| Travelling Daze: a review of a book about New Age Travellers by Alan Dearling & Friends |
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I’ve met Dean Phillips twice now, both times at Stonehenge at the solstice. Dean is the custodian of the Wally Hope archive and keeper of Wally’s box.
The first time was in the car-park. I’d just parked up and was sipping a beer, when this friendly voice called out to me.
“Is that Mr Stone?”
We were parked in the same row, just a few cars apart. We had arrived at almost the same time.
The thing was, we’d only been in correspondence up till then… and that very day I’d finished off a chapter of a book I was writing, by talking of Wally Hope’s death.
“We can say this, however: that his was probably not the first human sacrifice to be associated with Stonehenge.” Those were the last words I’d written before starting on my journey that morning.
And now here he was, Dean Phillips, with Wally’s box, the one that Penny Rimbaud, had made to carry his ashes, which had been scattered at Stonehenge all those years ago.
Penny Rimbaud was the drummer with Crass, the anarcho-punk band who were formed, in part, to fulfil Wally Hope’s dream: “We want to plant a Garden of Eden with apricots and cherries, where there will be guitars instead of guns and the sun will be our nuclear bomb.” Wally Hope was the guy whose vision it was to start the Stonehenge Free Festival in the first place, way back in 1974.
Wally Hope at Stonehenge 1974
The front cover of Travelling Daze by Alan Dearling & friends
Travelling Daze
The reason I’m telling you this is that I’ve been reading Travelling Daze, a book compiled and part-written by Alan Dearling, with help from over 40 of his Traveller friends. That includes Dean, who has written a piece about Wally Hope.
You can’t write a book about the origins of the hippie movement in the UK, without mentioning Wally Hope. He was the martyr of Stonehenge. He died so the festival could live.
The book contains a lot of new information about Wally. It includes a collection of letters written from prison, in the name of Phil Russell - prison number 11413 – from 1967-68, long before he became known as Wally Hope.
They are remarkable documents, not least because of the means by which Alan Dearling acquired them. He was sitting in a pub in Lyme Regis, he says, thinking about Wally, when he fell into conversation with a couple called Victoria and Nick.
As he says: “No such thing as coincidences, but four or five pints later, and I had learned that Nick was Phil Russell’s closest friend back in the Windsor/Stoke Poges area of 1965-67.”
Thus we have a set of remembrances of Phil Russell by one of his friends from the days when they were both just a couple of young men hanging around in the burgeoning hippie scene in the '60s, going to Eel Pie Island to watch the new R’n’B bands which were emerging from the Jazz scene at the time, smoking some weed and imagining a future for themselves; and then some letters Phil wrote from prison after he’d been busted for dope, possibly at the instigation of his crazy mother, in order to teach him a lesson.
Read on...
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HAWKWIND NEWS
(The Masters of the Universe do seem to have a steady stream of interesting stories featuring them, their various friends and relations, and alumni). Each week Graham Inglis keeps us up to date with the latest news from the Hawkverse.. |
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Although the Hawkwind news channel on Yahoo Groups thankfully seems to have resolved its recent problems with off-topic warfare and general bad vibes, it's nice to see the traditional ferocious humour of some fans is still alive and well.
During a discussion of Nik Turner's upcoming album, someone asked what the difference is between the two discs on offer. "Why one at £10 and the other at £16," he asked.
Back came the answer: "The more expensive one has the saxophone taken out of the mix."
As someone subsequently remarked: ouch!
Meanwhile, Robert Calvert's son Nick has arranged the audio release of a rather unusual performance: the monologue of a man who finds himself trapped in a box or cupboard, and doesn't know where he is or what's going to happen to him. The Box is available on SoundCloud as a free download or audio stream, but contributions to the "Bob Calvert Macmillan Cancer Support"appeal (organised by Nick Calvert) are invited.
The total has now wriggled up to within a few pounds of the £500 mark.
And on the touring front, Hawkwind's four-date stint in August kicks off on the 16th in Falmouth, and then takes in Bournemouth, Shepherd's Bush and Stamford. Further details are onhawkwind.com. |
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| THE YES CIRCULAR - TIME AND A WORD |
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| The Court Circular tells interested readers about the comings and goings of members of The Royal Family. However, readers of this periodical seem interested in the comings and goings of Yes and of various alumni of this magnificent and long-standing band. Give the people what they want, I say |
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I received this letter:
Michael has left a new comment on your post "Yes stays true to its concept-rich history":
Jon,
I thought you may be interested in the video from Fox News about the bipartisan effort of getting YES into R&R Hall of Fame. I do not know the idiot who is sitting to the right of Clint Black.
Interest stuff although you get tired of people like the moron mentioned above saying Prog killed Rock and Roll.
Here is the website:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2602508915001/bipartisan-effort-to-get-yes-in-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/?intcmp=HPBucket&playlist_id=929831930001
Mike Braden (braden1156@gmail.com)
Sugar Land, TEXAS USA |
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| I am probably getting a bit OCD about all of this, but I find the Yes soap opera of sound to be absolutely enthralling, and I for one can't wait to see what happens next! |
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you idly pick a little pebble/skim it on a surface
do not think of all the little pebbles gathering like demonstrators
in their Tahrir Square underwater.They want change!
They are tired of having their little lives left in your hands!
You may wonder why at the edge of eternity
you scratch yourself on coral or on rock
It is a message-push off!Rock was here before you-
and afterwards!Sea is insistent that you do not dump your sewage
When you will not listen,drinking water gains pollution.
Yes-there are messages on rocks and standing stones-
inscriptions from all ages past.Inside,stored DNA from pre-Pyramids
reminds us of mortality and other mysteries-we
will leave before that pebble falls into the waters
Skim slowly,o holder of stone stories
Turtle Island stands beneath you!
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In Victorian times every well-bred Gentleman had a 'Cabinet of Curiosities'; a collection of peculiar odds and sods, usually housed in a finely made cabinet with a glass door. These could include anything from Natural History specimens to historical artefacts. There has always been something of the Victorian amateur naturalist about me, and I have a houseful of arcane objects; some completely worthless, others decidedly not, but all precious to me for the memories they hold..
I used to be a collector of rock and roll memorabilia, but most of my collection went into my solicitor's pocket during my divorce from my first wife, and I never had the stomach to build the collection up again. However, people send me pictures of interesting things such as this rather nifty thing.
This is a programme from the legendary Bickershaw Festival
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On the third weekend of August every year for the past fourteen years we have had the weirdest weekend you can imagine. The Weird Weekend is the largest yearly gathering of mystery animal investigators in the English-speaking world. Now in its fourteenth year, the convention attracts speakers and visitors from all over the world and showcases the findings of investigators into strange phenomena.
Cryptozoologists, parapsychologists, ufologists, and folklorists are descending on Woolfardisworthy Community Centre to share their findings and insights. Unlike other events, the Weird Weekend will also include workshops giving tips to budding paranormal investigators, and even a programme of special events for children. The Weird Weekend is the only fortean conference in the world that is truly a family event, although those veterans of previous events should be reassured that it is still as anarchically silly as ever!
The event is raising money for the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the world’s only full time, professional cryptozoological organisation. The profit from food and beverages goes to a selection of village charities, mostly working with children.
How do you fancy spending three days of high strangeness, good food and great beer, together with the cream of British Fortean researchers in the middle of the glorious Devon countryside? By the way, I am sorry to have to say this, but as this is a fundraising event, tickets are non-refundable, although you are free to resell them should you be unable to attend.
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FEATURED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Lee Walker: Dead of Night
Andrew Sanderson: Russia Expedition report
Lars Thomas: The Natural History of Trolls
Judge Smith: Life after Death
Jon Downes/Richard Freeman: Intro to Cryptozoology
Nick Wadham: You will believe in fairies; you will, you will!
Tony Whitehead (RSPB): Starslime
Glen Vaudrey : Mystery animals of Staffordshire
Darren Naish: Adventures from the world of tetrapod zoology
Richard Freeman: Expedition repoort Sumatra 2013
Sarah Boit: Orbs from a photographer's perspective
James Newton (London Cryptozoology club): Bigfoot
Shaun Histead-Todd: Pre Columbian civilisations in america
Ronan Coghlan: Amphibians from Outer Space
Jon Downes: Keynote Speech
Speaker's Dinner at the Community Centre
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| INTRODUCING THE NINE HENRYS |
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| I think Peter McAdam is one of the funniest people around, and I cannot recommend his book The Nine Henrys highly enough. Check it out at Amazon. Each issue we shall be running a series of Henrybits that are not found in his book about the nine cloned cartoon characters who inhabit a surreal world nearly as insane as mine... |
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THE WORLD OF KEV
Kev Rowland |
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| KAVE Dismal Radiance (EIBON RECORDS) |
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| If ever there was an album that is evocative of bleak and empty landscapes in a time that has long been forgotten then this has to be it. I know nothing about the band, who are apparently Dutch, and I am not sure I have ever heard anything quite like this. In fact, in many ways it is one of the simplest albums I have ever heard yet at the same time is one of the most complex and massively over the top, yet the music is always quiet. With this album we are in the strange world of ‘Dark Ambience’, the far more threatening and overpowering side of New Age. I don’t think I have ever come across anything quite like this before, and when playing it during the day as background I often lost the subtle nuances and changes. But, playing it in the quiet dark of night is a whole new ballgame, take it from me. |
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| If ever there was an album that should be a soundtrack to something incredibly dark and mysterious then this is it. I can imagine this being played on big speakers in a darkened hall, daring visitors to come and embrace the dark side. If you had asked me in daylight whether this was worth hearing I know that I would have responded in the negative, but here in the night I have gained a totally different perspective. Evolving structures and unsettling atmospheres with a cinematic element, this is definitely for anyone else into menacing, profound black ambience. www.eibonrecords.com |
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| KB36 Fish eat Fish (INDIE) |
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| What we have here is the debut album from Russian outfit KB36, and I am somewhat at a loss to explain what I am listening to. While their core sound is rock/, they bring in loads of different elements that are quite experimental in nature, then they add to that some obvious classic rock influences. Take “End of the Road” for example, a delicate nature with plenty of gently picked guitar at the beginning which starts life heavily influenced by Neil Young, but then goes into something that is far more reminiscent of Ian Dury! But, the band that I am most reminded of when playing this album is Horslips, and I can’t really explain why! There are little pure folk elements on this album, and these guys are Russian and not Irish, but they do seem to be channelling some inner Celt, although it is later period Horslips as opposed to the early days. |
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| Their songs are all sung in English, with little in the way of accent, and it is only the odd polka influence that lets one realise that this may not be a Western album after all. It is the sort of album that belongs in the Seventies, and definitely hearkens back to that time. They describe it as a Rock/ Hard Rock album which has experimental overtones and draws on both our love of Classic Rock as well as including elements of different music genres with the lyrics focusing on personal themes and social concerns.” It may not be indispensible, but it is certainly worth searching out if you miss the times when bands pointedly refused to stick within any one genre. If you go to the website you can hear some samples to see what I am talking about..www.kb36rockband.com |
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| MASSIVE AUDIO NERVE Cancer Vulgaris ( DEAD END EXIT RECORDS) |
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Apparently this is the fourth album from this Swedish band, but is the first time I have come across them. Given that singer Tony JJ (Mnemic, B-Thong, Transport League) and bassist Rob Hakemo (Ex Engel, Relevant Few, Gooseflesh) had to recruit two new members after the last album, this is more like a new band altogether. They managed to gather Mark U Black (ex Dream Evil, DragonLord) on guitar and Adde Larsson (Black Candy Store, ex Engel, Urbandux) on drums, and the result is something that in many ways is as subtle as a sledgehammer but in others has layers and plenty going on to maintain the interest.
While they are very much a metal act, then have straddled different genres to create something that is very heavy and familiar yet also different and somewhat strange. |
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Imagine Slipknot with Meshuggah and The Haunted then you may get close to the nu-metal based djent-style hardcore band that I am now listening to. Interestingly they describe themselves as ‘Metal-Hardcore-Progressive’, but there is little of the latter and no mention of nu-metal anywhere in the press release. There does seem to be many who think that this genre has had its’ day, but anyone who has seen Slipknot in concert knows what a fallacy that comment is, and that sound has a part to play in the very wide plethora of genres that we call ‘metal’, and these guys know exactly what they are doing with it so this is punchy and heavy with a real groove and feel.
It may not be totally indispensible but does a very fine job of removing the dandruff, thank you very much. Powerful and impressive. |
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| MAX PIE Eight Pieces - One World (MAUSOLEUM) |
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| Formed in 2005, this Belgian band originally started playing classic hard rock in the style of Deep Purple and Whitesnake, before they gradually evolved into a power/symphonic metal act who have been influenced by Kamelot, Rhapsody and Symphony X among others. I have no idea how they came up with such a (it has to be said) naff band name, but it really is necessary to look past this as what we have here is an album that has a great deal going for it. Singer Tony Carlino has a good strong vocal presence (although there are some times when he doesn’t seem to be totally in key) while Damien Di Fresco is a powerful guitarist (and he also provides all keyboards). The rhythm section of Olivier Lemiere (bass) and Sylvain Godenne (drums) provides a very strong foundation that allows Damien a freedom to move away from straightforward riffing to some wonderfully complex solos and instrumental passages. |
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| In fact, the only concern I have over the album at all is how on earth they can reproduce this in a live environment? Apart from the obvious issue that it isn’t possible to play guitars and keyboards at the same time, there is normally a minimum of two guitars and sometimes more, so unless they have an octopus hiding in the back they are going to either need more musicians or the sound will be somewhat diluted. But, that is an issue for another day as what we have here is an album packed full of great performances and tons of melodies and hooks that fans of the power/symphonic genre are just going to lap up. This is definitely worthy of investigation |
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| This week I received an email from a charming young lady who has just released a single she recorded with Uncle Rick Wakeman |
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Valentina Blanca was born in Catania (Italy) in a family of musicians. Her father is a professor of flute and her mother an opera singer at the Teatro Massimo V. Bellini. They transmitted her an immense love for music.
At age of 8 she started studying violin with her aunt and in the meantime she joined the children's choir "Gaudeamus Igitur Concentus" with which she took part in several operas. Valentina’s love for “ Belcanto” was growing.
At the age of 16 she extended her musical repertoire, performing in many shows, pop music, bossa nova and jazz, highlighting a clear and sweet voice, with great vocal range and a little “retro” which fascinates the audience.
A few years later she decided to study opera getting his diploma at the Conservatory of Catania. In Italy she collaborates with high level musicians performing in various concerts.
She worked with worldwide artists such as Jon Anderson, with whom she sang in duo with in few tracks, and also with Rick Wakeman with whom she collaborated for the release of her first album "la bambola di pezza (ragdoll)" (still in development) written by Bruno Rubino (composer/drummer for Fiaba band) and arranged by the same Wakeman.
In 2012 Nick Pullin (Ilya group) from Bristol, wrote a number of songs specifically for her voice and started a side project for another album.
In 2013 she made his debut in Krakow (Poland), as lead singer, in front of an audience of over 10,000 people, for the acrobatic show "Voalà."
At the moment, not having a record company to support her, Valentina continues to self-finance her projects, publishing also beautiful video, made by her boyfriend Pierluigi Cavarra (photographer and video maker) and also thanks to the collaboration of various fans.
Among her dreams, as well as finding aids to bring her projects to the general public, it is to sing in a concert, piano and voice, with Rick Wakeman and to be able to duet, one day, with her idol: Barbra Streisand .
The single is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/es/album/volano-le-farfalle-single/id685656556 |
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THE BEST LAID PLANS...
The last week has been a little fraught here in the badly converted potato shed where my new assistant editor Captain Frunobulax the Magnificent and I labour on all the different projects that I do. But as I have said repeatedly over the past few weeks, this is the busiest and most complicated time of our year. |
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I have had a houseful of people for the past week, and things are going to get more crowded as the week progresses. However, I have had a couple of interesting musical snippets. My old friend Davey Curtis has presented me with a copy of the new album he made with his band Happy the Man (no, not the American prog band) which features such immortal classics as Single Mothers love my brother and Tracy the mass murderer. When I finally get around to it, and CFZ Records becomes a reality, it will be distributed via Gonzo Multimedia.
His teenage daughter Rosie also told me about a new pop sensation from Japan who have a lead singer who is a hologram. I am not sure whether to be appalled or invigorated..
This issue has been put together in a bit of a rush, but I am very pleased with the way that it has come together; each time we get closer to my ideal of an anarchic journal of sounds and letters and ideas that I have been trying to put together for at least thirty years. Once again many thanks to Rob Ayling for giving me the opportunity to do this.
Things are actually going rather well at the moment, and the next wave of Gonzo grooviness is imminent. As you know, I already do various podcasts for Gonzo Web Radio and I am toying with the idea of expanding this to something special, and doing a series of podcasts featuring music unavailable elsewhere, especially for subscribers to this magazine.
Remember that it doesn't cost anything to subscribe, and that in doing so you are joining an elite, and rapidly expanding group of music fans who believe that we are not being given the music or the cultural coverage that we deserve. We are living in disturbing and strange times, but ultimately they are very interesting ones, and continuing to chronicle the Gonzoverse is an immensely rewarding thing to do. Thank you for reading.
Until next week,
Slainte
Jon Downes
(Editor) |
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