Target Video
Encyclopedia
Target Video is a San Francisco-based studio, founded by artist Joe Rees, who collaborating with Jackie Sharp, Jill Hoffman, Sam Edwards and others, archived early art performance, punk and hardcore bands on video and film. Performers and artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols, the Dead Kennedys, The Cramps
, William S. Burroughs
, the Clash
, the Avengers,
Mark Pauline
, Survival Research Labs, the Go-Go's, John Cooper Clark, Bauhaus
, X
, The Dils
, Johanna Wendt, Talking Heads, Black Flag
, Flipper
, and Crucifix
were recorded in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Using multiple cameras, they produced some of the highest quality footage available of these bands performing in front of live audiences. In addition, videos often included interviews with members of the bands.
Also they organized a National U.S.A.-Tour for Berlins (West) Punk-Rock-Band MDK /Mekanik Destrüktiw Komandöh with Singer Volker Hauptvogel and released with Rough Trade USA the 12" Maxi-Single Berlin of this Band. The Video made at South Van Ness Ave ist lost.
. Target Video warehouse shoots were taped with an audience who came to party and see the band. Generally they started in the afternoon and continued on into the night. In the local scene everyone knew everyone else and it was a casual, creative environment. The Target Video warehouse was the scene of many legendary after hours parties as they played host to touring bands after their gigs with Jackie or Jill spinning discs as DJs and Target videos projected on to 20 ft. walls. In the course of the massive shooting schedules and late night parties, Joe Rees developed an editing style uncommon for the time using fast cuts juxtaposing images of military jets, punk bands, crowds and other footage creating the "Target Montage." These montages along with incredible live footage of bands and artists became the basis for "Target Shows" which were shown in the US and Europe.
invited Target to France where they screened then unknown, underground punk bands and artists throughout the country to packed crowds in theaters, clubs and discos. In the following years subsequent tours brought many incredible shows including an outdoor show at Rome's ancient Colloseum and at the opening of the Alcalá 20 nightclub
(a converted opera house) in Madrid, Spain. Shortly after, the Alcalá 20 nightclub
was the site of a tragic inferno fire on Dec. 17, 1983. In March, 2008, Joe Rees & Target Video exhibited at the Getty Center
in Los Angeles, California
as part of the "California Video" exhibit. In June, 2008 Target Video screened to an audience of 2000 at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
(MOCA.) In 2009 Target Video had shows in Croatia, Los Angeles and San Francisco (San Francisco Public Library
, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
.)
), publishing (Damage Magazine) as well a ground zero for many wild parties and events. It was located at 678 South Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. This building suffered extensive damage in the Loma Prieta earthquake
of 1989.
. Shot with the first commercially available black and white port-a-pack, the Cramps
began the show for a couple of car loads of punks, artists and the patients of the institution. The Mutants followed the Cramps
set and although their set was recorded, available light was gone and the footage is mostly unwatchable given the primitive technology of the day. Target Video has stated they will attempt to restore the Mutants performance in the near future using modern technology. The Cramps
performance is widely available on DVD.
In addition to these releases, there are other re-released compilations (Hardcore Vol. 1-5) featuring bands such as Toxic Reasons
, Code of Honor, and Negative Trend
.
Joe Rees
Jackie Sharp
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
, William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
, the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, the Avengers,
Mark Pauline
Mark Pauline
Mark Pauline is an American performance artist and inventor, best known as founder and director of Survival Research Labs. He is a 1977 graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida....
, Survival Research Labs, the Go-Go's, John Cooper Clark, Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
, X
X band
The X band is a segment of the microwave radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, such as in communication engineering, the frequency range of X band is rather indefinitely set at approximately 7.0 to 11.2 gigahertz . In radar engineering, the frequency range is specified...
, The Dils
The Dils
The Dils were an American punk rock band of the late 1970s, originally from Carlsbad, California, and fronted by brothers Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman...
, Johanna Wendt, Talking Heads, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
, and Crucifix
Crucifix (band)
Crucifix was an American hardcore punk band from Berkeley, California, active from 1980 to 1984. They were among the most popular acts of the San Francisco hardcore scene of the early 1980s...
were recorded in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Using multiple cameras, they produced some of the highest quality footage available of these bands performing in front of live audiences. In addition, videos often included interviews with members of the bands.
Also they organized a National U.S.A.-Tour for Berlins (West) Punk-Rock-Band MDK /Mekanik Destrüktiw Komandöh with Singer Volker Hauptvogel and released with Rough Trade USA the 12" Maxi-Single Berlin of this Band. The Video made at South Van Ness Ave ist lost.
Activities
Target Video taped bands and artists in the US and Europe in clubs, on the streets and at parties, and especially at its 12,000 sf studio in San Francisco's Mission DistrictMission District, San Francisco, California
The Mission District, also commonly called "The Mission", is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, USA, originally known as "the Mission lands" meaning the lands belonging to the sixth Alta California mission, Mission San Francisco de Asis...
. Target Video warehouse shoots were taped with an audience who came to party and see the band. Generally they started in the afternoon and continued on into the night. In the local scene everyone knew everyone else and it was a casual, creative environment. The Target Video warehouse was the scene of many legendary after hours parties as they played host to touring bands after their gigs with Jackie or Jill spinning discs as DJs and Target videos projected on to 20 ft. walls. In the course of the massive shooting schedules and late night parties, Joe Rees developed an editing style uncommon for the time using fast cuts juxtaposing images of military jets, punk bands, crowds and other footage creating the "Target Montage." These montages along with incredible live footage of bands and artists became the basis for "Target Shows" which were shown in the US and Europe.
Tours
In 1980, Joe Rees, Jackie Sharp, Jill Hoffman, Sam Edwards and Jeanine Richardson took Target Video on its first extensive European tour. The French company FNACFNAC
FNAC may refer to:* the fine needle aspiration cytology, a medical diagnosis technique;* the Fnac, a French cultural and consumer retailer...
invited Target to France where they screened then unknown, underground punk bands and artists throughout the country to packed crowds in theaters, clubs and discos. In the following years subsequent tours brought many incredible shows including an outdoor show at Rome's ancient Colloseum and at the opening of the Alcalá 20 nightclub
Alcalá 20 nightclub fire
The Alcalá 20 nightclub fire occurred 17 December 1983 at 4:45 a.m. at Alcalá 20, a nightclub at number 20 of Calle de Alcalá in the centre of Madrid. 600 people were in the club at the time. 82 people were killed and 27 injured....
(a converted opera house) in Madrid, Spain. Shortly after, the Alcalá 20 nightclub
Alcalá 20 nightclub fire
The Alcalá 20 nightclub fire occurred 17 December 1983 at 4:45 a.m. at Alcalá 20, a nightclub at number 20 of Calle de Alcalá in the centre of Madrid. 600 people were in the club at the time. 82 people were killed and 27 injured....
was the site of a tragic inferno fire on Dec. 17, 1983. In March, 2008, Joe Rees & Target Video exhibited at the Getty Center
Getty Center
The Getty Center, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, is a campus for cultural institutions founded by oilman J. Paul Getty. The $1.3 billion center, which opened on December 16, 1997, is also well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overlooking Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
as part of the "California Video" exhibit. In June, 2008 Target Video screened to an audience of 2000 at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
(MOCA.) In 2009 Target Video had shows in Croatia, Los Angeles and San Francisco (San Francisco Public Library
San Francisco Public Library
The San Francisco Public Library is a public library system serving the city of San Francisco. Its main library is located in San Francisco's Civic Center, at 100 Larkin Street at Grove. The first public library of San Francisco officially opened in 1879, just 30 years after the California Gold...
, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is a multi-disiplinary contemporary arts center in San Francisco, California, United States. Located in Yerba Buena Gardens, YBCA features visual art, performance, and film/video that celebrates local, national, and international artists and the Bay Area's diverse...
.)
The Target Video Warehouse
The Target Video warehouse was clubhouse of sorts with three floors of video recording, audio recording (Subterranean StudioSubterranean Records
Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk and industrial music scene....
), publishing (Damage Magazine) as well a ground zero for many wild parties and events. It was located at 678 South Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. This building suffered extensive damage in the Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
of 1989.
The Cramps at Napa State Mental Hospital
Target Video captured one of music's most infamous performances at Napa State Mental Hospital in 1978. The show was headlined by the Mutants and opening on the bill were the CrampsThe Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
. Shot with the first commercially available black and white port-a-pack, the Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
began the show for a couple of car loads of punks, artists and the patients of the institution. The Mutants followed the Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
set and although their set was recorded, available light was gone and the footage is mostly unwatchable given the primitive technology of the day. Target Video has stated they will attempt to restore the Mutants performance in the near future using modern technology. The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
performance is widely available on DVD.
Releases (partial list)
- The ScreamersThe ScreamersThe Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
- Live in 1978 in San Francisco - Dead KennedysDead KennedysDead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
- The Early Years Live (1978–1981) - MutantsThe Mutants (San Francisco)The Mutants are an important band in the history of San Francisco punk rock and new wave music. They are known for their theatrical performances which often include elaborate props, projections, and comical antics...
- Live at the School For The Deaf - The CrampsThe CrampsThe Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
- Live At The Napa State Mental Hospital (June 1978) - DevoDevoDevo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
- Live 1980 - Iggy PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
- Live In San Francisco 1981 - Stranglers - Live In 1978 In San Francisco
- Throbbing GristleThrobbing GristleThrobbing Gristle were an English industrial, avant-garde music and visual arts group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions...
- Live In San Francisco At Kezar Stadium - ChromeChrome (band)Chrome was an experimental rock group founded in San Francisco, California in 1976.Chrome took part of their inspiration for their rough and sometimes chaotic music from proto punk pioneers like The Stooges. The sound of the group was often coarse and featured heavy elements of feedback and...
/ BauhausBauhaus (band)Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
: Live in London - (This compilation video features Bauhaus recorded live at the University of London and 4 of Chrome's film/videos.) - The AvengersThe Avengers (band)The Avengers are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in San Francisco, California. Penelope Houston, who has also been a folk musician, is their singer.-Original history:...
(Live at the Temple and the Mabuhay GardensMabuhay GardensThe Mabuhay Gardens was a San Francisco nightclub located at , on the Broadway strip of North Beach, an area best known for its strip clubs....
, 1978) - CrucifixCrucifix (band)Crucifix was an American hardcore punk band from Berkeley, California, active from 1980 to 1984. They were among the most popular acts of the San Francisco hardcore scene of the early 1980s...
/MDCMDC (band)MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
- Live at the On Broadway, San Francisco, 1983 - The Damned - Live (1978)
- CrimeCrime (band)Crime was an early American punk band from San Francisco. The band was formed in 1976 by Johnny Strike , Frankie Fix , Ron "The Ripper" Greco , and Ricky Tractor...
- Live At San Quentin Penitentiary - Z'EVZ'EVZ'EV is an American poet, percussionist, and sound artist. After studying various world music traditions at CalArts, he began creating his own percussion sounds out of industrial materials for a variety of record labels...
- 'Six Examples' - 1978-84 including performances from The Mabuhay Gardens, University of London and The Farm
In addition to these releases, there are other re-released compilations (Hardcore Vol. 1-5) featuring bands such as Toxic Reasons
Toxic Reasons
Toxic Reasons are an American hardcore punk / punk rock band.-History:Toxic Reasons formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey , Joel Agne , Ed Pittman , and Mark Patterson . In 1980, Joel Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, and Bruce Stuckey...
, Code of Honor, and Negative Trend
Negative Trend
Negative Trend was an early San Francisco punk rock band, active from 1977–1979.The former members of Negative Trend would go on to start a number of other notable western US punk bands...
.
External links
Joe Rees
Jackie Sharp