Monday 30 April 2012

"I AIN'T GOIN' OUT LIKE THAT" CYPRESS HILL . . . . HAD TO SHOOT OUT AND PICK UP SOME FAGS BEFORE SACKTIME, [THAT'S CIGARETTES BOYS] . . . . BEEN BLASTING 'BLACK SUNDAY' IN THE CAR LATELY . . . . AND WHY THE FUCK NOT . . . . HOW MANY GREAT TRACKS CAN YOU SQUEEZE ONTO ONE T.H.C LADEN ALBUM ???

Been almost twenty years and the Cypress posse and their debut release are still smokin, all the way through, right to the end of the roach, till there ain't no more to pack . . . . every single song just kills it and this one's my personal pick of the bunch, full of shithot rhyme and anti social intentions . . . . these homies were takin care of, and meant bizniz . . . . Captain O'Malley, better watch the fuck out !!!! This one's goin out to the crew at SX70's, a cool blog, all the time, everytime . . . . Stay Low, Be Supreme.

JUNGLE BROTHERS "BECAUSE I GOT IT LIKE THAT" . . . . APOLOGIES TO MY GROUP OF FOLLOWERS FOR TAKING UP SO MUCH SPACE ON YOUR SIDEBARS WITH THE LAST POST . . . . I WAS VERY GRUMPY AND FILLED TO THE GILLS WITH VITRIOL . . . .

So, now that I've managed to prise apart the pages of the latest, though somewhat ruined, edition of "Show Class", I'll leave you with this solid gold nugget by the Brothers from the Jungle . . . . happy trails groovers . . . . because I got it like that !!!!

DEAR AUSTRALIA POST, STOP SPENDING FUCKLOADS OF MY MONEY ON MORONIC, FUCKED UP, BIMBO, FEELGOOD ADS AND START DIRECTING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TOWARD TRAINING YOUR FUCKING LOBOTOMISED MONKEYS TO DELIVER OUR MAIL, ESPECIALLY MY NOW FUCKED 'SHOW CLASS' MAG, WITHOUT IT BEING INEXPLICABLY SOAKED, THEN WRAPPED IN A PLASTIC BAG ALLOWING THE PERFECT FUCKING ENVIRONMENT FOR ITS PAGES TO BECOME IRRETRIEVABLY STUCK TOGETHER !!!! YOU FUCKING @#@&!?#&$*%, THANKS A FUCKING LOT !!!!

MENTAL AS ANYTHING "BERZERK WARRIORS" . . . . I GUESS I'VE COME OVER ALL VIKINGY AND SCANDINAVIAN . . . . A GROOVY CLASSIC FROM AUSSIE ODDBALLS, THE MENTALS . . . . AN ODE TO THE RELATIONSHIP TUMULT WITHIN SWEDISH SUPERGROUP "ABBA" . . . . FUNNY, QUIRKY AND PERFECTLY DUMB !!!!

I had the pleasure of doing about a dozen supports with these loonies back in the early eighties, they were a complete hoot and a breath of fresh air among an over abundance of seriously downcast punks and goths . . . . songs about hangovers, classic Aussie cars, love robots, cats and dogs, hangovers, solo drinking, Santa Claus and hangovers to name but a few . . . .



My second band, The Bossanova Kids, played at the wedding of their drummer, [or was it their tour manager ?] and we were jamming with a couple of the guys with a full dance floor, swingin along nicely . . . . all of a sudden, the dancefloor parts to reveal an elderly lady lying prostrate on said floor, she turned out to be everybody's favourite matriarch, poor old dear had suffered a heart attack . . . . we obviously stopped playing, women are bawling, kids are screaming, ambulance arrives, first aid is administered and she's loaded into the back of the meat wagon and taken off to the vets, sorry, I mean hospital of course . . . .

Completely fucking killed the mood at the reception I can tell you, a bit bloody selfish and awfully inconvenient if you ask me, anyway, the old bird pulled through, the happy couple swayed off into the sunrise and eventually the mighty Mentals disolved into musical mediocrity. Nonetheless, they put out some great stuff, most notably the first four albums, and, as far as definitively Aussie acts go, they don't come any better . . . .

FROM LONGBOATS TO LONGBIKES . . . . SOME MAJORLY COOL, DECADE OLD FOOTAGE OF SWEDEN'S LONGEST RUNNING CUSTOM BIKE SHOW . . . . "NORRTALJE" . . . . OUTSIDE OF THE STATES, PROBABLY NO OTHER SHOW HAS THE HERITAGE OF THIS ONE . . . . 2001, NORRTALJE, THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY !!!

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, BUT IN SOME WAYS THE SWEDISH 'STYLE' OF CHOP FROM THE NINETIES ALMOST PRESAGED THE RETURN OF THE CLASSIC 'LONG BIKE' . . . . EVEN GOING BACK ANOTHER TEN YEARS BEFORE THIS WAS SHOT, THE SWEDES SEEM TO HAVE HAD A LONG BIKE LOVE AFFAIR AND THERE ARE SOME EXCELLENT EXAMPLES IN THIS VIDEO . . . .



A bunch of cool clips of motors on tables, a dual carb XLCH, a knuckle, big, tough, fat hogs, cool old school stuff, more long, long, long bikes, lots of bikes running big arsed rear rubber, those lowrider inspired 144 spoke jobs . . . . Brit bikes in various configurations, jerry cans as panniers, and a shitload of rides that hold up really well ten years later when so many from that period and earlier often come across as dated and part of a period specific festering fashion flirtation.

**** Kudos and massive thanks to Claus Weiergang for posting this window into our not too distant past on PooTube, cool stuff Claus, appreciated man.

Sunday 29 April 2012

"SYDNEY POOL SERVICES - THE DOCUMENTARY" . . . . I DON'T THINK THESE GUYS ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE HAWAIIAN CREW BUT THE INTENT AND THE BERZERK TUNNELED VISION FIXATION ON CLEARING AND SKATING BACKYARD POOLS IS . . . . POOLS, CONSTRUCTION, BODY PAINTING, NUDITY, IT'S ALL HERE FOLKS !!!!

ACTUALLY A SHIT HOT DOCO THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED, NOT ONLY FOR THE POOLS DISCOVERED, UNCOVERED, REMODELLED, RENOVATED AND SKATED, BUT FOR THE STORY OF THE DERELICT HOUSE, THE PROCESS, THE MURALS, THE BODY PAINTING, THE NUDIE STILLS AND THE FILM MAKER . . . . THE ENTIRE CAPER !!!!

THIS IS AUSTRALIA AND THIS IS HOW WE LIKE TO ROLL . . . . !!!!



**** A HUGE THANKS TO DEAN TIRKOT FOR MAKING THE FILM, SUPERVISING ALL THE ARTWORK AND GETTING THE SHIT DONE AND UP ON POOTUBE, UNREAL MATE !!!!

"A DAY AT THE POOL" TRAILER . . . . W.T.F IS IT WITH THIS . . . . ???? AN ABOUT TO BE RELEASED SKATE FILM FEATURING ALVA, OLSON, ADAMS, PETERS, PERALTA, RUML AND MORE . . . . APPARENTLY IT'S GOING TO THROW THE SKATEBOARDING WORLD INTO A GLOBAL CONNIPTION FIT . . . . HMMMMMM, I WONDER ???

I PICKED THIS UP ON "RAGE FOREVER, DIE NEVER" BLOG CARE OF RAGER KEVIN, [TA MUCHLY MATE] AND IT'S REALLY FLABBERED MY GAST . . . . MY BUTT IS ALREADY PUCKERING IN ANTICIPATION OF EXACTLY WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS ALL ABOUT . . . .

WILL STACEY BE SHOWN UP AS A BOGUS CASH GRABBER, WAS ALVA ACTUALLY AN ACTOR, WAS J-BOY A ROBOT FROM K-MART AND THE MASTER OF DISASTER A QUIET STAY AT HOME ???

IS THERE SOME PHANTOM DUDE BY THE NAME OF 'BENTON SHAKELY' TRIPPIN AROUND WHO WAS REALLY THE CHIEF CATALYST IN THE VERT/POOL SKATING REVOLUTION SO LONG ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOGTOWN CREW . . . . ????



Some of the theories postulated by viewers on the PooTube comments section include the utterly ridiculous claim it's about Ty 'Dull as Piss' Page, Duane gets a mention, [too young at the time for serious consideration I reckon] . . . . one guy makes the very plausable assertion that it could be a 'mockumentary', [that is a potential winner for mine] . . . . Benton Shakely . . . who the fuck are you ????

This will be bigger than "Animal Chin" and more elusive than Jack the Fucking Ripper . . . . doesn't matter if it turns out to be a Mockumentary, a pisstake, or a complete and legitimate revelation, [as my alter ego, 'Oldredun', yes that's me, commented on the PooTube site] it is bound to be a popular hit with skaters the world over . . . . I can't fucking wait . . . . "A Day at the Pool", oh yeah !!!!

BAD BRAINS - "I AGAINST I" THE ORIGINAL UNITED NATIONS OF PUNK . . . . SUPER TALENTED PLAYERS, MEGA INFLUENTIAL STYLISTS, COLOUR MEANT NOTHIN . . . . WAY BEFORE 'LIVING COLOUR' GOT INTO THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER . . . . BACK ON THE ROAD AND BLOWING MINDS ONCE AGAIN . . . . YEE HA !!!

Speed/punk/metal/reggae/fusionists way before anyone else, the most musically proficient punk act in the world at the time and now . . . . a magnificent musical melting pot of a band, maybe more folk should've taken the queue and got on board the love train . . . . maybe we still can, it ain't never to late to get shit sorted out, colour means nada, people is people, being a great bloke or a total cockhead has got nothin to to with race, creed, religion or political persuasion . . . . off for a thrash, enjoy. XXXX

TOM WAITS "16 SHELLS FROM A THIRTY-OUGHT-SIX" . . . . COME ON TOM, GARGLE ME SOME GRAVEL !!!! HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS MAN ??? SINGER, SONGWRITER, ENIGMA, ACTOR, COMMENTATOR, ORIGINAL, SHAPESHIFTER, BLOOZER, BOOZER . . . . ALWAYS A FAVE FOR ME, THE MAN WHO MADE ME WANNA GO BACK FROM THE FUTURE CIRCA '77 . . . . KILLER TRACK, COOL CLIP !!!

Reckon you'd be hard pressed to find another musician who has the respect of such a diverse range of fellow industry mega dudes and dudettes as Mr Waits . . . . one of my great regrets in life is going to see him in the early eighties and getting so fucked up I missed the gig . . . . unforgivable and dumb behaviour on my part !!!!



He has been breaking new ground in the musical context since the early seventies and all the while on his terms, never taken a backwards step in the face of executives, producers, shmoozers and losers. His approach to his chosen craft is unique and totally committed, absolute self belief and dedication to the cause . . . . acting has allowed him an opportunity to extend his talents further, 'Down By Law' being one highlight of several celluloid efforts, if you haven't seen any of them, make the effort and check em out . . . . like I said, I love the guy, a world without Tom Waits would be a dull and dreary place, touch wood, that shit won't be happenin for a long time yet !!!

Saturday 28 April 2012

"PSYCHO" THE BEASTS OF BOURBON 1984, FROM THE EPIC SWAMP/COUNTRY ALBUM 'THE AXEMAN'S JAZZ' . . . . AUSSIE'S FIRST POST PUNK, ALTERNATE 'SUPER GROUP' . . . . COMPRISING MEMBERS OF THE JOHNNY'S, THE SCIENTISTS, THE HOODOO GURU'S AND TEX DEADLY AND THE DUM DUMS . . . . IMPRESSIVELY COMPELLING DARK AND DISTURBING . . . . NATURALLY, I LOVED IT.

RECORDED OVER ONE TWENTY FOUR HOUR PERIOD WITH ENGINEER GENIUS TONY COHEN TWIDDLING NOBS, THIS LANDMARK DISC WAS STUFFED TO THE MAGGOT INFESTED EYEBALLS WITH TWANGY, TWISTED, COUNTRY INSPIRED SONGS REVOLVING AROUND DEATH, LOSS, TRAINS AND DESTRUCTION . . . .

TEX PERKINS ON LEAD VOCALS WAS THE LEAST WELL KNOWN OF UNDERGROUND LEGENDS SPENCER P JONES, JAMES BAKER, BORIS SUDJOVIC AND KIM SALMON, BUT ASSUMED TOTAL CONTROL WITH HIS MALEVOLENT, MENACING APPROACH TO HIS ROLE, PARTICULARLY ON THIS CLASSIC LEON PAYNE DITTY "PSYCHO" . . . .

DARK AND MENACING, HE TELLS THE TALE BEAUTIFULLY AND WOULD SOON GO ON TO FOLKLORIC STATUS HIMSELF WITH THE BEASTS AND THE CRUEL SEA.



You can take the following as gospel . . . . the last support my first band did with The Johnny's was just after 'The Axeman's Jazz' had been wrapped, Spencer was giving us the lowdown after the gig, it was done in one continuous session, 24 hours straight . . . . or bent, as the case may be.

In typical and classic rock and roll excess style, by completion, Tex, Spencer and James were literally carried out of the studio . . . . all with a massive case of way too much of everything, you can feel it when listening to the album, but, not unlike Keef on 'Exile on Main Street', it only adds to the brilliance of the final sound . . . .

Sometimes, nothing succeeds quite like total and over the top excess . . . . dig this killer version of "Psycho" by The Beasts of Bourbon . . . . then go out and get the album !!!

ISLE OF MAN TT 2010 SIDECAR RACE 'A' HIGHLIGHTS . . . . HAD A BIT OF A THING LOOKING FOR RACING OUTFITS OF LATE . . . . DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S ROAD, SPEEDWAY, OFFROAD OR ICE . . . . ALWAYS BEEN A REAL WINNER FOR MY ADRENAL GLAND . . . . HERE'S SOME MIGHTY RAPID RACING ACTION FROM THE I.O.M . . . . AND I DO MEAN RAPID, LIKE, FUCKING FAST !!!!

Not only are these guys traveling at upwards of 150 mph but they are on the very edge of adhesion with the tarmac at many points over the course of this notorious widow making circuit . . . . the I.O.M has never been reknown for holding surface heat to any great degree, any vehicle hurtling along at warp factor ten is constantly on the very precipice of breaking traction and becoming an airborne, two man death cart !!!!

The really cool thing about this particular footage is the sense of speed the viewer gets via the on board camera in tandem with the aerial shots as an overview of the course itself, care of North One T.V, I mean, these rocketeers are seriously flying . . . . just keep an eye on the guide posts and markers as they strobe by like you're on board one of those V.F.F.T [Very Fucking Fast Train] jiggers, like I said, top whack in the go fast stakes and all the while within a testicle's width of body breaking walls, bridges, houses, poles, mountains . . . . you get the idea, have a look, men in chairs, if ya can't rock + roll, don't fuckin come !!



**** Thanks to "Dipsta2000" for throwing it up on the old PooYube . . . good job son, stoked !!!

"THE BLACK FALCON", BY FALCON MOTORCYCLES . . . . THIS IS BIKE BUILDING TAKEN TO ITS HAND MADE EXTREME . . . . DAVIES, VINCENT AND IRVING WOULD'VE BEEN IN AWE OF THIS IMMACULATE BIT OF CUSTOM FABRICATION . . . . ABSOLUTELY STUNNING IN EVERY WAY, INSPIRATIONAL STUFF !!!

WE TEND TO FORGET SPECIFIC BIKES AND BUILDS THESE DAYS AMONG A CONSTANT DAILY DELUGE OF CURRENT CONTENDERS FLOODING THE INTERWEBNET THINGY, WE ARE BEING OVERLOADED WITH 'NOW' AT THE EXPENSE 'THEN', OF BEING ABLE TO INDULGE IN THE TIME HONOURED TRADITION OF PAWING OVER A MAGAZINE AND GETTING TO REALLY KNOW EACH AND EVERY DETAIL OF A PARTICULAR BIKE, APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE WORK INFUSED INTO THAT BIKE BY THE MIND AND HANDS BEHIND ITS INCEPTION AND SUBSEQUENT REALISATION . . . . I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE WITH THIS PIECE OF TWO WHEELED MAGNIFICENCE.



The "Black Falcon" Vincent build was started in around 2009, based on a '52 Black Shadow, it was to be a work of such monumentally time consuming dedication that to have it consigned to the bowels of forgotten history is a travisty and a tragedy of almost sinful dimensions . . . . the thing is one of  the most significant custom bikes of the era, excellence in engineering, construction, design aesthetics and the dogged pursuit of pulling it off so successfully should not be allowed to slip away and fade from view . . . .

Admitedly, I'm a life long Vincent fanatic, believing them to be the finest V-twin ever built, Series III specifically, so perhaps my opinion is just a tad jaundiced by that predisposition, but fuck that, if you can't see just how wonderful this gorgeous, exceptional build turned out to be, well, maybe you do need to spend some time analysing this mini doc as put together by The Los Angeles Times a year or so ago . . . . The Black Falcon, a singularly perfect motorcycle.

BURNING SENSATIONS "PABLO PICASSO" . . . . SUBSEQUENTLY, PABLO PICASSO WAS NEVER CALLED AN ASSHOLE . . . . GODDAMN DIPSHIT RODRIGUEZ GYPSY DILDO PUNKS, I'LL GET YOUR ASS . . . . ANYONE CARE FOR A PLATE OF SHRIMP . . . . WHAT ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP ?? FUCK THAT SHIT !!!!

Friday 27 April 2012

2012 "JOINTS" CUSTOM BIKE SHOW, THE RIDE IN . . . . POSTED ON POOTUBE BY 'UPARU', THANKS HEAPS MAN !!!! SOME WAY COOL SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM ONE OF THE MANY GREAT SHOWS IN JAPAN . . . . TOTAL BIKE NUTTERS AND SOME SERIOUSLY SCHWEET SICKLES . . . . CHECK IT OUT !!!!

THE JAPPY CREW REALLY KNOW HOW TO THROW A BIKE BASH, CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY ARSE OVER THERE ONE DAY SOON . . . . THE LEVEL OF FINISH AND ATTENTION TO PERFECTLY POLISHED DETAIL IS UNIFORMLY AMAZING . . . . A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF MASTERFULLY CRAFTED CUSTOM SCOOTS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR EYES WATER !!



**** MANY THNKS TO "UPARU" FOR PUTTING THIS VIDEO UP . . . . FANTASTIC MAN !!!!

"HISTORY OF THE CHOPPER" OR "RICH HISTORY FROM THE HOUSE OF SHAMROCK" . . . . SOME REALLY COOL BACKGROUND INFO STRAIGHT FROM THE IRISHMAN'S MOUTH [AT LEAST EMAIL] . . . . HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR CFL SIR, STRAIGHT UP OR TWEAKED ???

Much to my surprise and delight, I recieved an email from a bloke who has been known to tinker with the occasional bike or three and does a cracking blog by the name of "Applied Machete" . . . .

The note regarded my post about the El Forasteros and 'The History of the Chopper' from a few days back, Rich passed on some really cool details about the scoot he is featured riding in the intro to Jesse's doco. Yes, that's the handsome Irishman leaning against the wall then firin up the purple and white chop and riding off into the distance . . . .



As a lot of the hard core cognoscenti likely already know, the frame is one of the rare as hens teeth single downtube, spidey web gusseted, CFL frames produced by WCC back in the day, this one was done especially for the Shamrocker, Rich also said it was one of only three CFL's to have a Twin Cam fitted to it . . . .

Built in 2005 and incorporating many of Rich's custom touches Mr James clearly thought it was a you-beaut-scoot and decided to feature it and its creator in his upcoming doco. At this point, Jesse sent Jay Hodge out to Denver to pick up the bike, flew the Irish gent out to the City of Angels for the shoot, which the consumate showman/fabricator/builder/rider/writer nailed in one day, flew Rich back home then delivered the star of the show back to Denver.

Now, if that ain't a glowing endorsement for Irish Rich Custom Cycles and Shamrock Fabrication I don't know what the fuck is !!!! He's been around for yonks and has forgotten more about Harleys, chops, bobs, machining, wrenching, riding and the history thereof than most folk actually know. If you're not already following Applied Machete then get your act together and sort your shit out !!!

Irish Rich . . . Shamrockin in Denver Town, thanks for the info mate, too good !!

. . . . . OF COURSE, IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO LEAD INTO THIS . . . . THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING DICKIES WITH THEIR MANIC INTERPRETATION OF FLEAGLE, DROOPER, SNORKY AND BINGO'S FINEST . . . . 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 !!!!

"THE BANANA SPLITS THEME" . . . . ESPECIALLY FOR EVERYBODY'S FAVOURITE FRENCH MAMA, MISS OLIVIA BANANAS . . . . OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU DARLIN AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER . . . . CHERISH THE MEMORIES BIG MAMA . . . . XXXX

Wednesday 25 April 2012

THE LOUNGE LIZARDS "DO THE WRONG THING" . . . . SOME BENT AND PSYCHADELICALLY MIS-SHAPEN JAZZ . . . . ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THE 'BIG APPLE' IN SOME SEEDY, FILM NOIR DETECTIVE TALE . . . . GOTTA GET MY RECORD PLAYER REPAIRED, PUT THIS ON BEFORE BED AND SLIP OFF INTO BLACK DREAMS AND BAD SWEATS . . . . GET THE ALBUM, GET BENT !!!!

"PHOEBUS BEAT CLAN" . . . . A DOWN AND DIRTY, DEPRAVED AND DECAYING JOURNEY INTO THE VORTEX OF THE MAELSTROM . . . . THE SWEDISH SICKLE PSYCHO'S TWISTED TALE OF YOUTH GONE WRONG WITH NO POSSIBLE CHANCE OF REDEMPTION . . . . THE LORIKEET FROM HELL !!!

I'M SURE MANY HAVE PONDERED LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE STATE OF MIND OF THE BIG KAHUNA FROM THE RIGID HIPS ORGANISATION . . . . I KNOW I HAVE . . . . I'M HERE TO ASSURE HE IS IN FACT MORE DEEPLY DISTURBED, DEVIANTLY DEMENTED AND UNDENIABLY UNHINGED THAN EVEN HIS FULL TIME TEAM OF PSYSCHIATRIC ADVISERS COULD HAVE IMAGINED . . . .

But hey, it's all perfectly as things should be . . . . freshly back from the H.Q of his Stateside, Satanic Soulmate, Mister Hips has posted what could well be his Magnum Opus, his Musical Masterstroke in the key of Z# Demolished . . . . you must immediately hit the link or click on the post title and seek ye the true message from beyond the Twighlight Zone . . . . Nicke's latest, and undoubtedly greatest, foray into utterly compelling, disturbingly original rock and roll . . . .

THE ROCK OPERA GENRE HAS BEEN FOREVER TURNED ON ITS ARSE, "PHOEBUS BEAT CLAN" HAS COME TO DRAG YOU SCREAMING TO VAL HALLA . . . . SURRENDER TO IT NOW . . . . RESISTANCE IS USELESS . . . . HUMANITY'S CURDLED, RANK, STENCHING SOUL IS BEYOND SAVING . . . . WELL, IF NOT EXACTLY THAT, PRETTY CLOSE TO IT.

Rigid Hips Stockholm: PHOEBUS BEAT CLAN

***** Seriously though, give his post a read and a full listen . . . . the guy is a legitimate, if not fully warped, stone cold, multi talented, genius motherfucker . . . . mindblowing in the extreme !!!!

ANZAC DAY - ODE AND LAST POST - WE WILL REMEMBER THEM . . . . LEST WE FORGET . . . . FOR MY FATHER, COMMANDER K. A. WILLIAMS O.B.E ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY [RETD] 22/O4/22 - 04/08/95 . . . . KIWIS AND AUSSIES, ANZACS ONE AND ALL

Tuesday 24 April 2012

"THE REAL CHOPPER NARROW STRIKE" BY THE HIDEMOTO MOB . . . . TAKIN IT TO THE STREETS TOJO STYLE . . . . Y'ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I'VE DUG THE JAPANESE APPROACH TO AMERICANA, BIKES, CARS, MUSIC . . . . THEIR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO FAITHFULLY RECREATING THE SHIT THEY LOVE AND GIVIN IT THEIR OWN SPECIAL WASABE TWIST . . . . HIDEMOTO LAYIN DOWN SOME SERIOUS RUBBER !!!!

ARSE KICKIN SOUNDTRACK, BITUMEN BURNIN BIKE AND VERY TIDY PEDALLIN SKILLS . . . . DROPPIN THE H-D BOMB IN THE EPICENTRE OF TOWN . . . . SOME OF THIS OLDER ORIENTAL FOOTAGE GETS BETTER WITH AGE . . . . LIKE A SINGLE VINTAGE SAKE . . . . FIRE IN THE BELLY AND FURNACE IN THE HOLE . . . . TOTA, TORA, TORA !!!!

"CACKLEFEST 2010" [NHRR] WITH DON GARLITTS FROM 'BANGSHIFTVIDEO' . . . . I SUPPOSE THESE GUYS AND THEIR WEAPONS OF CHOICE WERE MY REAL HEROES AS A KID . . . . SEEING AND HEARING THIS OVER THE TOP VID ALMOST BRINGS ME TO TEARS . . . . SUPER SPECIAL SHIT, FULL ON !!!

TO BE HONEST, THIS AIN'T NO BIG DEAL, I SEE THIS SORT OF LINEUP EVERY OTHER DAY IN MY STREET . . . . JUST A CASUAL GET TOGETHER OF SOME OF THE MEANEST, TOUGHEST, COOLEST DIGGERS AND DRAGSTERS AND PILOTS EVER ASSEMBLED. WHERE WAS THE ROOM FOR THESE GUYS TO STASH THEIR BALLS  . . . . ????

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT SOME OF THE CLOSE UPS OF THE HEAD/EXHAUST ACTION, THE COLOUR OF THE FLAMES . . . . IMAGINE THE SMELL, THE SOUNDS, THE SHOCK WAVES ???? FUUUUUCK . . . . THIS IS THE REAL DEAL !!!!

THEN, AS A TOPPER, THE MAN HIMSELF, 'BIG DADDY' DON GARLITTS, SON, NOW HE'S A REAL MAN . . . . AS WERE THEY ALL . . . . WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES KID, IT DON'T GET ANY BIGGER OR BADDER THAN THIS . . . . THANKS TO 'BANGSHIFTVIDEO' !!!!



***** NOTE TO THE WHIPPERSNAPPERS, NOTICE THE POSITION OF THE FLAME BELCHING BIG BLOCKS ON ALL OF THESE RIGS . . . . THIS WAS BEFORE THINGS GOT SAFE AND NICE . . . . A BLOKE COULD GET SERIOUSLY FUCKED UP, MANY DID !!!

"CHROME AND HOT LEATHER" 1971 . . . . AND AT NO EXTRA COST, A YOUNG CHERYL LADD . . . . EVERY MAN AND HIS DOG WAS MILKING THE TITS OFF 'BIKER FLICKS' AT THIS STAGE, MANY OF WHICH BLEW CHUNKS . . . . THE ACTING ISN'T ANY BETTER IN THIS FOSSIL FILM BUT THE RIDING SHOTS ARE A1 FUCKING EXCELLENT . . . . AND SOME WAY COOL SCOOTS !!!!

I can remember seeing this advertised as playing at some old, arthouse type cinema in Brisbane when I was maybe eleven or twelve, I never got to see it then . . . . finally borrowed it from a video store [when hiring vids was a brand new deal, Beta and VHS !!] in nineteen eighty one when I was at Uni and contemplating dropping out, being 'hip' by drinking Heineken and smoking Luckies . . . .

The story sucked arse, the acting was abysmal, nonetheless, even then I was struck by the way better than average footage of the bikes and the riders, dudes pulling monos, a proper sense of speed, real tough lookin scoots and just some quality action all round . . . . most other B Grade biker flicks were a let down on the action bike side of things, and, be honest, who ever watched these fucking movies for the intellectual stimulus or for any other reason than the bikes ????



It's now forty years down the blacktop and having scoped this out several times in a row since jagging it after a lengthy search and deploy mission, I'm totally stoked and very chuffed with it !!!!

Curious thought came into my head . . . . who the fuck would ever own a Lincoln ???? Certainly not the Kennedy klan, nor me, everytime you read about them they're gettin written off and folks are coming over all kinda dead . . . . deadset the unluckiest car in American history !!!!

HOEDOWN #4 PART III . . . . JUST OVER ONE MINUTE'S WORTH OF REAL LIFE ACTION FOOTAGE BY THE "HOTRODHAVOC" CREW . . . . ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR USUAL LAID BACK, RESTFUL, SUBDUED MUSICAL BACKING . . . . NICE BIKES, NICE CARS, NICE PEEPS . . . . NICE !!!!

'WELCOME TO THE BOOMTOWN" DAVID + DAVID 1986 . . . . ONE HIT WONDER . . . . ??? THAT'S AS MAYBE I RECKON, I'D GIVE BOTH ARMS TO HAVE WRITTEN SOME SOCIAL OBSERVATION LIKE THIS . . . . I LIVE IN A BURG NOT UNLIKE A SCALED DOWN HOLLYWOOD . . . . FILLED TO THE GUNWHALES [PRONOUNCED GUNNELS] WITH PHONY, PHUCKED UP PHAKES AND SLIMY, LOW LIFE DEALERS AND STEALERS . . . . A FANTASTICALLY VIVID DESCENT INTO PERSONAL FAILURE AND FRIENDS SELF DESTRUCTION . . . . THEY WEREN'T NO PATRICK FUCKING HERNANDEZ !!!!

Pay attention to the lyrics, we all know a 'handsome Kevin', we've all seen a 'Miss Christina', chances are, if you're livin in a city like L.A or the Gold Coast, the Big Apple or Old London Town, you get to see it a bit more frequently and a little closer to home . . . . I always found it a hauntingly evocative tune and still do.

Occasionally, a 'one hit wonder' turns out to be a work of substance and significance, I believe that to be the case with the double David's 'Welcome to the Boomtown' . . . . don't sell yourself out !!!!

Monday 23 April 2012

LADY HUMP : LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MOVIE . . . . "RISE ABOVE (LOS ANGELES)" . . . . A GREAT PRODUCTION FROM THE STUDIO THAT BROUGHT YOU THE EPIC AWESOMENESS OF "THERE WILL BE BACON" AND THE SUAVE, DEBONAIR SOPHISTICATION OF "SEXY MEN WITH FEMALE GENITALIA" . . . . A WONDERFUL JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF THE CITY OF ANGELS . . . . FILMED AND PRESENTED IN "SPORTYVISION" !!!!!

Lady Hump: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Movie ... RISE ABOVE (LO...: It's Saturday, and it's time to present the sweat and tears of not a few people; Those who helped Lady Hump and the Gasser Lounge put the ri...

***** I'm such a fucking Philistine with the computer caper I failed to downsideloadup the thing correctly so please, revert to the old method of clicking on the link or on post title to check the cool work of Lucifer and Luscious Boy from "Lady Hump" and their cracking coverage of a really cool ride from a couple of weeks ago . . . . "Rise Above" !!!!

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH, OR INTO, SWEDEN'S WATER SUPPLY ???? THIS IS A MUST FOR SPORTSTER FANS, SOME COMPLETELY OFF THE CHART FOOTAGE FROM THE COUNTRY IN QUESTION . . . . THE HUNDRED CUBE S+S MILL AND ASSORTED DOO DADS . . . . ON THE ROAD, ON THE DIRT, STRAIGHT LINE . . . . THIS FUCKER IS SMOKIN HOT !!!!

I don't know what's going on in this part of Scandinavia, but it's clearly been happening for a long, long, time when you look at the number of significant mechanical and automotive genius types and product calling Sweden home . . . . drivers, riders and sliders in every form of motorsport, choppers, floppers and hoppers care of freak genius crew like Nicke Hips and Mr Le Beef . . . . and apparently dudes like this who like nothing more than stuffing ball tearing, sphincter puckering S+S big grunt motors in street rego'd Skirtsters . . . .



Some of you have undoubtedly sussed this freak footage before, for those who ain't, it's a fucking total gas, sights and sounds are wicked good . . . . the thing has a note that leaves a wet patch in the old y-fronts, all viscious intent and snarling growl and no farty, blarty, flatulence . . . . then there is the on road footage. followed by some ripper dirt and off road action, intermingled with some semi quarter mile stuff . . . .

What else does a lover of The Motor Company's only real performance ride want . . . . ???? That's what I figured, not a fucking thing !!!! I'd like to mention the following crew - Noot, Wes, Lovey, the Lady Humpers and Pat at DonorCycles, Sporty freaks one and all . . . . and especially Mister "KVADRUPEL", the insane rocketeer/owner/rider for posting it on PooTube, you rock !!!!!

FRENCH FRIED MANIACS, BITCHIN ROCKABILLY, ESCARGOT AU GO GO !! 'DUSTY RACE MOTORCYCLES' - SOUNDTRACK "SLIPPED MY MOUTH" BY CARL AND THE RHYTHM ALLSTARS . . . . FOR ALL OUR FRENCH FRIENDS AND THOSE DIRTY BOYS AT "SIDEBURN" . . . . GOIN FAST AND TURNING LEFT ON A BUNCH OF HAWGS AND SOME CLASSIC DIRT BASHERS . . . . TRES COOL MERDE !!!!

RIDIN FAST[ISH] AND ALL TURNIN LEFT, SOMEWHERE IN DEEPEST, DIRTIEST FRANCE A BUNCH OF TWO WHEELED TERRORISTS CUTTIN LOOSE ON SOME BIG OL' TWINS, ROOSTER TAILS, GARLIC SNAILS AND FLINGIN DIRT IN THE SAILS . . . . SOME REAL COOL BIKES BEING GIVEN THE CIRCLE WORKOUT IN STYLE, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT . . . . HAVIN SOME FUCKING FUN . . . . IT'S UNIVERSAL FOLKS !!!

BONUS IS THE BRILLIANT ROCKABILLY TRACK THE FROGGY BOYS HAVE FEATURED IN THE CLIP, TOTALLY AUTHENTIC SHIT, FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS A LONG AND LOYAL LOVE OF THE GENRE, "CARL AND THE RHYTHM ALLSTARS" HAIL FROM BOTH PORTUGAL AND FRANCE . . . . GOTTA LOVE AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF MONUMENTAL BASS SLAPPIN PROPORTIONS . . . . GIDDY UP MON AMIS !!!!

Sunday 22 April 2012

MEANWHILE, AT A TOP SECRET U.S MILITARY INSTALLATION SOMEWHERE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ADJACENT TO THE U.S.A - MEXICO BORDER . . . . A YOUNG MAN, OR WOMAN, IS GOING ABOUT HIS, OR HERS, CLASSIFIED MISSION . . . . HE'S ON A WAVELENGTH FAR FROM HOME . . . . "MEXICAN RADIO" WALL OF VOODOO . . . . I WISH I WAS IN TIJUANA, EATING BARBECUED IGUANA . . . .

A seminal outifit in hybridising post punk and new wave, [fuck, that's a term I hate !!] definitely out of left field and making music from a decidedly different kithcen, words like 'quirky' and 'eclectic' come to mind once more . . . . in an era when dirging dinosaurs like Journey, REO Sleepwagon and Blubberboy were still ambling about the musical landscape, Stan and the boys were a breath of fresh Zyklon B to the vast herds of mullet headed reptilians . . . . their strange and evocative melodies bringing the 'Middle American' psychosis of the time to a collective meltdown . . . . or something along those lines . . . .

This is for the Zen Bastard and Sir Ass of Fatness . . . . can't understand, just what does he say ???

"COLLEZIONE GIAPPONE - DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC" . . . . SADLY I DON'T SPEAK ITALIAN, [UNLESS IT'S ON A WINE LABEL] NOR DO I COMPREHEND JAPANESE . . . . DESPITE THAT, HAVING BEEN INSPIRED BY MATT MACHINE AND GONE OFF IN SEARCH OF SOME FILM OF WHAT I THINK IS THE SEXIEST ROAD BIKE EVER, THE ROUNDCASE 750 DUKE . . . . I BUMPED INTO THIS VIDEO . . . . THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER . . . . ONE FOR THE DUCATISTA/DUCATISTI.

THIS JAPANESE GUYS 'COLLEZIONE' IS FUCKING BERZERK, INSANE, MENTAL, OVER THE TOP . . . . A SMART REPLICA, AN M.H.R, MULTIPLE ROUNDCASES, 900's . . . . AND KNOWING THE FASTIDIOUS APPROACH OF THOSE FROM THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN TO THEIR HOBBIES/DISEASES/AFFLICTIONS, THEY'RE PROBABLY ALL NUMBER AND PART PERFECT . . . . 'PERIOD CORRECT' IS A MASSIVE UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!

I love all things motorcycle, with the exception of those grotesque unrideable two wheel turds spawned by the likes of OCC et al, I've always been a Trumpy guy until recently when it comes to personal preference, but I have consistently and perpetually been arse over tits in love with the early Duke roundcase twins . . . . aesthetically they're an 'eyefuck', sexy like a young Raquel, the lines of the thing, the motor from both sides, the note eminating from the pipes, the whole shaboinker !!!!

So, as I intimated in the post title, forget the language barriers, if you've got multilingual capabilities in Japanese and Italian, all the better, sit back, grab a Peroni or a Campari, even a nice glass of Barolo, maybe some stinky Italian cheese and get an eyefull of one seriously bellisimo batch of beautiful bevels . . . . fantastico !!!!

Saturday 21 April 2012

"RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME" DR. JOHN . . . . ESPECIALLY FOR 'HERMIT', FUNNIEST BLOGGER GOIN ROUND . . . . HE ALSO MADE MENTION OF THE GOOD DOCTOR ON THE 'ZON' BLOG REGARDING THE DEATH OF LEVON HELM . . . . THANKS TO ZON FOR ENLIGHTENING ME ON HIS ROLE IN 'THE RIGHT STUFF' TOO, DIDN'T HAVE THE FOGGIEST !!!!

IT'LL PROBABLY COME AS NO SURPRISE TO MANY OF YOU THAT WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS BITCHIN, FUNKY AS FUCK TUNE BACK IN MY FINAL YEAR OF JUNIOR SCHOOL, I JUST NATURALLY ASSUMED THE MAN WAS BLACK . . . . TO FIND OUT A YEAR OR SO INTO HIGH SCHOOL THAT HE WAS A WHITEY FREAKED MY SHIT OUT !!!! WHAT A SET OF PIPES, AND MAGICAL FINGERS, LOVE THE GUY AND EVERYTHING HE'S DONE, A GREAT REGRET THAT I AIN'T NEVER SEEN HIM LAYIN IT DOWN LIVE . . . . OH WELL, MAYBE ONE DAY . . . . FINGERS CROSSED !!



***** The Doc was initially going to be an 'axe slinger' in the distant, misty years of his musical youth . . . . however, an unfortunate 'incident' with a handgun at a club put paid to that career choice . . . . every cloud has a silver lining I suppose . . . .

"EL FORASTEROS" FROM 'THE HISTORY OF THE CHOPPER' . . . . A SPOT OF NOW OLD NEWS VID FOOTAGE OF EVEN OLDER NEWS ORIGINALS . . . . I AINT BUYIN INTO ANY 'SIDING WITH 1%er CLUBS' OR ANY PERSONAL FOR AND AGAINST MR JAMES . . . . IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RESPECT FOR WHERE IT ALL CAME FROM BACK IN THE DAY . . . . THESE GUYS ARE THE GENUINE ARTICLE, IT'S ABOUT THE BIKES AND THE FREEDOM . . . . NO HIGH DOLLAR DENIM THERE.

I was having a yarn to a mate of mine this morning, one of the old, first generation members of one of Aussie's now most notorious 1% clubs, known him for nigh on thirty years, along with a decent handful of others of his time . . . . a more straight up, lovely, honest bloke you couldn't meet, a man of his word and a fella who has earned my respect and admiration. A biker through and through.

These guys were part of the crew the world over that put it all on the line to follow their hearts, make the choice for better or for worse and live life according to their own set of rules, they were legitimate 'outlaws', living outside the usual rules and regulations of 'straight' society. They were and are, old school bikers, tough as teak, hard as nails and capable of fixing their shit on the side of the road and getting on their way with nothing more than some baling wire and an old stick.



My point is this, their common love, their shared and binding passion was choppers, even just bikes, before anything else . . . . the drugs, the booze, chicks, brawls, run ins with the law, all of it came second to being on the road, riding hard with your mates, your brothers in arms. Big Fella was saying how much things have changed, the emphasis on the 'criminal' aspect first, the obvious 'thug' element, the way it impacts on the older crew who have found the balance in life . . . . and most sadly for him, and many like him the world over, the almost insignificant levels of knowledge and passion for the bikes themselves and the daily ritual of throwing a leg over your 'iron horse' and flogging the living shit out of it, not to mention being able to even diagnose a problem let alone rectify it yourself . . . . some of the young blokes can't even fucking ride !!!!

I said I knew what he meant . . . . we finished our morning caffiene injections in our greasy, chipped, bike shop cups, said see ya later and went our seperate ways . . . . on the way home all I could think of was how much I looked up to him as a grommet collecting beer glasses at the pub they used to drink at and how not a fucking thing has transpired in the intervening thirty years to alter that initial opinion . . . . acknowledgement and respect.

VINTAGE 30's HILLCLIMBING YANKEE STYLE . . . . POSTED ON POOTUBE BY "HEAVYNGR" [FROM 'REAL.NOSTALGIA' ] FEATURING SOME COOL FOOTAGE OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBIN MOTO MEN . . . . I'D LOVE TO HAVE A CRACK AT THIS CAPER ONE DAY . . . . THAT'S DEFINITELY MAYBE !!!!

THERE'S SOMETHIN REAL 'BLOKEY' ABOUT STRADDLIN A BIG TWIN OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURE, POINTIN THE FUCKER AT A STEEP OLD HILL, GIVIN SAID FUCKER A REAL HANDFULL AND GOIN FOR BROKE IN WHAT OFTEN TURNS OUT TO BE A FULLY VAIN-GLORIOUS ATTEMPT AT MAKIN IT ALL THE WAY THE TOP OF PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED HILL . . . . IT'S ONE THING GIVIN IT A CRACK ON A PURPOSE BUILT DIRT DIGGER BUT I'M CERTAIN IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF TESTICLES ASTRIDE A 550 POUND HOGGLY . . . WAY DIFFERENT !!!!

Friday 20 April 2012

THE BAND, LEVON HELM ON VOCALS/DRUMS "THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN" FROM 'THE LAST WALTZ' . . . . GIG WAS CANCELLED, JUST LISTENING TO THE NEWS . . . . TOTALLY DEVASTATED, FAREWELL LEVON HELM, HIS LAST WALTZ HAS DRAWN TO A CLOSE . . . . A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TALENT . . . . FOREVER LOVED, REST IN PEACE . . . . NO MORE WORDS.

JIMI HENDRIX "CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC" . . . . GOTTA BE ONE OF THE BEST HENDRIX TUNES AND ALSO A RED HOT RIDIN PSYCHE UP SESSION . . . . OFF FOR A 300 klm THRASH TO DO A GIG FOR A MATE'S 40th . . . . GET TO GIG, DO GIG, TURN AROUND AND COME HOME . . . . GOOD TO GO !!!!

***** REGARDING THE LAST POST . . . . I THINK I MAY HAVE OVERSTATED THE CASE A TAD WHEN I SAID I COULD DIG IT, I ONLY MEANT ONCE OR TWICE . . . .WELL, ONCE . . . . I'M SO CONFUSED NOW . . . . I LIKE IT, NO I DON'T, YES I DO, NO I DON'T . . . . AHHH !!! SELF DOUBT, IT'S SUCH A DOWNER . . . . MAN.

SORRY, I HOPE UNADULTERATED JIMI CAN REDEEM MY REP SOMEWHAT . . . . LATER.

JANIS JOPLIN "MERCEDES BENZ" [MEDICINE HEAD MIX #2] . . . . THIS'LL PROBABLY PISS OFF A LOT OF THE 'PERIOD CORRECT' PURISTS, "YOU CAN'T MESS WITH JANIS !!!" . . . . FRANKLY MY DELICATE DEARS, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK . . . . ONLY DISCOVERED IT THE OTHER DAY ON ONE OF THE 4,529 CABLE MUSIC STATIONS . . . . BOOGIE ON DOWN AT 'CLUB 27' !!!!

I detest, as in, can't abide, loathe, hate etc, a hole lot souless, lifeless, offensively bland messings around with 'timeless' classics by tape loopin, drum machine totin, uninspired, no talent, rip off bums . . . . on the other hand, when it's done with empathy, understanding and a sympethetic ear and without the final result dumbing down and bastardising the original artists intent and character . . . . I can really dig it, and that is most definitely the case with this morphing of Janis' legendary "Mercedes Benz", the Queen of the gravel garglers delivery remains well and truly intact whilst being given a new and valid dimmension thanks to the Medicine Head dudes, whoever the fuck they may be . . . .



The funny thing was my just turned twelve darling daughter was trying to explain to me a few weeks ago that she liked a song 'about Mercedes Benz's by a band called Medicine Head' . . . . daddy didn't have a clue, thought it was another 'boy band thing', when I suggested that it could be Miss Joplin she dismissed me saying it was not one of 'my silly old tunes' . . . . kids say the darndest things !!!!

Thursday 19 April 2012

X "YOUR PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK" 1980 . . . . THIS IS THE MOTHERFUCKINLODE !!!! JUST HAD A YARN WITH THE HONOURABLE SIR ASS OF FATNESS WHICH PROMPTED ME TO GO ON A FISHING TRIP . . . . LOOKS LIKE I LANDED A MONSTER, COMPLETE WITH PERIOD CHOPS SIDE OF STAGE !!!!

SOUND QUALITY IS SHIT BUT SEEING THIS MONUMENTAL ACT LIVE AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR UNDERGROUND PUNK STATUS IS LIKE FINDING THE POT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW . . . EXENE CERVENKA, BILLY ZOOM, JOHN DOE AND D. J BONEBRAKE, THE MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN PUNK BAND OF THE PERIOD, NO ARGUMENT !!!

THIS IS RARE AS ROCKING HORSE SHIT SO DISREGARD THE SOUND. LISTEN BEYOND AND AROUND IT AND RELISH IN A GREAT BAND AT THEIR PEAK . . . . MEGA KUDOS AND BIG LOVE TO THE ASSMAN . . . . DIGGIN YOUR PASSION BUDDY, THANKS !!!

XTC, THE KINGS OF QUIRK WITH "ARE YOU RECIEVING ME" . . . . THE PERFECT SYNTHESIS OF POST PUNK ANGST AND POP SENSIBILITY . . . . ASCERBIC, WITTY, BITING AND BRISTLING WITH CYNICISM . . . . TOO FUCKING GOOD !!!!

ANDY PARTRIDGE, COLIN GOULDING AND CREW GAVE THE WORLD SOME OF THE GREATEST TUNES OF THE POST '77 EPOCH, UTTERLY UNIQUE AND COMPLETELY IN THEIR OWN GENRE . . . . SO FOCUSED WERE THEY AT WRITING  SHARP LYRICS IN CAHOOTS WITH SUPER QUIRKY, AMPED UP MELODIES THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE AT 'BRITISH STEEL' TRIED TO SUE THEM OVER THE CLASSIC "MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL . . . .

A BIT CLOSE TO THE BONE APPARENTLY OLD BOY, WE CAN'T HAVE THE PROLS MOCKING OUR ETONIAN/OXBRIDGE TRADITIONS, HEY WHAT, NOTHING WRONG WITH 'JOBS FOR THE BOYS' I SAY . . . . "LIVING THROUGH ANOTHER CUBA" ALONG WITH "GENERALS AND MAJORS" LIKELY HAD THE LADS FROM SWINDON ON THE 'MUST WATCH LIST' FOR MI5 FOR SOME TIME . . . .



Anyhoo, this is a wicked little ditty about the awkwardness of young love and hormone management from the dork/geek male perspective . . . . diggin being around the girl of your cream but never quite sure of what to do . . . . you good lookin types probably never felt that shit, but for those of us not endowed with 'the right profile', it was always a bit of a struggle . . . . XTC, love em !!!!

HOEDOWN #4, FURTHER UPDATES OF THE PICTORIAL KIND . . . . SOME DECENT STATIC SHOTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS RIDES AND THE KOOL KARS, A BIT OF 'ACTION' FOOTAGE THROWN IN AS WELL . . . . PRETTY COMPLETE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SHINDIG.

NOT SURE WHO I SHOULD CREDIT FOR THIS ONE . . . . 'KEVINHOG1' OR 'SNOWSVINYL', YOU GUYS CAN FIGHT IT OUT FOR THE RIGHTS . . . . I'M JUST PUTTIN IT OUT THERE !!!

GOOD TO SEE SOME UP CLOSE STILLS OF INDIVIDUAL BIKES AND THE FINER DETAILS ON MOTORS AND CONTROLS ETCETERA . . . . I ENJOYED IT, HOPE YOU DO TOO !!!



**** I really dig jazz so the first backing track don't bother me in the slightest, if you don't like it, turn the fucker down and blast out your own choice of vibes . . . . whatever, looks like 'Son of Bones' put on yet another cracking event, bring on number 5 !!!!

'ROCKERS' VIDEO BY THE LEGENDARY LEWIS LEATHERS . . . . THE TON UP BOYS LIVIN IT LARGE BACK IN THE DAY . . . . HAVE A LISTEN TO THE SANCTIMONIOUS COMMENTATOR . . . . WHAT A FUCKING WANKER !!!! BRILLIANT PERIOD PIECE OF SUB CULTURE HISTORY . . . . THANKS TO "007MI6006" FOR THE POOTUBE POST.

"CRUSH THE HIPSTERS WITH THE FIST OF OUR FREEDOM" . . . . 1950's EDUCATIONAL FILM ON THE DANGER OF 'HIPSTERS' . . . . BROUGHT TO YOU BY THAT WELL KNOWN CLOSET HOMOSEXUAL, J EDGAR HOOVER AND HIS TEAM AMERICA 'G MEN' . . . . EVEN THEN NOBODY LIKED A HIPSTER !!!

DIRTY DANCING, NASTY NARCOTICS, FAUX FATHER CHRISTMAS, GHASTLY GAYS, PUFFIN FOR PLEASURE AND PERVERTED POETRY . . . . FUCK ME !!! NO WONDER THAT KEROUAC, KESEY ET AL WERE GIVEN SUCH A HARD TIME BY THE FEDS . . . . THUS LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ROCK+ ROLL REVOLUTION OF THE LATE FIFTIES THAT CULMINATED IN THE ALMOST FABULOUS "SUMMER OF LOVE" . . . .

WATCH OUT FOR THE BROWN ACID CHILDREN . . . .



It wasn't just goin on in the States either, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the entire Western World was under the same idiotic government induced psychosis . . . . the one thing that still rings true is that Hipsters remain intrinsically uncool wherever they are . . . . "The Tragically Hip" !!!!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

999 - "HOMICIDE" . . . . DIDN'T EVEN REALISE THIS CLIP WAS ON POOTUBE . . . . '999' IS THE UNITED KINGDOM'S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER . . . . OURS IS '000' HERE IN OZ . . . . YOU KNOW A DISTURBING SIDE ISSUE OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM ???

BOTH THE U.K AND AUSTRALIA EXPERIENCE THOUSANDS OF UNINFORMED MORONS USING '911' WHEN TRYING TO DIAL IN AN EMERGENCY CALL EACH YEAR . . . . THE POWER OF AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE MEETS THE IGNORANCE OF THOSE WHO KNOW VITUALLY NOTHING OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY LIVE . . . . FUCKED UP SHIT THAT IS . . . . ANYWAY, OFF FOR A SQUIRT ON THE SKIRT, GOODNIGHT PEOPLES.

BMW R32, THE GREAT GRAND PAPPY OF THE LINE . . . . THE BIKE THAT PUT THE 'SPINNING PROPELLOR' ON THE MAP . . . . NOT UNLIKE 'THE MOTOR COMPANY', ESTABLISHING AN AESTHETIC AND TECHNICAL LINEAGE THAT STILL SURVIVES TODAY . . . . SEHR AUSGEZEICHNET !!!!

This was on the History Channel years ago, an excellent doco on a genuine landmark two wheeler that set precedents a plenty, also the definitive Art Deco style ride visually . . . . if anything, the R32 was a tad over engineered, not unlike some of the brilliant German military machinery of the Second World War, a propensity to over complicate things . . . . but screw those early growing pains, one fanastic piece of industrial design and destined from day one to become the classic it now is, like I said in the post title, sehr Ausgezeichnet . . . . that'd be Deutsch for fucking excellent !!!!

OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU "MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW" . . . . A PIECE OF TRADITIONAL AMERICAN HILLBILLY FOLK GIVEN THE ONCE OVER BY CLOONEY AND PALS IN THIS FUNNIER THAN A REALLY FUNNY THING FLICK . . . . THE CADENCES AND NUANCES OF THIS SPECIFICALLY REGIONAQL MUSICAL STYLE HAVE ALWAYS CAPTIVATED ME . . . . KINDA LIKE 'HAPPY PAIN' . . . .

I used to think George Clooney was just a glamour chump back in the days of that t.v series that propelled him into the broader public eye . . . . however, to be straight up, I now have a whole bunch of time for him as an actor and human being of substance . . . . this was a bloody monster good film, funny as, cool cast and cracker tunes/score, haven't checked it for a while but I'm figurin it'll be just as cool third or fourth time around . . . . anyway, break out the fiddles, hitch up your skirts and enjoy !!!!

"THE SOGGY BOTTOM BOYS" . . . . I WONDER IF THEY WERE ANY RELATION TO ELTON'S "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY" . . . . SHEEESH  ????



***** And no, Clooney and Turturro weren't singin . . . . I think it was the legend Bluegrass player and yodeller, Ralph Stanley . . . . if anyone knows otherwise, let me in on it, cheers.

DAVE FUSIAK'S CLASSIC 1916 HOGGLY 8 VALVE RACER REPLICA . . . . COMPLETE WITH START UP PEDALLING PROCEDURE . . . . SOOOO FUCKING COOL, SOOOO FUCKING BEAUTIFUL . . . . I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A HYSTERICALLY HISTORICAL TREASURE HUNTING PHASE . . . . BLAME IT ON HARRY V SUCHER, JUST HAVING A RE-READ . . . . AGAIN !!!!

BUZZ KANTER ['AMERICAN IRON' MAG] POSTED THIS ON POOTUBE DURING THE 2010 'CANONBALL', THE LONGHAUL RALLY FOR STREET REGO'D, PRE 1916 BIKES, SURE IT WAS BEING TRAILORED BUT WHO GIVES A RAT'S ARSE ???? NOT ME !!!



Such a magnificent example of this groundbreaking Harley, some filth close ups of the motor and also showing the gorgeous patina on the cycle parts, also some excellent sound of this near one hundred year old rocket in action . . . . this kinda shit totally gives me the horn . . . 110% certified cool !!!!

"FIRST RIDE" 2011 COURTESY OF FRISCO'S UTILITY BOARD SHOP, VANS AND THE BORN FREE TEAM . . . . KILLIN TWO STONES WITH ONE BIRD . . . . CLASSIC TUNE AND GROOVY VISUALS !!!!

Filmed in early 2011, this woulda been a bitchin in the 'warm California sun' . . . . heaps of scoots that many will recognise from mags and blogs, some too cool vans of the four wheel variety and some timeless vibes care of Stealers Wheel's early seventies gem, "Stuck in the Middle" . . . .

I've been to the U.S of A once and the sunshine there is so bloody lovely, not harsh and abrasive like Oz, no wonder it's such a great environment for year round motorbikin and hot roddin . . . . 



**** B.T.W - for those in places like Oz, En Zed etc lookin for a better range of Vans shoes than offered locally, Utility Board Shop in Frisco does international shipping and often gets hold of first release Syndicate stuff and other rarities if that's your bag . . . . even with shipping tacked on the price is still sharp as.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

GENERAL BUCK TURGIDSON - "MR PRESIDENT, WE MUST NOT ALLOWWWW, A MINESHAFT GAP !!!!" . . . . DR STRANGELOVE - " . . . MEIN FUHRER, I CAN WALK !!!" . . . . MEANWHILE, FAR, FAR AWAY AT 40,000ft, SLIM PICKENS' MAJOR T. J "KING" KONG RIDES THE BIG ONE TO IMMORTALITY.

Sorry, couldn't resist just one more scene . . . . George C Scott's Turgidson reaches a fit of pique while Sellers brings Strangelove to Ubergasm . . . . everything about this classic black and white piss take was on song . . . . acting, cast, director, character names . . . . absolutely fucking exceptional, still is !!!!
Re-visit or watch it if you haven't yet done so . . . . a lifetime experience . . . . guaranteed !!!!

"DR STRANGELOVE" . . . . IN THE DARK DAYS OF THE COLD WAR . . . . WHEN "M.A.D" WAS MORE THAN A SATIRICAL MAGAZINE . . . . WHEN PRESIDENT MERKIN MUFFLY LED THE FREE WORLD . . . . WHEN PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS WERE ON EVERYBODY'S LIPS . . . .

MY FAVOURITE FILM EVER . . . . HANDS DOWN . . . . DEEP, DARK AND SCARILY CLOSE TO THE MARK . . . . KUBRICK AND A MEGA CAST NAILED THE FEAR, THE PHOBIA AND FREAKOUT TO A TEE . . . . STILL UNAVAILABLE TO RENT OR BUY IN NORTH KOREA.

KENNY ROGERS AND THE FIRST EDITION "RUBY, DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN" . . . . KENNY'S VERSION OF THE GREAT MEL TILLIS TUNE GETS HIM OFF THE HOOK FOR A CAREER FULL OF SHMALTZY, LIMP, SOFTCOCK BALLADS AND BAD HAIR . . . . PAINTS A VIVID PORTRAIT OF A BROKEN MAN AND A CHEATIN WIFE . . . . TRULY MOVING STUFF !!!!

I can forgive ol' Kenny all his musical ordinariness and beige coloured blandness on account of his so excellently covering this Tillis penned masterpiece, not that I had a clue about Mel Tillis back when I was nine when this came out . . . . 'Ode to Billy Jo' always leads me onto thoughts of this and vice versa, the last verse is the killer, anyone who can't empathise with the narrator ain't got no soul . . . .

BOBBY GENTRY "ODE TO BILLY JOE" . . . . THIS TUNE USED TO GIVE ME THE CREEPS WHEN I WAS A LAD . . . . BUT HER VOICE JUST FLAT OUT ENTHRALLED ME, ATMOSPHERIC LIKE A MIST SHROUDED, LOUISIANA SWAMP. . . . STILL A SPOOKY, BLUESY, BACKWOODS TALE OF DARK INTRIGUE AND UNSPEAKABLE THINGS . . . . WHAT HAPPENS ON THE BRIDGE, STAYS ON THE BRIDGE . . . .

BOBBY GENTRY, SULTRY SOUTHERN SONGSTRESS . . . . EVERYTIME I HEAR IT, STILL PUTS THE GOOSEBUMPS UP MY ARMS . . . . THOUGHT THE FILM WAS A BUNCH OF SHITE, BUT THAT WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE THE WAY OF IT I GUESS . . . . HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T POSSESS A GOOD TRACK RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO TURNIN SONGS INTO FILMS !!!!

Monday 16 April 2012

DEXTER PENDLETON'S TRAINWRECK "STREETS OF FEAR" . . . . 'AH, KIDS THESE DAYS, THEY GOT NO FUCKIN RESPECT' [IN YOUR BEST OLD TIME NEW YOIK GANGSTER VOICE] . . . . YOU GOTTA DRAW A LINE SOMEWHERE . . . . MORE GUYS MY AGE AND A DECADE YOUNGER ARE DOIN JUST THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THEIR STREETS . . . . JUST SAYIN . . . .

Me and the lads with a little ditty about my part of the world, but I guess it's pretty universal in its theme, kiddies, have as much wacky, goofy, zany, offbeat kinda fun as you want . . . . just lay off mugging old ladies, beating drunks to death in parks, mindless destruction of parked cars that crew have invested blood, sweat and tears in . . . .

Just a modicum of respect for others, shoot the fuck out of each other if you like, just back up on fucking the lives of those who so clearly don't deserve your mindless, retarded wrath, get a clue !!!



Cause if you bring the shit to my street, there's a nice pack of older blokes who really won't cop it, we have the 'tools' and the inclination to use em and we don't fucking care . . . know wot I mean ????

1927 RUDGE - WHITWORTH 500cc RACER, 4 VALVE PENT HEAD, TWIN EXHAUST FIRECRACKER . . . . THE MOST ADVANCED SINGLE POT BIKE OF ITS DAY . . . . CHECK OUT ME GOOD MATE "LOVELESS" AT HIS BLOG FOR SOME GREAT STILLS . . . . ANOTHER MECHANICAL MARVEL !!!!

THE THING THAT REALLY GETS ME WITH THIS AWESOME SCOOT IS HOW CLOSE MANY CONTEMPORARY STREET TRACKER/BOBBER HYBRIDS PARALLEL THIS BRILLIANT JIGGER IN STYLE . . . . BARE BONES MINIMALISM, FRAME, BARS, TANK, BOX AND MOTOR, COUPLE OF ROLLIN THINGS AND YOU'RE OFF . . . .

Make no bones about it, this thing was light years ahead of everything else at the time, pushing the envelope from all directions, head design, porting, valve operation . . . . the whole box and dice, the basic concept was refined and advanced over the next decade but the basic platform remained the same . . . . one hell of a decent bike that was purpose built for the great TT circuits of the time, Ulster and I.O.M being chief among them . . . .

Get a squiz at the footage from "1962Vp" with some nice close ups of the donk and some fucking wicked on road stuff . . . . dig the bloody note this delightful old girl puts out . . . . he sure as shit ain't dawdling either . . . . as they used to say, "Don't trudge it . . . Rudge it !!!"



**** Seriously recommend having a cruise through Tim's "LOVELESS" Engineering blog, bikes of all persuasions, excellent hand fab work, random shots of beautiful country and an everchanging, esoteric and informed musical element, all linked with great yarns and tales to tie it all in . . . . love your work me old cock . . . . get that fucking motor sorted before I send the lads around !!!!

HIPPY KILLER HOEDOWN 2012 BY "PHELAN321" . . . . A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE WEEKEND'S HIPPY KILLER KOMING TOGHETHER . . . . LOOKS LIKE THE WEATHER STAYED RELATIVELY FINE . . . . 'IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA . . . . '

You So Cal guys and dolls have got a lot to be thankful for when it comes to weather that is pretty much year round conducive to sickle hoppin . . . . it's no real surprise why this part of the world will always be regarded as the spiritual home of go fast culture . . . . seemingly perpetually dry, covered in mile after mile of good quality black top, stacks of hot bike/hot rod friendly rural locations and the comensurate number of devotees to make staging counter cultural events like Kutty's Killer Fest a routine certainty . . . . I hope all who got along to number 4 had a groovy time at the gig !!!!


LESLIE PORTERFIELD . . . . I'LL FESS UP NOW, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS CHICK WHEN I SAW HER ON DISCOVERY SOME YEARS AGO . . . . COULD SHE BE THE WORLD'S PERFECT WOMAN . . . . ???? BEAUTY, BRAINS, BIKES AND 'BALLS' . . . . CAN I SAY 'BALLS' WITHOUT 'BUTCHING' HER UP ??

A REALLY COOL MINI DOCO POSTED ON POOTUBE BY "FILMFISCHER" COVERING THE GO FAST GIRL'S BONNEVILLE RECORD ATTEMPTS, HIGH SPEED GET OFF, CAREER HISTORY AND MORE . . . . LESLIE PORTEFIELD . . . . GO FAST, DON'T TURN LEFT !!!!



I can never figure out why some blokes feel uncomfortable or intimidated by members of the 'fairer sex' excelling in male dominated fields of endeavour . . . . I've always been of the opinion that I'd rather be in the presence of a gorgeous chick doing something super well than a guy doing a hamfisted fuck up.

In first and second form high school myself and my best mate took Home Ec classes while all the other blokes did Manual Arts . . . . we were called 'poofters' and girls and generally razzed by our mates who were making cutesy little tin boxes . . . . oh, yeah, we're gay . . . . spending an entire half day as the only two guys in a class of twenty five chicks making nice stuff to eat at a boarding school that served shit food three times a day . . . . ha ha ha !!!!!

GO GO GADGET GIRLY . . . . . !!!!! 

Sunday 15 April 2012

LIVING COLOUR "LOVE REARS UP IT UGLY HEAD" . . . . IT AIN'T FUNK, IT AIN'T SOUL, NOR R+B OR HIP HOP . . . . SORRY SOUTHERN FRIED BRETHREN, THIS IS ROCK AND FUCKING ROLL !!!!! THAT'S ALL I GOT, READ EM AND WEEP . . . . A BUNCH OF MULTI TALENTED BLACK GUYS KICKIN LATE EIGHTIES HAIRBALL, VANILLA HAIRSPRAY 'ROCK' IN THE TEETH !!!! LIVING COLOUR . . . . ROCK MY ROLL BOYS, GIDDY UP !!!!

MISS GIN WIGMORE "BLACK SHEEP" . . . . STRAIGHT OUTTA UN ZUD [THAT'S "N.Z" IN THEIR ACCENT] LAND OF SHEEP AND RUGBY . . . . I DON'T POST A SHITLOAD OF CONTEMPORARY STUFF BUT HERE'S AN EXCEPTION TO MY DROOL . . . . I'LL OUTLINE THE REASONS BELOW, BARE WITH ME . . . .

Firstly, I think it's a cool tune, lot's of sass and attitude without coming across as a vaccuous bimbo, edgy, assertive lyrical content, full-tilt vocal delivery in a sorta punk/motown kinda direction and there's a motorcycle in the mix as well . . . .

Alright guys, it's a tenuous link, just thought I'd give it a crack . . . . how about she's simply fucking gorgeous and I love the tune ????? We okay with that then . . . . ???? Go Gin Wigmore, let's hear it for the chicky babes . . . . !!!!!

ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN "TAKIN IT ALL" . . . . AS AN ADDITION TO THE HOEDOWN THROWDOWN, A NICE, CONCISE EXAMPLE OF ROCK + ROLL AT ITS FINEST . . . . IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE THE FORM TO AN ALIEN, THERE COULD BE NO BETTER EXAMPLE THAN THIS . . . . SUB TWO MINUTES, NICE TEMPO, SOOTHING VOCALS AND MELODY . . . . IF YA CAN'T ROCK + ROLL . . . . DON'T FUCKIN COME !!!!!

2nd ANNUAL HIPPY KILLER HOEDOWN HIGHLIGHTS, YEAH, I'D DIG TO GO . . . . FOR ALL THE UNLUCKY BASTARDS THE WORLD OVER WHO DON'T RESIDE IN CALIPHORNICATE . . . . A NICE, CONCISE OVERVIEW OF THE 2010 GIG . . . . COOL SOUNTRACK, GOOD FOCUS ON THE COOL SHIT . . . . CHEERS TO 'FILTH 'N SCUM' PRODUCTIONS FOR THE VID.

KUTTY NOTEBOOM AND THE HIPPY KILLERS FROM HELL HAVE BEEN PUTTIN THIS NEAT LITTLE SHEBANG ON FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS . . . . ALWAYS BEEN A LONG DISTANCE LOVER, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VIDEOS OF ALL THOSE POSTED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS . . . . HOPE ALL THOSE AT THIS WEEKEND'S BASH HAVE A PHAT TIME AND FOR THOSE WHO AIN'T, HOPE YOU GET A GOOD VIBE FROM THIS COOL CLIP.

Saturday 14 April 2012

LES RITA MITSOUKO ~ "C'EST COMME CA" . . . . THIS QUIRKY, OFFBEAT, TRIPPY POP NUGGET FLIPPED MY WIG OVER 25 YEARS AGO WHEN IT CAME OUT . . . . I ALWAYS FIGURED IT'D GO STRAIGHT TO THE TOP . . . . WHAT A SURPRISE TO DISCOVER THAT MANY AUSSIES ARE FREAKED OUT BY SHIT THAT ISN'T INSTANTLY ACCESSIBLE . . . . FOR THE BIG MAMA INTROSPECTION PROJECT, LOVE YA BABY !!!!

I love this tune, deadset different, and that's always a good start for me . . . . another one of the songs that reminds me of getting home from gigs in a chipper frame of out-of-itness, hooking into a couple of nice hot billys and kicking back with "Rage" on the box, churning out cool vibes until the sun finally got its shit together and bed would beckon . . . . jam on this one kids, get the disco clogs on, that's disco in the Euro sense . . . . keep an open mind now dears !!!!

**** Any chick sporting a dirty great Trumpy belt buckle was always a special treat as well . . .

MOTO GUZZI V-8 LAPS ISLE OF MAN 1996 . . . . I POSTED SOME GUFF ON THIS MOTORCYCLING MARVEL A MONTH AGO, NOW SOME MOVING PICTURES WITH SOUND . . . . AND A SHITLOAD OF OTHER GUZZI'S AT THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY BASH . . . . FOR ALL THE GUZZI GEEKS OUT THERE !!!!

500cc, QUAD CAM, 180 mph, LOTS OF EENIE WEENIE BITS GOING UP AND DOWN AND ROUND AND ROUND . . . . AND THIS WAS IN 1957 !!!! IT WAS NEVER A WORLD BEATER BUT JUST GETTING IT OUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVMENT THAT'S NEVER BEEN BETTERED . . . .

Some great up close shots of the motor, an interview with Bill Lomas, the legend pedaller who rode it in the Junior TT of '57, an entire onboard camera lap of the beast in action with Lomas as pilot and also featuring a majority of the entire range of classic Guzzi race bikes throughout their history . . . . hope you enjoy it.

THE JAM "FUNERAL PYRE" . . . . BUCKLER, FOXTON AND WELLER, WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU 'START' . . . . SO MANY KILLER TUNES, COMMITMENT TO THEIR COLLECTIVE CAUSE . . . . GENUINE POST PUNK CROSSOVER HEROES . . . . TUNE INTO BUCKLER'S DRUM TRACK . . . . UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE !!!!!

FROM '78 TO '82 THESE GUYS WERE THE FOSHIZZLE, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF POPULARITY, IN THIS CASE, UNLIKE REALITY SHOW INDUCED 'STARDOM', RIGHTLY DESERVED, BUT IN SHEER WEIGHT OF EXCELLENCE OF MATERIAL RELEASED . . . .

EVERY YEAR IN THE NME MUSIC POLL OF THAT PERIOD, BEST BAND, BEST SINGER, BEST GUITARIST, BEST SONGWRITER, BEST DRUMMER, BEST BASSIST, BEST RHYTHM SECTION, BEST SINGLE, BEST ALBUM, BEST HAIR, BEST SHOES, BEST FARTS, BEST BAND IN THE WHOLE FUCKING UNIVERSE TO THE TRUE BELIEVERS !!!



It was never just about Paul Weller or the Mod revival, it was about great tunes, lyrics that meant something, a collective belief and commitment to a cause that Britain felt more acutely than the Aussies or the Yanks . . . . the height of Thatcherism, mass unemployment, the dying days of the once great British Empire, these lads were at the forefront of the reaction against all that was the class derived system that was beating the working man into submission . . . . regardless of your political persuasions one could not deny them their absolute moral integrity . . . .

Enough of that, "Funeral Pyre" was never a huge number for the boys from Woking [?] but it is one all consuming, powerhouse, tour de force of rock and roll, overdriven guitar, Weller's vitriolic vocals and then, behind that, Foxton's precision, fluid, on the run bass line weaving through the utterly manic, staccato, big block, redline drum assault of the wonderful Rick Buckler . . . . his was a one speed machine on this intense and driving track, flat out !!!! The build up at the end is made even more remarkable because just as you think there is nowhere left to go, he finds overdrive and picks it up to a crescendo not equalled in modern popular music . . . .

As I said, killer song from a killer band that really made a difference . . . . The Jam, "Funeral Pyre".

CRO CUSTOMS BS1 . . . . IN THE NEVERENDING PURSUIT OF ALL THAT'S HIP, FASHIONABLE AND HAPPENING . . . . IT'S LITTLE WONDER THAT SO MANY THINGS OF REAL SUBSTANCE AND ENDURING QUALITY GET FORGOTTEN . . . . IT'S YESTERDAY'S NEWS TODAY'S RUBBISH WRAPPING BEFORE YOU CAN SAY, 'REMEMBER THAT . . . . '

CRO CUSTOMS KNOCKED OUT THIS BEWDIFUL SPORTY BASED, BOARDTRACKER INSPIRED THING A WHILE BACK NOW . . . . IT WAS A CUSTOMER SPECIFIED BUILD THAT THE CRO BROUGHT TO FRUITION WITH HIS USUAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND FORM . . . . IT'LL STILL BE LOOKIN A MILLION BUCKS WHEN MANY OTHER CUSTOMS ARE AS DATED AS VELOUR TRACK SUITS AND BRUSH DENIM UNDIES . . . .



Everything about this bike works, each seperate component in harmony with the rest, lines that flow into each other rather than skewing off into dyslpacia . . . . so intergrated is the final result that it could well have rolled off the assembly line like this . . . . moreover, it fucking works, bike to rider, rider to bike, the entire bloody shebang is organic and in sync with it's design brief . . . . to be riden hard and fast, just as God intended it . . . . yeah, I love this bike, then, now and always !!!!

Friday 13 April 2012

SONIC ANIMATION "THEOPHILUS THISTLER" 1999 . . . . ALRIGHT ASSMAN, I'LL SEE YOUR LONDON AND RAISE YOU A THISTLER . . . . OOOOOOOOH, IT'S A WIG, WIG, WIG WORLD . . . . "WHEN THE GOING GETS WEIRD, THE WEIRD TURN PRO" . . . . MADE IN OZ STUFF FROM A PARALLEL UNIVERSE.

The Honourable Sir Ass of Fatness posted a groovy track by 'Theophilus London' earlier tonight/today, which in turn got me struggling to remember the band responsible for this forgotten gem from late last century's Aussie indy pop scene . . . . then it erupted on me like a twelve year old schoolboy playing on his bed flute . . . .

Ah yes . . . . still happily married, recently bankrupt and madly accumulating Hot Wheels cars . . . . well, at least I got to keep the Hot Wheels . . . . from Melbourne, Sonic Animation and their almost hit single, the quirky as anything, "Theophilus Thistler" . . . . which, incidentally, has some bizarre tie in with a tongue twister from days of yore . . . . I don't know, you fuckin look it up !!!!!

LOOK UP THE WORD 'FIREBREATHING' IN THE DICTIONARY . . . . THE DEFINITION WILL LIKELY BE '1915 INDIAN 8 VALVE BOARDTRACKER IN FULL SONG' . . . . 100 YEARS OLD AND STILL KICKING ARSE . . . . BREAK OUT THE ASBESTOS UNDERWEAR FOLKS, OLD BELCHFIRE'S BACK IN TOWN . . . . THOSE JOCKEYS WERE BRAVE, BRAVE BOYS !!!!

YOU JUST GOTTA LOVE MAXIMUM FLAME OUT ON ANYTHING WITH AN INFERNALLY COMBUSTING MOTOR INVOLVED . . . . THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE BEST OF EM FOR MINE . . . . A LEGIT, UNRESTORED 1915 INDIAN 8 VALVE BOARDTRACKER BEING GIVEN A DECENT HANDFULL OF RPM . . . . MULTIPLE ORIFII SPEWING FORTH ENOUGH FLAME TO LEAVE THE SHORT AND CURLIES WELL AND TRULY SINGED . . . . YEE FUCKING HA !!!!



Having never seen this footage before, I was completely self lubricating while watching it the first ten or so times . . . . dig the blue flame coming out of the open ports in the heads as well as the exhausts proper . . . . I had no fucking idea this was how these insanely advanced for their time engines worked . . . . as if the eight open valve springs and rocker gear on a 100 mph, brakeless vee twin weren't enough . . . . you can also see the piston skirts doing their thang through the holes at the base of the barrel castings . . . .

Perhaps the North Koreans should go back to attempting to master some of this shit before they start lobbing rockets into the stratosphere . . . . or just concentrate on food for the masses  . . . . shit, where did that thought bubble come from . . . . sorry about that chief !!!

Many thanks to "YESTERDAYSNI" on PooTube for supplying this amazing footage of one of the greatest motorcycles ever produced . . . . the 1915 Indian 8 valve Boardtracker . . . . here's to flames on your todger and splinters in your bum . . . . !!!!!

"THE SCREAM" ANIMATION BY SEBASTIAN COSOR . . . . EDVARD MUNCH MEETS PINK FLOYD . . . . THIS IS BONA FIDE EXCEPTIONAL SHIT . . . . THE ORIGINAL MUNCH PIECE GOES UNDER THE HAMMER THIS WEEK . . . . ESTIMATED ASKING PRICE ???? ABOVE FIFTY MILLION BRITISH POUNDS . . . . GO ON, HAVE A CRACK !!!!

EDVARD MUNCH'S ICONIC EXPRESSIONIST WORK, 'THE SCREAM', GOES UNDER THE GAVEL IN LONDON THIS WEEK . . . . A DEFINITIVE PORTRAIT OF ISOLATION, FEAR OF DEATH AND THE VERY NATURE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION . . . .



I went lookin for a suitable something to post and fell onto this extraordinary animation by Sebastian Cosor . . . . this has absolutely laid me out, a stunning bit of genuine multi media genius . . . . dialogue is inspired by the intro to the Floyd classic, 'The Big Gig in the Sky', set beneath the surreal and so perfectly executed animation extension of Munch's original, haunting work . . . .

This an example of how combining disperate elements of a similar theme can result in a collective entity that excedes even the original pieces involved . . . . seriously, this is one of the most impressive art pieces I have experienced in my entire life . . . . thankyou Sebastian Cosor, Edvard Munch and Pink Floyd . . . . this is so fucking brilliant !!!!

LENINGRAD COWBOYS "THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING" . . . . TWENTY YEARS DOWN THE TRACK OF INSANE QUIFFS . . . . THE FREAKY FINS ARE STILL KICKING WINKLEPICKERED ARSE . . . . YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO HIP YOURSELF TO THESE SUB ARCTIC COOL CATS !!!!!

WHILE CHECKING OUT THE LATEST POST FROM 'HIGH OCTANE' I WAS REMINDED JUST HOW WACKY THESE SCANDINAVIAN, POINTY TOED, POMPADOURED BILLY ROCKERS WERE AND ARE . . . . PREDATING NEARLY ALL WEIRDO STUFF FROM THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN THEY BURST ONTO THE UNDERGROUND/ALTERNATE SCENE AROUND 1990 . . . . THEY HAVE A FUNKY FILM OUT THAT WAS A HOOT AT THE TIME AND I'M NOW OFF TO TRY AND LOCATE THE FUCKER . . . .

In the meantime, check out this trippin rendition of the classic Nancy Sinatra tune . . . . just keep your eyes well clear of their footwear . . . . winklepicker extremists if ever there were !!!!!

Thursday 12 April 2012

THE SADIES "THE HORSESHOE" RAT FINK VIDEO . . . . THESE CRAZY CANUCKS HAVE PLAYED WITH MUSICAL LUMINARIES GARTH HUDSON, NEIL YOUNG AND JOHN DOE . . . . GREAT MIX OF C+W, ROCKABILLY, SWAMPY TONK AND GARAGE PUNK . . . . AND A WAY COOL ROTH INSPIRED CLIP . . . . IT'S A GASSER !!!



I'll always be a Roth fan, one of my fondest childhood touchstones . . . . without the genius of his twisted mind, popular culture, not to mention Kustom Kulture, would be a cold and lifeless thing . . . .

Long live the King . . . . Ed "Big Daddy" Roth . . . . one gone cat now sadly long gone, never forgotten. 

RATFINK NAZI HELMET COMMERCIAL 1968 . . . . C'MON, JOIN THE 'IN CROWD', DON'T BE A SCENESTER OR A HIPSTER . . . . WITH ONE OF THESE 'PERIOD CORRECT' NAZI LIDS YOU CAN FINALLY JOIN THE 'CHOPPER CLUB' INNER CLIQUE . . . . YOU JUST CAN'T EVER TALK ABOUT IT . . . .



Back in the day when it was all relatively innocent, freak out the squares, piss off the parents and annoy the Po Po . . . . now you can only wear one without fear of retribution if it's been ratified by the Chopper Elite's Inner Sanctum . . . . wow, 'period correct' can be such a drag man !!!

AUSSIE STUNT POSTIE JUMPS CT110 WITH HILARIOUS RESULTS . . . . WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE BIKE HE CLAIMED IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH A KANGAROO . . . . THE MAIL MUST GET THROUGH, IT'S HOW WE ROLL DOWNUNDER !!!

Just found a full version on PooTube, so here it is . . . . one of the funniest things I've seen for ages, the kid gets it soooooooo wrong and pays the ultimate price . . . . total loss of dignity and cred, a forced resignation after the 'kangaroo story' came undone and now, worldwide derision and scorn courtesy of the entire episode being captured on film . . . .

A young bloke just can't fuck up in public these days without it becoming an interweb free for all . . . . so glad I grew up when I did.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

NEVER MIND THE SEX PISTOLS . . . . IT'S THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS WITH "HORROR MOVIES" . . . . ALWAYS UNDERNEATH THE RADAR, EVEN IN THE U.K . . . . RELEASED SOME TRULY ODDBALL. ECLECTIC STUFF THROUGHOUT THE EIGHTIES . . . . HMMMMM . . . . ATMOSPHERIC, INDEED OLD CHAP !!

I bought their "Last Supper" album in 1984 and spent a good chunk of the next three years getting shit faced with a couple of mates after gigs listening to it from beginning to hallucination inducing end, a real 'mood enhancer' for sure . . . . "Horror Movies" was one of the 'happy happy joy joy' tracks on the disc while a lot of the other tunes were kinda bleak, gloomy and just a bee's dick un-nerving . . . .

Seriously good shit, steal some from the interblognetweb if you can . . . . well worthy !!!

fIREHOSE "BRAVE CAPTAIN" . . . . TALK ABOUT UNDER RATED !!!! THESE GUYS WERE THE GEAR . . . . HAD THEIR OWN THING ABSOLUTELY GOIN ON . . . . THEN JUST SEEMED TO FADE INTO THE ETHER . . . . ANYHOO, IF SOMEBODY'S GOT SOME INFO, LET ME KNOW . . . . IN THE INTERIM, DIG ON THIS EIGHTIES GEM FROM fIREHOSE

THERE ARE DOUBTS IN YOUR ABILITY . . . . AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH !!!!

HERR VON HEINTZ, AKA THE STEG, AT 'PSYCHO CYCLES' SEATTLE . . . . KICKING THE SUCKER IN THE GUTS, WIELDING THE MAGIC TICKLER, SNIFFIN FOR 'FAT' . . . . I LOSE MY FUCKING NUT OVER SUBTLE SHIT DONE WELL . . . . READ ON DEAR VISITOR AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED . . . . VERILY I SAY UNTO YE . . . .

I'VE GOT A MAJOR HORN FOR THE STYLE OF CHOP STEG, INDIAN LARRY, ENGLISH DON AND CO HELPED REINTRODUCE BACK IN THE EARLY NINETIES . . . . NO NONSENSE, NO FRILLS, BUILT FOR SPEED FROM THE FIRST TURN OF THE FIRST NUT AND BOLT . . . .



On this particular example of the super freak, do-rag draped, post punk meister craftsman's creation, the thing that really raises my flag is the ever so fucking subtle outwards taper into mini megaphone on the pipes, what an exquisitely defined, completely fuck off illustration of less equalling so much more . . . . and then some !!!

Not every bike builder gets it . . . . simple as that . . . . you can't buy it, you don't just find it by reading the 'right' mags or checkin out the 'inner circle' blogs . . . . or even being part of the inner sanctum of the 'Chopper Club' elite . . . . you either have it or you don't . . . . I'm not sayin for a minute that I do, I ain't a 'builder', [ooooooooh !!] . . . . but I sure as fuck know it when I see it in somebody else's shit . . . . my 'eyes' - they're my gift . . . . think what you will on that, I really couldn't give a bag of sugar frosted scrotums . . . I'm right . . . kiss kiss, bang bang, motherfucker !!  

SPEEDWAY OUTFITS, THEN AND NOW COURTESY OF "64SMITHY" . . . . A CLASSIC VINCENT HACK AS THEY USED BE . . . . SO MANY OF THE BIG POMMY V-TWINS HAD THEIR GEARBOX CHOPPED OF TO GO OVAL TRACKING WITH A CHAIR . . . . DAMN SHAME FOR THE PURISTS . . . . THREE DECADES OF FUN FOR FANS AND TEAMS ALIKE . . . .

When I was working for Feeney San in the mid nineties, our shop mechanic, Phil Rowen and Little Bob, his swinger, were in the hunt for the Australian Speedway Sidecar title . . . . Phil was an ace spannerman and cracking pilot on an outfit, he and Little Bob were well in the hunt for the season's championship until one ugly get off in Newcastle . . . . . that saw both of em in hospital for weeks on end, they managed to jag second if I can remember correctly . . . .

Man, those things can fly, multi pot Jappy powerplants screaming into the redzone, super low centres of gravity and just the one gear, fearfully exciting racing, closely contended, crazy fuckin swingers climbin all over their rigs and the bloke on the 'bars going crosseyed as he focuses on the next apex . . . . I'm sure it's still a total rush these days, so if you get an opportunity go and check it out, hook in . . . . I love the smell of dirt in the evening . . . .



The Vincent thing is quite a sore point for many of the HRD officianados and purists around the world to this day . . . . more than a handfull were cut up to go flat trackin and why wouldn't you ??? A truck load of torque, ooddles of neddies when set up correctly and a unit construction motor that required only basic surgery to seperate the crank case from the box . . . . as speedway hacks, they were a dominant force in the U.K, Aussie and the States for twenty five plus years . . . .

The downer being that the supply of unbastardised Vinnies went from readily available, never cheap though, to scarcer than rocking horse shit within about a decade, without a doubt helping to force their value ever skywards . . . . I say 'give a shit' . . . . a racer's gotta do what a racer's gotta do, fuck the period correct party poopers, the Black Beauties went out with their lungs screaming, not sittin in some sterile shed, gathering dust or being polished to death with actual road miles a distant memory . . . . like Mr Young put it, "it's better to burn out, than to fade away . . . . rust never sleeps"

MARVIN GAYE "INNER CITY BLUES [MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER]" . . . . ALONG WITH THE GORGEOUS AND PERPETUALLY RELEVANT "WHAT'S GOING ON", ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING PROTEST SONGS OF THE TIME . . . . GAYE DESPERATELY WANTED TO MAKE A VALID CONTRIBUTION TO HIS PEOPLES STRUGGLE . . . . HE NAILED IT WITH A LEGEND ALBUM THAT STILL FLIES THE FLAG TODAY . . . .

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS . . . . FULLY UNIVERSAL AND TIMELESS . . . . A FUCKING TRAGEDY THAT HIS LIFE ENDED IN THE MANNER IT DID . . . . MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER . . . . AND SHED A TEAR AS WELL.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

MASSIVE ATTACK, "UNFINISHED SYMPATHY" . . . . DID I MENTION DAVID LYNCH BEFORE . . . . ???? THIS TUNE HAS NAGGED ME FOR TWENTY YEARS . . . . BRILLIANT BAND, EXCEPTIONALLY HAUNTING, ATMOSPHERIC MELODY . . . . . SHOT BY A BLOKE WHO BOUGHT IT ALL TOGETHER IN ONE, FELL, CONTINUOUS SWOOP . . . . DAVID LYNCH.



TOTALLY DID IT FOR ME THEN . . . . TOTALLY DOES IT FOR ME NOW . . . . THE TUNE, THE BAND AND THE CLIP . . . . ONE PERFECT UNION . . . . SLIGHTLY UNSETTLING IN THE DEFINITIVE LYNCH STYLE . . . . EXTRAORDINARY MELDING OF 'SOUND AND VISION'.

VINTAGE BOARDTRACK RACING AT DAYTONA . . . . FROM THE MARIK FAMILY VAULTS . . . . NOT ONE OF THE 'USUAL SUSPECTS', SOME GENUINE LOW MILEAGE FOOTAGE WITHOUT THE USUAL SHIT QUALITY, GENERIC, COCK ROCK SOUNDTRACK, TOTALLY WORTH THE TIME.

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR, THE REAL WIDTH OF THE TRACK, THE SHEER FUCKING NUMBER OF THOSE BOARDS AND THE EXTREMELY SPLINTERED AND POOR CONDITION OF SOME OF THE OUTER TRACK . . . . IMAGINE COMING OFF AND ENDING UP WITH A SLINTER THE SIZE OF A BROOMSTICK UP YOUR DATE . . . . OUCH !!!! THESE DUDES WERE CERTIFIED HELLMEN, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, 100 MPH IN 1920 MUST'VE SEEMED LIKE MACH 3 . . . . WHERE DID THEY PUT THEIR BALLS ???

AND, OF COURSE, THE FACT THAT ALL BIKES WERE PUTTING DOWN COPIOUS VOLUMES OF LUBRICANT ONTO THE TRACK SURFACE, CARE OF THEIR TOTAL LOSS SYSTEMS, THUS ENSURING THAT THOSE PRIMITIVE, SKINNY TIRES HAD MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY OF COMING UNSTUCK AT ABOUT THE TON, SPEARING YOU DOWN THE TRACK, OPTIMISING YOUR CHANCE OF A SPHINCTORIAL CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE SPLINTERED KIND . . . . OH YEAH . . . . GIMME SOME OF THAT SHIT !!!!

"BARBER-CYCLE" AND THE ULTRA RETRO-ESQUE D.A.H HILL CLIMBER AT THE 2011 NEW ORDER SHOW . . . . 'MR NAKASUGI' IS CLEARLY OBSESSED BEYOND MOST WHEN IT COMES TO FASTIDIOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL . . . . . UM, YEAH !!!!

AFTER HAVING READ THE GROOVY ARTICLE IN THE LATEST EDITION OF "DICE" MAG, I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD LAY MY HANDS ON SOME FOOTAGE OF THE PETRALI TRIBUTE BIKE THIS FREAK GENIUS PUT TOGETHER . . . . I FULLY DUDDED ON THAT SCORE BUT JAGGED A WINNER WITH THIS ONE . . . .



It's obviously a walk in the park to turn out this type of thing, just find any old EL, rip off the rocker covers, extend the rear end, throw some chain on the arse end and off you go, Mr Nakasugi surely had this up and chewing dirt in the space of a couple of weekends . . . . get fucked !!!

This piece of arch retro kit took over fifteen years to get from brainwave to hillside . . . . no detailed mechanical blueprints, no super macro photos, no easy access to the Harley archives or the museum, it was all done from his memory and vision . . . . bit by back to the future bit . . . .

He couldn't source an original period vert dirt monster, [the man's clearly not a sqillionaire], so the bloke decides to make his own, as you do. It's not an exact replica and it's not suposed to be, it's one beautiful lunatic's shrine to an old bike he adored, his personal ode to a two wheeled wonder from yesteryear . . . .

The exposed valve gear and push rods, total loss oil system, frame geometry, 'bars and front end, choice of gully gouging gear and the chain wrapped around the rear bag, all his own handiwork . . . . but the jigger is also stuffed to the gills with his own original and inspired touches, shit that ain't just about 'period correct' but function and reality . . . .

However you 'dice' it, I reckon Mr Nakasugi has built one wicked testomonial to a previous classic that is obviously very near and dear to his heart, that's the thing that truly blows my mind on this project . . . . well done son, mag fucking nificent !!!!

Monday 9 April 2012

ICE CUBE . . . . "IT WAS A GOOD DAY" . . . . FEELIN JUST A WEE BIT LIKE THE CUBE . . . . KICKIN BACK IN THE AFTERGLOW OF CUNTSTABLES PLOD AND PLOP AND THEIR MAGNANIMOUS GESTURE . . . . . I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A SAFE, HAPPY AND ENJOYABLE EASTER . . . . WHATEVER YOU'RE RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AND WHATEVER YOU'RE INTO . . . . KEEP EM ROLLIN, SHINY SIDE UP !!!!

"ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE" . . . . THE STORY OF 'BIG JOHN' WINTERGREEN . . . . A FIVE FOOT FOUR INCH MOTORCYCLE COP IN A SIX FOOT TWO INCH WORLD . . . . POSSIBLY THE HIGH POINT OF THE 'AMF YEARS' . . . . IF YOU COULD STRETCH IT THAT FAR !!!!

ROBERT BLAKE, HALF OF THE BAND 'CHICAGO', A SCRIPT FROM A CORN FLAKES BOX AND THE SHITTIEST ACTING SINCE THE LAST REALLY SHITTY ACTING FLICK . . . . . .

WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE . . . . ?????



I had a complete win today whilst out on the skirtster, against none other than John Q Law . . . . . I had done the old lane split from the turn left lane, [totally illegal and I knowed it Orificer], and moments later the blue and red Xmas tree appears behind me in the form of a very pissed off pair of Cuntstables, in a paddy wagon nonetheless . . . . how embarassing !!!

I pulled over, doffed my lid, exchanged not so pleasantries, explained why the tank was no longer orange in accordance with their computer readout and the meaning of FTWCO, admitted the error of my ways while they wrote down the vin number, I lit up a fag while the Orificers of the law went off to confer in regards to my flagrant flaunting of the rules of the road . . . . half a cigarette later . . . . "right, consider this an official caution, notify Main Roads of the colour change and have a good day" . . . .

WHAT THE FUCK ??? HAVE A GOOD DAY ??? NOT EVEN A HASSLE ABOUT DB LEVELS ??? A QUERY OVER NO BELT GUARD, OUTPUT COVER OR LACK OF FRONT FENDER ??? NO THREE POINTS AND $330 LARGE ??? LIKE I SAID . . . . WTF ????

Sometimes . . . . I guess you just get struck up the arse by a rainbow, today was a good day . . . .

SIDEBURN MAG'S "DIRT QUAKE" PREVIEW . . . . IF I WAS ANYWHERE WITHIN 500 MILES OF THIS GIG I'D GET MY RAGGED OLD ARSE THERE NO MATTER WHAT THE COST . . . . YOU SHOULD TOO . . . . SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GO FAST, TURN LEFT LUNATICS !!!!



VINTAGE SPEEDWAY RIGS, FLAT TRACKERS AND . . . . WAIT FOR IT . . . . A WHOLE MESS OF GOOSE LOONIES ON CHOPPERS GOING ROUNDY ROUNDS . . . . SHOULD BE A DIRTY, DEVILISHLY GOOD TIME . . . . GET ALONG AND SUPPORT THE LADS FROM 'SIDEBURN' AND THEIR LOCAL RACETRACK . . . . GO FAST, CHOP LEFT !!!!!

Saturday 7 April 2012

MILES DAVIS AND JOHN COLTRANE "SO WHAT" LIVE, FROM THE ALBUM, "KIND OF BLUE" . . . . NO ONE MAN HAS HAD THE INFLUENCE ON MODERN MUSICAL FORMS AS MILES DAVIS . . . . SORRY, NO ARGUMENT, END OF STORY, THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE !!!!

THE MAN WHO REDEFINED POPULAR MUSIC ON THREE OCCASIONS, WITHOUT HIM, NO SOUL, NO FUNK, NO CLASSIC R+B, NO ROCK+ROLL, NO HIP HOP, NO HOUSE, NO COOL . . . . JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF DULL WHITE BOY CROONERS . . . . SHIT !!!! I'D NECK MYSELF JUST CONTEMPLATING THAT FOR TOO LONG !!!

DAVIS WAS A ONE MAN MUSICAL WATERSHED . . . . A LEGITIMATE, CERTIFIED GENIUS, AMONG MANY HUGE TALENTS, HE WAS A SPECIAL KIND OF CAT . . . .



IF I HAD TO CHOOSE ONE, AND ONLY ONE ALBUM FOR THE "DESERT ISLAND" . . . . 'KIND OF BLUE" IS MY PICK . . . . I KNOW I SAID "LONDON CALLING" A WHILE BACK BUT TECHNICALLY, IT'S A DOUBLE ALBUM, NOT ONE SINGLE, OUTSTANDING DISC.

KICK BACK, POUR YOURSELF SOMETHIN SMOOTH, LIGHT UP AND ENJOY 'SO WHAT'.

FEEEEEL IT . . . . DON'T FIGHT IT !!!!

JOE COCKER "CRY ME A RIVER" 1970 FROM 'MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN' . . . . FROM ONE GREAT LIVE GIG TO ANOTHER, THIS WAS THE TOUR THAT FULLY BROKE THE STATES WIDE OPEN FOR THE MAN FROM SHEFFIELD . . . . IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME I TWEAKED THAT ROCK+ROLL WAS THE MUSIC OF THE DEVIL . . . . AT LEAST IN MOTHER'S EYES AND EARS !!!!

I can vividly remember coming home from rugby on a cold as hell Canberra morning in 1971 and turning on the telly to try and sneak a look at GTK, ['Get To Know' was Aussie's hippest music show] Cocker was touring and had just been busted for possession of the evil green weed in Adelaide . . . .


Anyway . . . . mum was in the kitchen preparing lunch when this very clip came on, she must've heard the words 'Joe Cocker' and guessed the rest upon hearing the tune . . . . she came screaming into the living room yelling 'turn it off, get that thing off now ! I'll have no druggies in this house on my television !!' . . . so the first forty five seconds was all I got to see until about three years later at boarding school.

What did stick with me was the 'nature' of the performance, the passion, the freedom, the total lack of restraint, the complete absence of any pretension . . . . not a thing has changed, this tune, this performance, this bloke, this band . . . . from beginning to end, especially Leon counting back in, still makes the hair on the tip of my penis stand to attention . . . . or something like that.

Everyone on that stage realises they are part of something truly special, a genuine moment in time that will be recounted and recalled forever . . . . just dig the way the singers and players are all looking at Cocker, at each other . . . . they 'knew it' . . . . this was the real deal !!! So, come on and cry me a fucking river !!!!

LUTHER VANDROSS "AIN'T NO STOPPIN US NOW" 1995 . . . . THE MAN HAD SO MUCH SOUL, AN AWESOME RENDITION OF THE CLASSIC McFADDEN AND WHITEHEAD TUNE . . . . COMPLETE WITH A CRACKING 23,701 PIECE BAND . . . . LIVE GIGS DON'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS . . . . R.I.P THE BIG MAN !!!!

LIFE IS JUST TOO FUCKING SHORT TO HAVE YOUR ENJOYMENT POTENTIAL LIMITED BY HARD AND FAST RULES OF LIKING THIS AND HATING THAT . . . . WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC I'VE ALWAYS HAD EXTREMELY BROAD AND DIVERGENT TASTE . . . . NOT EVEN THE INTERVENTION OF PUNK OR PEER GROUP PRESSURE COULD KILL THAT OFF . . . .

I ONCE BOUGHT 'OFF THE WALL' AT THE SAME TIME AS 'GIVE EM ENOUGH ROPE' AND 'IN THROUGH THE OUTDOOR' . . . . LIKE BIKES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE THAT I LOVE, AS LONG AS IT'S GOOD SHIT, I'M INTO IT . . . . I'VE JUST NEVER BEEN BIG ON 'B' GRADE AND ORDINARY . . . . FUCK THAT FOR A JOKE !!!

NOW . . . . MR LUTHER VANDROSS AND A CAST OF THOUSANDS . . . . SOULED OUT !!!!

1973 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP - THE YAMAHA PERSPECTIVE . . . . '73 SAW THE INTRO OF THE FIRST 'MONOSHOCK' ON HAKAN ANDERSSON'S 250 . . . . FOREVER SHIFTING THE EXPECTATIONS ON SUSPENSION TRAVEL AND RENDERING OBSOLETE ALL PREVIOUS THINKING . . . .

THE '73 SEASON ALSO SAW THE FIRST OUTING OF THE BRAND NEW 125cc CLASS AND THE BABY SCREAMERS WERE A KNOCKOUT FROM THE GET GO . . . .

AMONG THE LIKES OF TOUR VETERANS DE COSTER, ROBERT, JONSON AND ANDERSSON, THE YOUNG AMERICAN, BRAD LACKEY AND BULTACO LEGEND, JIM POMEROY . . . . SOME GREAT FOOTAGE OF CARLSBAD AS WELL . . . . OLD SCHOOL, BLOOD PISSING MOTOCROSS ACTION !!!!



In regards to the Monoshock caper, it could well have ended up being Suzuki's only the head honchos from the factory saw no merit in it, despite De Coster having given it a right rave up after being turned onto it courtesy of it's Swedish [?] inventor . . . . a curious irony is that the engineer dude at Yamaha who realised this new fangled bouncy thing might be worth a squirt or two of the proverbial billy goat's piss was named . . . . of course . . . . Suzuki !!!!

Andersson, who dominated the 250cc class that year and smashed the title, wasn't initially convinced either . . . . his first two or three races were done using the traditional set up, then he switched to the mono version . . . . in the upshot of it all by seasons end, the reality was that the suspension itself likely only played a third string role behind Andersson's insane talent and the utterly superior power and performance of the Triple Tuning Fork Factory's donk . . . .

Even though it still took until the early eighties for most manufacturers to get their own one springer bikes on the track, the paradigm shifted never to return . . . . rear shocks started canting further forward, suspension travel distance became the primary pursuit, traditional frame geometries were now part of the past . . . . motocross was entering a new age . . . .

Friday 6 April 2012

BMW R51/3 1951 . . . . POSTED ON POOTUBE BY A GREEK GENT GOING BY THE MONIKER OF 'ROUSMAK' . . . . AN IMMACULATE RESTO OF ONE OF THE GREAT POST WAR BIKES . . . . IT AIN'T 'EXCITING' BUT, FERK, IT'S BLOODY GORGEOUS !!! FOR 'MANIVESTO' . . . . HAPPY EASTER BROTHER, YASSOU !!!

A FRIEND OF MY DAD'S HAD ONE OF THESE BEEMERS WHEN I WAS A KID IN DARWIN IN THE LATE SIXTIES . . . . HE NEVER RODE THE BEAST MUCH BUT DID LET ME SIT ON IT DOWN IN HIS GARAGE WHEN ALL THE ADULTS WERE UPSTAIRS GETTING THEIR COLLECTIVE FREAK ON . . . . CHEERS LIEUTENANT TARRANT . . . . . I STILL CHERISH THE MEMORY.



Clearly showing the heritage and stylistic lineage going back to the Bauhaus inspired classic R32, the 5 series Kraut mosheens were brilliant pieces of design, long lived, reliable, relatively nimble, bulletproof, tractable and, to those who went for their unique aesthetic appeal, things of real and carefully considered Teutonic beauty. Ergonomics were an element of design excellence that BMW took to levels that were unequalled by any other manufacturer for decades to come . . . .

Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alles . . . . absofuckinglutely as far as this jigger is concerned !!!

MY FAVOURITE EPISODE OF DAVID LYNCH'S "DUMBLAND" SERIES OF 'STOP/GO' ANIMATIONS . . . . UNSETTLING, DARK, BROODING, MALEVOLENT, UNCOMFORTABLE, CONFRONTING, DISTORTED, IN YOUR FACE . . . . DAVID LYNCH TO A TEE REALLY.

THIS SERIES OF SIMPLE ANIMATION CLIPS WERE RELEASED SOME NINE OR SO YEARS AGO . . . . ODDLY, TO NOT NECESSARILY GREAT PUBLIC ACCLAIM . . . . SEEMS IT FREAKED A LOT OF FOLK OUT, NO SURPRISES THERE I GUESS, GIVEN LYNCH'S BODY OF WORK, INCLUDING . . . . 'ERASERHEAD', 'BLUE VELVET', 'DUNE' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'.



Pushing people to confront themselves, their society and its ills, addressing issues often left under the carpets of modern day domestic normality . . . . these have always been the aims and guiding lights for many artists of all persuasions, I think this is especially true of David Lynch and his catalogue of cinematic work.

Thanks to Dreadlock Dave for turning me onto "Dumbland" way back when . . . . heavy stuff, still sets my moral compass on 'spin' at times . . . . social commentary like his always does, if you're livin next door to crew like the characters depicted in "Dumbland" . . . . get the fuck out now !!!!

"QUADROPHENIA" . . . . JIMMY'S CUTSIE MELTDOWN SCENE . . . . THIS IS A TYPICAL END RESULT OF MIXING FAR TOO MANY MIRRORS WITH EXCESSIVE INGESTION OF VARIOUS PHARMACEUTICALS . . . . IN TANDEM WITH PACKING WAY TOO MUCH ANGST IN YOUR OH SO TIGHT, TAILORED PANTS . . . .

REMEMBER . . . . "DRUGS ARE BAD . . . . AND SOMETIMES, IT'S ALRIGHT TO CRY . . . . "



Released in 1980, 'Quadrophenia' slid right into the post punk sixties revival and fascination with all the key style lines of the time . . . . written and concieved by Pete Townshend of The Who, it was a well executed and assembled overview of the heyday of the Mod vs Rocker era . . . . the key scenes focused on a recreation of the riots at Brighton from the day . . . .

Oodles of sharp dressed young blokes and chicks, astride Vespas and Lambrettas covered in more mirrors and extaneous lights than you could throw at sideshow, all gulping down copious quantities of uppers . . . . the Rockers, appropriately kitted out in Lewis leathers and boots, Beezers and Trumpys on the pin, all gulping down copious quantities of lager . . . . it was in 'Quadrophenia' that the superb contemporary Brit actor, Ray Winstone, got his start up role as the rocker/one time mate of Jimmy the Pratt . . . . Sting, at the time with soon to be global superstars, The Police, also got the nod to play the role of Ace Face, King of the Mods . . . .

All of a sudden, every major urban centre from Sydney to Cincinatti had its own Mods and Rockers scene happening . . . . along with Skins of varying 'types', punks, teds, new bromantics the last of the disco ducks . . . . it was a cool flick then and still stands the test of time pretty well . . . . soundtrack was loaded with some cracking rhythm and blues, a bit of soul and obviously The Who . . . .

The title, "Quadrophenia", accurately describes the principle character, Jimmy, and his final dramatic meltdown and realisation that, like most things in life, in the ultimate washup, all the flash suits, good drugs, pimped out scooters and huge parties can end up feeling reasonably worthless, shallow and very, very fleeting . . . . . hold onto your friends, enjoy their company, cherish that shit, it's for real . . . .

Thursday 5 April 2012

999 . . . . "EMERGENCY" . . . . THIS ONE'S FOR ME GOOD MATE LOVEY OVER IN DELIGHTFULLY IDYLLIC, SEMI RURAL, DERBYSHIRE . . . . "LOVELESS BLOGSPOT" IS A MUSICAL, MOTORBIKIN, COUNTER CULTURAL, HISTORY LESSON AND WORTH SIGNING UP FOR . . . . GO HARD, YA BIG SOFT LAD, LOVE YA WORK AND YOUR SOUL BUDDY !!!



999 . . . . DO SOME RESEARCH IF YOU DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THEM, A MESS OF GREAT TUNES FROM THE IMMEDIATE SECOND GENERATION OF POMMY POST PUNK BANDS CIRCA '78 - '81 . . . . GIVE YOURSELF A TITANIC REACTION . . . . YOU TOO, MR BALDY TAT NO MOTOR MAN !!!

"HELL'S ANGELS '69" . . . . TRIED TO WATCH ONE OF THE CLASSIC BIKE CULT FLICKS . . . . WAS SO WASTED ON PAINKILLERS THE WHOLE EXERCISE WAS A BLUR . . . . BUT IT REKINDLED MY DESIRE FOR POMMY DESERT SLEDS AND THE ANOMALOUS SIGHT OF THE H.A GUYS ON THEIR FINAL FLOG THROUGH THE SCRUB IN THIS 1969 CELLULOID GEM . . . .

SCRUB BASHIN WITH THE BIG RED MACHINE . . . . JUST SOME GOOD OLD CLEAN, FUN IN THE SANDY SUN . . . . NO SHOVELS, PANS OR KNUCKS REQUIRED HERE !!!



THE PERIOD'S HUSKY WAS IN MY OPINION THE PRETTIEST DIRT BIKE UP UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE "ELSINORE" IN '73 . . . . KILLER STYLE, SHITLOADS OF OIL DRIPPING POWER AND ALL KINDA ARSE ABOUT JUST TO KEEP EVERYBODY ON THEIR SIZE 13 TOES . . . .

"HELL'S ANGELS '69", GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND CHECK IT OUT AGAIN, ALWAYS A BUZZ !!!!

R L BURNSIDE . . . . "IT'S BAD YOU KNOW" . . . . MISSISSIPPI MOUNTAIN BLUES MEETS TECHNO TAPE LOOP HEADS . . . . 96 HOURS OF PAIN, PUSTULENT PUTRESENCE AND A TOTAL LACK OF ENTHUSIASM . . . . BUT EVERYTHING'S COMING UP SMELLING OF DOGSHIT . . . . BACK ON TRACK AND READY TO TURN THE EASTER BUNNY INTO CHOCOLATE COATED ROADKILL !!!!

AS THE DAYGLO LADS OF POMMY PUNK, 999, ONCE PUT IT . . . . "I'M BACK, IN FULL ATTACK" . . . . AFTER THE BEST PART OF A WEEK OFF LIFE WITH A TOOTHACHE GENERATED BY AN ABCESS THAT HAD MY SWOLLEN FACE LOOKING LIKE THE ELEPHANT MAN . . . . PAIN THAT MADE MY BROKEN LEG, WRISTS, COLLAR BONES, RIBS, FINGERS AND TOES SEEM LIKE A DODDLE . . . . I'M GOOD TO GO.

IT'S ALL BEEN SORTED COURTESY OF THREE ROOT CANALS, FOUR BOXES OF PANODIENE FORTE AND THREE TRIPLE DOSE REPEATS OF ANTIBIOTICS . . . . BY JOVE, I AM CURED, MADE WHOLE AND SET FREE . . . . THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WAS NOT WHAT SEEMED AT SOME MOMENTS TO BE, AN ONCOMING TRAIN !!!!



I'm pretty good with pain usually, like a lot of us, broken bones, cuts, abrasions, appendicitis, falls, dislocations, tire irons to the temple, face plants . . . . get over it, get up and get back on . . . . but this shit, this is some form of hurt sent from the very heart of Satans sphincter . . . . I'd never even had a filling until I was nearly thirty, then had four wisdom teeth pulled, a couple more fillings, then the clincher . . . . the drill that graunched into a not correctly anaesthetised root zone . . . . instant, white knuckle, little boy scared freakout.

This sordid saga of pain started last Saturday night and the worst of it was finally over by mid arvo yesterday . . . . the entire left side of what is a fairly fuckin ugly mug normally, swelled up like an Elephant Man balloon, for seventy two torturous hours it felt like someone was jabbing me in the jaw with a hot needle . . . . fucking horrendous !!!!

Then when it was being cleaned out, preparatory to root canal stuff, the taste and stench of the foul shit that flooded my mouth caused me to chunder in the mouth wash basin . . . . my mate the dentist was cool, but it disturbed the bejabbers out of his gorgeous, young nurse . . . . .

Only one downside in a post-op sense . . . . because there is still quite a bit of pustulescent, stinking crud in my sinus area I am still almost brought to maximum gag reflex control capacity once or twice every hour when the stench/taste of something akin to dogshit mixed with cabbage fart floods the back of my olfactory sensors . . . . utterly and completely nauseating . . . . but nothing that can't be minimised by massive doses of burning rubber and the beautiful bouquet of exhaust fumes, it's good to back . . . . I've missed youse all as Jeff Fenech might've said . . . . XXXXX