Del-Byzanteens, featuring Jim Jarmusch and John Lurie

Posted by David Pescovitz, July 21, 2008 9:31 AM | permalink

Del-Byzanteens was a No Wave band in the early 1980s whose line-up included film director/keyboardist Jim Jarmusch on keyboards. Actor/musician John Lurie sometimes played with them too and writer Luc Sante penned some of their lyrics. BB pal Vann Hall found not one, but two videos on YouTube of Del-Byzanteens covering The Supremes' "My World Is Empty Without You." John Lurie is featured in two of them. Del Byzanteens "My World is Empty" video #1, #2 (YouTube)

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Discussion

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#1 posted by trommelkopf , July 21, 2008 11:18 AM

Great to see this. They opened for us (Medium Medium) when we played at the Left Bank in Mt. Vernon, NY on our first U.S. tour in October 1981. I had no idea who they were at the time. If I only knew then what I know now. But then that's true of so many things.

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#2 posted by Brett Burton , July 21, 2008 12:15 PM

So Hungry, So Angry! Wow, Medium Medium commenting on a post about Jim Jarmusch's No Wave band? And last week those Residents and Devo posts. What the hell is going on? When did people start liking cool stuff again?

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#3 posted by KryspyJo , July 21, 2008 1:09 PM

Not only a post by a member of the band Medium Medium but a mention of the Left Bank club as well! I practically grew up there circa 1980.

Thanks for posting the Del-Byzanteens vids!

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#4 posted by snackcake , July 21, 2008 1:34 PM

Netflix just sent me Jarmusch's "Down By Law," starring John Lurie (as well as Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni!!)... now I can't wait to see it.

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#5 posted by edgeways , July 21, 2008 3:35 PM

Down by Law is my fav Jarmusch film. It's got a great look.

But the big question is: how the hell do you actually get a copy of this album anyway?

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#6 posted by betty slocombe , July 21, 2008 3:55 PM

And of course John Lurie's fabulously angular lounge lizard jazz stylings feature in 'Stranger then Paradise'......

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#7 posted by Anonymous , July 21, 2008 7:16 PM

"Fishing with John" anyone?

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#8 posted by Brett Burton , July 22, 2008 8:28 AM

@#5
Go to Bleeker Bobs in the West Village (NYC) and bug the oldest crankiest guy or the twentysomething with the most tattoos, (but not any of the metal heads, Israeli bong sellers, homeless guys or comic book dudes). You may have to go a few times, but it'll show up. You want the full album or the 12"?

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#9 posted by colinb

, July 22, 2008 4:06 PM

Hey, the D-Bs were also co-founded by Phil Kline, who's famous (in my book, anyway) for Unsilent Night, the huge free boombox concert held every holiday season in major cities around the world.

See http://www.boingboing.net/2007/12/11/unsilent-night-in-26.html and

http://www.philkline.com/