In the overmediated age we find ourselves in, I have a kind of kneejerk negative reaction to the entire notion of the recluse. Especially when the semi-famous are accused of such behavior, it strikes me less as a desire for obscurity, than an assertion of self-respect, a meek demand for privacy, and/or a slide into a more decent sort of existence. Viz Salinger, admittedly a tad more famous than some of the "obscure" musicians whose work I admire.

In any case, there's no denying two of my favorite icons of '80s music have been accused of reclusive behavior. But today I woke up, fired up the internets, and bumped into two fine examples of them speaking loud and clear. So, without further adieu:

- CRASS in VICE MAGAZINE - MARY MARGARET O'HARA on Q TV

Two of the great archival photographs that appears alongside the great Crass interview appear right below.

And here is the Mary Margaret O'Hara interview in its entirety.

If you click on the tags to this post you can find a fair bit more of my internet ramblings about these two folks. And, because I'll always appeal to prurient interests when given the chance, there's one last image of Crass -- a nudie shot! -- after the jump.

It was captioned "Penny Rimbaud with his hand in the bush, Dial House, 1983," but it looks to me like he's cleaning out some gutters.