He greeted people with a headbutt, but I wonder whether this exacerbated his Schizophrenia. He harangued his audience with insults, which is why he got kicked out, but didn't he try and control his outbursts?
IDON MINE said:
Various reasons I think. He could be quite vocal at times and coming from his illness, could burst into fits, that he sometimes wasn't able to control. Beyond being a charming guy, in his own way. Wes was just an intense fella.
Also as you sure have heard, his favorite way to say "hi" was to headbutt you (and all kinds of objects, he liked or didn't), hence the mark on his forehead. But John can sure tell more, being local and all.
Chris Henniker said:
Why was he thrown out of venues? He wasn't like GG Allin.
John Battles said:
The Hipsters in Chicago DID devour Wesley , so to speak. But , I think his following was on the wane , and , as noted earlier , I'd been told , by an employee at one of the few places that still admitted him , that every other club in town had banned him , probably meaning every club that , up to that point , he frequented. I used to see him around , with his drawing pad , before he made his way into the Rock club scene , and when he still had an afro. I was'nt even aware that he was mentally ill. He seemed about as low - key as a person his size could probably be. I don't know when he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia , but , many people who are , turn out to be misdiagnosed , they may have something similar , but not always the same thing.
IDON MINE said:
Oh yeah, Wes is the thing! Coming to think of it:
I can only imagine that he would have been eaten up by the new "performance art show" crowd of nowadays, for his, uhm, all natural looking "act." Only to headbutt them for a hello, haha!
Chris Henniker said:
Anyone like Wesley Willis? A true outsider musician if there ever was one, who was so bad, he was great.
Various reasons I think. He could be quite vocal at times and coming from his illness, could burst into fits, that he sometimes wasn't able to control. Beyond being a charming guy, in his own way. Wes was just an intense fella.
Also as you sure have heard, his favorite way to say "hi" was to headbutt you (and all kinds of objects, he liked or didn't), hence the mark on his forehead. But John can sure tell more, being local and all.
Chris Henniker said:
Why was he thrown out of venues? He wasn't like GG Allin.
John Battles said:
The Hipsters in Chicago DID devour Wesley , so to speak. But , I think his following was on the wane , and , as noted earlier , I'd been told , by an employee at one of the few places that still admitted him , that every other club in town had banned him , probably meaning every club that , up to that point , he frequented. I used to see him around , with his drawing pad , before he made his way into the Rock club scene , and when he still had an afro. I was'nt even aware that he was mentally ill. He seemed about as low - key as a person his size could probably be. I don't know when he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia , but , many people who are , turn out to be misdiagnosed , they may have something similar , but not always the same thing.
IDON MINE said:
Oh yeah, Wes is the thing! Coming to think of it:
I can only imagine that he would have been eaten up by the new "performance art show" crowd of nowadays, for his, uhm, all natural looking "act." Only to headbutt them for a hello, haha!
Chris Henniker said:
Anyone like Wesley Willis? A true outsider musician if there ever was one, who was so bad, he was great.
Darn, I always forget that you're from Chicago John!
Yeah, the Schiz has a history of being the "easy way out" for doctors when a group of mental illnesses surface, or just don't surface enough to give them a good enough idea. It's awful when that strong medication goes all the wrong way i.e. has no sickness to hit.
Speaking of misdiagnosed: My least favourite "story" is the way Roky was treated on base of that joint. It was a long way off for him, but he sure showed those shits was he was able to do all those years later. Not that they care I think...
OK, I'll stay ON topic now.
John Battles said:
The Hipsters in Chicago DID devour Wesley , so to speak. But , I think his following was on the wane , and , as noted earlier , I'd been told , by an employee at one of the few places that still admitted him , that every other club in town had banned him , probably meaning every club that , up to that point , he frequented. I used to see him around , with his drawing pad , before he made his way into the Rock club scene , and when he still had an afro. I was'nt even aware that he was mentally ill. He seemed about as low - key as a person his size could probably be. I don't know when he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia , but , many people who are , turn out to be misdiagnosed , they may have something similar , but not always the same thing.
IDON MINE said:
Oh yeah, Wes is the thing! Coming to think of it:
I can only imagine that he would have been eaten up by the new "performance art show" crowd of nowadays, for his, uhm, all natural looking "act." Only to headbutt them for a hello, haha!
Chris Henniker said:
Anyone like Wesley Willis? A true outsider musician if there ever was one, who was so bad, he was great.
Man, so many... Oblivians, Billy Childish, Davy Allen, etc etc etc. Largely because I couldn't "get anyone to go with me"... and too lazy to go by myself.
Joe Strummer came to Philly around Thanksgiving and I was too "busy" to go. Regret it to this day.
Yeah, I missed half a convo on ThreeD Radio Adelaide (dunchya hate that) about this band and some of the shows people had been to. Not much info recently except they're recording... And I missed them at the Grace Emily while I was in Yankland. That would be right.
Here's the poop from FU-Book: "Four men, a guitar, a bass, some drums, some organ and some vocals, Green Circles have released three albums in Australia- Get on the outside of this released by Sexy Diablo in 2001, followed by Brass knobs, bevelled edges (and in 23 different positions) in 2003 and Tavistock Street (2008) - both released by the wonderful Off the Hip Records. Early 2006 saw the release of the album Black Vinyl Heart a UK compilation of 17 songs from the first two Australian albums, plus an extra track, released by Biff Bang Pow"
Still groovin' on the band name, I mean, us garageheads have gotta dig that...
Must be incredibly hard to be from Adelaide and play garage... Just glad there's a few bands here that live in the garage, at least some of the time.
Catchy tune that... dun dun dundun.... da dun dun dundun. 8-)
And when their song says Brown House in Stepney, they don't mean London.
Yeah, I missed half a convo on ThreeD Radio Adelaide (dunchya hate that) about this band and some of the shows people had been to. Not much info recently except they're recording... And I missed them at the Grace Emily while I was in Yankland. That would be right.
Here's the poop from FU-Book: "Four men, a guitar, a bass, some drums, some organ and some vocals, Green Circles have released three albums in Australia- Get on the outside of this released by Sexy Diablo in 2001, followed by Brass knobs, bevelled edges (and in 23 different positions) in 2003 and Tavistock Street (2008) - both released by the wonderful Off the Hip Records. Early 2006 saw the release of the album Black Vinyl Heart a UK compilation of 17 songs from the first two Australian albums, plus an extra track, released by Biff Bang Pow"
Still groovin' on the band name, I mean, us garageheads have gotta dig that...
Must be incredibly hard to be from Adelaide and play garage... Just glad there's a few bands here that live in the garage, at least some of the time.
Catchy tune that... dun dun dundun.... da dun dun dundun. 8-)
And when their song says Brown House in Stepney, they don't mean London.
IDON MINE said:
Dito to that. I also like how straight forward it is. MEL: Nice find!
John Battles said:
I like the reference too.....Someone was saying how underappreciated The Small Faces are , today. I'D SAY IT'S DEAD ON GARAGE , the tremolo/fuzz sound is ace. It's melodic , some harmonies , no singing thru the nose , so , maybe it's part Power Pop , part Garage.
I found out about SWEARIN' from Brooklyn today (told to come from a band of Twin sisters I hadn't heard of). Their album swings from twangy melodic songs to the noisier side of the new Brooklyn sound. Which I can't always get into, but here it just clicks for me. I like their rather recent album, see here ---> http://swearin.bandcamp.com/
My faves are when they burst into classic style fast and tough punk instrumentals like this:
Yep, I was surprised that his voice has quite the rusty tone to it, let's see and hope he can keep that and not be "cleaned" too much in later recordings. I'm not too crazy on the folk side but I like this ok.
First listen gives me the obvious Zimmerman feel, maybe it makes me recall Joe South a bit? It's fine for a guy that goes on tour with a oasis brother (no hate there, hyuk), I'd take this kid over their stuff any day. But that's just my snob ass.
John Battles said:
Bugg is doing , or just did , a very low key US tour , as his record is'nt out here , yet , and being that he's underage (He might be 18. Makes no difference.), they can't advertise his club dates . I know he was supposed to play here , don't know if that happened....He's expected to be very big by this time , next year.....I'll level , I'm not crazy about it , but , it's good for what it is.
Dito to that. I also like how straight forward it is. MEL: Nice find!
John Battles said:
I like the reference too.....Someone was saying how underappreciated The Small Faces are , today. I'D SAY IT'S DEAD ON GARAGE , the tremolo/fuzz sound is ace. It's melodic , some harmonies , no singing thru the nose , so , maybe it's part Power Pop , part Garage.
Jake Bugg's out on tour with Noel Gallacher (Oasis) just now, and getting a hell'ova time. Loved one minute, slated the next. The problem here is indeed age and the music he's doing. Like there's an age limit on writing folk and blues??? The critics over here need to 'get a fucking grip!' He still has the difficult 2nd album to go through. The critically acclamed 3rd. The being seen out with Scarlett Johannsen rumours, the first solo tour, the last tour, the 'well we thought the last tour was my last tour' gigs all to go with yet. Give the guy some space to develop for fuck sake! If age has any bearing then i have 2 words to say.... 'Arctic Monkeys' Still throwin out classic Rock'n'Roll and started at the tender age of 16
Bugg is doing , or just did , a very low key US tour , as his record is'nt out here , yet , and being that he's underage (He might be 18. Makes no difference.), they can't advertise his club dates . I know he was supposed to play here , don't know if that happened....He's expected to be very big by this time , next year.....I'll level , I'm not crazy about it , but , it's good for what it is.
I like the reference too.....Someone was saying how underappreciated The Small Faces are , today. I'D SAY IT'S DEAD ON GARAGE , the tremolo/fuzz sound is ace. It's melodic , some harmonies , no singing thru the nose , so , maybe it's part Power Pop , part Garage.
REALLY? NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT.....Of course , McCartney's real Supergroup was the band on "Run , Devil , Run " and the "Live at The Cavern " DVD - Mick Green , Ian Paice and David Gilmour.....YEAH , THAT'S WHAT I WAS ON ABOUT , WHAT'S NOW CALLED "THE LOST WEEKEND". Did'nt know about Crystal DEATH going back that far....I knew a guy that just seemed to know a little too much about street drugs and their origins. The only thing he did'nt know , sadly , was how to survive them.
Crystal Meth goes back to WW1, from what I've heard. I've heard about "The Lost Weekend", when Lennon went out for a year & got pissed. Shame he never got a supergroup going. Even Paul McCartney has one with people from Killing Joke.
John Battles said:
Yeah , it was'nt generally known that "Cold Turkey" was autobiographical for years. I don't think he was into it for that long , but , everyone knows he relocated to L.A. , upon his separation from Yoko , and began drinking heavily with his buds , The Hollywood Vampires -Keith Moon , Mickey Dolenz , Alice Cooper , Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson , playing Baseball on the side , when they could have formed a band .
I don't know about Lennon being a secret Republican , but, I've heard that , too. Nixon took him a LOT more seriously (As a threat.) than he did Elvis (As a potential ally.).
The closest thing to a Hollywood Vampires band was probably the makeshift band in Nilsson's "Son of Dracula"( Nilsson with Moon , Bonham , Frampton , and others.).
Did crystal meth even exist in the late 60's? I guess it did , but amphetamine tablets, and other stimulants , were still readily available , on the street , or from pharmacies.
Chris Henniker said:
I heard rumours that Lennon was a secret Republican, which really is weird and hypocritical. I never knew he was an nascent smackhead, slagged off the NY Dolls as "faggots" and acted like "Whispering" Bob Harris in the process. JUst as well it wasn't crystal meth he was getting addicted to, he would have really ruined it for everyone.
John Battles said:
That's the Hell of it , though. Some people were probably thinking "What's a Millionaire Rock Star doing , getting political on us?" ,when there's no way they could have known , LENNON WAS DESCENDING INTO HEROIN ADDICTION , AND ALLEN KLEIN WAS SIPHONING NEARLY EVERY LAST RED CENT HE OWNED.....Of course (Apple Recording Artists) Badfinger's story was the most tragic of it's time.....Lennon claimed to get it with Glam Rock , telling David Bowie , "It's just Rock'n'Roll with makeup" , then, doing a Bob Harris and calling The New York Dolls "Faggots". David Johansen let him have it ,with both barrells , " You know that song of his , "Gimme Some Truth'', where he says , "No short haired yellow bellied son of Tricky Dickie..." , well , he's acting just like Tricky Dickie , as far as I can see!".
Would Lennon have benefitted from seeing what has happening at CBGB's , Hurrah , Mudd Club , ETC.? Let's ask Keef - "We tried to find John Lennon and get him back into the scene. I MEAN , WHAT THE FUCK IS LENNON DOING , FARMING COWS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK ?!".
Andy Climax said:
Its an amazing track from their debut album. I saw them Support Mudhoney last year and they totally blew me away. Check'em out. John Lennon and his love ins, bed in's etc. A wonderful period of social upheaval and musical diversity the 60's. Y'gotta love it!
Tersicore said:
The story of those Pirate Radios in Britain belongs to the most fascinating in all Radio History to me. I wish i could have heard at one...
Like a lot the song you´ve posted!
Lennonesque love? :D Nope!
Andy Climax said:
get a room you lot, haha. Is this a Lennonesque love in here??? In Britain, we had Pirate radio. All the jocks who were anyone in the 60's and 70's cut their teeth there. A boat would be just out of British waters and have international clearance. If you were in the know, you knew the frequencies to listen on. The reception was sketchy at times and sometimes you would have half a record and half fuzz and interference, but we listened. Radio Luxembourg being a particular fave of mine. Then wonderful Auntie Beeb (BBC) thought lets get 'em on board (pardon the pun) and Radio One was born. Then you had Peel or Whisperin' Bob Harris (A total fanny). Peel won by a country mile. After what Harris said live on telly about the Dolls he became an even larger fanny or dare i say it 'A C**T! Peel played everything from Krautrack to Pyche to power pop and everything in between. Admittedly he played some absolute shite but for every show, i would always have a notebook and at least 15 new bands to check out. This was before the internet and downloading, of course, which meant a bus journey to town and a trip to ma fave record shops, Groucho's (stiil living) and Rockpile (now very sadly defunct). Them was the days. Now i can hear a band and within 10 minutes know their entire history, who they've slept with and favourite chocolate bar, and have their entire back catalogue at the push of an 'enter' button. It's taken the whole personality out of music collecting. The days when collecting meant physically speaking face to face with someone. I miss those days, but dem's da breaks. Peel's death was a national catastrophe and even if you think the last 10 were pants it was still better than watchin fuckin' MTV, let's face it. I'm gonna come down off ma soapbox now and get back to 'Rock'n'Roll Radio.' Keep it real and keep it live!
If OfCOM raided them, it's surely to be on grounds of poor taste. I was equally thinking of third rate New Age stuff. Like Enya, but more bland and cheesier. Then again, some finger in the ear folk music from incompetent buskers, drunken rants from tramps and half-assed attempts at "World Music", only more shit.
John Battles said:
Probably some wretched , psuedo - tribal drek , played on horribly out of tune (Even to MY tin-ear.) acoustic guitars with a rhythmically challenged drum circle . A fertility theme would be in order , I think.....BUT , I THINK THEY DID THAT , ONCE. Chris Henniker said:
What really abysmal music would Malcolm, Cressida, Cordelia, Ashley, et al, play?
John Battles said:
Chris , Yeah , Malcolm , that's his name . There you go ,you see it as clearly as I do.For all we know , he was based on Wimpering Boob Harris ! The idea of Malcolmdoing a terrible pirate radio station with unlistenable music , has me laughing, already.
Chris Henniker said:
We still have Pirate radio in London, catering to the rave scene, Afro-Carribean and other ethnic minority sectors of the populaton. Rinse FM became a licenced community station, which is doing very well in publishing the latest dubstep and UK Funky to the masses. Not to mention that it does work with underprivilleged kids in Tower Hamlets, which I wish them the best of luck with.
The first commercial station in the UK was Capital Radio, which was very diverse. You had Charlie Gillett's world music show, an acclaimed soul and jazz show and a David Rodigan's reggae show. Now it's just a bland top 40 station, owned by the same company who own Heart, XFM (Which was a former pirate station that blanded out too) and Classic FM. Talk about true lack of choice, especially if it's all owned by 3-5 companies. That said, community radio is where the interesting stuff's happening, along with the pirates (at times).
As a Viz reader, the best strip is "The Modern Parents" (anything by John Fardell is brilliant). Yes, Malcolm does look like "Whispering" Bob Harris, and is a complete prick to boot. I've thought a pirate radio station would be a great story for "The Modern Parents", with their wooly mindedness and shoody thinking. Not that anyone would listen to it, because it would be dire. I bet Tarquin would be telling them it's illegal and no one would listen, either because it was boring and poorly concieved, or what they'll say makes them seem deluded.
John Battles said:
As I understand it , the PIRATE STATIONS WERE TOLERATED AFTER A TIME , BECAUSE THEY WERE'NT OPERATING BY LAND. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THEY LASTED UNTIL 1967 , BUT BRITAIN WAS DOWN ON COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TV FOR SO MANY YEARS.....AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS BAD , HERE , IN THE STATES - 3 MAJOR TV STATIONS , CHANNEL 11 (USUALLY LOCAL.) , CHANNEL 13 (USUALLY PBS.) AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF UHF STATIONS. WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN PICKING UP SIGNALS FROM MARS COMPARED TO OUR POOR FRIENDS IN ENGLAND. A SCOTTISH GUY GAVE ME A TAPE OF "THE LAST DAYS OF PIRATE RADIO " , WHICH WAS SURPISINGLY ALL MAINSTREAM STUFF. BUT , THAT WAS ABOUT THE ONLY OUTLET FOR EVEN THAT. SCREAMING LORD SUTCH TRIED TO GET IN ON THE PIRATE RADIO CRAZE , AND FAILED , BUT , ALWAYS RALLIED FOR COMMERCIAL RADIO IN THE UK. THE POLITICIANS THAT PATTED THEMSELVES ON THE BACK WHEN IT BECAME REALITY DID'NT THANK HIM FOR TAKING A BULLET , SO THEY COULD GIVE THEMSELVES BONUSES. BOB HARRIS......BUGGERING , BUGGERING BOLLOCKS ! FANNY BATTERING HEDGEHOG ! I was just watching that Dolls clip . It's more ironic , his c***y comment , now , because they looked , acted , and played the part of a Rock'n'Roll band on a mission. We actually had Pirate Radio in Chicago , once , a few years back. I guested on a special program on Glam Rock. Against my better judgement , the host insisted on playing all of side two from Suzi Quatro's second album , which is GOOD , BUT I'D BROUGHT A SHITLOAD OF HOT WAX FOR HIM TO PLAY........YOU'VE READ , I TRUST , "THE MODERN PARENTS" in Viz comics , Andy? The Dad - Bob Harris !!!!! Andy Climax said:
get a room you lot, haha. Is this a Lennonesque love in here??? In Britain, we had Pirate radio. All the jocks who were anyone in the 60's and 70's cut their teeth there. A boat would be just out of British waters and have international clearance. If you were in the know, you knew the frequencies to listen on. The reception was sketchy at times and sometimes you would have half a record and half fuzz and interference, but we listened. Radio Luxembourg being a particular fave of mine. Then wonderful Auntie Beeb (BBC) thought lets get 'em on board (pardon the pun) and Radio One was born. Then you had Peel or Whisperin' Bob Harris (A total fanny). Peel won by a country mile. After what Harris said live on telly about the Dolls he became an even larger fanny or dare i say it 'A C**T! Peel played everything from Krautrack to Pyche to power pop and everything in between. Admittedly he played some absolute shite but for every show, i would always have a notebook and at least 15 new bands to check out. This was before the internet and downloading, of course, which meant a bus journey to town and a trip to ma fave record shops, Groucho's (stiil living) and Rockpile (now very sadly defunct). Them was the days. Now i can hear a band and within 10 minutes know their entire history, who they've slept with and favourite chocolate bar, and have their entire back catalogue at the push of an 'enter' button. It's taken the whole personality out of music collecting. The days when collecting meant physically speaking face to face with someone. I miss those days, but dem's da breaks. Peel's death was a national catastrophe and even if you think the last 10 were pants it was still better than watchin fuckin' MTV, let's face it. I'm gonna come down off ma soapbox now and get back to 'Rock'n'Roll Radio.' Keep it real and keep it live!
Yeah , it was'nt generally known that "Cold Turkey" was autobiographical for years. I don't think he was into it for that long , but , everyone knows he relocated to L.A. , upon his separation from Yoko , and began drinking heavily with his buds , The Hollywood Vampires -Keith Moon , Mickey Dolenz , Alice Cooper , Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson , playing Baseball on the side , when they could have formed a band .
I don't know about Lennon being a secret Republican , but, I've heard that , too. Nixon took him a LOT more seriously (As a threat.) than he did Elvis (As a potential ally.).
The closest thing to a Hollywood Vampires band was probably the makeshift band in Nilsson's "Son of Dracula"( Nilsson with Moon , Bonham , Frampton , and others.).
Did crystal meth even exist in the late 60's? I guess it did , but amphetamine tablets, and other stimulants , were still readily available , on the street , or from pharmacies.
Chris Henniker said:
I heard rumours that Lennon was a secret Republican, which really is weird and hypocritical. I never knew he was an nascent smackhead, slagged off the NY Dolls as "faggots" and acted like "Whispering" Bob Harris in the process. JUst as well it wasn't crystal meth he was getting addicted to, he would have really ruined it for everyone.
John Battles said:
That's the Hell of it , though. Some people were probably thinking "What's a Millionaire Rock Star doing , getting political on us?" ,when there's no way they could have known , LENNON WAS DESCENDING INTO HEROIN ADDICTION , AND ALLEN KLEIN WAS SIPHONING NEARLY EVERY LAST RED CENT HE OWNED.....Of course (Apple Recording Artists) Badfinger's story was the most tragic of it's time.....Lennon claimed to get it with Glam Rock , telling David Bowie , "It's just Rock'n'Roll with makeup" , then, doing a Bob Harris and calling The New York Dolls "Faggots". David Johansen let him have it ,with both barrells , " You know that song of his , "Gimme Some Truth'', where he says , "No short haired yellow bellied son of Tricky Dickie..." , well , he's acting just like Tricky Dickie , as far as I can see!".
Would Lennon have benefitted from seeing what has happening at CBGB's , Hurrah , Mudd Club , ETC.? Let's ask Keef - "We tried to find John Lennon and get him back into the scene. I MEAN , WHAT THE FUCK IS LENNON DOING , FARMING COWS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK ?!".
Andy Climax said:
Its an amazing track from their debut album. I saw them Support Mudhoney last year and they totally blew me away. Check'em out. John Lennon and his love ins, bed in's etc. A wonderful period of social upheaval and musical diversity the 60's. Y'gotta love it!
Tersicore said:
The story of those Pirate Radios in Britain belongs to the most fascinating in all Radio History to me. I wish i could have heard at one...
Like a lot the song you´ve posted!
Lennonesque love? :D Nope!
Andy Climax said:
get a room you lot, haha. Is this a Lennonesque love in here??? In Britain, we had Pirate radio. All the jocks who were anyone in the 60's and 70's cut their teeth there. A boat would be just out of British waters and have international clearance. If you were in the know, you knew the frequencies to listen on. The reception was sketchy at times and sometimes you would have half a record and half fuzz and interference, but we listened. Radio Luxembourg being a particular fave of mine. Then wonderful Auntie Beeb (BBC) thought lets get 'em on board (pardon the pun) and Radio One was born. Then you had Peel or Whisperin' Bob Harris (A total fanny). Peel won by a country mile. After what Harris said live on telly about the Dolls he became an even larger fanny or dare i say it 'A C**T! Peel played everything from Krautrack to Pyche to power pop and everything in between. Admittedly he played some absolute shite but for every show, i would always have a notebook and at least 15 new bands to check out. This was before the internet and downloading, of course, which meant a bus journey to town and a trip to ma fave record shops, Groucho's (stiil living) and Rockpile (now very sadly defunct). Them was the days. Now i can hear a band and within 10 minutes know their entire history, who they've slept with and favourite chocolate bar, and have their entire back catalogue at the push of an 'enter' button. It's taken the whole personality out of music collecting. The days when collecting meant physically speaking face to face with someone. I miss those days, but dem's da breaks. Peel's death was a national catastrophe and even if you think the last 10 were pants it was still better than watchin fuckin' MTV, let's face it. I'm gonna come down off ma soapbox now and get back to 'Rock'n'Roll Radio.' Keep it real and keep it live!
Probably some wretched , psuedo - tribal drek , played on horribly out of tune (Even to MY tin-ear.) acoustic guitars with a rhythmically challenged drum circle . A fertility theme would be in order , I think.....BUT , I THINK THEY DID THAT , ONCE. Chris Henniker said:
What really abysmal music would Malcolm, Cressida, Cordelia, Ashley, et al, play?
John Battles said:
Chris , Yeah , Malcolm , that's his name . There you go ,you see it as clearly as I do.For all we know , he was based on Wimpering Boob Harris ! The idea of Malcolmdoing a terrible pirate radio station with unlistenable music , has me laughing, already.
Chris Henniker said:
We still have Pirate radio in London, catering to the rave scene, Afro-Carribean and other ethnic minority sectors of the populaton. Rinse FM became a licenced community station, which is doing very well in publishing the latest dubstep and UK Funky to the masses. Not to mention that it does work with underprivilleged kids in Tower Hamlets, which I wish them the best of luck with.
The first commercial station in the UK was Capital Radio, which was very diverse. You had Charlie Gillett's world music show, an acclaimed soul and jazz show and a David Rodigan's reggae show. Now it's just a bland top 40 station, owned by the same company who own Heart, XFM (Which was a former pirate station that blanded out too) and Classic FM. Talk about true lack of choice, especially if it's all owned by 3-5 companies. That said, community radio is where the interesting stuff's happening, along with the pirates (at times).
As a Viz reader, the best strip is "The Modern Parents" (anything by John Fardell is brilliant). Yes, Malcolm does look like "Whispering" Bob Harris, and is a complete prick to boot. I've thought a pirate radio station would be a great story for "The Modern Parents", with their wooly mindedness and shoody thinking. Not that anyone would listen to it, because it would be dire. I bet Tarquin would be telling them it's illegal and no one would listen, either because it was boring and poorly concieved, or what they'll say makes them seem deluded.
John Battles said:
As I understand it , the PIRATE STATIONS WERE TOLERATED AFTER A TIME , BECAUSE THEY WERE'NT OPERATING BY LAND. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THEY LASTED UNTIL 1967 , BUT BRITAIN WAS DOWN ON COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TV FOR SO MANY YEARS.....AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS BAD , HERE , IN THE STATES - 3 MAJOR TV STATIONS , CHANNEL 11 (USUALLY LOCAL.) , CHANNEL 13 (USUALLY PBS.) AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF UHF STATIONS. WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN PICKING UP SIGNALS FROM MARS COMPARED TO OUR POOR FRIENDS IN ENGLAND. A SCOTTISH GUY GAVE ME A TAPE OF "THE LAST DAYS OF PIRATE RADIO " , WHICH WAS SURPISINGLY ALL MAINSTREAM STUFF. BUT , THAT WAS ABOUT THE ONLY OUTLET FOR EVEN THAT. SCREAMING LORD SUTCH TRIED TO GET IN ON THE PIRATE RADIO CRAZE , AND FAILED , BUT , ALWAYS RALLIED FOR COMMERCIAL RADIO IN THE UK. THE POLITICIANS THAT PATTED THEMSELVES ON THE BACK WHEN IT BECAME REALITY DID'NT THANK HIM FOR TAKING A BULLET , SO THEY COULD GIVE THEMSELVES BONUSES. BOB HARRIS......BUGGERING , BUGGERING BOLLOCKS ! FANNY BATTERING HEDGEHOG ! I was just watching that Dolls clip . It's more ironic , his c***y comment , now , because they looked , acted , and played the part of a Rock'n'Roll band on a mission. We actually had Pirate Radio in Chicago , once , a few years back. I guested on a special program on Glam Rock. Against my better judgement , the host insisted on playing all of side two from Suzi Quatro's second album , which is GOOD , BUT I'D BROUGHT A SHITLOAD OF HOT WAX FOR HIM TO PLAY........YOU'VE READ , I TRUST , "THE MODERN PARENTS" in Viz comics , Andy? The Dad - Bob Harris !!!!! Andy Climax said:
get a room you lot, haha. Is this a Lennonesque love in here??? In Britain, we had Pirate radio. All the jocks who were anyone in the 60's and 70's cut their teeth there. A boat would be just out of British waters and have international clearance. If you were in the know, you knew the frequencies to listen on. The reception was sketchy at times and sometimes you would have half a record and half fuzz and interference, but we listened. Radio Luxembourg being a particular fave of mine. Then wonderful Auntie Beeb (BBC) thought lets get 'em on board (pardon the pun) and Radio One was born. Then you had Peel or Whisperin' Bob Harris (A total fanny). Peel won by a country mile. After what Harris said live on telly about the Dolls he became an even larger fanny or dare i say it 'A C**T! Peel played everything from Krautrack to Pyche to power pop and everything in between. Admittedly he played some absolute shite but for every show, i would always have a notebook and at least 15 new bands to check out. This was before the internet and downloading, of course, which meant a bus journey to town and a trip to ma fave record shops, Groucho's (stiil living) and Rockpile (now very sadly defunct). Them was the days. Now i can hear a band and within 10 minutes know their entire history, who they've slept with and favourite chocolate bar, and have their entire back catalogue at the push of an 'enter' button. It's taken the whole personality out of music collecting. The days when collecting meant physically speaking face to face with someone. I miss those days, but dem's da breaks. Peel's death was a national catastrophe and even if you think the last 10 were pants it was still better than watchin fuckin' MTV, let's face it. I'm gonna come down off ma soapbox now and get back to 'Rock'n'Roll Radio.' Keep it real and keep it live!
Two new releases out now, neither of which I should really need to tell any fan of real deal '60s garage about, We're extremely happy with how these turned out!
MASTERS APPRENTICES - Undecided b/w Wars Or Hands Of Time 45 (UP033) Australia's legendary Masters Apprentices debuted with this superb 45 in November 1966, hitting hard with Undecided's raucous, early-Kinks-inspired punk R&B but truly achieving godhead with the flipside. Wars Or Hands Of Time is about as good as it gets, a sublime, driving garage-psych gem later to be immortalized on the Nuggets 2 boxset. Among my all-time top five or ten singles, and an absolute dream to reissue. High-quality pressing taken from the recent Aztec remaster, in full-colour jacket with all-new insert.
THE IN-SECT - I Can See My Love b/w Over Under Sideways Down 45 (UP034) Prefering to release records in sets, it made perfect sense to couple the Masters reissue with this similarly brilliant classic Australian 45. Hailing from the same city of Adelaide, The In-Sect almost unbelievably released this sophomore single just a few months earlier, in August of '66. I Can See My Love is a stunning rush of '60s punk aggression, all streamlined attack powered by excellent high-speed drumming, piercing guitar and tough, commanding vocals. We've replaced the original's more commercially-minded flip with a wild take on the timeless Yardbirds hit. High-quality pressing from proper master and new picture sleeve.
