Vale...and thanks! “When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk” ― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

RIP David. One of my favourite actors and Aussie characters.

Rest in Peace Tracker

Charlies Country is currently on ABC Iview.
Well worth a watch.
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/charlie-s-country

Vale Michael Nesmith, a monkey with talent.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/michael-nesmith-tribut...

RIP Michael.

Had to be done Zen, thank you.

RIP Mike Nesmith (The Monkees)
tbb caught the Monkees in Feb 1987

Mike Nesmith Solo Career was above & beyond but carved out an alternative audience craving more.
Comparisons to oddball Ringo Star's quality off beat alt tracks...
Whimsical but astute...give it a listen! How could you not luv it!
Also note the superb quality of these Performances...Perfectionist!
Fans can check out the quality of his recent performances...

"Different Drum" Yes! Mike wrote this smash hit before The Monkees!

"Joanne" - really out there!

"Fly down to Rio" - way way out there!

RIP Mike

Is it too early in the summer to note the death of English cricket?

RIP Joan Didion. For 50 years the most perceptive commentator on US politics and culture. Those looking for a political education should look no further.

On a book tour in the days after 9/11.

“These people to whom I was listening—in San Francisco and Los Angeles and Portland and Seattle—were making connections I had not yet in my numbed condition thought to make: connections between that political process and what had happened on September 11, connections between our political life and the shape our reaction would take and was in fact already taking.
These people recognized that even then, within days after the planes hit, there was a good deal of opportunistic ground being seized under cover of the clearly urgent need for increased security. These people recognized even then, with flames still visible in lower Manhattan, that the words “bipartisanship” and “national unity” had come to mean acquiescence to the administration’s preexisting agenda—for example the imperative for further tax cuts, the necessity for Arctic drilling, the systematic elimination of regulatory and union protections, even the funding for the missile shield—as if we had somehow missed noticing the recent demonstration of how limited, given a few box cutters and the willingness to die, superior technology can be.”

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2003/01/16/fixed-opinions-or-the-hinge-...

Big fan of Mike Nesmith. Apart from just loving The Monkees, they’re music is top class and still sounds great, Nesmith had that world weary charisma that seemed to get under my skin, in a good way. His song ‘Rio’ is a time capsule for me, coming out in my late youth, it had great lines that stayed with me, and the general ambience of the tune sets me back to that time.

“What I thought was proper for battle, I see now is proper for love”.

Or at least I think that’s close to the lyric.

Was almost going to re-subscribe to Crikey on his death. Guy Rundle had promised an obit for the ages when he died. Would have been worth it just to read that, a world weary take on a world weary guy.

The great E.O. Wilson. Probably the most important evolutionary biologist since Darwin.
“ Future generations are going to forgive us our horrible genocidal wars, because it’ll pass too far into history. They will forgive us all of the earlier generations follies and the harm but they will not forgive us having so carelessly thrown away a large part of the rest of life on our watch.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/27/science/eo-wilson-dead.html

The biologist E. O. Wilson, in On Human Nature (1978), argues that both Lorenz and Fromm are essentially wrong. He lists a variety of aggression categories, each separately subject to natural selection, and states that aggressive behavior is, genetically, one of the most labile of all traits. He maintains that aggression is a technique used to gain control over necessary resources, and serves as a "density-dependent factor" in population control. He argues against the "drive-discharge" model created by Freud and Lorenz, where substitute aggressive activities (such as combative sports) should reduce the potential for war, and in support of Richard G. Sipes's "culture-pattern" model, where war and substitute activities will vary directly. Wilson compares aggression to "a preexisting mix of chemicals ready to be transformed by specific catalysts that are added," rather than "a fluid that continuously builds pressure against the walls of its containers.

RIP Ronnie Spector. Had some pipes.

blackers tribute EP...Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye {rip} Ronnie

Goldie crew salutes their Dream-maker {rip}

(Notice!) Theme song Includes footage of "Thunder River Rapids"
John's Ride was a favourite for Families as it was a new wild wet journey each launch.
Often surf fast deep troughs & waves would break well over head to leave whole crew drenched.
Next run and all exited as dry as bone...apart from one un/lucky saturated punter!

{rip} extends to park goers of same ride on that fateful day...ever in our thoughts!

PS: Few locals know or recall the extra special effort John made to preserve Qld culture.
John recycled an old Qld train ...very authentic centrepiece. (Not Tacky!)
1981 John then salvaged "Genevieve" and wot GC Gilltraps collection he could for the park.
http://www.goldcoaststories.com.au/gilltraps-auto-museum/
1987 John salvaged the Nobbys Chairlift for the Park (Ripper ride 1st & 2nd time around it was!)
https://www.facebook.com/Have-you-seen-the-old-Gold-Coast-28074504530177...
This being entrenched in Goldie Operators...to recycle & ensure Zoo critters & gear found new homes.
Dumping of old attractions is a last resort...(eg: Seaworld Monorail is the Expo 88 Royal Caboose)

Keep punching Scotty.

Mr Loaf has left the building.

RIP Starky...for old school GC’ers and Indo travellers they’ll know some memories with this lovable rogue. Some beautiful words from big Nick and Doris on their insta for those who knew him.

A truly great human, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich-Nhat-Hanh, passed away today.

He is credited with bringing the practice of mindfulness into the mainstream consciousness of the western mind. He also had a very large influence on the founding and development of modern day mindfulness based practices, therapies and interventions in contemporary psychology.

He helped a lot of people return to the peace of themselves and the present moment. A life well lived.

Yes, THN may have been a wonderful man but he couldn't deliver the message like the Loaf. My first real concert was Festival Hall in 1978 and the Loaf delivered big time. All the better because we didn't have to acknowledge 'elders past, present and departed' as we are forced to do now. I'm sure Loaf would have told them to 'get f'ed' if they'd tried that shit on. RIP Marvin.

swellnet crew Alternative Meatloaf (Flip-side Send off!)
We all know Meatloaf as a world beating Rock Star...but what if...

Start with this 1960's Meatloaf Alt Psych Track ...
There is some argument as to Band's Name
Popcorn Blizzard (vs) Popcorn Explosion
Verdict : 1968 (2x) Popcorn Blizzard bands
http://www.rickbozzo.com/meatandme.html
1967 Meatloaf's Popcorn Blizzard changed > 68/69 Popcorn Explosion > 69/70 Floating Circus
https://mljs.evilnickname.org/meatloaf/singles/onceuponatime.html

1967 Popcorn Blizzard - Once upon a Time / Hello (Alt Psych- freak-out acid tracks.)

1976 : Meatloaf sings 5 songs on Ted Nugent's "Free for All" LP
https://lonestar925.iheart.com/featured/tyson/content/2022-01-21-did-you...

1984 Meatloaf : "Surfs Up!"

1985 tbb caught Meatloaf at his local Shopping centre...(Few know of this ultra alt gig!)
Sundale Shopping Centre Gold Coast. (re: Melbourne Tour)
Story goes that Meatloaf knew the owner & Australia Fair was muscling Sundale out.
Sundale were the Good Guys...just so ya know!
Sundale had a custom built DJ booth / centre stage + Jingle recording Studio.
http://www.rogerswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/visual-lightbox-plugin/1...
tbb recalls it being very crowded more as an Acoustic request sing-a-long with Q&A .
Sundale would've recorded a souvenir.

Recall meatloaf was coming down in the 80's with Bankruptcy, Booze & Drugz...odd gig!

Meatloaf backs up Surf Track with a Skater Track. (No! Not a joke ~ Surf/Skate Combo!)

1986 THRASHIN' (Skater Flick) Title Track by Meatloaf

{rip} Meatloaf!

Vale Glenn Wheatley. Cant excuse your work with Whispering Jack or LRB but you played a mean bass.

This has been widely covered too.

Great send off blackers...{r.i.p} Glenn Wheatley...
Wikipedia has a real good timeline!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masters_Apprentices

1964 SA Surf Band Mustangs > 1965 Master's Apprentices
Layin' down a pair of '66 Psych Punk trippers...likely influenced from the wild Surf Beat era.
Coz the prog composition is modern, decisive & Wild (Acid Surf Punk...if ya like!)

"Hot Gully Wind" (Solid Slab)

"Buried & Dead" (Hot track Warning!)

Feb 1968 (Above) Elevator Driver by B. Cadd (Great track ) thanx Blackers...
May 1968 Glenn Wheatley left Brisbane Band > Bay City Union "Moreen"
Scroll down a bit ...just a bit more & you can play Glenn's 1st Brisbane Single...how cool!
http://historyofaussiemusic.blogspot.com/2013/09/bay-city-union.html

1969/70 "Linda Linda" & (above) "Turn up your Radio" were Glenn's first big hits with the band.

Finish with Oz timeless Classic - "Because I love You!"

RIP Johnny "Chook" Raper ..
Old school Rugby League legend ...
https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/02/09/farewelling-an-immortal-thanks-for-t...

Another one from the “probably lucky to have made it this far” category...Mark Lanegan has died. Didn’t mind his earlier Screaming trees work...RIP

Just read that news. a sad day. He was a genius. Definitely lucky to have lived through the 90s, read his autobiography if you can.

One of my Favourite musos.
It was a privelige to see the Mark Lanegan Band about 10yrs ago.
His later stuff is great.
RIP Mark.

mattlock wrote:

One of my Favourite musos.
It was a privelige to see the Mark Lanegan Band about 10yrs ago. My wife and I cherish the signed poster from that gig.
His later stuff is great.
RIP Mark.

Saw him solo around the same time mattock. Mighty fine song writer and a powerful voice. He will be missed.

Copy that Mattlock, check out his session on kexp. Haunting vocals and great guitar work. Vale and thanks Mark.

I met Rod Marsh in an elevator once. Maybe he was having a bad day but he was so farking rude to me.

Condolences to his family, friends and fans.

No, but I was introduced to Craig McDermott in the Qantas Club lounge at Brissie airport and he was a first class tool.

I had a brief but pleasant chat to Ian Healy once. He was cool.

Constance B Gibson wrote:

According to the National Portrait Gallery this is a photo of a young Stephen Hawking (with the canes) in London marching against the war in Vietnam in 1968 (Bonus points for any other faces featured).

More than 30 years later he spoke out fervently against the war in Iraq. He also joined the BDS movement against Israel, calling the situation "like that in South Africa before 1990. It cannot continue."

He wasn't just one of the most brilliant minds of our times, he was also someone with a social and political conscience.

"If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality."

Rest in power, Stephen Hawking, 8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018

Thanks Facto didn't know that about Hawking

Good old Google comes up with that the person in the pic is not Hawking and was confirmed as such by the other person in the pic, journalist Tariq Ali. The lady is Vanessa Redgrave.

I myself remain unconvinced. The guy in the pic seems to have a very similar mouth and jaw outline to Hawking.

https://gizmodo.com/viral-photo-of-stephen-hawking-at-a-vietnam-war-prot...

Btw CBGFacto, you've been to London, you ever go to the NPG? It's brilliant.

The hairline doesn't seem to match on that left side of his head.. Also the face isn't as chiselled as that photo.

The plot thickens...

Good one crew...Goldie Punkz send off William Hurt!
Trippin' Out at the Cinema to Altered States...Essential.

Trailer

Spoiler

Movie...thanx to swellnet...we can share his movie magic.

Flix HQ ~ No sign in...Close all pop ups...> Click [CC] Remove subtitles
(Super excellent screen quality )...Happy to share ...Enjoy your Trip!
1980 William Hurt ~ Altered States
https://flixhq.to/watch-movie/watch-altered-states-11842.5357908

swellnet Drum Circle high hat send off for Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins
https://www.kerrang.com/taylor-hawkins-i-used-to-do-a-lot-of-fucking-dru...
Rolling out a long list of hard hitting iconic Drummers of late...
Loaded above interview for some context as the word on the street is a Heroin OD....just sayin'.
https://www.mixedarticle.com/foo-fighters-drummer-taylor-hawkins-drugs-o...

This Group is least familiar to tbb but tune is a worthy send off for Taylor...real solid rocker it is!
Taylor's Supergroup features 70's Glam & Punk Rock Stars saluting a Yardbirds alt classic.
Yes! tbb said 70's Punk Rock star...crew should be able to hear his iconic sound.

.

Chris Bailey RIP

You beat me to it, seems everyones departing.

RIP Chris
Play it loud fellas

Raw power-

the light that was in your eyes doesn't shine there anymore...

chook wrote:

the light that was in your eyes doesn't shine there anymore...
https://youtu.be/yYA5WdP47Y0

Nice one, chook.

Great send off from the crew...(note) suchas Live Clip Perfect Day...
Inside story goes it's a smash up of "Paint it Black"...on acid.

True Punk Worship Moment > 19th Jan 2012 Damned Gig Brisbane : tbb heard this...
"Fuck the Ramones & Fuck the Sex Pistols > Punk started right here in Brisbane with The Saints."
http://www.notaphoto.com/music-photography/the-damned-the-hi-fi-19-01-2012/

Know your Product is an equally "Damned" Hot Track..
Punk classic was more Damned than the Damned (This tune also won over the local Punks)
Let's do the Professor...

Official Qld Police State send off from Goldie Punkz / Social Cancer / Complete Chaos

{rip} Brizzo Punk Overlord Chris Bailey

Saints had too many shit hot tunes that overshadowed even better ones.
Listen for yourselves...play this tribute song once thru...you'll be hooked.
All agree...equally the best Oz Punk / Rock tracks of any time!

Brisbane (Security City) -The Saints...pull down the pure punk lyrics for extra cred.
Welcome to our Police State...one of us!
Forever being Mangled on the Triangles at Moreton Bay.

Saints were before my time and I (regretfully) have never given them the listen they deserve but have played through all the vids posted above and I see why they're so beloved. Thanks for the education and vale Chris.

Vale Chris…. Je Fuckin T’aime