Monday, April 27, 2020
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Friday, April 24, 2020
KEN FOX CAMPAIGNS AGAINST PROCRASTINATION WITH THIS PINK FAIRIES COVER!
And as the members of S.U.P.E.R.R.O.C.K are distance, Count Zaremba makes an appearance here.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Monday, April 20, 2020
WRECKLESS ERIC HAS THIS BUG THAT'S DOING THE WORLD. NOT GOOD NEWS BUT HE"S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!
In case you didn't hear the news that came in yesterday. Here's the take on it by the man himself. And if you never read his blog before then you're in for a treat.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Friday, April 17, 2020
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Monday, April 13, 2020
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Friday, April 10, 2020
Thursday, April 09, 2020
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE OF BAD BEHAVIOUR
BEWARE OF THIS SCAM BY THIEVING BASTARDS IN MADRID AND LIKELY ELSEWHERE. There's been an outbreak of utter cuntery in addition to what you're already having to suffer. Some scumbag has come up with the wheeze of pretending to be out favourite hostelries such as Weirdo Bar! and Wurlitzer to try and siphon cash from patrons. They're using the logos and pictures from the bars to look official. Funhouse, Mongo and Chopper Monster have also fallen victim to this underhand development. As if people could stoop much lower.
THIS IS NOT THE BARS. IF THEY WERE DOING ANYTHING IT WOULD COME THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS. THIS MAKES ME RAGING MAD BECAUSE I"M CONCERNED ENOUGH THAT I MIGHT NEVER ENTER THESE SACRED PORTALS AGAIN. So please, think at least three times before you donate. It's terrible to have to do that but this is what we're up against. It makes the 'we're all in this together' line ring pretty hollow.
Anyway, I was just taking care of a couple things when I saw this and wondered if overseas folks might see this and want to help. As soon as anything official happens to that regard then I shall circulate all relative information.
THERE GOES MY BLOOD PRESSURE AGAIN.
THIS IS NOT THE BARS. IF THEY WERE DOING ANYTHING IT WOULD COME THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS. THIS MAKES ME RAGING MAD BECAUSE I"M CONCERNED ENOUGH THAT I MIGHT NEVER ENTER THESE SACRED PORTALS AGAIN. So please, think at least three times before you donate. It's terrible to have to do that but this is what we're up against. It makes the 'we're all in this together' line ring pretty hollow.
Anyway, I was just taking care of a couple things when I saw this and wondered if overseas folks might see this and want to help. As soon as anything official happens to that regard then I shall circulate all relative information.
THERE GOES MY BLOOD PRESSURE AGAIN.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
MUSIC FOR GLOVES
Jarama 45rpm.
If you feel like you have some spare cash and are sitting in your bunker craving entertainment then have a look (and listen).
Is there a similar campaign here in the UK? Hit me up with details if there is. Other countries too. I'm led to believe we get visits from all over.
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
Monday, April 06, 2020
RIP - DAVID RITCHIE
An important part of the Glasgow music fraternity. I'm genuinely saddened to hear this. Davie released the Wreckless Eric cover of "Sweet Jane" on his Vibrascope label.
My condolences to Donna and his friends and family.
My condolences to Donna and his friends and family.
Sunday, April 05, 2020
Saturday, April 04, 2020
Friday, April 03, 2020
Thursday, April 02, 2020
CURRO'S MADRID!
I was really looking forward to seeing this in real time but that's not happening under the circumstances. So come take a virtual walk around the exhibit with me.
Click the image of what could well be the coolest cinema in the world.
DANGER EVERYBODY! AND NOT JUST FOR WILL ROBINSON!!
If
you’re here for a tune during my facebag isolation period then welcome, I shall
endeavour to post something every day provided I’m in a condition to do so.
This is a far from essential service but it might entertain you. And for now I’m
going to refrain from people who died.
But the name of the act is very apt for the occasion. This fine wee combo ought to kick off this strand just right.
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
RIP - DANNY MIHM
 |
| Danny Mihm at Hurrah, NY 1979 Photo by Tom Bessoir |
First
time I saw him was at the Whisky a Go Go in 1979 when I travelled all the way
to California from NY just to see the Groovies. Roy Loney and the Phantom
Movers opened those shows and I was amazed at what Danny could do with a small
drum kit. That kit got smaller and smaller over the years. By the
time I saw him last maybe 20 years later, at a dive on Haight Street, again with
Roy, he was down to a snare, kick and high hat.
But
that was all he needed. His signature snare rolls never ceased to
excite.
A
lot of people don't realize that Danny not only played on classics like Teenage
Head and Slow Death, but also You Tore Me Down and Shake Some Action. One time
in the 80's, I ran into Danny right on my street. I dragged him back to
my place and played him The Trip * demo. First thing he said: "It
sounds just like the Groovies!" Mission
accomplished.
Danny
Mihm was, to my mind, one of the greatest rock n roll drummers ever. Tremendously
underrated.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Monday, March 16, 2020
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Sunday, March 08, 2020
ANOTHER MAN DOWN...
RIP - GILDAS COSPEREC
Sorry to hear about the exit of a lifetime supporter of rock n' roll.
I never met Gildas in 'real life' but we fought on the same side for forever. Always a bummer to hear about the good guys reducing in number. My condolences to his family and friends. He was a big supporter of my endeavours over the years.
If you're not aware of his position with regard to 'all this' then head over to Dig It! for a crash course.
DAD'S DANCEHALL
It’s so important that places like this are remembered
and this is a labour of love to be sure. There are Ramones pictures in there
that you haven’t seen so that should be enough for some of you to take notice.
Do it now because there is unlikely to be a reprint.
The info is in Swedish but if you send an email to info@bilderisyd.se then overseas order
info will be supplied. (click the image)
Monday, March 02, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Monday, February 24, 2020
Sunday, February 23, 2020
RUBBER TO BURN!
Short, sharp and bloody furious, these Phobic fellas might well boot your jaded arse into action because you plain figured that this stuff wasn’t made anymore. “Whatever Comes My Way” is as good as anything yon alleged ‘last band that mattered’ ever recorded while the title track borders on pushing Scandinavian Rock to the man.
As good solid rackets go of the sound variety - not the ongoing fleecing - the band is steeped in the stuff it takes to crank out anthems that might just restore your faith in a band’s ability to give you a good-natured slap about the hearing gear. The band is incapable of putting a foot wrong to my mind. they’re doing it for themselves. I can tell you from experience that you’ll have no finer time than to witness them in a London boozer or some other such hostelry.
"Burning Rubber" is something I hope these fellas will continue to do for a bloody long time to come. You can get a copy of this (CD only for now) direct from them if you drop a line to Tom via malonecrossley@aol.com. Ten quid postpaid in the UK but tell him where you are and he’ll sort you out.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Sunday, February 09, 2020
Saturday, February 08, 2020
Friday, January 31, 2020
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Thursday, January 09, 2020
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Monday, January 06, 2020
Thursday, January 02, 2020
Wednesday, January 01, 2020
Monday, December 30, 2019
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019
BRIAN HOGG on ROY A. LONEY and his significance in this particular universe!
Roy A, Loney, Miriam Linna, Don Ciconne - NYC 1979 - Photo: Tom Bessoir
I never met Roy Loney, nor to my regret, did I see him
onstage, but as a member of the Flamin’ Groovies he played a vital role in my
life. Yet, despite such a forthright statement, I can’t exactly recall how I
first became aware of the group. I’m fairly sure it was via Lester Bang’s
review of Supersnazz in Rolling Stone, but at that point I paid scant regard to
his opinion – this was the man, after all, who’d panned Kick Out The Jams –
which is perhaps why there’s some dubiety over the timeline. However, that same
Groovies’ album was on my radar in 1970 and, during a fetish for the unknown, I
opted to order an import copy, unheard, alongside the debut from Dan Hicks And
His Hot Licks. I felt then, as I still do now, that it’s a patchy collection
but it was one I kept returning to, sensing a hidden potential.
True fandom kicked in the following year when Flamingo and
Teenage Head were paired for British release. There’s little point in extolling
just how great these records are; if you are reading this you know it already,
but their distillation of Detroit high-energy, rockabilly, garage bands and
British R&B was utterly captivating. Roy’s vocals, almost Zelig-like, could
be Dr. Ross or Mick Jagger, but they were imbued with his unique swagger and
poise, tongue slightly-in-cheek, yet always affectionate. I was hooked and
would play these records at any opportunity; at home, at friends and in Bruce’s
Rose Street branch where I worked part-time. It was while there I discovered
via United Artists that Roy had parted company from the band he co-founded, but
that a revised line-up would move to the UK and record here. A package
containing ‘Slow Death’ duly followed, as would ‘Married Woman’ some months
later -
I also saw them live at the mudbath that passed as the Bickershaw
Festival.
And so it continued. In 1974 I travelled to London’s Rock On
stall to buy the Skydog releases and was in Paris the weekend Sire unleashed
Shake Some Action into the world, although that was a coincidence –
honest. This, however, takes us a bit
ahead of the tale. These years were not quite as bleak as Pop orthodoxy now
determines, but there’s little doubt music’s overriding tenor then was that of
sullied complacency. Contemporaneous compilations of 1960s’ material such as
Nuggets, the Creation’s 66-67 and Mersey Beat ’62-’64 teemed with an
inventiveness, purpose and excitement so lacking in most mid-70’s releases.
Fired by their content and inspired by Who Put The Bomp and The Rock
Marketplace, I laid plans for a fanzine to celebrate the era. As always with
such matters, choosing a name took forever. Several pop art-type options were
tried but rejected and I instead found myself drawn towards song titles found
on records never far from my turntable. Cue the Groovies. Perfect! Here was a band I was passionate
about condensing everything I thought great and so it was decided - the fanzine
would be called Yesterday’s Numbers. It stayed that way for around a week, but
I gradually thought that too specific and wanted something punchier. Having
pulled Supersnazz from the rack, my eyes immediately fixed on the penultimate
track and from then on in there was no question – the magazine was now Bam
Balam.
Issue 1 appeared in February 1975, fourteen in all would
trickle out until 1982 after which I began writing liner notes, often for
labels run by people - Andrew Lauder, Roger Armstrong - I’d first met on the
trail of Flamin’ Groovies’ releases. As for the band, they had continued under
Cyril Jordan’s unbending stewardship but, much as I care for those late 70s'
recordings, they increasingly showed signs of stylistic paint and corners. It
was also sad to hear members deny their early work and, by extension Roy, when
much of it was at least the equal of that which followed. Indeed a succession
of archive releases from the period, live and studio, as well as a repackaging
of Sneakers, the group’s magnificent debut, confirmed just how special this
first line-up was. Any difference between the two was of emphasis; Cyril wanted
his music to be of a time while Roy preferred to celebrate it. That he would
continue to do, beginning in 1978 with the excellent Artistic As Hell,
maintaining it over the years with various aggregations, notably The Phantom
Movers and The Longshots. Perhaps he never regained the artistic heights of the
Groovies’ halcyon period but, to quote Joseph Heller when asked why he hadn’t
written something the equal of Catch 22 – who has?
Although wary of such get-togethers, I was genuinely excited
at the thought of seeing Roy reunited with Cyril to take Teenage Head on tour
earlier this year, perhaps even shaking his hand to say “thank you.” Alas, it
was not to be, but any personal disappointment pales into insignificance with
the sad news of his passing. 2019 was already a bitter year for the Flamin’
Groovies following the death of Mike Wilhelm but the loss of Roy Loney has
extinguished the spirit which forged them. I will hear those early records a
little differently now but will always love the music within and be thankful
for the personal paths they introduced.
Brian Hogg, December 2019
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
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