Was it art, or just plain old crap?
G.G. Allin was found guilty last week of disorderly conduct for defecating on stage and then throwing the feces at his audience. He also ate some of it. Allin's public defender, Attorney Peter Goldberg, said Allin's actions were an artistic form of expression, albeit "poor art."
The jury didn't buy it. But the two promoters who brought Allin to play the infamous show at the then Odd Rock Café at 2010 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. on Feb. 28, 1989 still think it was an art form.
"It was a great show," said Mark Shurilla of Express Productions. "The one thing I have to say about G.G. is he is the most real rock performer I have ever seen in my life. It was a real rock experience.
"G.G. Allin is a walking First Amendment beacon. It's truly about doing what he feels like doing...He's the Charles Manson of performance art. The cutting edge of rock is always going to have someone like this, which, I guess, puts G.G. Allin at the true cutting edge."
Jack Koshick, still a manager and promoter of bands, is more subdued in his reaction to Allin.
"My first thought was, 'God, he's a pervert.' But is it art? It's weird. It's an art in a weird sort of way. It is for a certain amount of people...I mean, the world isn't flat. Ike isn't president and eight-track tapes will never, ever make a comeback. And G.G. Allin will never be host of the 'Tonight Show.'"
Shepherd Express Entertainment Editor Tim Forkes, who was at the show, agrees.
"It's art because it's a performance. It was thought out by G.G. Allin and choreographed by G.G. Allin. Precisely because he thought of it and he had his principles behind him when he thought of it," Forkes said. "His principles were probably that he wanted to go further than anyone else before, to be more shocking than the next guy."
Allin, 34, whose real name is Kevin Michael Allin, played 20 minutes at the February show, "but it seemed like 10 hours, it was so horrifying," Shurilla recalls.
In a letter to the Village Voice, Allin gave insight to his "art" after a columnist called his show an "obscenity."
"I am the blood and guts. What I do on stage I do everywhere I play, not just NYC. I do wanna fuckin' die on stage. I'm serious. Every time I step on stage could be my last show because I'm not afraid of nothing. I go over the edge. Others just talk about it. But I got the balls to do it. I'll never sell out like everybody else. I never have and never will. I don't care if everyone hates me 'cause I'm only doing it for me. Fuck you. I am self-destructive. I drink too much and do too many drugs. So fuckin' what. I like the danger of bleeding, cutting myself, beating myself, pain and total abuse any way I can.
"I've been carried off stage on a stretcher. I've been hospitalized many times after gigs for blood poisoning, broken bones, crushed nerves, etc. But it doesn't fuckin' stop me. I'll never stop. I'll take on anybody. I shit on you and piss on you. So what...I've eaten my own shit and drank my own piss on stage and things up my ass are welcome. I'll rape any bitch I wanna rape...Drink, fight and fuck."
Allin has said he will kill himself during a show Oct. 31, 1992.
Allin is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 13 in Judge Michael DiMotto's court. He faces a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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