RIP - Jet Harris

RIP - Ferlin Husky

The world really is unravelling. I saw an interview with Gadaffi’s son on Channel 4 that was more Sacha Baron Cohen than Borat himself. Unbelievable. Spoof characters that would have been unbelievable on TV and movies are playing out some kind of doomsday scenario in real life. It would be worrying if it wasn’t so matter of fact stupid. Yes I have got that round the right way. Just. Maybe?

Word from SXSW is that the interweb is over. Too true. We’re only a few years away from getting chipped and wired into whatever the grid the overseers see fit to plug us into. In the interim, your “device” will fulfil the same function. It seems like most people might have to be surgically removed from their own particular homing device such is the urge to stare at it all the time. I understand the limited appeal of them being useful to impart actual information. Such a thing could even be a lifeline in certain situations but not walking down the street not watching where you’re going.

It’s the weekend of the Silent Film Festival at the Bo’ness Hippodrome. Heading back in time but paying 6 quid a gallon for petrol. I wonder how this compares to the price in Japan where a large chunk of the country is experiencing the onset of Armageddon? The horse and cart will be making a comeback if it keeps up and teams of cyclists will be employed to keep cinema screens flickering. Or do they even do that in these days of digital projection? Anyway, I think the program is largely made up of proper reels so pedal power seems like the way to go. I was at a thing called “An Escape From Reality” this afternoon where a film that was made for the opening of the refurb’ed cinema screened and there was a discussion about the history of the place and the work itself. It was really great. Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon at all.

In other news, I was thrilled/humbled to get a note from Laura Chilton about Mike’s piece on Alex yesterday. Felt like I was doing something right for the first time in ages. I’m sure it’ll all tumble back downhill from here...

Thanks Duglas...

It’s exactly a year since Alex Chilton died. My thanks to Rich Lustre who had the presence of mind to suggest to Mike that you folks may care to read it. I think that you would.

I first encountered Alex Chilton in 1977. A long-time semi-obsessive fan of his former band Big Star, through some kind of reckless audacity or sheer dumb luck, I managed to secure an interview shortly after his “relocation” to NYC. Moments after our introduction, he requested my astrological sign. I reckon I passed the test, because, inexplicably, we connected instantly and developed a friendship that would last decades.

Much has been written and conjectured about Alex, of course, often depicting him as, among other things, “obstinate,” “quirky,” “difficult,” “idiosyncratic,” etc. But the Alex Chilton I knew was the basically polite, intelligent, funny, generous guy who happened to be spiked by a pretty serious dose of creative genius.

Complex, yes, strange, sometimes, intense, absolutely, honest, to a fault, a man who did not suffer fools gladly, you bet. But I simply viewed Alex as a person who behaved with very little pretense. He was, without apology, who and what he was.
During the course of the relationship, we shared many laughs, joints and lawn mowing ceremonies, we engaged in long conversations covering numerous diverse topics, including his deep historical interests, Katrina, the virtues of The Cramps, The Byrds, KC and the Sunshine Band, Clarence Darrow, the mystery of female as well as stuff like Walker Texas Ranger, college basketball and why the drum solo should never stop.

The last few years, I was fortunate to see him frequently, in Philadelphia, in New Orleans and in Brooklyn, where Big Star gave their final performance. Ironically the only occasion I ever witnessed the band and the last time I saw Alex alive.
Memories remain, of course, too many to recount, but some moments persist: hanging with Charlie Feathers in Memphis, dawn at Lux and Ivy’s apartment, motel blues when Alex would almost absentmindedly haul out a guitar and serenade with snippets of John Dowland, Ray Davies and Texas Whiskey. I also recall the Diet Coke, card reading Chinatown dinners with my daughters, with Guantanamera on the airwaves and Paris Hilton in the news, and fragile, enchanted guitar/flute baroque duets with his lover Laura and Gram Parsons gravesite in the fog and mist in New Orleans...

I’m not much given to things spiritual or mystical nonetheless…

St. Patrick’s Day 2010, listening to Like Flies on Sherbet, thinking of him, I felt him about…

Later, my daughter delivered the awful news…”you better sit down…Alex died…”
As always, the music resonates, providing comfort and solace. Still, there are those times when I realize that we’ll never hear that lazy, liquid drawl again or see that sly, crooked smile. And the sadness sets in.

When I finally remember Alex Chilton, he will be one of those few, rare individuals with whom I shared a remarkable bond that neither time nor distance could shake.
And I’ll know just how very goddamn groovy it was to have known him and call him my friend.

michael j. ferguson

I did kind of hold out hope that I could go to the Matt & Kim show in London next week a clobbering bill from the car service, MOT and having spruced up the bunker a bit the coffers are a tad low. This is in fact an understatement. I guess it was worth doing but I’m not altogether comfortable with the result. I’m not complaining just stating a fact. I haven't ruled out the M&K scene altogether just yet thanks to some twelfth hour encouragement.

Just about to dig into the new Screeching Weasel album that Ben kindly supplied in the event that amazon have put back their availability date. More about First World Manifesto in due course. Maybe it’ll help blow away the cobwebs? I guess if these guys can’t do that then it’s likely nothing will.

Hamell on Trial has some shows coming up in a couple of weeks. There’s Glasgow at a place called The Bay on April 1st. Anybody know anything about this venue? It’s in West Regent Street. An Edinburgh show is also said to be happening on April 2nd but I’ve no idea where yet. This will be his first time back since two stints over the Edinburgh Festival in recent years. Although he did open for Ana Difranco once but I can’t recall when that was.

Such is the fractious nature of my mindset.

Misadventure and grave errors of judgement aside, I don’t feel like I have the right to whinge about anything with what’s happening on the other side of the planet. So far, no-one anyone I know has been anything other than shaken but there’s all the other stuff and just dealing with the sheer scale of it.

The pacific rim does seem to be getting a kicking but I’m sure they don’t deserve it. I’m still juggling with the fact that I’ve lost the will to blog with any regular frequency. Largely as a result of a tremor that’s gone on in my own backyard with no sign of a positive outcome. I’m having doubts about this “time and wounds” business that I keep hearing about.

Anyways, I just remembered that Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby are bound for some shows in the likes of Austria, Germany and Switzerland so if you’re in any of these places, or near a venue then you should go.

Wed, Mar 16 - Verein PMK Innsbruck, AUSTRIA

Thu, Mar 17 - Kultur-Schranne Dachau, GERMANY

Fri, Mar 18 - Treibhaus Luzern, SWITZERLAND

Sat, Mar 19 - El Lokal Zurich, SWITZERLAND

Sun, Mar 20 - B-72 Vienna, AUSTRIA

Tue, Mar 22 - Kampnagel Hamburg, GERMANY

Wed, Mar 23 - Crystal Club Berlin, GERMANY

Fri, Mar 25 - Blau Mannheim, GERMANY

They just put their house on the market and if they could return from the tour to a bidding war on it then I'm sure they'd be very happy. And they truly deserve to be.

If the Mayans have got it right and the world is ready for the high jump in 2012 then we should all be giving it laldie like it was 1999 all over again. Personally I don’t feel much like it but by all means, fill your boots. And then there's the matter of tickets for the London Olympics going on sale, don't get me started on that.

I call a truce on my Beatle-bashing to bring you this.

For those of you in and around Glasgow tomorrow evening...

Let's try and get something done about this once and for all...

I’m going to try and keep this motor running. What the heck else do I have to do?

My mojo or muse (small m) or whatever it was that drove me is still on hiatus. However, things like what happened in Japan today or NZ a few weeks ago provide one aspect of a perspective.

So now that you’re here, then here’s some stuff to play with.

CJ Ramone is heading for Italy (Thanks Kjell)

Roy Trakin’s Knickart newsletter is always good reading.

Let’s see how the weekend shapes up...

A message frae Murray Ramone...

Howdy folks, just a wee reminder

THIS SATURDAY 12/3/2010
Citrus Club
doors 7pm
The Sexual Objects (featuring Davy Henderson)
Vic Godard & the Subway Sect

Then after that finishes, go out the door, turn left, turn left, turn right at the cross roads,
cross the road, pop down the first set of steps and you're in .... Henrys Cellar bar

appearing in this order onstage from 10:45
Monica and the Explosion (featuring Paul Slack)
SPECTORBULLETS (featuring Russell Burn)
Vic Godard & Subway Sect (just a couple of songs for fun)
Shock And Awe (featuring one or two mystery guests ....)
Robert King - OPIUM KITCHEN (featuring Jo Callis. And me. Just a short taster set for the forthcoming album)
Sam Barber and the Outcasts

(Thanks to Doc H for the info)

"Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains" is the next Monorail film Club screening at GFT on Sunday March 27th!

Hi to all the vinyl lovers...
the vinyl dealer is here again with more 7" pills for your ears!!!
A brand new 7inch slice packed in a special round sleeve

Yes!!! We are very proud to announce that we are going to release
two unreleased songs of one of your favourite bands...
IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC !!!
"Wail Baby Wail" (Kid Thomas)
"Fight It Back" (Accept)

Limited edition on vinyl with 4 diferent covers (see pics on the GHR blogspot).
300 copies in black vinyl (black cover; green cover)
300 copies in solid gold & red mix (gold cover, red cover) * Mailorder Only *
No more than 4 records of I.S.E. for each order...

Prices NEW Imperial State Electric 7"
Choose your vinyl (black or colour) and cover with your order...

Black: 1 x 7" = 7 Eur
Colour: 1 x 7" = 8 Eur

And another great live and loud recording of ADAM WEST...
Three great LIVE songs... they are not dead, they are aLIVE !!!
"Yr. Days Are Numbered, Motherfucker"
"Have Your Way With Me"
"Neat, Neat, Neat" (The Damned)

Limited edition on vinyl with 5 diferent covers that you can join and make a long poster (see pics on GHR Blogspot) 250 copies (100 black, 50 yellow, 50 white, 50 blue) * Mailorder Only *
No more than 5 records of ADAM WEST for each order...

Prices New ADAM WEST 7"
Choose your vinyl (black or colour) and cover with your order...

Black / Colour 1 x 7" = 8 Eur

You can add more GHR vinyls available to your order...

ORDER TO: ghosthighwayrecordings@gmail.com

Everything must go... somewhere. The latest instalment from Ericland.

The legendary Kid Congo Powers, co-founder of the Gun Club, guitarist for The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, will be releasing his new album with his group Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds this spring.

Titled Gorilla Rose, the album follows in the footsteps of the band’s 2009 Dracula Boots with more ram-charged boogaloo, sleazy psychedelia and Chicano garage rock. In The Red records is gearing up for the new album by releasing a series of oddball limited edition vinyl-only records by the band. The first of these releases dropped this week in the form of the “Five Greasy Pieces” subscription series.

This is a very limited edition (250 of each) series of five different singles each containing two brand new tracks. Starting in January, In The Red will be issuing one of these a month.

The fifth and final single in the series will come with a handsome box in which all five will be housed. The only way to obtain these singles is to buy a subscription on the In The Red website. In March In The Red will be issuing a live LP by the band titled Live At The Prom which will be another vinyl-only limited edition release available exclusively online and at live shows.

29.3. D – Berlin- White Trash
30.3. D - Frankfurt - Ponyhof
31.3. F - Lyon - Le Clacson
01.4. F - Montpellier - La Raf
02.4. F - Macon - Cave a Musique
03.4. F - Gigors - Gigors Electrique
04.4. F - Marseille - L'Embobineuse
05.4. CH - Geneve - L´Usine
06.4. F - Dijon - La Vapeur
07.4. F - Paris - Point Ephemere
08.4. F - Beauvais - L´Ouvre Boite
09.4. F - La Rocjhelle - La Sirene
10.4. F - Lorient - Le Galion
12.4. UK - Leeds - Brudnell Social Club
13.4. UK - Newcastle - The Cluny
14.4. UK - Glasgow – Optimo presents at Glasgow School Of Art
15.4. NI - Belfast – TBC
16.4. EI - Dublin – The Mercantile/Ubangi Stomp Club
17.4. EI - Cork - Crane Lane theatre
19.4. UK - Manchester - Deaf Institute
20.4. UK - London - 100 club
21.4. UK - Bristol / TBC
22.4. UK –Brighton – Green Room
23.4. SF - Helsinki - Bar Loose
29.4. Barcelona
30.4. Madrid