I’ve run out of topics today. Not really, I just like to be dramatic. Rick Buckler, the former drummer in the punk band The Jam, has died at the age of 69. I cribbed this from the NY Post. I don’t know much about the Jam. I liked the song “That’s Entertainment”, I could relate to it somewhat, living in industrial Footscray in the shadow of a steel works. 69 seems quite young to be leaving your body, but since the “covid”, all bets are off. Paul Simon on the other hand at 83, has just announced a new tour. He already retired in 2018, but now he’s getting back out there. Good for him. I’m not really a fan, but I wish him all success. Since we’re talking about music I might hit some of the music papers and see what’s going on.
Rolling Stone’s main story is about some rapper beating gun charges. How uninteresting. Next…Billboard’s main story is about some rapper’s song going to number one….next….the Jazz magazine Downbeat has as it’s main story an interview with Alfredo Rodríguez, whoever he is. I guess I’m supposed to know, but I don’t. He’s some jazz guy. The Music.com.au has a story about Parkway Drive, a band who are teaming up with full symphonic orchestra in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Never hoid of ’em. I’ll have to check out their music then…
Parkway Drive. Animal noises plus symphony orchestra
Oh my God, I can’t wait to see them with the symphony orchestra. I can actually. It’s ridiculous. They appear to be a heavy metal band. The “singer” if you can call it that, is one of those guttural yelling types. Their music is very boring actually. That’s just my opinion. Like rap, it all sounds the fucking same. Good luck orchestra players, you’re gonna need it. The English mag Kerrang! is devoted to heavy metal I think. They’re talking about people and bands I’ve never heard of. This is all good however. Music is all about the new, so everything is as it should be. I don’t have to like it at all.
You can’t play multiple keyboards without a robe or two.
To finish up today, I’d like to revisit something from the past, a Yes concert which was held at the Apollo six years ago. It’s had 12 million views. It’s worth it for the spectacle of Rick Wakeman waddling around in his wizard robes. They play good these fellas.
Breaking News…This morning it has been revealed that Australian minerals billionaire Clive Palmer has launched a new political party called “Trumpet of Patriots”. No guesses as to who this was inspired by. You cannot make this stuff up. I will say however, that this weird ass, yet entirely legitimate party is probably a far, far better alternative than the incompetent clowns who take turns in running the place on behalf of their foreign masters down there, and that’s saying something. Clive was born in Footscray, so he can’t be all bad. That’s entertainment.
This is a really interesting interview with Rick. You won’t be disappointed