Setlist History: Courtney Love's First Hole-less Show

On this day in 2001, a barefooted Courtney Love live debuted songs she'd eventually record, belted out rarities, and talked trash during her first solo show since breaking up Hole while headlining at the Ventura Theater.

Yes, Hole would get back together years later, but on October 26, 2001, just six weeks after 9/11, Love was preparing her new group to open the next day for Jane's Addiction an hour south at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.

She told the 1,000+ in the beachside city, "I want to kick Perry [Ferrel]'s ass tomorrow."

The band consisted of former Redd Kross punk mainstay Steven McDonald on guitar, Kenny Korade on the other guitar, Jerry Best on bass, and former Hole drummer Patty Schemel.

Before the show Courtney fashioned hand-made VIP laminants.

The show began with the live-debut of "All The Drugs" which would end up, along with a few others that premiered that night, on Love's drama-filled 2004 release America's Sweetheart.

The album was fraught with... just imagine all the things that could go wrong during a multi-year recording of a Courtney Love solo album, including being hauled back and forth out of rehab to finish the record... and you'd probably just be scratching the surface.

Later Love complained she had very little control over which songs or mixes ended up on the LP and disliked the end result. When you compare the album version of "All The Drugs" with the bootleg recorded on 10/27 from that wild Hollywood Bowl engagement, Mrs. Cobain may have a point.

The power and evil of that live bass riff, ironically sounds like a Jane's Addiction circa Nothing's Shocking cousin. Whereas years later on vinyl, much of the grit has been scrubbed off as those in control were clearly looking for commercial acceptance.

Fellas, the song's called All The Drugs. It's about how she marvels at the fact that no matter how much money she has, she'd rather be wasted. Clearly the anthem of someone with issues singing on her way to Betty Ford. Let her rock it.

Speaking of 9/11, another song she debuted that night was one Love claimed was a premonition of the terrorist attack.

"I just wait for the intensity level to get good, for the lyrics to get prophetic" she told NME. "There's a new song called 'Life Despite God,' which literally described planes hitting buildings and an apocalyptic dreamscape city - weeks before 9/11 as morbid as that is. I know I am in the flow when my lyrics start getting psychic and dream-connected again."

Originally titled "Chris Classic," the song was recorded in at least one soundcheck that weekend. Some bootlegs reference the Ventura Theater show. And on the spectacular Hole/Courtney Tumblr fan blog there's a burned CD of the tune recorded from the Hollywood Bowl soundcheck.

Either way, that's probably what it sounded like on the 26th, seemingly the only time she played it live in front of an audience. Sad. It's a good tune.

Courtney covered a couple of tunes in her set, of note was her treatment of The Vertebrats' "Left In the Dark," which she miraculously did a better job at than even The Replacements who also took a stab at it.

She recorded it for America's Sweetheart, but apparently the Powers That Be left it off. Strange since the coda with her screaming is such a beautiful blend of riot grrl mixed with straight up '70s rock.

Sadly no official bootlegs were made of this, her first solo show without Hole. And also disappointing is Courtney has no tour dates scheduled.

While there might not be Love on the stage, there is love in the air. Kurt and Courtney's only child, Frances Bean Cobain was married the other day to Tony Hawk's son, Riley.

The officiant was REM's Michael Stipe, who is Frances' godfather. Her godmother, Drew Barrymore, does not seem to have made the ceremony.

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Last updated: 12 Nov 2024, 22:09 Etc/UTC