Kim Fowley

KIM FOWLEY has been active within pop music for as long as anyone can remember. Currently in his 47th year of activity, the seemingly tireless 64-year-old breezed into London at the end of September 2003 for promotional work for his fine CD 'Impossible But True - The Kim Fowley Story'. The compilation represents the tip of the iceberg of his '60s production and writing work for other artists and groups. Such is the depth of the story, the CD contains the biggest booklet at 36 pages that Ace Records have ever produced. Even then it only scratches the surface of Kim's amazing musical journey.
Beginning in the late '50s with singer/producer Gary Paxton, the first major worldwide hit was 'Alley Oop' by the fictitious Hollywood Argyles, and from then on Kim rode every wave that came his way. He went through doo wop, early '60s instrumentals (including 'Nut Rocker'), sweetie girl groups (the Murmaids' 'Popsicles & Icicles'), garage rock, manic vocals with the Rivingtons, early hippie trippy sounds right up to the B-side of the first Soft Machine single in 1967. Working either as producer, writer, artist, publisher, A&R man, hustler, image-maker, concept designer or simply being there, he has had a hand in countless hit records and yet remained comparatively unknown outside cult circles of the music business. It was Kim who managed to get Lennon & McCartney to Bruce Johnston's suite at the Waldorf for their first joint listening to 'Pet Sounds'. It was Kim who first produced the 'N Betweens before they became Slade, Kim who worked with pre-Traffic Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi as the Hellions, Kim who produced the young Ritchie Blackmore, Kim who was asked by Frank Zappa to join the Mothers Of Invention, and Kim who gave the world the Runaways. Quite simply, all known rules for a curriculum vitae cannot hope to contain the man.