disney comics. Cyril became absorbed in drawing Mickey Mouse covers and developing his skills as an oil painter. For much of the ’90s he barely touched a guitar, and even confessed to being so disillusioned with the music business that he even stopped listening to his beloved Beatles! He admitted to interviewer John Oliver that “
..from around ’90 to ’96, I can’t even remember what the hell I was doing. I was just in a daze… then the movie Clueless came along, and they used ‘Shake Some Action’ in the soundtrack. And like a ghost haunting me, the music came back.”
Still based in San Francisco and living in the house he was raised in, Jordan began to play on stage with various visiting artists, such as Yo La Tengo. Memorably he has also done shows with the surviving Beau Brummels (2000), Mike Wilhelm (’01) and Gordon Waller of Peter & Gordon (’02).
With renewed enthusiasm he formed the band Magic Christian in ’04 with vocalist and Groovies fan Paul Kopf, organiser of the Bay Pop festivals. A double album of original songs, mostly written by Jordan, was recorded with Sneetches bassist and Bay Area music historian Alec Palao. After trying ex-Mummy Russell Quan on drums, Prairie Prince (Jefferson Starship) became the drummer. Other commitments forced Palao and Prince to bow out, but a great new rhythm section of Eddie Munoz (Plimsouls) and Clem Burke (Blondie, Plimsouls) emerged. In the Fall of ’08 the band (pictured above) toured the US East Coast, and several full length recordings have been announced, although at the time of writing Shindig! has yet to hear them. Cyril wants the new band to play original tunes and stand on its own merits, rather than play his back catalogue. Naturally there are lots of Beatles and Stones influences - we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Teenage Hedge: Cyril Jordan during the Groovies’ residency in the UK, circa 1975. 54
9/11 robbed the world of many things. In ’01 the five original Groovies (Loney, Jordan, Alexander, Lynch and Mihm) had agreed to reunite for an appearance at the New York Cave Stomp festival. Just before they were about to agree the details with promoter Jon Weiss the twin towers were attacked, and a grim twist of fate ended chances of a reunion. Current chances of ever seeing the classic mid-70s line up together on stage again are about as likely as Elvis cooking the burgers at your local roadhouse, and then Marilyn serving them. But life is sustained by hopes and dreams.
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