Friday, December 30, 2022

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Thursday, December 08, 2022

Monday, November 28, 2022

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

CROWDFUNDER FOR EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE (CLICK IMAGE)


 

GOING GOING GOING TO SOME GOOD HOMES...

These are risograph print reproductions of the NBT covers in the SCENES exhibit. 

Sets are available to good homes that would like to adopt such a thing. The print process dictated that it wasn't economically viable to run just one so there are 21. One could call it a limited edition. Yes, there aren’t many but demand will determine desirability. These look better than the real thing, like the photos of those commemorative plates in the Sunday paper supplements, but in reverse. 

The short of all this is, do you care? They're collected in an A3 plastic zip top pocket comprising 15 prints. I’m not sure what you’ll do with them but they’re nice. Too groovy for the recycle bin but I’m under no illusion that they’re just ‘stuff’.Thanks to Paul Choi for sorting out the wee overrun and to Good Press in Glasgow for the excellent repro quality. I’m not numbering them so you don't have to worry about that. When they’re gone...

I'm not selling them, we can sort out postage and you make a donation to a food bank or some other charity that isn't headed up by a parasite sucking up some big salary. Send me a message if you're interested and we'll figure the detail out.

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

RIP - DAN McCAFFERTY

BACK TO THE BENIDROME - FUNTASTIC REPORT 2022


You’ll likely notice that I don’t really blather here much but that silence needs to be broken in order to give you my skinny on the premier annual punk rock, power popping clan gathering that was FUNTASTIC DRACULA CARNIVAL Episode 17 in Benidorm. Making my way from the pre-shindig aperatif session, I wandered by Backstage Bar as the strains of “Heading For The Texas Border” blared forth. Me myself? I was heading for the Flamingo hotel so this signalled to me that the spirit of Roy Loney was present and that all was well. Something that crossed my mind was that maybe it would be an idea for a bunch of us to buy the old KU UFO and turn it into a retirement complex.


The Wildebeests

I found out that the popular holiday destination is referred to by locals as Zonaguiri. Guiris are those ugly foreign visitors that stink up the resorts along that coast and further afield, they’re often Plague Islanders. Friday’s highlight was The Wildebeests who were there at the behest of headliner Wild Billy Childish and CTMF. The intrepid trio acted as a conduit to make this long-pursued appearance happen and Medway enthusiasts witnessed a unique spectacle that was available for that one night only. in my head, I was yelling the words to "La Ciudad Huele a Sudor" at La Riviera in Madrid where my favourite band was playing the second of two shows before they made their debut in Mexico. I realise this may be considered sacrilege in some quarters but I can’t lie about something this important. 


Wild Billy Childish and CTMF






























One of the absolute top notch aspects of attending Funtastic is that you meet people you’ve known for verging on forever but have never been in the same vicinity. Meeting Mike and Anja Stax with the rest of The Loons was one such escapade and gracias Lenny Helsing for making that happen. In addition, their full-blooded beat attack was a highlight and a half of Saturday night. Earlier, Los Retumbes started the proceedings doing what they do so well. The Josephine Network brought a Laurel Canyon-style pop and drizzled it with a Lower East Side New York pop/soul element that really stood out to an almost orchestral degree. In addition, Rata Negra specialised in post-punk that swings and The Zodiac Killers also delivered the goods. Seeing an empty Buckfast bottle on the way to the venue made me wonder about the rocket that might have discarded it.


Los Retumbes



The Josephine Network



Rata Negra



The Loons

I don’t know which DJ was served up the Eddie and The Hot Rods, Dr Feelgood, Bilbo Baggins sequence but they’re doing excellent missionary work. And Eloy played "Downtown" as interpreted by The Cuban Heels. On the third night, The Scientists "Swampland" was playing as I walked in. Another positive omen. 

The festivities in Penelope end at 8am each morning after the night before. That gives the revellers time to get almost no rest before it’s time to take in the Sunday lunchtime entertainment at Rockstar Bar. La Moto de Fernan blew away the cobwebs in the basement of said establishment as did Metalleg who I missed because I was keen to attend the launch Pepe Kubrick’s book “El único juego en la ciudad” (The Only Game In The City) with Ivan from Chopper Monster in MadToon and publisher Tony DevilDog who is also the man that runs Family Spree Recordings (see picture to your immediate right).

On Sunday night, Los Malinches cross fertilised a Fleshtone-y garage romp with early Santana to come up with my pick of that night. They set a bloody high bar for anybody to follow. Those guys put Vanessa Varona and I through our paces doen in the ‘pit’. Uni Boys were the hot ticket and they’re almost nearly pretty good, earning bonus points for pitching in with a version of The Ramones "Slug". Biznaga was one of the acts that represented what is perhaps the dawning of the next intake. Having young bands to attract a younger audience is a good move. They have a song called “Madrid” with a video that that was filmed in Weirdo! Bar so obviously I approve of that. They remind me of The Gaslight Anthem or something. I get why they’re popular but they ain’t no Ginebras. I’d never seen The Meanies but have followed their oeuvre forever, they did the business when I was flagging a bit. As ever, Daddy Long Legs brought the roof in. The place was jumping and then some when I left on Dia 3 having taken a flier down a ‘surprise’ step. Entirely my own eejit fault. 


Los Malinches


Uni Boys

El Coche Funtastico will rev up again next year (12/13/14 October 2023) leaving all other attempts to create such a party in the dust. ECF is what Knight Rider is called in Spain but I’m sure the Hoff would approve of this adaptation to mark the occasion of the greatest event of its type to happens over the course of any year. Many have tried but no actual cigar has been won. It’s all about the good natured delinquency of the attendees. That's what makes it. The facilitators of the madness, Paloma, Varo, Mikael and their crew did us proud again. The monster turns 18 next year, almost old enough to drink. Eeek!

Rock ‘n roll kicks for teenagers of all ages. It was a real pleasure to see so many familiar faces again and I really hope I’m around and able to make the scene again in the ’23. I'll post the link to the ZigPix when it becomes available.

Terrible snaps by me.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Friday, September 02, 2022

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Thursday, August 11, 2022

THE SECOND BITE FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF TOWN EP

Sunday, July 24, 2022

KNBT 11 - ONE LOUDER (SLIGHT REPRISE) ENTIRELY FOR EDJUMUCATION PURPOSES ONLY

 
Lost Highway (intro) The Zantees (Bomp/Charly)
 
Endless Weekend The Golden Horde (Mother) 

Wrong Side Of Town The Prize (Anti Fade) 

Dumb Me Down The Dahlmanns (Pop Detective) 

Hey Diana Screeching Weasel (Striped Music) 

Nothing But Trouble Kid Gulliver (Red on Red) 

Feel The Gas Hormiga The Ant with Paty Critter (Bandcamp) 

Alex Turner Ginebras (Vanana) 

Reza a Dios Grasias (Vanana) 

New Jersey Rock ‘n Roll Ben Vaughn (Relay Shack)
 
9,999,999 Tears Dickie Lee (RCA)
 
Silverbird Mark Lindsay (Columbia) 

Lo ho in mente te (I Have You In Mind) Equipe 84 (Ricordi) 

Tugboat BMX Bandits (with Angel Corpus Christi) (Elefant)
 
Caliphate Hate DANG!!! (Apollon) 

Eleven (They Will Never Solve) The Shangs (JudiGee!) 

El Boogashake Mario Allison Y Su Combo (Vampisoul) 

Heart and Soul Bobby Mizzell & His Rockin' Piano (20th Fox) 

Let’s All Dance (Our Last Summer) Lola Dutronic (Bandcamp)
 
Stripper Sohodolls (Loser Friendly) 

Lost Highway outro The Zantees (Bomp/Charly)


Thursday, July 14, 2022

AWFUL DISCLOSURES OF THE PRIMO PUNK ROCK PERSUASION

“The Awful Disclosures of Screeching Weasel”
is the latest instalment from the oft copied, never equalled exponents of anthems for any generation worth their salt, a rare case of still ‘having it’ and being in total control of their own destiny. This one features Ben’s son Joe on keyboards here and there that adds a harmonic to the fray that really sets it apart. The heyday Alice Cooper/Ramones fusion hinted on “Baby Fat (Act 1)” is now fully formed. Guitars skirl like bagpipes here and there throughout and there’s no way I can play this as loud as I want to in the house. Surely I don’t really have to tell you how good this is. 

If you don’t and you’re one of those idiots that has some peeve with Ben Weasel then just move on along and indulge your delusion elsewhere. Feel free to fact check my opinion at Bandcamp or wherever but please go listen and don't (or try not to) be a divot. 

Favourites straight out of the traps are “In La Quinta del Sordo” and “Hey Diana” but the whole thing is over so fast that you just have to play it (on repeat). That might mean getting of your arse to turn the record over but you can likely deal with that.

Saturday, July 09, 2022

Thursday, July 07, 2022

Wednesday, July 06, 2022

IT'S A HIT!

Friday, June 24, 2022

MIDSOMMARTIDER!

FLESHTONES INTERVIEW FROM SERBIAN ZINE CALLED OUT OF THE DARKNESS BY MARKO PETROVIC

Marko offered this chat with Sir Peter Zaremba, he thought you'd like to see it... 




Hey Peter... is this your first interview for a Serbian/Yugo zine? 

PZ: Yes, this is my first time in the Balkan press! 

Tell me about your first encounters with Serbia or former Yugoslavia at that? I remember you telling me about watching Richard Burton as Tito back in the early 70s...under the influence of psychedelics if I am not mistaken? 

PZ: You didn't need psychedelics watching that movie but I recall me and my early musical collaborator Brian Spaeth were pretty high on some sort of mix. Burton made an excellent Tito, I'd have him play me if he was still around. The one and only time The Fleshtones played in Trieste we were put up in an old Inn. I soon realized that by cutting across some gardens and fields we'd be in then disintegrating Yugoslavia so of course, Ken Fox and had to go. The border guards barely paid any attention to us, their eyes were glued to their TV set. I thought they were watching a weather map but the map had all these little explosion icons all over it instead of thunderclouds, fog or sunshine symbols - they were actually watching where the war was breaking out. We just walked far enough into the soon to be independent Slovenia to buy ourselves some beers and fried calamari. I still have the left over Yugoslavian dinars from that excursion. 

I also know you're a big-time tennis fan and support Novak Djokovic. Of Course he's huge in Serbia but not universally loved. Some people don't like his safe, heavy on personal branding image. Plus, his dad and his wife are complete morons but love the limelight and that doesn't help his cause. Why do you dig him so much? 

PZ: Exactly for those reasons and he's not Roger Federer. Tennis can be a bit pretentious -even given John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. Novak is down to earth, well actually very eccentric, okay a nut but he's basically a good guy. Not that a sports star has to be a good guy or gal. I think maybe he could have planned the Adria Tour a bit better but what the hell, the condemnation he received was way over the top. My wife and I picked him for greatness very early on and it's satisfying to watch him do so well - and to confound his haters. Go Nolly, the perpetual underdog! 

Tell me how you got through the lockdown. Remember you telling me it was hard not being able to play shows first time since forever. The Fleshtones are known, amongst many other things, as a band that never had a non-active year since you started back in 1976. So besides doing the radio show for Little Steven what else kept you busy? 

PZ: We led a very pastoral life, really. Long walks in the country, I got my fishing rods all primed, and I started to learn all these songs and practice the keyboards. That lasted about two months then I said fuck it but we still took the walks. Oh, and I was working on a Count Zaremba French language song - I'm still working on that - a year later. French - it's a whole other language. As the lockdown started to fade into history (I hope) I kept feeling that it wasn't so bad after the hysteria died down a bit, it was quality time with the family, Something I'll remember fondly. 

Now that things are kind of getting back on track, with plenty of stops and starts, what are your plans with the band? USA, Europe and beyond... 

PZ: Well, by the time you read this we hope to have played our first post-covid shows in France, although a show or two were cancelled at the last minute due to new government restrictions. Then in September, we want to pick up where we left off with club dates here in the States. A new all-Spanish language Fleshtones 45 will be out in November, pressed at Jack White's Third Man Record plant. He knows what a rock and roll 45 should sound like – LOUD! Then finally, the postponed trip to Scandinavia. Who knows, maybe even our own 'Adria Tour' - hopefully without the vengeful press! 




I love your latest album 'Face of the Screaming Werewolf'. Give a little background info on how you came up with the idea for it. 

PZ: Thanks, I was hoping you'd like it. Our bass player, Ken Fox is way more into cheap horror flicks than I am. I just used to watch all this stuff, starting as a kid in the 60s, then in the 70s with my mentor Brian Spaeth (he plays sax on all our early records). Brian and I even started to film our own fake Mexican horror film that we planned to splice some random John Carradine footage into that we'd just film off the TV, but our ideas out-stripped our willpower and the footage we shot has been laying in box since 1974. Some shots pop up in some of our videos. Watch 'Beautiful Light' and pick them out. Anyway, Ken Fox sent me something on a movie by his favourite director Jerry Warren -'Face Of The Screaming Werewolf'. I just kept repeating the title over and over in my head - or saying it out loud to whoever was around. It had to be the title of our next album - and it inspired me to really try and guide what that album would sound and look like. Intellectually speaking, I've always been a real slacker. In all those years, I never put it together that all these crazy patched together movies exploiting an aging John Carradine we're all the work of one man – but of course it was Jerry Warren! Auteur de 'Face Of The Screaming Werewolf'. Besides, I also finally realized that Bruno VeSota is in all these movies -my favourite movie star all my life without me even knowing it! As Sonny Boy sang - 'don't start me to talkin'! 

My favourite tracks are the title song, Manpower Debut and the genius instrumental Swinging Planet X. Can you elaborate on those tracks? 

PZ: Genius? Sure I'll elaborate. Another cool thing about this record is that Keith and I started working on the songs together just like in the olden times. We'd sit around his kitchen table in his old Williamsburg 6-story walk-up (the legal limit) tenement and brainstorm. Since I already plotted to call the album 'Face of The Screaming Werewolf' we just needed some moody, atmospheric music which Keith already had. A little trip to the body and fender shop and voila! Same thing with 'Manpower Debut', Keith had the music but I think he also had the title. I added the 'Debut' just to fuck it up, and the lyrics. You can interpret them as you wish - a confession, a joke, whatever. 'Swinging Planet X' is an instrumental I've had in my head since - well before the band, maybe even the late 60s. I was really inspired to finally do something with it by watching Brian (Hurd) of Daddy Long Legs. I thought to myself "hey I play one of those things too!' Now I should add that besides being driven mad by the title 'face of the Screaming Werewolf' I had been doing a radio show (Arts & Seizures) with my buddy, the author Mike Edison (I Have Fun Where Ever I Go, Sympathy For The Drummer - Why Charlie Watts Matters - he was also in The Raunch Hands) We were doing our blues nightclub act 'Sharky & The Count'. Mike and I were hanging out listening to the (then) new Stones blues album and Mike said 'whatever you guys do your next album has to be fresh. The way 'Some Girls' was for the Stones. What Mike said really became my modus operandi for the album. 

I know that you, like myself, are a huge movie fan. One genre that I'm not familiar with are Mexican horror movies. As I remember they're your forte. I was re-reading Jodorowsky's 'My Spiritual Journey' and he mentioned his affair and subsequent conflict with the controversial singer/politician Irma 'la Tigresa' Serrano. Did you watch any of her movies? If not, where should I start? 

PZ: Quien sabe? Like I said I've always been intellectually sloppy. Irma Serrano? Jodorowsky? Maybe I've seen some of that. I grew up watching movies, on TV and in the cinema only we called it a 'movie house' but when your mom is taking you to see first-run Brando in 'The Fugitive Kind' and 'Synanon' (Chuck Connors) it's the same thing. Hell I remember watching creaky old talkies on TV like 'Disraeli' and 'Hallejulah!' (both great). I was happy to read that's exactly how Scorsese got his film education. Everything, I repeat everything was on TV – except promo of course. Now Mexican films? They're getting into vogue, no? Start with 'El Baron Del Terror' staring matinee idol Abel Salazar then even try the 'beloved holiday classic' Santa Claus directed by Rene Cadona. That has terrified generations of children. For Mexi-noir, Doloras Del Rio in 'La Otra' - later remade in Hollywood as 'Dead Ringer' (the only thing better about the Hollywood version was the title), and of course Luis Bunuel's Mexican work, top of the list 'Ensayo De Un Crimen' (Criminal Life Of Archibaldo De La Cruz). Enough? 

While on the subject give me your tips on movies, books, records that you have enjoyed lately? 

PZ: That question always makes my mind go blank - a good feeling, ask it again but I'm always insisting you watch this movie or that. Did you finally watch Gary Cooper in 'The Virginian'? I started to read 'I Burn Paris' again when the lockdown started but lost interest when the politics became too predictable. John Fante? But avoid all movie versions, even the ones he wrote the screenplays for! Donald Goines? Short stories by Conrad, Capote and de Maupassant? Especially de Maupassant. That's the best because there are a lots of them. As for music, I like the French groups Les Gry-Grys and Liminanas. Also the spooky Russian surf instrumentalists Messer Chups (although there’s only so much surf instrumental revivalism I can take in one dose) and of course Savage Beat! 

Hope to see you real soon! 

PZ: Likewise brother but the next time you invite me out for pizza, make sure we’re in the same country.



I LIKE THIS... REMINDS ME OF COMPULSION!

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

IT'S ONLY TEENAGE WASTELAND...

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Monday, May 16, 2022

Friday, May 13, 2022

Thursday, April 28, 2022

SCANDINAVIAN ROCK VIA MADRID!

AMY IN LONDON AT THE END OF MAY!

A HYMN

Monday, April 25, 2022

KNBT10 – SIPPING CHAMPAGNE WITH A BIRD ON THE BIG WHEEL AND OTHER ADVENTURES!






Presented for entertainment purposes only, you are encouraged to support these artists and their work. Several generations need to be educated that there’s no such thing as a free lunch or music for hee haw. This title of this episode is a lyric from The Freshies song that pretty muckle represents my current mood.



KNBT10

Lost Highway (intro) The Zantees Bomp/Charly

Fiesta Electric Playboys Imposible

New Machine DANG!!! Apollon

Tin Foil Soldier The Hellacopters Nuclear Blast

Right Wheel, Left Hammer, Sham The Tremeloes CBS

Wrap Up The Rockets The Freshies MCA

Culo De Cuscús Grasias Vanana

Opinión de mierda Los Punsetes Canada

Wolves Big Russ Wilkins and Lightning Holling Bandcamp

Non Ti Lascerò The Courettes Wild Honey

Hang With The Girls Hoodoo Gurus Big Time Phonograph Record Co.

Tomorrow Came Today The Dahlmanns Beluga

El Grupo Americano Las Varonas Snap/FOLC/Delia

Get Us To The Eurovision Lola Dutronic Bandcamp

Ooh Ah Just A Little Bit Gina G Eternal

Dancing In My Mind Ben Vaughn Relay Shack

Supermujer Georgina WEA/Tool Music

23 Minutes In Brussels Angel Corpus Christi A&R

Avtryk Annika Norlin Razzia

Picking Up Beer Cans On The Highway Homer Henderson Lulie

Funny How Time Slips Away Billy Walker Columbia

Dracula YeYe Andre Pajares Munster

Do The Drongo! The Drongos Bandcamp

La Illusion del Ahorro Adefesios Discos AleHop!

Vote Those Fuckers Out Willie Gibson and Helen McCookeryBook Gare Du Nord

Lost Highway (outro) The Zantees Bomp/Charly

Monday, April 11, 2022

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

KNBT9 - BROADCASTING FROM THE PLAGUE BUNKER


Seems like I haven’t learned anything since my last one of these. 

I’ll qualify that with hating to babble because the music is what's important, introducing it to folks who might not know the stuff.

Click on the link below and you'll be transported to Mixcloud where all of these reside.

KNBT9



Lost Highway The Zantees (intro) Bomp/Charly 
14th Street Emily Spray Two Boots 
La Cuidad Huele A Sudor Ginebras Vanana 
Fall In Love Hayley Mary Via Bandcamp 
Rat Kinder Angst Kinderangst Music 
Kiss Of The Rat Nuevo Cateclismo Católico FOLC 
Soccer Sucks No Brains Plato Utrecht 
Won’t Let You Go The Courettes Damaged Goods 
Tura Satana Tiburona FOLC 
The Last Time The Dahlmanns NBT 
Gotta See Jane Ben Vaughn Many Moods 
I Started A Joke Kid Gulliver Red On Red 
Darkest Shade Of Dark Annika Norlin Razzia 
BBC Ming Tea Hollywood 
Tchang Tchu Yo Georgie Dann Discophon 
Blue Light Disco Mr Teenage Flightless 
White Beaches (French Version) Blue Violet Blue Violet 
Don’t Go Downtown Parlor James Discovery 
Baby Baby Baby Make The Girl Dance Roy Music 
Lost Highway The Zantees (outro) Bomp/Charly

RIP - BOBBY RYDELL

KID GULLIVER HEAD FOR SPAIN!


 

Monday, April 04, 2022

Saturday, April 02, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Friday, March 11, 2022

Friday, February 18, 2022

ADEFESIOS ON BANDCAMP

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Friday, January 21, 2022

CHEAP THRILLS

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Sunday, January 16, 2022