Malcom McLaren 1946-2010

Well, more sad news first my one time dinner companion Christopher Cazenove! and now Malcolm, there's a lot of nonsense spouted on all sides about punk; some proggy types denying it had any effect at all and that we should all still be listening to Caravan and presumably the guy with the mohawk, studded leather jacket and tear drop tattoo stumbling down Deptford broadway the other day would say (slur more likely) that it never died! I'm not quite old enough to remember the first flush of punk. In 1976 I just remember it being hot , finding rats in our outhouse and the smell of hot scaletrix motors. I have vague memory of my dad reading about these punks in the Sunday times magazine but I didn't see an actually punk until a year or so later one Saturday in the middle of Barnsley. The punks in question did look scary but then I was only 8 at the time and they would've been 15!  Over the next years punk mixed in with the ska revival , NWOBHM and good old pop music. People would bring their brother's copy of the great rock and roll swindle into school, I think it's chief attraction was the odd cartoon naked breast and swastika arm band.

Then however came all the pop music Malcolm Mclaren if not made  inspired. I was looking at a picture of Adam Ant the other day and marvelling at hour beautiful and cool he looked in his full regalia. I remember one of his early appearances on TOTP and having the exciting feeling that some how this was wrong that someone so scary and exciting wasn't allowed on tv.  Then there was bow wow and buffalo girls etc. But more so the idea that you could make pop music yourself and fill it with passion and ideas. Sure this sort of thing has been around for years and isn't unique to punk but Malcolm Mclaren  seemed to epitomise a certain kind of sparky, funny, annoying, too clever by half way of doing things which you see in the best of pop and also oddly in diluted debased form in everything from the labels of smoothies to Top gear and YBA's etc.

This week we had the Digital Economy Bill and of course Malcolm (the manager of  pop group) once made a single celebrating home taping!
So what was the effect of Malcolm McLaren it's too early to say...

Robert Kirby 1948-2009

Sad news: Composer and arranger on many of the albums we've loved Robert Kirby has died. His work especially with Nick Drakes has always had deep effect on me and I count my life blessed the day I walked into Selectadisc and walked out with the Compilation Way to Blue. The sound of Nick's singing and guitar carried along by Roberts beautiful strings and brass the whole sound  filling my dark room in our weird flat in Streatham are quite lovely. Here's "day is done" but well which one would you choose?

Sad News

Jerry Wexler

1917-2008.

Sad news, Jerry Wexler has passed a way. I don’t really know what to say, he’d had a good innings and had brought more joy into the world than any creative person could ever hope to do. If you don’t own at least one tune he produced it’s safe to say you don’t like music.

At times likes this, the temptation is to be obscure but I’m going to obvious. If Jerry’s only contribution to world was enabling Aretha Franklin to express herself fully, he could rest easy.
So here’s:
Respect by Aretha Franklin


On the basis that it’s impossible to have too much good music
Here’s Dusty rescuing the reputation of son’s of the Manse after it’s been trashed by Gordon Brown (& Westwood!) this ones for my soul brothers A & S.

Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield

Sad News

Nick Sanderson 1961-2008

I saw this the other day which was a shame. Nick Sanderson was the drummer and singer in a number of bands including The Gun Club, JAMC, World of Twist and latterly Earl Brutus.

Of all the people I know I think I’m alone in liking EB.They appeared just before Britpop and had art school meets glam appeal not dissimilar to The Auteurs. I have always liked this song (“sho me your mind”) particular this live NME version with it’s advice against carbon monoxide poisoning!

I fear the world is a little worse place for the lack of art pop train driving types like Nick and his band who he wanted to be like “a pub that's quite a rough sort of place, but with a nice carvery on Sunday lunchtimes".

They were never that big like many of us they were too clever for their own good, in a world of moon in June oasis songs the hordes didn’t want anything with a hint of grit or sharpness about it.

I saw NS once at the ICA he was at the bar buying a big round which always bodes well for anyone’s character.

My condolences to Nicks family and friends at this sad time.

I’ve posted world twist baggytastic version of She’s Rainbow so get your Bez face on and do that shuffle dance and make sure your gas fires off before you retire.

Ps. couldn’t find a decent picture of EB so included a nice pic of a Deltic instead, hopefully Nick would approve.

UPDATE: Dave 23 at "at the back and to the left" has posted alonger Obit and the vid to SMYM check it out there's lots of old tunes on his site too hurrah!



Earl Brutus "Show Me Your Mind (Live version)"


World of Twist "she's a rainbow"