Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Phreddie on Gordon Spaeth. We lost another real original... (thanks Phast)
Click HERE to read Joe Bonomo's equally fine obit in Fleshtones Hall Of Fame.
"Dear friends,
It is with much sadness that I must convey the news to you of the death of our friend Gordon Spaeth. During the eighties he was the fifth Fleshtone.
When told about his demise on Thursday, I could not bring myself to actually believe it until I saw Gordon lying in wake at a viewing earlier this evening. He lied so still--Gordon was NEVER still in his life, it seems to me. If he wasn't jumping around on stage,he fidgeted or had a nervous twitch, or something. He was always a man in motion.It did not seem possible that he could just lie there and not even blink his eyes.
From talking to some of his old friends this evening, including members of The Fleshtones and Adny Shernoff (who went to school with Gordon,) I was able to gather the following:
Soon after he got out of high school, Gordon was involved in a drunken brawl that resulted in the death of his opponent--Gordon hit the guy and his head hit something hard. Gordon served some time in jail for this--at least a year and a half--and he never recovered from it psychologically. He turned to drinking and drugging, which kept him from being able to keep a real day job.
Drinking and drugging did not hinder him from becoming a Fleshtone, however.
In spite of the demons that he faced on a daily basis, Gordon's saxophone, harmonica and organ playing contributed mightily to the success (at least artistically, if not financially) of our favorite Super Rock group. Gordon's extroverted musical stylings fit in perfect with The Fleshtones' all-action-all-the-time stage show. Indeed, on The Fleshtones album THE ANGRY YEARS he is credited as having provided "excitement."
Gordon was a sweet man. In the early eighties, my band, Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions, had a gig at some frat party near San Bernadino. It was one of the times when we were confounded by our regular sax player (Steve Berlin) having a better gig (with The Blasters) out of town. The Fleshtones were in Los Angeles recording. Gordon wasn't needed in the studio, so he volunteered his services for the evening. He rehearsed with us once and off we went. It was a fiasco, of course, but it was a fun one--made more fun by Gordon's presence.
Gordon lived basically via the kindness of strangers--namely government aid in a single room occupancy hotel. In recent years, he had cut down considerably on the drinking and drugging. He played with The Waldos in November (photos of that event can be seen here: http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex u=4217386&a=31678470&vt=vp ) and he was scheduled to record with The Master Plan (Adny Shernoff and Keith Streng) next week.
But his demons got to him again, and this time he could not shake them off.
Last Tuesday (March 8) he leaped from his apartment window to his death.
I had not seen Gordon in a long time--maybe about a year or so. I knew he was troubled, but I didn't think it was that bad. Perhaps he put up a good front around me--he was always laughing and joking when I saw him. I am going to miss him, his saxophone playing and his laughter.
Be well, Phast Phreddie Patterson"
Click HERE to read Joe Bonomo's equally fine obit in Fleshtones Hall Of Fame.
"Dear friends,
It is with much sadness that I must convey the news to you of the death of our friend Gordon Spaeth. During the eighties he was the fifth Fleshtone.
When told about his demise on Thursday, I could not bring myself to actually believe it until I saw Gordon lying in wake at a viewing earlier this evening. He lied so still--Gordon was NEVER still in his life, it seems to me. If he wasn't jumping around on stage,he fidgeted or had a nervous twitch, or something. He was always a man in motion.It did not seem possible that he could just lie there and not even blink his eyes.
From talking to some of his old friends this evening, including members of The Fleshtones and Adny Shernoff (who went to school with Gordon,) I was able to gather the following:
Soon after he got out of high school, Gordon was involved in a drunken brawl that resulted in the death of his opponent--Gordon hit the guy and his head hit something hard. Gordon served some time in jail for this--at least a year and a half--and he never recovered from it psychologically. He turned to drinking and drugging, which kept him from being able to keep a real day job.
Drinking and drugging did not hinder him from becoming a Fleshtone, however.
In spite of the demons that he faced on a daily basis, Gordon's saxophone, harmonica and organ playing contributed mightily to the success (at least artistically, if not financially) of our favorite Super Rock group. Gordon's extroverted musical stylings fit in perfect with The Fleshtones' all-action-all-the-time stage show. Indeed, on The Fleshtones album THE ANGRY YEARS he is credited as having provided "excitement."
Gordon was a sweet man. In the early eighties, my band, Phast Phreddie & Thee Precisions, had a gig at some frat party near San Bernadino. It was one of the times when we were confounded by our regular sax player (Steve Berlin) having a better gig (with The Blasters) out of town. The Fleshtones were in Los Angeles recording. Gordon wasn't needed in the studio, so he volunteered his services for the evening. He rehearsed with us once and off we went. It was a fiasco, of course, but it was a fun one--made more fun by Gordon's presence.
Gordon lived basically via the kindness of strangers--namely government aid in a single room occupancy hotel. In recent years, he had cut down considerably on the drinking and drugging. He played with The Waldos in November (photos of that event can be seen here: http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex u=4217386&a=31678470&vt=vp ) and he was scheduled to record with The Master Plan (Adny Shernoff and Keith Streng) next week.
But his demons got to him again, and this time he could not shake them off.
Last Tuesday (March 8) he leaped from his apartment window to his death.
I had not seen Gordon in a long time--maybe about a year or so. I knew he was troubled, but I didn't think it was that bad. Perhaps he put up a good front around me--he was always laughing and joking when I saw him. I am going to miss him, his saxophone playing and his laughter.
Be well, Phast Phreddie Patterson"
Sunday, March 13, 2005
The Ramones dvd is due out Tuesday in the US, April 25 in Europe. Here's the press
release - the extras sound intriguing:
Magnolia Pictures & Rhino Home Video present The definitive documentary about THE RAMONES "END OF THE CENTURY" DVD RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2005
Los Angeles, CA--On March 15th, Magnolia Pictures and Rhino Home Video will release END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES on DVD, a portrait of the seminal New York punk rock band. Considered by many the gods of rock 'n' roll's fundamentalist fringe, the Ramones are a band whose influence reaches over several generations of musicians and fans alike. END OF THE CENTURY is both a celebration of their music and a mesmerizing document of the group's road to near success, pitted with emotional power struggles and substance abuse. The film debuted in New York on Friday August 20th, 2004 followed by a national rollout in theaters around the country.
New York City was caught off guard in 1974 by the angry scream of punk. Raw and unrestrained, it was a sharp contrast to the banality of soft rock and disco. At the forefront of the scene were the Ramones, headed by Joey; who was often accused of geekiness but later on went on to redeem countless others from that agony, troubled bassist Dee Dee; burdened by the weight of his own genius, guitarist and master drill sergeant Johnny; and drummer Tommy (who was followed by a parade of other drummers, including Marky and Richie Ramone). Looking like extras from THE WILD ONES with their black leather jackets, bowl haircuts and Converse sneakers, they ripped through three-chord songs about sniffing glue, the neighborhood, teenage sex and angst. They were a gang of misfits from Forest Hills, Queens, united in the belief in salvation and deliverance through the power of rock 'n' roll.
It was a rocky road for the pseudo-brothers: the success that always seemed around the corner continually faded in the distance, as British bands they inspired were crowned the "originators of punk" by the mainstream music press. The film's title refers to their 1980 album of the same name, produced by the infamous, gun-toting, hit song guru Phil Spector, an endeavor that strained the already tenuous relation between band members. Poor record sales turned dreams of rock glory into gigging as a means of employment. All the frustration they felt against an industry that gave
up on them and abandoned their cause divided them further as they seemingly turned their anger against each other.
New York-based filmmakers Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields share a life-long love of punk music and their passion is evident in this candid portrait of a band torn by internal struggles and consequences of the lifestyle. END OF THE CENTURY moves from the band's CBGB and London heydays, the decade-long silence between Joey and Johnny caused by a dispute over a girl, through to the deaths of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone
and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2002. Together with unseen live and studio footage, extensive interviews with ex-band mates, family, friends and figures from New York City's punk scene, END OF THE CENTURY not only documents an important chapter in music history, but also chronicles the bonds of childhood friendship and their gradual breakdown.
release - the extras sound intriguing:
Magnolia Pictures & Rhino Home Video present The definitive documentary about THE RAMONES "END OF THE CENTURY" DVD RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2005
Los Angeles, CA--On March 15th, Magnolia Pictures and Rhino Home Video will release END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES on DVD, a portrait of the seminal New York punk rock band. Considered by many the gods of rock 'n' roll's fundamentalist fringe, the Ramones are a band whose influence reaches over several generations of musicians and fans alike. END OF THE CENTURY is both a celebration of their music and a mesmerizing document of the group's road to near success, pitted with emotional power struggles and substance abuse. The film debuted in New York on Friday August 20th, 2004 followed by a national rollout in theaters around the country.
New York City was caught off guard in 1974 by the angry scream of punk. Raw and unrestrained, it was a sharp contrast to the banality of soft rock and disco. At the forefront of the scene were the Ramones, headed by Joey; who was often accused of geekiness but later on went on to redeem countless others from that agony, troubled bassist Dee Dee; burdened by the weight of his own genius, guitarist and master drill sergeant Johnny; and drummer Tommy (who was followed by a parade of other drummers, including Marky and Richie Ramone). Looking like extras from THE WILD ONES with their black leather jackets, bowl haircuts and Converse sneakers, they ripped through three-chord songs about sniffing glue, the neighborhood, teenage sex and angst. They were a gang of misfits from Forest Hills, Queens, united in the belief in salvation and deliverance through the power of rock 'n' roll.
It was a rocky road for the pseudo-brothers: the success that always seemed around the corner continually faded in the distance, as British bands they inspired were crowned the "originators of punk" by the mainstream music press. The film's title refers to their 1980 album of the same name, produced by the infamous, gun-toting, hit song guru Phil Spector, an endeavor that strained the already tenuous relation between band members. Poor record sales turned dreams of rock glory into gigging as a means of employment. All the frustration they felt against an industry that gave
up on them and abandoned their cause divided them further as they seemingly turned their anger against each other.
New York-based filmmakers Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields share a life-long love of punk music and their passion is evident in this candid portrait of a band torn by internal struggles and consequences of the lifestyle. END OF THE CENTURY moves from the band's CBGB and London heydays, the decade-long silence between Joey and Johnny caused by a dispute over a girl, through to the deaths of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone
and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2002. Together with unseen live and studio footage, extensive interviews with ex-band mates, family, friends and figures from New York City's punk scene, END OF THE CENTURY not only documents an important chapter in music history, but also chronicles the bonds of childhood friendship and their gradual breakdown.
Imagine if Texas really had a grasp on funk. Consider that Sharleen Spiteri could effect a soul transfusion and you wouldn't even get close to the refreshingly sophisticated stylings of this fine Motor City combo. Hot on the heels of their Ghetto Years collection on the In-fidelity imprint comes this 12" vinyl only monster that pumps and pulsates with a stomping authority that must blow minds played on tilt in a club. Said slab includes a gloriously psychedelicized, super-rock type slant on Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". All hopped up with everyplace to go.
"The Come Ons just released a 4 song 12" deejay single on MoPop Music. Recorded at The Tempermill with Jim Kissling at the helm, you can get your very own copy at your favorite record shop in and around Detroit (Young Soul Rebels, Pure Detroit, Stormy Records, Record Time, Car City Records). This record is also available through Revolver Distributors in the USA and Cargo Distributors in the UK."
Get with The Come Ons. They know you want it and they have got what you need. Sounds like a sweet deal to me...
The great HANK RAY will be toting his unique brand of dustbowl country interpretation at the following venues over the next wee while...
10.03.D-Hamburg, Molotow
12.03.D-Hannover, Chez Heinz
15.04.D-Leipzig, Conne Island (+Teenage Fanclub) 16.04.D-Dresden, tbc
13.05.D-Beverungen-Orange Blossom Special (Glitterhouse Festival)
10.03.D-Hamburg, Molotow
12.03.D-Hannover, Chez Heinz
15.04.D-Leipzig, Conne Island (+Teenage Fanclub) 16.04.D-Dresden, tbc
13.05.D-Beverungen-Orange Blossom Special (Glitterhouse Festival)
More bad news... former Revillos guitarist Kid Krupa passed away on Friday at age 41. Jeez... no details but hell, the guy was a youngster by my standards.
THE REZILLOS will undertake the following upon their blitz of SXSW. Info from their latest newsletter.
Later in April the band will be doing a series of dates in the UK running through May/June to promote the "Rezillos Radio Times" session cd to be released on the Damaged Goods label. (http://damagedgoods.co.uk/)
The following dates are now confirmed:
Friday May 6 Dundee-Reading Room
Saturday May 7 Durham University with The Damned
Sunday May 8 Leicester- Princess Charlotte
Saturday May 21 Brighton-Concorde 2
Sunday May 22 Morecambe Wasted festival (http://www.holidaysinthesun.net/)
Wednesday June 1 Manchester Academy 3
Thursday June 2 Portsmouth-Wedgwood Rooms
Friday June 3 Bristol -Bier Keller
Saturday June 4 Stourbridge-Rock Cafe 2000
Sunday June 5 Leeds-Cockpit
THE REZILLOS will undertake the following upon their blitz of SXSW. Info from their latest newsletter.
Later in April the band will be doing a series of dates in the UK running through May/June to promote the "Rezillos Radio Times" session cd to be released on the Damaged Goods label. (http://damagedgoods.co.uk/)
The following dates are now confirmed:
Friday May 6 Dundee-Reading Room
Saturday May 7 Durham University with The Damned
Sunday May 8 Leicester- Princess Charlotte
Saturday May 21 Brighton-Concorde 2
Sunday May 22 Morecambe Wasted festival (http://www.holidaysinthesun.net/)
Wednesday June 1 Manchester Academy 3
Thursday June 2 Portsmouth-Wedgwood Rooms
Friday June 3 Bristol -Bier Keller
Saturday June 4 Stourbridge-Rock Cafe 2000
Sunday June 5 Leeds-Cockpit
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Kiki Lorraina checked in to ask that you check out her combo, THE LORRAINAS. I investigated her credentials and can hereby recommend that you take up this offer.
Friday, March 11, 2005
I've just been made aware of the fact that my old friend Gordon Spaeth, onetime Fleshtone and Action Combo figure has taken his own life. He was troubled for sure but I thought he'd found some kind of peace in recent times. I certainly hope he has now. My experience of Gordon was of a sharp, funny, cool individual who it was a pleasure to hang out with. I'm saddened at this and even although I haven't seen him in a long time, my memories of "The Wheelman" are fond ones.
Whilst I basically understand the sentiment behind the cliché that is “Thank God/Whoever/Expletive It’s Friday” it’s become a trite tape loop delivered alleged pleasantry of “Have a Nice Day” proportions. It’s like “What did you get up to at the weekend?” generally delivered by somebody whom, with all and any due respect, has no real business of knowing. This faux bonhomie irritates the eff-word outta the cut to the chase philosophy that drives me. If I want to convey my activities to someone then I will, but shall not, almost never, yatter my brains out unnecessarily, to a point that to some - getting “information” from me might be akin to extracting teeth. What’s wrong with me? Well, the only folks really qualified to have an opinion on that are my therapists that operate out of a practice on Anza in SF. I’m down with their findings and scientific methods of measuring such activities. I’m not sure anybody else would have the technology.
That said, Friday is the gateway to a few hours when my open plan goldfish bowl hell recedes without the aid of pharmaceuticals. Particularly inspiring on a clear, cold day like today. For something like forty hours, my purgatory doesn’t exist. The spectre only looms after 5pm GMT on a Sunday and at this point that’s pretty far away. This afternoon has been productive because I’ve been to the bank, had a conversation with one of the old guys that runs the local museum here in town, got a haircut and made the tea prior to switching this blighter on. Hopefully I’ll hook up with two of my Punk Kongress chums in Edinburgh sometime tomorrow and all will be as well with the world as I’ve come to expect of late.
That said, Friday is the gateway to a few hours when my open plan goldfish bowl hell recedes without the aid of pharmaceuticals. Particularly inspiring on a clear, cold day like today. For something like forty hours, my purgatory doesn’t exist. The spectre only looms after 5pm GMT on a Sunday and at this point that’s pretty far away. This afternoon has been productive because I’ve been to the bank, had a conversation with one of the old guys that runs the local museum here in town, got a haircut and made the tea prior to switching this blighter on. Hopefully I’ll hook up with two of my Punk Kongress chums in Edinburgh sometime tomorrow and all will be as well with the world as I’ve come to expect of late.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
This Just in...
"Ladeez an' gennlemen......la Intensive Care Partie de Bateau est arrivée!!!
You may've heard whispers......'tis true, we're having a boat party in April, and here are the details.
Intensive Care Boat Party Saturday 2nd April 2005, 8pm till 2am.
Leaves from, and returns to, the same location near the Palace of Westminster in Central London. Rest of the time, we're sailin', baby! Ticket price £15 DJ's include:
Declan and Perry (Intensive Care)
PJ (Dirty Water Club)
Joss & Joe (Sonic Reducer)
Playing Live, all the way from Memphis: Jack-O & the Tearjerkers (aka the Tennessee Tearjerkers) This band will blow your nuts off (yours too, ladeez!!). Band leader Jack Yarber used to be in Memphis garage rock legends the Oblivians. They are revered by everyone who likes their rock 'n' roll raw 'n' alive. The Hives decamped to Memphis en masse to see a recent reunion gig, and then hauled them over to Sweden to play in Dr Matt Destruction's bathroom. These guys incite fever in all who encounter their scorchin' trash. Jack now has two bands: the Cool Jerks, in which all four members sing; and his Tennessee Tearjerkers, in which only he sings, and which is more of a classic bar-room country-rock edge....perhaps you're beginning to see an Intensive Care marriage made in Valhalla......Our friend Todd says they're like JSBX with proper songs......yowzayowzayowza!
Now, friends, this is not the usual half-arsed IC arrangement. News of this one-off Tearjerkers appearance has spread like wildfire on the 'Net. People are gathering on messageboards, plotting trips from all over Britain and EUROPE and even AMERICA top come to this. Unlike previous years, you will not be able lazy-ass your way to the weekend of the party and bag a ticket. It will be sold out by then, no word of a lie. So please contact me or Dec to buy a ticket, pronto. Some tickets will be sold thru the Intoxica record shop at 231 Portobello Rd, W11.
If you want to save yourself such hassle. I will be at the Stag-O-Lee club (@ New Evarista in Greek Street) from 9pm tonight, and at Dirty Water on Friday 11th, watching Monsieur Jeffrey Evans. After that, amazingly, I'll be away for ten years. When I get back, I'm pretty sure it'll be all gone, ausverkauft, foryoumyfriendzewarwillbeovaaaaah..........apx"
Contact Intensive Care: Declan 07786 9378055 Perry 07970 924393
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Aha... of course it should have been obvious and my recognition faculties are evidently at a low ebb but "I Don't Wanna Go To The Party Tonight" is a RIVERDALES song which appeared on their "Storm The Streets" album. These Australian SpaZZ lassies evidently have good taste...
Something else I've thus far failed to do in my unravelling state is to plug the Rev Davie Scott's programme on BBC Radio Scotland entitled "CLASSIC SCOTTISH ALBUMS". 1st one was Bert Jansch, the most recent AWB's (Average White Band) "White Album" and comin' up Teenage Fanclub's "Bandwagonesque". If you have the technology to do the ol' internet on demand thing then these are very entertaining half hour snapshots that don't rely on you being familiar with the subject matter.
Something else I've thus far failed to do in my unravelling state is to plug the Rev Davie Scott's programme on BBC Radio Scotland entitled "CLASSIC SCOTTISH ALBUMS". 1st one was Bert Jansch, the most recent AWB's (Average White Band) "White Album" and comin' up Teenage Fanclub's "Bandwagonesque". If you have the technology to do the ol' internet on demand thing then these are very entertaining half hour snapshots that don't rely on you being familiar with the subject matter.
Nearly time for the mind-boggling SXSW in Austin where Laura Cantrell will play on Friday March 18th. From the program info... "Born in Nashville and based in NYC, Laura Cantrell has built a dedicated following on both sides of the Atlantic by combining a love of traditional country and folk music with a modern sensibility that informs a sound both timeless and thoroughly original. She recently completed her third album "Humming By the Flowered Vine", which will be released by Matador Records this Spring. She continues to host the weekly "Radio Thrift Shop" program on freeform WFMU in Jersey City, NJ."
Also at SXSW... The Rezillos on Thursday March 17th as part of a Scots Showcase Event (The lord deliver us...)which will run from 23:30 - 04:00 at the Tillery Street Theatre, Austin, Tejas. The self-same 'zillos will also appear on a bill at Elysium the very next evening (18th) with Shonen Knife (yay!), The Alarm (yay not!), New Model Army (you're kidding right?) and Wreckless Eric (saved at last!)
Also at SXSW... The Rezillos on Thursday March 17th as part of a Scots Showcase Event (The lord deliver us...)which will run from 23:30 - 04:00 at the Tillery Street Theatre, Austin, Tejas. The self-same 'zillos will also appear on a bill at Elysium the very next evening (18th) with Shonen Knife (yay!), The Alarm (yay not!), New Model Army (you're kidding right?) and Wreckless Eric (saved at last!)
From Mod to Odd
These are some of the better pictures I took in and around New York & Jersey City last year. Mostly of rock and roll bands, but some cityscapes and what I like to call “barscapes”. The bands run the gamut, from Mod (The Insomniacs) to Odd (Pink Steel, New York’s Premiere Gay Heavy Metal Combo).
Others include (in no particular order) The Martinets, George & the Giblets, The Waldos, The Master Plan (featuring Keith Streng of the Fleshtones and Andy Shernoff of the Dictators), The Woggles, Muck & the Mires, The Billy Filo Starship masquerading as The Dead Boys for a special Halloween show, Holmes, the Dansettes and more!
The pictures were taken with a Canon Powershot SD10 Elph, a camera so small it can fit in a cigarette pack. Then I tweaked the pics in Photoshop to give’em that Roberta Bayley/CBGB’s vibe.
Comments? Feel free to contact me at fuzzco66@yahoo.com
These are some of the better pictures I took in and around New York & Jersey City last year. Mostly of rock and roll bands, but some cityscapes and what I like to call “barscapes”. The bands run the gamut, from Mod (The Insomniacs) to Odd (Pink Steel, New York’s Premiere Gay Heavy Metal Combo).
Others include (in no particular order) The Martinets, George & the Giblets, The Waldos, The Master Plan (featuring Keith Streng of the Fleshtones and Andy Shernoff of the Dictators), The Woggles, Muck & the Mires, The Billy Filo Starship masquerading as The Dead Boys for a special Halloween show, Holmes, the Dansettes and more!
The pictures were taken with a Canon Powershot SD10 Elph, a camera so small it can fit in a cigarette pack. Then I tweaked the pics in Photoshop to give’em that Roberta Bayley/CBGB’s vibe.
Comments? Feel free to contact me at fuzzco66@yahoo.com
Rather than churn out an “authentic” two-D garage sound, these Texan kids who call themselves THE UGLY BEATS but indulge in anything but, have seen fit to ingest a healthy dose of their own high-octane enthusiasm into this Get Hip mix. The result is "Bring On The Beats" - a seriously infectious party down that could well reinstate their musical form with the respect it once had. Their version of The Easybeats “I’ll Make You Happy” indicates that The Cramps used this song as the undercarriage for their “Mean Machine” and also throw in a cheeky wee Human Fly run just to bolster their recognition. Good call.
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