"Less Talk, More Rock"
Listen to Benjy Mudie every Thursday night between 8 and 12pm on Radio 2000.
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This website is part of the South African Rock Encyclopedia
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Benjy says...
Hi rock fans,
Roy Buchanan
A veritible deluge of calls and emails thanking me for the long awaited Roy Buchanan special, I wasnt aware that the late guitarist had so many SA fans! As Í said on the show Richard Filmer of CDW has stock of the 2 cd set, "Sweet Dream - The anthology", at under R200 so hurry up and contact him (details below). So many great musicians have died tragically before completely fulfilling their promise and none more so than Roy. In August 1988 his life came to an untimely end after being jailed for public drunkeness in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was discovered dead in his jail cell from a crushed larynx, minutes after his internment. The police report claimed suicide but it was unlikely that a man as big as Roy hung himself with a light summer shirt from a tiny cell block window only a few feet off the ground, his wife and friends have never accepted the official story ....
Next week's special will be one of the biggest rock bands of the mid to late 70's, Foreigner.
Foreigner
Formed in 1976 the band was made up of experienced British musicians Mick Jones (Spooky Tooth) and Ian McDonald (King Crimson) and four relative newcomers to the arena of major rock, British musician Dennis Elliott, and Americans Ed Gagliardi, Lou Gramm and Alan Greenwood. Less than a year after getting together, the five released their first album "Foreigner" [March 7, 1977] and within months had two top-ten hit singles. The unexpected and immediate success of their debut album astounded everyone - including them! They followed this up with "Double Vision" [June 20, 1978]. Once again a surprising success and two more top ten singles. And, their first album was still on the national charts! A year later their third album, "Head Games" [September 11, 1979] hit the charts and produced two more hit singles. Surrounded by controversy at the time and considered a failure for the band, "Head Games" went on to sell 5 million copies in the U.S. alone. Some failure!
The recording of the next album, 4 [July 2, 1981], ended with the band lineup reduced to Jones, Gramm, Elliott and Rick Wills. Still Atlantic's best-selling album of all time, 4 produced Foreigner's top ranking single with "Waiting For A Girl Like You" staying at #2 for ten weeks of the five months it was on the national charts. Nearing the 10 million mark in sales, 4 is one of the most successful rock albums of all time. A classic on almost everyone's wish list. 1982 saw the release of the band's first Greatest Hits album "Records" [November 29, 1982]. This album, also a classic, continues to be a popular seller today and the current 7 million plus sales tally is still climbing. Two years later, "Agent Provocateur" [December 7, 1984] became their fifth album of new material and produced the top ten single "I Want To Know What Love Is". Following the release of "Inside Information" [December 4, 1987] the band went on hiatus while Mick Jones and Lou Gramm went their separate ways with solo projects. For more information on the band go to www.foreigneronline.com
Rock of Ages's recommendations
Piet Botha
Saturday 25th February 2006 the South African music industry pays tribute to one of it's great legends, Piet Botha, at a festival to be held at the Foundry Fly Lounge, cnr. of Hans Stydom Avenue and N4 (Witbank) freeway, Silver Lakes, Pretoria East.
The event, which is appropriately named "A Good Friend of Mine", a title of one of his favourite songs, starts at 13h00 in the afternoon and will feature top acts like Karen Zoid, Albert Frost, Anton Goosen, Gert Vlok Nel, Southern Gypsey Queen, Not My Dog, Scicoustic, Akkedis and many more of SA's best acts currently playing on the local music circuit. All the artists participating in this festival, have at some or other stage been involved with Botha, either by playing with him, having shared the stage with him, had an album produced by him or have been mentored by the master.
Legend Of A Mind
Another one of those fantastic classic rock label retrospectives that seem to be the rage these days is "Legend of a mind" ... and this time it is the turn of Decca's Deram, Threshold and Nova labels. A 3 CD set with biogs, rare photos and exclsuive interviews, over 235 minutes of music from the legendary UK 'underground' and progressive rock scene 1967-1975. Artists featured include early Thin Lizzy, Caravan, Camel, Ten Years After, East of Eden, Moody Blues, Trapeze, Keef Hartley, Savoy Brown plus some real rarities that I have only ever read about like The End, Aardvark, Egg and Clark-Hutchinson ... and the ultra ultra rare Mellow Candle. Talk to Richard Filmer at CD Wherehouse about this (address below).
Acid Alex
It's unusual for me to recommend a book, let alone one that isn't about rock music but Alex Lovejoy's "Acid Alex" is probably the best biography that I have read in the last decade. The reviews that I have read compare him to the late Hunter Thompson and whilst I love Gonzo's early work this is better ... you see Alex Lovejoy speaks my language, about towns and cities I know personally, situations and events that strike a chord within, even musos that I knew well ... It's a 'ware' South African story of a life lost in the darkness and eventual redemption, about what happens when the monkeys call the tune and Shylock comes calling for his pound of flesh. It's in short one of the great South African rock 'n roll stories ever written and if there is any justice he should win a literary prize ... Highly recommended.
Astral Daze
Psychedelic South African Rock 1968-1972
A new RetroFresh compilation has just been released. 'Astral Daze - Psychedelic South African Rock 1968-1972' features 18 classic, rare and obscure tracks (16 of which have never previously officially been released on CD before). This CD was compiled by myself and Brian Currin with major input from SA rock collector Tertius Louw.
Tracks:
- The Whip - Suck
- Astral III - The Invaders
- The Boy And The Bee - Omega Limited
- Straight Ahead - Otis Waygood
- My Back Feels Light/What Can You Say - Abstract Truth
- The Eagle Has Landed - Dickie Loader with Freedom's Children
- You Keep Me Hanging On - The Flames
- Blurry Visions - Buzzard
- Fire - The Third Eye
- Predictions - Hawk
- Kafkasque - Freedom's Children
- Blue Machines and Dreams - Bryan Miller's Destruction
- The Mad Professor - John and Philipa Cooper
- Cathy Come Home - The Fireflies
- Morning Light - Tidal Wave
- Race With The Devil - The Bats
- Magic Dragon - The Idiots
- Birds Flying High - McCully Workshop
Competitions
Congrats to the winners of last night's on-air competition ... the question was "Who was the guitarist on Freedom's Children's "Astra" album? The answer of course was none other than Julian Laxton and the following 'rocksperts' each have won a copy of "Astral Daze", a brand new 18 band compilation highlighting the SA psych rock explosion of 1968-1972, courtesy of Retro Fresh Music:
Rhett van der Stel (Benoni); Raymond Verster (Edgemead) and Derek Kruger (Witpoortjie).
Rock of Ages is brought to you by CD Wherehouse
- where the obsessed unite.
Contact Rock of Ages
Email: click here
Snail mail:
PO Box 782022, Sandton 2146
Studio phone: 089-1102003
Richard Filmer @ CDW
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.
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Latest Playlist
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News from the
World of Rock |
GRAMMY WINNERS
U2 - Best Rock Album /Song of the year / Best Rock Performance/Best Rock Song
Green Day - Record of the year (Boulevard of broken dreams)
Les Paul – Best Pop Instrumental (Caravan)/Best Rock Instrumental
Springsteen - Best Rock Solo performance
System of a Down - Best Hard Rock Performance
Comment: All pretty predictable and quite honestly a sterile live show with the exception of the bizarre appearance of the once legendary (and now clearly damaged) Sly Stone at his own tribute. As much I admire U2 and Springsteen for what they have achieved, both musically and from a humanitarian point of view, there is more to rock music awards than these two artists. And anyway they have won more than their fare share of Grammys, the point being that neither of the two respective albums are the 'highlight / defining / pinnacle' of their careers. My choice of Rock Album would have been Robert Plant's "Mighty rearranger", an album that pushes the boundries of modern rock and without question reconfirms Plant's position of the finest rock singer of the past 40 years. I would have even raised a glass if the Stones 'comeback' album pipped it at the post but "How to dismantle an atomic bomb"??
TOMMY LEE CATCHES A TRAN ... AND A PUNCH
Tommy Lee was embarrassed at the Ultra Supper Club in Toronto when he got a seemingly attractive blonde to sit on his knee. One can only imagine the Motley Crue drummer was far from amused when he found out that the person in question was a transsexual!
AllHipHop.com is reporting that MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee "got punched in his mouth" at the Shady Bowl Super Party at the State Theatre in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 4. According to the report, "the assault is/was on videotape."
Although details are sketchy on this alleged physical confrontation, a visitor claims that he saw Lee "get the crap beat out of him by rapper Trick Trick's Goon Squad crew after Lee was openly dissing Detroit's own Kid Rock ,former fiancé of Tommy's ex-wife Pamela Anderson .
STONES CENSORED
You'd think that by now the Rolling Stones would be used to being censored. As far back as 1967, Ed Sullivan demanded that they change "Let's Spend the Night Together" to "Let's Spend Some Time Together" as a condition of performing on his prime time TV variety show. Mick Jagger's facial expression during the sanitized line (an exaggerated roll of the eyes) made it clear how he felt about it. Apparently nothing much has changed in the 39 years since. A spokesman for the band has issued a statement calling the censoring of two of the band's three songs during the Super Bowl XL halftime show, "absolutely ridiculous and completely unnecessary." Censors snipped a couple of sexually suggestive words from "Rough Justice" and "Start Me Up" , The only song to avoid the editor was "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," a 41-year-old song about sexual frustration. The NFL says the band was aware that the words would be clipped prior to the performance. The band says that knowing about it doesn't equate to agreeing with it. Both the League and the Stones say they won't have anything further to say on the subject.
(Courtesy of About ClassicRock)
HUGHES CONFIRMS RELEASE DATE
Glenn Hughes is to release his new, as yet untitled solo album on May 29. The record is being done in collaboration with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chas Smith, and includes a guest appearance from Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante.
STAMP ON GENE SIMMONS
Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons is one of the celebs appearing on a new series of charity stamps in America. Issued in collaboration with the Humane Society Of The United States, this set will be available until February 28. This series is known as Zazzlestamps.
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| Live Gigs |
Finch & Henson
17-26 Feb. Dockyard Theatre Durban
Boulevard Blues Band
Rock of Ages's favourite live blues band will be recording a live in concert album at Die Boer in Durbanville on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February. It promises to be a night to remember so book your space now at (021)797-1911.
Lancaster Band
24 Feb Acoustic Cafe, Muizenberg
Arno Carstens
12 Feb 88 Lounge, Joburg
17 Feb Madinat Amphitheater, Jumeria Beach, Dubai
Piet Botha
25th February 2006 the South African music industry pays tribute to one of it's great legends, Piet Botha, at a festival to be held at the Foundry Fly Lounge, cnr. of Hans Stydom Avenue and N4 (Witbank) freeway, Silver Lakes, Pretoria East.
The event, which is appropriately named "A Good Friend of Mine", a title of one of his favourite songs, starts at 13h00 in the afternoon and will feature top acts like Albert Frost, Anton Goosen, Gert Vlok Nel, Southern Gypsey Queen, Not My Dog, Scicoustic, Akkedis and many more of SA's best acts currently playing on the local music circuit. All the artists participating in this festival, have at some or other stage been involved with Botha, either by playing with him, having shared the stage with him, had an album produced by him or have been mentored by the master.
Stoned Goblin
18 Feb Gandalfs, Observatory
4/24 March Gandalfs Observatory
11 March Belgian Beer Pub, Stellenbosch
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| CLASSIC ROCK BIRTHDAYS |
You say it's your birthday ............
February 12
Ray Manzarek (Doors) - 1939
Steve Hackett (Genesis) - 1950
February 13
Ed Gagliardi (Foreigner) - 1952
Peter Gabriel (Genesis) - 1950
February 15
Mick Avory (Kinks) - 1944
David Brown (Santana) - 1947
John Helliwell (Supertramp) - 1945
February 17
Rickey Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Courtesy of About ClassicRock
Birthday archives
December
January
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| "Benjy says..." Archive |
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Stay tuned every Thursday 8-12pm for the best in classic rock on RADIO 2000.
Your Host
| Benjy Mudie |
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| Then |
Now |
Benjy Mudie was inducted into the South African Rock Hall Of Fame on 14th August 2002. Of Scottish origin, Mudie started out in the music industry working in record shops. He later became the A&R man for WEA records, signing such luminaries as Lesley Rae Dowling, Baxtop and Falling Mirror. He has ventured briefly into the realms of songwriting, getting co-writing credit for Little Sister's song 'You Got My Heart', but it is mainly for his running of record labels, notably Tusk and more recently Fresh and Retro Fresh that he is honoured. With these labels he has tirelessly dedicated himself to putting South African music out there, showing an unshaking belief in the quality of SA music.
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