A month ago, I posted this... ...that bassist has been nagging at me for a while. I was sure that there was something about a Steeleye Span bassist from back in the day......and finally the penny dropped yesterday. Does anyone remember the band, The Pork Dukes? They were a foul mouthed, cod new wave/punk band, a la 'Alberto y Los Trios Paranoias'. Well guess who was the bassist (under the pig masks that they used to wear)? Yes, our talented bass slapping friend, Rick Kemp... They all love a bit of it....
From the man who has made several generations yell "FIST ****" during thirty years worth of gigs, comes...
Normally, I'm not one to comment on the musical tastes of others. We all like what we like, for our own reasons...sometimes reasons that we don't quite understand ourselves...and that's how it should be.... BUT... ...there are certain songs...certain albums...certain bands who I believe transcend taste. In my opinion, such a band is the B-52's. If you can't find the transcendent joy and fun in their music, I'm genuinely sorry for you. It is with huge sadness that I greet this article... https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...-8gc_3hqxSbq3rswbf0YS5lFQV-5xC4fjeOyGYzo-uMfA and the band's impending retirement, with which it deals. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone involved in the band and getting their music to my ears. I can't imagine a party without at least a couple of their songs being played.
I saw this article and was immediately sad to see the end of a band that has given me so much pleasure over the years, thank you the B52S
Funnily enough I was in the Lexington, in Pentonville Road, for a quick beer with my young lady, a couple of nights ago and the opening riff from Planet Claire rang out and it immediately put a smile on my face. I've no idea how many times I've listened to that song during my life but I do know it's a lot and yet it still sounds as fresh now as it did back in 1979 when I bought the first LP. It maybe sad that they've decided to finally call it a day but they leave behind an amazing back catalogue. I'm just so very glad I got to see them live a couple of times in the late '80's as they were even better in the flesh!
Nearly 14 years ago, Mrs B and I somehow wangled tickets to the premiere of Monsters v Aliens for us and our 2 daughters. The closing music is....'Planet Claire'. As people rushed to get out, Mrs B and I stood and danced to it, the whole song... I shall miss the band...but maybe it's also the knowledge that this is the start of the flood. The thought that 'this may be the last time' is too regular an occurrence for this old git.
Cindy's ability to hit the higher notes had declined several years ago. If you had ever heard Elton John over the past two decades singing live the classics from his 70s catalogue you will know that is not a spectacle. Bowie faced the same problem, but over the years either never sung them live (John, I'm only dancing etc) , or changed the tenor without affecting the song overall (Life on Mars etc) .
Kates' voice seems to have held its range. It seems that some can, and some cannot (I suspect that sex may be a primary factor - males seem to be more prone to losing longevity in the higher notes) .
It's another one of those days where I have to ask people if I imagined what the Youtube algorithm sent my way...
Bless her, always had a lot of time for Gina. In fact, she ended up as our final Screen Goddess on our final single originally released way back in 1990!
