Jean Genie was all over the radio in the summer of 72/73. David Bowie was huge and kids at school had started turning up with Bowie haircuts. No coloured hair just yet and no one I can remember actually looked any good in it. Actually the ones that did look good were usually the girls we'd see at Box Hill train station. Around this time I was venturing out along the Lilydale line. Once a week I would go to Hawthorn and buy comics at this little kiosk at the station there.The Avengers, Spider Man & Uncanny X-Men were my particular favourites. I had a great collection which like an idiot in 1981 I sold to my then girlfriend's brother.
I'd hop on the train at Laburnam station and travel the suburban world nearly always by myself. After comics it was records. Then movies. Then I went and spoiled it years later by getting a car.
The first time Jean Genie really clicked for me was in the Art Room. We had this new teacher who was quite hip (or hippy) and had filled the room up with Batik prints and tie dyes. Most of the art she was teaching us involved time. Previous teachers wanted the lesson finished in the hour allotted. With Sandra (she even let us use her first name!) we'd linger there at recess finishing off stuff while the music on the radio played loud. One lunch time Jean Genie blasted it's way across the room. I'm working on a pastel drawing. The smell of the art room and Mick Ronson's guitar. A great place to be.
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