Every week, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 41-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
The episode of the talk show I did in 1992 was called the “Radical Women Of Rock,” but it was mostly about the use of profanity in lyrics. The audience was against freedom of speech, basically. I got a bit defensive being regarded as a person out to destroy the minds of children with my flagrant use of profanity, which I guess is how the producers described us to the audience.
At one point, I clarified why I had used a few cuss words, but the song I’m describing sounds more like “Orange Sunset” than “Water Cuts My Hands,” which is also about negative attention in public settings, a topic I cover in “I Walk Alone” and “Smile Baby” and I’m sure other songs I’ve written.
“Orange Sunset” from Water Cuts My Hands (K/Matador, 1991) (download):
