The Jim Carroll Band - The People Who Died (REACTION)

[@keepgrindingup7661]

Jim Carroll was an absolute brilliant writer

[@xtiants]

We used to dance to this in the clubs where punk rock was played in the 80's and beyond. Jim Carroll grew up in the rough streets of NYC, where he and many of his friends fell into heroin addiction and other such hazards of the big city in the 60's and 70's. His book, The Basketball Diaries chronicled these times, and the stories of the deaths mentioned in this song were covered too. He survived his addiction and became a successful writer and musician, and this is a tribute to his friends who didn't.

[@donlawson3330]

All true. Remarkable writer and poet. Check out "Basketball Dairies" about his early teens as a basketball star and heroin junkie in New York in the '60s and "Forced Entries" about his life in the '70s as a rising underground literary star working and partying with the likes of Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsburg.

[@JohnGeorgeHill]

I did not know that it was that Jim Carroll, who sang and wrote this song.

[@andy60234]

Markie Mark Whalberg

[@BadgerBJJ]

The book is phenomenal

[@Tddj11]

Great Song and story..RIP

[@artharrison9586]

I can relate to this one. Lost a few of the best when they were too young. I’m 62 now and have Alzheimer’s disease. I have just made the conscious decision to carry on and accept and try to enjoy the time I have left. That’s the only rational choice. You can’t change life so accept it and carry on.

[@MS-xu7jm]

wow .. this is awesome... 40+ years since I heard this what's up next? Buzzcocks? Magazine? Dead Kennedys? Psychedelic Furs? Damned? Let's go...

[@jockeyladjockeylad8492]

& when they've got a couple of original Punk bangers under their belt they can give the contemporary Punk scene a whirl with Amyl & the Sniffers - or step back 15 - 20 years & discover The Distillers.

[@BadgerBJJ]

We can use some DK these days

[@doloreswitkowski5578]

YES!

[@jfg1356]

i'm so impressed you guys found this to react to... thank you

[@ogmandog]

Never thought any reactors would touch this track. I like both of your observations. If you want to go deeper inthis album, check out the cut, It's to Late. Keep doin watcha doin.

[@Wizardjudge]

This guy’s life was wild. All these stories are about people who moved in his circles. Famous for a book called Basket Ball diaries and a collection poems called The Book of Nods. Punk inspired, so humor is an essential element to the tragedy.

[@phunkjnky]

One of the movies that started Leo DiCaprio was "The Basketball Diaries."

[@jenniferfoster1692]

Ah, ok, thanks for making those connections for me! I knew his name was familiar and I have heard the song before, probably back in the 80s, but I didn't connect him as the author of the Basketball Diaries & his interesting life.

[@clarity8]

Chaotic grief. A profound song.

[@Verlopil]

Jim Carroll was a heroin addict from a young age and a celebrated poet from NYC. He turned to a punkish rock music in the early 80s and People Who Died was the band's first (and only) single, pulled from experiences on the streets in NYC. I actually saw them in concert in 1980. There were only about 30 people at the show in a venue that held about 1000. It was electric because the poetry he was giving up was so good. It was almost more slam poetry than a concert half the time. But few people where I lived cared, maybe because the album didn't get that live experience across.

[@Ginny-t7y]

Inwood NY and Kingxbridge , Bronx were full of young people dying in the late 60'-70's. Jim Caroll was from Inwood.

[@peterbellini6102]

He died too!

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

@@peterbellini6102In 2009.. 🙄 The song was from 1980.

[@johnconway8334]

I'm from Fordham and hung out on East 209th in the 80's - some shit went down then too.

[@scruffyroses2796]

Valley Stream here.

[@josephboyle229]

First punk song I've heard you guys react to! Keep it up!

[@got2soar]

Welcome to punk fellers and yea, you can dance to it. Thats always been one of my favorites so big up to whoever put you onto it. Now keep digging and check out something from The Ramones.

[@miguelgalindo5823]

I'm hoping for Dead Kennedys..."Police truck"

[@davespear6662]

Wow! Never thought I would see anybody react to this song. Not an easy one. Thanks guys!

[@rachelpsmith3129]

This song is the equivalent to pouring a drink for your dead friend or relative, or to leaving a quarter on their Tombstone. What I always thought anyway. All these stories in this song are literally from Jim Carroll's life.

[@jockeyladjockeylad8492]

Every Christmas day for the last eighteen years I have put a bottle of beer on my Uncle's grave. He was a bit of an animal, I'd like to think he appreciates the gesture. I say hello to the rest of my family who are in residence while I'm there, some of whom I never got the chance to meet. & this song runs through my head all the time I'm there.

[@SonicProfessor_a.k.a._T._Andra]

This was Jim's tribute to, yes: actual, dead friends. Jim Carroll grew-up in late-'50s/early-'60s Lower East Side N.Y.C. [Manhattan]. After his friend Bobby died of leukemia (at 14-as mentioned in the song!), in the depression and confusion he and his friends suffered in the aftermath, Carroll became a heroin addict (there were additional reasons/causes which led to this (of course), but.... ...But: one would, wisely, say that: Bobby's death was "the switch"/"triggering" element.). Carroll got clean in the '70s, as the punk rock scene was burgeoning in N.Y.C. and as he had been a writer for a lot of his life/used writing to "get through," he began using that (after he moved away from N.Y.C. & out to California, after getting clean and trying to stay away from all of the places and people who influenced him, before.). His first album wasn't released until punk rock was, effectively, "dying" in the public eye/stopped seeming like "the next thing" (until the 1990s, anyway) and was "a bit late to the party" (in certain ways) ...but he got a lot of respect from his peers and other musicians, as well. Nobody did "dead homies" songs, back then. Nobody. ...Not too many musicians had been to Vietnam, for example, and any who were, weren't eager to "talk about it" publicly at that time. It wasn't a common thing and trauma, in groups, was "kept to oneself" in most people and small groups (such as families or friend groups). "People Who Died" was the first song like this, that *I* ever heard (and I think most people at that time would have said the same-🤷)! [Before Chuck D., ...this was in a similar vein as his "hip-hop" as "the 'CNN of the streets'!" Definitely!] In 1978 (close to the time that he joined-up with what became his first band), Carroll published an autobiographical book, entitled: The Basketball Diaries. It got quite a bit of notice and several accolades, as well. ...In 1995, The Basketball Diaries was made into a movie ...and that's where most people know about Jim Carroll from. The film was, also, Leonardo DiCaprio's introduction to the film world (he had, already, had some success and notice, several years earlier -very early '90s- on the '80s-era TV show: Growing Pains [at the end of its series run]. ...but The Basketball Diaries was his "film break-out." ...and deservedly so.) and started his career, (...at least as far as: "most people recognizing who he was'" and so forth.). I believe The Basketball Diaries is, also, Mark Wahlberg [PRE-"Marky-Mark And The Funky Bunch"" 😆🤣😛😛 (I'm pretty sure!)] 's acting debut/mpvie debut! ...there are a lot of people you would recognize in the movie. "Bobby" is played by Michael Imperioli (who *I*, personally, first remember seeing in THIS -later made famous by: "The Sopranos") and Jim Carroll's mom is played by: Lorraine Bracco, for instance. Truly: WELL-worth your watching and reflective of: that time in N.Y.C. and the life in the "underclasses" and those experiences. Definitely worthwhile, Great performances. Great writing.. Excellent film-making. --...oh, additionally: the first-ever use of a Jim Carroll song (in fact: THIS, very, ONE!! "People Who Died") that I know of (and I am pretty sure it's the first, ever) falls to: Steven Spielberg! It appears in: E.T.: The Extraterrestrial! (...in The first scene with dialogue in it!) 🤘🤘😛😛😛

[@SonicProfessor_a.k.a._T._Andra]

...and ...indeed: musically this seems, somehow, "upbeat" ...certainly ""energized!" ...but the subject matter is deadly serious.. ...I always felt that Jim wanted to celebrate the memories of these people (while, ALSO: using the events which led to their demise/the choices or "fate" that led or befell them, as "a caution"/"a warning."!🤷🤔). I think if it had been a droning paean, it wouldn't have had the same impact. ...but yes: it juxtaposes ...pain, misery, death, brutal reality with: upbeat, "happy." forceful, 'morbidly uplifting.' .... ...I will assume that that is what makes it unique and also makes it memorable and, indeed, attracts listeners. 🤷

[@scruffyroses2796]

This was heartbreaking because they really were his friends. I'm 64, lost my 1st friend at 16. This one hit hard.

[@anntelford8647]

Welcome to Punk Rock! Jim Carroll had an interesting life. He was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie Basketball Diaries. He was a poet, writer, and involved in the punk scene. This is the punk take on death.

[@LSDis4me]

Thanks for reacting to this. Glad to be a Patreon. Jim's book The Basketball Diaries is a great read about growing up in New York in the 60's (the movie doesn't do it justice).

[@christophercrowell6793]

Moshing and crying.. ❤

[@pumasgoya]

Slamming. Moshing is fake.

[@miguelgalindo5823]

YYYEEESSS!

[@AP-gb3eh]

Oh it’s real , punk had a Nihilist flavor. Laughing at pain as long as you could dance. I salute you Brother Jim

[@OzarkTroutBum]

Jim Carrol was a junkie beat poet author along the lines of Edgar Burroughs. He wrote the Basketball Diaries about growing up in the Catholic Church but being rudderless and ending up a junkie with junkie friends doing junkie things. Later friends included Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Keith Richards but still with the heroin habit. Basketball Diaries was made into a movie and a vehicle for Leonardo De Caprio and Mark Wahlberg and was critically acclaimed and well worth a watch. Jim Carrol does a cameo in it in as a junkie that equates the Catholic Mass with the ritual of cooking dope.

[@melissaford717]

This right here is my jawn!!! Leonardo Di Caprio played him in the Basketball Diaries. Unfortunately, I have many names related to me I can put in this song. RIP to you all and nice review guys!

[@jaquestraw1]

Haven't heard this in years!

[@tjmasson1013]

Wow you fellas just blew my mind. This song was only played on one station really in Ny. Great song. Heavy

[@stevedahlberg8680]

To really understand this, you've got to crank it up to almost eardrum-bleeding level. And it's hilarious because Jim Carroll was more of a poet and a writer, but I saw him live in the way back and he was incredible. Everyone can relate to this song. Everyone. It just gives voice and emotion to all of that.

[@dopeymark]

I remember when this song came out. It was played on the radio regularly. Now unfortunately, I have too many friends who died in similar ways.

[@hjhjhjhj6611]

Never thought we'd get Jim Carroll on a reaction. Believe it or not his first album, Catholic Boy, is one of the great debuts. Every song is a banger. His other two or three albums were lacking, unfortunately. He died.

[@rbash]

YESSS! That whole second side of the album (yeah I'm old enough that I had it in vinyl lol) is great, but City Drops Into the Night is the best track IMO. Truly epic and an awesome song title. Hoops junkie, heroin addict, street poet. You guys are the first time I've seen anybody react to him, so thanks!

[@m.gideonhoyle409]

La and Che are just the best...

[@GrimrDirge]

We asked my great grandpa why he didn't get out more. "all my friends are dead, and all of their kids are dead". He was 98 at the time.

[@eltonjah5669]

Oh SNAP. Another great one from this group is IT'S TOO LATE

[@michaellamb9596]

Wow love this! This one is deep in my archives

[@majones501]

This was, and I guess still is, one of my favorite punk albums, titled “Catholic Boy.” Great music. I would also encourage you to check out the Buzzcocks, and their album “A Different Kind of Tension.” You might start with “I Believe” or Hollow Inside”.

[@jackramz5786]

This song is a true story about Jim Carrols friends he grew up with in NYC & the music is done in the punk rock style of the early 80’s. Jim Carrol is the person Leo DiCaprio plays in the movie Basketball Diaries.

[@kathybwell]

What - we’re listening to Punk!? Pretty sure this qualifies as punk rock my friends - that insistent fast beat less than pleasant topic. And yes, Hella fun to dance to!

[@brandonboucher7090]

Punk was first and foremost a movement

[@Big_Al_63]

It's pure energy!

[@hipsville]

Loved dancing to this back in 80-81. Everybody's already filled you in on Jim Carroll. True artist. Glad you guys are getting into some punk! Bring it on!! 88 lines about 44 women by The Nails, definitely hit that but a number of other songs that had that nihilistic outlook back then. " Is That All There Is?" Cover of Peggy Lee's classic by No Wave singer Cristina with altered lyrics. Los Angeles by X and Johnny Hit and Run Pauline by X fits that bill as well.

[@darrylbennett4297]

Damn I like to think I’m pretty well informed with music, this is an introduction to an artist that I’m totally going to check out! Thanks guys keep up the great work

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

You definitely should.. This album is a perfect 10/10, mostly straightforward streetwise NY bar rock, though people wanna label it “punk”. Every song on this is great, and each one is about real people and real events.. all of it detailed in his book “The Basketball Diaries”.

[@jeffrubinelectronics]

You made me laugh!!! "I might have to listen to that again". Love it.

[@johnglue1744]

Damn this is wild, I was listening to this song earlier today thinking what you guys would think of it.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Weird serendipity going on for me lately as well, two different people posted about this album in two different groups I’m following lately. This album is a pure 🔥beast of a perfect 10/10.

[@keithschafer-v2m]

You guys have to check out Hall & Oats - Do What You Want, Be What You Are

[@briangrigsby1842]

I am 71 all my friends and relatives have DIED!

[@AngelChester914]

I am 72 all my friends and relatives have DIED! also.

[@tinicum54]

I am 70 and a few.

[@olly8]

I am 72 and have ONE friend still alive. ✌🏼

[@nazfrde]

I feel you, brother. One of my friends got murdered yesterday.

[@olly8]

@@nazfrde Damn! So sorry for your loss. My husband was murdered 51 yrs ago...I feel your pain 💔🥀

[@maureenloftus6717]

Jim Carroll was an author and poet, as well as musician. His memoir of his childhood/teen years “The basketball diaries “ explains the sad journey through addiction and recovery and painful losses ❤️😇

[@josephmoodler2711]

You should cover the entire album. It is epic.

[@MuckoMan]

I always thought this sounded like Vinny Barbarino singing a song. You have to be old to get it.

[@theDML2112]

Jim Carroll made a cameo in the movie "Tuff Turf" (1985) w/James Spader & this song was featured in the film.

[@CANEsPappa]

Love it, great song, and apparently true! Recall seeing the band do this on SNL.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Saw The Jim Carroll Band for free at a lunch time concert back in 1984, sponsored by radio station WBCN. Of course the band, and Jim played this song and his other hit tune, "It's Too Late, (To Fall In Love With Sharon Tate)". And now it's time to say R.I.P. Jim Carroll. He died.

[@RP-bx5un]

Wow I haven't heard this in forever

[@davidanon1568]

I remember this song from the early 80s.

[@melvinwomack3717]

That' took me back to 84😅

[@alldayadventures5418]

Wow... forgot about this gem... Lots of friends lost to T-Bone motorcycles at this time.

[@JerryM-p2v]

Awesome song

[@eddiemoney1093]

Never would have figured to hear a reaction to this song

[@christopherhuot2826]

I like the way they get right to the point " THOSE R PEOPLE WHO DIED, DIED😅

[@VintageWanderer]

Just heard this on Pandora yesterday, had not heard it in years, intense and sad.....

[@jkbezo1]

Its punk rock! The rock of hip hop jaja. Street music.

[@marygreer4036]

As everyone has said, these were his friends and this is how they died. At the same time he was a high school all-star basketball player. I knew him in the mid-70s when he was getting The Basketball Diaries to press. I’d drive him to his weekly methadone appointment to listen to his stories when he was especially high. He had a brilliant mind, was incredibly kind and compassionate, and wrote great poetry.

[@yragj6556]

Dude was a baller, played against Power Memorial and Lew Alcindor as a youth…life was cheap in nyc back in the 60-70s.

[@danmayberry1185]

Iggy Pop/Bowie's Dum Dum Boys ('77) tells a similar story. Punk was '77-'79, but this was one of the later songs that gave a similar vibe.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Great song, last one on Side 2 of “The Idiot”.. one of his best albums ever.. Bowie produced.

[@williamlovett619]

Thanks, big-time

[@Irockthere4]

My High School years. Bought it when it came out and read “The Basketball Diaries”. Leonardo DiCaprio played him in the movie.

[@deadmeat_0152]

Holy High School memories Batman!

[@brandonjones1349]

Niccceeeee one AP! Yesss.....☘️

[@JohnGeorgeHill]

Totally forgot about this song, but it was so distinctive and original at the time. Made me think of another punk classic, all I wanted was a Pepsi, by suicidal tendencies. I forgot there was so much humor in a lot of those punk songs. good job guys.

[@hipsville]

You mean Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies. :)

[@steveb9326]

Jim Carroll could hoop.

[@timpafundi6321]

They’ve got another song I like called “It’s Too Late”…It’s got a good beat

[@randybaker6042]

Great album.

[@klasseact6663]

I always think of the movie Goodfellas when I hear this song🤷‍♂️😇

[@KennyCamaro2364]

Laa and Chee! You found this one! Maaan! You going deep brother!

[@bensteckler6698]

This was a Punk Rock Anthem when I was in college.

[@olddrummerguy]

Also listen to It's too late. He was a writer, poet and had a few great songs.

[@tomross6652]

Oh, it's real.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I’ve been wondering when y’all were gonna expand towards the punkier side o’ things!

[@jrsinsf]

Style-wise, this is in the tradition of NYC punk rock via The Ramones.

[@josephtedrick7706]

Punk song done to Chuck Berry riffs.

[@nazfrde]

And Jim died in 2009. 😢

[@itsmedrooms6071]

The Basketball Diaries book by Carroll was made into a movie that is a good watch. It’s supposedly autobiographical and he obviously had quite the wild ride.

[@tjmasson1013]

And yea they were all true stories I believe

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

They were.. all in his “Basketball Diaries”, and all confirmed by other mutual friends in the documentary that came out after he passed in 2009.

[@hklinker]

This isn’t newer. It’s punk.

[@flyingburritobro68]

It’s a rock album though. Keith Richards and The Stones were loosely associated with Jim. The album was going to be on Rolling Stones Records. Bobby Keys the Stones sax player was on it and Earl McGrath produced it - Stones guy

[@brandonboucher7090]

I get heavy “The Kids Aren’t Alright” vibes from this by The Offspring….think I just found their influence!

[@susiedawson3349]

Punk rock sounding like The Ramones. Simple music, most punk rock groups only played 3 chords really fast. LOL!

[@Fuphyter]

Hey La and Chi. Noticed you missed a ripping Little Feat song(s). "Cold Cold Cold into Tripe Face Boogie" my fav Little Feat moments ❤ So glad I got to see them with Lowell. He passed a year later. Man..the musicians we've lost over the years.

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Serious Punk...

[@kalandrews2873]

This has a punk sound.

[@roddmcleodable]

Jim Carroll wrote a book about his youth, called The Basketball Diaries. I think they made a movie of it with Leo DiCaprio. The punk energy is still fresh and real all these years later. The movie deals with sme of the same stories in the song.

[@erickent3557]

This was a certain vein of NY art-scene punk rock style arching out of the late 70s... pretty much steamrolled over by hardcore punk in the super-early 80s. Great song, though, I appreciate it much much more now than when it had some airplay way back when.

[@jonathanbsmith5178]

If I remember correctly this song has something to do with his brothers passing away and he wrote it a lot of anger was going on at the time I'm not absolutely sure but this was a real big hit when I was younger

[@kellypickle]

it’s punk so we definitely danced! But it doesn’t mean it not sad.

[@robertschiavone5159]

One hit wonder goofy song but I still listen to it from time to time

[@sean3038]

About time someone reacted to this song. Watch the movie "The Basketball Diaries" to get a better understanding of the song.

[@jimmoore8951]

Jim was a baller 🏀from NY turned poet who found a niche in the punk rock genre and of course... died

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Died in 2009.. lived a pretty full life comparatively.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Died in 2009.. likely outlived most of his friends from back in his day.

[@andy60234]

The movie has a few of these people in it if I remember correctly

[@raybeez55]

jim caroll is a person who died........good song rip

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

In 2009

[@bert9762]

I really think it’s High time you begin ans listen to The Velvet Underground, the best american rock band of all times (and as rock is american music, simply tle best rock band). You should try on the first LP (the one with the banana cover by Andy Warhol) Venus in furs, for starters. Thank you for your wonderful channel

[@brandonboucher7090]

The whole first album is a head trip. Waiting for my Man is badass too.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

White Light/White Heat..

[@Mikeluvdrums]

Sounds like the Ramones .. Punk Rockers

[@johncollins1177]

Punk

[@benjaminpriess2612]

Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) helped these guys get their record contract.