Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Deprived of speech, he sang without words

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  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    The listing says 8.30. I'd guess there'd be a band on by 9.30.

    Yes of course, like instructions, I don't read such things so ta

    Hopefully it won't go too late ...

    Now imagine hoping that 25-30 years ago :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    Beautiful post Russell. Hands down my favorite. Good on you.
    + 'it didn't quite fit in the post' bonuses:)

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Conseismal: I am not willing to indulge you on this particular thread. I have deleted your posts and replies to them. Please respect my request that you don't comment further.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Thanks to PA reader David Welch for a heads-up on this Will Oldham concert recording from August this year, which includes a nice version of 'My Only Friend'.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    I remember seeing Knox open for John Cale (I think) at the Gluepot, 1986.

    He did a weird cover version of the Beatles 'She Said She Said', and did a rave in the middle about how it was about Lennon's first acid trip: then delivered his own impression of what it must have been like. It was magnificently, memorably, strange. I remember it more clearly than anything Cale did.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    He did a weird cover version of the Beatles 'She Said She Said', and did a rave in the middle about how it was about Lennon's first acid trip

    When he stayed at our apartment in Houston (the story is in the NZ music thread somewhere) he loved our Yellow Submarine figurines. Rearranged them all into dramatic poses. I think the John Lennon one kept its salute-to-the-fans stance for months afterwards.

    Also:

    Dear The Checks,

    Thank you for covering 'Rebel' - a song I would no doubt love even if it was recorded by Celine Dion in the style of 30 Seconds to Mars - in such an adorable way. The harmonies! Awww.

    Sincerely,
    Me

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Dear The Checks,

    Thank you for covering 'Rebel' - a song I would no doubt love even if it was recorded by Celine Dion in the style of 30 Seconds to Mars - in such an adorable way. The harmonies! Awww.

    My only complaint is that Sven's kooky little lead break isn't longer.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Chris Knox is a 2009 Arts Foundation Laureate.

    Announced today, but the family got the news just a few days after his stroke. Cool. Very cool.

    And also $50k they're gonna need.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Chris Knox on Campbell live tonight on 3 at 7.00pm

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Morgan Nichol,

    Is there any conclusion about which is the best way to buy the CD? (i.e. which way gives most to the Knox family, without fucking up the chances of driving it up the charts?)

    Given that the banner goes to Amplifier, is it safe to say get it there?

    I don't know Chris nearly as well as many of you, having only met him a few times. Most memorable: at a bus stop on Queen St talking about a film we'd just seen at a festival - the 7 and a half hour Hungarian epic Sátántangó. I was frazzled, but he was sharp, enthusiastic, insightful, and charismatic.

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report

  • philipmatthews,

    Chris Knox on Campbell live tonight on 3 at 7.00pm

    Very nice item. Chris almost entirely mute but looking as impish as he ever did. Lovely excerpts from Will Oldham and Bill Callahan's tracks too.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Chris Knox on Campbell live tonight on 3 at 7.00pm

    'fer sure. And we got two "yeahs" and lots of smiles.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Thank you very much for the heads up Sofie.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Thank you very much for the heads up Sofie.

    Dammit Joe, I'm outing you.

    Younger and more forgetful readers may not know that Joe is the director of the brilliant animated video for Toy Love's 'Bride of Frankenstein.

    There.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Given that the banner goes to Amplifier, is it safe to say get it there?

    Yes. I think that means every possible cent going to Chris and his family.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    What a great piece - and what a cheeky chappie that Chris Knox is. So glad he got that dosh from the gubmint.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Dammit Joe, I'm outing you

    whoa, I though everyone knew that. Iconic, innit.

    Gotta say my favourite Knox film footage was something I found in a box that he somehow left with me circa '79, I guessing when TL went to Australia. Looking through I found an uber-grainy, Super 8 reel of he, Doug Hood and a couple of others taking a road trip to Auckland in 1974 to see Elton John at Western Springs in, I think, a Combi. It was shitty quality but was very funny in a flare wearing pre-Goodbye Pork Pie way. I've long since returned it but I'd kill to watch it again.

    Toy Love upstairs in the Cook packed to the gills was the very best place to see/feel/hear them - I wish they could record that.

    There are various live at The Cook tapes floating around the net..I've got a bunch of songs from one in my iTunes.

    But I'd also argue that while The Enemy were very much a Dunedin act, TL were as much an Auckland band, as they were a product of a year or so in that notorious band house in Williamson Ave, and an absorption into the Auckland scene (hell, Phil Judd almost joined them at one stage..now that would have been a bizarre mix) which included countless Saturday afternoons at the Windsor Castle, both as The Enemy and Toy Love, where they were very much playing to a very extended family, at least until late 1979.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    whoa, I though everyone knew that. Iconic, innit.

    Never seen that before, I reckon the programmers at those music stations are on the wrong drugs. That's an awesome video Joe, still fresh as. Hard to believe it was made 29 years ago, wipes the snot off the nube shit the kids make today. Sensing a lot of sweat went into making it, but it looks effortless. Total respect.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    What a great piece - and what a cheeky chappie that Chris Knox is. So glad he got that dosh from the gubmint.

    Not, not the government -- the privately-funded Arts Foundation of New Zealand. I did some work for them once -- nice people.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Islander,

    You ever done the figures on the Arts Foundation Russell?
    Crap people, I'd call them.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    Well we're all a bit crap in our own special ways bro.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    You're very generous Mark, thanks.

    It was, of course, a hell of a long time ago, but back then if there was one band worth pulling out all the stops to do a video for it was Toy Love. By the time the thing went to air the months of slog for little reward in Australia had taken their toll on all the band members. Chris had found the Love of His Life, and had new priorities that he was keen to pursue.

    Toy Love's Oz and NZ record companies, who'd each agreed to pay 50% of the cost of making the clip, were due to hand over their desperately needed cheques. Without a band to promote they could easily have decided to renege. I'd just like to say that Chris in particular was hell of a good about keeping the news of the band's demise quiet until I'd got paid.

    While I've seen him do the occasional truly appalling thing - for example the time he outraged poor Carol Tippet by putting one of her enormous technicolor jelly slices into his mouth before regurgitating it whole and quivering onto the palm of his hand - I've never forgotten how good he* was about that.

    *Not to forget Paul, Jane, Mike, & Alec - and Terry Hogan. Fun times back in the mesozoic.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    and Terry Hogan

    without whom NZ's rock'nroll imagery would, to this day, look very different.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    Not, not the government -- the privately-funded Arts Foundation of New Zealand. I did some work for them once -- nice people.

    My mistake. All good, either way!

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

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