371. Lost Lemmings Live Performance

September 9, 2019

Q: I have been looking for the longest time for the Wood Village “live” performance—the 1971 one, not the 1973 one I usually find—of Lemmings wherein Belushi summarizes today’s PC idiotology: “if you’re not a third world black lesbian you deserve to die”. It could be on one of the officially-released LPs or in the Radio Hour collections. Any hints, clues, trails to follow?

A: Seems like I’ve heard that, too. I thought for sure it might be in one of the “stage announcements” on the Lemmings LP, but I listened to all of them and didn’t hear it. Admittedly, I didn’t listen to the entire album, but I’m pretty sure everything else on the album is musical performances and other non-stage-announcement material. I’m not sure where else to look.

If anyone knows the answer to this question, please post it in a comment here.

Comments

I know memories of dates can be funny; "Lemmings" premiered in January of 1973, and John Belushi wasn't even affiliated with the magazine until late '72 when he moved to New York to join the cast. Maybe the writer meant 1974? Gary Goodrow did portray a "Weather Person" on the officially-released "Lemmings" LP who chastises the audience, "If you're not a Black homosexual working class woman you deserve to die!" I would love to believe there's a better video of a 'road performance' of "Lemmings" than the one currently viewable on YouTube, or even better, a video of the original cast at the Village Gate.

—Tom Angelo

October 17, 2020 3:39 pm

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