Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It Began ... in Chicago

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  • Mike Hollywood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Absolutely Russell. But I have seen (similar) best intentions go horribly wrong in a club. Admittedly it was in Glasgow ... but all the same. You're not preaching, but if you were, it would be to the converted!

    Since May 2009 • 51 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Mike Hollywood,

    ahh, the Blue Oyster in Edinburgh. Experienced one Boxing Day night in early 90s. Lots of mirrors and very rocco.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Hollywood,

    @ Chris - exactly the period I was referring to (92-94 in Glasgow for me). I frequented a place called the Tunnel. As a nightshift worker there my body clock was adjusted to 7am finishes which of course left me with little option other than to party hard through the weekends. I suspect our paths have crossed, and - in Welly at least - we probably share a number of mutual acquaintances.

    Since May 2009 • 51 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Hollywood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    and Russell, just to further clarify my earlier post - the reference to wrong guy, wrong club and exception being taken was more in relation to the amyl coming at you out of the blue rather than the fact that the guy was/may have been gay. You took the opportunity in a good natured way but not everyone would necessarily welcome something like that. Hence my reference to head explosion - I hadn't even made the connection that it was a gay club (amyl having been fairly common in 'straight' clubs during the 80s - in my experience).

    Since May 2009 • 51 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    I remember going to a Headless Chickens and Straitjacket Fits gig at the Powerstation, Auckland, in early '89. Chris Knox was also on the bill and did a short set before each band.

    Before starting one song he declared "I'd like to dedicate this next song to Russell Brown..." then proceeded to sing a song with the chorus:

    "I love my house, it is made of bricks*,
    I hate acid house, it is full of pricks"

    Personally, while I like a decent amount of electronica, the genre being discussed in this thread basically leaves me cold.

    *Not strictly true: Mr Knox's residence in Grey Lynn is clearly made of wood.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    the genre being discussed in this thread basically leaves me cold.

    But clearly it doesn't do so for large numbers of people, including the rest of the posters here, so I'm not sure why that and the paragraph before needed to be said?

    Headless Chickens

    A band that enthusiastically embraced much of what this thread is about, surely.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    Yeah, I rememberr that. Chris was just taking the piss. It was quite funny, but he didn't really know anything about it apart from what I'd raved about to him, which was about how this was really garage music. So I wouldn't take that too seriously.

    I was back for the summer of 88-89 and did a couple of house music parties at the Powerstation, with Grant Fell and Stu Page doing the visuals and my mates and I DJing. They really went pretty well.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I admire the enthusiasm on this thread but for all I know about the music being discussed, it might as well be Polish chicken-plucking folk music ;-)

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

  • Ethan Tucker,

    The first time I can recall hearing it was in 1986, when Farley Jackmaster Funk's 'Love Can't Turn Around' topped the singles chart in Britain.

    Apologies for being a popspotter and perhaps harshing your nostalgia buzz slightly, but Love Can't Turn Around 'only' made it to no.10 in the UK charts in August 1986. A remix re-entered (just) ten years later, but that only reached no.40. But I'm guessing that given the standards of chart material at the time, to have one of your faves riding high must have seemed like a chart-conquering effort.

    http://www.everyhit.com/

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 119 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    it might as well be Polish chicken-plucking folk music ;-)

    Except that Polish chicken-plucking folk music is actually quite tuneful.

    Except for the chickens...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • glennd,

    All I can say is acid house FTW! Loving the links to the old school stuff.

    Since Mar 2011 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    the genre being discussed in this thread basically leaves me cold.

    But clearly it doesn't do so for large numbers of people, including the rest of the posters here, so I'm not sure why that and the paragraph before needed to be said?

    What's wrong with contributing an amusing anecdote ? Also, what's wrong with me expressing a contrary opinion ? Craig R, for example, often has a contary political opinion to many people here, but I don't see you saying he shouldn't post his thoughts.


    Headless Chickens

    A band that enthusiastically embraced much of what this thread is about, surely.

    Something I was well aware of then and now. Their poster for the gig even featured skeletons with big, yellow smiley faces, as I recall.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yeah, I rememberr that. Chris was just taking the piss. It was quite funny, but he didn't really know anything about it apart from what I'd raved about to him, which was about how this was really garage music. So I wouldn't take that too seriously.

    Yeah, he clearly was just having a laugh.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    What’s wrong with contributing an amusing anecdote ? Also, what’s wrong with me expressing a contrary opinion ? Craig R, for example, often has a contary political opinion to many people here, but I don’t see you saying he shouldn’t post his thoughts.

    I context it seemed a bit party-pooping. It wasn’t like we were debating. But never mind.

    You might be interested to know that I took the Kilgour brothers along to the last night of The Trip in 1988. There was a bit of to-ing and fro-ing getting sorted and in the building, but it was a hell of an evening in the end.

    At one point, I felt some concern for Hamish’s whereabouts. I hadn’t seen him for some time and was worried that he might be having a bad time. The concern was eased when I turned around and realised Hamish was one of half a dozen people who’d clambered up to dance on a riser on the edge of the dancefloor. It was not difficult to determine that he was in fact having a very good time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ethan Tucker,

    Apologies for being a popspotter and perhaps harshing your nostalgia buzz slightly, but Love Can’t Turn Around ‘only’ made it to no.10 in the UK charts in August 1986.

    Heh. I stand corrected.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I went to the UK in 1987 and worked in pubs so most of my music at that time was nothing to do with House. I seem to remember that Huey Lewis was my thing, and The Fox (a much underrated album by my beloved Elton John). And who was that South African guy, Johnny something or other? I did go to clubs but the mainstream ones, and not very often, No, that period of my life was more about people (specifically young men. Speaking of which, I worked in the Ship and Shovel just up the steps from Heaven. Never got to go there, but.) than music. On the other hand, not long after that, I did discover House and techno stuff, and quite like the more dancey/less acid tracks. I still tend to the the Pump it Up's and the Big Fun etc however. Maybe because I never did drugs. What a goody goody.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I context it seemed a bit party-pooping. It wasn’t like we were debating. But never mind.

    OTOH, that Chemical Brothers crack at the end of my post was a bit of a throwdown ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    I still tend to the the Pump it Up’s and the Big Fun etc however.

    'Big Fun' is just a beautiful sound to hear, any time.

    Maybe because I never did drugs. What a goody goody.

    You don't need drugs to have a good time. But they can be handy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    And who was that South African guy, Johnny something or other?

    'twas Johnny Clegg I reckon. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tamsin6, in reply to Mike Hollywood,

    with the quirky band Six Volts enjoying a long residency.

    The very excellent Six Volts!

    http://www.youtube.com/user/plan9music#p/a/u/1/eIskFITv8Os

    I seem to remember they did a lovely cover of the Aquamarina song from Stingray

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    that's the one, Steve - Scatterlings of Africa! But there was another band who were sort of African, I had the whole album, and I'm buggered if I can remember who they were.

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

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    And who was that South African guy, Johnny something or other?

    Clegg?

    ETA: Aarggh! Late again. Just seen it upthread!

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Cheap and cheerful videos knocked up in '88 to take advantage of the explosion of interest in Inner City's music.

    'Big Fun' with bonus geezers:

    And 'Good Life', in which Paris Grey dances around the West End of London and Kevin Saunderson, for some reason, runs:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And because I’m on a roll: Jomanda’s ‘Make My Body Rock’. Never seen this video before:

    And fellow Jersey natives, Turntable Orchestra:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    If those don't get you dancing on this grey, rainy day.....

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

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