Lou Miami(1956
– August 1995) was anAmericanpunkmusicianbased
inBoston,Massachusetts.
His group, The Kozmetix, was popular on the local scene and released twoEPs.
He combined a rough punk sound with aglam-influenced
choice of clothing.
Career
As was typical for many punkbandsat
the time, the Kozmetix regularly played atThe
Rathskeller, the Channel, Jonathan Swifts, Cantones, and Spit as well asNew
Yorkvenues such as the
Peppermint Lounge, and the old Living Room inProvidence,
Rhode Island. Lou Miami and the Kozmetix also regularly played the
Inn-Square Men's Bar inInman
Square,Cambridge, Massachusetts
In The Kozmetix, Miami was thelead
singer, Jack Rootoo playedlead
guitar, H.P. (aka Helen Privett)bass
guitar, Dolores Paradiseorgan,
and Laural Blancharddrums.
During the band's touring years of 1979–1981 the Kozmetix line-up was Miami on
vocals, Rootoo guitar, Bill Norcott on bass and Melody Chisholm on drums.
Norcott and Chisholm were previously members of Phobia. This line-up had a
regular Monday night gig at Cantones for two years, as well as appearing at
numerous clubs in the Boston area. The group was managed by Joan Martin. (Note:
the band toured past 1981. They were regulars at the Living Room on Promenade
St. in Providence, at least up until 1983.)
Their firstsingle"Fascist
Lover" b/w "To Sir with Love" was sold in a white plastic cosmetics bag that
mimicked aLord
& Taylorshopping bag."Fascist
Lover" contained the lyrics,
"A fascist lover that made my mother, and then my mother made me." TheiralbumLou
Miami & The Kozmetixwasproducedby
Ann Prim and Karen Kirby, both from the Boston based bandNovember
Group.
On their second album,Rituals,the
band consisted of Miami, lead singer; Rootoo, lead guitar; H.P., bass guitar;
Laurel Blanchard, drums; and Toby Ingalls, rhythm guitars. Additional musicians
used wereChris Speddingand
Kristi Rose.
