Electric Purgatory: The Fate of the Black Rocker

Local filmmaker Raymond Gayle explores how the pioneers of rock became anomalies

Comments (0) By Dusti Rhodes Thursday, Jan 31 2008

Of the many rock legends, few have black faces. Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Prince and Rick James make up the short list of African-American rock and rollers. What’s surprising is that black musicians were at the helm in the beginning of the genre. In Electric Purgatory: The Fate of the Black Rocker, local filmmaker Raymond Gayle explores this irony through interviews with artists such as The Roots’ ?uestlove and Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, as well as rock journalists such as Flip Barnes and Darrell McNeil.

The film features bands often left out of the history books, such as Fishbone, who inspired megastars like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction. Artists such as Erykah Badu’s little sister Nayrock, Houston guitarist Corey Stoot and ex-Fishbone member John Bigham (of the band The Soul of John Black) discuss the obstacles of succeeding in a world created by — but now excluding — black rockers. 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet. For tickets and information, call 713-639-7771 or visit www.mfah.org. $6 to $7.
Fri., Feb. 1, 7 p.m., 2008