Happy Halloween! It's that time of the year again when things that go bump in the night emerge from the darkest recesses of the underworld to prowl the earth and walk amongst us. I guess all kinds of ghouls will be having a ball tonight. So while they're doing that, I guess they'd like us to put on some goth music.
So to all creatures of the night out there, this video's for you. It's from Bauhaus, one of the greatest goth acts to ever come out of the coffin, and its title is a tribute to a truly legendary Hollywood vampire/werewolf/Frankenstein's monster, Bela Lugosi.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Invisible (?) Bass Player
Have you guys ever seen the Tom Hanks-directed 60's combo movie "That Thing You Do"? It was released sometime in the late 90's and was about this fictional 60's band called The Wonders who managed a short but action-packed roller coaster ride on the rock n roll scene.
I'm a sucker for movies about musicians or bands, whether actual or fictional. The movie was a fun - and ultimately sobering - look at the life inside the rock n roll circus. A struggling band stumbles upon their one hit song. They establish a fan base big enough to get them noticed by a big record company. They become part of an exciting tour with the other acts on the record company's roster. Then they finally succumb to the pressures every band eventually becomes prone to: personality conflicts, conflicts with management, personal problems. The acting was okay and the soundtrack was infectious.
Anyway, towards the end of it, the movie shows some update on what eventually happened to each member of the band. I found it curious that, while everybody in the band had names (example, the drummer, played by Tom Everret Scott, was called Guy Patterson), the bass player (played by Ethan Embry) was identified simply as T.B. Player - "The Bass Player". And, if you watched the film, he was never really called by name. Case in point: when he went missing to join a bunch of marines go to Disneyland, Mr. White (Tom Hanks) asked "Where is your bass player?"
So what's with the nameless bass player?
In an interview, Tom Hanks said this was intentional. He explained that back in the 60's, it was normally the lead singer and/or the lead guitarist of a band who got the public's attention. Bass players usually just hung in the background, nameless and faceless. I guess Hanks was calling attention to the fact that the bass player is as vital a member of any band as are the singer or the lead guitarist.
I guess everybody would totally agree. In fact, it's sometimes the bass player that gives a band much of its image and media impact. I mean, check out these bass-playing spotlight magnets:
1. Stewart Sutcliffe
The original Beatles' bass player was never more than an adequate musician. However, it was Stu who serendipituously became the legendary band's unofficial style guru: he was the one who came up with the trademark Beatle haircut, long and combed down. Also, he's always been the one who had an acute sense of what's hip in terms of clothes.
2. Paul McCartney
Having taken over bass chores after Stu Sutcliffe's untimely demise, Paul rose to eventually become one of the glibbest song writers in music history. Even John Lennon himself acknowledged that the concept behind The Beatles' finest work "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was Paul's idea. In fact, a lot of The Beatles' later works had Paul's mark on them.
3. Lee Rocker
The quiffed Stray Cats bassist (born Leon Drucker) catches everybody's attention everytime he straddles his huge double bass during live performances. On top of such eye-catching onstage stunts, he has also done some vocals for some of the legendary rockabilly band's songs.
4. Sting
Born Gordon Sumner, Sting got his nickname as a result of his penchant for wearing a black and yellow striped t-shirt during the early days of The Police. Well, since this is Sting we're talking about - and everybody knows what he's done in rock music - there's really not much to say that nobody knows about already.
5. Sid Vicious
Ah, the one and only Prince of Punk. Born John Simon Ritchie, Sid gave the Sex Pistols their razor edge. According to a lot of sources, he wasn't even an adequate bass player (If you'd take a look at old footages of the Pistols' live performances, you may notice that his amp didn't seem to be plugged in!). However, whatever he lacked in musicianship, he more than made up for in publicity. I mean, what names come to mind when you hear the name Sex Pistols? Just Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, right?
6. Paul Simonon
I think it was the late Joe Strummer himself who acknowledged, in an early interview, that it's Paul Simonon who gives The Clash its image. If you wanted to visualize The Clash as an individual person, it was Paul.
I agree. I mean, he did provide the unforgettable image that was used as the sleeve for The Clash's best album ever: he's the guy caught on camera in mid-swing smashing his bass guitar on the cover of the album London Calling.
7. Gene Simmons
The awesome image of Kiss bassman Gene "Demon" Simmons has been capturing the imagination of fans and non-fans alike. Just look at how much money stores make selling Gene Simmons masks! I'm not really a fan of Kiss and, frankly, I'm not that familiar with their work; but who can ever forget the image of the demon-faced bass player puking fake blood during live performances.
8. Flea
Known as Michael Balzary offstage, Flea has always been a strong presence in the Peppers' live performances and music videos with his lunatic edge and bizaare antics: playing bass while suspended upside down by the ankles, getting onstage wearing nothing but his bass guitar, etc. Definitely make wathcing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers a more enjoyable experience.
9. John Waite
Who woulda thought, huh? The former bassman for obscure band The Babys left for a solo career and scored with the 80's hit single "Missing You" from the equally successful album "No Brakes". He then went on to bigger things with the band he formed, Bad English.
10. Kim Gordon
Being the singing bass player for one of the seminal post-punk bands of the 80's Sonic Youth, Gordon has obviously inspired a lot of people in the riot grrl movement. However, despite the multitudes of rock chicks trying to emulate her, nobody even comes close to doing what Kim Gordon does.
I'm a sucker for movies about musicians or bands, whether actual or fictional. The movie was a fun - and ultimately sobering - look at the life inside the rock n roll circus. A struggling band stumbles upon their one hit song. They establish a fan base big enough to get them noticed by a big record company. They become part of an exciting tour with the other acts on the record company's roster. Then they finally succumb to the pressures every band eventually becomes prone to: personality conflicts, conflicts with management, personal problems. The acting was okay and the soundtrack was infectious.
Anyway, towards the end of it, the movie shows some update on what eventually happened to each member of the band. I found it curious that, while everybody in the band had names (example, the drummer, played by Tom Everret Scott, was called Guy Patterson), the bass player (played by Ethan Embry) was identified simply as T.B. Player - "The Bass Player". And, if you watched the film, he was never really called by name. Case in point: when he went missing to join a bunch of marines go to Disneyland, Mr. White (Tom Hanks) asked "Where is your bass player?"
So what's with the nameless bass player?
In an interview, Tom Hanks said this was intentional. He explained that back in the 60's, it was normally the lead singer and/or the lead guitarist of a band who got the public's attention. Bass players usually just hung in the background, nameless and faceless. I guess Hanks was calling attention to the fact that the bass player is as vital a member of any band as are the singer or the lead guitarist.
I guess everybody would totally agree. In fact, it's sometimes the bass player that gives a band much of its image and media impact. I mean, check out these bass-playing spotlight magnets:
1. Stewart Sutcliffe
The original Beatles' bass player was never more than an adequate musician. However, it was Stu who serendipituously became the legendary band's unofficial style guru: he was the one who came up with the trademark Beatle haircut, long and combed down. Also, he's always been the one who had an acute sense of what's hip in terms of clothes.
2. Paul McCartney
Having taken over bass chores after Stu Sutcliffe's untimely demise, Paul rose to eventually become one of the glibbest song writers in music history. Even John Lennon himself acknowledged that the concept behind The Beatles' finest work "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was Paul's idea. In fact, a lot of The Beatles' later works had Paul's mark on them.
3. Lee Rocker
The quiffed Stray Cats bassist (born Leon Drucker) catches everybody's attention everytime he straddles his huge double bass during live performances. On top of such eye-catching onstage stunts, he has also done some vocals for some of the legendary rockabilly band's songs.
4. Sting
Born Gordon Sumner, Sting got his nickname as a result of his penchant for wearing a black and yellow striped t-shirt during the early days of The Police. Well, since this is Sting we're talking about - and everybody knows what he's done in rock music - there's really not much to say that nobody knows about already.
5. Sid Vicious
Ah, the one and only Prince of Punk. Born John Simon Ritchie, Sid gave the Sex Pistols their razor edge. According to a lot of sources, he wasn't even an adequate bass player (If you'd take a look at old footages of the Pistols' live performances, you may notice that his amp didn't seem to be plugged in!). However, whatever he lacked in musicianship, he more than made up for in publicity. I mean, what names come to mind when you hear the name Sex Pistols? Just Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, right?
6. Paul Simonon
I think it was the late Joe Strummer himself who acknowledged, in an early interview, that it's Paul Simonon who gives The Clash its image. If you wanted to visualize The Clash as an individual person, it was Paul.
I agree. I mean, he did provide the unforgettable image that was used as the sleeve for The Clash's best album ever: he's the guy caught on camera in mid-swing smashing his bass guitar on the cover of the album London Calling.
7. Gene Simmons
The awesome image of Kiss bassman Gene "Demon" Simmons has been capturing the imagination of fans and non-fans alike. Just look at how much money stores make selling Gene Simmons masks! I'm not really a fan of Kiss and, frankly, I'm not that familiar with their work; but who can ever forget the image of the demon-faced bass player puking fake blood during live performances.
8. Flea
Known as Michael Balzary offstage, Flea has always been a strong presence in the Peppers' live performances and music videos with his lunatic edge and bizaare antics: playing bass while suspended upside down by the ankles, getting onstage wearing nothing but his bass guitar, etc. Definitely make wathcing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers a more enjoyable experience.
9. John Waite
Who woulda thought, huh? The former bassman for obscure band The Babys left for a solo career and scored with the 80's hit single "Missing You" from the equally successful album "No Brakes". He then went on to bigger things with the band he formed, Bad English.
10. Kim Gordon
Being the singing bass player for one of the seminal post-punk bands of the 80's Sonic Youth, Gordon has obviously inspired a lot of people in the riot grrl movement. However, despite the multitudes of rock chicks trying to emulate her, nobody even comes close to doing what Kim Gordon does.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The American Toy Boy
I stumbled upon this video while checking out Yahoo videos. I thought it was really awesome. The way the artist twiddled with the Etch-A-Sketch and the song itself really blew me away. Impressive visuals and smart lyrics, it's got it all, man.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Lost in Translation
While the global music industry traditionally thrives on songs written in the English language, there have been a lot of acts - past and present - who experiment with idea of sending their messages using another language.
Of course, these days any song written and performed in any language can get enough exposure to a wider audience, thanks to the internet and the concept of the global village. But back when the internet was not even a blip in the consciousness of the record-buying public, English was the language that artists perfunctorily used if they wanted a shot at the international market. Come to think of it, in a lot of ways it still is.
I know there must be a hundred old songs out there performed in languages other than English that managed to make some sort of dent on the international music scene . Unfortunately for me, I don't have enough time to look them all up. So let's just go with the next best thing: let's take a look at the songs THAT I CAN REMEMBER (WHILE MY BUTT IS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER) that have, entirely or partially, non-English lyrics or songs whose history or origin isn't really English.
So here we go...
1. My Way
This old chestnut, popularized by Ol' Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, has English lyrics but French origins. The melody is adopted from the French song "Comme D'habitude" and was composed by Claude Francois and Jacques Revaux. The original French lyrics were written by Francios and Gilles Thibaut. It was U.S. pop sensation Paul Anka who provided the song's English lyrics, although his words had nothing to do with the original French version.
Anyway, as additional trivia, "My Way" has been covered over the years by many artists as disparate as Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the late legendary Sid Vicious. It is also said that it is the most frequently played song at British funerals. (According to one interview, J.K. Rowling said that "My Way" would be the song she would want to play at Professor Dumbledore's funeral.) Here in my beloved country, "My Way" is often the related cause of death or injury to a lot of poor souls who sing it in seedy karaoke/videoke bars that are usually full of drunk, short-tempered, razor-wielding hooligans. I guess these morbid connections are but fitting as "My Way" is said to be a song about a person who's nearing death.
2. Sukiyaki
This song by the late Japanese artist Kyu Sakamoto holds a unique place in American pop music history: it is the only Japanese song to not only chart but also reach No. 1 in the Billboard singles chart. Originally recorded in Japanese with the title "Ueo Muite Arako" ("I Look Up When I Walk"), it was given English lyrics after an English record company boss heard it while on a trip to Tokyo. Recognizing that most British DJs would find it difficult to pronounce the song's original title, the exec decided to change the title to something more familiar to radio listeners. Hence, "Sukiyaki" , a kind of Japanese stew that has absolutely nothing to do with the song. So this exec then had jazzman Kenny Ball record the new version which became a UK Top 10 hit.
It was around this time that Washington state DJ Rich Osborne got a copy of the original version of the song and started playing it on air. Despite the language barrier, "Sukiyaki" became a huge hit for Kyu Sakamoto.
3. La Bamba
Originally a Mexican folk song, La Bamba became one of the first entirely non-English hits during the infancy of rock n roll when seventeen year-old Ritchie Valens (real name: Ricardo Valenzuela) recorded it around the start of his short but action-packed career. Despite misgivings by his manager who was worried they might offend the Spanish-speaking population by reworking a beloved folk song into a raucous rock n roll outing, Valens insisted on releasing the song in vinyl, citing that Nat "King" Cole also injects some Spanish into some of his lyrics. (Come to think of it, yeah, I did hear Cole sing in Spanish in one of his songs. I just can't remember what song it was right now.)
For a better appreciation of the song and the artist, I suggest you guys go see the late 80's bio-pic "La Bamba" starring Lou Diamond Philips as Ritchie Valens.
4. Govinda
After listening to the 90's hit "Govinda", it's not improbable that you'll be asking your self: Are the members of Kula Shaker George Harrison's kids? Well, in a manner of speaking, yes. The band, led by singer/guitarist Crispian Mills (son of 60's British actress and hitmaker Hayley Mills), evokes the same ethereal eastern mysticism and psychedelia that characterized much of Harrison's music during the latter part of The Beatles life. Like Harrison, Kula Shaker's decidedly Indian influence came after Mills went on a spiritual pilgrimage to India.
Written entirely in the Indian language, "Govinda" is haunting and mood-heavy, and sticks inside your head like a mantra for inner peace. I dunno what the lyrics mean - yet (I still have to look it up). But if you're in the mood for 60's style psychedelia with exotic, mysterious lyrics and tabla players, "Govinda" is it.
5. 99 Luftballons
The 80's wouldn't have been what they were without this radio staple. Recorded in both its original German version and in English, Nena's "99 Loftballons" is a song about the ugly business of war. While its English version has been more popular and has been inevitably covered by other subsequent acts, the German version, says those in the know, is still lyrically better and more fluid. I dunno. I'll have to learn German first before I make any comments on that.
So, that's it for now. If I get to dig up some dirt on some other related songs, I'll post it ASAP.
See ya.
Of course, these days any song written and performed in any language can get enough exposure to a wider audience, thanks to the internet and the concept of the global village. But back when the internet was not even a blip in the consciousness of the record-buying public, English was the language that artists perfunctorily used if they wanted a shot at the international market. Come to think of it, in a lot of ways it still is.
I know there must be a hundred old songs out there performed in languages other than English that managed to make some sort of dent on the international music scene . Unfortunately for me, I don't have enough time to look them all up. So let's just go with the next best thing: let's take a look at the songs THAT I CAN REMEMBER (WHILE MY BUTT IS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER) that have, entirely or partially, non-English lyrics or songs whose history or origin isn't really English.
So here we go...
1. My Way
This old chestnut, popularized by Ol' Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, has English lyrics but French origins. The melody is adopted from the French song "Comme D'habitude" and was composed by Claude Francois and Jacques Revaux. The original French lyrics were written by Francios and Gilles Thibaut. It was U.S. pop sensation Paul Anka who provided the song's English lyrics, although his words had nothing to do with the original French version.
Anyway, as additional trivia, "My Way" has been covered over the years by many artists as disparate as Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the late legendary Sid Vicious. It is also said that it is the most frequently played song at British funerals. (According to one interview, J.K. Rowling said that "My Way" would be the song she would want to play at Professor Dumbledore's funeral.) Here in my beloved country, "My Way" is often the related cause of death or injury to a lot of poor souls who sing it in seedy karaoke/videoke bars that are usually full of drunk, short-tempered, razor-wielding hooligans. I guess these morbid connections are but fitting as "My Way" is said to be a song about a person who's nearing death.
2. Sukiyaki
This song by the late Japanese artist Kyu Sakamoto holds a unique place in American pop music history: it is the only Japanese song to not only chart but also reach No. 1 in the Billboard singles chart. Originally recorded in Japanese with the title "Ueo Muite Arako" ("I Look Up When I Walk"), it was given English lyrics after an English record company boss heard it while on a trip to Tokyo. Recognizing that most British DJs would find it difficult to pronounce the song's original title, the exec decided to change the title to something more familiar to radio listeners. Hence, "Sukiyaki" , a kind of Japanese stew that has absolutely nothing to do with the song. So this exec then had jazzman Kenny Ball record the new version which became a UK Top 10 hit.
It was around this time that Washington state DJ Rich Osborne got a copy of the original version of the song and started playing it on air. Despite the language barrier, "Sukiyaki" became a huge hit for Kyu Sakamoto.
3. La Bamba
Originally a Mexican folk song, La Bamba became one of the first entirely non-English hits during the infancy of rock n roll when seventeen year-old Ritchie Valens (real name: Ricardo Valenzuela) recorded it around the start of his short but action-packed career. Despite misgivings by his manager who was worried they might offend the Spanish-speaking population by reworking a beloved folk song into a raucous rock n roll outing, Valens insisted on releasing the song in vinyl, citing that Nat "King" Cole also injects some Spanish into some of his lyrics. (Come to think of it, yeah, I did hear Cole sing in Spanish in one of his songs. I just can't remember what song it was right now.)
For a better appreciation of the song and the artist, I suggest you guys go see the late 80's bio-pic "La Bamba" starring Lou Diamond Philips as Ritchie Valens.
4. Govinda
After listening to the 90's hit "Govinda", it's not improbable that you'll be asking your self: Are the members of Kula Shaker George Harrison's kids? Well, in a manner of speaking, yes. The band, led by singer/guitarist Crispian Mills (son of 60's British actress and hitmaker Hayley Mills), evokes the same ethereal eastern mysticism and psychedelia that characterized much of Harrison's music during the latter part of The Beatles life. Like Harrison, Kula Shaker's decidedly Indian influence came after Mills went on a spiritual pilgrimage to India.
Written entirely in the Indian language, "Govinda" is haunting and mood-heavy, and sticks inside your head like a mantra for inner peace. I dunno what the lyrics mean - yet (I still have to look it up). But if you're in the mood for 60's style psychedelia with exotic, mysterious lyrics and tabla players, "Govinda" is it.
5. 99 Luftballons
The 80's wouldn't have been what they were without this radio staple. Recorded in both its original German version and in English, Nena's "99 Loftballons" is a song about the ugly business of war. While its English version has been more popular and has been inevitably covered by other subsequent acts, the German version, says those in the know, is still lyrically better and more fluid. I dunno. I'll have to learn German first before I make any comments on that.
So, that's it for now. If I get to dig up some dirt on some other related songs, I'll post it ASAP.
See ya.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
The Name Game
Along with figuring out what influences a band to sound (or look) the way it does, how a band gets its name is an equally intruiging puzzle for me. While a lot of bands can brag about killer guitar riffs, snaky bass lines, thundering drums, and let-go-of-my-balls vocals, some of them carry names that, well, doesn't quite arouse your curiosity enough to give them a first listen when you come across their work at the local record store.
Hey, how a band wants to call themselves is their own business. But I must admit, there have been some bands whose music may not necessarily sound great but whose name definitely does. Which always gets me thinking: how the hell did they get their name?
Let's take a look at some of these musical groups who carry unique sobriquets.
1. Sex Pistols
Their name doesn't really make any sense when you first hear it. It was given by their then manager, the notorious Malcolm McClaren. Back when the Pistols were just a bunch of underage punks, McClaren owned a Kings Road clothes shop called Sex where original Pistol bass player Glen Mattlock was an employee. So that explains the first half of the band's name. But what about Pistol? Well, it was said that McClaren's original idea for the band was to be like - get this - "sexy assassins"! LOL! So Sex Pistols it was.
2. The Beatles
What would a discussion on music be without a mention of The Beatles? Beatle lore, handed down through generations of devoted fans, says that "Beatle" was John Lennon's tribute of sorts to a "bug" band he really admired: Buddy Holly and The Crickets. But the bug connection stops there. With his predilection for word play, Lennon changed the spelling of "beetle" to "beatle" to emphasize the concept of the "beat" or pulse that characterized their music. This explanation on the origin of The Beatles' name would have been totally sufficient had not its author (Lennon) come up with a second more whimsical - but equally convincing - story (which I have heard and read about more than once!).
Version 2 of the story behind the name The Beatles also credits Lennon with coming up with the name. But, as described by Lennon, the circumstances that lead to the band's name can be, at best, charitably described as surreal.
According to Lennon, a man appeared to him in dream. He narrated that this man was standing on a flaming pie (yes, a flaming pie!) and told him: "You will be a Beatle, with an 'a'."
Now, since this is John Lennon we're talking about, I guess both versions make equal sense.
3. The Ramones
The origin of the name of this band is anchored on Beatle history, although it was usually considered out of character and uncool for any punk band to have anything to do with The Beatles as such association was said to be bad for their street creds. But I guess The Ramones didn't give a rat's stinking ass about what other people thought was "cool".
So what's the story behind the name?
Well, during their early years, The Beatles undertook a short Scottish tour. This being the early incarnation of the band, they still had with them as original bass player John Lennon's friend Stuart "Stu" Sutcliffe. Paul McCartney, like Lennon, played guitar then.
Anyway, it has been told that during this particular tour, Sutcliffe and McCartney adopted stage names: Stu was Stuart De Staehl while Paul was Paul Ramone. And so it goes that this piece of Beatle history became the springboard from which The Ramones came up with their collective name as well as their individual stage names: Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Tommy Ramone, and any other "Ramone" who would join the band during its long and legendary existence.
4. Duran Duran
The synth-pop band's name was taken from a character from a 60's sci-fi TV show called Barbarella. The character Duran Duran was, if I recall correctly, the villain in that show.
5. R.E.M.
This band from Athens, GA apparently took its name from a stage in the human sleep cycle: Rapid Eye Movement. But some sources cite that the name R.E.M. was derived from a technique used by combat soldiers. I dunno...
So, which version is true?
Who the hell cares?! Bottom line is they were a great band (up to their album Document; everything else that came out after that, I found uninteresting. I especially loathe their played-to-death radio hit Losing My Religion!).
Well, I guess that's all I got for now. I'll try looking up more band name histories. Till then, see ya...
Hey, how a band wants to call themselves is their own business. But I must admit, there have been some bands whose music may not necessarily sound great but whose name definitely does. Which always gets me thinking: how the hell did they get their name?
Let's take a look at some of these musical groups who carry unique sobriquets.
1. Sex Pistols
Their name doesn't really make any sense when you first hear it. It was given by their then manager, the notorious Malcolm McClaren. Back when the Pistols were just a bunch of underage punks, McClaren owned a Kings Road clothes shop called Sex where original Pistol bass player Glen Mattlock was an employee. So that explains the first half of the band's name. But what about Pistol? Well, it was said that McClaren's original idea for the band was to be like - get this - "sexy assassins"! LOL! So Sex Pistols it was.
2. The Beatles
What would a discussion on music be without a mention of The Beatles? Beatle lore, handed down through generations of devoted fans, says that "Beatle" was John Lennon's tribute of sorts to a "bug" band he really admired: Buddy Holly and The Crickets. But the bug connection stops there. With his predilection for word play, Lennon changed the spelling of "beetle" to "beatle" to emphasize the concept of the "beat" or pulse that characterized their music. This explanation on the origin of The Beatles' name would have been totally sufficient had not its author (Lennon) come up with a second more whimsical - but equally convincing - story (which I have heard and read about more than once!).
Version 2 of the story behind the name The Beatles also credits Lennon with coming up with the name. But, as described by Lennon, the circumstances that lead to the band's name can be, at best, charitably described as surreal.
According to Lennon, a man appeared to him in dream. He narrated that this man was standing on a flaming pie (yes, a flaming pie!) and told him: "You will be a Beatle, with an 'a'."
Now, since this is John Lennon we're talking about, I guess both versions make equal sense.
3. The Ramones
The origin of the name of this band is anchored on Beatle history, although it was usually considered out of character and uncool for any punk band to have anything to do with The Beatles as such association was said to be bad for their street creds. But I guess The Ramones didn't give a rat's stinking ass about what other people thought was "cool".
So what's the story behind the name?
Well, during their early years, The Beatles undertook a short Scottish tour. This being the early incarnation of the band, they still had with them as original bass player John Lennon's friend Stuart "Stu" Sutcliffe. Paul McCartney, like Lennon, played guitar then.
Anyway, it has been told that during this particular tour, Sutcliffe and McCartney adopted stage names: Stu was Stuart De Staehl while Paul was Paul Ramone. And so it goes that this piece of Beatle history became the springboard from which The Ramones came up with their collective name as well as their individual stage names: Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Tommy Ramone, and any other "Ramone" who would join the band during its long and legendary existence.
4. Duran Duran
The synth-pop band's name was taken from a character from a 60's sci-fi TV show called Barbarella. The character Duran Duran was, if I recall correctly, the villain in that show.
5. R.E.M.
This band from Athens, GA apparently took its name from a stage in the human sleep cycle: Rapid Eye Movement. But some sources cite that the name R.E.M. was derived from a technique used by combat soldiers. I dunno...
So, which version is true?
Who the hell cares?! Bottom line is they were a great band (up to their album Document; everything else that came out after that, I found uninteresting. I especially loathe their played-to-death radio hit Losing My Religion!).
Well, I guess that's all I got for now. I'll try looking up more band name histories. Till then, see ya...
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Anybody Seen A Cactus In The Desert?
For years I've been busting my ass trying to get hold of a copy of a very elusive album (well, around these parts, the album is practically non-existent). While I have managed to download three excellent songs from said album, I really would want to have the whole album. I got a list of the titles in the album, but I've managed to hear only those three songs off said album.
I'm talking about the album Urban Beaches by almost-made-it-to-the-top Irish band Cactus World News.
Released in 1986, Urban Beaches contained ten songs. Having heard only three of them, I guess it would be safe to presume that the rest of the titles are equally rivetting. The songs in the album are as follows:
1. Worlds Apart
2. In A Whirlpool
3. Promise
4. The Bridge
5. State of Emergency
6. Years Later
7. Church of the Cold
8. Pilots of Beka
9. Jigsaw Street
10. Maybe This Time
The only three songs I've managed to hear from this line-up are Worlds Apart, The Bridge, and Years Later.
History says that the band submitted a demo to U2 frontman Bono in 1985, and it was U2 who gave them a much needed push. Listening to those three tracks, one would recognize how heavily U2 influenced Cactus World News. I mean, listen to the guitar riffs on those three tracks, man: ethereal, howling, melodic, and echo-drenched. And the vocals - it has the same impassioned delivery as Bono during U2's early days.
Now the U2 comparisons shouldn't be taken as put-downs because they're not. I mean, both bands are Irish so that probably explains things a bit: as fellow Irishmen, they may inherently have similar ideas on how to launch their respective sonic assaults. And while Urban Beaches received very positive reviews, it's just sad that they didn't get to eventually follow in U2's steps towards a well-deserved superstardom.
But hey, at least they remain one of the great should-have-beens of rock music and didn't end up as one those middle-aged bands trying unsuccessfully to regain old glories by acting like their still 21.
You can try singing along:
The Bridge (Live at Self Aid 1986)
Cactus World News
(Urban Beaches - 1986)
I, within walking distance of your heart
I'm just within earshot to a fresher start
I get the feeling that somebody else is thinking about me
I'm this close, I can touch it with my hands
Going up and over, over the bridge
Springtide will lift me and take me across
I'm looking down and I should be collapsing
Since the earth underneath us long since opened up
Do you see me falling? Do you see me die in my own way?
When I give up, you always go on
Going up and over, over the bridge
Springtide will lift me and take me across
Bring me down, down on the wings of heaven (heaven)
Bring me down the wings of heaven and on my life
Bring me down, comeback is so wonderful
I will cross to the other side
Here we are now in the strangest of all possible circumstances
I don't understand it but I know that if feels so good
But there's one thing that I do know when I sing this song for you
I'll go across to the other side
Going up and over, over the bridge
Springtide will lift me and take me across
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Freeze Frame
For me, this is one of the best photos ever used for an album sleeve! The Clash's Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar during a gig! The cover of the highly acclaimed album London Calling!
I mean, how often do bass players steal the show like that? Lead guitarists, yeah. But bass players? Way to go, Paul!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Last Song Syndrome
I know this sort of thing has happened to you. You wake up in the morning, walk groggily to the john to take a piss, and emerge scratching your bloated belly when, all of a sudden, a song starts playing in your head. You eat breakfast, take a shower, and get dressed - the song's still playing. You board a bus to work, stare forlornly at the sprawling cityscape whizzing past the window, and count the time between changes in the traffic light - it's still there. You get to work and leave work but it still keeps playing! Ah, you got a really bad case of Last Song Syndrome. And it doesn't last for just a day. Sometimes a song will stick with you for a week! Like what's happening to me now.The song in question is called "Sullivan" by Caroline's Spine.
By today's standards, it's already a pretty old song. Around ten years old maybe. But there's something about it that my brain can't shut out.
"It's not hard to reach back to the days after the attack on Pearl..."
Well, lyrically, Sullivan is a history lesson focusing on the tragedy, heroism, and the utter sense of waste that war brings. It tells the story of five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa - Joseph,
Frank, Albert, Madison, and George Sullivan - who all enlisted together in the Navy during World War II after the Pearl Harbor attack, and who all insisted on staying together during their enlistment. It also tells of how they all died as a result of a Japanese submarine attack, leaving their devastated family to pick up the pieces.
Musically, Sullivan is a very haunting and hook-laden tune. Guitarist Mark Haugh's searing riffs dominates the entire song and gives it it's identity; Jason Gilardi's skin-bashing gives the song a sense of urgency and excitement; while Jimmy Newquist's vocals provides it with an apt melancholy that simmers with the indignity of getting unwillingly getting dragged into the memory of an armed conflict.
All in all, I'll be keeping Sullivan in my collection.
"Say goodbye, bye-bye, Mrs. Sullivan..."
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