New on the web: the mighty Telstar label;

"Telstar Records hit the ground running in 1985. Head honcho Todd Abramson caught the Ben Vaughn Combo playing around N.Y.C. and thought they were so damn great that somebody should put a record out on them. So he took matters into his own hands and put out their debut release, “My First Band” in January of that year.

The Ben Vaughn Combo boasted the criteria that has become Telstar’s stock in trade. Bands like The Mummies, Swingin’ Neckbreakers, Greenhornes and Woggles embrace the elements of garage, r’n’b, soul, surf, punk and more that once made music so enjoyable, and put their own unique individual stamps on it to come up with something new and exciting. You can’t lose with the stuff we use! We’re happy to do all the work of tracking these bands down. All you have to do is buy their records and cd’s. This is a good deal for everyone involved".

Munster records from Spain has some cool stuff lined up for release:
Black Lips - Ain't Coming Back 7", Legendary Tiger Man (featuring Mick Collins and Jim Diamond) - Big Black Rusty Pussyboat 7", v/a - Freakbeat from Down Under (South American 60s comp), Gun Club - Fire Of Love (Heavyweight vinyl re-issue of this all-time classic, w/ liner notes by a certain Mr L. Hutton), Arthur Lee & Love - Five String Serenade (Re-issue of 1993 LP), Real Kids - The New Rose Years (220gm Vinyl 2LP, this includes their second album 'Outtaplace', and their most sought after record, the French only 'Hit you hard'. This has not been reissued since 1983. On top of this you get 8 tracks from their 1983 "All kinda jerks live"). Rubber City Rebels - Pierce My Brain (Euro/vinyl edition of their recent disc). And finally a vinyl edition of the recent Link Wray tribute disc featurin' the Fleshtones (ao).

A couple o' new books that are doin' the rounds here in Holland that I'd figured would be worth mentioning even if you don't speak the lingo. First off is 'De Naald Erin!', a collection of short stories by John Schoorl all revolving 'round a particular LP, that is really too lame for words. And I wouldn't even mention this snore fest if it wasn't for the fact that one of the discs involved is the Nomads' 'Temptation Pays Double' in which even a certain Mr Vahlberg makes a cameo appearance (!), this is the book's sole redeemin' value. Of much more interest is Nothing Going On In The City a book documenting 40 years of pop/rock history in Groningen (or Grunnen as the locals call it). Not a story as such, but a chronological overview detailin' certain eras, bands or scenes thru' short descriptions and a massive amount of illustrations (Pictures, posters, flyers, newspapercuttings etc) that should make this one easily digestible for you foreigners as well. Immaculately layed-out, this one's well worth checkin' out. Same goes for Het Beste Uit Hitweek '65-'69, an overview of Hollands main 60s music mag Hitweek, as essential a part of the Dutch six-o scene as the Outsiders or Cuby. No lookin' back or hindsight, just page after (original-) page of tales about long hairs vs straights, provos, beat groups (even tho' one can already spot the roots of Holland's longtime fascination w/ Zappa and country rock in here), and browsin' thru' this really brings the era back to life. Essential !.

Radio Birdman dates:

AUGUST
Sat 30th: Jerez - Serie Z Festival  (Espanol)
Sun 31st: Nottingham - Rescue Room (UK)
SEPTEMBER
Wed 3rd: Nancy - Le Terminal Export (Fr)
Sat 6th: Perugia - Medicine Show Festival (It)
Sun 7th: Bologna - Independent Days Festival (It)
Wed 10th: Bielefeld - Forum (Deutschland) w/ Hydromatics
Fri 12th: Oslo - Cosmopolite (Norway)
Sat 13th: London - Mean Fiddler (UK)

Three more dates to come and they'll probably be announced in the first week
of July.

The (new) official band site:
radio-birdman.com