Invasion Day.

In Melbourne, we get three big public holidays- Australia Day, ANZAC Day and Melbourne Cup Day. Colloquially, they are often known as Invasion Day (26th January), Dead Soldier Day (25th April) and Horse Race Day (first Tuesday in November).
So this show, at Pony and featuring Baseball, Witch Hats and Miniature Submarines, is on Invasion Day eve. Both the Baseball and the Witch Hats folks did posters- you can choose:


It's $10.00, and you don't have to go to work the next day. Got it?
You can learn something new every day.

Party Girl - Destroy All Monsters

I suppose one of the things with Ron Asheton's passing will be people posting previously unseen footage like this. Anyone want to clue me in on who's in this DAM line-up?

Another random video

Goddamm YouTube. The things you can find...

I was introduced to this song many years ago, on the 1979 Ralph Records "Subterranean Modern" compilation album- whose Gary Panter cover art is probably worth a picture here:

Back then I knew very little about the acts on this record, and I still know almost nothing about this band- by choice, I'm sure there is plenty of information out there. But I kinda prefer not knowing.

Anyway, they were from San Francisco, they were called Chrome, and this is "Meet You In The Subway

R.I.P. Robot

The Robot from Lost in Space has died, aged 69. That does not compute.

Dee Dee

Still on The Houndblog, he posted a really nice Dee Dee Ramone story here.

Looking back.

Well, that was an education.

X were absolutely sterling- passionate, energetic and clearly having a ball, so much so that Kim and Cathy refused to leave the stage after the first couple of encores, forcing Steve to come back on for one more song and giving the stage manager a mild heart attack.

About the Saints, though...well, let's just say Ed Kuepper was awesome, and that it will be a while before I listen to "Stranded" again.

But the mid week gig meant I was pushed for time, and didn't get this posted:

Oops. Won't make that mistake again.

More Ron

At the Houndblog's blog, with some nice pix taken by his wife, Gillian McCain, who co-authored Please Kill Me. Go here and listen to an unissued Stooges track.

Rare Stooges photo unearthed

The line-up with Bill Cheatham and Zeke Zettner. Here.

City Slang: Hydromatics live in Stockholm

The Hydromatics were the Sonic's Rendezvous Band-focused trans-Atlantic supergroup featuring Scott Morgan and Tony Slug. Shame on you if you didn't know. This version of"City Slang" is from their forthcoming DVD which looks like a reason to stay in.

Stooges miss out on R & R Hall of Lame (again)

This was just reported by here The Ultimate Nullifier (aka Box Taylor from Powertrane, Mazinga et al.) Excuse the endless Stooges posts over the last 10 days but this is beyond belief.

Stupid, myopic dipshit judges. The timing is nothing to do with Ron Asheton's passing (the votes would have been compiled weeks ago) but that just proves what numb-nutted, clueless cockscratchers they are.

Chapter 247 in the War Against The Jive

It's from Annandale Hotel in the second half of last year. Cheers to Boris the Video Man!

Ig on Ron

A 24-minute interview on classic Detroit radio here.

Legend or whore? You decide

It's for an online insurance company.

Personally, I think he can do whatever the fuck he wants. I'm just thankful the ad agency didn't chose to butcher one of his songs. If you click through to YouTube you can see it's provoking colourful commentary.

A line-up that speaks for itself, no?

Oh to be in NYC for this...

Danny Fields on Ron Asheton

The Houndblog - one of the crew from the world's coolest radio station WFMU - has a great Ron Asheton tribute from onetime Stooges mentor Danny Fields here. That's Danny and Ron pictured.

It Came From Detroit

There's a new trailer for the movie on the Detroit rock scene of the 1990s.

It Came From Detroit Official Trailer (New) from James R Petix on Vimeo.
The soundtrack looks very cool. More info at itcamefromdetroit.com

Tributes and Tribute Nights

Back from holidays after the depression news of Ron Asheton's passing.

On the I-94 Bar front, you can read Mark Sisto's moving tribute here and you can also leave a comment.

Here's the details of the first of a few tribute shows:
Niagara and The Colonel invite friends to pay tribute to the late Stooges guitarist, Ron Asheton as they host, “Ronnie…Thanks A Million”, Saturday, January 17th at 9PM at the historic Music Hall Center For The Performing Arts in downtown Detroit.

There is free admission but attendees are encouraged to donate what they can to help cover the night’s expenses and Ron’s favorite charity, The Michigan Humane Society.

Niagara, Asheton’s former Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival band mate and muse will host along with Colonel Galaxy a celebration of Ronnie’s life and a chance to express their love along with all of his friends and fans with a tribute for a guy Rolling Stone called: "One of the greatest guitarists of all time”.

Tributes from those who knew him- and some who didn’t, but were influenced by him will speak from the stage where such legends as WC Fields, Miles Davis and Billy Holiday performed, Ron’s music will be played and a tribute film retrospect by Tim Caldwell will be shown. Music Hall is Detroit’s oldest performing arts venue (1928) and is a beautifully restored facility, appropriate for this memorable night.

There will be a cash bar in the Hall as well as in Jazz Café for attendees.

Plus, a special Jazz Café  show -

A Dark Carnival alumni performance led by Bootsey X  & The Lovemasters and some VERY special friends will play in honor their late band mate and friend, in the Jazz Café following the main stage tributes at 11 PM. 

Ron Asheton was more than an innovative guitarist, he was an easygoing, subtly hilarious guy- who, simply and effectively created a sound and aesthetic, which will forever reverberate as long as there are guitar players. Ron maximized his early work into postmodern art of the highest order. In retrospect, Ron’s influence cannot be overstated, only imitated.

Ronnie used to like to say, “thanks a million” in mock gratitude when joking with friends. Now here’s our last chance to say, “Ronnie… Thanks A Million.”

More info for this tribute may be found on  www.myspace.com/niagaradetroit 

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
350 Madison  Detroit, MI  48226
313 887-8500
www.musichall.org

R.I.P Ron Asheton.

Found dead yesterday at his Ann Arbor home. Very sad news.

Don't Look Back

The 2009 season of the Don't Look Back concert series kicks off in Melbourne next week with a complete gem of a show.

Australian proto-punks the Saints team up with the mighty X for a run through a pair of historic albums- "(I'm) Stranded" and "At Home With You".



Both of these albums are classics, and the chance to see and hear them played in full in one session is...kind of frightening actually. There's some heavy baggage attached to these. But the omens are good- the Saints reformation shows last year were excellent, by all accounts, and X never fail to deliver.
See you down the front. No earplugs.

ps as you can see from the poster, the Saints will do it all again up in Brisbane, too.

Welcome back- to bad news.

Well, there I was all set to post some good shit for the start of the year, when I heard the news that legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton had been found dead in his Detroit home.

There's nothing online about this as yet, and given the time difference I wouldn't expect anything for a few hours, but anyway...vale, Ron.

I will, indeed, play some fucking Stooges.