The Gonzo Daily

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Mick Farren - Play With Fire - 1976

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Mick Farren (September 1943 – July 2013) was not someone who could be described as ‘best known for’ anything. Gloucestershire-born Farren was a singer with The Deviants and a musicia..

Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun

Mick Farren was a great man. Many people have described him to me as having been “barking mad”, but – even if this is true – it does not negate his greatness one iota. Born in ..

Mick Farren and The Deviants

The Social Deviants were founded by singer/writer Mick Farren (born Michael Anthony Farren, 3 September 1943, in Gloucester, Gloucestershire) in 1967 out of the Ladbroke Grove UK Underground community..

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, 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 and 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 within 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?"

WHAT LIVES WITHIN SKIN?

SMALL MILLION MOLECULES

more than night sky stars

of course they share consciousness

of course they communicate

of course they have their own lifecycles

we are sizeist Goliaths.We stomp and stamp

not knowing how our own skin feels

WE claim Emotions as our Empire

"Rage,Rage -against the Dying of the Light"

Skin knows-it flakes and falls off,gets flabby

flops around like a fish on the floor

Allows us our perceived Mastery of All

Yet,if you added up the holes in us-

in eyes and ears and skin particles

They would also be Another Country

Because we cannot see,we will not

Because we cannot hear,ditto

What is within us rules us

Heart and lungs,kidneys,liver-then brain..

GONZO PEOPLE: Dave McMann

Much love and healing vibes to Dave and Lesley.

You are both in our thoughts and prayers

why?

BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU, YOU OLD BASTARD!!

Arrival of The Flying Burrito Brothers in The Netherlands, November 1970

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

From Another Time
CD - £9.99

GERMAN BRAND X REVIEW

http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_15747.html#oben

After Gonzo Multimedia 2013 " Live at The Roxy LA has published" a first live album with recordings from 1979 of Brand X, makes the label for some time more historic concert recordings of British jazz rockers follow, as part of the "Official Bootleg Series Vol X ", which implies that the sound quality is not necessarily meets the highest standards. But, true to the motto "am the bootleg / support the artist", is at least part of the official rights be respected recordings.

Compared to the previously appeared in the series of fire-X-Live discs has "Live From Stockholm" a very decent sound (apart from a fairly loud noise, at least at the beginning of the CD) and offers quite original live material it up date as of the band did not exist to hear. On the recorded through a locality called Kårhuset in March 1978 on the album is the " Masques ' duty of Brand X to hear Phil Collins and Robin Lumley therefore missing, but was with Peter Robinson (once in Quatermass ) and Chuck Burgi quite equivalent replacement found , Furthermore, was at that tour apparently John Goodsall prevents for the American fusion guitarist Mike Miller has stepped in. Nevertheless, here is heard a very playful and dynamic band.

Three numbers from the already mentioned third studio album by the band is heard, which were extended by abundant diverse Jamabschnitte, improvisations, newly composed bodies and solos.Apparently one has then only these three numbers given for the best (or the beginning is missing), the "Deadly Nightshade" is announced as the final number of the show. Bold driven by the rhythm section, which as usual extremely virtuosic and powerful prancing, sonorously droning and worn singing bass Jones and the doubly occupied, sometimes impressively dense and bustling working percussion the quintet works through the three pieces that it is a real pleasure. A few worn-elegiac moments provide breathers; otherwise, punchy, complex and compelling gejazzrockt.

"Live From Stockholm" is thus quite useful concert recording of Brand X from 1978, with the fans and Jazzprogadepten her perhaps of " Livestock ", " Timeline " and the aforementioned "Live at The Roxy LA" existing fire-X can complement -Livesammlung.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Live in Rochester 1977
CD - £9.99

Live in Stockholm 1978
CD - £9.99

Live From Chicago 1978
CD - £9.99

Ronnie Scotts Live 1976
CD - £9.99

Live in San Francisco
CD - £9.99

The X Files - A 20 Year Retrospective
2CD - £10.99

Is There Anything About?
CD - £9.99

Live at the Roxy, LA 1979
CD - £9.99

Tuesday, 10 May 2016

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown - Kites

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Live in Bristol 28th Oct 2002
CD - £9.99

WILD MAN FISCHER IN SHINDIG

WILD MAN FISCHER An Evening With Wild Man Fischer ★★★
GONZO CD

Institutionalised at 16, Larry Wayne Fischer was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but, after escaping from hospital, roamed LA’s streets bellowing his self-composed ditties for change (named “Wild Man”’ by Solomon Burke), before being adopted by Frank Zappa as a kind of pet sideshow freak. Zappa whisked him into a studio with some Mothers in 1968, recording his outpourings and releasing them as a double-album on his new Bizarre Records. Although blessed with moments of innocent inspiration, such as the oddly catchy ‘Merry Go Round’, it often seemed like an in-joke at Larry’s expense. Since then, the album’s been hailed as outsider classic or dismissed as Zappa’s cynical folly. With Gail Zappa’s passing (Fischer died in 2011), it gets the expanded CD release she relentlessly denied after Fischer threw a bottle at her. Only historical researchers or smug, after-dinner hipsters will want to play it more than once. Kris Needs

I don't think that either Neil Nixon or I are "smug, after-dinner hipsters" but both of us love the album and ten years ago my nephew Ross had Merry Go Round as his mobile ring tone.

INSIDE VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Live at the Paradiso Apr 2007
CD - £10.99

NIC POTTER Interview (youtube edit)

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Boxset
Miscellaneous - £49.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:

MY FATHER'S SON

(for Juan Thompson)

HE READS US LETTERS FROM HIS FAMOUS FATHER

They were lost,then found(as he was

He is astonished when i share about the GONZO blog

He did not want to be like his father.At 13,he spent a month at sea with Jimmy Buffet

"Jimmy was calm,loving and friendly-like a surrogate father to me"

Johnny Depp?"Well,when filming FEAR &LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

he lived four months with my father.Became a Doppelganger.Caught his mannerisms.

Bill Murray?"Odd fellow.Friendly.He had time for me.."

Jack Nicholson?He was very close to my father.They would party hardy together. in Aspen.

Ralph Steadman?"Delightful.Kind.Brilliant artist/Generous of heart"

Jann Wenner(Editor of Rolling Stone)"Hunter was the worst employee for the worst boss EVER!"

"Learning my father took 41 years .It was a slow revelation.Near the end,

before he killed himself,we sat together in an empty house and watched THE BIG SLEEP

He was ever a fan of Humphrey Bogart.I learned to like that about him.

These are the "STORIES THAT I TELL MYSELF."

He will never come again.

Monday, 9 May 2016

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Darkness (11/11) - Van der Graaf Generator

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Live at the Paradiso Apr 2007
CD - £10.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:

RATHER

Rather have a conversation than a text message

Rather have a cup of tea in good company

than a rushed coffee conference

Rather sit in gardens than in offices

Rather be with people than with emails

Rather enjoy weather than complain

Rather have some sunshine than the rain

Rather enjoy every moment we have got

in a real relationship-Virtual?=NOT!

LUCA FERRARI REVIEW

`They Sold A Million` Badfinger BBC documentary

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Say No More
CD - £9.99

Interview with Arthur Brown - The God of Hellfire

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Live in Bristol 28th Oct 2002
CD - £9.99

Sunday, 8 May 2016

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:

YOUR CLAY MASK FACE

HE SHOWED ME IMAGES ON HIS SMART PHONE

A few were random clay masks/but there was one

where my friend was naked in the making

Even though it was just a clay mask face

I looked closer/and saw a calm eternal face

that went deeper than veneer smiling

Serene as Zen,with deepening coloring

One would not know what materials were making

my artist /writer's face so beatifically smiling

(Art is in the way /we manipulate perceptions..)

Eye congratulated him on creating a style so unique

"Oh !No!"he replied"this idea was borrowed by me"

"The artist who influenced made half faces/horror

Eye just restored representationalism to favor"

Nothing is original.Everything is new.If it is not what you see

it must be in what you choose to do...

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: The Most Beautiful Islamic Song In The World

Being Sunday I always post sacred music. The name of the deity may change, or even the deity Him/Herself but the spirit remains the same

PLAYLIST: Strange Fruit #162

Strange Fruit is a unique two-hour radio show exploring the world of underground, strange and generally neglected music. All shows are themed and all shows set out to give the most hardened of sound-hounds some new delight to sample. The show is also unique in providing homework for undergraduate students on North West Kent College’s Foundation Degree in Professional Writing (who dig up many of the odd facts featured in the links between tracks). The show is broadcast on Miskin Radio every Sunday from 10-00-midnight. Every other week the show is now presented by Jeremy Smith and as the two promotional pictures that he sent consisted as one of him covered in mud and the other of him covered in guinea pigs he is obviously mad as a bagful of cheese, which means he will fit in here just fine!

He writes: I’ve been a huge music fan ever since my parents bought me a transistor radio and I would listen to the sixties pirate music stations at nights under the covers. This love of live music has stayed with me to this day and I still love standing in a small club like the Borderline in London with some mates and watching a band with a pint in my hand. With the Strange Fruit radio show, I want to continue the trend of doing themed shows and playing the music I love.

Strange Fruit 162 – That’s not Funny, that’s Sick!

A comedy hour or two focusing on humour in music.

Featured Album: Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Mandrax Sunset Variations

Tracks :

1 The Bonzo Dog Band: The Intro and the Outro

2 Spinal Tap: Big Bottom

3 Little Britain: Criminal Records in Humble

4 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Heads Down, No Nonsense Mindless Boogie

5 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: I Like Gurls

6 The Rezillos: (My Baby Does) Good Sculptures

7 Jegsy Dodd and the Sons of Harry Cross: A Scouse Werewolf in London

8 Frank Zappa: Bobby Brown Goes Down

9 Frank Zappa: Valley Girl

10 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Dead Meat

11 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Torture You

12 "Weird Al" Yankovic: Amish Paradise

13 "Weird Al" Yankovic: Gump

14 The Jimi Homeless Experience: The Wind Cries Larry

15 Television Personalities: Part Time Punks

16 The Rolling Stones: Far Away Eyes

17 Half Man Half Biscuit: Everything's A.O.R.

18 The Hitsville House Band: The Guitar Shaped Swimming Pool

19 The Bonzo Dog Band: Big Shot

20 The Kinks: A Well Respected Man

21 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Anadin

22 Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias: Teenage in Schtuck

23 Goldie Lookin' Chain: Self Suicide

24 Goldie Lookin' Chain: Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do

25 Attila the Stockbroker: Libyan Students from Hell

26 John Cooper Clarke: The Day My Pad Went Mad

27 Peter Cook & Dudley Moore: One Leg too Few

28 Peter Cook & John Cleese: Interesting Facts

29 Peter Cook: Sex and Violence Down the Mines

30 Bad News: Cashing in on Christmas

31 Steel Panther: Sexy Santa

32 Half Man Half Biscuit: National Shite Day

WILD MAN FISCHER BELGIAN REVIEW

Who the hell was Larry Fischer? 1968 Los Angels, Sunset Strip, a street musician brings to 10 cents a song. His way to survive in the capitalist California. Frank Zappa was 'that weird guy' for several years in his sights and spoke good heart. Frank looked a bit and let him into his entourage. Not long, however, the collaboration lasted only a few months, Frank Zappa felt the flesh that psychotic Larry was a danger to his surroundings.

But Larry was able to realize his ultimate dream: Zappa produced for him a first album.
Gonzo Multimedia is known for its bizarre releases. And this only perfect in the list of the 'outside'- Art (term coined by Jan Hoet). Art of outsiders getting a broader platform.
The busker Larry Fisher shows on these two CDs are skinny singing talent, his dubious creativity, but especially morbid derangement. Takes no medication, venturing itself violence and mischief, but also has some bright moments. His 'songs', if you can call it that all consist of a title and a single sentence with many repeats. His voice defies all imagination in false tones. Mostly what you get here monologues Larry and a rare interview with Frank. Musically there is to do nothing on this CD. Only three songs are the title "song" worthy and then as Frank Zappa and / or The Mothers were so good to accompany his madness.

All the rest classifier among your best spoken word or childlike street singing. Larry also tried to play guitar, but far beyond vibrate the strings he did not. Wonder he later Rhino Records could convince even record two LPs.

Who is this historical document than intended? Well, you listen only for when you're an ultimate Zappa fan who absolutely everything that is carries a hint of FZ wants to have in his possession. A collector's item this double CD will not be, but if you find obscure record from 1968 on vinyl, then let him not be.

To finish the story of this poor man, he died living in supervised in 2011 and under strict medication. His dubious creativity was under the influence of the pills are long gone. But Frank Zappa made him immortal. Lineup:

Saturday, 7 May 2016

GONZO WEEKLY #181

Gonzo Magazine #181

http://www.gonzoweekly.com/

Beatles, Neil Nixon, Elton John, KLF, Bill Drummond, Bob Calvert, John Russell, Star Wars, Mr Biffo, Roy Weard, Dogwatch, That Legendary Wooden Lion, Hawkwind, and Yes fans had better look out!

This issue features Neil Nixon tells us about his new book covering the Myths and Legends of The Beatles, we talk to 4th Eden about his new Atmospherik Mekanisms project, Alan talks to John Russell, guitar improviser extraordinaire, John remembers the Bob Calvert Tribute Concert, Doug muses on Elton John’s finest hour and Biffo asks Star Wars actors whether they had ever smuggled a possum inside their costumes, and there are radio shows from Strange Fruit and Mack Maloney, Friday Night Progressive, and as it was full moon last week, Canterbury Sans Frontières. We also have the latest installment of the saga of Xtul, and columns from all sorts of folk including Roy Weard, Mr Biffo, Neil Nixon and the irrepressible Corinna. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and pademelons ouyside zoos(OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have escaped from captivity, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

This issue features:

Bill Drummond, The Who, Octopus Syng, Radiohead, David Bowie, Corky Laing, Mountain, Marillion, Arthur Brown, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Mac Maloney's Mystery Hour, Canterbury Sans Frontieres, Phil Ryan, Lars Olof «Olle» Gustaf Ljungström, Doug Raney, The Beatles, Osibisa, Billy Cobham, Wayne Kramer at the Pink Fairies, Al Stewart, The RAZ Band, The Flying Burrito Bros, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Rick Wakeman, Neil Nixon, Elton John, John Russell, Alan Dearling, 4th Eden, Martin Eve, Roy Weard, Bob Calvert, John Brodie-Good, Mr Biffo, Hawkwind, Xtul, Elvis, Barbra streisand, Abba, Nikola Tesla, ArcAttack, William Burroughs, Ocelon

Read the previous few issues of Gonzo Weekly:

Issue 180 (Beltane)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo179.html

Issue 179 (Gregg Kofi Brown)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo179.html

Issue 178 (Viv Stanshall)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo177.html

Issue 177 (David Gilmour)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo176.html

Issue 176 (Joey Molland and The Raz Band)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo176.html

Issue 175 (Larry Sanders)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo175.html

Issue 174 (Keith Emerson)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo174.html

Issue 173 (Pink Fairies action figures)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo173.html

Issue 172 (4th Eden)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo172.html

Issue 171 (Keith Levene)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo171.html

Issue 170 (Wildman Fischer)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo170.html

Issue 169 (Wildman Fischer)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo169.html

Issue 168 (Wakeman/Bowie)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo168.html

Issue 167 (Paul Kantner)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo167.html

Issue 166 (Spirits Burning)

http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo166.html

All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me

and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!

You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:

http://www.gonzoweekly.com/pdf/

SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at jon@eclipse.co.uk The more the merrier really.

Friday, 6 May 2016

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Captain Beefheart & Magic Band - Sure 'nuff 'n Yes I do

CHECK OUT THE GOOD CAPTAIN AT GONZO

Captain Beefheart

Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..

Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band

Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..

LUCA FERRARI: Mike Taylor's brother went on a little pilgrimage

Tony Tomlin went to Southend-on-Sea cemetery.

Brother of sax player Dave, Tony Tomlin, who helped me with some decisive researches for the book, recently went to cemetery whereMike Taylor's headstone stands...
He sent me some new photos taken there with my (our) book leant on the grave.
He wrote: "I went to the cemetery! Mike's headstone has a serious list now, not helped by an Elder bush which is trying to push him over. Not the easieast angle to take pictures but hopefully one of these will be of interest to you...".

The importance of Tony on the reconstruction of Mike Taylor's biography is most of all to have researched and found the right place of the headstone, when none knew or remembered where it was...

In this terrible year for the Arts, where so many musicians have passed away, we can only regret a great artist as the young Mike Taylor who dead at only 30 in so strange circumstances...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Out of Nowhere: The Uniquely Elusive Jazz of Mike Taylor
Book - £9.99

COMING THIS WEEKEND

Thursday, 5 May 2016

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:

MEDITATING IN THEIR MOVING CARRIAGES

Writing down thoughts while waiting between passengers

Always in transit between Underworlds.Watching,waiting,witnessing

They see us when we are most vulnerable

Crow peck with our need to move.Wax poetic when well fed

Thin sharks when empty bowl gruel.Goats chewing cud

Stories in their tongues.Palaver when the vibe is right

Silent if the mood is dark as night.Cerberus in the Underworld.

Guarding secrets best kept locked.Released via tips and lips and smiles

By conversation (an equality.For goat and shark are necessary

To keep a clean ecology.To clean these streets of itinerants

Make them into passengers.HEY!TAXI!OVER HERE!

Hail fellow well met..I nearly met my Death.

...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.