Fashion Plates and Bashin’ Skates

Ladies dumped by a guy with delusions of rock-star grandeur, bands who’ve been unceremoniously dropped by your record label, and music lovers trying to break into the industry with a minimum-wage job — designer Ali MacLean feels your pain, and she’s created a clothing line, called "Rock Victim," just for you.

The former "Gig Guide" girl on Indie 103.1 showed off new pieces from her Rock’n’Role label last Saturday at the recently reopened downtown art-and-party space Hangar 1018, parading strugglin’ but stellar stage stars from local bands, including the Prix, Circus Minor and the Oohlas down the runway with reconstructed wearables bearing the "Rock Victim" logo among others, all embellished with debauched excess-ories like laminate necklaces and flasks.

It was a dose of raunch and realism at an otherwise surreal-ish event. Called Naked Lunch, the gathering also had Counter Culture Couture’s rock frocks, groovy art (we liked the psycho-delic stuff painted onto 8-track and cassette tapes), live tunage by the Sharp Ease and Dirty Little Secret, and indie dance sounds from DJ Paulie (L Train, Ruby Tuesdays), who bade farewell to L.A. fans and friends — he’s moving to NYC to work for AddVice, Vice mag’s music division.

A gang of gals who’re anything but victims, L.A.’s rough and tumblin’ roller girls the Derby Dolls marked the last night at their digs near Chinatown with a weekend match featuring two terrorific teams: the Fight Crew vs. the Sirens. The bout attracted the tattooed-greaser and butch sets — who all seemed to love KXLU DJ Reverend Dan’s punkish soundtrack, not to mention the $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Pow-packin’ playas like Juana Beat’n and Myna Threat threw treats into the crowd (we got smacked in the face by a flying bag of doughnut holes), not to mention hard-as-hell body slams on their opponents, but neither raging ramp vamp was victorious. After getting a call from a mysterious derby hater, the fire marshal broke up the boisterous fun and kicked everybody out before the first half’s climax.

It might be all about "skates, skirts, skills and scrapes" for these battling babes, but now another "S" word has the league’s wheels spinning: shelter. The eve’s announcer and D.D. dame Evil E, a.k.a. Else Duff (wifey of the Flair’s Bruce Duff), tells us the ladies need a new Dollhouse for training and games ASAP. Check out www.derbydolls.com to see how you can help these hot-wheelin’ femmes keep the female roller-derby flame burning in L.A.

—Lina Lecaro, LA Weekly

ROCK N' ROLE

Remember when punk was real? Ali Maclean does; in fact, she centers her clothing line, Rock-N-Role, around this very question. From "distressed dresses" to skirts, menswear, t-shirts, and executive shirts, her punk couture remains true to the punk ethos—each garment is handmade so that no two are alike.

These reconstructed pieces are all emblazoned with various "Rock-N-Role" slogans, which range from infamous song titles, like Pretty Vacant or Rebel, Rebel, to tributes—"I Wish Kurt Was Alive (R.I.P Kurt)". As a victim herself of "music biz slime," Maclean has also created the "Rock Victim" t-shirt for all those who have been jilted by the shady rock business or shady rockers—all proceeds from "Rock Victim" go to the Soujourn Center for Battered Women.

--Nylon Magazine

When we first heard about LA-based designer Ali Maclean’s new clothing label, Rock-N-Role, it was through another publication’s email blast that a friend forwarded our way because they thought we would be interested. There was a small paragraph accompanied by a picture of a gold ball gown that looked equal parts Vivienne Westwood, Christian Joy, and something very new. And then there was the explanation that Rock-N-Role was created around the question “do you remember when punk was real?”

Do you remember when punk was real?! You mean X-Ray Spex instead of Blink 182? Bikini Kill instead of Good Charlotte? Sex instead of Hot Topic? Okay so we weren’t around for two of the three, but we grew up knowing and appreciating the real stuff, only to be offended circa the mid 90s by an increasing amount of imposters invading both our music and clothing market. Long story short- we became instant fans.

For this week’s feature Rock-N-Role designer Ali Maclean not only shares some pieces from her collection, but she’s gone so far as to list her favorite desert island album picks and rock n’ roll fashion icons.

Part of Rock-N-Role’s mission statement is to make deconstructed and reconstructed clothing for rockstars or for people who live like them. Already Maclean has achieved her goal. The punk-inspired clothing has been seen on members of Spoon, Idelwild, and even MTV punks Avril Lavigne and Derek from Sum 41. Based on Maclean’s newest creations we’re guessing that her influence on the rock community won’t stop there.

In Rock-N-Role’s latest line, “I Won’t Grow Up,” Maclean has channeled the lost boys of Neverland and lost souls of music to create a super cool line of tattered gowns accented by chains, charms, and lyrics for women and waistcoats, ties, and tees for men. It’s classic punk with a unique twist. And in true punk rock fashion (both literally and figuratively speaking), each item is handmade or hand painted. As Maclean says, “like snowflakes, no two are alike.”

But don’t count Rock-N-Role out if punk’s more formal attire isn’t your thing. The label also includes a line of hand painted t-shirts, cherry bomb dresses, mini jean skirts, and vests made of vintage stock guaranteed to fade just like that old Pretenders t-shirt you found during a thrifting adventure in Louisville, Kentucky. Slogans include lyrics from Runaways and Blondie songs. And then there’s the Rock Victim t-shirt, a daring conversation piece that tells off music business scum in stylish old english while giving back to the community; proceeds from the shirt will benefit the Sojourn Center for Battered Women.

Because Maclean is also a rock journalist and DJ whose musical surroundings influence Rock-N-Role’s designs we decided that the best way to get to know the woman behind the fashion was to ask her straight up: what are your top 5 all time favorite albums and/or rock n’ roll fashion icons? Turns out, she didn’t need to think very long about both subjects. When it came to her favorite albums she responded, “I couldn't do just 5, in fact narrowing from 20 was hard.”

Here’s what she had to say.

Okay. Well my desert island picks would be:

1. Lou Reed  Transformer
2. Radiohead The Bends
3. Richard Hell & The Voidoids Destiny Street
4. Pixies Death To The Pixies
5. PJ Harvey  4 Track Demos
6. Beatles  Revolver
7. Blondie Platinum Collection
8. The Fever  Red Bedroom
9. David Bowie Hunky Dory
10. New York Dolls Rock-N-Roll

As for fashion icons or influences:

1. Mary Quant - pioneered mod, the miniskirt and military jackets
2. Vivienne Westwood - Seditionaries punk couture
3. Stephen Sprouse/Debbie Harry - Debbie is THE blonde
4. The Heartbreakers - blood stained dress shirts
5. Marc Bolan - influenced the creation of Ziggy Stardust and glam

By Stephanie Trick