Here's something pretty groovy you folks might like to while away yr time with... (thanks for the tip Marty).

The tumbling tumbleweeds are blowing through blogland. There are other fish to fry at the moment but I managed to finish the Suicide book. I think it's pretty good in the main if a tad padded out with peripherals. It's pretty obvious that their influence is everywhere these days and like I said before I'm not down with some of the "scenesters" that've been dragged out as celebrity skin. It could do with more of those who were there at ground zero. It could also do with more photos and posters and the like. I remember back in the days of Simple Minds first rumblings that Jim Kerr was obsessed with Suicide and wore a Red Star badge all the time. Evidence can be found on the sleeve of their first album, Life In A Day. No Compromise might fit the band it covers but there may have been a few of those on the way to publishing. The fact that there is a Suicide book is perhaps enough. I hope that somebody has the chops to publish Joe Bonomo's Fleshtones tome in 2005.

Well here we are. Another Christmas Day and the hatches of the bunker are well and truly batoned down and I expect it to be like I'm the only person here on earth for at least another hour. Coffee and donuts are calling and I'm gonna get to that before I start to type up the "tune info" for my dad's cd album that he made over the course of this past year. It's been quite a project and with the aid of the great Davie Scott, it's turned out pretty good for pipe music. I used to have quite the aversion to the sound of the pipes. Probably because I was dragged to Pipe Band competitions until I was old or savvy enough to opt out. My plan to have him do "Dream Baby Dream" never quite manifested itself but that's another angle for another day. I also have a some great new sonic action to provide the soundtrack to the graft, two tasty comps from Siegfried "Kalle" Kalus and the incredible Vamp Babes by Messer Chups from out there in Moscow where it's probably way colder than it is here right now.

Looking outta the bunker periscope, theres a slight smattering of the white stuff so we're having a (kinda) white christmas. I have no plans to investigate it further than that. There are blizzards just a wee bit up the road but the oil refinery here provides us with a warm glow that keeps the elements at bay (sometimes). To the kettle then... I hope y'all make it outta the other side of today relatively intacto.

Suicide, No Compromise by David Nobakht (S.A.F.).
Ramones (photographs) by Chip Dayton (Omnibus).
The fact that there finally is a book on Suicide has got to be worth something, and after having finished it's last few pages earlier tonight, I can do naught but recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in the band. Because, yes, this book tells Vega and Rev's story in detail. Working methods, factual data and a bunch of, at least to me, new facts. And for just that it gets the thumbs up, case closed blippety blah... But one thing really annoyed me here; once again this book is mainly a cut 'n paste job. Besides the quotes from those involved, there's also way too much room for these dumbfuck popstars whose inclusion is either to sell some extra copies or return some of their long lost street cred. And why bother to include a line from every other Suicide review that was ever published?, is it because the writer himself is unable to explain the beauty, importance or whatever of the band, or that maybe he just can't be bothered?. Another thing: the book goes at length tellin' us that there wouldn't have been no Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Ministry or techo/electro garbage if it wasn't for Suicide, which certainly ain't no compliment from my particular point of view. Hardly, or no mention is made of the Scientists, Spaceman 3 or Chrome Cranks, bands that actually understood Suicide's r'n'r edge. There is a serious difference between the music of Vega and Rev and that which merely serves as a soundtrack for excessive male bonding rituals. Anyway, it's something that infects 90% of all rock books, so it's maybe a bit harsh to single out Nobakht as a main target, but I just had to get that of my chest.
The latest addition to the Ramones' bookshelf really can't be described as anything else but a hackjob. Sure, there some great images in here (all from the 70s), but there's no explanation whatsoever about the who's, why's or where's. Nor is it chronological as Tommy and Marky appear and disappear seemingly at random. If only a bit thought had went into this it could have been so much better and actually worthwhile. But hey, a quick buck is a quick buck...

A typical scotsman limbering up for the impending festivities. Don't try the shortbread trick at home, this man is a professional. Anyways, got a lotta Santa type running about to do now. Have a good one troops...

Holiday greetings, dear friend-

Won't you please join Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. for a hearty, three-course, bi-borough helping of Christmas cheer to close out the year (in the festive form of our patented "ballads, boogies & blues", naturally)? Think of it as a turkey dinner, just without the carbs that seem to trouble so many. Ho ho ho!

Michael, SITandDieCo.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23rd ~ OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD ~
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan ~ Two sets, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp ~ No cover!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27th ~ PETE'S CANDY STORE ~
709 Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn ~ One set at 10:00 ~ No cover!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30th ~ OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD ~
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan ~ Two sets, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp ~ And, yet again, no cover!

Figured it'd be a poignant exercise to stop by the place I worked for 26-ish years up to April there. Took this photo to make into a Christmas card that would speak directly to those who would still rather be there as well as raise a middle digit to those who "love the new digs". It's true, the new place has an amazing view from where I sit. Maybe I'll share it with you one of these days. The brainwashed and the buttlickers (some are both) can often be heard lauding the panoramic vista. It's the party line and it sickens me. I used to like to head for the hills with visitors, etc but now I feel like heading for the metaphorical hills.

Back to my crappy wee office where you could see exactly nothing outta the window but where you didn't have to earwig the most gut-wrenchingly inane conversations. Where you could just shut the door and get on with yer work. Those were the days. As were some of the good times that were had in this old howff. Soon the land it stood on will be awash with new, vastly overpriced houses. Filled with people with more money than sense that never knew the characters who made it bearable over the years. They know who they are, wherever they may be, on this earth or elsewhere. However as Mr Thunders put it, "you can't put yer arms around a memory" and this just compounds the humiliation.

Interested in downloading a recent concert recording by the Fleshtones for free?

eMusic.com has an 18 song live album recorded by the 'tones back in the summer as part of Little Steven's Battle of the Bands in Chicago. The files are in the MP3 format and the track listing runs something like this:

House of Rock; Right on Woman; Do You Swing?; Destination Greenpoint, USA; 10 Dollars More; Ready For the Mountain; Double Dipper; The Dreg; I Want More; I Wanna Feel Something Now; Hard Lovin' Man; Tearing Me Apart; Girl From Baltimore; Love Machine; Burnin' Hell; My Kind of Lovin' / The Crossroads; Alright.

eMusic is a subscription site although there is currently a special offer of 50 free tracks in return for registering your details with them. Please note that you will need to download the eMusic Download Manager (1.3Mb) in order to save the tracks to your PC/Mac.

Are you ready to swing? If so, then head for:

http://www.emusic.com/album/10826/10826737.html

2004: You asked for it...

Albums:
1.Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar
2.Boonaraaas - Go Get Goo Goo
3.Ghetto Ways - Ghetto Ways
4.Blues Explosion - Damage
5.22-20's - 22-20's
6.Sirens - Sirens
7.Hives - Tyranosaurus Hives
8.Solution - Communicate!
9.The Girls - The Girls
10.Sack-O'-Woes - Sack-O'-Woes

Re-issues:
1. v/a - Super Funk 4
2.Reverend Charlie Jackson - God's Got It
3.v/a - Fort Worth Teen Scene 1-3

Live
MC 5/DTK - Amsterdam
Fleshtones/Metal Urbain - Lille
Nomads/Barracudas/Roy Loney - Paris
Reigning Sound - Utrecht

Been reading the Suicide book which finally arrived. It's pretty good but the Bobby Gillespie quote on the front is typical of his nebby persona. I have never rated Primal Scream but accept that they can "stage manage" an amalgam of the greatest groups which ever existed without going out as an abject "covers" band. Boners tuppence worth is on the book jacket too and doesn't anybody (particularly publishers) get that people don't seem to pick stuff up on the back of recommendations of other folks in groups anymore. If they did then The Reigning Sound would rule the world right now then we really could have a Merry Christmas (right, Joss?). Anyways, Mr Stigliano's view of NO COMPROMISE is available for you in the BTC suite so go check that out. I'll get back to you when I've digested the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Murray R has dug up some stuff that you might like to check out... first the unearthing of yet more STOOGES recorded dirt on Easy Action Records.



A Ramone-related interview with Ricky Bacchus

... and finally, Murray's combo SHOCK and AWE (which could be translated also into Shock an'a' depending on your Scots dialect) is playing in Edinburgh soon and there are also some mp3's for you to check out. Murray is currently recovering from seeing The Rezillos in Edinburgh last night. Gran'paw didn't go because he was washing what's left of his hair...

Actually that's not true. The last time I saw them was at the dreaded Garage in Glasgow and the show, well let's just say it wasn't terrific. Too many new songs with Fay dominating the whole thing. Thankfully they appear to be back on form so we missed out this time. Them is the breaks...

I found out the other day that my Yahoo Group thing has been bouncing back messages. Typical. In catching up I found this from Ben that should be up you folks street. I'm a little so-so on these tribute things but the Girl Trouble and Doll Rod inclusions make it pretty much mandatory.

"UNRECORDING RECORDS is very proud to annouce their debut release.
It will be 2XLP, first 500 with bonus 7'. You'll love it. Thanks."



1. ELVIS' CORPSE REVISITED: sex beat
2. COWBOYS FROM OUTER SPACE: preaching the blues
3. THE COME ONS: promise me
4. BARE ASS MINIMUMS: she's like heroin to me
5. THE COOL JERKS: for the love of Ivy
6. THE MAGNETIX: fire spirit

1. DEMOLITION DOLL RODS with Niagara: ghost on the highway
2. BLANCHE: jack on fire
3. MIGHTY GO GO PLAYERS: black train
4. SPEEDBALL BABY: cool drink of water
5. FLYTRAP: goodbye watermelow johnny

1. DM BOB AND THE DEFICITS: mother of earth
2. THE OUBLIETTES: my dreams
3. THE FATALS: sleepin' in blood city
4. THE DIRTBOMBS: lupita scream
5. GIRL TROUBLE: death party
6. THE JAKES: the stranger in our town

1. SONIC CHICKEN 4: like calling up the thunder
2. ANDY G AND THE ROLLER KINGS: bad indian
3. THE REBEL(aka B.R.WALLERS): devil in the woods
4. SUNDAY ADA: the house of highland ave
5. TEPPAZ ET NAZ: devil in the woods
6. GUITAR FUCKER: your man's feelin low
7. THE DEAD BROTHERS: mother of earth

BONUS45: (500/1000Lp)
Side A: LUCAS TROUBLE: mother of earth
Side B: ULTRALOVE: mother of earth"

The anticipation of the new Stereo Total album comin' out to save the planet is almost too much but the French Fan Site has the skinny for y'all... it also mentions that Brezel has a solo thing going on in...

"PARIS : Stereo Total spend december in Paris. Brezel takes some french course, while Francoise goes shopping. Both of them will be at l'Ile Enchantée, december 23, for a free Brezel solo performance. The address : 65 Bd de La Villette, 75010 Paris. Metro station : Colonel Fabien. Achtung, 21h sharp! You can see the flyer I did on the right, with the Alexanderplatz on a DDR red background. Mister Goering should also has a new solo vinyl coming soon."

Wish we could go...

As the season of faux goodwill really gets to kicking in, I'm sitting here listening to The Bitch Boys cds that arrived today. More about those when they're properly digested. This Slovenian Surf action is just what the doc ordered as a remedy to the piped crap that soiled my lug'oles earlier this afternoon. Yep, The "Best" Christmas Album Of All Eternity was doing heavy rotation in the few stores I dragged myself into. I had a dentists appoinment but the real suffering came in the shape of them terrible tunes that get dusted off each October to December 25th that the scumhordes like to provide the sorry soundtrack to their Nobby Williams infested lives. It powers their pathetic feeding frenzy like an eight pack of Duracells. I know it shouldn't bother me but it does. Why is anybody surprised that internet shopping is up 100% or whatever? Because there's f-all in the shops. Or at least most of them. And who wouldn't rather have their gear delivered to their home as opposed to trudging around a bunch off ill-stocked, impulse buyer traps. Anyways, those BB waves are lapping over me and all is relatively right with what passes for the world. My short dabble in the madness wasn't pretty and the manoeuvres probably aren't over so I imagine there'll be some bobbing and weaving going on over the weekend. Some kicking and screaming and dragging too but we'll see.

Yours aye,

Seasons Greetin' Face, the original Bah Humbugger

Not much time for goofing off in the ol' locale at the minute, what passes for normal service will resume in due course.

"Wir ain" Laura Cantrell is recording an album for worldwide release on Matador Records in Spring 2005.

A chat with the Devil Babe hersel', Isabel Samaras.

Mr Percival has directed we to this excellent Ramones Discography. How complete can too complete be!

The Seasonal Entertainment continues....

If some of you are in Fr.stad, Norway on friday... The Crypt presents:

THE ROKYS (Sweden) + THE MOODS (Oslo, Norway)
Friday 17th December 2004 kl. 21.00 Dis Cafe, Fredrikstad, Norway

Swedish tribute to the great Rocky Erickson with guest artist, supported by excellent Norwegian band The Moods. With member from such great bands as Lust-O-Rama, Peau De Peche and Highrollers, performing their mix of soul, freakbeat and garagerock. So get in the Xmas spirit with some great music. And as alway supries to the first 50 guest and The Cryps excellent DJ¹s spinning disc.

Best, Tom Erik Kristoffersen, Sneakers Records

OK, time to explain my absence on this here NBT blog.; been working on a thing I named the DUTCH PUNK AND NEW WAVE 45s DISCOGRAPHY 1975-1979. Go take a look if you're inclined to such matters, any additional info and/or scans are really appreciated!.

The latest news from Brooklyn is that the Master Plan are currently laying down songs for their next LP in a studio in Williamsburg. Once the basic tracks are done then overdubs will be recorded at Andy Shernoff's apartment. This disc will be a very homemade affair but expect the usual high quality songwriting and a positive attitude. The licensing details are still to be finalised.

The Fleshtones are slated to go into Rick Miller’s studio from January 11th to the 16th. Keith Streng indicates that the idea is to do half of the record with Rick and then do the other half in Detroit with Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recordings. The band start with Jim on March 31st and finish on April 4th. This is once again for Yep Roc Records and the potential release date is set for the end of August '05.