SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #185 http://www.sarockdigest.com 13th January 2003 Established 27th January 1999 ----------*********----------- -------------- IN THIS ISSUE -------------- Some things change... and some things stay the same; the SA music industry mourns the loss of journalist Owen Coetzer... we also say sad goodbyes to Syd Wagner and Ilne Hofmeyer... the recommended gigs section moves to its own website... we ask the question: Oppi-mountain or Oppi-Fountain?... Dagga-Dirk Uys says that Wingerdstok is returning!... The Fruit Fly Navigators announce their break up... a whole bunch of new mp3s are at SAmp3.com... new CD releases from Gommora and Hilton Schilder... Kurt recharges his Battery... John's "London Lekker" section is now called "A Naartjie In The UK" and this week he reviews Swamp Funk Quartet's 'Go Funk Yourself'... Shiloh takes a look at Dutch band Cuby and The Blizzards who recently toured SA... Carina listens to the Blues at Julian's... Wicked Mike saw Sutherland in Durban... and The Giant Steps Music Festival is at Spier for January and February... ---------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK DIGEST ONLINE ---------------------------------- After much deliberation we have decided to keep the SA Rock Digest as a plain text e-mail, for the moment, for the following reasons: a) there are no viruses with plain text, b) HTML takes up space; no coding means more content, c) the Digest can be read offline without looking weird. However... for a colorful and clickable HTML version of the SA Rock Digest with images, please visit http://rock.co.za where the online version of the SA Rock Digest can be found. Updated every Tuesday. ---------------------------------------- THE SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK ENCYCLOPEDIA ---------------------------------------- From Abstract Truth to Karen Zoid, from 'Astra' to 'Zen Boulders', from 'Ag Pleez Deddy' to 'ZX Dan' ... visit the South African Rock Encyclopedia at http://www.rock.co.za ----------- SAMP3.com ----------- Recent new releases on http://www.SAmp3.com include: Piet Botha - 'Kitty' 13 [Dertien] - 'Vreemdeling' Fat City - 'Bad Habits' Gommora - 'Gommora Sampler' Jack Hammer - 'Headlines' Natalia - 'Beach Girl' The Nukular Stompers - 'Sheriff Bush and Deputy Blair' Various - 'Top Songs 2002 Sampler' ------------ SAGIGS.com ------------ The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can now be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com ----------- ONE WORLD ----------- Selling South African Music to the World http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 ----------- CONTENTS ----------- 1.NEWS: Owen Coetzer, Oppi-Koppi, Wingerdstok, Fruit Fly Navigators 2.CHARTS: Top 30 mp3s & albums 3.NEW RELEASES: mp3s & CDs: Gommora, Hilton Schilder 4.USA FOR AFRICA: Battery 9 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK: Swamp Funk Quartet 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA: Shiloh's Corner, Springbok radio charts, birthdays, Vinyl Junkies 7.FORUM: Questions and answers 8.LIVE MUSIC: Giant Steps, Blues at Julian's, Sutherland 9.INFO: Subscriptions & contributions _____________________________________________ 1.NEWS -------- OBITUARY - OWEN COETZER Owen Coetzer (65), the immensely respected SA journalist and rock music authority, died in Cape Town last week following two severe heart attacks. Owen was a good friend of the Digest and recently contributed an obituary to Brian Davidson of Freedom's Children that appeared in Digest #184 on 16 December 2002. Apart from his vast knowledge of SA music of the past 50 years, Owen was also an authority on a wide variety of subjects including the history and politics of the Middle East, ships and shipping, and military history with special interest in the history of the South African War. Our condolences to his partner Geraldine Dennen, his children Catherine, Diane, Mathew and Nicholas, and his six grandchildren. RIP. AN OPEN LETTER TO OWEN COETZER from Benjy Mudie Dear Owen, I remember I first met you in the mid 70's when I joined WEA Records. You were one of a rare breed... a music journalist who loved music passionately, you knew all the bands that inspired me like Otis, Freedom's, Hawk, etc and your advice in those early days of my career was to always believe in the music and not the bullshit. Years later, when I started the Retro project you were an inspiration and a well of information, contributing fabulous liner notes for the 'African Day' and 'Galactic Vibes' reissues and discovering long lost photos of various bands. Damn I will miss you!... I'll miss those all too brief visits to your quaint cottage in Cape Town with its mountains of documents, books, records, etc (I'll never understand how you found things) where we drank tea, smoked Lucky Strike plain and rapped about music and military history... I'll miss the long phone calls discussing new trends or recalling the legends. Most of all I will miss that sharp sense of humour, incisive mind and passion for life that made you the special person that will always be remembered... So Owen, in the words of Jimi... "I won't see you in this world, I'll see you in the next one so don't be late"... I guess we'll hook up at the Great Gig in the Sky one day... don't forget the Luckies! Peace Benjy ------------------------ OPPI-MOUNTAIN OR OPPI-FOUNTAIN IN 2003? - VOTE NOW! The OppiKoppi team has thrown open to a vote the decision for the venue of the next main festival. Prospective tune hangers-on can go to http://www.oppikoppi.co.za to vote for either the Fountains Valley (Pretoria/Tshwane) or the original venue on the farm near Northam. OppiKoppi will make the decision and the announcement towards the ends of January/February. So vote now or forever hold your camping utensils to yourself. Apart from the main festival, the OppiKoppi of-not-tomorrow-then-the-next-day-Easter-rock festival (18-21 April) is slowly taking shape. Before that South Africa's biggest University Rag show will once again show its deft paces. From the 13th to the 15th of February Tuks Rag will be dolly-ing up the streets and stages of Pretunia. Look out for quite a few nice new tricks. A full line-up will be available online shortly. And finally, the Vodacom Jazz Indaba, in which OppiKoppi plays a strong role, is going to make a fairly large donation to the Mamelodi Community to help the community with some of the logistical costs involved with the second annual Mamelodi day. ------------------------- THE TOP SECRET RETURN OF WINGERDSTOK The weekend of 28 February - 2 March 2003 marks the return of the legendary Wingerdstok Festival. Back by popular demand, the new, improved 2003 Wingerdstok will from now on be known as 'The Wingerdstok Lifestyle Festival'. The organisers have secured the Theewaters Sports Club near Villiersdorp as the venue. The green festival grounds are surrounded by pine trees, mountains and the breathtaking Theewaterskloof Dam. This three-day Lifestyle Festival will showcase 40 bands, providing festivalgoers with great original South African music of various genres, including some new talent. But Wingerdstok will not only be a music festival - we are adding a strong Lifestyle component where our uniquely South African outdoor lifestyle will be celebrated with water sports, fabulous food, comedy, and lots more. mailto:dirkuysproduksies@hotmail.com -------------------------- FRUIT FLYS GET SWATTED Fruit Fly Navigators, one of Durban's most established rock bands, has decided to call it a day after two key members announced their emigration intentions. Mark Norrie (vocalist) and Adrian Jacobson (guitar) will be buzzing off in the next couple of weeks and the band will be performing their farewell show at Burn Nightclub on Saturday 18 January 2003. The band began in June 1999 and maintained a cult following in Durban by breaking all thresholds of live performances. From the legendary appearance of the first lesbian kiss at Splashy Fen 2001 to the Santa outfits, the ninja show, the porn star party, the bikini-clad chainsaw-wielding beauty, the critically acclaimed 'Unplugged & Unarmed Tour' and 'The Dogfly Tour'. The last show will be dedicated to the fans and the first 50 people through the door will receive a little "thank you" present for supporting FFN. The remaining members - Craig Jenkins, Dave Campbell & Gareth Shaw - have already begun work on a new band which should be gig-ready in the next few months. __________________________________________ 2.CHARTS ----------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN MP3s OF THE WEEK http://www.SAmp3.com This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Album/Label) 1. [2] (1) Kwaito - KGB ('The First Born'/Mothermix) 2. [5] (2) Don't Push - Mikanic with Ernie Deane ('Swimming With The Women'/Rhythm) 3. [11] (3) Braai Pack (sampler) - Not My Dog ('Braai Vibes'/Sheer) 4. [3] (3) Red Rock City - Mac Mckenzie and the Goema Captains of Cape Town ('A Moment In Cape Town'/Wonder Label) 5. [6] (5) Go F*ck Yourself (demo) - Janie Jones (SAmp3.com/Indie) Level) 6. [20] (6) Johnny Sampler - Falling Mirror ('Johnny Calls The Chemist'/RetroFresh) 7. [30] (7) Arm Man se Hond - Pienk Prinsessie (Demo/Indie) 8. [28] (8) A Million Miles - The Space Committee (Single/Indie) 9. [9] (2) JK Voëlvry (sampler) - Gereformeerde Blues Band ('Voelvry Die Toer'/Sheer) 10. [21] (10) Psycoparalysis - Dayspring ('Never Before'/Indie) 11. [4] (4) Need - Phringe ('Mellow Drama'/Indie) 12. [10] (6) Holy Water (sampler) - Wendy Oldfield ('Holy Water'/SAfm) 13. [8] (1) Social Ills - Godessa ('Cape Of Good Dope'/African Dope) 14. [17] (14) Losing Control - Venessa Nolan ('Burn'/Rhythm) 15. [12] (1) The Maker - The Awakening ('Roadside Heretics'/ Intervention Arts) 16. [23] (16) Wasted Time - Illana May ('I've Gotta Try'/Yellow Rose) 17. [13] (4) Jou Oë - Kobus ('Kobus!/ENT) 18. [18] (1) Seether (sampler) - Seether ('Disclaimer'/Musketeer/BMG) 19. [14] (3) Jeff - Sons Of Trout ('Odd Times'/SAfm) 20. [25] (20) So Jy Skim - Kop (Demo/Indie) 21. [15] (4) Alles Sal OK Wees - Spinnekop ('Groen Kitaar'/Afrimusik) 22 [16] (2) The Shape That I'm In - The Usual ('Born In A Storm'/BMG) 23. [19] (19) Androgyne (edit) - Ankha ('The Other Side'/Inhouse Records) 24. [22] (1) Believe - Mauri Moncada (SAmp3.com/Indie) 25. [-] (25) Beach Girl - Natalia ('The Street Level Sessions'/Indie) 26. [1] (1) SAnta SAmpler - Vari-elves ('Santa Sessions'/ 5fm/Sovereign/Sting) 27. [24] (2) Africa's Not For Sissies - Syd Kitchen ('Africa's Not For Sissies'/Indie) 28. [26] (1) Zoid Sampler - Karen Zoid ('Poles Apart'/EMI) 29. [-] (29) Strive (To Be Happy) - Paul Abro ('Songs From The Small Settee'/Indie) 30. [-] (30) Passion Mother - Metalmorphosis ('Blistered'/Silva Moon) ----------- TOP 30 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts This week [last week] (highest position) Title - Artist (Label) 1. [4] (1) Swimming With The Women - Mikanic (Rhythm) 2. [5] (2) The First Born - KGB (Mothermix) 3. [6] (3) Braai Vibes - Not My Dog (Sheer) 4. [1] (1) A Moment In Cape Town - Various Live (Wonder Label) 5. [10] (5) Lank Sweat! - Sweatband (RetroFresh) 6. [9] (6) Another Time Another Place - Ken E Henson (3rd Ear) 7. [11] (7) Three - Sunways (Sheer) 8. [15] (1) Kobus! - Kobus! (ENT) 9. [7] (1) Cape Of Good Dope - Various (African Dope) 10. [2] (1) Holy Water - Wendy Oldfield (SAfm) 11. [3] (2) Roadside Heretics - The Awakening (Intervention Arts) 12. [24] (12) The Great South African Trip - Various (African Cream) 13. [13] (1) Disclaimer - Seether (Musketeer/BMG) 14. [17] (14) On Track 2002 - Various Artists (On Track) 15. [12] (1) God Is African - Various OST (Sony) 16. [16] (1) Groen Kitaar - Gian Groen & Spinnekop (Afrimusik) 17. [8] (3) dream hope fear - New World Inside (Revolution) 18. [18] (1) Between Two Lives - Cutting Jade (DGR) 19. [27] (19) Afrikaans Met Attitude - Vari-ous (Hoezit) 20. [29] (20) Live At Jamesons - Cherry Faced Lurchers (RetroFresh) 21. [26] (21) Medicated - Clive James (Cooler) 22. [19] (14) Take The Good - Duncan Faure (EMI) 23. [-] (23) Tap Into The System - Dorp (Contains Nuts) 24. [21] (8) The Other Side - Ankha (Inhouse Records) 25. [-] (25) Gommora - Gommora (Gallo) 26. [25] (1) Freefall - Ian Henderson (N3) 27. [23] (1) Ordinary Day - The Fortune Cookies (Muskateer) 28. [22] (5) The Orchard - Mann Friday (Indie) 29. [28] (1) Odd Times - Sons Of Trout (SAfm) 30. [14] (6) Mellow Drama - Phringe (Indie) Read http://rock.co.za/legends/2000plus Listen http://www.samp3.com Buy http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321 _____________________________________________ 3. NEW, RECENT AND UPCOMING RELEASES ----------------------------------------- ------ MP3s ------ Some recent releases on SAmp3.com: PIET BOTHA - 'KITTY' (demo) and JACK HAMMER - 'HEADLINES' (demo) Piet Botha has been very busy lately, both in the studio and on the road. A new Afrikaans album 'Die Mamba' is due out in March and Piet has very kindly allowed us to make an mp3 of the demo version of the Leonard Cohen-ish 'Kitty' available exclusively on http://www.SAmp3.com. If you caught him on tour recently you would have heard this song performed live as well. Piet and his band Jack Hammer are also planning an all English album for November and the demo version of 'Headlines' featuring the voice of Jonathan Martin is also available exclusively at http://www.SAmp3.com. Visit the official Piet Botha and Jack Hammer website at: http://www.pietbotha.com. This website is part of the SA Rock Encyclopedia http://www.rock.co.za THE NUKULAR STOMPERS - 'SHERIFF BUSH AND DEPUTY BLAIR' A tongue-in-cheek, and very topical, hillbilly tune written by Rob Anderson and Dave Williams. This song, recorded in October 2002, is not for sale and is available exclusively on http://www.SAmp3.com, thanks to Rob Anderson. The Nukular Stompers are: Rupert Mellor on vocals, Richard Black on guitar and Dave Williams on fiddle. The arrangement and MIDI programming is by Dave Williams. NATALIA - 'BEACH GIRL' (demo) A summer song from teen talent Natalia, as heard on SAfm. A bouncy little ditty about summer romance; "I'm a beach girl, you're a waiter". Another http://www.SAmp3.com exclusive. More about Natalia at http://rock.co.za/natalia (part of the SA Rock Encyclopedia http://www.rock.co.za) FAT CITY - 'BAD HABITS' 'Bad Habits' was a big hit in the late '80's for Toni Gozza, Jonny Blundell and Jiggs Downing, better known as Fat City. This song, which is on http://www.SAmp3.com by kind permission of Toni Gozza, can also be found on the superb 2CD compilation 'SA Artists Top 40 Hits Of All Time Volume 6' released by Sting Music in February 2002. More about this compilation at http://rock.co.za/legends/2000plus/top40_6.html 13 [DERTIEN] - 'VREEMDELING' 'Vreemdeling' is a slow, powerful piece of Klank Rock from Klerksdorp band 13 (pronounced "dertien") who formed in 2000. Their bio says it best: "vier boer seuns met 'n doel in die lewe en 'n droom waarna hul streef." Download 'Vreemdeling' at http://www.SAmp3.com VARIOUS - 'TOP SONGS OF 2002 SAMPLER' The SA Rock Digest top songs of 2002 were: 1. Gasoline - Seether 2. 10 Seconds - Cutting Jade 3. Sestien Jaar Met 'n Vals Kitaar - Koos Kombuis 4. (I Think I Can) Relate - Tait 5. Hoenderman - Kobus! ... and a sampler of 30 second snippets of each song can be heard in our 'Top Songs 2002 SAmp(3)ler'. See the full Top 50 song list at http://www.sarockdigest.com/sard_songs_2002.html and the Top 30 albums are at http://www.sarockdigest.com/sard_albums_2002.html GOMMORA - 'GOMMORA SAMPLER' This is a sampler from new Kwaito-rockers Gommora's debut album which features the guitar talents of Mauritz Lotz. Download it at http://www.SAmp3.com. Read a review under the 'New Releases' section below. MORE... There were a number of other songs and samplers added to http://www.SAmp3.com since the last issue of the Digest in December 2002, so please visit the biggest South African-only mp3 website in the world and browse around. Check out the 'Artists', 'Songs' and 'Labels' sections to find songs not mentioned on the Digest and sometimes not even listed on the 'New' section of http://www.SAmp3.com. ----- CDs ----- GOMMORA - 'GOMMORA' This powerful album missed our "end-of-2002 lists" cut-off, but that's not a bad thing as it not only gives us something big and bold to start the year off with, it also gives a big middle finger to Cape Town's KGB who severely dissed SA's most popular urban sound recently on their 'Kwaito' single. Gommora are a kwaito-pop trio from Dobsonville featuring the vocals and rapping talents of Monde (aka Melodi), Sifiso (aka Mad Dogg), Siphiwe (aka Khanas). But 'Gommora' also features a healthy dose of the trio's rock influences and, to that end, guitarists Mauritz Lotz and Joel Joseph were brought in to beef up some of these tracks with their trademark scorching riffs. The results are immediately and jaw-droppingly apparent as the album blasts off with 'Halla', a balls-to-the-wall rock-kwaito alliance that stands loudly and proudly alongside 'Cochise', the equally-impressive sonic opener to the debut album from Audioslave, the new, highly-touted US "Rage Against The Soundgarden" combo. This workable new sound isn't used too often however on the rest of the album, which shows off the lads' versatility in other styles. Gommora won the SABC1 'Gumba Fire' competition and are already picking up max radio play with the tamer and more poppy first single, 'Living In Da Ghetto'. Although 'Gommora' shies away from a complete Living Colour rock makeover, and tries to cover too many safe commercial bases, it still offers some important new rock alternatives to kwaito's current sound. Listen to a sampler from this CD at http://www.samp3.com Buy http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=gommora -------------------- 'NO TURNING BACK' - HILTON SCHILDER Hilton Schilder has paid his dues in the clubs of Cape Town and Johannesburg and has been a backup man for many of the stars of the South African music scene. He recorded four albums with the highly respected goema rockers, The Genuines, featured on the last two Robbie Jansen albums, and can be heard as a soloist on over 20 CDs by other artists. He is a member of the renowned Schilder musical family. His father is pianist Tony Schilder, his uncle is songwriter Chris Schilder and there are many drummers, guitarists and bass players in the family as well. 'No Turning Back' spans a range of styles from jazz to rock and even world pop, all in a contemporary Cape Music style. There's the stunning ethnically inspired title track, a wonderful ethnic Electro ambient piece called 'Email to the Ancestors' and the funky Spirits Rejoice cover, 'Why All This Time?', which features the vocals and sax playing of Robbie Jansen. Schilder also takes a turn on vocals on his '80´s retro, 'View From The Top'. It's great to hear this generous musician getting his deserved solo slot in the limelight. --------------- MORE REVIEWS --------------- More reviews can be found at: Open Record http://www.openrecord.co.za Amuzine http://rock.co.za/reviews.htm ______________________________________ 4.USA FOR AFRICA ------------------ Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music BATTERY 9 - 'SONDEBOK' Oh you naughty boy, you made another Battery 9 CD. When I heard Paul Reikert signed with Gallo I wondered what the next Battery 9 album would sound like. Was he selling out, buying in, maintaining the course, or what? Paul and the Battery 9 crew are maintaining and rising. B9 is still a major consumer of electricity so there's no diminution of power here from indie to label, no less fascination with sound and new sounds. If there is any difference between 'Sondebok' and other Battery 9 albums, it is in the control of the artist. There isn't a totally rageful assault like 'Scream' from 'Gris', but 'Sondebok' has bigger cojones than 'Protskog' and 'Strop'. Overall, 'Sondebok' starts out wild, eases into less frenetic muscular territory, then runs wild again. It may not accomplish much to compare one album I enjoy with other albums I enjoy, but to compare 'Sondebok' to prior B9 releases, I'd say it is kin to all the B9 CDs to date, and a close cousin to 'Wrok'. Uniform throughout in likeability, 'Sondebok' is vying to be my favorite Battery 9 album. If you get a chance, walk a couple of miles through downtown Houston listening to 'Sondebok'. Walk by major construction sites, among giant glass and steel towers, look both ways at busy intersections, and let 'Sondebok' be your soundtrack for an urban walk. I made the walk early one morning and again that afternoon and B9's comments on Western Civ, for good or evil, as well as the power of the music, fit right in. This is music not to make one feel small, but to make one feel big and powerful early in the 21st Century. Read http://rock.co.za/legends/90s/battery9_index.html Listen http://www.samp3.com/artists.html Buy http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=battery Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas mailto:kurt@sarockdigest.com _________________________________ 5.A NAARTJIE IN THE UK ------------------------ London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music GO FUNK YOURSELF - SWAMP FUNK QUARTET In their brilliant song 'Madcow', Dorp ask the question 'Why be a Madcow when you can be a funky chicken?' I have often wondered what a funky chicken was, but the answer is to be found in the opening guitar clucked chords of 'Come On In My Chicken', the first track on the Swamp Funk Quartet's debut, for this is the sound of a funky chicken. SFQ have taken 9 blues standards (if you regard 'Hand Jive' as a blues standard) and completely funked them up. Consisting of The Usual suspects Yoyo Buys, Paul Tizzard and Tom Fox with ex Woodshed man Ted Baumann on guitars and vocals, these guys have concocted a spicy jambalaya of sounds. From the hyper funky version of Robert Johnson's 'Come On In My Kitchen' (or chicken in this case) and the wonderful hop, skip and a jump version of 'Hand Jive' to the heavier rockers like Elmore James' 'One Way Out' and the guitar laden version of Muddy Waters 'I'm A Man' this will have blues fans in their element. Not too sure why we have to Go Funk Ourselves as SFQ do a pretty good job of funking us in a blistering guitar blues way. This is an accomplished album by accomplished musicians. The one question I do have is what would an album of original material sound like from these guys? This is not a criticism, but I think the talent is there to create some homegrown blues. Albums like this make me wish I had a PhD so I could sign off the review as having been written by Dr John. Read http://rock.co.za/legends/2000plus/sfq.html Listen http://www.samp3.com/artists_l_s.html Buy http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=4321&searchfor=swamp John Samson, London mailto:john@sarockdigest.com _________________________________________ 6.HISTORY & TRIVIA ------------------- ----------------- SHILOH'S CORNER ----------------- CUBY AND THE BLIZZARDS At the recent OppiKoppi festival, South Africans had the rare privilege of being entertained by the Dutch blues band, Cuby and the Blizzards. The group's star-studded cast was reinforced by Azania's high-toned blues man, Albert Frost (Blues Broers). It would seem fair to say that not many knew the roots and epic significance of this veteran ensemble that was founded officially in 1964. The group evolved out of the Rocking Strings and the Sharks before abandoning rock & roll for a purer blues sound. The group originated in the town of Grolloo, and were assembled by vocalist and harmonica player, Harry "Cuby" Muskee. Commonly known as C & B they released their debut single, 'Stumble and Fall', in September 1965, emulating the style of English blues group, Pretty Things. The strength of the group lay in the decisive guitar flair of Eelco Gelling. Although the Dutch were largely ignored by the British media, blues entrepreneur John Mayall had already given critical praise to their underrated 'Desolation' album shortly after it won the Edison award in 1966. That same year, they completed an album with Eddie Boyd entitled 'Praise the Blues', following in the same spirit as Fleetwood Mac. Gelling maintained his emotional guitar riff, even venturing into a variety of psyche singles such as the infectious 'Appleknocker Flophouse', which is undoubtedly Holland's finest beat single. The world - in discerning quarters - was beginning to notice after C&B were appointed to tour with Van Morrison shortly after he was kicked out of the group Them. During the ensuing years Cuby and the Blizzards hit the Dutch Top 40 nine times between 1967 and 1971. Mick Jagger once remarked to the recently-appointed guitarist Mick Taylor (who had substituted Harvey Mandel/Brian Jones), that if Eelco had accepted his (Mick J's) offer he (Mick T) wouldn't have been there. The group struck dead centre with jazzy versions of 'Help Me' and a ferocious up-tempo rendition of 'Checking Up On My Baby' (both by Sonny Boy Williamson). By 1976 the group, already tired and depleted from a continual session of live performances, split two ways with Harry Muskee forming the Harry Muskee Band and Gelling opting for Golden Earring. The group has maintained its line-up as a blues family with a continual drift of Dutch musicians right into the '90's, minus the talented Eelco, who got caught in the spiky rays of the setting sun. They were the Netherlands' premier blues band that gave seeds to another blues ensemble from The Hague, the underrated Living Blues Band. Shiloh Noone ---------------------------- SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS http://rock.co.za/charts This week [Last week] Title - Artist 30 YEARS AGO (12 January 1973) 1 [2] I'd Love You To Want Me - Lobo 2 [1] I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash 3 [4] Mouldy Old Dough - Lt. Pigeon 4 [5] I Need Your Love - Letta Mbulu 5 [3] Run To Me - Bee Gees 25 YEARS AGO (13 January 1978) 1 [2] Barracuda - Heart 2 [3] I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - Margaret Singana 3 [1] Buccaneer - McCully Workshop 4 [8] The Name Of The Game - Abba 5 [6] From New York To L.A. - Patsy Gallant 20 YEARS AGO (14 December 1983) 1 [1] Words - FR David 2 [3] I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant 3 [2] The Clapping Song - Belle Stars 4 [4] Heart Attack - Olivia Newton John 5 [6] Hurt So Good - John Cougar 15 YEARS AGO (19 December 1988) 1 [1] Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley 2 [3] You Win Again - Bee Gees 3 [7] (I Had) The Time Of My Life - Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley 4 [2] La Bamba - Los Lobos 5 [4] Bad - Michael Jackson Johnny Nash's record run of 13 weeks at the top eventually came to an end as 'I Can See Cleary Now' gave way to Lobo's (real name Roland Kent LaVoie) 'I'd Love You To Want Me'. South African content came from Letta Mbulu who hit the top 5 with her first charting single 'I Need Your Love'. Rabbitt had made their chart debut the previous week in 1973 with their cover of Jethro Tull's 'Locomotive Breath'. The song entered the charts at number 18, dropped to 19 and then out the charts. In 1978, 'Barracuda' regained the top spot from McCully Workshop who had spent 2 weeks at number 1. 'The Name of The Game' was Abba's 10th top 20 hit and also their 10th to go top 5. Margaret Singana made good ground climbing to number 2. John Mellencamp has had hits as John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp and John Mellencamp. He was given the name Cougar by David Bowie's manager Tony DeFries. 'Hurt So Good' was his first top 5 hit in the US reaching number 2 in 1982. In 1983, he replicated that feat in South Africa. The entire top 5 this week in 1988 consisted of US and UK number 1's. 'Never Going to Give You Up' and 'La Bamba' had topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, '(I Had) The Time Of My Life' (from the movie 'Dirty Dancing') and 'Bad' had been US number 1's and 'You Win Again' had been to the top in the UK. This week though, it was Rick Astley who was the top of the toppers. South Africans at number 1 this week: Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow - Dealians (1971) Find 'Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow' (written by Neil Diamond) on 'The Best Of SA Pop Volume 2' http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.ccfm?bec=4321&id=cdgmpd40486 --------------- VINYL JUNKIES --------------- This section (named after the much-missed shop from Fishhoek) is for collectors of vinyl, both South African and International. MABU VINYL 34 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town Radio Rats - 'Big Beat' (LP) Osibisa - 'Black Magic Night (Live at the Royal Festival Hall)' (LP) Lucky Dube - 'Together As One' (LP) Tribe After Tribe - 'Tribe After Tribe' (LP) Clive Bruce - 'Sally Sunshine' (LP) Bright Blue - 'Bright Blue' (LP) Cash paid for records in saleable condition. Jacques Vosloo (+27 21) 423 7635 mailto:vinyl@sarockdigest.com ------------ BIRTHDAYS ------------ Jan. 1 - "Country" Joe McDonald (1942), Country Joe & the Fish Jan. 3 - Sir George Martin (1926) Jan. 3 - John Paul Jones (1946), Led Zeppelin Jan. 3 - Stephen Stills (1945), Buffalo Springfield; CSN(&Y) Jan. 5 - Sam Phillips (1923) Jan. 6 - Malcolm Young (1953), AC/DC Jan. 6 - Syd Barrett (born Roger Keith Barrett in 1946), Pink Floyd Jan. 7 - Kenny Loggins (1948) Jan. 7 - Paul Revere (1942), Paul Revere & The Raiders Jan. 8 - Elvis Presley (1935, died 16 Aug. 1977) Jan. 8 - Robby Krieger (1946), The Doors Jan. 8 - David Bowie (1947) Jan. 9 - Jimmy Page (1944), Led Zeppelin Jan. 9 - Joan Baez (1941) Jan. 9 - Tony Groenewald (1958), Off The Edge Jan. 10 - Jim Croce (1943) Jan. 10 - Rod Stewart (1945) Jan. 10 - Donald Fagen (1948), Steely Dan Jan. 10 - Pat Benatar (1953) Jan. 11 - Clarence Clemons (1942), E Street Band Jan. 12 - Long John Baldry (1941) Jan. 13 - Trevor Rabin (1954), Rabbitt; Yes Jan. 16 - Roy Bulkin (1952, died 19 Jan. 1996) Jan. 17 - Paul Young (1956) Jan. 17 - Mick Taylor (1948), Rolling Stones Jan. 18 - Bobby Goldsboro (1941) Jan. 19 - Phil Everly (1939), Everly Brothers Jan. 19 - Janis Joplin (1943, died 4th October 1970) Jan. 19 - Robert Palmer (1949) Jan. 19 - Dolly Parton (1946) Jan. 20 - Crocodile Harris (born Robin Graham, 1950) Jan. 20 - Paul Stanley (1950), Kiss Jan. 20 - Eric Stewart (1945), 10cc Jan. 21 - Wolfman Jack (born Robert Weston Smith 1938, died 1 Jul 1995) Jan. 21 - Richie Havens (1941) Jan. 22 - Sam Cooke (1931, died 11 Dec. 1964) Jan. 22 - Steve Perry (1953), Journey Jan. 22 - James Phillips (1959, died 31 July 1995) Jan. 23 - Robin Zander, Cheap Trick Jan. 24 - Tony Cox Jan. 24 - Neil Diamond (1941) Jan. 24 - Warren Zevon (1947) Jan. 25 - Steve Newman (1952) Jan. 26 - Eddie Van Halen (1957), Van Halen Jan. 27 - Nick Mason (1945), Pink Floyd Jan. 29 - David Byron (1947, died 28 Feb. 1985), Uriah Heep Jan. 30 - Marty Balin (1943), Jefferson Airplane/Starship Jan. 30 - Allan Faull (1949), Falling Mirror Jan. 30 - Steve Marriott (1947), Small Faces; Humble Pie Jan. 31 - Phil Collins (1951), Genesis Jan. 31 - Phil Manzanera (1951), Roxy Music Jan. 31 - Johnny Rotten (1956), Sex Pistols;PiL ______________________________________________ 7.FORUM --------- CANAMII CONCEPT http://www.rock.co.za/files/canamii.html I am trying to find the track listing for this prog-rock album released in 1980, which featured the talents of Philip Nel (ex-Tank), Ashley Kelly, Hermann Eugster (ex-Rag Dolls, Lastique, also the drummer for EllaMental), Claire Whittaker, Mickey Woitynek (ex-Rag Dolls, Lastique) and others... Brian mailto:brian@rock.co.za?subject=canamii --------------------- RODRIGUEZ vs NAS - THAT SAMPLE EXPLAINED Carlos Garcia wrote on the Rodriguez Forum: http://www.sugarman.org/forum.html I'd like to make a correction if I may, regarding the statement (talking about the 'Sugar Man' sample in Nas's 'You're Da Man'): "for anyone who has never heard 'Sugar Man' before, to mis-hear the words "sugar man" as "you're da man"." What we hear is really "you're the man" - Large Professor (The producer of the song, hence the one who used the sample). What he did was cut "you're the" from the lines "Sugar man, you're the answer that makes my question disappear" and the "man" from any "sugar man" heard in the song. Just thought I should clear that up. The song's great if you're a (true) rap fan. By the way, due to some sample hunting, I found out about this song and I absolutely love it. I am now looking for more Rodriguez songs and the more I find them the more I become a fan. Carlos 7th January 2003 ------------------------ SYD WAGNER (RIP) It is with a great deal of sadness that I pass on the news of the death of fellow musician and superb guitarist, Syd Wagner, on Christmas Day. Syd was an above-average guitarist and although he was better known in 'country' circles, he had the expertise to span various styles of music. He capably enhanced the musical performances of various singers and bands both on record and on stage; in more recent years, the Jack Bond Blues Band, Moonshine and the Silver Creek Mountain Band. I had the pleasure of working with Syd for the past year in the Silver Creek Mountain Band and I had hoped to work more closely with him in the future, particularly with regard to his own instrumental compositions which I considered to be way above average. Regrettably, that is not to be. However, I am grateful for the time I spent working with Syd. His ability to embellish my own songs with such feel and sensitivity motivated me to become a little more serious about my music. I particularly admired Syd's ability to take 'licks' associated with electric lead guitar and pull them off so effectively and powerfully on acoustic guitar. I will most certainly miss him. Have a special day.... regards.... Lay Yesson (012) 662 1924 or 083 441 4533 mailto:quill@iafrica.com {Ed's note - Lay Yesson started out during the '60's Folk Music revival era along with the likes of Brian Finch, Dave Marks, Paul Clingman, Colin Shamley, Gary Bryden, Mel Miller, Julian Laxton, etc. In the early '70's he formed the bluegrass band, 'Shinnery', which broke away from the traditional folk music mould and became a popular 'show band' in the mid to late '70's. In the early '80's he teamed up with Kevin Hinds (father of Watershed's Craig Hinds) to form the group LeatherBone, which enjoyed popularity as a pub 'show band'. He presently continues to work in the Gauteng region as a one-man-band.} -------------------- ILNE HOFMEYER (RIP) I'm wondering if you have been informed of Ilne Hofmeyr's death last December. I don't have enough info on her contribution to music but know that she played bass guitar with éVoid in London and with several local people like Edi Niederlander. It would good if you could place a tribute to this wonderful woman. {Ed's note: "Lucien and Erik performed mostly in and around London as a four-piece éVoid with fellow South Africans Ilne Hofmeyr on bass and Richard Devey on drums." see http://www.freshmusic.co.za/evoidrot%20liner.htm } -------------------- PENNY PENNY'S 'YOGO YOGO' SOUGHT URGENTLY Years ago, my colleagues and me were used to working while connected to the African music channel of Spinner.com. All our preferred songs were coming from one album: 'Yogo Yogo' by Penny Penny Shaka Bundu (1996). I have been looking for such record from then on but unsuccessfully. I first tried to find it in Harare, during a vacation in Southern Africa, than on the Internet on Madiba Music, Africart.com, One World Music, Outlaw Records and, just today, Kalahari.net. I start thinking there is no hope. Please, help me to find the album I liked so much! The format would be not a problem: new or used CD, duplicated CDR or good bitrate mp3 as well. Thanks you very much in advance, I am looking forward for an answer, Alberto Montini mailto:amontini@etnoteam.it ------------------ SAKHILE LP I'm looking for a Sakhile CD I have long wanted to replace. I am sure it was called 'Homecoming' and it would have been early to mid 90s but I can't find a trace of it anywhere. Any idea or any advice on where to go in SA to request a lesser-known album like this? many thanks Dale mailto:dlautenbach@worldbank.org --------------------- MAGARIDA CHORDS I live in California, USA, and I been searching for the lyrics and chords of Choppa's 'Margarida' to play on my guitar and I can't find it anywhere, can you please help me find this information, I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. Sincerely, Jose Figueiredo mailto:Pkb4@aol.com --------------------- PIP FREEDMAN Hi I am looking for anyone who has recorded any of the old Pip Freedman radio shows... please help and contact me at mailto:kiwikatz@yahoo.com Sheri --------------------- DUUSMAN My Afrikaans alternative group DUUSMAN has been defunct for more than a year, yet I still receive lots of inquiries about our music. Our EP's were never commercially released, except for CD-R's that we burned ourselves. We've decided to make all of the DUUSMAN tracks available for free download from http://www.mp3.com/duusman - these 23 tracks include all of the songs from the EP's 'Kalm Psalms' and 'Popmusiek Ontmasker', as well as previously un-"released" material. Unfortunately MP3.COM decided to change their policy regarding free websites as I uploaded the last track and as from the beginning of Feb. 2003 we will only be able to display 3 songs at a time. I would like as many potential Duusman-listeners to make use of the offer till end-Jan 2003 and would appreciate it if you could bring it to the attention of your readers. Kind regards Jean Marais (Duusman, 12Hz) --------------------- DENNIS EAST I am a keen CD (and song) collector (actually rather a bit of a fanatic). Sometimes it really is a battle to get hold of a specific song on a CD. I sincerely hope either you or one of your readers will be able to help me with the following: On Dennis East CD "Dammit I Love You" there are two songs appearing: "Much More Love" and "Without You" (last-mentioned NOT the Nilssen song but a totally different one). I would like to know the names of the original artists who performed these two songs and I would also like to know if the original versions are available on CD's (and, if possible, where they can be obtained). The CD cover reads "Much More Love (T Roe) BMG" and "Without You (Peter Shelley) Gallo". PLEASE can somebody help me with this. I would really like to buy the CD's containing these original songs. ROCK REBELS Could somebody also please tell me what happened to the Rock Rebels? They were performing in a place in Melville and when I turned up there one evening everything was in darkness. Are they performing somewhere else and where? Marina mailto:marina_venter@hotmail.com --------------------- SMOKE SIGNALS http://rock.co.za/smokesignals A fully integrated publicity and events service, specialising in the music and theatre world. Band and concert promotion, press releases, media interviews and 'short hand hyping'. Contact: Brian Weinronk ph: (021) 4619152 mailto:brianwein@kingsley.co.za --------------------- SOUND SOLUTIONS http://rock.co.za/soundsolutions A Cape Town-based music resource that offers two main areas of expertise and assistance: 1) Music Searches - Assists in recommending and finding relevant music soundtracks for television, cinema and radio commercials and productions. 2) Music Licensing - Assists in obtaining the publishing and recording rights for music to be used as soundtracks for commercials and other productions. For more info, please contact: Stephen Segerman or Graham Katz 021 461-9541 mailto:sugar@rock.co.za ______________________________________________ 8.LIVE MUSIC --------------- 'GIANT STEPS' MUSIC FESTIVAL ARTISTS APPEARING AT CD WHEREHOUSE Soweto String Quartet, Judith Sephuma, Selaelo Selota, Umanji, Vusi Mahlasela and Sasha Sonnbichler will be performing live and free to the public at Compact Disc Wherehouse in the V&A Waterfront, beginning on Wednesday, 22nd Jan. All these artists are appearing at the Giant Steps Music Festival which runs through January into February at the Spier Wine Estate near Stellenbosch. Tickets for performances at the Giant Steps Music Festival at Spier are now available at: Spier Ticket Office: +27 21 809 1177/78/79/49 Those CD Wherehouse appearance dates are available at http://www.sagigs.com ---------------------- SUTHERLAND at the WINSTON PUB in Durban - Dec 2002 By Wicked Mike "What can we do to give you a fun time? There's nothing we can do!" A helluva storm raged and cleaned Durban in time for Sutherland to dirty it again. When I got to the Winston on an uncustomary Thursday night, the band and their sex slaves were sitting on the pavement outside. It wasn't long before they were on the stage where they belong and, ironically, screaming a chorus of "Why can't you leave me alone." Sutherland are a bunch of degenerates who could be watched for that fact alone ... or you could check them out because they are whipped with an energy that chases them around the stage and dancefloor, and leaves me wondering how they manage not to trip over one another's leads (maybe they're the dextrous sort). They play straight rock that reminds me of the old school and leaves me somewhere between AC/DC and Manowar ... and they've been doing that for eight years which is way longer than current heroes Audioslave. Despite the sound system needing a new amp and me more money for beer, the band hooked me - well ... there was one occasion where I was distracted by the pretty opposite species and was wondering if I'd have to lick my lips so that they wouldn't stick to her skin - with new and old tunes. Standouts were 'Grey Day', 'Denial', 'Friars' and '1000 Years of Yesterday'. This was the first leg of their tour and they began it in true rock tradition by getting fined by the cops on their way to the gig. I asked Allen what would sum up that first gig and the anticipation of hitting Cape Town. "Anybody got a bus ... anybody seen our Opel Kadett?" That would have been my end line if, a few minutes later, a sexy woman hadn't warned Allen, "I'm far too hot for you to be hitting on me." Wicked Mike Durban ------------------------- BLUES AT THE OLE HOUSE Carina Loubsher checks out the Blues at Julians On most Friday nights this house creaks as it crouches, waiting patiently for its blues junkies. The house of Julians in Acacia Road, Blackheath. Inside the wooden floors, pressed ceilings and lazy ceiling fans tease you with that cool mellow buzz. You don't even have to clutch for hours at the bar counter - people in black Jimi Hendrix T-shirts move soundlessly around tables while they keep throats lubricated with beer, whisky, liqueur - even coffee. This is the ultimate custom designed blues spot. Here the Mississippi Muthers let the blues run through guitar strings, frisky fingers and smooth throats. Dan Patlansky on a mean red 1962 Fender Strat and blue vocals, Gordon Legg on drums and some kick-ass throat notes, and a very tall Mike Lobster on deep bass. Dan puts his voice through the mike and the magic starts with 'Sweet Sixteen'. Out of this 21-year young body falls an old, rich, dark voice. It mutates with the Fender strings to klap you against the head with the raw blue hunger that is Dan Patlansky. Then your heart rhythm gets flatlined with 'Mississippi Muther Blues'. Dan teases volume and strings and before long you hear whales singing. He walks into the audience, plays with eyes closed. Faces are transfixed, eyes are glued to his hands. Raw heated shrieks grow into a manic pitch and you stare stupidly as his hand becomes a slow slow blur. How the hell... it's not possible ... but he contorts, grimaces and gets lost in the guitar. Dan Patlansky is guitar. Later Julian Laxton jams with Dan. Hoooo sweet Mother of Mine. This ain't Deliverance, Dude. This is a duel from the gates of Hades, but pulling you close to that place where all the guitars are tuned and the sounds mutate into new colours with every breath. "Whhhuhhrrrr" from the Gretch against Julian's hips. "Rroooaarrr" from the Fender in Dan's arms. And a rather audible "aahhh yesss" from the blues junkies. Best of all - you can mainline until two in the morning because the tunes are played until then. Get yer mojo at Julians. Before the devil's rapping at yer door to make you that guitar deal of a lifetime. Carina Laubscher Melville ---------- GIG GUIDE ---------- The SA Rock Digest list of recommended gigs can now be found at: http://www.SAgigs.com All gig info to mailto:sugar@sagigs.com in a plain text e-mail, please. ___________________________________________ 9.INFO -------- ------ LINKS ------ Links to artists, gig guides, resources, record labels, recording studios, music trivia and more at: http://www.sarockdigest.com/links --------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS --------------- To subscribe - please send an e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=NewSubscriber Address changes - please send an e-mail to: mailto:subscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=AddressChange To unsubscribe - please send a blank e-mail to: mailto:unsubscribe@sarockdigest.com?Subject=unsubscribe BACK ISSUES http://www.sarockdigest.com/archives Online and keyword searchable PRESS RELEASES Please submit all press releases and gigs to Sugar at mailto:sugar@rock.co.za?subject=Gigs CONTRIBUTIONS Please submit all contributions, reviews, requests, searches and comments by filling in the form at: http://www.vagabond.za.net/contact EDITORS Brian Currin Stephen Segerman mailto:sugar@sarockdigest.com?subject=SARockDigest Postal Address: Brian Currin PO Box 521 Eppindust 7475 Cape Town South Africa MAIN CONTRIBUTORS Tertius Louw Daniel Neville Shiloh Noone John Samson Kurt Shoemaker <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>