Jack Lee—frontman of the Nineteen Seventies power-pop trio the Nerves and the author of Blondie’s colossal 1978 hit “Hanging on the Telephone”—died in Santa Monica, California, on Could 26. Lee’s household and administration workforce confirmed the information in a press release shared with Pitchfork, revealing that the musician had been dwelling with colon most cancers for 3 years. “He by no means gave up on his music, to the very finish. His guitar, proper by his facet,” Lee’s household wrote. “He lived his songs. One after the other they instructed the story of his life. Some desires die. His by no means will.” Jack Lee was 71 years outdated.
Jack Lee was born in Alaska in 1952, however, by early adolescence, he felt the West Coast calling. At 15, he left dwelling for Santa Monica, the place he remained for a handful of years earlier than hitchhiking to San Francisco at 19. In a wierd accident, a lady named Constance Williams gave him a carry to town in her blue T-Fowl—and later grew to become his spouse. Williams additionally inspired Lee to put in writing music and partially funded his recording of “Hanging on the Phone.”
Settled in San Francisco, Lee busked within the high-traffic Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, the place he met fellow road musician Peter Case. The Nerves had been born in 1974 with Lee on vocals and guitar, Case on bass, and extra recruit Paul Collins on drums. The trio performed sharp and scrappy rock’n’roll with Beatlemania melodies. Their frenetic fashion signaled the following punk motion, however chafed with the fading flower-power of early ’70s San Francisco.
In 1976, the Nerves issued their self-titled debut EP, which Lee launched by way of his personal Maiden America imprint. The four-track document included the unique model of “Hanging on the Phone,” in addition to “Give Me Some Time,” “When You Discover Out,” and “Working Too Onerous.” The previous two tracks had been penned by Lee.
On New 12 months’s Day, 1977, the Nerves moved down south to Los Angeles, the nucleus of a vibrant native punk scene. The band match proper in, reserving exhibits in Hollywood with payments that includes acts like Germs, the Weirdos, and the Zeros. The next 12 months, after enjoying regionally and touring the US, the Nerves broke up. However there was excellent news in retailer for Lee: Blondie singer Debbie Harry had heard “Hanging on the Phone”—and needed to document it.
Lee, who heard about Harry’s curiosity from his buddy, the Gun Membership singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce, recalled that fateful day in a 2007 interview with Mojo. “I bear in mind the day vividly,” he mentioned. “It was a Friday. They had been going to chop off our electrical energy at six o’clock, the cellphone too.” He added that the music was so catchy, few may resist if. “Even individuals who hated me—and there have been lots—needed to admit it was nice,” he mentioned.
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