Some New Kind of Kick

A Memoir

By: Kid Congo Powers, Chris Campion

Narrated by: Kid Congo Powers, Raphael Corkhill

An intimate, coming-of-age memoir by legendary guitarist Kid Congo Powers, detailing his experiences as a young, queer Mexican-American in 1970s Los Angeles through his rise in the glam rock and punk rock scenes.

Kid Congo Powers has been described as a “legendary guitarist and paragon of cool” with “the greatest resume ever of anyone in rock music." That unique imprint on rock history stems from being a member of not one but three beloved, groundbreaking, and influential groups—Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Cramps, and last but not least, The Gun Club, the wildly inventive punk-blues band he co-founded.

Some New Kind of Kick begins as an intimate coming of age tale, of a young, queer, Chicano kid, growing up in a suburb east of East LA, in the mid-‘70s, exploring his sexual identity through glam rock. When a devastating personal tragedy crushes his teenage dreams, he finds solace and community through fandom, as founder (‘The Prez’) of the Ramones West Coast fan club, and immerses himself in the delinquent chaos of the early LA punk scene.

A chance encounter with another superfan, in the line outside the Whiskey-A-Go-Go to get into a Pere Ubu concert, changes the course of his life entirely. Jeffrey Lee Pierce, a misfit Chicano punk who runs the Blondie fan club, proposes they form a band. The Gun Club is born. So begins an unlikely transition from adoring fan to lauded performer. In Pierce, he finds brotherhood, a creative voice, and a common cause, but also a shared appetite for self-destruction that threatens to overwhelm them both.

Quirky, droll, and heartfelt, with a pitch-perfect evocation of time and place, and a wealth of richly-drawn supporting characters, Some New Kind of Kick is a memoir of personal transformation, addiction and recovery, friendship and belonging, set against the relentless creativity and excess of the ’70s and ’80s underground music scenes.

Great book, Great performance

I wish the book had been a little longer and maybe go more in Pink Monkey Birds but overall a fantastic book about an absolutely unique and talented individual! 🤘Kid Congo Powers rocks!

Beautifully told story of an amazing life

Kid is witty and compassionate in sharing his story. So many losses and successes, particularly his recovery.

Brilliant, Meditative and Cinematic

Who says punk rock troubadours aren’t the historians of the modern era? Kid was front and center during all the major cultural revolutions, which he contextualizes through the eyes of his enlightened and sensitive soul (a self-described “magical being.”) Buckle up for the high jinx, the nine-lived close calls, busts, scrapes with larceny (both as victim and unwitting culprit in an accidentally stolen car), casual deportation, ugly nationalism, alpha male bandmate group dynamics, homophobia, a smattering of racism, the heavy pendulum of addiction and the loss of too damn many friends to HIV/AIDS. Kid’s soothing contrabasso deadpan is a hilarious take on the tragicomedy of modern life, and had me laughing out loud one minute, crying the next. I did have a driveway moment (well, a Target parking lot moment) and an unexpectedly emotional reaction when Kid recounts being in Berlin when the wall came down. I won’t spoil it — you have to hear it. To me, that scene encapsulates the ethos of the rock counterculture, the all for one and one for all modus operandi of punk comrades in arms, and the elation of a shared human experience so profound. Meditative, brave, gloriously detailed and funny as hell — thanks for the ride, Kid! Can’t wait for the movie!

What a life!

As someone who knew about Kid Congo Powers peripherally, it was cool to learn more about his life. While I can’t relate personally to the addictions he’s conquered (I love a redemption story, even if it takes a few tries) - learning about all the bands he has played in and the people in his life was amazing. My god, he knows everyone! A courageous life for sure, surviving so much loss. If you get a chance, see him and his band perform live and definitely read this book.

A great underground rock n roll memoir

Completely captivating from start to finish. For fans of great story telling and real rock n roll. Even if you’re not familiar with his music you will likely find his stories engaging and relatable. Recommended!