Paul Collins was in what he calls, “the greatest band that never was.” As an integral member of California’s first power-pop trio, The Nerves, Collins was an early architect of a sound that wasn’t quite punk or new wave, it was power pop, but it was more: it was 24 carat rock and roll. Their music was so tight, well crafted and full of youthful energy and spunk that Blondie chose to cover The Nerves’ song, “Hanging on the Telephone” on their massively successful Parallel Lines album; in fact, it was the lead-off track. Today, Parallel Lines has sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 million copies; anyone who ever put a needle down on side one of that record had to hear a Nerves song first.
TVD’s Radar returns with part 2 of our interview with rock and roll hero, Paul Collins who joins us to talk about his new book, I Don’t Fit In: My Wild Ride Through the Punk and Power Pop Trenches with The Nerves and The Beat.
The last time we visited with him, we discussed the exhausting quality of being ahead of your time, the benefits of having Eddie Money on your side, and receiving mixed signals from Blondie. This time around, we’ll get into what power pop is—and isn’t—that old place MySpace, being a rock and roll dad, and how you’re never fully dressed without a smile.
Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Sharp Notes each Saturday evening at 6pm and TVD Radar on Sundays at 5AM on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.
