Greg Hoffenberg aka Greg Berg...aka G.Berg...aka Mo Berg, has been laying tracks at PlasticMeltdown since its inception in 1978 and in-between times he has partnered with sinisterdub on many “snail mail” project/releases on his “First Take” production label spending much of his life living in Venice, CA producing short films under his FEVER production label.
All together, Greg has recorded many hundreds of songs and has been jamming with long time friends Clay “Anthony” Jefferson (Junkyard, Rik-L-Rik, Midnight Rodeo), Johnnie Sage (The Joneses, The Mau-Maus, Christian Death), and Michael Bannister (Peter Case, Four Wheels Down, Burning Sky) on and off for many generations. Together they have conspired in many musical, film, and photographic adventures (to name a few).
a2) Introducing...
Greg Berg..."my life through kaleidoscope eyes"
a3) Dedication...
In loving memory of a true friend... Michael Bannister... 1950 to 2008.
Or just listen here kaleidoscope dub - Greg berg and sinisterdub
b1) Me & Kennie Levie
1977, this was the shit. What a great band Tension was. We were the first of its kind in orange county and anyone who tells you different don’t know a thing.
We started it up in southern California. This is the first band picture, some what of a collectors item... you can order it thru the Meltdown website... 10 dollars ceeeash. TENSION members were: Kennie Levie-vocals/sax, Peter(Beach) Freidrikson-guitar, Cathy Little–bass, Greg Berg-guitar and the drummer was Joey Ruffino whom later joined China White.
b3) Cathy Little & me
At a practice in 1977// I wanted Cathy but she didn’t like men in that way, so I went with the closest thing...her identical twin sister Cindy. If any one knows where these two are these days please contact this site. The little twins Cathy and Cindy where you at?
Cathy Little and Shelby Perez having coffee discussing their next move. Punk rock has entered into our lives via “Rodney On The Rock”. Finally there is a music that makes sense.
b6) Stephen Dale Petit
......1978
Petit was a 13-year-old guitar prodigy & he was the first to teach me some guitar chords.
b7) Greg & Levie
After “TENSION”, I switched to bass & we started a 3 piece called B. Fadle, named after a brand of heroin… here we are seen playing at the Elks Lodge opening up for the Zeros.
b7b) Original Flyer
B-Fatal, The Zeros and more.
b8) Peter & Me 1978
Peter (Beach) Freiderikson and me in 1978, taking a quick shot during a break at lucky dog studios recording a single called “Reggae Road Block” with sinisterdub.
1982. Sharon Burnside was my girl for a couple years. Miss ya burnie.
c3) Genea Tessier 1982
The blondie… we lived together and wrote songs for a year. We played Hollywood as “Genea and the Peasants”. I wrote the music… Genea is a great lyric….
c4) Greg Berg 1982
Playing the Lhasa Club in Hollywood with the Peasants. The show was recorded live and can be ordered on CD.
Back when Johnnie Sage was playin guitar for them.
c9a) A Fever Production
......."Hard Lover"
.......staring
.......Johnnie & Gabby
.......Song written by:
.......Berg/Sage
.......Up For Grabs
d1) Greg Berg 1983
I think it was Yugoslavia. Left to my own devices I could cop anywhere.
d2) Berg, Beach & Sage
1983. We made quite a team...the fearsome threesome.
d3) Up For Grabs 1984
Johnnie Sage, Michael Bannister, and Greg Berg. Our band name was “Up For Grabs” and we recorded killer originals. We performed at Ronnie Wood’s art opening in the valley. Martina Stanik took this photo at the Ellison in Venice.
That’s my girl, stood by me thru thick n thin. She is quite a creative songwriter and actress. We were together for four years at the Biltmore on the boardwalk. I still love you Francine!
Or just listen here Trippin' - Berg/Bannister/Forese
d7) Sage & Berg 1984
Learning a thing or two in Venice while waiting for our man...
d8) Peter, Kipper & me
4th of July 1984 and we were just coming on…
e1) Slaughter House 5
Johnnie Sage & Greg Berg in 1984. Slaughter House 5 was the band and this picture was taken at Cathey de Grande Hollywood. We were playing a bill with the Mentors and the Scoundrels. El Dulce and Tony Alva were in the other respected bands. We kicked their ass but who am I to say. It was a great show!
Slaughter House 5 1984 was Greg Berg-vocals, Johnnie Sage-guitar, Greg Korizan-guitar, & Paul Sailor-bass. This show was right after we recorded at Mystic Records...a compilation of songs entitled “It Came From Slimy Valley’. Our drummer/leader, China is no longer with us...miss ya!
e2b) Original Flyer
Slaughter House 5
e3) Slaughter House 5
Another dark “Slaughter House 5” show. 1984.
e4) Francine and me
True love
e5) Up For Grabs 1984
Greg Berg, Clay “Anthony” Jefferson & Johnnie Sage at a pool party.
f1a) A Fever Production
......."See-Dy---Simon"
.......Lawerance/Simon
.......Song written by:
.......Berg/King/Georgiou
f2) Jesse & me 1985
Jesse’s a homeless bloke with a talent for an unorthodox way of playing and dumpster diving. He’s a great soul really. Last I heard he was locked up in one of those mental thingies.
f3) Bannister & me 1985
Taking time out between sets, busking at Venice beach. We whored ourselves out to a wide range of acts. Photo taking by Martina Stanick who now resides in France.
f4) Street Smart 1985
Jamming with Peter Damian on the boardwalk. He only paid us 15 percent, tuff bastard...he is still down there today.
Or just listen here Hey - Steet Smart / Peter Damian
f5) Lawerance King 1985
Funny and sensitive...talented and humble...all around good guy. Love ya low!
f5a) A Fever Production
......."Bad Boy"
.......Johnnie Sage
f6) Sage & Berg 1985
On our way to our gig at the street scene, we were feeling so good we had to tell the cops…
(It should be illegal to feel so good) I think it is actually.
f7) Dig them kicks!
Greg Berg as bass mon 1986
f8) Bill Mitchell & Me 1986
Politics as usual & beyond left of course.
g1) “Big Bad Wolf” 1986
Francine taking camera duty during a clip from “Big Bad Wolf” 1986. Another “Fever Production” filmed in Malibu somewhere.
g2) Simon and me 1986
Simon Georgiou and me with the mask during filming of “Big Bad Wolf”. We actually got some good shots from the back of our motorcycles driving in the canyons, what a great summer day.
g3) Francine Forese 1986
Filming of her dance number. Isn’t she hot! I think so…
g3a) A Fever Production
........"Big Bad Wolf"
........Fever Crew
g4) Bass mon 1986
That’s me sitting being bass mon again in 1986. Switching from guitar to bass gave me much more options… Here I sit with the “rock steady” crew!
Or just listen here Boy or Girl - Berg/Bannister/Sage
g8) Raynard Packard
Who’s the king of loads? Raynard could read, converse and sleep at the same time. He was the first gothic I remember in the early 80s with a Mohawk dressed in a kelt or is it kilt? Anyway he was my roommate, my friend, and Scrabble champion.
Zef plucked me up on venice boardwalk when he saw me busking with inner circle a reggae band...
We did about 3 shows. I think he went back to jamaica pooof!
j2b) A Fever Production
.......Zef & The Ravers
.......Music Machine 1988
J4i) A Fever Production
......"Long Run"
......Bannister/Berg/Forese
j5) Nodding off
Johnnie Sage & Greg Berg with unidentified girl 1992 nodding off after doing some recording. Johnnie came down from San Francisco. I believe we did a remake of Bowie’s "Rock-N-Roll Suicide" with sinisterdub & Oti.
j6) Andrea Crowley 1992
The mother of my daughter Jade, I met Andrea in 1989 when I was playing music in Venice...
Being 11 years my junior she was 18 at the time. Her beauty stopped me in mid song.
j7) Johnnie and Me 1996
After Johnnie’s accident. He burnt both his hands after a piece of art he was working on caught on fire. He did recover nicely.
j8) Simon & Me 1998
Doing that mountain get away, always the song writers…
j9) sinisterdub
.....& Johnnie Sage
Taking five between sessions
k1) First Take Studio
Greg Berg & Simon 1999. Recording session... got a good sound that day.
k2) 2000
Pool Shark
k3) Winter NYC 2002
My rehab baby Tessa Lou Nichols. Celebrating our release of “Unmasked”. What a girl. I love you Miss Lou.
k4) Winter 2002
Johnnie Sage & Greg Berg together again in New York after being separated for some years. The magic was still there. My girl had a little over dose that weekend, but all n all had a blast.
k5) NYC 2002
Emily Carter, Johnnie Sage, & Berg in the snow in New York, believe me we were not cold at all. Celebrating our finishing up in the studio.
k6) Tessa Nichols 2002
PMR's rough album cover of “UNMASKED”. I kidnapped Tessa from a drug rehab and kept her for a year...She was a great muse and sweetheart… really!
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