'Louie Louie' gold record going on eBay - Forty years after a song with mumbled vocals and supposedly lewd lyrics went from Pacific Northwest radio hit to nationwide sensation, the gold record it earned has gotta go...more

Great to see Joey honoured there in NY. I managed to finish Monte Melnick's Ramones book over the length of the train trip to and from London and it's heartily recommended. Not an easy read sometimes but 100% for real. I always found Monte to be a great guy. Firm but to my mind he was always fair. It's great that he got this tome together. How was the trip to London? Well it was grand to see the crew but the show was kinda disheartening. I need to put it into some kinda perspective before I run off at the word processor... I did finally get my mitts on a copy of Sonic Reducer #1 though so at least that was something.

More pictures here and here.

Just got the Wanda Jackson album "Heart Trouble" which includes Dave Alvin and also Lux and Ivy of The Cramps. Sympathy have a vinyl edition of it on the skelp also. You need it. Hearing Ivy's guitar on the version of "Funnel of Love" almost makes me forget that travesty known as "Fiends of Dope Island".

It's been a rough and tumble old week. The Spit and Polish Tour is underway and Amy's Allison and Rigby along with Neil Cleary and Mark Spencer have been bogged down with all kindsa crap. We've been trying to ease the pain but lessons have been learned folks. I'll expand on all that in due course after we get back from the London show tomorrow (Monday). Special agent David Scott is now accompanying the posse and Cap'n Jon Graboff of Special Forces have been drafted in. How do you educate people who will pay money to see shysters like Ryan Adams that they're just plain wrong? I'm not sure but I sure as hell ain't about to give up trying. Remember that old New Math chestnut "Die Trying"? Well if that's what it takes...

I generally hate and almost never open blanket e-mail but for some reason I opened this one and found it vaguely appropriate... it might make you smirk too, who the heck knows...
"It's the Spring of 1957 and Bobby goes to pick up his date. He's a pretty hip guy with his own car. When he goes to the front door, the
girl's father answers and invites him in."Carrie's not ready yet, so why don't you have a seat?", he says. Carries father asks Bobby what they're planning to do. Bobby replies politely that they will probably just go to the soda shop or a movie. Carries father responds, "Why don't you two go out and screw? I hear all the kids are doing it." Naturally this comes as quite a surprise to Bobby so he asks Carries dad
to repeat it. "Yeah" says Carrie's father, "Carrie really likes to screw; she'll screw all night if we let her!" Well, Bobby doesn't quite know what to think, but his plan for the evening is beginning to look pretty good. A few minutes later, Carrie comes downstairs in her little poodle skirt and announces that she is ready to go. Almost breathless with anticipation, Bobby escorts his date out the front door. About 20 minutes later, Carrie rushes back into the house, slams the door behind her, and screams: "Dammit Daddy! ITS CALLED THE TWIST!"

The I-94 Bar e-zine: Rock Action from Sydney, Australia, via The Bowery and the Motor City.

'In this issue of the I-94 Bar e-zine, we carry an interview with Mike Watt, formerly of the Minutemen and now of the Stooges. Mike opens up his tour scrapbook and shares what it's like to become a Stooge.

Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman previews his band's forthcoming two Australian shows and reveals a studio album and live DVD are not the only things in the pipeline. The band also has its sights firmly set on a U.S. tour.

Live, we run the rule over Killing Joke in Sydney, the Celibate Rifles, the Re-mains, the Volts, Penny Ikinger, Pubert Brown Fridge Occurrence and Ian Rilen.

On disc, we review discs by Iggy Pop, Pubert Brown Fridge Occurrence, Starky, Adam West, Cowboys from Outer Space, the Royal Dave Graney Show,
Bouchard, Dunway & Smith, Alice Cooper, Sunday Drunks, Michael Yonkers, Les Ecureils Qui Puent, Los Muertos Confederados and Rhino's box set "No Thanks - - the '70s Punk Rebellion".

We also have a giveaway - win a Pubert Brown Fridge Occurrence album".

http://www.i94bar.com.

This month's releases from Ace. GO!.

RIP: Claude Trenier. GO!.

Just reading Monte A Melnicks fine tome on The Ramones. A lotta warts there to be sure but let me tell you, without this guy there could have been no Ramones. As hideous a proposition as that might be - tis the fact of facts. Great "Please Kill Me" style format, even better cast. There are details back there on one of J's post with regard to how to get it. Typing of things Ramonic, I think I neglected to put the word out on Gary Pig's Baby Doll (not the Dee Dee song) 45 on Pop The Balloon records. It tweaks all the spots those Eastern Dark records did so whattayou waitin' for? E-mail: manuel campos@wanadoo.fr for availability details.

8 inch lathe cut records anyone? Snazzy lookin' things which sound different everytime you play them. Manufactured in New Zealand for a UK label, Heliotone. Investigate.

"Ronnie Dawson Tribute/Benefit Weekend Scheduled for November 21, 22 and 24

Get Ready to Support a Good Cause! The weekend of November 21 - 24 will see a trio of Ronnie Dawson Tribute / Benefits in the New York area. These events will honor the late great rockabilly singer and Wonderful Human Being ... RONNIE DAWSON, who passed away last month of cancer. (All proceeds will be donated to Ronnie's Family)

Friday Nov. 21st - Ronnie Dawson Tribute/Benefit Record Hop @ Motor City Bar located at 127 Ludlow Street (off Houston Street) in New York City. Tel: (212) 358-1595. From 10 pm - 4 am. Six sensational DJ's playing sets of rockin'¹ music until the wee hours. No cover! -- Special Guest DJ Rob "Chop Shop" (Dallas, TX), Rex (WFMU), Rockin Daddy O (WFHU) Jumpin' Joe Doto, Nick at Night, and Wolfman Josh. Raffles and Cool Prizes! Come on down and "Buy Ronnie a Drink!"

Sat. Nov. 22nd - Ronnie Dawson Tribute/Benefit Show @ Union Pool located at 484 Union Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Phone: (71 609-0484. From 5pm til 12 am. Admission is $10. Eight bands including several who played with Ronnie, BBQ, Raffles with Cool Prizes! Featuring: The A-Bones, The Frantic Flattops, King Memphis, The Painkillers (w/Mike Hendrix/Belmont Playboys) Rhythm Bound - The Memphis Morticians - The Wanda Jackson 5 - Turbo AC's Plus a Record Hop with DJs Rob "Chop Shop", Jumpin Joe Doto, Rex (WFMU), Rockin Daddy O (WFHU), Jukebox Jodi, and Dirty Dan.

Monday Nov. 24th - Special Ronnie Dawson Themed "MAD DADDY MONDAY" @ Motor City Bar located at 127 Ludlow Street (off Houston Street) in New York City. Tel: (212) 358-1595. From 10 pm to 4 am. No cover! Benefit raffle and prizes! Record Hop with DJ's Rob "Chop Shop", Matt Fiveash, Wolfman Josh, and Nick at Night

At all three nights raffles will be held to raise additional funds. Donations have been received to date from Hepcat Records, Rockabilly Barbers and Wowsville with more to be announced. Members of the Press, for additional information, contact: Larry Shell @ 973-374-8495 or lawrenceshell@comcast.net".

"Can you possibly mention that the latest Illegal Movers shite is out 'n' about (a split w/ los Coyotemen ) so the kids will see our tour dates 'n' come along to heckle us then be swept away by some real rock action. Shave off their beards and all will be well with the world........" Certainly if it benefits world peace. Go!

The Barracudas – The Troubadour, London, 19 November

True to form for the ‘Cudas, the PA broke down during the sound check and a replacement one was urgently needed a mere hour before show time. As if that was not enough, once underway the quick-fix PA began to throw out ear-splitting vocals from Mr Gluck (sans guitar, bass and drums) and which added a rather bizarre element to the evening. “Hey, it's just like the 'Cudas at the Hope 'n' Anchor all over again,” one wit was heard to say. What the hell, Robin Wills and Jeremy Gluck were in a buoyant mood and nothing was gonna stop their train, not even a dodgy sound system. Such exuberance was contagious and made for one of the most enjoyable 'Cudas gigs I have ever seen. Add to the mix a young rhythm section that had a natural flair for the 'Cudas songbook and who offered a solid platform for Robin and Jeremy to deliver their unique brand of trash. As per usual the band opened with "Grammar of Misery" but then performed an about turn and concentrated on tracks from their formative years. A state of affairs that was fine with everyone present. In other words, lots of surf and garage tunes with hardly hint of the Chris Wilson era songbook. It must be well over twenty years since “Summer Fun” and “Rendez-Vous” were last played! Heck, at the end of the set they even threw in a manic "Surfer Joe" and which Jeremy introduced as the greatest song of all time. Possibly true. With the crowd demanding more, the boys encored with "Slow Death" and then disappeared into the West London night and onto Spain for their long awaited tag-team showdown the Dictators. This was a terrific gig and one that reminded this particular punter that songs such as "Violent Times," "Somebody," and "I Can't Pretend" are musical diamonds that invite the listener to discover some damn memorable hooks even if they are hidden beneath the grime of a shagged out PA. One suspect’s that Handsome Dick Manitoba may not be the only man “with the power of the hour”.

And now, why not read Robin's comments on the show?

Got a bit sidetracked recently with one thing and another. Mostly day to day bollocks, same as everybody else but I’ve a wrong to right here. Got a package from Ms Palmyra Delran of NYC consisting of The Friggs and Booty Olympics albums and her latest six song demo. Long time NBTsters will be familiar with her work in Pink Slip Daddy alongside Ben Vaughn and some may even be hep to this stuff but just incase… All of it is top notch snotty girls in the garage rock with plenty of pure pop thrills. It doesn’t sound all “authentic” in that no-fi fashion that’s become popular. This stuff breathes real fire and recalls faves like The Fastbacks and how bad a thing can that be. The Friggs Rock Candy alb on E-vil records says it came out in 1997 anf this is the first I’ve seen it. I oughtta get a good hard kick up the arse. The Booty Olympics are of more recent vintage, "Everybody loves a sad song. Everybody's felt disappointment, heartbreak, and unrequited love. Everybody holds secret and irrational grudges, and we all need a soundtrack that's just right". Boystyle is that s/t and it came out in 2002, a little edgier than The Friggs but possessed of that similar poptastic bloodline. PD’s demo boasts 6 contagious sides and if I had a label still I’d bite her bloody hand off. Wall to wall, classic timeless gal-rock. Love Has Gone Away and Baby Should Have Known Better in particular belong on rock’n’roll radio the planet o’er. Chase this gear via Go!

More exotic Dutch "art"; Claudia Hek paints on toilet seats, record players, lamps, toasters, t-shirts and more. GO!. (Link c/o of Alexander Polaroid)

Jeez, now Don "Sea of Heartbreak" Gibson is gone.Go!

Local video artiste 'n all round nice gal Janneke Kupfer has launched a site where you can watch a bunch of her stuff includin' videos for Dutch garage bands The D-Rangers and Los Looches. GO!.

RIP: Arthur Conley.

Sunday evening, and finally some time for a short update from this end. The reshaping of HQ is (so far) a surprisingly smooth affair, so much so, that over the past couple o' weeks I've frequently wondered "hey, where's the catch?". Still far from finished, but we're gettin' there. While typin' this I'm enjoyin' the luxury of central heating for the third night in a row !. Downside has been the movin' about of my records 'n books, you hardly ever consider the sheer weight of the stuff until you have to carry it around !. I almost considered dumpin' it all and gettin' one of those handy dandy modern iPod thingies for a while!, heck, it would've saved us the trouble of gettin' an extra floor in the first place... Oh well, truth is I'm too old to ever consider down sizing the collection and walk around with all my records stuffed in a matchbox, it just wouldn't be the same.
OK, on to more important things; more new records 'n books !.
First off: Ramones' tourmanager Monte Melnick's new book on his time with the band is a must read, no two ways about it. 'On The Road With The Ramones' is a bizarre rollercoasterride thru' what must be one of the most twisted stories in r'n'r. Even for know-it-alls like myself, this throws up plenty o' new details to keep you glued to its pages from the git-go. Couple that with a plethora of previously unseen pics 'n memorabilia and you've got the ultimate Ramones bible in your hands.
It almost feels like it was a previous lifetime when I first picked up those French 70's re-prints of the original Gene Vincent footlongs in a local supermarket and got my first taste of Gene's "sweet Virginia whisper". Not sure if Norton's issues of these discs will reach your local 7-11, but by all means try to nail these platters ASAP if you're still un-acquainted to 'em, 'cause they contain information you desperately need !. 50's rockabilly hardly comes better than this.
Gearhead has a solid collection of loose ends 'n stray tunes by the New Bomb Turks available. 'Switchblade Tongues, Butterknife Brains' offers truckloads of unreleased goodies includin' no less then two Devil Dogs' covers. A DVD is in the works.
Rhino's No Thanks! 70's punk rock box-set is easily the equal of their Nuggets and/or the Loud, Fast and Out Of Control sets. A solid collection put together w/ the original focus in mind. Meanin' that you also get to hear tunes by the likes of Mink DeVille and Eddie & The Hot Rods, stuff that'll have your average Good Charlotte fan screamin' in dismay.
As for me, I could happily spend the rest of my life without ever wantin' to hear stuff like the Stranglers again, and even with some of my all-time favorite bands I'm often too familiar w/ the tunes included to still really enjoy 'em. But as a launchin pad for those lookin' for a guide into this stuff, this is really hard to fault on any level. Tho' the purist in me is somewhat infuriated 'bout the inclusion of several laterday "remixes"....
OK, there you have it. I'd better go catch some sleep before those construction workers start knockin' on our door again at 6:30 in the morning...