Category Archives: Mission of Burma

Mission of Burma

That’s When I Reach For My Revolver

One of the biggest bands in the Boston live music scene in the late 70s was Mission of Burma.  I can’t remember how many times I saw them.  In 1979 the MIT college radio station played their song “Peking Spring” more than any other.  They were a favorite of Boston Rock the way cool local magazine, a kind of combination of the Village Voice and Rolling Stone and far more important in Boston than either.  If The Rat was our church, then Boston Rock was our bible.  It was a wonderful crazy scene.  You can also go back to my February 26th post for a video of Human Sexual Response.

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Posted by Wendy Lawless  Boston Rock Magazine, Chanel Bonfire, Human Sexual Response, Mission of Burma, That's When I Reach for my Revolver, The Rat, Wendy Lawless

The Rat

The Rat

Located at 528 Commonwealth Avenue in Kenmore Square, Boston near BU and open from 1974 to 1997, The Rathskeller or The Rat was the cradle of the legendary Boston Rock scene and THE venue for punk and new wave in New England.  After my Stevie Nicks gypsy phase, I cut off all my hair, wore leather and t-shirts and made the scene at The Rat.  I was there the night the disco club across the street emptied out and the punks and disco dancers rumbled on Commonwealth.  Standing in the median, waiting for a chance to bolt through traffic, guys in cars yelled, “Sheena!” at me after the Ramone’s song.  I saw a lot of bands there including the Cars and Mission of Burma.  But the one that changed my life was Human Sexual Response.

Andrew Szava-Kovats has made a documentary “Let’s go to The Rat”.
 Look for it.
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Posted by Wendy Lawless  Boston Rock, Chanel Bonfire, Commonwealth Ave, Human Sexual Response, Kenmore Square, Mission of Burma, Rathskeller, The Cars, The Rat, Wendy Lawless