Saturday 30 November 2013

BLODWYN PIG REVIEW

http://www.thealternateroot.com/rack-4/1799-blodwyn-pig-pigthology?Itemidindex_php?option=com_content

The mixture of creativity and an avenue to put it to use collided in the late 1960’s on the airwaves on the FM radio dial. In England, the opening of creativity let bands intent on Pop chart success focus more on content and musicianship. British youth in the early 1960’s were exposed to American R&B through the U.S. bases in Germany. It was hard and heavy blues and soul and when it came time to translate the sound into their own songs, styles emerged. Blues-Rock became the musical current in England in the late 60’s, early 70’s, the sound becoming marketable in the hands of bands like Humble Pie, Savoy Brown and Cream when they landed on U.S. soil. Blodwyn Pig never received the success overseas that they enjoyed in England when the band formed around the name of Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams to create a hybrid of blues, rock and jazz in 1968.
 
Blodwyn Pig gain a bigger appreciation looking back at the band’s sound on the recent release, Pigthology. The compilation gathers remastered versions of their biggest U.K. hits including “Dear Jill”,a track that landed in U.S. theatres in Cameron Crowe’s film Almost Famous. The more well-known songs are based in a hammered blues rock that has uses a sleazy tease in the guitar work, particularly in “Drive Me”. Sitting beside the hits on Pigthology are unreleased tracks that show a decided move towards a more jazz rock hybrid, not in a fusion sense, but a true mixing of the expanded jams of jazz against the hard rhythm bottom of rock. The live “Cosmogification” is a textural masterpiece that layers jams over very structured rhythm lines. “Sly Bones” electrifies big band blues, “Baby Girl” hits a major Soul vein for its rush and “Hound Dog” instrumentally floats down a southern river of sound using harmonica, tambourines and folk blues guitar to line the shores of the song.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
Lies
CD - £9.99

Pigthology
CD - £9.99

GONZO WEEKLY MAGAZINE #54


I have been promising for some weeks that the Gonzo Daily publishing empire would spread "into more traditionally magaziney areas", and I wasn't lying. Yesterday I sent out #52 of the Gonzo Weekly newsletter, together with its swish new layout,  to nearly 2,000 subscribers.


Check it out below:
                                                     SUBSCRIBE HERE - IT'S FREE


Newsletter #54
Newsletter #53
Newsletter #52
Newsletter #51
Newsletter #50
Newsletter #49
Newsletter #46

Please be warned: Magazines from #11 - #42  contain a cartoon at the bottom of the stressed out guy with the computer  Apparently someone has accused the public domain images site I got it from of hosting malware, and even though there was none found there by Google, the fact that I used an image from the site (perfectly legally) flagged our whole newsletter up as possibly containing malware. This should only effect people using Google Chrome, and I would strongly suggest that you click the 'proceed anyway' tab, and view the newsletter as you had originally planned...

Newsletter #30
Newsletter #29
Newsletter #28
Newsletter #27
Newsletter #26
Newsletter #25
Newsletter #24
Newsletter #23
Newsletter #22
Newsletter #21
Newsletter #20
Newsletter #19 
Newsletter #18
Newsletter #17
Newsletter #16
Newsletter #15
Newsletter #14
Newsletter #13
Newsletter #12
Newsletter #11
Newsletter #10
Newsletter #9
Newsletter #8
Newsletter #7
Newsletter #6
Newsletter #5
Newsletter #4
Newsletter #3
Newsletter #2
Newsletter #1

THIS WEEK WE BRING YOU STEVE HACKETT, MICK ABRAHAMS, GARY WINDO, ROB AYLING, HAWKWIND, YES,  THE NINE HENRYS, FRANK ZAPPA, HUNTER THOMPSON,  SKY ARCHITECT,  ED CASSIDY, FELIX PAPPALARDI, STEVE MILLER, MOTHER EARTH, PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG, THE DEVIANTS, ANDY COLQUHOUN, PAUL McCARTNEY, AUBURN, LIZ LENTEN, MATTHEW WATKINS, CLEPSYDRA, ANDY THOMMEN, DYLAN HOWE, KEITH LEVENE, THE WEIRD WEEKEND, CAMDEN COUNCIL, ANRCHOPUNK.NET, ROY HARPER, UNREAL CITY, GALAHAD, DAVID CAMERON, AUBURN, JEFFERSON STARSHIP, STEVE HILLAGE, MIQUETTE GIRAUDY, JUDY DYBLE, ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER, THEE FACTION, GEORGINA ANDERSON, CYRILLE VERDEAUX, CLEARLIGHT, GOBLIN, JON ANDERSON, SANDY DENNY, DROTTNAR, PERCY JONES, KREATOR, MR SO AND SO, OMB, MIKE DAVIS, DAN WOODING

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)

THE CULT OF NORMAL
PRE-RITALIN,VALIUM,SELF-SEDATION-
we absorbed divergent folk within our communities
Most families knew of polio  victims,or folk with a club foot
or forceps delivery children,with limited mental capacity
Supermarkets hire these fine folk even now-yet another view
is to sedate and make comatose those of eccentric characteristics
Harmless stunts now attract criminal consequences
A drunk on a plane is now a terrorist.Jail terms for peaceful demonstrators
Discretion and flexibility destroyed by mandatory sentencing guidelines
Streets cleared of mentally challenged homeless without adequate support facilities
Bring back our village.Our family clans caring for those afflicted.Caring circles self-healing
Dr God can prescribe controls yet not cures.We need to heal ourselves

And we can not do this under the obsolete myth of aloneness..

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Rory Gallagher with Jack Bruce - Politician



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

Genesis revisited & extended by original guitarist!

Steve Hackett: Genesis Extended
That sold-out AB (and Royal Albert Hall and Hammersmith Apollo etc) in early 2013 clearly kept his appetite whet and so Steve Hackett will be returning for even more 'Genesis extended live bonanza!'

Steve Hackett was a member of the legendary Genesis between 1970 and '77. Back when prog-rock sounded adventurous. With fantastic albums like 'Nursery Cryme', 'Foxtrot', 'Selling England By The Pound', 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway'...

It will again be a more than 2 hour long concert, with material from those wonder years plus songs that he composed with the likes of Mike Rutherford for his solo career.

This time you can look forward to gems like The Musical Box, Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, Supper's Ready...

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
Spectral Mornings
DVD - £5.99

Roy Wood, The Apex, 9 December 2013

Roy WoodDistinctive appearance, big beard and a big bag (of hits) it could only be Roy Wood welcoming Christmas into Bury St Edmunds! 

The 40th Anniversary of Roy Wood's Rock & Roll Christmas Special is coming to The Apex on Monday 9 December and you can hear all the hits, including "I Can Hear The Grass Grow", "Flowers In The Rain", "Blackberry Way", "California Way", "See My Baby Jive", and of course Roy's Christmas chart topper "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday"…..

As a teenager, Roy joined local Birmingham band, Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders. They quickly became one of the most popular and well-respected live groups around, touring the UK and making the then obligatory trip to Germany and taking up a residency at the Storyville Club in Duisburg. In 1966, Roy along with Carl Wayne, Bev Bevan, Ace Kefford, and Trevor Burton  formed The Move, who were to become one of the most legendary, and indeed, notorious bands of the Sixties. After securing a residency at London's Marquee Club, The Move picked up a record contract with Deram. Their first single, the Roy Wood song "Night of Fear" immediately landed the band in the Top 5, which set a precedent for nine further Top 20 hits over the next five years, all written by Roy.
The Move's No. 3 hit "Fire Brigade" was followed by chart topping masterpiece, "Blackberry Way" before personnel changes within the band led to the teaming up of Roy with Jeff Lynne. Whilst The Move continued to record four more hit singles and two albums, the Electric Light Orchestra was born to accommodate Roy's burning desire to create pop songs with heavily classical overtones. Wood left and formed a new group, Wizzard, featuring two drummers, two sax players and also two cellists! Roy has written more than thirty U.K. top 30 chart singles, and is one of the very few people to have written and performed on number one hits with three different acts; The Move, Wizzard and Jive Bunny.  He has won many awards, including the Ivor Novello Award for Most Outstanding Song Collection. More recently Kerrang Songwriter Award, Rock Radio's Classic Songwriter Award and Mojo Honours List, Classic Songwriter Award.

His most regularly broadcast song is the seasonal Wizzard single "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", which since 2007, has re-entered the charts every subsequent year on download sales alone, although no longer physically available as a single.

What better way to party during the festive season than with the legendary Roy Wood!
Support comes from special guests The Ben Poole Band. Inspired by the Blues, infused with a hard hitting rock approach and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, twenty-five year old Ben Poole is being talked of as 'the' new up-and-coming UK Blues guitarist; one of the finest to come out of the UK for a long time.
The concert at The Apex on Monday 9th December starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 in advance (£22 on the door), ring the box office on 01284 758000 or see the website - www.theapex.co.uk  for details.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £9.99

MORE ON THE HAWKWIND SPACE RITUAL SHOW




Hawkwind Show To Support Animal Charities | News | Prog Magazine
Hawkwind's one-off performance of Space Ritual to be compered by TV presenter Matthew Wright.
www.progrockmag.com/.../hawkwind-show-to-support-animal...
Hawkwind to play animal charity show | News | Classic Rock
Hawkwind will perform classic album Space Ritual in full at London charity event.
www.classicrockmagazine.com/.../hawkwind-to-play-animal-c...
Hawkwind To Play Classic Album In Full At Benefit Concert - antiMusic
Hawkwind have announced that they will be performing their classic album ' Space Ritual' in full during a one-off show to raise funds for animal charities ...
www.antimusic.com/.../26Hawkwind_To_Play_Classic_Album...

Friday 29 November 2013

Fankhauser Cassidy Band albums reissued in CD set

A two-CD set of blues music by the Fankhauser Cassidy Band has been released by Gonzo Multimedia 11 months after the death of jazz and rock drummer Ed Cassidy.

The first “On the Blue Road” disc includes 12 songs from the original album by that name released on the D-Town Records label in 1994, said Arroyo Grande singer, songwriter and guitarist Merrell Fankhauser.

The second disc consists of 11 songs from “Further On Up the Road,” an album released on the Comet label in Italy in 1998, plus an interview with Cassidy.

The former drummer with the 1960s band Spirit spent the last 10 years of his life in Arroyo Grande. He and Fankhauser recorded several albums as the Fankhauser Cassidy Band.

“It’s a nice tribute to Cass and has one of the last interviews I did with him included,” Fankhauser said of the CD set. “They styled the artwork around a ’57 Chevy, as you know that was his car.”

Cassidy was often seen driving around the South County in his black-and-white 1957 Chevrolet prior to his death in December 2012 in San Jose. He was known as the “oldest performing rock ’n’ roll drummer” when he died at 89.

Fankhauser, a surf music and psychedelic folk rock innovator who, as leader of The Impacts, wrote the hit “Wipeout,” said he first met Cassidy backstage at a concert in 1969.

He said they ran into each other again in 1990 and ended up jamming together.

Fankhauser also interviewed both Cassidy and his stepson, Spirit guitarist and singer Randy California, for his national satellite TV show “California Music.”

Read on..

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
On The Blue Road
CD - £9.99

MERRELL AT GONZO
Rainbow Bridge Revisited
DVD/CD - £9.99

Area 51 Suite
2CD - £9.99

Tiki Lounge Vol 1
DVD/CD - £12.99

The Best Of
2CD - £11.99

The Return To Mu
CD - £9.99

Tiki Lounge Vol 2
DVD/CD - £12.99

Valentina Blanca -"SHOW ME"- a tribute to Jon Anderson (legendary YES vocalist)



Published on Nov 24, 2013
Valentina Blanca in - "SHOW ME" - a tribute to the legendary YES vocalist Jon Anderson.

Guitar player: Massimo Catena (Fiaba)

http://www.valentinablanca.com (Valentina Blanca webpage)
http://www.Jonanderson.com (Jon Anderson webpage)
http://www.pierluigicavarra.com (Pierluigi Cavarra webpage)
http://www.fiabaweb.com (Fiaba webpage)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pierlui... (Pierluigi Cavarra Facebook)

Filmed & edited by Pierluigi Cavarra © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Directed by: Pierluigi Cavarra
Camera: Sony A99
Lens: Zeiss

Special thanks to:
- Jon Anderson
- Massimo Catena
- Rick Wakeman
- Bruno Rubino

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - Strange Days Indeed: The Tale of Two Weirdos On Vinyl

No, Barack Obama is NOT the weirdo referred to in the title of this post. I think this is an airbrushed image, but regardless, hilarious it is, so here it is, heading up this oddball entry. 

The album above is Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. Circa 1969, for your info. About 4 years before I disgraced the Earth with my presence. However, I found out about this work of sonic splendor through that 10-year waste of time known as Jean-Luc. Part of my initiation into his “heart” was an education in all things Captain Beefheart. I got to hear this one evening while drinking ridiculous amounts of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and wolfing down Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets. Charlie, JL’s best friend and the best bartender/shyster I’ve ever known in my life, was scoffing and arguing for Tom Waits, but JL wanted to make sure that I didn’t miss out on this. I remember wondering several times if I did indeed smoke pot and forget it. That’s what the first go-round of this album was like to me. A gigantic trip. It made me want to drink more to forget it. But, like sex with the exes, a bad car accident in the sonar waves made me want to try and try again. 

The second time around, i was still as puzzled. It took many more nights of Captain Morgan and Captain Jean-Luc to convince me that this was an album of legendary status. By the seventieth or eightieth time, I was hooked enough to enjoy the madness that is Trout Mask Replica. And then, I had to have a copy for myself. It took me almost ten years and many nights of patient record store trips with Jen before I finally found it, at a Borders in Orland Park.


CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £9.99

Thursday 28 November 2013

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Paul Kantner - Have You Seen The Stars Tonite - XM (Blows Against The Empire - 1970) HD



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
A Martian Christmas
DCD - £11.99

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)

I am when I am choosing, Opto Ergo Sum.
IS ALL READY IS(always was?
even if/diamond heart.Connection bridge
Time warp.Worm hole.Musical Bridge.Memories stored
For Future Use.Choice Aligns.Change Agent.New Time.
Stretched moments.Tuning UP!Release Bradley Manning.
Dream Balloons Release!All Those Colors! Feed All Hungry!
Picture Perfect.Sound Tracking.Release Assange!&FEMEN!
Fifth Dimension just a Beginning.In This ,Open Up!
Let Pussy Riot sing!Separate Church&State!
Let Anonymous Speak!Through Occupy and Wikileaks!
"Truth Will Set You Free!"Thanks For Giving(Forgiving)

Thanks For Listening!Thanks For Being!

THE MDB SHOW – EPISODE 18 – JULIAN LENNON



The Michael Des Barres Show is rock debauchery with a social conscience from the unlikely perspective of a sober ex-frontman for stadium rock groups and Hollywood acting veteran. This is cerebral radio with no cheap shots, sound effects, or loony sidekicks, just shockingly intimate exchange between A-list guests and a silver-tongued host who knows where the bodies are buried.
http://mdbimmedia.com/mdb/2013/11/21/the-mdb-show-episode-18-julian-lennon/

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON GONZO
I'm Only Human
SCD - £9.99

Carnaby Street
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)

BLOOD ON THE MOON
WHERE AN ASTRONAUT FELL
You can see it from here
when rust red bushfires burn
our image of what we think we see
into red scar patterns of what is
Like Pyramids on Mars
animals on planets/shades and shapes
play tricks with us as we see
what we think we saw before-guilt,embarrassment
when the ones we ridicule/laugh at our mirrors
Projection of shadows and wounds and scars
cripple our future walking /Moon and Mars must wait
for us to heal our little Earth(home of our birth)

before we fly into the dream of "All Is Forgiven"

THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Radio Stars - Nervous Wreck 1978 (TOTP)



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
Something For The Weekend
CD - £7.99

Steve Howe – Homebrew 5 (2013)

Steve Howe has probably never got the credit he deserved for his role in fashioning the legends of both Yes and Asia. The Homebrew series, whether intended or not, has done much to underscore his privotal role in the creative process of both.
Up to the fifth edition now, the series is now exploring demos and early takes on songs that, after some collaborative work with other bandmates, emerged on Yes’ Fly From Here and Keys to Ascension albums, Asia’s XXX andOmega projects, and his own 2005 solo effort Spectrum. What you hear is just how critical Howe’s contributions so often were. These early versions illustrate the way he created the structure from which everything else is built for many of these albums’ more memorable moments.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM YES AT GONZO
Union (Standard DVD)
DVD - £9.99

Union (2CD)
2CD - £7.99

Rock Of The 70's
DVD - £12.99

The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £7.99

Rick Wakeman Expands Journey To The Centre Of The Earth Tour Plans

APRIL 1: Portrait of English musician Rick Wakeman, taken on April 1, 2010. Wakeman was formerly the keyboard player of prog-rock group Yes. (Photo by Rob Monk/Classic Rock Magazine) Rick Wakeman. CONTACT: Future Publishing Limited 30 Monmouth St, Bath, UK, BA1 2BW +44 (0)1225 442244 licensing@futurenet.com www.futurelicensing.com, www.futureplc.com
Rick Wakeman has doubled the length of his Journey To The Centre Of The Earth tour in 2014, with tickets for the seven new shows on sale today.
He’ll hit the road in April to mark the 40th anniversary of the original album’s release – which happens to tie in with the 150th anniversary of the Jules Verne novel that inspired it.
Wakeman says: “This is the start of a new Journey. The original score for the album had been lost for so many years, making any new performances impossible. But after it turned up without warning, we managed to restore it and add previously missing music.
“It’s taken another half-decade to develop it into this tour, but I can’t wait to take Verne’s magnificent story on tour again.”
Each concert will be split into two parts. The first will see the keyboard icon appear on stage alone to talk about the making of Journey in his inimitable fashion – based on his successful Edinburgh Festival show on the same theme. Then the New World Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Choir and the English Rock Ensemble will perform the full piece in a brand-new set designed by Roger Dean.
The 2012 recording of Journey To The Centre Of The Earth was released as a Classic Rock Fanpack.

Tour dates

Apr 24: Newcastle City Hall
Apr 25: Manchester Apollo
Apr 26: Plymouth Pavilions
Apr 28: London Royal Albert Hall
Apr 29: Birmingham NIA
Apr 30: London Royal Albert Hall
May 01: Grimsby Auditorium
May 02: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
May 03: Bournemouth International Centre
May 04: Cardiff Arena
May 06: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
May 08: Sheffield City Hall
May 09: Liverpool Philharmonic
May 10: Llandudno Venue Cymru
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
Live At The Maltings
DVD/CD - £9.99

Caped Crusader- Rick Wakeman in the 1970's
Book - £14.99

Video Vaults
6DVD box - £85.00

The Burning 
CD - £9.99

Cirque Surreal 
CD - £7.99

Gole 
CD - £9.99

1984
CD - £9.99

Cost Of Living 
CD - £9.99

Fairport announce first festival acts for Cropredy Convention

editorial image

The first acts which will play Fairport’s Cropredy Convention festival next year have been announced.
Chas & Dave, Marillion and Al Stewart will join hosts Fairport Convention at the festival which takes place on the Northamptonshire border from Thursday, August 7 to Saturday, August 9.
Tickets will be on sale from December 8 until December 18.
Festival director Gareth Williams said: “A lot of our festival-goers like to give Cropredy tickets as Christmas presents and as a bonus, every pack of tickets sent out in December will include a specially designed Christmas card signed by all five members of Fairport Convention.”
Three-day tickets cost £110, two-day tickets (Friday and Saturday) cost £100 and Saturday only tickets cost cost £70. Tickets are available from www.fairport
convention.com.
The full line up will be announced in January
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort
DVD/CD - £9.99

Live At Maidstone Castle 1970
DVD - £9.99

Music Premiere: XNA – The Flying Dutchman



XNA
Prog is proud to premiere the first track from US outfit XNA, featuring Billy Sherwood – and recommended by none other than Star Trek icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
Debut album When We Changed You was produced by Sherwood and also features his bass and guitar work. He was brought in by XNA guiding lights David Hussey, vocalist with Genesis tribute band Gabble Ratchet, and keyboardist Adam Malin, composer of several science fiction rock operas and the mastermind of the original Star Trek convention series.
The lineup is completed by Circa and Yoso drummer Scott Connor plus guitarist Danny Bryle of Psycle and Low Media High.
Read on..

IT IS A TENUOUS CONNECTION I KNOW, BUT BILLY WAS ONCE IN YES, AND THIS IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM YES AT GONZO
Union (Standard DVD)
DVD - £9.99

Union (2CD)
2CD - £7.99

Rock Of The 70's
DVD - £12.99

The Lost Broadcasts
DVD - £7.99
...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.