Thursday 28 February 2013

MIMI PAGE: Requiem (Theme from Ghost Adventures)



"I wrote this song for an episode of Ghost Adventures which is on the Travel Channel in the US. I think it's syndicated in the UK too. It aired this Friday."

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Breathe Me In
CD - £9.99

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Jack Bruce Live - Theme for an Imaginary Western



JACK BRUCE AT GONZO
Rope Ladder To The Moon
DVD - £9.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

BUILD YOUR OWN SONIC TEMPLE

where vibrations of harmonies and healing might be shared
with fellow pilgrims.No karaoke plastic funeral flowers retro-graveyard this/
more a garden of organic possibilities.Take all the songs and bend them
so they squeak and squawk impossible versions.Put passion and a punk perspective
into the energetic of ancestors.Take riffs /reverse and play them backwards.
Every composer starts afresh with death /makes life anew via attunement to
Akashic Records.Every sound sings seashell spiral auricles.
You make new and renew with every breath /we sing with you.

Jefferson Airplane vs. Fatboy Slim - Somebody To Praise

I don't know about the legality of this, and I doubt very much whether it is sanctioned by either artiste, but it is surprisingly good...


Jefferson Airplane vs. Fatboy Slim - Somebody... by chubakator

However, if you want to hear the real thing, check out Jefferson Starship at Gonzo

LINK: Stephen Stills talks classic tracks from his box set, Carry On


Guitarist Stuart Ryan is interviewed by Gordon Giltrap about his life playing guitar



GORDON GILTRAP AT GONZO
Double Visions
CD - £5.99

As It Happens
DCD - £11.99

Secret Valentine 
CD - £9.99

Sym Hall 
CD - £7.99

A Testament Of Time 
CD - £7.99

Live At Ambergate 
CD - £7.99

Midnight Clear 
CD - £7.99

Remember This 
CD - £7.99

Band Live 81
CD - £7.99

The Peacock Party
CD - £7.99

Elegy 
CD - £7.99

Live At Oxford
CD - £7.99

Collection 
CD - £7.99

Janschology 
CD - £7.99

Acoustic Troubadour 
DCD - £11.99

Under This Blue Sky 
CD - £7.99

Shining Morn
CD - £7.99

Wednesday 27 February 2013

FORGIVE THE SHAMELESS PLUG

UFO MATRIX is not just a magazine about UFOs, it is also a magazine about the wider implications of UFO Culture. It examines the history and the mystery of the subject in depth, bringing on board the cream of the world's UFOlogical and Fortean researchers. 

Issue 10 brings a new look at the riddle of the Anunnaki, still on the archaeological theme, a new theory about the origins of civiliisation, a world exclusive picture of a Kuwaiti UFO, a major interview with UFOlogist Nick Redfern, Physics for UFOlogists, and columnists including BUFORA and Richard Freeman's World of Sci Fi.

Editor Jon Downes has been a central figure of British paranormal and Fortean research for several decades, and is one of the best known British researchers and authors in the field. Contributors to issue 10 include veteran researchers such as Nick Redfern, Richard Freeman, Malcolm Robinson, Dr Andrew May and Ronan Coghlan. At last a valid UFOlogical magazine for the 21st Century 

LINK: Animal Magnetism: Old Tricks, New Album from Eric Burdon


A performance by the original Animals was one of the first concerts I ever attended. During 1966 they were touring the United States with Herman’s Hermits but their performance at the Cape Cod A-Go-Go Club was just them and a local band, whose name has completely disappeared from my mind during the intervening 47 years. In fact I had to Google The Animals' 1966 tour to pinpoint the date, which was August 2, 1966.
The summer of 1966 was my first time living away from home, as I worked in the kitchen of a camp on Cape Cod. It was a summer of work, coming of age, and expanding my musical horizons. I don’t remember a lot about the performance but it had an impact, as all of their early albums adorned my growing music collection and opened my mind to seek music outside the orbit of The Beach Boys and Roy Orbison.
Nearly a half century later I still have a loyalty and affection for the bands of my youth. As with many music lovers they form a connection to a time long past, the memories of which age well if inaccurately at times. I have lost track of Eric Burdon for periods of time but he always seems to resurface.
Time has passed for myself and Eric Burdon. Now in his early 70s, he is one of the grand old men of the original British music invasion and of rock and roll itself. His journey toward the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame began with The Animals who occupied the middle ground between rock and blues. They managed to strike a chord with the music mainstream with such hits as “House of the Rising Sun,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” and “It’s My Life” among others.

ERIC BURDON

Erik Norlander: In the Court of the Crimson King



Erik Norlander: in the court of the Crimson King ( King Crimson cover) Very rare track performed in St. Petersburg 

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO

IT' PROG JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

Bart Lancia gave me a head's up that this was likely to be happening a couple of days ago. I couldn't resist the headline

Billy Sherwood has been beamed on board for the newest album from swashbuckling Star Trek star James T. Kirk — er, William Shatner. Sherwood says he is providing the music, while Shatner writes the lyrics.
Shatner, who appeared as Kirk from 1966-69 on television and then in seven Star Trek motion pictures between 1979-94, started a tandem recording career in 1968, with The Transformed Man — featuring dramatic readings of works by William Shakespeare, as well as unique readings of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
Shatner then released a pair of projects in the late 1970s, including a double live album, before returning in the 2000s with Has Been. His latest album was 2011′s Seeking Major Tom, which featured guest appearances by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore, Asia’s John Wetton, Yes’ Steve Howe and Peter Frampton, among others.
Sherwood, most famous for a stint in the 1990s edition of Yes, says he started writing music in January, and began production on the as-yet-unnamed Shatner project last week.
Read on...

CHECK OUT YES AT GONZO
Union (Standard DVD)
DVD - $13.99

Union (2CD)
2CD - $10.99

Rock Of The 70's
DVD - $17.99

The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - $10.99

Rock of the 70s
DVD - $13.99

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Ian Boddy - Tourmaline



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Live 86-89
CD - $14.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

MY FAVOURITE BAND

is THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.My cat,asleep on my printer
startled when paper issues forth in sequence.Birds outside my borrowed window.
Unexpected wild winds that overthrew the Kingdom of Trash Cans
Uncertain pre-Spring sunlight daubing,healing,annealing S(easonal)A(ffective)D (isorders
Those crumpling clouds so well defined on Fakebook via Keith The Mighty Bass
Friends who send Light in little packages of Spontaneous Kindnesses
This second hand morning,so different to all the others.
The grumbling of winter gardens.Green sprig branch Spring resistances
You,yawning,waiting for the money shot.And this sudden..


Tuesday 26 February 2013

LINK: Here’s the song Jefferson Airplane wrote about Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren’s wife


The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg recently profiled Sally Oren, today best known as the dinner-hosting wife of Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, but decades ago known as a fixture of the San Francisco psychedelic scene. She was such a fixture, it turns out, that Jefferson Airplane recorded an entire song “to, for, and about” her, called “Young Girl Sunday Blues.”
The song is embedded above. Here’s the relevant excerpt from Goldberg’s profile, which is worth reading in full:
Sally Oren, right, with Sara Netanyahu, who is married to the Israeli prime minister. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Sally Oren, right, with Sara Netanyahu, who is married to the Israeli prime minister. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
By the Summer of Love, in 1967, Oren, then 16, was seeing every band worth seeing—Cream, the Doors, the Who. “I didn’t meet Jimi Hendrix, but he was fantastic.” She had only a nodding acquaintance with other artists. “With Jim Morrison it was sort of a ‘Hi, hi, how are you?’ sort of thing,” she said. She knew and loved Jefferson Airplane best. After the first Human Be-In, in January 1967, Jorma Kaukonen, the Airplane’s lead guitarist—“a Finnish Jew,” Oren noted—drove her home, where she served him milk and cookies. And she had a schoolgirl crush on Marty Balin, one of the group’s main songwriters.
“I always wanted to position myself so that I would run into Marty. So one day I see him, and he says, ‘Hey, Sally, we just wrote two songs about you.’ I probably turned purple from embarrassment.” The first song, “Sally, Sally,” was never recorded. The second, “Young Girl Sunday Blues,” would appear on the group’s third album, After Bathing at Baxter’s.
Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM JEFFERSON STARSHIP AT GONZO
Tales From The Mothership - Roswell UFO Festival 3 July 2009
4CD - $19.99

Acoustic Warrior
CD - $10.99

BB Kings Blues Club, Ny, 2007 
3CD - $22.99

Substage, Germany 2005
3CD - $22.99

Soiled Dove
DVD - $17.99

GROUND CONTROL TO ERIC BURDON


Eric Burdon - [Album] PHOTO
ARTIST: Eric Burdon - [Album]
DATE: 02-21-13
REVIEW BY: G. Murray Thomas
ALBUM: \'Til Your River Runs Dry
LABEL: ABKCO/Universal


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Now Playing: '27 Forever' from 'Til Your River Runs Dry by Eric Burdon

Eric Burdon does not seem to realize the Sixties ended long ago. And that's a good thing. He still believes that music can change the world, and he still sings like that's true.

On 'Til Your River Runs Dry, Burdon tackles a number of political and social issues. The central theme, as indicated by the title, is the water crisis; the growing lack of fresh, clean water for much of the world's population. Although he does present water as both savior, in the opening track, "Water," and destroyer, in "River Is Rising," about Katrina, he also touches on immigration, war, greed, and government oppression. He keeps the spirit of the Sixties alive no matter which turn he makes, both positive (his passion for the issues) and the negative (a certain naivete to the lyrics) and that consistency makes for a great ride; once they're in, Burdon works to make sure that no one falls off or gets bored with this ride. Only occasionally does he descend into pure polemics (as on "Invitation to the White House" where he imagines a meeting with the President, and presents simplistic solutions to the country's problems), a common problem with political songs.

Musically, 'Til Your River Runs Dry could have been recorded in the Sixties as well. Although it does not sound dated, it ignores much of what has happened in music in the last forty years. It is all basic blues rock, recorded with a Cincinnati band called The Greenhornes, which Burdon has been working with for a few years now. The playing is rock solid – supporting Burdon very well – but it never rises to anything exceptional on its own. Only on the final number, a jamming version of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me," do they really let loose.

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £9.99

The Animals And Beyond 
DVD - £9.99

Beat Beat Beat - Eric Burdon..
DVD - £4.99

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: WALLY - THE MARTYR



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
That Was Then - Harrogate 2009
DVD - £12.99

To The Urban Man
2CD - £11.99

Valley Gardens
CD - £9.99

Wally
CD - £9.99

Montpellier
CD - £9.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)


MONEY IS INNOCENT (DAEVID ALLEN)

WOT IS WORTH AND WHAT IS VALUED?
what you want and what you hold
what you give and what you treasure
what you steal and what you let go/
Objects,emotions,lovers,friends
Experiences,memories,trust in futuring
All you list ,inventory or have forgotten
All outside your powers of attraction
Maybe you wish to be an astronaut?
Deep sea diver,a treasure chest of art?
Skier,surgeon,ballet dancer,astrologer
Perhaps all you want is to be young(forever-
Portrait of Dorian Gray/Artist as a Young Man
Perhaps your autobiography is by ANON
Maybe you should write your life poem
and then give it to someone else
see if it fits!

MICHAEL AT THE MOVIES (From his website)



Michael spent a few weeks in November/December 2012 shooting a new movie called Me. The first trailer has now been posted online (see above).
Directed by (and starring) Jefery Levy, this improvisational movie also features Gina Gershon, Molly Ringwald and Jennifer Jason Leigh in some of the roles.
“Jef Levy’s “Me” it is the most unique premise and is being manifested by a sharp crew and a director that knows what he wants and doesn’t have to confer with the black suit brigade who want the lowest common denominator to capture the imagination of movie goers who I don’t think exist anymore…”, Michael has said previously.
Me is currently scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2013.
In other movie news, California Solo, in which Michael plays Robert Carlyle’s rock manager, is coming out on DVD next month, March 5th. The DVD can be pre-ordered from amazon.com.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Carnaby Street
CD - £9.99

AN ACADEMIC ASTRONOMER ON SOFT MACHINE AND MORE

Kevin Ayers died yesterday. If you search out http://www.kevin-ayers.com/ the page you arrive at says “this domain has expired”.  A grim accidental joke. There is a rather good obituary in the Guardian. It seems that by his bed a note was found that said “you can’t shine if you don’t burn”. Ohhhh…. shivers. So … Kevin … why why why are you sleeping ??


When a lad, Soft Machine was my favourite band. The whole journey from psychedelia to jazz fusion to burn out was only a few years, but thats when my neurons were connecting like crazy. Pretentious? Yes. Still fascinating? Yes. So… Kevin Ayers is dead, we know not why. Hugh Hopper died of Leukaemia in 2009. Daevid Allen is somewhere lost on Planet Gong. Robert Wyatt is a National Treasure. But but but … where is Mike Ratledge??? How can someone with such cool sunglasses have been lost to modern culture? There have been rumours that he writes tunes for commercials. Can this really be true?

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971
3CD - £19.99

Vol 1
CD - £7.99

Rubber Riff
CD - £7.99

Breda Reactor
CD - £9.99

Somewhere In Soho 
CD - £7.99

Turns On Vol 2 
CD - £7.99

Monday 25 February 2013

LINK: David Bowie album review - track by track: The Starman pulls off the greatest comeback album in rock'n'roll history with The Next Day

Recorded over the past two or three years in complete secrecy, and heralded by the sudden appearance in January of the single “Where Are We Now?”, David Bowie’s The Next Day may be the greatest comeback album ever.


It’s certainly rare to hear a comeback effort that not only reflects an artist’s own best work, but stands alongside it in terms of quality, as The Next Day does. The fact that producer Tony Visconti has worked with Bowie since the Seventies undoubtedly helps  cement the connection with his earlier work – there are constant frissons of recognition while listening to these songs, as if Bowie is deliberately  mining memories. That notion is  reinforced by the typically artful cover, which takes the original sleeve for  the “Heroes” album and partly  obscures its image with a simple  sans-serif font title panel and, on the rear, a similarly blunt track listing, making the new album a sort of  palimpsest of history. 

Read on...

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Helen McCookerybook "Heart Of Glass" Blondie



CHECK OUT HELEN McCOOKERYBOOK AT GONZO

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

File:George Harrison 1974 edited.jpgFROM LIVERPOOL TO THE WORLD

for any life-only a jigsaw piece puzzle-add birth to love
add music,a band,breakup,marriage,breakup,religion,breakout
benefits,film,retrospectives,melodies,harmonies,fame ,withdrawal-
all those hidden chapters in other lands ,homes,loves,times
Until all that is left is what we hum and remember-
a theme of a song on the lips,a sitar sweetly strung
a happiness associated with a tune that was SOMETHING once
and for now all time stops-and we are young again
in a time when waters of song poured forth fresh and clean and clear
We do not have to look back-we are here
And George smiles one more time,as he plays
while his guitar gently weeps..any road will open
be here now..hare krishna..govinda..all those years ago..
if you needed someone..my sweet lord..


...BECAUSE SOME OF US THINK THAT THIS STUFF IS IMPORTANT
What happens when you mix what is - arguably - the world's most interesting record company, with an anarchist manic-depressive rock music historian polymath, and a method of dissemination which means that a daily rock-music magazine can be almost instantaneous?

Most of this blog is related in some way to the music, books and films produced by Gonzo Multimedia, but the editor has a grasshopper mind and so also writes about all sorts of cultural issues which interest him, and which he hopes will interest you as well.