Show Time!

CJ RAMONE - PCP EAGLES - FIRESHARK - King’s Arms, Auckland, New Zealand - 7 February 2015Well, I thought my days of seeing a bona fide RAMONE live in concert were well and truly over. Sure, you could argue there are only three left to see - Marky and Richie (drummers) and CJ himself. What sets CJ apart though, is the fact that neither Marky nor Richie have released an album as cracking as CJ’s recent ‘Last Chance To Dance’. In fact, given Dee Dee’s patchy solo releases, it could even be argued that CJ’s latest could rival Joey’s work as the best post-RAMONES release yet. That made the promise of this gig, organised by New Zealand’s very own saviours of quality live entertainment, Punk Rock Road Trips, even more tempting. The fact that CJ’s band included the guitarists from the legendary ADOLESCENTS made the gig quite essential.

Auckland’s FIRESHARK kicked proceedings off. Never heard the band before but the trio played solid, hard-hitting Punk Rock. The band released an EP a few years ago and, more often than not, I kept hearing a nod to an old Dr. Strange band, WHATEVER... The sound was similar in the sense it was fast but not thrashy, snotty but not growled, and catchy but not pop. Drummer really impressed I have to say while the guitarist had a pretty deft array of riffs up his sleeve. One to watch!

Auckland’s finest (if not New Zealand’s at present), PCP EAGLES followed. After seeing a trio that were anchored to the spot by due to vocal duties, witnessing this five-piece with the incredibly mobile Joe on vocals was akin to a volatile blur of riff-laden, raging ferocity.

This was a much more impressive show than the last time I saw the band (which was pretty smoking too), supporting MDC. The sounds were more intense, the velocity of the songs was faster, the presence of the band was more confrontational and generally, this was just a whole shit-load more damage-inducing. Amidst the familiar tracks off the EP, there were some new tunes and less RAMONES riffs circulating. Joe spent a good portion of the gig in the crowd, stirring things up and getting a bit of movement going leaving the band to blaze on the stage. Killer stuff that left its mark on senses other than just the ears!

And so to CJ. Have to say, following PCP, he and his band looked decidedly pedestrian for a few brief. minutes. Then the tune kicked in, ‘Understand Me’ from his new album, along with its hopelessly addictive melody. Then you notice Steve Soto, the legend behind AGENT ORANGE and ADOLESCENTS. Then you have the other guitarist, Dan Root, who is Steve’s guitar-slinging partner in ADOLESCENTS. Then CJ launches into ‘Judy Is A Punk’.

It’s without a doubt that most in attendance were there to hear RAMONES songs; not surprising since the band’s only visit to NZ was back in 1980. It was a relatively predictable selection - ‘Blitzgrieg..’, ‘Rockaway..’ (which was cracking incidentally), ‘Sheena..’, ‘...Sedated’. Oddly, the only song played from CJ’s actual tenure in the band was ‘Strength To Endure’; I thought we may get ‘Scattergun’ as he wrote it. There were a few surprises - ‘She’s The One’ has always been a favourite RAMONES tune and one I had seen the band play rarely, stellar takes on ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’ and ‘The KKK Took My Baby Away’ and, most surprisingly and certainly very welcome, ‘Baby, I Love You’.
CJ’s own stuff seemed merely tolerated due to the majority of the crowd's desire for RAMONE-o-core though. A shame too, as the new album is a stunner - ‘Pitstop’ was a real highlight as was ‘Three Angels’ from the ‘Reconquista’ album, that was dedicated to Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny. The whole gig finished with a take on MOTORHEAD’s ‘R.A.M.O.N.E.S’ which, while fun, didn’t really compensate for the lack of ‘Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue’, ‘Pinhead’ or the aforementioned ‘Scattergun’.
Performance wise, it surely wasn’t the perfectly primed machine that THE RAMONES were. The band was tight and convincing but much more laid back (not a bad thing) than THE RAMONES. There was no synchronised sprints to the front of the stage (not that the stage was really big enough anyway), just maximum rock ‘n’ roll from some veterans who are virtually beyond compare. There were a few calls for ADOLESCENTS songs too; I noticed Steve Soto even teased with the opening notes of ‘Kids From The Black Hole’. CJ himself was conversational, relaxed and did a fair take on Joey without trying to actually mimic him.
Without a doubt, this was a life-affirming gig; affirmation of the power of music and of Punk in particular. Hearing a certified RAMONE perform those songs live in the manner CJ did, completely confirmed my belief that those songs are magical and as much a significant part of rock ‘n’ roll’s history as anything The Beatles ever released. I’ve listened to many of those songs for over 30 years now. I saw THE RAMONES a number of times and I’m pleased to say that CJ and his band lived up to the standard set and did those songs with class, distinction and respect. AND... They also made it a shit-load of fun!! Gabba gabba...

Year-end Recommendations - 2014

It's been a good year record-wise.  The lists below reflect only those that I have been exposed to - lots of stuff I have no doubt missed too.

Have to give a special mention to TNS Records, a label that has released plenty of great albums but none that quite make the Top 10 albums.  That said, no other label that I know of has released a series of such consistently good records this year. Listening to the ROUGHNECK RIOT album as I type - great stuff that brings forth memories of MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG while keeping a very modern, Punk approach to matters.

Likewise, there are a few things that have appeared that would probably make the list had I got actual releases, or that appeared sooner. CJ RAMONE's solo album has been a cracker via the download I have, and TIM BARRY's latest album is great on a single listen.  Then there's the STAY CLEAN JOLENE album - a stunner.  It arrived in January, so I am sure it will be in the 2015 Top 10. 

And, that RADIO BIRDMAN boxset - be all and end all!!! 

Anyway - here goes:

Albums
1. WORLD/INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY - This Packed Funeral {Alternative Tentacles}
2. SWHAT - s/t {DIY}
3. GAMEFACE - Now Is What Matters Now {Equal Vision}
4. TV EYE - Mythoman {Spastic Fantastic}
5. TIM BARRY - Raising Hell And Living Cheap {Chunksaah}
6 ADOLESCENTS - La Vendetta {Concrete Jungle}
7. AUTONOMADS - One Day All This Will Be Gone... {Pumpkin/ Ruin Nation}
8. PRONTO - When You're Gone {Off The Hip}
9. MORNING GLORY - War Psalms {Fat Wreck}
10 RUBELLA BALLET - Planet Punk {Overground}
Special mentions: DUNCAN REID AND THE BIGHEADS - Difficult Second Album, GENERATION DEAD - The Truth Has All Been Said... {DIY}, CASTRO - The River Need, JADED EYES - Gods And Monsters {Boss Tuneage}, STEVE ADAMYK BAND - Dial Tone {Dirtnap}, SLICE OF LIFE - Love And A Lamp Post {Overground}, OFF! - Wasted Years {Vice}, DIE! DIE! DIE! - S W I M {45rpm}, DOWN BY LAW - Revolution Time {Dry Heave}, LAGWAGON - Hang {Fat Wreck}, FUCKED UP - Glass Boys {Matador}, HANK WOOD AND THE HAMMERHEDS - Stay Home {La Vida Es Un Mus}, FRANCEENS - Stepford Smiles, OFFICER DOWN - Dead Lands, WONK UNIT - Nervous Racehorse, DOMESTICS - Routine And Ritual, ROUGHNECK RIOT - Out Of Anger {TNS}

Singles/ EPS1. VARIOUS - A Celebration Of Punk Down Under {Sick World}
2. HDQ - When Worlds Collide {Boss Tuneage}
3. OFF! - Learn To Obey {Vice}
4. LAURA PALMER - s/t {DIY}
5. SHATTERED FAITH - Modern Convenience USA {Hostage}
6. CHANNEL 3 - History {Hostage}
7. THIRTY SIX STRATEGIES - Stratgey Two {Boss Tuneage}
8. REVENGE OF THE PSYCHOTRONIC MAN - Ten Years Of... {TNS}
9. NOFX - Stoke Extinguisher {Fat Wreck}
10. CASTRO - s/t {Boss Tuneage}
Special mentions: BREAKOUT - True Crime {Grave Mistake}, VARIOUS - Without Kibou There Is Nothing Vol 1 and 2 {Kibou}, STIV BATORS' DEAD BOYS - Last Stand 1980 EP {Ugly Pop}

Compilations/ Re-issues
1. RADIO BIRDMAN - Box Set {Citadel}
2. REALLY RED - Teaching You The Fear {Alternative Tentacles}
3. SCAVENGERS, THE/ MARCHING GIRLS - Split {Real Groovy}
4. X - Aspirations/ X-Spurts {Ugly Pop}
5. TERMINUS - Going Nowhere Fast/ Back Among The Blind {Boss Tuneage}
6. INSTIGATORS - Anthology Volume 1 {PHD}
7. SUBURBAN REPTILES - Saturday Night Stay At Home {Real Groovy}
8. RIPCORD - Fast 'n' Furious: The Complete Demos {Boss Tuneage}
9. FRANTIX - My Dad's A Fuckin' Alcoholic {Alternative Tentacles}
10. DUMBSTRUCK - It's Still Broke {Boss Tuneage}
Special mentions: CHIXDIGGIT - Double Diggits {Fat Wreck}, INSTIGATORS - Anthology Vol 2, XPOZEX - Anthology {PHD}, SPELLING MISTAKES - Feel So Good {Real Groovy}

Obituary - Billy Rath

On Saturday 16 August 2014, Billy Rath, former bassist for JOHNNY THUNDERS AND THE HEARTBREAKERS, passed away following a long illness. He was aged 66.
Born in Boston on 8 August 1948, Rath came to play in THE HEARTBREAKERS after former bassist, Richard Hell, attempted a coup by firing Johnny Thunders. The coup backfired, with the other Heartbreakers, Jerry Nolan and Walter Lure, leaving Hell and following Thunders. According to Nina Antonia’s Thunders biography, In Cold Blood, Rath had previously played in a number of bands in the New England/ Boston area. Just prior to joining the band, Rath had been in Florida where he’d been ‘working’ as a gigolo when Thunders contacted him about joining the band. Drummer Nolan claimed Rath was perfect for the band - he loved Rock ‘n’ Roll and wasn’t worried about being the star.
Rath was part of the band when it went to England to play on the SEX PISTOLS’ Anarchy tour and among a multitude of cancelled gigs, managed to play one at Leeds Polytechnic. Pete Silverton, writing for Sounds music newspaper, cited Rath as: “... The craziest looking bass player who could’ve stepped out of West Side Story.”
Following the release of the classic (albeit badly produced) album, ‘L.A.M.F’, the band slowly dissolved after the band’s record label, Track, went bust.
In 1983 Rath, along with former HEARTBREAKER Lure, recorded a one-off single under the band THE HEROES. Following occasional HEARTBREAKERS reformation gigs in NYC, Rath quit for good in 1985 to undertake rehabilitation from various alcohol and drug problems. He proceeded to steer clear of music for the best part of 20 years. During this time he studied Psychology and Theology before embracing religion to the extent of being a minister for 12 years and finally working as an addiction counsellor.
Other musical ventures, at various times, included touring with IGGY POP; playing gigs with Nico (VELVET UNDERGROUND), Lenny Kaye (PATTI SMITH), bluester Left Handed Frank, The Muggers (Phil & Eddie from MOTORHEAD) and playing bass on a Ronnie Spector solo album.
In 2010, Rath reappeared at a Max’s Kansas City reunion with his own band, BILLY RATH’S STREET PIRATES which included Rath’s son in its line-up. This band continued to perform during the final years of his life after relocating in Massachusetts.
Rath had been in ill-health for some time and left a hospice to be at home with his family in Boston.

Obituary - Tommy Ramone

On Friday 11 July 2014, Thomas Erdelyi - better known as Tommy Ramone, drummer and founder member of THE RAMONES - passed away. It is said that he passed away at his home in the Ridgewood area of Queens, New York City while under the care of Hospice following unsuccessful treatment for bile duct cancer. He was 62 years of age and the last remaining original member of the band left alive.

Erdelyi, whose birth name was Erelyi Tamas, was born on 29 January 1952 in Budapest, Hungary, born of Jewish parents who had survived the Holocaust. At the age of four the family emigrated to the USA, allowing Erdelyi to grow up in Forest Hills in the New York City suburb of Queens. It was here, in the mid-60s, that he played in a band called Tangerine Puppets with one John Cummings. Years later, Cummings would morph into Johnny Ramone and the RAMONES would become a reality.

The story of how the RAMONES formed is all over the internet, in books and, if you are reading this, you probably know it already. Needless to say, Erdelyi played drums on the first three studio albums (‘Ramones’, ‘Leave Home’ and ‘Rocket To Russia’) as well as what remains today the definitive live album, ‘It’s Alive’, recorded and the Rainbow in London on 31 December 1977. He continued to manage the band after leaving and co-produced the fourth album, ‘Road To Ruin’. In 1984, for the band’s eighth album, ‘Too Tough To Die’, he returned to the producer’s chair cutting what was to be the last truly classic RAMONES album.

His role as a producer was highly sought after, with him producing such notable records as REDD KROSS’ ‘Neurotica’ and the REPLACEMENTS classic ‘Tim’.

Musically, along with former SIMPLISTICS member and his long-time companion, Claudia Tienan, Erdelyi played in the blue-grass folk duo Uncle Monk, releasing a self-titled album on their own label, Airday.

Ms. Tienan survives him, as does a brother, Peter.

The importance of THE RAMONES, not just to Punk Rock but to all music since, cannot be understated. The band stripped away the bloated musical excess of bands like Yes and Emerson Lake And Palmer and played it harder and faster than any band that went before. The songs were accessible but simultaneously severe and alarming and have since become the template for so much that has followed. I never saw THE RAMONES with Tommy, but I did hear ‘It’s Alive’ at the tender age of 12 and my jaw dropped to the floor. As crass as it sounds, life had changed in the space of side one of that album. School? Education? Sport? Pah! They all became secondary and music became my passion - probably my only passion to this day - and it was through that album that I, like so many others, learnt how to play guitar.

Genuine life-changing incidents only occur once or twice in a life-time. I feel fortunate to have experienced a personal and cultural revolution through the power of THE RAMONES and all that it has lead to. What’s more, as I reach mid-40s and look back, I can say without a single sense of regret that the life-changing, life-affirming and life-enhancing experience of hearing ‘It’s Alive’ at the age of 12 was, and still is, without compare.

And the glue that kept it all together was Tommy’s beats, sense of sound production and sensibility in a band of misfits; a band all of whom have now, sadly, passed away.

Obituary - Dave Gregg

On Sunday 30 March 2014, Dave Gregg, guitarist in Canadian Punk legends, D.O.A, died in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada from a heart attack. He was 54.
Although living in New York, Gregg and his wife, Cathy, were in Vancouver visiting family. It is thought they were there to see Gregg’s father, who had been ill, but first stopped to visit his wife’s mother. He was found unconscious in bed by his wife, having gone to bed early as he felt unwell. Doctors at Peace Arch Hospital diagnosed Gregg has having suffered a massive coronary which lead to a coma. Although put on a life support machine, Gregg passed away from liver and kidney failure.
Born in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, his father made maps of remote rivers and lakes for the province. During his childhood, the family moved to Quadra Island - an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He moved to Vancouver at the dawn of the local Punk movement and played in a band called PRIVATE SCHOOL at the infamous Anti-Canada Day celebration, staged by anarchists on 1 July 1978 at Stanley Park - an event which was opened by D.O.A. and headlined by SUBHUMANS.
In 1980, he landed the role of second guitarist in D.O.A, just prior to the band recording its debut album, ‘Something Better Change’. Getting down to the last two, Gregg won the audition on the advice of then-drummer, Chuck Biscuits, who reasoned that he was the better player, had a PA and a house to practice in. The house became known as Fort Gore, it being on Gore Avenue and was not only D.O.A’s practice space for many years but it also served as a venue.
During his tenure in D.O.A, Gregg played on what proved to be the band’s golden age, playing on classic material - the aforementioned debut album, the iconic ‘Hardcore ‘81’, ‘War On 45’ and ‘Let’s Wreck The Party’ among others. He left the band in 1988.
After D.O.A, he moved to New York with Cathy and formed two companies, Anthill and Easy Partners, which sold merchandise for prime rock acts including ROLLING STONES and AC/DC. East Partners took him to all manner of places including Russia, Alaska and South Africa.

He didn’t retire from playing though, as a stint in a funk-influenced band, Groovaholics, proves. He also did a stint in Celtic Punks, REAL MCKENZIES, playing on ‘Off The Leash’ and ‘Shine Not Burn’.
Gregg had a reputation as being wild stage (as footage on D.O.A’s ‘Smash The State’ DVD proves), but was easy-going and personable off it. "He was a wonderful guy, and really creative," said D.O.A founder Joe Keithley, who choked up discussing Gregg. "He was always in good humour."
Keithley’s thoughts on Gregg can be found on the band’s Facebook page - HERE.