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Read it online!!!
with interactive contents
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au
MANAGING DIRECTOR Cornelius Curtin conny@candymedia.com.au
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES sales@candymedia.com.au
CREATIVE DESIGN Barbara Bertoli design@candymedia.com.au
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editor@candymedia.com.au GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@candymedia.com.au
6 | July 2014
EDITOR Antonino Tati antonino@candymedia.com.au
CONTRIBUTORS
Lisa Andrews, Barbara Bertoli, Chuck Bomba, Heath Black, Lanke Dimamata, Jake D. Frost, Simone Harle, Jordan Leist, Andrea Manno, Michael Mastess, Mike Ruiz, Deb Russo, Jez Smith
Rock Candy Magazine is published in Western Australia by Candy Custom Media Pty Ltd and distributed free of charge to resource industry workers at various locations around Western Australia. All rights reserved. No material published in Rock Candy may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written authority. Views expressed in Rock Candy are not necessarily the views of the editor or publisher. Rock Candy takes no responsibility for the accuracy of information included or for submitted content. Submissions grant the publisher the right to publish editorial in full or in part. © 2014 Candy Custom Media.
A
COVER: Illustration by B. Bertoli.
Antonino Tati Editor
PUBLISHED BY CANDY CUSTOM MEDIA PTY LTD P.O. Box 444 Northbridge WA 6865 www.candycustommedia.com.au
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f music is the food of life, we’ve sure got a feast for you in this here issue of Rock Candy. And why not dedicate an entire issue to music? You hear it pretty much everywhere you go: in the gym, at the pub or club, in the car, even in the shower (or is that just you singing really loudly?). You sometimes might even hear it in tinnier form, coming out of the boss’ computer in the office or your buddy’s transistor radio (bless) on the job site. Suffice to say, music makes up a massive part of our lives. So we’ve rounded up some of the freshest acts on the local, national and international music scenes, as well as having scored interviews with a couple of veteran icons. Within these hallowed pages you’ll find interviews with Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Biffy Clyro, Adam Lambert, Vampire Weekend, Boy & Bear, Arctic Monkeys, Baby Animals, Dandy Warhols, and fully fledged diva Paloma Faith (she’s been dubbed ‘the new Adele’, you know). Thinking outside the square (because being square is so not rock’n’roll) we also present some interesting featurettes, including a history on controversial and banned songs, a rundown of the world’s greatest guitar heroes, and our venture (initially tentative) into the spooky realm of backmasking (that’s where rockers try to lace Satanic messages into their music). We also bring you some rather odd lists like 41 Tracks That Pay Tribute to Drugs, 17 Songs About Stalking, 11 Tunes About Digging Big Butts and Bazoongas, and 10 Rock And Rap Stars With Super-Huge Egos. Enough said, then. Turn on, tune in, and help celebrate one of mankind’s most awesome creations: la musica!
IE HA A FAITH, DEBB RRY, AC/DC, PALOM EYONCÉ, JENNIFER LOPEZ, A A HISTORY O DAM L END, FB Y, B WEEK DEL RE ATH, BOARDS OF CAN AMBERT, ANNE ADA D QU IRE , LANA A, BLACK SABB AMP ALKING N, METALLIC ........................................... , GREEN DA EEN, SH M
Photograph by Joey Sanchez.
EDITOR’S LETTER
Average Net Distribution 95.05% verified bulk distribution
Contents - ISSUE 10 - THE MUSIC ISSUE 2014
MUSIC SPECIAL 26. PALOMA FAITH Rock Candy chats with the modern British diva who has an uncanny knack for emulating singing heroines of the past.
30. A HISTORY OF BANNED MUSIC From The Sex Pistols to The Prodigy, a list of acts considered too risqué for commercial radio and video channels.
32. PATTI SMITH Antonino Tati chats with the rock’n’roll veteran about famous friends who have passed tragically, and the flipside to all that darkness – things to appreciate in life.
42
34. THE DOPE SHOW Forty-one tracks about one of rock music’s most volatile ingredients: drugs.
35. BABY ANIMALS Suze DeMarchi on sticking it to ex-lovers in rock tunes and gettin’ away with it.
REGULARS
36. NICK CAVE
10. COMPETITIONS
The Bad Seeds frontman is forced to talk about the ‘black’ side to his being. “I’m dressed in fuckin’ black and I’m the blackest of the black,” tells Nick.
Win CDs by veteran rockers Blondie and cool new babe on the block, Foxes.
38. BACKMASKING AND ‘THE DEVIL’S MUSIC’
An interesting study that reveals feminine women prefer ‘feminine’ men.
13. THE BITS UP THE FRONT
Rewinding old-school tape and vinyl to decipher ‘evil speak’ from the likes of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Boards Of Canada and, er... Britney Spears?
26
40. VAMPIRE WEEKEND
15. GADGETS & STUFF Some rather nifty gizmos to play your music on.
17. FASHION IN, FASHION OUT
Kicking back with VW singer Ezra Koenig and drummer Chris Tomson to talk bedroom boffin production techniques.
How to dress like a rock star. Step one: lose the trucker cap.
18. STICK IT IN YOUR DIARY
42. ARCTIC MONKEYS They’ve been. They’ve gone. They conquered. And we still can’t get enough of that rockin’ Arctic sound.
An army of excellent international acts soon to play our shores.
43. LOOK WHO’S STALKING?
20. POP CULTURE: REVIEWS
A rundown of songs about preying on exes and certain objects of desire. Somewhat creepy, yes.
44. ADAM LAMBERT
New releases in music, film, gaming and lit.
50
48
He currently fronts Queen, don’tcha know!
45. GUITAR HEROES
22. HOMEGROWN TALENT Three easy questions posed to local musos Anna O and Veludo, plus a profile on Stillwater Giants – all set to do big things.
52. ACTION HERO
The who’s who of legendary chord-crunching, from George Harrison to Angus Young to Matt Bellamy.
46. BOY & BEAR
Action motorsports champ Travis Pastrana is a modern-day Evil Knievel who keeps breaking bones but just can’t resist the next challenge.
The Sydney outfit scooped last year’s ARIAs and have become radio fixtures since.
55. MOTORING A profile on cool auto converters, Cronic Customs.
48. BIFFY CLYRO
57. HEATH’S HEALTHLINE
A batch of scruffy dudes from Scotland who keep lying to us about their name…
49. THE BIGGER, THE BETTER Cheeky songs about liking big butts and bazoongas – and not all of them are from rap artists.
18
62
59. THE FIFO WIFE Deb Russo on coping with a dozen buzzin’ media in the household at once.
50. DANDY WARHOLS
60. TRAVEL
Psyche-rock’s favourite hipsters are heading to our shores again in August.
Rock Candy shops silly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, then heads across to serene Langkawi for some much-needed R’n’R.
51. YOU HAD TO BE A BIG SHOT, DINCHA! Not for this list of egocentric rock and rap stars. Roll up, roll up, for the biggest boofheads to grace the musical stage.
64. HOT SHOTS 55
8 | July 2014
Heath Black on using music to cut loose, helping to get that stress off your chest.
64
Our trusty New York-based lensman Mike Ruiz delivers another batch of celebrity icons as eye candy.
DISCOVER UNIQUE BEAUTY AT THE WALPOLE WILDERNESS CENTRE Three unique and breathtaking wilderness experiences will connect you with nature - all in one day.
3
2
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Swarbrick
Mount Frankland
Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants
Walk above the Giants 600 m walk fully Accessible
Experience the excitement of walking through the canopy of the magnificent tingle forest on the 40 m high Tree Top Walk. Explore the Ancient Empire trail and be captivated by the forest, the plants and animals. You can also do the Forest by Night run during school holidays and on request. Educational fun for the whole family.
See views like no other Take the universal access path to the new Wilderness Lookout and be rewarded by expansive vistas over the wilderness, or walk around the base of the granite outcrop along the Caldyanup walk trail and take-in the sounds and smells of the forest. For 360 degree views of the Walpole Wilderness follow in the footsteps of the fire towerman to the summit of Mt Frankland. A site not to be missed!
Ancient Empire is free. Entry prices for Tree Top Walk: Adult $15.00. Child: $7.50, Concession: $10.50, Family: $37.50.
Discover the nature of art Experience peace and contemplation while walking around the Swarbrick art loop which features thought-provoking art pieces like the 39 m long Wilderness Wall of Perceptions. This area is also home to some of Western Australia’s famous old growth Karri trees and provides a majestic backdrop for acclaimed artwork. Keep an open-mind and enjoy the journey! The Walpole Wilderness Discovery Centre is a 450 km drive from Perth to Walpole.
W E S T E R N AU S T R A L I A
Walpole Wilderness Centre Visit the three sites in one day, at a leisurely pace, and discover unique beauty for yourself.
BEARDMORE ROAD
Swarbrick
Mt Frankland NORTH WALPOLE RD BRIDGE ROAD
WALPOLE
Bow Bridge
Tree Top Walk SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY SOUTHERN OCEAN
There may be hazardous weather conditions during summer - some sites may be closed. Each site is open every day except the Tree Top Walk closed Christmas Day.
For more information:
www.parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au facebook: www.facebook.com/treetopwalk e: frankland.district@dpaw.wa.gov.au t: (08) 9840 8263
Competitions
WIN! COPIES OF BLONDIE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY DOUBLE CD
WIN! COPIES OF I, FRANKENSTEIN ON DVD
From the producers of Underworld comes an awesome reinterpretation of one of history’s greatest monster tales with I, Frankenstein seeing our thick-necked foe thrown into a postmodern world (ie: today) where doom and gloom loom around every corner. There’s more action than dialogue here, so if this is the genre you prefer in cinema, you’ll get a good kick out of this graphic flick. It stars Aaron Eckhart as the badass monster, and co-stars Bill Nighy, Aden Young and Australia’s own Miranda Otto.
Ask any female rock act of the day which music icons they looked up to getting into the business, and chances are Debbie Harry of Blondie would be close to the top of their list. Harry epitomised everything about rock and punk – possessing attitude aplenty and blonde ambition to match. Oh, did we mention she also made punk look so much prettier? Fab looks aside, Debbie and Blondie delivered an avalanche of super-cool songs including Heart Of Glass, The Tide Is High, Rapture and Call Me. These and more are included on a new-released compilation called Blondie 4(0) Ever – in celebration of the band’s 40th Anniversary this year. The compilation has been packaged with an excellent rarities collection called Ghosts Of Download which features brilliant underground grooves and rare rock tunes. Check out the song titles alone: Rave, I Want To Drag You Around, Take Me In The Night and Backroom to begin with… Blondie’s ‘Deluxe Redux’ is available through iTunes and on CD through Caroline Australia. To try winning one of 10 double-disc ‘Deluxe Redux’ packages that include ‘Blondie 4(0) Ever’ and ‘Ghosts Of Download’, simply Like our Facebook page (rockcandymagazine) and email your name, address and the Subject heading ‘Blondie’ to competitions@candymedia.com.au no later than 5pm, Friday 18 July.
‘I, Frankenstein’ is available on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and Digital HD on July 23 through Entertainment One Australia. To try winning one of 5 copies on DVD, simply Like our Facebook page (rockcandymagazine) and email your name, address and the Subject heading ‘Frankenstein’ to competitions@candymedia.com.au no later than 5pm, Friday 18 July.
WIN! COPIES OF ACE ARTIST FOXES’ CD
Singer Louisa Rose Allen, aka: Foxes, says she really likes “songs that make you feel like everything’s shit at the beginning, and then great by the end”. And this double-edged dichotomy is what makes up many of the brilliant tunes on her debut album Glorious. Speaking of glorious, this girl could have opted for a fulltime modelling career – she’s that stunning. But then it would have seen a lot of her artistic talent go to waste. Indeed Foxes, who was raised in the posh quarters of the Hamptons, US, but who now calls London home, delivers a style of music that’s like Kate Bush, Björk and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons all rolled into one. Yet she sounds utterly unique. Rest assured, this chick and her debut album are going to be doing big things in 2014. ‘Glorious’ is available through iTunes and on CD through Sony Music. To try winning one of 10 copies of ‘Glorious’, simply Like our Facebook page (rockcandymagazine) and email your name, address and the Subject heading ‘Foxes’ to competitions@candymedia.com.au no later than 5pm, Friday 18 July.
10 | July 2014
Ta
s ke c ondom
Us
e condo ms
G et
te ste d
Travelling for work or pleasure? HIV and sexually transmissible infections are on the rise. Don’t bring them home.
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bits up the front The
THE NEW RULES OF ATTRACTION
PILBARA’S BIG MUSIC WEEKENDER IS BACK
Music events don’t get much bigger in the Pilbara than the NorthWest Festival and this year’s bill is so massive and impressive, organisers might want to start tagging the event North By NorthWest to simulate the hugely popular SXSW in the States. Over two jam-packed days, acts from the genres of country, blues, Indigenous, electro, rock and pop will take to the NorthWest stage: Missy Higgins, Violent Soho, the Aston Shuffle and the Pigram Brothers to name just some of the diverse lot performing on Friday 22 August. But it’s the second day we’re really shining our boots for, with sets by the varied likes of Wolfmother, Ball Park Music, Dandy Warhols (see interview, page 50 this issue), Hermitude, Art vs Science and a host of local acts. It all happens at the Port Hedland Turf Club, with tickets available from moshtix.com.au, or by phoning 1300 GET TIX, or try popping in to the Port Hedland Visitor’s Centre. Lisa Andrews For more information, visit northwestfestival.com.au. Rock Candy has four tickets to the NorthWest Festival to give away – that’s two lots of two, to two lucky readers (so that you can go with a mate if you win). To try winning a pair, simply Like our Facebook page (rockcandymagazine) and then email your name, address and the Subject heading ‘NorthWest’ to competitions@ candymedia.com.au no later than 5pm, Friday 25 July.
When you look at the majority of history’s representation of coupling, it appears masculine men have more often chased after feminine women. This general representation of the sexes goes back to the days of cavemen, carries on through Ancient Greek and Roman times, and well into the Twentieth Century. But this supposedly universal principle is now being turned on its head, with a recent study by online dating service, Elite Singles, indicating a preference of ‘like’ for ‘like’. Over three-quarters (76%) of feminine women surveyed said they were more attracted to ‘feminine’ men. Conversely, almost three-fifths (59%) of masculine men surveyed said they were more attracted to ‘masculine’ women. To put this into perspective (well alright then, to state it in laymen’s terms), the findings suggest that girlie women like girlie guys, and that butch blokes prefer tougher chicks (think Cinderella and Coldplay’s Chris Martin canoodling at one end of the table, while Superman and Xena are getting it on at the other). For the study, Elite Single members were first tested on their individual traits and then asked to rate the qualities they looked for in a partner – both biological and psychological characteristics. The results were at odds with the cliché that predicts sensitive, feminine women desire assertive, protective men and vice versa. In short then, fellas, this means you can ease up on the macho image; drink a little lighter; maybe even consider taking up a wind instrument or a hobby in the arts. A round of the recorder, some Rekorderlig cider, and a stint of cross-stitching, anyone? Antonino Tati COMMON ‘MASCULINE’ TRAITS: dominance, independence, ruggedness, aggression, an inclination toward active pursuits. COMMON ‘FEMININE’ TRAITS: sensitivity, warmth, modesty, understanding, an inclination toward more creative pursuits
BEAUTY AND HER NEW BEAST
One of the most anticipated albums of the year has just been unleashed: Lana Del Rey’s ‘Ultraviolence’, the follow-up to her very successful debut LP ‘Born To Die’. Described not-too-humbly by Del Rey as “so wrong and exquisite, it’s absolutely gorgeous”, the new record is indeed darker than the first, with Lana’s tongue planted firmly in cheek on such songs as ‘Pretty When You Cry’ and ‘Fucked My Way Up To The Top’. Written for the most part by legendary writer Rick Nowels (think: Tupac Shakur to John Legend, Madonna to Ellie Goulding) and produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, you can rest assured there’s plenty of diversity on the LP, with songs shifting from dark and epic to dreamy, psychedelic-like. Michael Mastess ‘Ultraviolence’ is available through Interscope Universal in standard and deluxe editions on download, CD and vinyl. For diehard fans, there’s a collectors box set that includes picture disc, heavyweight vinyl, CD digipack and some very spunky prints of the gal.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 13
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Gadgets & stuff
Gadgets & Stuff
I LIKE TALL SPEAKERS…
As much a conversation duo-piece as they are an impressive audio system, these ‘Dancing Water Fountain Speakers’ provide quality sound while treating the senses to an impressive LED-lit water show. They’re connectible with most computers, mobile phones and MP3 players. Sure to brighten up any living room. Lisa Andrews RRP $49.00, available from colourblocker.com.au.
RADIO GA GA
Tivoli, maker of old-fashioned radios with new-fashioned guts, has finally added Bluetooth to its classic Model One line, which means you can now transfer music wirelessly to the system, giving you even more audio variety. Weighing in at under 2kgs, it boasts an attractive old-school casing, AM and FM receiver, headphone jack, and even comes with handy recording feature. Michael Mastess RRP $349.00, available from bristolandbrooks.com.au.
ENJOY SHAKIRA THROUGH YOUR SHOWERHEAD
It might look like an ordinary showerhead but take a closer look at the Kohler Moxie and you’ll see that it hosts a wireless speaker. Cleverly held in place by magnets, the Moxie uses Bluetooth technology to pick up tunes from your MP3 player, iMac or smartphone. The user simply needs to press a single button on the front of the speaker to activate the pairing, which works up to 10 metres away from the playing device. So now you can sing in the shower and let the music drown out those embarrassing bad notes! AT
CHARGE!
Recharge your gadgets on the go with this portable power bank, compatible with iPods, smartphones and other portable devices. A compact and attractive accessory in itself, you’ve just got to show this new toy off to those thinkthey’ve-got-it-all buddies. LA RRP $19.95, available from colourblocker.com.au.
RRP $290.00 (5-inch diameter) and $350.00 (8-inch), available from kohler.com.au.
PUMP UP THE JAM
These ‘Pump HD Sportsbuds’ by BlueAnt are the ultimate in wireless multisport headphones. Developed under tough Aussie conditions in collaboration with extreme athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the buds deliver thumping sound designed to let the beat set the pace for intense workouts and guaranteed to get you in the zone. In fact, you might lose track of time and end up getting even more exercise in! So whether you’re at the gym, in the martial arts ring or shooting hoops on the court, these military-grade buds are the perfect audio accessory. And here’s a bonus: their waterproof coating eliminates concerns of water splashing, sweat dripping on them, or dust collecting. Antonino Tati RRP $129.99, available from blueantpump.com.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 15
EXTRA-LARGE TRUCKER CAPS
Trucker caps already possess negative connotations of ‘bogan’ and ‘hick’. Make it an extra-large one and you’re seriously in danger of looking like Sad Frank from ‘30 Rock’. The fact that the ‘I’m A Big Head’ trucker cap, pictured, comes in 11 colours that include pink, neon green and yellow means you should probably stay far away from this accessory. Remember: you are not a rap artist. But should you really want it, RRP $21.95 from zazzle.com.au.
RAY-BAN LEATHER WAYFARERS
NO!
How’s this for ultra-cool and superstylish? Ray-Ban have released a new version of the Wayfarer with a frame cased entirely in quality leather. The lenses are a polarised green, specially layered for UV protection. Available in black or brown. And remember, the greatest music icons have all worn Wayfarers, from Mick Jagger and Madonna, through Pharrell and Fergie, to Jay-Z and Beyoncé, so you know you’ll be in seriously stylish company. RRP $300.00 from ray-ban.com.
DAVID BOWIE ‘70S BOLT’ TEE
No item of clothing is as comfy as a loose cotton t-shirt, and no tee is cooler than one emblazoned with an image of David Bowie. Get in touch with your inner rock god.
Available in sizes small to XL in red, white, black or green. RRP $21.99 from eBay (Search: Bowie Bolt 70s).
Fashion In Fashion Out
SEX, DRUGS & ROCK’N’ROLL PHONE CASE
It’s a phrase so intricately etched into the rock’n’roll psyche that it makes sense it would make its way onto a phone case. Hard shell plastic provides protection for your Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5, with sizes for other smartphones available soon. RRP $26.00 from squigglecase.com
e e is r ob a rd t … ’ w t ar kin o s oc s t a r on er e s t i e th g g og su g t se llin the P u l ow f ol
JULIUS MARLOW ‘RUSSELL’ BROWN SNAKE SHOES
y;
Mona Lisa meets Kiss in this seriously cool hoodie. The cotton and polyester blend makes for super soft fleece while reinforced pocket and zipper stitching will ensure you and your accessories stay snug. Plus there’s a nifty slit inside the right pocket and interior loop making for easy cord control.
as
RENAISSANCE ‘ROCK’ ZIP HOODIE
As the song says, “These boots are made for walking and that’s just what they’ll do.” The textured leather finish of these Julius Marlow brown snake shoes gives the rockin’ cowboy look a touch of class. Its decent heel will appeal to guys wanting a little extra height, while side zip allows for easy entry and “extra wiggle room” (their words!). Available in sizes 1 to 13. Leather upper and lining, and rubber soul. RRP $199.95 plus postage from styletread.com.au.
Unisex sizing to fit both guys and girls. Available in small to 2XL. RRP $49.00 plus postage from threadless.com.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 17
Stick it
in your diary seven great gigs to look forward to
November 7+8 KATY PERRY
The spunky Katy Perry will head to Australia later this year, kicking off a very long series of concerts in our capital city on Friday 7 November, then playing 22 more dates across the country. The ‘World Prismatic Tour’ is in support of Katy’s smash hit album ‘Prism’, which debuted at number one in Oz and has since been certified Triple Platinum. Expect to hear all her hits including ‘Roar’, ‘Unconditionally’, ‘Futuristic Lover’ and of course her latest singles ‘Dark Horse’ and ‘Birthday’. On November 7 + 8, Perth Arena. Bookings through ticketek. com.au or phone 132 849.
18 | July 2014
August 5
KASABIAN
August 20
LADY GAGA
September 5
KANYE WEST
We get pretty excited when a new Kasabian album arrives on our desk. And the English rockers’ latest LP ‘48:13’ (which also happens to be the total time of the record) is as epic as any before it. Effortlessly fusing rock and electronica, this is one brilliant act – both in the studio and live – so we’re looking forward to catching the boys when they tour Oz in August. Expect to hear rockin’ favourites like ‘Empire’, ‘Shoot The Runner’, ‘Fast Fuse’ and ‘Re-Wired’ plus a batch of tunes from the new LP.
Dubbing her current tour ‘ArtRave: The ArtPop Ball’, Ms Gaga looks like topping all previous tours to Oz so far as set decoration, dancer line-up, etcetera goes. The concerts follow on from the diva’s multiplatinum-selling album ‘ArtPop’ (albeit perhaps not as well-selling as previous LPs). We probably don’t need to list the hits here, suffice to say that the kids will love, love, love you if you take ’em along to this one. Just be warned, the music might be way loud – we needed earplugs at her last gig.
Ten-time Grammy winner Kanye West has revolutionised rap music with a ground-breaking mix of thought-provoking lyrics, a clever use of samples, and peerless stage productions. Recently named ‘The Hottest MC in the Game’ by MTV, Kanye gets his chance to prove his worth when he tours our shores in September. Yep, this is the ‘Yeezus’ series of gigs that he was supposed to have done back in May, but postponed due to being too busy shooting Vogue covers with wife Kim.
On August 5, Metro City, Perth. Tickets available through oztix.com.au.
On August 20, Perth Arena. Bookings through ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849.
On September 5, Perth Arena. Tickets available through ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849
September 11+12
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
October 8+9
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Few artists can boast that they’ve sold 55 million albums globally, but Robbie Williams can. The cheeky Take That runaway returns to Oz to play a host of hits and several covers from his latest LP ‘Swings Both Ways’. Williams’ love for Australia has been well documented over the years, even if he did once say Perth was “stuck in the ’70s”. Let’s see the look on his face when he views the new purpose-built Arena he’ll be playing in, and witnesses all that construction going on around town, eh?
JT needs little introduction. He’s super suave, sings pretty good, and provides perfect eye candy for the missus for when you’re away. This October he brings his 20/20 Experience World Tour to Perth, presenting hits from said album as well as a host of big tunes that came before it. ‘The 20/20 Experience’ held the #1 spot in both the Top 200 and R&B album charts with all 10 tracks having hit high positions on the digital songs chart. So get that suit and tie pressed; this is set to be one slick show.
On September 11 + 12, Perth Arena. Bookings through ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849.
On October 8 + 9, Perth Arena. Bookings through ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849.
October 29 November 1
ROLLING STONES
After having to cancel their Australian tour several months back due to the untimely death of Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, L Wren Scott, the boys have officially announced that all is set to go for their rescheduled series of concerts. So if you had tickets and held onto them, smart move! What can we say, except to expect one of the best darn gigs these ol’ codgers have delivered in their life time. Heck, it may even be one of their last… On October 29 + November 1, Perth Arena. Tickets probably not available by the time you read this, but if there is a few you might find them at viagogo.com.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 19
Pop Culture
music
KISS CELEBRATE 40 BIG ONES IN THE MUSIC BIZ
It’s hard to believe that Kiss have been around for 40 years – prancing about in makeup and leather gear, and letting their glam brand of rock rip through stadiums across the globe – to this very day, we might add. To celebrate four decades in the music biz, our favourite made-up tarts have recently released ‘Kiss 40’, a double-CD compilation that features 40 tracks spanning the band’s incredible 40-year career. The set includes one track from every major album release – and yes, they’ve had that many albums. Some of this scribe’s favourites are included, such as ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’, ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘New York Groove’ and ‘Shout It Out Loud’, and between the harder tracks are those imperative ballads, the highlights being ‘Beth’ and ‘Shandi’. But avid fans will be most blown away by the inclusion of live recordings on this compilation. For the first time ever on a commercial CD by the band, Kiss have chosen to include fan-favourite performances such as ‘Deuce’ from their 2004 tour, and the epic delivery of ‘Crazy Crazy Nights’ from their 2010 ‘Sonic Boom Over Europe’ tour. There’s also a previously unreleased demo from 1977 – a real collector’s item. All up, this is great value for Kiss fans, and ought to keep punters content until something original comes out of that (probably heavily cobwebbed) studio. Antonino Tati
television
‘THE GOLDBERGS’ BRING THE GAUCHE ‘80 S TO OUR FLATSCREENS
Before we had Facebook and Twitter, online dating and gaming, and unforeseen allergies for everything from sesame seeds to red wine, there was a time when life was a lot more tangible and, heck, far more fun. That era was the ’80s. In tribute to the decade that ushered in neon fashions, mullet haircuts and trusty arcade games like Pacman and Donkey Kong, comes a fresh TV series in the form of ‘The Goldbergs’, which currently airs on Network Seven. The show is about a dysfunctional family in a time when ‘dysfunction’ was rarely looked up in the dictionary. To start with, there’s the smothering mother, Beverly – an overbearing and overprotective matriarch who rules her brood with 100% authority and zero sense of boundaries. Then there’s the hot-tempered Dad, Murray, who seriously needs to read the occasional ‘You’re OK, I’m OK’ self-help book. As for the kids… young Adam is a full-on geek (way before it was cool to be), his older sister is a rebel, and his older brother is over-emotional and highly strung. Throw into the mix a rather posh granddad, played by ‘Just Shoot Me’s George Segal, and this crew is about as mixed up, muddled up and shook up as any ‘Modern Family’ can get. Where the gags sometimes fall flat, especially on the ears of Gen Y-ers, it’s the Gen X-ers before them who will really ‘get’ this series, which was bred in the stables of Adam Sandler’s production house, Happy Madison. With a soundtrack that’s sure to appeal to viewers who grew up in the ’80s – featuring the likes of the J Geils Band, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake and Styx – and a wardrobe that looks like your Nan might have knit it after accidentally swallowing one-too-many Eccies, ‘The Goldbergs’ is one hilarious retro piss-take. And if you thought ‘That ’70s Show’ was clever in its over-the-top, supposedly ‘hip’ jargon and aesthetics, wait till you set your eyes and ears on this series. AT
20 | July 2014
gaming
SINGSTAR STILL ROCKIN’ 10 YEARS ON
Music and video gaming have gone hand-in-hand since way back. What good was playing Frogga or Donkey Kong if you didn’t have the jolly theme songs in the background to motivate you? But the biggest music concept to hit gaming would have to be SingStar, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday. If you’ve not had the pleasure of playing it yet, SingStar is basically ‘karaoke for the loungeroom’. You simply slip a SingStar disc into your PlayStation 3 or 4 console, and a host of cool tracks pop up for you to choose from and belt your lungs out to. Our top tunes to sing off-key to? Blur’s ‘Song 2’ is right up there. 10CC’s ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ is a hoot, especially when your mates get overexcited replacing the word ‘reggae’ with ‘cricket’. And Thirty Seconds To Mars’ ‘The Kill’ is pretty killer, too. Now the SingStar phenomenon is moving out of the loungeroom and into your pocket, with Sony Computer Entertainment having introduced a companion app for the next generation of singing show-offs. The app turns any iOS/Android phone into a microphone and basically means there’s no limit to the number of drunken buddies who can join in on the singing. The app also helps manage playlists, while score challenges allow players to connect online with their music-loving mates. A new 30-track compilation disc ‘SingStar: Ultimate Party’ will be available later in the year. Lanke Dimamata For more information, visit au.playstation.com.
film
‘FRANK’ TACKLES THE ART-HOUSE GENRE HEAD-ON
When awesome Canadian band Arcade Fire took to the stage at this year’s Big Day Out, each member wore a giant head made of papier mache, at least eight times the size of their actual noggins. The look on stage was surreal, to say the least. Big-headed musicians making an even bigger-headed statement, so to speak. Watching offbeat comedy flick ‘Frank’, I got that exact same feeling of the sensational and the surreal – namely because its titular character goes about the entire film wearing a massive papier mache head and carrying an ego just as large. ‘Frank’ is inspired by the story of celebrated ’70s and ’80s musician Chris Sievey, aka Frank Sidebottom, who became famous for wearing a huge fake head whenever he played live. He fronted a band called The Freshies, and even went on to host his own television show called ‘Frank Sidebottom’s Proper Telly Show In Black-And-White’. So of course the dude deserves his own biopic! The film actually draws on the experiences of journalist Jon Ronson, he who wrote ‘The Men Who Stare At Goats’, and who briefly played keyboards for Sidebottom in the late ’80s. Much of the dialogue, as quirky and modern as it comes across, is indeed from those days, pre-YouTube and Twitter. That said, Frank and company were way ahead of their time so far as rock antics and cool lingo go. Starring Michael Fassbender as Frank, Domnhall Gleeson as Jon the journo/muso, and the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal as the bitchiest member of the band, this is like ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ meets ‘The Muppets’ – but twice as twisted as either. Some of the one-liners are sure to be bandied about by ironic folk looking for a laff (Frank: “Would it help if I said my facial expressions out loud?”) and the film itself is destined to become an instant cult classic. Like ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, with all its quirky characters and over-the-top aesthetics, ‘Frank’ is sure to leap from the margins of indie cinema into the mosh-pit of mainstream appeal. See it. Laugh lots. Antonino Tati ‘Frank’ screens in Luna Palace Cinemas.
books
MUSIC AND PSYCHE 101
Victoria Williamson was onto a winning idea with her book ‘You Are The Music’, its premise best summed by the subtitle “how music reveals what it means to be human”. But where she could have gotten right into the positive (perhaps even negative) effects of music on us humans – and might have made the most of a wealth of references at her fingertips (thank you YouTube), instead she spends the first third of the book boring us with what it might be like to raise children to appreciate music more – only to ultimately reveal that subjecting them to Mozart won’t turn them into geniuses. Things get decidedly more interesting when she highlights the theory that it is the soundtrack to our early teen years that we turn to and appreciate the most, but then you don’t need a PhD to reach that conclusion. (That said, god bless Generation Y when it comes time to explain ‘Crazy Frog’ to their grandchildren). What Williamson presents, in effect, is nothing shockingly new but a pile of rubble from a crumbling wall of music studies, most of it decidedly archaic. She might better have taken heed of Pink Floyd’s infamous lyric: “We don’t need no education”. The music we love is the music we love for a myriad reasons; and sometimes for no good reason at all. Nuff said. AT ‘You Are The Music’ is published through Allen & Unwin, RRP $29.99.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 21
Homegrown talent Rounding up the freshest local acts set to do big things soon.
STILLWATERS RUN DEEP
Q&A
Surf, sand and the feeling of a road trip are the vibes that shine through in the music of Perth band Stillwater Giants. Not only do these four dudes love catching waves, they’re now making them on the music scene. Armed with catchy songs packed with original lyrics and sharp riffs, the band has the honour of being the first to have performed at Perth Arena when it opened in 2012 (yep, even before Elton John). And since forming in 2010, they’ve also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with excellent acts like Regurgitator, Birds Of Tokyo and British India. Frontman Henry Clarke and lead guitarist Tom Godden hail from Margaret River and, coupled with Angus Watkins (drums) and Kyle Lockyer (bass guitarist) who grew up in the ‘burbs, they offer what we like to call ‘eclectricity’ – serving up surf rock tunes mashed with pop and even a little electro (think The Thrills meets Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). The guys’ latest single ‘Insane’ is already doing big things on iTunes. Described by Clarke as being about “that feeling of escape; the feeling that you can do what the fuck you want”, ‘Insane’ is also gaining high rotation on Spotify while enjoying a well-deserved spin on TripleJ, who had the pleasure of ‘Unearthing’ them a few years ago. 2014 has been earmarked as the year the Giants venture into the studio to record their first full album proper, due out early next year. Andrea Manno ‘Insane’ is out through Inertia and available on iTunes.
Q&A
JARED CAMPBELL
(Bass + synth player, Veludo) What’s on your iPod? At the moment there’s heaps of stuff but to pick some key acts there’s The 1975, St Lucia, and Young The Giant. All have great tunes. What’s your style? Style is a tough one; mostly indie stuff and anything people have put their hearts and souls into. I don’t like typical mainstream big names or fashion influences, but I’m not one for wearing homemade tie-dye shirts either. If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t doing music, I’d hopefully still have a role in the industry; maybe in management or marketing, or doing something else creative with my hands. Veludo’s new self-titled EP is available on iTunes and via their website www.veludomusic.com. (Jared is pictured left in the group).
22 | July 2014
ANNA O
Singer
What’s on your iPod? If you want it all, this paragraph could go on forever. What I have on high rotation currently is Meg Mac, Kimbra, Jessie Ware, Ngaiire, Lorde, Asta and Janelle Monae; all sassy women with big voices and wicked tunes. What’s your style? I love all white with pops of colour, and for some reason, whenever I wear structured or sharp-tailored pieces, it just works. Personally, I’m quite laidback but with a whole bunch of attitude and drive thrown into the mix. If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing? Either graphic or interior design, maybe even fashion. Other than music, my first love, I’m a sucker for all things visual! Anna O’s new EP ‘When The Winter Came’ is available through iTunes and via her website www.annao.co.
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TuNe In To A BeAuT MiX Of MuSiC OnLiNe 24/7 AnD AlWaYs FrEe
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ARCTIC MONKEYS, P!NK, A HISTORY OF BANNED MUSIC, VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BACKMASKING AND ‘THE DEVIL’S MUSIC’, NICK CAVE, PALOMA FAITH, AC/DC, WORLD’S GREATEST GUITARISTS, JIMI HENDRIX, PATTI SMITH, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, DRUG-FUELLED CLASSICS, THE BEATLES, THE PRODIGY, ADAM LAMBERT, SONGS ABOUT STALKING, DANDY WARHOLS, BOY & BEAR, BABY ANIMALS, SONGS ABOUT BIG BUTTS & BAZOONGAS, ROCK & RAP STARS WITH SUPER-HUGE EGOS Music Special 25
U MUSIC SPECIALq
KEEPING THE FAITH Leave it to the Brits to keep dishing out musical talent with an uncanny knack for emulating great singers of the past. You’re already familiar with Amy Winehouse (RIP), Duffy, and of course, Adele, all three divas having done an awesome job in channelling the style, if not soul, of singers like Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Etta James. Well now you can add to this list British babe, Paloma Faith. Sure, her Christian name might sound Spanish, and that surname all Catholic-like, but get this girl talking on the phone from London and she sounds more like a pint-swilling sailor than a matronly Latina saint. This year sees the release of Paloma’s third album ‘A Perfect Contradiction’ which features a roster of impressive contributors including Pharrell Williams, Diane Warren, Plan B and John Legend. Most of the collaborators got in touch with Paloma themselves, with Pharrell approaching her at the Met Ball in New York last year, and Diane Warren – who has worked with the best of them from Johnny Mathis to Jimmy Barnes – repeatedly calling Paloma to present a song she’d specifically written with her in mind. Antonino Tati chats with Paloma about her new LP, being ‘real’ on the net, the legacy of Heath Ledger, and a relatively new genre of music being tagged ‘sad-core’. Some people might assume, Paloma, that your second name is a made-up one. Would you agree? Yes, but Faith is not my actual surname; it’s the second name on my birth certificate. You know how people are called ‘Mary Jane’? Well I’m ‘Paloma Faith’. Nice. How would you say your new album ‘A Perfect Contradiction’ differs to your previous LP ‘Fall To Grace’? Its tone is the opposite of what the last album was, really. There are a couple of melancholy moments, sure, but it’s much more a ‘If it’s all gone to shit, fuck it, let’s have a dance’ kind of record. A lot of your songs are about this possible glimmer of hope at the end of a dark passage. Which brings m e b a c k t o y o u r n a m e . D o y o u b e l ie v e i n
26 | July 2014
self-fulfilling prophecy; that your name helps shape some of the things you deliver in life? Yeah, I do think that. Put it this way, it would be weird if I had a name like Paloma Faith and worked in IT, wouldn’t it? You write or at least co-write a lot of the songs you sing. I’d like to know what comes first, usually, the music or the lyrics. A lot of the lyrics are mine but because I don’t play any instrument, I tend to go in with musicians and they write the music, then I write or add to the lyrics. That said, I usually write the words first, and the music is shaped around the lyrics. Well a bit of both, really. If I hear some music, then I’ll start humming some melodies, and I’ll restructure the words that I’ve written to fit around those melodies. It sort of becomes what it is in its own way; kind of organically.
U MUSIC SPECIALq
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 27
U MUSIC SPECIALq
FACTOID 01:
Paloma Faith recently starred in the TV comedy series ‘Blandings’ opposite Jennifer Saunders of ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ fame.
FACTOID 02:
Paloma married New Zealand chef Rian Haynes in 2005. They split after eight months and were divorced four years later.
28 | July 2014
U MUSIC SPECIALq concentration. [I shout to the dog:] C-Jay, stop it! I’m on the phone. What’s his name, BJ? BJ, as in blow job? No, no, it’s C-Jay. We thought we’d give him a bit of a hip-hop name. Oh. I like that. Speaking of hip-hop connections, you worked with Pharrell Williams on your recent single, ‘Can’t Rely On You’. Even with the funk vibe to that song, it wouldn’t surprise me if people still slide it into the category of ‘sad-core’… Sad-core? I don’t even know what that is. Well it’s kind of how some people categorise music from the likes of Adele, Duffy, and the late Amy Winehouse. That style where there’s a bit of a sad vibe going on in the lyrics but there’s grit to the music. Would you agree that some of your music is a bit sad-core? I would, actually. I suppose a lot of my music is about turning tragedy into hope; coming out of bad situations and making them hopeful. On this record I tried to somehow channel some of the old records that I love. The old greats are great at turning sad situations into something that sounds hopeful. Judy Garland’s ‘Over The Rainbow’ is a perfect example of that. Who are some of the other greats you like to channel? Etta James is my biggest vocal inspiration. I really like Erykah Badu. And I love Candi Staton, Tina Turner… all the way back to Billie Holiday. For some songs [on ‘A Perfect Contradiction’] I’d been reflecting on things that have been tough, but almost celebrating that. After all, if you haven’t been to the bottom, you wouldn’t be able to recognise how it feels to feel really amazing. Too true. Hey, is it true that one of the f irst bands you were in was called Paloma & The Penetrators? That’s right.
A while ago, you recorded a Christmas song called ‘It’s Christmas But I Hate You’. Did you get much f lak from conservatives putting the word ‘hate’ next to the word ‘Christmas’? I don’t think people were really aware of that. It was kind of an underground little track we did and I don’t think right-wingers go and search that stuff out. [My dog starts to yelp in the background]
Excuse me one moment, Paloma. I have a poodle pup here who is causing a bit of trouble, yelping in the background, a nd he’s m a k i ng me lose my
Did you get any negative feedback about that suggestive band name? Nobody seemed to pick up on it. But I suppose I’m too evil too soon. I do have a very dark sense of humour and I tend to revel in getting into trouble. I quite enjoy being told off and making people feel that their social expectations of me are being challenged. Well conservatism can be quite boring, so it’s a good thing to challenge authority now and then. Absolutely, yes. And now’s the time to do it, really, what with the internet and all its democracy. Wave that flag, I say! I’d love to, but the problem is that on the internet, people are surprisingly conservative.
But people love to leave negative comments on blogs and reviews, so long as they can have a fake name attached to it. Yes, there’s a lot of anger on the net and I think a lot of that anger comes from the repression of not being free to really be themselves. But the thing is, it’s on the internet where people should feel they can be themselves. To another medium – film – you’ve been in a few movies including the St Trinians remake, Dread, and The Imaginarium Of Dr Panassus alongside Heath Ledger. Did you get to hang out with Heath much? I did, yes. That would have been around the time that he was making The Dark Knight. How did you find him to be? Laidback or stressed out? He was both, really. I mean he said to me that The Dark Knight had really fucked with his head. He said that it was really full-on and that Jack Nicholson had told him not to do it. He wasn’t that well and he was finding it hard to sleep and he seemed stressed. He was a great guy, and may he rest in peace. Regarding the movie itself, I really admired your performance in Dr Panassus and was wondering how you view acting compared to, say, getting on stage and performing? I’ve always embodied a certain level of character in order to perform songs just the same as I do as an actress. I tend to, like, try and become a character, or a hyperreal version of myself when I’m singing, and when I’m talking in between I’m back to me. Whereas with acting it’s constantly being somebody else. Do you prefer performing in intimate venues, or are you just as happy taking part in huge outdoor festivals? I don’t mind. I like all of them in different ways. Do you think you might tour Australia soon? I really want to. I’m looking forward to the day that my live agent gives me some dates so that I can put them up on the internet and everybody will know where they’re going. ● ‘A Perfect Contradiction’ is out through Sony Music and available on iTunes.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 29
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th a a k ig o yd s d’ l o t ev a t u tsu n a W n e d c ul f d g n u r d ew s i g y eh d cu s l e o b f a ev v c o t a r ev o ol o o t r d n j o y f i n i t i ti a a r P T sI n l W h e a u k w o t k i r no I u e e o h v l t u e a e s r e oy y e vo a e i t s ym t , g , g n n i y uj o ’ I a no d ym ay n o t’ d kc ot oy b ,u uo y e yd y f ol uj o ot t ,g i ts o m oY byn ba es , o v j fl h t u f o w e t no J u u f t’ ym e i t s t s u u j o y f n e p k u y d o tuo em e b y b a ab , u s e kc et t’n oy l l en t’ l t s u ’I ol t k c vi g y f y f i i t s ym ot , o n l e n a eR a t yb bab v h l l i e a e y s a n u d e o o ev y f vo suj h t wY es oby x as rh W R na ym e i t e o d d ne le y e l o b on n i k ti a w w oN iw ob f a y ol y f d y k u le t’no oy x a eh Wuo s ei ht i ev m e h t ev d n s o t u cu n R u m m d o e y ’n o e le o w n y etb ye y l os dw ta y r n k eol g t t w t i n a d t’ u o xa hW R ,e t o d e le ev e v i eh se no r’e n a m eh d ot ti n aw ’no y n x a h WW hu a dy g e s’ ’er n o g e t t d f o u n h Wa b i r f u ’no ot od w no y e ehb ot og s y t tn oC n e kc t t i n a d t’ u o o y n n y oc ti a ig W I i h t hw uo t o y em ned em d Is o b a ev ot ( ti n aw w u uo h- t ts r e e s r uoy a u s d p t u ol t t tn a aw h u a o ecnt aar A e y x a cu f c m v o n i n di B p a de k n I n uo y k i k )e oc ot t tn l 61 tse c r a ln tt o b ba s r eh tu oY e y t ei nc bn e m mo o c o a io n r y d tuo t x e l ap o e t o r’u m’I T e m le na h g ss redde w e t e r o s r I e a t u o i l lo d o s I o m n pu Y by ,o u s j m fo n u r aewny oWf I fa uo do ’ d uJn r k ey d a ul d g k n i r o gi t t ’no tso ’I b e th de kc wo ot ow rlu on es l l eve vi f a’nh l e nat m w n N o f e Y u y e t c t o ey o o w o E h t uo d i k tira t waevtiA eh kd n et u e b ye nk e ah l ly r dn I ts n s a n n n de tt w I i a o e l o b o ymoy od o os ewo am reh tn a aw sr w oy sei tbig eu l t’n h t w ’ n ab u eve isey gnoef m er g s’ s’e oy tn aw ig e yb ev y ti bab neirih torehwes ru uoyoy tnt n a no d u h y sd s e x u f t’ lla t s r p e se k c vi g ap i m o t i n a e x e l a ro e m n s ne e e ob f a em f o n ,o r u g ec dn tu u
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And I started up a fight I drank 16 beers I danced all night Went to a party Come-huh When you want to come When you want to come When you want to come Relax don’t do it (love) When you want to suck it to it Relax don’t do it
30 | July 2014
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Pictured, Keith Flint of The Prodigy whose video for ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ was banned for its depiction of prostitution and gratuitous violence.
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H T BA H NN E E
When you want to come Relax don’t do it When you want to go to it Relax don’t do it bout anybody else You know they don’t give a fuck nybody else You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else they don’t give a fuck about You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else You know I’m open, to justify my love To justify my love Praying, to justify Waiting, to justify my love Wanting, to justify To justify my love For you to justify my love I’m open and ready Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby There’s no place I’d rather you be than with me-ee, uh When you’re laying so close to me Oh no, oh no, oh no Ooh I don’t want anybody else When I think about you I touch myself I don’t want anybody else Cause I got something to say I throw this shit in your face when I see ya I got something to say I throw this in your face when I see ya I push my life today Over me Come together, right now You got to be free One thing I can tell you is Potential H-bomb They made you a moron The fascist regime God save the queen Smack my bitch up Change my pitch up Smack my bitch up Change my pitch up dn
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f le ay sy hu ,e e a y eems h - em In e h ti tu wn a h em o a e oba k t v i g cu efbl estyem uo t ’n f a e od vi yba y r y e h g t’ b y h u ,e e bab , u t w no d - em h o n y eh u ti wynbaab e,m ku tw h t,ueob oY e s l on k u e y oY ev o y do lyy b y esle n a yd y t u opu ohcbtiyp y ev o pbu h nmaegnahC l ym y pu hac cktib ym ktca m t m egnu oS pu h c ipcyu y a h Cb a tuob a neeuq tib ymfka e vS k c u ev eh t e c a m yf a ev i g k cu f a ev noromem i ger t s i va s do G i g f a ol y cs af e i g t’n t a uoy t ’n o d e ’ e h n m T e v da m od od vi g b o y eh t w o n k y e h t wsiouony l letmnoabc-IH l aitnyeetohPT y e h t’n y f i t s u oY ewon t keeur foeYb gnih t enO t w od y u s l e hygd t i r ,reh oe o e o btyegnottsoeglmeuooyY d o b y n ay ees es n k h I n ehw a y emaret uCo b ec a f r a d ot e f i l ym vO a k c utitou o b a klceuyd ueov ay ees uoy n hs u I n ehw f a teov f aobe ec a f r ya s o t g n i i s i h t w o r h p I t i g i g u h t o t I e y t o m n ot t’n od y ya s o t o gn i h ti ti hs s i h t w s tog I em f l e s ym n t’ e h cuot es l e ydob ymos tog I eor h t I o c t i o a w un s n es l e yI uoy tuoba a tn a w t’n uaC ot t d o d o b yn o k h u ,e e n a t’no a tn a n i h t I n e d I ti o - em h t ti ti w n a em o t e s w ut on ho w t’nod I h W o h t eb k cu u o y r l c o s g n i y ,o n h o ,o h o O oiyo ybab eh tar d’I e a l er’uoy n n hO s o ti o d ) e t ybab , uoy evol o ca lp on s’e eh W em vol( tn a t’no e ybab , uoy evol o t evol I ,wareh T w u d xm , uoy e t a o t i c e vol ot evol I ,wa a h A o m o o ev o hA evol y ydaer dn al I ,wa a h A em oc o t tn a d t’no y ne tuob a m y fi n e po oc t tn w tui d x h ts m e v i g t k cu f a ev e v ol y u j o t u o y ro ’ I i ’n o d ot t aw ooyt ti ka le m y e h t g t’no d y e h evol y y f i t s uj o y f i t s uj oTF won k n a uo n eh c t t ,gn i m y fi u oY e w o n k u oY w u y n )W tn a tsu sle yd e y f i t s u j o t , g n i ti a W o b yn s le ydoby oy eeh We a tuo ev ol y j o t , g n i ya W b a k c n a tuob a k ev ol y mo rP m uf a e c m th gy t r ap h uh- neeh W v i g t ’ u f a e v i g t y f i t s uj o y f i t s uj oT nod y t ’ em mo th g in a e h t wno d y e h t w, nepo m’I on on i f a s re l l a d ot tn eom C es l e y k u oY e s l e k u oY d o b yn pu eb 6 ecn eW oc y a tuo b d o b y n a ti det 1 k a d ti o t o g ot tnod t’nod x a k cu f a ded r a t n ar I a w uo sa l eR y r n t i e d s i o h e mo c a I dn I ot tn ad t’nod x a l Wa t s eR w uoy eh k culj m a I A n eh W tn ti o t ti fo w uo k cu s o ti od t’no k wo d tuo on t d t )evo t tn a w uo x a l eR y e s aecu f o gn i er’u uB h gi f a emoc l( ti od t’n y neh W t t t k n l lor oY emoc ot tn a w uood x a l eR s ei u r d m’ emoc ot tn a w uo y neh W e l on ’no ot tn a w y n eh t I ded u b W w uoy o nyeh W s e ib o o y l i r a h ew oTs r i l n y kc e y t r ap uh-emb a e o d t Cb th gienc a ot tn g ym ee t’n s I a t s eh t n w ln l a dec sedW re b 6 e i n n nol o n i k n t’no oW th gi f ss 1 k ntaaapd I ei r a pu dden k cu f e r s d e o ol d I et re u a t seI d r d Is i o y h n n ’ e t t A s aet d e d aj im yba t o g e w t i a w s uJ m s e a k c ul f a I w o n t u e e sri ats b s i r h l v ’ o o B e n wo eh t nwod tuo er’uo n ’ t em e t b ib u n dkcu f gnil lor Y x hw s’ a m y woN I ot l u on es ere re l a t oyseeislaent ta’nohotwk ni u rd omoT’I se r uo h vE i evetb on ueoy l lreutraoews I y b ab y e ym y dn ib g t’noW sieg yon dbey e ’n y f x e uoy t tn a w A s d n nol o od I o m s r u m n i knatm ybab y eu gnol oo y o ol t s o l ap oy t n aw I ecnei tap ei r f er’e uJ s dee tirao ecnei s dnei r feem s wfev’I n ,o n i s r I h ’ t e e d a w p t n a e en i m og s s dne e s i h tog otta h t woe b s’ nim e l r e N e r n ro s h t n i w I e r ehw rehw n a m yl a us vtE ey s’ t s x es r u’ereh dn Ai ev oy tn i g , eb t s a s’ tI I ybab x es r won d uoy a w I em yubj ao nah r uoy fo x es r uoy ttn a w I em o t S won d ot l b na m l l a ti e e u vi g uob ya m on ,o l ap eh t n i w I nah r s’ tI ye nr uoy fo x e s r u em otl A em ot rofeb er u s o sey a s’ tI eb ts u l l a ti e m l l a ti e e j vi g ,e vi g uob ya m on ,o l ap e m ot l oS lA y e ro f nr em o t e b e r u s o eb l l a ti e vi g ,e m
s i uoy l l e t n a c I g n i h t en O eer f eb ot tog uoY won th gi r ,reh t egot emoC em r ev O ya d o t e f i l ym h s u p I pu h c tip y m eg n a h C S c a f r uoy n i s i h t wo r h t I ca me a y epepuushhcIctitpinbyyemmhekgw n ahC p u h c t i b y m k c a mS y a s o t g n i h t e m o s t o g I n e eu q eh t eva s d o G T uoy n i ti h s s i h t wo r h t I f efhr s aa i cc er t se a y ees I neemhigow no ro m a u y e d a m y e h T setooPt gn i h t emos tog I es uaC i tn l aa bmob-Hy en O s i uoy l l et n a c I g n i h t e dob yn a tn a w t’nod I s Yl e y o u g o t t o eer f eb C oy tuo b a k n i h t I n eh W ego rehctu gi r ,h ot temIou f lweosnythm em r ev O p Io b y n a t n a w t’no d I ho O s ud f i lsylmehy ya dot ee a y e e s I n ehw ec a f r uoy n i s i h t wo r h t I o n h o ,o n h o ,o n h O ya s o t g n i h t e mo s t o g I rht I a y ees I nehw eca f r uoy n i ti hs s i h t woo W C o s g n i ya l e r’u o y n e h g Ises ulac t oe st t emoo i hm ya s o t g n e tn a w t’nod I t a r d’ I e c a lp o n s’e r e h T es l e ydob yn au h u ,ee-emflehsytmihwcuont Iauohy ttueobba kniohtyI nreheWh oOo y e v ol o t e v ol I ,wa a h d I ,hu t’naob wb es l e ydob yn a tn ay o n h o ,o n h o ,o n h O Wo y e v ol o t e v ol I ,wa a h oybne,hu ’ua em ot esol c os gn i ya lyerb h u ,ee-em h ti w n a h t eb uoy reh ta r d’I eca lp on s’ereh T h Ao y e v ol o t e v ol I ,wa a h wa,au I ,b ola evb y b a b , uoy ev ol o t y ybab , uoy evol ot evol I ,wa a h A ydaer dn a nepo m’ ybab , uoy evol ot evol I ,wa a h A ydaer dn a nepo m’Iol y m y f i t s u j o t u o y ro ev e v ol y m y f i t s u j o t u o y ro F evol ym y f i t s uj oT ev ol ym y f i t s u j o y f i t s uj ot ,gn i tn aW y f i t s uj ot , g n i tn a evol ym y f i t s uj ot ,gn i ti aW y f i t s u j o t , g n i ya r P T y o l ym f i t s u j o t , g n i ti a tsu vj o ev ol ym y f i e evol ym y f i t s uj ot , nepo m’I y f i t s u j o t , g n i ya r u f a e v i g t’no d y e h t w o n k u oY t u o b a k c u f a e v i g t’no d y e h t w o n k u oY e s l e y d o b y n a t u o b a k c’n o d y e h t w o n k u oY e s l e y d o b y n a t g i v e a f u c k a b o u t a n y b o d y e l s e Y o u k n o w ev ol ym y f i t s u j o t a e v i g t ’n o d y e h e s l e y d o b yn a tuo b a k cu f l eR d xvao ti od t’noe f i t s uj ot , nepo m’ y m y l W h e ti o t og o t tn a w uoy n R e l a x d o n ’ t d o i t o c u f a e v i g t’n d y e h t w o n k u o o t tn a w uoy n eh W t u o b a k c u f a e v i g t’no d y e h t w o n k u oY e s l e y d o b y n a t u oebmaoc k n k uoY es l e ydo o w t h e y d o n ’ t g i v e a f u c k a b o u t a n y b o d y e l ti od t’nod x a l eR k cu f a evi g t’nod y eh t won k uoY es e s l e y d o b yn a t ti o t ti k cu s o t tn a w uoy n eh W )evol( ti od t’nod x a l eR ti od t’nod x a l e e mo c o t t n a w u o y n e h W emoc ot tn a w uoy nethiW n a w uoy n eh t t o ot og e mo c o t t n a w u o y n e h W h uh-emoC ti od t’nod x a l e y t r ap a ot tneW I d a n c n a w uoy n eh e t d a t l l o th gi n e mo c dI
s r e e b 61 k n a r th g i f a pu d e t r a t s I d n A
d e d aj m a I w on tuB k cul fo tuo er’uoY s r i a t s eh t n wod gn i l lor m’I k cu f ot k n u r d ooT uoy es aet t’now i r aew s I sei l on uoy l l et t’noW etbib on deen t’nod I s e y e y m n i ko o l t s uJ y b a b g n o l o s d e t i a w e v’ I s dnei r f er’ew ta h t woN ecnei tap s i h tog s’n a m y revE s dne en i m erehw s’ereh dn A x e s r uoy tn a w I uoy tn a w I x e s r uoy tn a w I ybab won dn a h r uoy fo m l ap eh t n i s’ tI eb ya m on ,on ro sey a s’ tI e m o t l l a t i e v i g u o y e ro f e b e r u s e b t s u j o S em o t l l a ti evi g ,em o t l l A
ti od t’nod x a l e ti o t ti k cu s o t tn a w uoy n eh ( l )evo ti od t’nod x a l e e mo c o t t n a w u o y n e h e mo c o t t n a w u o y n e h e mo c o t t n a w u o y n e h h uh-emo y t r ap a ot tn e th g i n l l a d ecn a d s r e e b 61 k n a r d th g i f a pu d e t r a t s I d n
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d e d aj m a I w on tu k cul fo tuo er’u s r i a t s e h t n w o d g n i l lo r m k cu f ot k n u r d o uoy es aet t’now i r aew sei l on uoy l l et t’no etbib on deen t’no s e y e y m n i ko o l t s y b a b g nol o s d e t i a w e s dnei r f er’ew ta h t wo ecnei tap s i h tog s’n a m y re s dne en i m erehw s’ereh dn x e s r uoy tn a uoy tn a x e s r uoy tn a y b a b w on d n a h r uo y fo m l a p eh t n i s e b y a m o n ,o n r o s e y a s i e v i g u o y e ro f e b e r u s e b t s u j t l l a trule em oand For all its rollicking em o t l l a ti evi g ,em o t l
breaking, rock’n’roll hasn’t always gotten away with proverbial murder. Way before Robin Thicke could pass censors with such filthy lyrics as “I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two” the music industry had far stricter regulations. Where in modern music it’s been no big deal to hear Eminem insist on “doing fags in” or Madonna loading her songs with sound effects of shootin’ guns, back in the early days murder and death were considered very touchy topics. In fact, if these themes weren’t hidden discreetly enough in a song, it would quickly be banned from airplay. Ricky Valance’s 1960 single ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ was about a man who dies in a car race, but it was banned by the BBC because of its death references. The Police’s ‘Can’t Stand Losing You’ of 1978 was a suicide letter in disguise but still considered too impressionable for teenagers: also BBC-banned, although it did reach number two on the charts when re-released a year later. Also racing close to the top of the charts after a re-release was Rod Stewart’s 1976 single ‘The Killing Of Georgie’, about the tragic murder of a gay man. Away from the subjects of murder and suicide, here are 12 songs or music videos banned for their reference to rock’s three regular party pals: sex, drugs and violence.
Lisa Andrews & Antonino Tati
It’s a yes or no, no maybe It’s in the palm of your hand now baby I want your sex I want you I want your sex And here’s where mine ends Every man’s got his patience Now that we’re friends I’ve waited so long baby Smack My Bitch eyes Up (1997) my look in Just need no bibte I don’t The song’s title was enough to have most people jumping to the Won’t tell you no lies conclusion was about wife-beating, but get to the end of the you teaseit i won’t that I swear to fuckand you’d be surprised to see it’s a woman doing all the drunk video Too banned rolling down the stairs I’m drug-snorting, hooker shagging and bashing of innocent bystanders. You’re out of luck Suffice to say, hardcore feminists were up in arms about it. jaded now I am But
THE PRODIGY
And I started up a fight I drank 16 beers all night I danced God Save The Queen (1977) Went to a party Daring to call the British government’s regime at the time Come-huh come punk anthem, the Sex Pistols were want you in When ‘fascist’ thistomajor When you want to come promptly banned across Her Royal Majesty’s media. to come you want When (love)‘God Save The Queen’ from do itstop Still,don’t it didn’t Relax to it you want yn a When becoming onetoofsuck theitband’s biggest hits. oba Relax don’t do it
THE SEX PISTOLS
THE BEATLES
When you want to come Relax don’t do it Comeyou Together go to it want to (1969) When do it don’t Relax Though the BBC insisted their canning of this was for the use of the words ‘Coca about anybody else a fuck givepretty they else Youinknow anybody fuck about give a stance Cola’ infringing thedon’t station’s against branding lyrics, thedon’t public they You knowon else anybody You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody about call a fuck they don’t know You much agreed it wasgive John Lennon’s for aelse ‘mass orgasm’ that was the real reason. I’m open, to justify my love To justify my love Praying, to justify to justify my love Waiting, Born Free (2010) Wanting, to justify love single ‘Paper Planes’ was censored by MTV and ‘Late Night With justify I To After hermy 2007 I For you to justify my love David Letterman’ and ready for its use of gunshot sound effects, M.I.A. upped the ante three open I’m baby for her single ‘Born Free’ that featured red-headed you, to love years later shot a video I loveand Ahaaw, babybrutally murdered. YouTube banned it promptly. love you, I love to Ahaaw, dudes being round up and Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby Alas, the hypeI’d and democracy of the turned it into a viral sensation. me-ee, uh withinternet you be than rather no place I There’s When you’re laying so close to me T I Oh no, oh no, oh no Ooh I don’t want anybody else you I touch myself about I Touch Myself (1991) I think I When J I don’t want anybody else The video clip for this singer Chrissy Amphlett (RIP) fondling her say to featured I got something Cause ’I see ya face when I nunnery, shit in I throw this nether regions inyour a not-so-holy hence it wasn’t allowed to be played to say got something Iduring E “general exhibition hours” on Australian television. Subsequently it has ya see I when I throw this in your face A become alife late-night my I All I push all to mestaple on ABC’s ‘Rage’, and has even been covered by 10 ittoday give to me, mesure before to me artists, in the name of charity no less. I Soof Over give it all Australia’s most popular female you be just now right together, I It’s Come maybe no a yes or no, to be free got palm You tI It’s of your hand now baby in the I can tell you is One thing tI I want your sex Potential S I want you H-bomb Love To Love Baby (1976) a moron youYou made Theyyour A I want sex regime fascist Thehere’s ends it, that’s one very long orgasm Ms Summer mine where And In case you didn’t realise queen the save God patience his Every man’s got simulates onfriends this up very popular disco track. And then came the full 12-inch. bitch Smack we’re thatmy Now up banned by radio, while nightclubs the world over my Change long baby so pitch Both were instantly waited I’ve up bitch Smack eyes my in look my Just played the song endlessly, seeing it climax in the number one position. up pitch my Change bibte I don’t need no Won’t tell you no lies you tease I swear i won’t Too drunk to fuck Justify My Love (1990) stairs the I’m rolling down of luck out You’re How could the queen of controversy not make it onto a list like this? Back before jaded But now I am
M.I.A.
DIVINYLS
DONNA SUMMER
MADONNA
yoga retreats and adopting half of Africa, Madge was fond of making kinky music
a fight I started And videos. Thisup one, featuring the singer kissing and touching up models of both sexes beers 16 drank I saw it banned from most video programs and international radio. Subsequently I danced all night it was a party as a special VHS package, selling shitloads, of course. to released Went Come-huh When you want to come When you want to come comeA Fuck (1996) you want When The Man Don’ttoGive Relax don’t do it (love) it it to Eminem to suck Forget how many times might try to impress with his use want you When do it These animals let it rip an astonishing 50 times Relax of thedon’t F-word.
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS
in thisyou cover one-time political Steely Dan song. wantoftoacome When Relax don’t do it to it go to When you want Relax don’t do it Relax (1983) about anybody else You know they don’t give a fuck anybody else You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else fuck about give a with they don’t You know elseguys) anybody Theknow 7” version (that’s the smaller size of vinyl, was cheeky enough about a fuck give they don’t You love to it” and relaxing “when you wanna come” but open, to justify I’m its references to my “sucking love justify To come themy 12” version, all manner of dirty sound effects pricked the ears up of Praying, to justify conservative folk. love the song became one of the biggest hits of the 1980s. myStill, to justify Waiting, Wanting, to justify love To justify my For you to justify my love ready andTo I’m open Too Drunk Fuck (1981) Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby Need we say more? love you, baby Ahaaw, I love to Ahaaw, I love to love you, baby There’s no place I’d rather you be than with me-ee, uh When you’re laying so close to me no, oh no, oh no IOh Want Your Sexanybody (1987) else want I don’t Ooh touch myself you I hetero I think about When One hundred per cent in content, and even preaching monogamy, the I don’t want anybody else title alone was too obvious for ‘Sex’ not to be banned. But since the subject sells say to Cause I got something I see yaone of George’s biggest selling singles. when your face in went I throw so well,this theshit song on to become I got something to say I throw this in your face when I see ya I push my life today Over me Dark Horse (2014) Come together, right now You got to be Slammed byfree Muslims who called it “blasphemous”, the video for this song was One thing I can tell you is banned commercial networks in Muslim-majority countries such as H-bomb Potentialacross a moron and Qatar. The offense? One minute in, a dude is shown youPakistan Saudi Arabia, They made regime fascist The being burned while wearing a pendant inscribed with the word ‘Allah’ (the Arabic God save the queen word for up the western majority who surf the world wide interweb bitch Still, myGod). Smack pitch ensured that theup video hit the 150 million view mark on YouTube in nix time. Change my Smack my bitch up Change my pitch up
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
THE DEAD KENNEDYS GEORGE MICHAEL
KATY PERRY
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SURVIVALOF THE FITTEST Patti Smith is famous for fusing rock’n’roll with awesome poetry, most notably on her classic LP ‘Horses’. Her last album proper was ‘Banga’, which is still getting high rotation on the Rock Candy office stereo. Here, Smith talks about surviving the heady days of the ’60s and ’70s, her infamous peers including Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and lover Robert Mapplethorpe, and about ‘keeping it together’ at 60-plus years. Interview by Antonino Tati
32 | July 2014
F
U MUSIC SPECIALq Hi Patti, you’ve got a bit of a hoarse voice there. Is it a cold? Yes, it’s been going around New York and it’s a bit nasty. It makes you have coughing fits. But I feel better now. And what’s the Patti Smith remedy for a cold? Just to take steam showers, drink a lot of hot water mixed with lemon and honey, and rest. Thanks for the advice, doctor. I’m glad you’re ready to talk. Now, I believe your CV prior to singer/songwriter also revealed a stint in music journalism? Well I wasn’t very prolific. I did review some records… some blues artists, the Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix… I just did reviews of records that I liked to help make a living. Really, I was a poet and a writer but I do love rock’n’roll, and writing about rock’n’roll in 1970 was rather new. Anyway, I wrote for Creem [the US-based title] and Rolling Stone. A few years ago you released ‘Twelve’, an album of covers by artists who were your peers in the ’70s. Did it seem surreal to be, decades down the track, covering songs by artists with whom you’ve shared the stage as well as artists you’d previously reviewed? Well I wrote about Jimi [Hendrix again], and I wrote about Bob Dylan, and I wrote about the Stones, and the Doors. In a way it’s not surprising that the people I was covering were the people I ended up having long relationships with, in that I’d been listening to them for years and had been inspired and influenced by them. On that album, you even covered The Beatles’ ‘Within You Without You’, but in a more down-tempo manner than George Harrison’s original version. There seems to be a military bent to your take. I wanted people to hear the lyrics, and I suppose it sounds militant because of the lyrics, which are very stoic. Sure, they have a Hindu philosophy that ‘Love can change the world’, but it’s a strong point of view. It does ask us to examine our consciousness – are our goals in life materialistic or spiritual? There is this myth about the musicians of your original era, that the new generation assume you were all taking drugs, being decadent, having orgies and so on. Can you clarify that perception? Well the main aspect of my experimentation was in art. I wrote about things within art, but in terms of myself, I’ve always had a very different view of drugs that my generation did. I did not believe that drugs were for recreational use; I believed drugs were sacred. I didn’t relate to the drug culture. I knew so many people that took them, and they looked like babbling idiots. To me you took a drug to expand your mind and learn something. Most people did so many drugs but weren’t learning anything. And a lot of people died from them, or they destroyed their
erent ff i d y r e v a d a “I’ve always h neration e g y m t a h t s view of drugt believe that drugs did. I did no eational use; I were for recrgs were sacred. believed druany people that I knew so m nd they looked took them, a idiots. To me you like babblingo expand your took a drug t rn something.” mind and lea alcohol and it just brain, or their teeth. Me, I smoked pot, I hung around with a lot of Rastafarians, and I took acid a couple of times, but I took it seriously. Every time I’ve taken a drug, I’ve done something with it. Like with pot, I’d write poetry. I’d use it for something creative. It seemed to bring you together with some very creative people. You went out with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe for a few years, of course. I met Robert when I was 20, and he was my boyfriend until we were about 24. Then Robert was evolving, and he found he was more homosexually bent. But we stayed close friends for the rest of his life. We spent hours and hours making art together, but drugs were not the source of our friendship. I had a good time, and I went through some different things in life, but I’ve never been self-destructive. While being self-destructive has its romantic aspects, I’ll tell you it’s also a pain in ass. I think one of the reasons I’m 60-plus years-old and still healthy is that I’ve always been grateful for my gifts - my voice is strong, I’m a mum, I like to work, I travel, I write poetry, I’m still making records. It’s a pity so many artists of your time were cut down in their prime because of that self-destruction. I try to talk to young people, of any generation, and if I can tell them anything, it’s to romanticise people’s work, but not their lifestyle. Because I met Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and they all died at 27-years-old. And it’s really a tragedy. I wish Jimi Hendrix was still alive, for example, so I could talk to him and collaborate with him or just be inspired by him. I mean, in the end, Jimi didn’t want to die. He had a million ideas, but he fucked up, you know? He took a bunch of pills and he drank that night, and he took another pill and he bought tracks. He didn’t commit suicide but he made a mistake. And, you know, you look at somebody like Jim Morrison, he just drank bottles and bottles and bottles of
totally messed up his body at such a young age. It’s not cool, and it’s not pretty. It might leave a legacy, but it’d be an unfinished one? Yeah, but it only left any legacy because he did good work. If he were to have just been some good-looking guy that drank himself to death, he wouldn’t be much remembered. He’s remembered because he wrote great songs, was a great performer, a poet. And if he would have lived longer, he would have written even greater things. I don’t want anyone to feel I’m judgemental, or like, ‘So she’s 60-years-old now and she’s going to turn against everything’. It’s not like that. I thought about this stuff when I was 20-years-old and it’s why I’m still here, alive and healthy. I must say, kudos to you for continuing to record to this day. Some people think Patti Smith is ‘one of those heavy singers from the hippy era’ but at the end of the day you’re quite a shining example of persistence and survival. Well thank you. I have seen a lot of stuff, you know? I know all about loss and death. A lot of my people died. Like Robert, my husband, and my brother, my piano player, and my parents. And still, no matter what, I love life. Bad things are going to happen, but there’s always going to be something great to think about and write about. Your imagination will bring you things. The planets, or the full moon, or a really great book, or somebody has a cool movie out. You fall in love, or meet a really neat person. There’s a million reasons to live. ▪
FACTOID:
Patti Smith recently contributed a song to an interesting compilation album Son Of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys, following on from contributions by other luminaries to the series such as Sting, Bono, Nick Cave and Bryan Ferry. Her chosen song ‘The Mermaid’ co-starred one Johnny Depp on vocals!
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THE
DOPE
SHOW
Drugs are as intricate a part of the rock’n’roll package as glamorous parties and exciting live gigs. In fact without them the parties wouldn’t be quite so glamorous and the gigs not as exciting. But, hey, how would us innocents know? Rock Candy presents 41 songs inspired by illicit substances - not that we endorse the use of any of them. That said, we’d like to have included the likes of ‘Lithium’ by Nirvana and ‘Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue’ by The Ramones, but then lithium and glue aren’t exactly illegal. And we didn’t want to list the obvious (egs: Eric Clapton’s ‘Cocaine’, The Velvet Underground’s ‘Heroin’) since those song titles speak for themselves. Michael Mastess & Antonino Tati
JIMI HENDRIX
The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice - Amphetamines, hallucinogens While ‘Purple Haze’ might have been the archetypical psychedelic drug track, the real Hendrix winner is a ditty with the rather long title ‘The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice’. Turn those words into initials and, basically it gives away what the song was celebrating: enjoying ‘STP w/ LSD’ - two of the most popular hallucinogens of 1960s counter-culture.
QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE
Feelgood Hit Of The Summer - Ecstasy, Vicodin, Valium, marijuana (Note: While seemingly approving a list of drugs, before they get to the word ‘cocaine’ the band are heard to utter a subtle ‘No’)
D12 FEAT EMINEM
Purple Pills - Ecstasy, Valium
(D12 and Eminem got into strife with this song, in which they namedrop a dozen or so blackmarket ‘uppers and downers’ while insisting it’s a certain batch of purple pills they can’t get enough of)
LED ZEPPELIN
For Your Life - Cocaine
METALLICA
Master Of Puppets - Cocaine, speed, heroin (Note in particular the line “chop your breakfast on a mirror”)
BLACK SABBATH
Sweet Leaf - Marijuana
GREEN DAY
Green Day - Marijuana
GREEN DAY
Geek Stink Breath - Methamphetamine
50 CENT
A Baltimore Love Thing - Heroin
MOTÖRHEAD
Dead Men Tell No Tales - Heroin
THE BYRDS
Eight Miles High - LSD
34 | July 2014
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Under The Bridge - Heroin
THE SMALL FACES
Here Comes The Nice - Speed
GREEN VELVET
La La Land - Ecstasy
PULP
Sorted For Es And Wizz - Ecstasy, speed
SUEDE
Animal Nitrate - Amyl Nitrate
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
White Light, White Heat - Methedrine
PINK FLOYD
Comfortably Numb - Heroin
TISM
(He’ll Never Be An) Old Man River - Heroin, cocaine (Note: the song alludes to the speedball combination River Phoenix took before he died)
MISSY ELLIOTT
4 My People - Ecstasy
E-ZEE POSSEE
PETER, PAUL & MARY
Everything Starts With An ‘E’ - Ecstasy
DAVID BOWIE
Ten Crack Commandments - Crack cocaine
Puff, The Magic Dragon - Marijuana
Ashes To Ashes - A Molotov cocktail of drugs (In a 1980 interview, Bowie admitted this song was “about spacemen becoming junkies”)
LOU REED
Perfect Day - Heroin
NEIL YOUNG
The Needle And The Damage Done - Heroin
THE BEATLES
Daytripper - Marijuana
THE BEATLES
Doctor Robert - Speed
THE BEATLES
Tomorrow Never Knows - LSD (While many of their fans thought ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ was the flag-bearer for LSD, this is the one John Lennon admitted to being inspired to write as a tribute to acid)
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
White Rabbit - LSD
THE STRANGLERS
Golden Brown - Heroin
DAVE GAHAN
Dirty Sticky Floors - Heroin
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. GRANDMASTER FLASH & MELLE MEL
White Lines - Cocaine
THE SHAMEN
Ebeneezer Goode - Ecstasy
(Ravers would often mistake the lyrics for “Es are good, Es good, and havin’ Es are good” – quite possibly because they were on one too many)
D-MOB
We Call It Acieeed - LSD
THE LA’S
There She Goes - Heroin
GUNS ‘N’ ROSES
Mr. Brownstone - Heroin
MUSICAL YOUTH
Pass The Dutchie - Marijuana
FRANK OCEAN
Crack Rock - Crack cocaine
AMY WINEHOUSE
Addicted - Marijuana
AMY WINEHOUSE
Back To Black - Cocaine, marijuana
AMY WINEHOUSE
Rehab - Inspired as a result of taking various doses of much of the above
The music industry is one fickle beast. One minute you’re in a band, the next you’re going it solo. So it’s refreshing when a couple of musos stick it out for the long haul and continue to deliver great songs. Case in point: Baby Animals. Formed in Sydney in 1989, by singer Suze DeMarchi and guitarist Dave Leslie, Baby Animals have kept it rocking over the better part of a quarter of a century. Sure there has been some strange stuff gone down along the way – the recording of an obscure album with an Italian title; stories circulating that Suze would replace Michael Hutchence as singer for INXS– but the most part, the sheer love of making music has seen this band remain an Aussie institution in itself. Antonino Tati catches up with singer Suze to talk new music, old memories, and all that stuff in between.
ANIMAL MAGNETISM
the comparisons with Michael [Hutchence] were always going to be there, getting a girl to front the band would have been a little easier to deal with – people wouldn’t have wanted to compare [voices] straight away. So we did talk for a long time. But then they did that TV show, so that made my mind up for me…
‘This Is Not The End’ (Deluxe’Fully Loaded’ Edition) is out through Social Family Records and available on iTunes.
Photography by Jez Smith.
Suze, you’re from Perth originally. Are you happy to see so many quality bands coming out of the capital these days? There are some great bands coming out of Perth! I’ve always believed so, because there are so many great places to play. With my first bands, we could have played every night of the week if we wanted to, and that gives you a really good music education. Do you think Perth’s distance from the other Australian capitals makes our artists want to ‘prove’ themselves more to deliver quality music? Yeah. And as beautiful as Perth is, you fight to get out in a way – only because there are no record labels, no industry as such, but there is a very, very good live scene in Perth. Like a lot of Rock Candy readers, you guys tend to move about a lot. In regards to your songwriting, do you keep everything in a safe place just in case you want to use it in a song in the future? I try to keep everything. Every year I get a new book and I write loads of stuff in it. I also record everything on my iPhone: ideas
Once they’d gone ‘reality TV’ it was a no-go? That’s right.
or lyrics. And I write notes, like song title ideas or themes. For a lot of our new record, Dave would send me ideas and I’d download them onto Garage Band and just sing along to them and come up with melodies. With the new album having arrived 20 years since the last one, it sounds as though a kind of organic, work-in-progress approach was taken to making a large part of it. In a way. For example the song Stitch was sitting there for a long time. We did record it once before – when we put together an acoustic record – but never in the way we wanted it to sound. So we did it as it should be for this album. And Got It Bad was another song that was around for a while. Even Hot Air Balloon [Rock Candy’s favourite] which I actually wrote with Justin Stanley [ex-Noiseworks who has since worked with Beck, Eric Clapton and The Vines] in LA when I was working with him. You’ve got two kids. Are they old enough to tour with you? My daughter is 17 but she wouldn’t want to. She’s like, no, that’s okay Mum, you go and do
your thing. But my children have come to a few of our shows. It’s not too bad being apart because we’re only ‘satellite’ touring at the moment – so we’re in and out. And we’ve got great friends – people who are always there to help. Are you happy to play some of the old tracks when you’re performing live? I’m glad we have them! It’s nice to have a back-catalogue to refer to now and again. Do you like to deliver songs sim i la rly to their st ud io versions, or do you like to rearrange them? Sometimes we go off on a tangent, but when it comes to the classic songs we give the audience what they’re used to. To be honest, I don’t think people really appreciate it when you change stuff around too much. Tell us about those stories that once circulated; that you were going to front INXS… Well they asked me to, and I didn’t think it was the right thing. Then I started working with Andrew Farris for a while. We thought, let’s have a go, and so we wrote together. Because
What are some of your favourite tracks to play from your new album This Is Not The End? I’m really happy with every song on this record. There’s a great cross-section of styles: pop tracks, ballads, balls-out rock songs, all sorts of stuff. But I think once you’ve finished an album, you should allow people to choose whatever they want to play from it, including, you know, radio. Where is the weirdest place you’ve heard one of your songs being played? They played one of our songs in the background on an episode of Seinfeld. The scene was set in a record store, and I think the song was One Word. Have you ever put details of a family member or friend into a song? Maybe changed their name for the sake of discretion? Sure. In fact there might be some stuff on this record that pisses people off. If you wanna get back at someone, put it in a song, I say; release it to the world! [Laughs]. It’s a good ‘fuck-you’. I mean, I can’t mention any names but there is some stuff in there… Still, once a song is out there, it changes meaning and becomes whatever someone else wants it to become. ▪
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NICK CAVE & THE BAD ATTITUDE For many reasons, Nick Cave is a revered music icon. In England, they even place him high up in their ‘Top 50 Men We’d Like To Be’ lists. Antonino Tati dares to ask a couple of questions that might rattle the mystique…
P
erhaps it was because the batteries in my Dictaphone ran out within the first minute of my interview with Nick Cave that he had some sudden grudge against me. That I was positive those batteries were brand-spanking new very much had me concerned. Freaked me out, actually. ‘What evil power drained them so quickly?’ I wondered as I trudged to the closest 7/11 to buy two new ones, kindly swapping my allocated interview time with a guy in a suit from GQ. Perhaps this interview with Nick Cave wasn’t meant to be. Of course I was familiar with the guy’s iconic status as one of Australia’s most respected musicians. I knew much of his music, way beyond his cross-over pop ballad with Kylie Minogue, ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’, which is no surprise since he has delivered no less than 15 solid studio albums. The man has survived three decades in the music industry; is virtually considered the patron saint of art-school musicianship; has received countless music awards; and is constantly invited to contribute to movie soundtracks, both of the blockbuster and indie variety. Heck, there was even an LP released that paid tribute to him, recorded by a host of reputable fellow Aussie musicians. Perhaps I should have just done more homework on Saint Nick before our big interview. To his credit, I must admit I had done a bit of my research on Wikipedia…
36 | July 2014
“Kylie [Minogue] has more greatness in her little fingernail than every fuckin’ Aussie indie band put together.”
U MUSIC SPECIALq
N
ick Cave is sitting on a sofa in his Four Seasons hotel suite in Sydney’s The Rocks. Dressed in obligatory headto-toe black, he’s looking very much the wellgroomed undertaker. The air in the room is eerie. It even seems like there’s a little incense in the mix – the kind you smell in Catholic churches. And yes, to add to the morbid clichés, I do feel as though I’m entering the waiting room of a morgue. The long wait for my allotted half hour with the man, that dark wardrobe, and the bleak ambience of the hotel suite could all well be a record company’s attempt at milking the myth of the dark stirrings of a Mystical Nick Cave for all their worth. Admittedly, it’s working. But I do wonder – again – what evil spirit did tap into my damned Dictaphone batteries? “I’ll just go to the bathroom and give you a couple of minutes to set up,” says Nick, as I re-enter the room with my fresh stash of double-A Duracells. In those two minutes I get to have another speed-read of the parts I’ve highlighted on the press release for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ latest release. The icon comes out of the bathroom. He’s suddenly temporarily breezier and I’m not going to write what I suspect he’s been doing in there. Instead I roll the tape… With your unique storybook-style of writing, you must have a lot of explaining to do to The Seeds. Or do they usually just ‘get’ it; have they gotten used to the cryptic visions of Nick Cave? Nah, I think they’re just learning the chords. So the plot of the song doesn’t matter much to them? It depends on [which Seed band member] you’re talking about. Some of them don’t really speak English. Language barriers within the band itself? That’s interesting. In any language, though, you’re generally known as the dark child of songwriting. Is that what they’re saying? Kind of, but we’ll get to that later. I just want to say here that I believe the last time I saw you was on the day of Michael Hutchence’s funeral. You were with [singer] Wendy Matthews at the same bank I used to go to on Oxford Street in Sydney, and something made me want to come up to you and just say, “He idolised you.” Oh, I don’t know about that. I don’t know if Michael idolised me, but we were friends. I’d hate to think that he idolised me. Maybe he liked what I did… and then we became friends. Well I remember seeing him once in [now defunct British pop magazine] Smash Hits, wearing a Nick Cave t-shirt, so that’s the message I got. Anyway after that, Smash Hits would even run articles on you. I never saw a pinup of me in Smash Hits. Do you remember the pinup of Michael wearing your t-shirt at least? Someone gave me that [t-shirt] and I gave it
to Michael. I framed it and gave it to him as a birthday present, just to rub his nose in it. How did you feel when you heard of his passing? Tragic. Indeed. Back to your style of writing, are there ever truly happy moments in your life that you’d consider putting into song? [The artist turns decidedly aggravated here:] Hey, if you’re thinking that all I write is dark lyrics then you haven’t been listening to my songs that much. Well I don’t know the absolute discography of Nick Cave but I have a decent idea of the general output. You’re certainly sarcastic in your music at times. You know, just because you’re known as something by the press it doesn’t mean you are [that]. They make some reference to your lyrics being dark and that’s the end of it. I have to say, I’ve written some of the most light-infused lyrics around. What would you say was a standout? ‘The Ship Song’. A lot of your songs in film soundtracks are terribly dark. Like in Dumb & Dumber, you mean? I meant more along the lines of the Scream series or in something like Until The End Of The World. Hang on, did you really contribute to Dumb & Dumber? Yeah, I’m in Dumb & Dumber. Well that sort of eases the pain. Gee, what a relief, eh? Moving on… You’re generally seen – even by those that don’t know your entire discography – as this mystical character. Very seriously taken, well respected, and obviously an impressive songwriter. Someone that’s well respected but [who] nobody listens to kind of thing… Well okay then. Do you sometimes think, “They don’t even have to tune in to me to know that my stuff is credible”? My stuff is seen as credible because basically it’s really good. It is. It’s good. The whole thing about whether I’m dark or not… I don’t think it matters. Anyway, I’ll try to tell our readers to read between the lines of your records; to try to hear the happier moments on them. Well if these people want to listen to happy music, tell them to not listen [to mine] because it’s not happy. But you just said a minute ago that you did have light moments. But if they want to listen to happy music they might as well listen to fuckin’… I dunno, jolly techno? Whatever. I don’t fuckin’ know who the bands are, but just don’t listen to my stuff. So you’d agree there is a majority of sombre elements to Nick Cave’s music?
If it’s all pitch black, then don’t bother. Pitch black like your uniform today? Yeah, I’m dressed in fuckin’ black and I’m the blackest of the black. Well, you look good in black. Look, unless you’ve got, like, serious suicide on the way, then don’t listen to my stuff. I’d just like to know what makes you happy. Why? Because you’ve got a potential number of readers here that could turn on to your message, Nick. I’m not running after people, you know. I’m not talking about a commercial venture here. I’m just a writer who wants to know if your music is there to get a message across. I don’t give a fuck about all that, mate. Okay then, put it this way, when you’re songwriting, do you want to be political or would you rather be poetic and have people read into it what they like, translating it as they will? Do you think there’s more opportunity for change that way? What? Do I want listeners to change? Yeah, you know, that idea of making music to address change for the better. I don’t know about change but I would like to be creating a world that’s sufficiently compelling for the listeners just to want to enter that world for a while. Whether when they come out the other side they’ve changed, I’m not too worried about that. I just wonder if you ever, as a respected icon, feel obliged to offer a glimmer of hope to those that are a bit down. Because some of them look up to you like a god, Nick. There are some people who look up to me because they think that I sit back and think I’m serious about what I do. I’m reasonably heartfelt about what I write so they appreciate that. You recorded a song with Kylie Minogue once. What do you think of Kylie? In my opinion, Kylie Minogue is the greatest thing that happened to Australian music. Before her the world didn’t have a fucking clue about our music nor any interest in it. She alerted the world to the fact that Australian music was a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, Australians didn’t understand that at the time and were embarrassed by her. Kylie has more greatness in her little fingernail than every fuckin’ Aussie indie band put together. There. There’s your quote, mate. ▪ Nick Cave tours Australia later this year, kicking off with shows at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November. Tickets are available through heetseeker.com.au. Nick Cave’s relatively dark documentary film ‘20,000 Days On Earth’ is currently doing great things on the independent film festival circuit. There. There’s your plug, mate.
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nto ss and A e t s a M l Michae
It’s difficult enough deciphering half of heavy metal’s lyrics without having to work out what the hell those head-bangers are saying backwards, but there was a time when hard rockers would fuck with our minds using a technique known as ‘backmasking’. Like its name suggests, backmasking is the masking of lyrics in a song that can only be heard when the music is played backwards – obscuring statements that might otherwise be banned by conservative radio. Industry myth has it that the chorus of Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ played backwards reads something along the lines of “It’s fun to smoke marijuana, hee, hee, hee”, while Deep Purple were more official in admitting that the nonsensical bit before the first chorus of ‘Stormbringer’ exclaims “the cocksucker, motherfucker, stormbringer” in reverse. But one slice of backmasking that truly takes us aback, if not leaves us in hysterics, is Britney Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time’ which, come chorus time, has us convinced she is saying “Sleep with me, I’m not too young”. Here are 13 more messages the devil made us discover. 38 | July 2014
i
nino Tat
PINK FLOYD
Goodbye Blue Sky “Hello hunters. Congratulations, you have just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the Funny Farm, Chalfont.” (Heard between track one ‘Goodbye Blue Sky’ and track two ‘Empty Spaces’ on ‘The Wall’ album.)
INSANE CLOWN POSSE
Echo Side “Fuck the devil, fuck that shit! We believe in life legit. If you diggin’ what we say, why you throw your soul away?” (Heard after the lyric “licked the back of his neck and said...”)
THE BLOODHOUND GANG
Lift Your Head Up High “Devil child will wake up and eat Chef Boyardee’s beefaroni”. (Appears just before the lyric “I hope you take this the wrong way and misinterpret what I say.”)
ASH
Evil Eye “She’s giving me the evil eye; suck Satan’s cock.” (Muffled bit at the beginning of the track.)
SOUNDGARDEN
665 “Santa, I love you baby. My Christmas king. Santa, you’re my king. I love you, Santa baby. Got what I need.” (Heard throughout the song; obviously taking the piss out of Satanic messages.)
TOOL
Intension “Listen to your mother. Your father is right. Work hard. Stay in school. Listen to your mother. Your father is right.” (Occurs during indecipherable whispering at the one-minute mark.)
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (E.L.O.)
Fire On High “The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!” (Twenty-five seconds into the track.)
BOARDS OF CANADA
Happy Cycling “To tell us about backwards masking and the Electric Light Orchestra… They thought that when it was hand-spun backwards on a turntable it said something like ‘Christ is inferno’. Anyway, anyone who can write a song forwards and have it say something backwards has got to be some kind of genius.” (Actually a sample lifted from an interview with Jeff Lynne of E.L.O. responding to claims about backmasking.)
PRINCE
Darling Nikki “Hello. How are you? I’m fine because I know that the Lord is coming soon… Coming soon.” (Backwards bit at the end of the song.)
NELLY FURTADO
Big Hoops (Bigger The Better) “Oh my God, descending to the 13th floor.” (Towards the end of the song, after the breakdown.)
THE PRODIGY
Full Throttle “We’re going in full throttle.” (A sample taken from the film ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’, played backwards throughout the track.)
THE WHITE STRIPES
Walking With A Ghost “Get out of my head!” (Appears during Jack White’s guitar solo, which itself is played backwards when the song is going forwards… Confusing enough for you?)
THE B-52S
Detour Through Your Mind “I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no, you’re playing the record backwards. Watch out, you might ruin your needle!” (At the end of the song.)
FINAL WORD: For sheer genius in featuring both forward and backward prose in an entire verse, we’ve got to hand it to Led Zeppelin. On their epic ‘Stairway To Heaven’, the forward lyrics “If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow don’t be alarmed now, it’s just a spring clean for the May Queen; yes there are two paths you can go by but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on” reads in reverse: “Oh, here’s to my sweet Satan, the one whose little path would make me sad; whose power is Satan? He’ll give those with him 666. There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad Satan.” (To hear it, YouTube ‘Led Zeppelin’ + ‘Reverse Lyrics’.) www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 39
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INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRES
From graduating with Ivy League educations to singing “Who gives a fuck about an Oxford Comma?” it seems irony is high on the Vampire Weekend agenda. The indie rock outfit from New York signed to XL Recordings in 2006 and have stuck with the credible label since. Their genre-defying single ‘Ottoman’ featured on the soundtrack of ‘Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ and if you check any credible music-lover’s iPod right now, you’re bound to find a few VW tracks on there. So brilliant are these guys that Spin magazine dubbed them ‘Band of the Year’ in 2013, while they’ve proven they can certainly rock it live, having toured Australia twice within 12 months (the Big Day Out last year and Southbound earlier this year). Antonino Tati chats with singer Ezra Koening and percussionist Chris Tomson about why they don’t like to drink much and how they prefer to sacrifice ‘soul-less fancy’ studios for recording in bedrooms any day. Tell us how you guys started out. Ezra: Well we met in college and were all friends, but then we had so many different permutations as a group. To give you an example, Chris and I had an idea for a folk project. I also remember another time with Ros [Batmangli - guitarist/keyboardist] when we just played 50 cover songs together in this small bar. Then there was the rap thing [mixing rap with African percussion] which was probably the most consistent thing. But all of that proved to be perfect ground work for Vampire Weekend. Do you guys do any recording at home, or always in official studios? Ezra: We’re still very much the kind of DIY-bedroom-type music makers. The drums on ‘Oxford Comma’ were recorded literally
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in a spare room in the Student Centre at college. Ros set it up; Chris laid it down. We didn’t know that it would be the finished version but it ended up being what we used in the finished version. Chris: Just the drums, not the rest of the parts. Ezra: Yeah, just the drums. So that’s kind of always been the way we’ve made stuff. We tend not to think of the demo and the finished version as different things. It’s the way ProTools works in modern recording techniques. You make the demo, and then over time the demo morphs into the finished version. It’s not separate… And having the producer in the band helps to keep that do-it-yourself mentality going. We’ll also go spend four or five days in a professional studio to lay stuff down, but spending time in some weird, soul-less fancy space really isn’t
our style. How do you mean? Well the majority of the creative work is going on in people’s apartments and odd places. There are vocals on our last album [‘Modern Vampires Of The City’] that were recorded using the most expensive mics you could find, but there are also vocals recorded into the pin-mic on a laptop. It’s about what’s the best performance and what’s the best sound. What do you find different about the festival buzz compared to performing in intimate venues? Chris T: I think the biggest difference is when you’re playing festivals during the day time. I think our music lends itself well to both situations but perhaps a little more to night-time and therefore to intimate venues, when there
U MUSIC SPECIALq are lots of lights flashing instead of sunshine… And at festivals, there’s going to be some people that love you, some people that don’t like you, and some people that don’t even know you. When you’re playing festivals, does the sunshine hit you harder if you’ve had a bit too much to drink? Chris T: Well we don’t really drink when we go on stage. We’re professionals. [Laughs]. Actually, we don’t often drink when we come off stage either… For a band with a name like Vampire Weekend, you’d think you guys were party-goers and that night-time is where it’s at. During the brightness of day, do you get shyer on stage? Chris T: Not really. The only thing that would make you shyer would be to consider the ridiculous amount of people that are there. Festivals are always going to have a lot more people compared to your own headline shows. But eventually you learn that it’s the same songs and the same ideas that you want to communicate, no matter where the audience might be, and at some point you learn to block out the situation and just give what you’re gonna give. And we give our all in all situations – from TV performances to intimate venues to festivals. Does much planning goes into each new album release? Chris T: I think we’re always aware of what
we’ve done before and what we want to do in the future, and whether one album informs or hinders the next… At some level you just have to make the best of what you come up with. You’ve just got to pursue what you think is going to be the best end-product. We’re not the sort of band that writes, like, 50 songs and then pares them down to, like, 12. We have a lot of ideas that come up, then we just pursue the songs that are really worth pursuing. Ezra: It starts with a spark. Things that seem weak from the beginning don’t get too many chances to grow. Although occasionally we pursue something that doesn’t end up making it all the way. I feel like we’ve honed our instincts from the beginning and we always kind of know which ones are really worth putting a lot of time into. Do you guys feel a song needs to stick to one genre or can it chop and change like has been the case with the Beatles’ latterday music, or something like Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Ezra: I like changes in tempo. I think there are moments on our very first album where genres bleed and tempos shift. That said, some of the best songs on the last album are ones where we tried to write with a classic pop structure. When you guys are cutting a video for a track, do you get avidly involved? Chris T: Obviously you need to have a certain amount of directing because we’re not
professional actors, but there’s yet to be a video where we haven’t had some say or had some part in the production process. Do you like the instant feedback you get from fans in the digital age – comments on YouTube, Twitter, etc? Ezra: I think it bears some resemblance to the older methods of communication. To me, Twitter is like fan-mail because the people who Tweet us tend to be full-on fans and tend to be positive for the most part. So Twitter to me seems like a forum to communicate with people who really like your band. And YouTube? Ezra: YouTube comments remind me of back in the day when management used to bring a stack of press clippings in to the band to see what the ‘greater world’ had to say. I haven’t really read our press indepth since the first album. I realised then that there are too many crazy opinions and that it would make anybody schizophrenic to try to consider all of them and to listen to people say “you’re the best thing in the world” and then “you’re the worst thing in the world”. Ultimately you’ve got to strike the right balance of viewing your feedback and I think every band finds that out very quickly.
Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig features on a duet with Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O called ‘The Moon Song’, now available on iTunes. The band are currently working on their fourth studio album. Photography by Alex John Beck
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PRIMAL INSTINCTS
Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders tells Rock Candy of the trials of playing live in a strange land without the band’s own instruments, and sticking together through thick and thin. By Chuck Bomba
L
ook back at a ny ‘Top W hatever Albums’ lists of the past decade and you’re sure to find Arctic Monkeys up there in the Top Tens. Perennial LPs like 2006’s ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ and last year’s ‘AM’ have shared column inches with the stellar likes of Coldplay, Muse and Arcade Fire. And deservedly so. The remarkable thing is, tells drummer Matt Helders, none of the Arctics had officially picked up their chosen instruments before joining the band! “It’s true. None of us in the band really played any instruments until we met; we all started from scratch. Still, I think all of us add that ‘something’ and it wouldn’t work if one of us weren’t there.” Indeed, there’s a chemistry to this band that harks back to the days when rock music was a brand new thing. On stage, they each know their explicit role but are able to drop the ego and throw to one another seamlessly when it’s, say, the guitarist or keyboardist’s time to shine. Still, Matt admits playing one of those instruments has bigger risks than hitting away at his drum kit. “It is easier when you’r e d r u m m i n g than playing guitar, because you can
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hide [mistakes] better and even people who really know your music won’t recognise [the occasional fuck-up] but with guitar if you hit the wrong note, everyone knows it.” So has making an error on occasion ruined an entire show for him? “Sometimes you feel bad for the rest of the show. It can really put you off when you make a mistake. I once lost a stick – which was really bad – but you just have to be able to laugh it off. There was a festival in Switzerland where we couldn’t get our equipment; we had to hire it, and that made us all a bit temperamental.” Playing a strange country without their familiar instruments at hand? Though it might prove a tough challenge for some musicians, the Arctics are ultimately able to laugh in the face of such a predicament. “We haven’t lost the cheekiness or the humour we had when we started,” tells Matt. “And we’ve always had integrity, which is why we’ve stuck together so well and been so good at it.” He pauses for a moment, musing over that last statement. “Actually,” he admits, “we’ve had lots of opportunities to make bad decisions
and there are lots of regrets.” These he’s keeping tight-lipped about. Another thing the Arctics have brought to music is good old-fashioned rock’n’roll ethos. From their lyrics about drunken nights out that end up with text-stalking girlfriends, to their slick wardrobe of ’50s rockabilly gear, these guys pick up the bloke-ish factor where bands like Blur and Oasis left off. Austra lian fans got to experience all that strutting and strumming when Arctic Monkeys played our shores in May. According to Matt, the band’s next tour to Oz could be sooner than we think. “Every time we play in Australia, the crowd, it’s always buzzing.” Plus, he has something to tick off his bucket list. “Surfing. I’ve never done it and I’m keen to try it. I think that’s going to be my next big thing that I’ll be into. And I love the beaches in Australia.” This is the place to check that one off, then, for sure. Arctic Monkeys current single ‘Snap Out Of It’ and album ‘AM’ are out through Domino and available on iTunes. Matt Helders is pictured second from the right.
U MUSIC SPECIALq Don’t go thinking today’s generation of obsessive rock types are the first to confess to possessive behaviour toward the ones they lust after. Self-confessed stalkers have been around since the 1960s. To your Nan, doo-wop crooner Bobby Vee might have looked all boy-next-door in his cosy cardigan, but if she’d delved deeper into his lyrics for ‘The Night Has A Thousand Eyes’ (1963) she’d have realised he was a right possessive perve. Jimi Hendrix went one step further when, after discovering his woman was messin’ around with another bloke, got his revenge by blowing her away with a rifle in his song ‘Hey Joe’ (1967). A little later, even clean-cut comic book act The Archies turned decidedly creepy, announcing in their 1969 single ‘Jingle Jangle’, “So darlin’ don’t be weepin’, and please don’t you be sleepin’, when I come a-creepin’ down that hall”. Yep, lock up your daughters, here are 17 other shameless songs about stalking.
LOOK WHO’S STALKING
Lisa Andrews & Antonino Tati
ARCTIC MONKEYS
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? “Now it’s three in the morning and I’m tryin’ to change your mind / Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply: Why’d you only call me when you’re high?” On top of this, singer Alex also admits on the single ‘Do I Wanna’, “There’s this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow when I play it on repeat”. It’s no surprise that he also calls his woman up when he’s “had a few”.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
Your House “I went to your house / Walked up the stairs / I opened your door without ringing the bell / I walked down the hall / Into your room / Where I could smell you / And I shouldn’t be here without permission / I shouldn’t be here.” That’s just the opening verse: the entire song is rife with kinky stalkerlike behaviour that verges on the sociopathic – even to Alanis’ standards.
MORRISSEY
The More You Ignore Me (The Closer I Get) “When you sleep I will creep into your thoughts / I am now a central part of your mind’s landscape whether you care or do not.” The ex-Smiths frontman goes over the proverbial garden fence, through the back window, and between the sheets to plague the very mind of his object of desire.
MORRISSEY
Suedehead “Why do you come here when you know you make things hard for me? / Why do you telephone? / And why send me silly notes?” As karma would have it, here’s Morrissey on the receiving end of constant prying.
ROCKWELL FEAT. MICHAEL JACKSON
Somebody’s Watching Me “When I’m in the shower, I’m afraid to wash my hair / ’Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there.” Way before Michael was plagued with tabloid tales of sleeping in oxygen tents and fiddling kids, he too felt subject to a certain harassment.
to a girl who was clearly happier seeing somebody else.
CELINE DION
THOMPSON TWINS
Watching “Watching you, watching me / Watching you, watching me / We saw him smoking by the newspaper stand / There’s something odd about his gloved left hand.” Possibly the Thompson Twins watching Michael Jackson watching them?
COLDPLAY
See You Soon “With the windows all closed / I’ll be doing my best / I’ll see you soon / In a telescope lens.” It’s the telescope that gives the perve factor away here. Very Sliver: the movie.
GARBAGE
#1 Crush “I will crawl on my hands and knees until you see, you’re just like me.” There’s a fine line between yearning and obsessing. Shirley Manson crosses it with this eerie number.
THE POLICE
Stan “I even got a tattoo of your name across my chest / Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds.” This song crosses over from crazed fanaticism to homosexual longing. Tragically, the dude stalking Eminem gets so angry that the star hasn’t responded to his letters, he drives himself off a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend locked in the car boot. Shakespeare couldn’t have written a more fucked-up story.
GOOD CHARLOTTE
Bloody Valentine “He dropped you off / I followed him home / Then I stood outside his bedroom window… I ripped out his throat.” And all this to say Happy Valentine’s
ANIMOTION
Obsession “I feed you / I drink you / My day and my night / I need you / I need you / By sun or candlelight / You protest / You want to leave / Stay / There’s no alternative.” Sleazy ’80s electro tune that argues if wining and dining won’t win her over, make her believe she’s a butterfly and that you are her protective net. Yep, seriously, you should read the rest of the lyrics...
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Every Breath You Take “Every breath you take / Every move you make / Every step you take / I’ll be watching you / I’ll be watching you / I’ll be watching you.” And so the song repeatedly goes till the end. No matter how much Sting insists this song had nothing to do with persistent prying on a loved one, it’s clear as day (or bright moonlight) in those lyrics.
EMINEM
I Drove All Night “I drove all night to get to you / Is that alright? / I drove all night / Crept in your room.” Something about a wacky Cyndi Lauper singing this seemed okay, but when Celine takes it on, it has you imagining a bunny-boiling hair-drenched housewife screeching toward her obsession and crashing into insanity.
I Want To Come Over “I know you’re home / You left your light on / You know I’m here / The night is thin / I know you’re alone / I watched the car leave / Your lover is gone / Let me in.” While her guitar gently weeps, Melissa gives her ex-lover the jeeby creeps.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Watching You “I was watching your window / From here below / I think I just might stay here all day / ’Cause I gotta do something.” Yep, a double-banger from the Sappho songstress who likes to loiter outside ex-lover’s windows.
BLONDIE
One Way Or Another “One way or another / I’m gonna find you / I’m gonna getcha, getcha, getcha.” And with Debbie Harry’s spunk and punk ambition, you betcha, betcha, betcha that she would land the guy in the end.
THE BEATLES
No Reply “I’ve tried to telephone / They said you were not home / That’s a lie / ’Cause I know where you’ve been / I saw you walk in your door / I nearly died.” One of rock’s earliest celebrations of stalking. And to think your mother and Nan thought they were clean-cut boys in them cute suits and haircuts.
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The show must go on
Taking his ambiguous cues from a long line of androgynous rock icons including, of course, Freddie Mercury, ex-American Idol contestant Adam Lambert has been keeping busy touring the world with the remaining members of Queen. And audiences are lapping it up. Next stop, Perth. Interview by Antonino Tati / Photography by Christie Goodwin
Hi Adam. Let’s just cut to the chase. Have you received any backlash from music puritans for taking on the role as front-man for Queen? I had some backlash from people saying, ‘You can’t possibly replace Freddie Mercury’, but I already knew that. The way I’m choosing to view it is that being asked to front Queen is a great honour and it’s one that I am in no way going to shirk. Artists like Freddie, from the ’70s and ’80s, really pushed it and of course there were plenty of people back then who didn’t get it, with comments like, “He’s acting like a girl’. You know, stupid shit like that. I say, it’s called androgyny people, and this is what it looks like. You’ve been known to deliver some risqué stage antics. What do you think of critics who say you do it just to grab headlines? You know, there’s always going to be criticism no matter what you’re doing, and I’m sure people will feel that way, but I hope they’ll appreciate it as an artistic statement as well. One example was your simulation of gay sex on stage at the American Music Awards a few years ago. Was there something more than artistic statement going on there? No, that’s prett y much what the song [‘For Your Entertainment’] was about. I figured if these people want to be weirded out by it, then fine. I was just playing a
44 | July 2014
sexually dominant character, and the double meaning is that I was putting on a show. I thought it was all pretty straight up, really. My intention is to just do my show. I don’t look at it on too deep a level when I’m on stage. I’m not trying to rewrite morals. Have you always loved dressing up? I do love my costumes. But I love the audio and the visual equally. To me it’s the package deal. You’re truly in your element in the medium of music video. Yeah, that was one of my biggest dreams about becoming a pop singer. I love combining a great song with a great visual image. For my first video, it was all about dazzling. For the next few, things were more stripped bare. And we’re moving on from there. There are images on the net, from years ago, of you performing in drag in underground clubs. Do you wish some of those images stayed out of the limelight? Regarding the past stuff, I think it would be pointless for me to nitpick too much. I mean, I planned things out even back then. I thought about them like I do now, but after the performance is done, I try to let things go. It’s just an alternative male sexuality I’m showing. I mean, men have had it easy being powerful and dominant in the entertainment industry, but I think there’s a taboo for males to identify as gay or transgender or bisexual and to show
that sexuality. We have a right to use that. Is it more difficult to ‘use’ it in the US? I think things are more conservative in the United States, and people are scared because it’s something they’ve not seen before. In the media we’ve gained a lot of progress so far as gay visibility goes – there are gay characters in sitcoms and whatnot – but when you identify as gay, some people freak out. For me it goes beyond sexual preference. It’s trying to recognise a movement, not necessarily within the gay community, but in alternative communities in general. I guess my main message is about risk-taking, but also about being your own person and being comfortable in your own skin. Interestingly enough, it was only Elton John who used to get away with being out and selling out concerts to a predominantly straight audience. Not even Freddie Mercury was fully out. But you’ve been out from the start and it hasn’t stopped you selling out gigs. Well it was well overdue and time for a change, I think. Maybe you could provide tips for someone like George Michael? Just don’t get caught in the bathroom again, George. Queen fronted by Adam Lambert tour Australia, kicking off at Perth Arena on Friday 22 August. For tickets go to ticketek.com.au or phone 13 28 49.
U MUSIC SPECIALq ANGUS YOUNG The AC/DC axe-grinder graduated from highschool decades ago but outrightly refused to discard the old uniform. Angus is as famous for his blistering solos as he is for that killer stage jump and kooky ‘stiff walk’. He’s also provided the greatest riffs to air-guitar to!
KEITH RICHARDS Starting out as a blues guitarist, Richards pioneered the Rolling Stones’ sound using something called ‘open tuning’, that is allowing a chord to be played by strumming strings that aren’t fretted (ie: not wound tightly). As famous for his substance abuse – and living through it all – as he is for his killer guitar-playing.
THE EDGE U2’s guitarist – he who is often seen in humble beanie – brings a certain ‘laidbackness’ to his string-strumming, often keeping it simple with just three chords and a subtle use of reverb. Add to this a few digital delay effects and The Edge effortlessly helps posit U2’s sound into the here and now. But, oh, what an entry onto the world stage with that opening riff on ‘Pride’!
JIMI HENDRIX There was a time when Hendrix fooled around so much with his guitar, purists began criticising him for taking the piss. What he did do was inject a lot of experimentation to a previously (way too) seriously-taken instrument. He’d shake it, distort it, raise the amp volume to full bore, and even introduce the world to mind-blowing feedback.
LES PAUL Known as ‘Lester William Polsfuss’ on his birth certificate, the one-time classical jazz guitarist eventually got fed up with traditional playing techniques and so invented a guitar of his own – one you’ll find on pretty much every band’s instrument checklist to this very day.
EDDIE VAN HALEN Who hasn’t heard the intro to Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ and suddenly gone all air-guitar crazy? Ironically it’s actually a very slow series of chords compared to Eddie’s usual fast fingering of the instrument (stop it with the dirty
jokes). So open-minded is this guy, he even offered to boost Michael Jackson’s rock cred by providing some famous strings on ‘Beat It’.
ERIC CLAPTON The ex-Cream band member went on to master the daddy of all guitars – the Stratocaster – mainly by wedging a chunk of wood between the bridge block and inside cut-out of the tremolo cavity. It was a genius trick that Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, too, began pulling off.
JIMMY PAGE The Led Zeppelin guitarist is so good, he’s been inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame twice! Lest we forget this is the dude who wrote rock’s most haunting anthem ‘Stairway To Heaven’, as well as having played on it so superbly.
JOHNNY MARR Morrissey might have been the big-mouth of The Smiths, but it was Johnny Marr who drove the sonics. So diverse with his playing, the dude contributed guitar to acts as diverse as Pearl Jam and Everything But The Girl, Crowded House and Modest Mouse. Now that’s what we call versatile.
MATT BELLAMY It’s one thing to consider Bellamy’s prodigious guitar-playing when tuning in to epic tracks like ‘Uprising’, ‘Knights Of Cydonia’ and ‘Supermassive Black Hole’, but throw in the fact that he also contributes piano, synths and an amalgamated instrument called a ‘keytar’ – all while singing Muse’s songs – and the dude’s talent borders on ingenious.
GEORGE HARRISON While Ringo got stuck with all the piss-poor jokes and Paul was responsible for appealing to the grandma contingency of The Beatles’ fan-base, it were George and John who grabbed most of the band’s true credibility. George’s genius was in his ability to play a wide variety of guitars from around the world, from classic western (‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’) to traditional eastern (all that sitar on the ‘Rubber Soul’ and ‘Sgt Pepper’ LPs).
GUITAR HEROES
While the lead singer gets most of the glory in a band, it’s the instrument players who truly deserve a decent dose of praise. Here are 11 guitarists who helped shape their bands’ indelible sound, while paving the future for younger chord-crunchers and air-guitarists alike. Michael Mastess & Antonino Tati
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U MUSIC SPECIALq
BEAR WITNESS We’re really getting into your latest album ‘Harlequin Dream’. What would you say are the main themes of the LP? I think we wanted a pretty dreamy, abstract record but I don’t think there is a particular lyrical theme. Sonically, it’s a departure from the first one. We engaged in less traditional instruments than we’ve used before. I’m pretty sure I haven’t answered your question there… No, that’s good enough. I like the connotations of psychedelic and dreamy. Just listening to the opening track ‘Southern Sun’ brings to mind elements of Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, even folk bands like Bread and America. Did you listen to classic artists such as these? Yeah, I think you’ve picked some key ones there. Fleetwood Mac and America were definitely things that were sitting around on my parents’ record player at home. Tim and I grew up together so that’s already two of us, while our guitarist Killian is a big Pink Floyd fan. I’m a Floyd fan, too, but it’s not something my parents would have listened to; just something I got into later. You play keys for the band, as well as some obscure instruments, like the banjo and the mandolin. Have you always veered from traditional rock’n’roll instruments as you were learning music? Well it’s a funny thing because I probably thought of myself as a guitarist up until five years ago. From the extension of that came an interest in other string instruments like the banjo and the mandolin. At that time, I was a bit of a Ryan Adams fan, and he’s kind of got that ‘all-country’ thing going so every now and then he’ll let something quite traditional
Boy & Bear have come very far in a short amount of time. Only forming in 2009, and scooping the ARIA Awards two years later (five in total including Breakthrough Artist, Album of the Year, and Best Group) they have since become major fixtures on national radio. Multi-instrumentalist Jon Hart speaks with Rock Candy about influences on the Boy & Bear sound, smoking spliffs in Amsterdam, and music’s modern fascination of bands with animals in their name. Interview by Antonino Tati
sneak in, and I couldn’t help pay attention to those things. But I’d say I play those things in a non-traditional way. I’m sort of a guitarist-come-keyboard player, if you know what I mean, as opposed to someone who has a real blue-grass background. How do strangers respond when you tell them you play banjo and mandolin? I find if I say, “I play keyboard”, that’s one thing, but if I say, “Oh, I play a bit of keyboard and some banjo and some mandoline”, it’s a bit of a conversation starter. Some people find it fascinating that you might use old [instruments] from a particular context and put them into a more contemporary setting. Why do you think more people are tuning in to semi-traditional sounds? Bands like you guys, Mumford And Sons, Bon Iver, The Lumineers… I think it’s the cycle that continues in music. What’s old becomes new again. Maybe Mumford & Sons were the ones who really brought the banjo back into the limelight. And just as a whole, I might add, I think their music comes across as very authentic and honest. The songs are something you can grab straight away, and it’s not something that is trickery from a computer or a mixing desk. You said earlier that there is a psychedelic element to some of your music. I’m wondering if there is ever any spliff-smoking to achieve the psychedelic touches? I don’t think we’ve ever had it in a studio environment or in a songwriting environment. It might happen when we’re touring Europe and might be passing through Amsterdam. I mean, “When in Amsterdam…”, you know? But speaking on my own behalf, there hasn’t been obvious influence of it… Yet. So it’s certainly not on the schedule - 10am: Smoke splif f; 10.30am: Write opening track… [Laughs] No, no. Not so ordered like that.
46 | July 2014
What’s the strangest medium or place you’ve heard a Boy & Bear track being played? It’s more a case of where other people have heard our songs. I’ve received texts from friends saying, “I’m in a clothing store in Brooklyn and you guys are playing on the stereo”. And I’m like, oh, our record’s not really available in America [in physical format, maybe not, but certainly digitally]. Do you like the new digital means of music delivery, or did you prefer the old-school packaging of vinyl and CDs? There’s probably two parts to that answer. Personally, I’m a record buyer; be it vinyl or CD, I’ll physically go out and buy something. I like seeing the effort involved in the packaging, and I like being able to read the liner notes of who played what; even the thank-you messages. For me that’s an important experience. But I’ve got a cousin who’s 10 years younger than me and I don’t think she’s ever bought a CD but she’s a music lover nonetheless and she’ll be turning me on to things on the digital scene on a regular basis. The name Boy & Bear, who came up with it? I think it was Dave who came up with the name, and he’d probably hope I leave it at that. But he found out about an online band-name generator and found a few names on that. Then a shortlist went around, and Boy & Bear is what came out – a couple of names mashed together. Why are animals so popular in band names right now? Wolf & Cub, Wolfmother, Arctic Monkeys, The Deers, and of course you guys. I don’t know. I think we hadn’t paid attention to that when we named the band. Then we realised, hey, there’s a lot of bear bands out there alone - Grizzly Bear as well who were quite big at the time. And bands with other animal names too, so you’re right. But it just kind of happened. ▪ ‘Harlequin Dream’ is out through Universal Music and available on iTunes.
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U MUSIC SPECIALq
SCOTT RHYTHM
At the beginning of your career, you tended to get compared to Foo Fighters and Nirvana. Who do you regard as your influences these days? Well, I still think those reference points are spot-on. When I was younger, you know, in my teens and early twenties, I only wanted to listen to noisy, horrible music, but in the last few years I’ve started loving stuff like John Lennon. I’m also getting into Simon & Garfunkel, and that kind of song-writing. I’m hoping we can eventually strike that balance between beautiful melodies and a real kind of ‘ugliness’ in our songs, if you know what I mean. Tell us what you think about touring. We get to tour in a comfortable way now and we get to go to parts of the world that we’ve never been to before. We’re going to Russia and South Africa, and it was fantastic to be a part of Soundwave, down your way recently. We’re just loving playing. You know, a lot of bands spend so much time worrying about what they’re trying to achieve and they forget to have fun, but for us the fun is part of the journey. So you’re enjoying life on the road? Yeah. Even if you’re just in a transit van with your three pals and you’re going to play a show, you know, that’s what it’s all about. 48 | July 2014
I feel that we are as in love with what we do, almost more in love with what we do now, than we were years ago. Playing live is special for us, every night, and we appreciate our fans. That sounds like a total cliché, but I do mean it. What do you guys do between gigs? Well, for a few years there, we got ourselves into a wee too much trouble. [Laughs]. I guess, in the beginning you party a lot, but you reach a point where your body is so used to having so many chemicals in it you know – booze or whatever – that your body needs it. That’s when you know you’re maybe in the wrong mind-space and you can’t be normal unless you’re wrecked. But I think we’re a bit more conscious more of the time now. I’m sure you’ve been asked a zillion times about the origin of the band name; what is the latest you can spin for us? Right, let me think… Today I’ll go with the spy that James Bond was based on. It’s this fellow [whose] nickname was Biffy and he lives in part of Wales called Clyro; or I think he was born and raised there and then moved to London. [Laughs lots at his own made-up story]. Do you have a different response on a piece of paper in your pocket – for each time you get asked that question?
I’ve got about seven or eight and I keep adding to them. I bet by the time we’re on the next album, we’ll probably have about 20 different reasons; anything is possible! The real reason is just as ridiculous as the made-up reason, so no-one believes us even when we tell them the truth! I believe you’re releasing a B-sides album called ‘Similarities’ later this year? Yeah, we released a bunch of EPs in the UK and we’ve got a couple of songs that no-one has heard, and it’s going to be about 18 tracks in total. Primarily the B-sides are the songs that didn’t make it onto the album ‘Opposites’. I think it’s an interesting album ’cause it wasn’t made as an album. I know that sounds silly but I think it’s gonna be really cool. Do you have any future projects apart from the B-sides LP? We’re already working on another album. We’ve got a kind of reggae stoner song, and a black metal pop song that’s got this really cute melody. It’s very exciting! We’re in very early days for the next one, but it’s nice to get the first ideas out. I’m also working on a side project called ‘Marmaduke’, and we are finishing up the third album in that trilogy. So, there’s lots on the horizon! ▪ Biffy Clyro’s B-sides album, tentatively titled ‘Similarities’, is due out in September.
Photography by Barbara Bertoli.
Biffy Clyro is a tight Scottish three-piece who are taking the world by storm. Their music traverses the genres of rock, pop and punk seamlessly, as if all three styles were always meant to get along well. Having bestowed countless awards from the best of British media for six studio albums variously, it’s their latest LP that has garnered the greatest praise, with ‘Opposites’ also landing the number one spot on the UK charts, and doing big things the world over. Andrea Manno chats with lead singer and guitarist Simon Neil about life on the road, a freshly scheduled B-sides album, and of course that strange band name…
U MUSIC SPECIALq
BIGGER, THE BETTER THE
Forget ‘Legs 11’ or a face that stops traffic. Some rockers and rappers have just one prerequisite for the gal of their dreams: she gotta be big. Here are 11 songs that put the ‘woah’ back into womanhood. Michael Mastess
BEYONCÉ
Partition
Fifty million hits on YouTube can’t be wrong. And that’s just in one month. It’s definitely the video that propels this song to the number one spot on our big booty list. In it Beyoncé pole dances, twerks, even does sexy things with an ottoman, and all in the name of celebrating the (big) body beautiful.
WRECKX-N-EFFECT
Rump Shaker
In which the lead rapper wants to present his big-butted woman with a ‘Body of the Year’ award when the real prize is for him and his “long chop sword”.
QUEEN
Fat Bottomed Girls The granddaddy of them all, with Freddie Mercury crying: “Heap big woman you made a bad boy out of me”. Before
deciding he liked blokes better…
DESTINY’S CHILD
Bootylicious
After a host of songs by men objectifying women, finally an anthem came along where women themselves celebrated all their buxom beauty. Well, alright then. Booty.
BLACK EYED PEAS
My Humps
One of the biggest slices of pro-booty marketing. [Dude says:] “Whatcha gonna do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?” [Fergie responds:] “I’m a get, get, get, get you drunk / Get you love drunk off my humps.” Tasteless or tongue in, er, cheek?
SHAKIRA
Hips Don’t Lie
Following the notorious lyric from ‘Whenever, Wherever’ – “Lucky that my breasts are
small and humble so you don’t confuse them with mountains” – Shakira shakes her bottom half, boasting about their broadness.
LL COOL J
Big Ol’ Butt
No need to read between the lines (or cheeks) here: “In the back of my mind was this big butt freak / I sat my girl down, I couldn’t hold it in / And said to her with a devilish grin / Tina got a big ol’ butt so I’m leavin’ you.”
GLENN MILLER
It Must Be Jelly (’Cause Jam Don’t Shake Like That) In which this fast-talkin’ artist continually repeats said title. Perhaps not so much praise as it is sarcasm but, just the same, it put big girls on the jazz music map.
SPINAL TAP
Big Bottom
The fake band out of the
legendary mockumentary of the same name insists: “The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin’ / Talk about bum cakes / My girl’s got ’em / Big bottom, drive me out of my mind / How could I leave this behind?” Geddit? Leave this behind!
2 CHAINZ Birthday Song
Strangely enough, this song sees Chainz begging to be buried (when he dies) in one of several designer boutiques but insisting that (while he’s alive) all he wants for his birthday is a big booty hoe. Go figure.
SIR MIX-A-LOT
Babe Got Back
Also known by its opening lyric ‘I Like Big Butts’. This track features in quite a few teen flicks – usually whenever the token ‘big’ girl is getting revenge on a pack of dirty frat boys.
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U MUSIC SPECIALq
FINE & DANDY The Dandy Warhols will never sell out. Not for anyone. They’ve stuck to their guns in making kooky psychedelic rock, with most of it coming out of their ‘Factory’ of sorts called The Odditorium. It’s a place where artists, models and musicians collide to create, well, some really odd stuff. Since forming in 1994 – their reason being that they “needed music to drink to” – these laidback dudes have gone on to release a string of eight studio albums and 22 singles. Here, guitarist Pete Holmström has a quick chat with Rock Candy about conservative types who don’t necessarily ‘get’ them, various band members’ side projects, and songwriting under the influence… Interview by Antonino Tati Hooray, the Dandy Warhols are coming to Perth. It’s been a long time coming; what have you been up to the past few years? We toured our album ‘Earth To Dandy Warhols’, put together ‘The Capitol Years’, toured on that, recorded ‘This Machine’, toured on that, plus all of us have done side projects.
Yep. And it’s the best spoiled rotten band clubhouse anywhere in the world!
the songwriting, so whatever helps break those habits...
Why is it that the Dandys so love their p s yc he d el i a? Yo u r s on g s a r e s t i l l very trippy. For me it goes back to my first musical memory of my dad playing Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. I’ve loved those spooky sounds ever since.
Have you guys been partying much lately? Going to clubs or gigs? A little. Not as much as in the past. Kids, wives, houses, responsibilities, all that life stuff is going on now.
Tell us a bit about those. Zia has her country band Brush Prairie. Brent had his band Immigrant Union. Courtney released a graphic novel with a CD to go with it called ‘One Model Nation’. And I released ‘Pete International Airport’ [an album from the band of the same name which Pete founded].
Do you find conservative types still don’t ‘get’ you? I find that people that aren’t open don’t get us. We are very good at what we do. The people that dismiss us seem to do it for reasons other than the music.
All those projects and the band members are still getting along famously? Yep. Do you still operate from out of The Odditorium? 50 | July 2014
What about the f lak you might have received for songs with titles like ‘Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth’? We didn’t really catch any flak for that. Do illicit substances help the songwriting along? Breaking out of old habits helps us with
What contemporary music are you listening to? S o n n y & T h e S u n s e t s , Ye a h Ye a h Yeahs, Kurt Vile, The Kills, Jack White, Modest Mouse... And what classics are still playing on your iPod, or are they on vinyl? ‘Highway 61 Revisited’, ‘Let It Bleed’, ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’, and Led Zeppelin – all of them. Oh, and on both iPod and vinyl. ▪ The Dandy Warhols play The Astor Theatre in Perth August 21st and 22nd. Tickets are available through oztix.com.au. Pete Holmström is pictured far right.
U MUSIC SPECIALq
YOU HAD TO BE A BIG SHOT, DINCHA? Rock and rap stars can be such shameless posers, eh? Here are 10 acts that can’t help bragging about their position at the top. Well, we suppose when it comes to the likes of spunky P!nk and Britney, we’ll let them have their say… Michael Mastess & Antonino Tati
P!NK
So What? Unabashedly brash, Ms Alecia Moore put two fingers up to ex-husband Carey Hart with this riot grrrl anthem. She even took the piss out of his motocross racing by riding along on a lawnmower in the video. Key egotistical lyric: “So, so what? I’m still a rock star, I got my rock moves, and I don’t need you.”
OASIS
Rock’n’Roll Star From the brilliant ‘Definitely Maybe’ LP, currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, comes this exceptional tune about life in the fast lane (and eternal sunshine!). Who’d have thought this initial bit of bragging would lead to the giant egos that became Liam and Noel Gallagher. Key egotistical lyric: “In my mind my dreams are real… Tonight, I’m a rock’n’roll star.”
JOHNNY O’KEEFE
The Wild One
So over-the-top in its bragging that when Iggy Pop later covered it, he insisted on injecting more irony into the delivery. Melbourne band Jet covered it, too, but we’re not sure how serious they were taking themselves… Key egotistical lyrics: “Well I’m-a just outta school, like, I’m real real cool” and “Give me a chick that’s-a all of my own, shake her till the meat comes off-a the bone.”
ROBIN THICKE
Blurred Lines
Even though in this track Thicke says his girl is “the hottest bitch in this place” he still feels as though she needs him to liberate her. Key egotistical lyric: “Nothing like your last guy, he too square for you, he
don’t smack that ass and pull your hair like that… I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two.”
PETER GABRIEL
Big Time
Taking the absolute piss out of the typical ’80s megastar (and possibly himself), Gabriel sings about his dinner getting bigger, his bank account getting bigger, his art getting bigger, and the bulge in his big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big… Key egotistical lyric: “My parties have all the big names, and I greet them with the whitest smile, tell them how my life is one big adventure, and always they’re amazed.”
MADONNA
She’s Not Me
Word has it that this was originally a diss aimed at Gwen Stefani (listen out for Justin Timberlake’s ‘Gwendy’ squeal toward the end of the song), and of course later Madge used it to subtly knock Gaga off her perch. Whoever it’s aimed at, rest assured it sits as one of Madonna’s most egocentric songs. Key egotistical lyric: “She’s not me, she doesn’t have my name, she’ll never have what I have, it won’t be the same.”
HOUSE OF PAIN
Jump Around
Sure, it sounds like an innocent white rap track about going crazy on the dancefloor but listen carefully and it’s really just all about them - and to the point of sacrilege. Key egotistical lyric: “Word to your moms, I came to drop bombs, I got more rhymes than the Bible’s got psalms.”
BRITNEY SPEARS
I’m The Best
Even though she’s got the vocal ability of a cockatoo effected with GarageBand, still Britney feels she’s the ruler of the roost with this ditty. Key egotistical lyric: “You’re so ugly and I’m so cute, wake up about that star ’cause I’m the best.”
NICKI MINAJ
Beez In The Trap
Claiming throughout that she’s “been did that” [read: “been there, done that”] and that she’s easily “shittin’ on your whole life” [read: “shitting on your whole life”] the words to this track are so cutting that you know you don’t wanna mess with this hardass gal or bitches be goin’ down. Key egotistical lyric: “Bitches ain’t shit, and they ain’t sayin’ nuthin’, a hundred muthafuckas can’t tell me nuthin’.”
EMINEM
Just about every song of his Key egotistical lyrics: Yep, virtually all of ‘em.
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 51
MOTORING
FLIPPIN’ OUTTA THIS WORLD
Travis Pastrana is an action motorsports champion and modern-day Evel Knievel all rolled into one giant testicle of steel, shooting to mainstream fame as the ringleader of the radical spectacle known as Nitro Circus. Originally an MTV juggernaut, the live extravaganza recently toured Australia, where Rock Candy contributor Jake D. Frost caught up with the high-flyin’ madman.
T
ravis Pastrana is describing the spectacle that is Nitro Circus: “Basically it’s 20 of the world’s best action sports athletes and 10 of the m o s t d u ra b l e c o n t ra p t i o n artists from around the world,” Travis explains. In front of thousands of frothing fanatics, these daredevils hurl themselves down a 60-foot ‘giganta ramp’ and launch through the air on everything from traditional motorcycles, skateboards and BMXs, to totally unconventional contraptions like couches, eskies, kids’ trikes and shopping trollies. It really is the ultimate, live-stunt extravaganza and a contemporary (albeit crazy) spin on ‘the greatest show on earth’. But clowning around under the big top on his trusty motorbike isn’t the only thing this 30-yearold is known for. The core crowd
recognise Pastrana as a longtime world FMX champion (from the age of 14 no less), a dominant supercross and motocross legend, and a multi-X-Gamesgold-medal winner. He’s not bad on four wheels either, having won back-to-back rally championships and competed on the NASCAR circuit. He’s the inventor of a huge list of freestyle motocross tricks, including the first person to land a double backflip. With his extensive history in motorsports, packed with a do-or-die attitude, Travis has set multiple world records both on bike and in car; jumping the longest, going the fastest, and doing some of the wildest stunts on wheels. Oh yeah, he’s also well known as the insane nutter that skydived out of a plane without a parachute! Of all his professional accomplishments Travis says he’s most
proud of a time early in his career. “When I was 16 I got to represent the US and go to France for the Motocross des Nations,” he fondly reflects. “The French were our biggest competitors at the time and I went head-to-head with the top guy and ended up passing him on the last lap. There were 200,000 Frenchmen booing me, but it was a great experience.” Unfortunately with the rewards come the risks, and with the risks comes the pain. Pastrana has broken almost as many bones as he has records. The damage he’s done to his body is horrific and the hospital visits countless, although he blows it off as just part of the job. When asked about his nastiest crash he again recalls a time in his youth. “I’d say my worst injury was my back when I was 15. In a (FMX) competition I basically dislocated my spinal column, shattered my
hip and pelvis area and almost bled out, so that was kinda shitty.” So what’s next for superhuman Pastrana? The question is answered by the fact that he’s speaking to Rock Candy with his leg up in plaster. “I broke the tib fib, which are the two bones in the lower leg,” he explains, showing no signs of taking his foot off the accelerator. And as for his next Holy Grail, the death-defying wildman leaks news that he’s been working with some new ramps that help him flip more. “There’s only been four people in the world to land a front flip, and now we’re working on kiss-ofdeath front flips and other variations,” Travis reveals. “With these ramps I’m really hoping to be able to do something no-one thought was even remotely possible.” Double front flip or triple backflip, anyone? ▪
85 Mell Rd, Spearwood WA 6163 9434 3744 ast@astpl.com WWW.ASTPL.COM
52 | July 2014
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MOTORING
HEAVY METAL Jordan Leist profiles a chronically good car customising business: Cronic Customs in Perth.
Photography by Jordan Leist
F
rom humble beginnings on the automotive circuit, to running one of Perth’s premier workshops, 31-year old Adam Spiteri has turned his passion for cars into a thriving business that continues to grow stronger. It was five years ago that Adam opened the doors at Cronic Customs, located in Perth’s northern suburbs; the realisation of a dream and years of hard work. “I was a qualified sheet metal worker at the time and I was working my day job as well as trying to do the car thing at night in a tiny workshop,” he tells Rock Candy. “I spent three years doing that until I decided to have a red hot go at running my own business properly. People told me that I needed a larger workspace if I was going to be taken seriously, so I went for it.” Within five years, Adam and his wife Cara were employing six full-time workers and now have a list of customers a mile long. The team has won award after award at all of WA’s major car shows, and their creations have graced covers of the most coveted auto magazines. “We initially specialised in high-end street cars but over the years the style of rides that people are wanting to build have really altered. Guys and girls are building designated show cars or burnout cars and now there is a real blur between those as well. The quality of the vehicles is constantly increasing as well as people’s expectations. It’s an exciting time for building cars in WA.” One thing that Adam enjoys offering owners is the concept of turn-key projects. “We understand that a lot of people work away and don’t have
the time to be running around working on cars. What we do for a lot of our customers is oversee the whole project, from concept to creation. We can perform all the mechanicals in-house and then have selected businesses that we suggest to perform panel and paint as well as trimming. We can get that work performed and then have the car completed for them to just get in and drive. It couldn’t be simpler for the customer.” As well as providing the very best in skills and labour, Cronic Customs also has a retail side to the business too. “Three years ago we started selling wheels and fittings and now that is a major part of the workshop. 3M wrapping, engine parts and a myriad other bits and pieces are purchased online and in our showroom every day.” The workshop has enough room to house many cars at a time and a lot of the vehicles are long-term projects so there is always something exciting on the go. “People have particular visions when building serious cars. It can take months for just the right fabrication work to be up to scratch. We’re always trying new things and developing on older ideas and concepts, too, so that takes time and thought. “We’re lucky enough to have a number of customers who give us full creative control as well. It is nice to have the trust and support when working on the high-end stuff.” With years dedicated to the art of building tough cars, Adam and the team at Cronic Customs are the people you need to speak to if you are considering any style of build on an old-school or modern day car. You can find them at 5/105 Inspiration Drive in Wangara WA or simply check out their daily updated Facebook page. ▪ www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 55
Broome $99* PER PERSON
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*Terms and Conditions: Travel Dates – 1st April 2014 – 31st October 2014. Booking Dates 1st Dec 2013 – 31st May 2014. Price is per person per night, twin share in a Queen Bed Garden View Room. One voucher & 4 pack per room per stay.
(08) 9195 5200 | www.moonlightbaysuites.com.au
Heath’s Helpline
THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC
Heath Black Andrea Manno speaks with Heath Black about the relevance of music as a primary source of motivation and relaxation.
O
n a d r i z z l i n g d ay i n Melbourne, Heath Black has played his best game of golf and is glad to be sitting with his feet up in the rumpus room while his son plays some ‘dirty beats’. When asked what particular track the boy was listening to, 13-year-old Chayce didn’t know but insisted it was “in the Top 10 Dirty Beats chart”. Such is music an integral part of the Black household, Heath says t here’s equa l room for thumping tunes as “pick-me-up” and “go-get-em” ammunition, and doses of chillout music to calm the body and mind. Ever since a friend introduced him to the Indian flute (or bansuri), Heath’s become an avid listener to the melodic timbre that emanates from the bamboo instrument. Of his newfound bit of musical magic, Heath says, “It puts me in some sort of hypnotic state. Whether or not it’s a placebo, I’m not sure, but it definitely works.” For folks wanting to stay mentally-grounded, melodious pipes and the sounds of environmental ambience – like water trickling – are high on the checklist for healing. Heath also tells how he’s listening more closely to song
lyrics nowadays, and that sometimes he gets “that funny feeling in the throat” when he realises what is being sung. Beyond all the techno, trance, dirty beats and bansuri, it is the words of Limp Bizkit’s Behind Blue Eyes that resonates the most. Singing a line or two of the song – “Nobody knows what it’s like to be the sad man, the bad man” – Heath explains, “I use it as part of my intro in a lot of my presentations; it [the song] is linked in to me going in and out of court, and to the highs and lows of playing footy. It just instantly grounds me when I hear it. It gives me chills, but it’s also a calming reminder. It’s a very, very powerful song.” Heath Black has a list of influential songs of his life, especially when he recalls his footy days with the Dockers. He tells how house tunes often got him into the perfect frame of mind to play hard on the field. “ We were broug ht up on [house music] in footy. The gym at the Freo Footy Club absolutely pumped with it, and away we’d go! You’d lift some heavy weights simply because the beat was thumping. “Do you remember that party anthem Put Your Hands Up For Detroit? Well just before a prelim
final against Sydney in Freo, we had that absolutely pumping and I’ll never forget it. You’re running out on the ground in front of 60,000 people and just before the bounce, you’ve been hearing ‘Put your hands up… I love this city’. It was surreal.” So does he reckon a person needs drugs or a lot of drink to enjoy upbeat music? “Well I wasn’t a drug user, but I was a massive drinker. And obviously, if you’re single, it’s the ol’ Dutch courage. There’s no way I was going into a situation as a single bloke, sober, walking up to a girl and asking her for a date. I definitely needed six cans under the belt to even approach a female.” While Heath also talks of how he grew up listening to major grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Foo Fighters, he says he’s turned on today by a bevy of female talent in the modern music stream: Beyoncé, P!nk, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry. And plenty of Britney. “She became my Hollywood star,” laughs Heath, “and it all went pear-shaped from there! It’s a common joke in our household that Britney Spears is my Holly wood idol. And I’m not embarrassed by that.” ▪
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 57
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Fifo Wife
SIGNAL TO NOISE
Debbie Russo | bio We’re stoked to have The FIFO Wife, a.k.a. Debbie Russo, on board here at Rock Candy as our regular rock chick columnist. She tells it how it is, from the other side of the FIFO fence - as one of those perennially waiting for a partner to return home, only to go back to work just weeks later, literally left holding the babies. Says Deb: “Im 35 but I will forever be 26. I have three yummy boys aged 6, 4 and 2. I live in the country and I love it. I’ve been a FIFO wife for 13 years now. I love it most days - note the word most - and I believe this is a lifestyle you either make work or you don’t. It’s up to you. It is hard work, but it’s worth it.” So we hope you enjoy Deb’s honest take on being a FIFO wife - insight guaranteed. If you need support or just want to get in touch with someone to talk to, visit any one of these sites: www.fifofamilies.com.au www.miningfm.com.au www.familyjuggle.com.au www.ocaustralia.com.au
T
here are two states of noise in my house. T he f irst is LOUD. And t hen t here is LOUDER STILL. With regards to the first, there is no sealing the noise in from the neighbours as my children think they live in a tent. Noise explodes from every crevice, every open window, every door left ajar. With no pride, we are the loudest family on our street. From the loungeroom, the home entertainment system projects the latest Spiderman extravaganza. From the kitchen blares Katy Perry’s newest tune (Dark Horse? Birthday? Who can keep up?). And from the boys’ bedroom we’re subjected to the relentless bleeps of WiiU, like an alarm reminding me it’s ruining their chances of making it into Uni. Then of course there is all the yelling as one boy accuses the other in brotherly battle, along with the annoying barks of one-too-many dogs, and the inconvenient morning crows of a rooster. And, without fail, there are the pounding footsteps down the hallway in readiness of a superhero battle, and the shrill rings of the phone with telemarketers calling to tell me there is a problem with my internet. Yet all awhile my internet hums away with the occasional bleep that a new email has arrived
and so I ponder what the problem was and why they requested my credit card details to fix it. Yes, our home is noisier than George Street, Sydney, on a Saturday night and it’s why you’ll sometimes find me sitting in my car for the solace it provides. The second state is louder still as it combines all the noise of the first (TV, Blu-ray, WiiU, phone, and Katy Perry). The battles, the yelling, the barking, and the rooster are all still there. But there is another, louder sound – that of my husband arriving home. The house becomes instantly noisier when he gets back from work, but more bearable. The music sounds better, the TV less static, the barking less annoying, and the rooster suddenly a quaint sign of country life. Combined with it all is laughter, storytelling, and lots of joking about. No longer is it noise; more like a symphony. When hubby gets home from work, the kids laugh louder, play louder, sing louder, even dance louder, as do I and he. Yet when he goes back to work, I’m in search of that first kind of noise again – turning on radios and TVs, and awaiting phone calls to make the house somewhat noisier, and a lot less lonely. ▪
85 Mell Rd, Spearwood WA 6163 9434 3744 ast@astpl.com WWW.ASTPL.COM
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www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 59
All trainers are fully qualified with significant industry experience in Mining, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Refining, and Construction.
TRAVEL
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
ROCK CANDY TOUCHES DOWN IN MALAYSIA’S CAPITAL KUALA LUMPUR AND GETS INTO SOME SERIOUS SHOPPING. Story by Antonino Tati
T
here has been some seriously sad news in connection to Malaysian tourism of late, particularly due to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370. Such news is enough to tarnish a brand, be it that particular business’ fault or not. Suffice to say, it ought not ruin the reputation of an entire country. Indeed, Malaysia remains one of the most awesome places to visit in all of Southeast Asia and so far is its capital Kuala Lumpur is concerned, things here are business as usual. Since Malaysia shares its borders with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei, and holds onto maritime ties with Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines, visitors inevitably sense huge diversity in the country’s culture. Indeed, there’s an obvious multiculture in just about everything you see or do here – from the arts and entertainment to car culture and cuisine, commerce and sporting successes to even religious rituals. Aside from its many international ties, there is another reason behind Malaysia’s massive cultural mix. Kuala Lumpur happens to be the eighth most visited city in the world, thanks to its convenient positioning on the globe, and is often remarked as the perfect stopover between the northern and southern hemispheres. This means KL enjoys a booming tourism – 9.2 million visitors at last annual count – with each and every visitor adding to the nation’s cultural diversity. Of course most visitors to the city have one thing in mind: shopping. 60 | July 2014
Shopping is a major pastime in Malaysia, not least of all in KL. Malls here offer the perfect blend of designer, high-end and budget buys, while traditional market stalls make up much of the rest of this bustling city. Two times a year, KL hosts ‘Mega Sales’ – the first being the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival which this year happens in August, and the second being the Malaysia Year End Sale, happening aptly over the entire Christmas season. During these sales, shoppers can expect to find competitive discounts, bargains and promotions – even from the bigger designer labels. Shopping has become such a deal here that CNN recently took it upon themselves to label KL the fourth best city in the world to spend big in, right behind London, Tokyo and New York. Not bad for a place that started out a hundred-and-fifty years ago as a humble seaport. But enough of history; let’s get back to the here and now. Here’s our rundown on the best shopping complexes in KL City. STARHILL GALLERY Starhill would have to be considered the peak of luxury retailing. Or at least an excellent contender. With its well-suited doormen, mood lighting and chill music everywhere you go, this is experiential shopping like no other. And with seven levels of stores to contemplate, your best bet is to set aside a good half day for this shopping-plex. It appears every luxury brand worth its salt has a spot in Starhill. Put it this way: the missus will be in heaven. In one store browsing session this scribe came across Alexander McQueen, Arpels, Bvlgari, Chopard, Christofle, Dior, Fendi, Sergio Rossi, Van Clef and Valentino – and while most of these sound like the names of famous European motocross drivers, believe us when we say that a suit purchased from any one of them will guarantee you firstplace in the sartorial stakes. Starhill also has a massive food hall, aptly called ‘The Feast Village’, where restaurants and takeouts are set up like market food stalls, serving an array of pan-Asian and western-influenced
TRAVEL
MARKET CITY
If trawling through local markets is more your thing, our suggestions for the best ones to shop at in KL are Central Market on Petaling Street (for everything from toys to t-shirts), Little India south of the city (for fab fabrics), and the many stalls throughout Chinatown which come alive every evening from 6pm. For more information visit kuala-lumpur.ws.
dishes. Let’s just say you’ll need plenty of kilojoules to burn for the rest of your shopping expedition here. Location: Jalan Bukit Bintang.
BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE Forget the Petronas Twin Towers for a moment. Berjaya Times Square is an impressive twin-tower complex that houses a massive shopping centre and two five-star hotels. The shopping component is spread over 13 f loors and offers a brilliant array of leading streetwear labels, food halls and entertainment outlets. Heck, there’s even a theme park complete with rollercoaster in this joint! Stores include Borders, Converse, Dockers, Esprit, Levi’s, MNG as well as upmarket labels such as Tag Heuer, Matsuda and Christian Dior. Something for everyone, then. Location: 1 Jalan Imbi.
LOT 10 Who doesn’t want to find the nearest Zara no matter where they are in the world? Well the answer in KL is here at Lot 10. In fact this place has the best of high-street labels mixed in with local favourites. Also on site are two stories of H&M, as well as Designers at Debenhams, Henry Holland, Matthew Williamson and Preen. Yep, you guessed correctly, despite Spanish favourite, Zara, this is a place for certified Anglo-maniacs. So if British labels are your thing, best you make Lot 10 your first pit-stop. Location: 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail.
FAHRENHEIT 88 One of the newest additions to KL’s mallscape, Fahrenheit 88 opened in 2010 (though confused tourists might think it’s been around since 1988). Nonetheless, the five-storey structure lays claim to the most prime piece of real estate along Jalan Bukit Bintang and has been given a RM100 million revamp since changing ownership and name from the more humble ‘KL Plaza’ (still sometimes referred to this by locals). This is more of a mid-range shopping centre, aimed at young consumers concerned more with keeping up with trends, hence labels you’ll find here include G-Shock, New Balance, Skechers, Tissot and highly sought-after Japanese label, UNIQLO.
The architecture of the place is interesting, to say the least, with even a mini Giza, complete with giant Sphinx, one of its key design features. Often, too, Fahrenheit 88 will go full-on with the colour and themes on special holidays while mixing it up a little (a giant green bunny at Christmas time, for example – go figure). Contemporary and quirky. Location: Jalan Bukit Bintang.
SURIA KLCC Located within KL’s famous Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC lets you check off two things at once: shopping and landmark-spotting. The shopping centre is renowned as one of the city’s greatest luxury retail emporiums and includes high-end designer labels such as Armani, Bally, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dior, DKNY, Emilio Pucci and Ermenegildo Zegna. Notice I only got to the ‘E’s there, so rest assured there’s an entire remainder of the alphabet to go of luxury labels at this popular shopping spot! As for dining, head to Harrods for the best in English dishes; traditional favourites served up posh-st yle such as meat pie and mash, roast beef and veg, even fish fingers given the upscale makeover. Location: Petronas Towers, KL City.
MID-VALLEY MEGA-MALL Located halfway between the city centre and the spectacular Klang Valley, Mid-Valley is home to the usual round of suburban fitness houses and cinemas, but also to some of the better brand names in streetwear including Topshop, Calvin Klein, Mango, Seed and (again) Zara. You can also access three hotels from this mall – the Boulevard, Cititel Mid-Valley, and The Gardens Hotel and Residence. There are plenty of al fresco dining options, too, for when you want to put those bagsful of goodies down, kick back and enjoy a beer or cocktail. When Christmas comes – along with the 1Malaysia End Of Year Megasale – you really ought to see this place come alive with decoration. It’s seriously over the top bordering on the insane, with ‘Alice In Wonderland’-type mazes constructed of hedges taking up most of the ground floor on one occasion. Location: Lingkaran Syed Putra.
BOTTOMS UP!
An ideal spot to unwind after a big day of shopping is in the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel. This freshly rejuvenated venue, perched on the hotel’s 33rd floor, boasts KL city views like no other. Sure, the signature 26m-long pool might be its centrepiece, but it is the cocktails that are the real stars here. Skip the simple Mojito and opt for a Mata D’Or – passionfruit, pomegranate, Red Bull and vodka. Note, this drink was originally on their mocktail list, until we insisted they throw in some vodka. Location: Level 33, Traders Hotel, KL City Centre.
WHERE TO STAY
Check in to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Jalan Imbi and be in the heart of KL’s action. The hotel is within minutes walking distance from supermalls such as Berjaya Times Square and Starhill Gallery (in fact, Starhill is right next door). Porters will swiftly take your Samsonites and have you escorted to your suite, quicker than you can learn to say ‘That was bloody impressive’ in Malaysian. The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur offers a relaxed ambience that feels miles away from the hustle and bustle outside. Nightly stays include accommodation, breakfast and complimentary internet access. For dining, Césars offers a la carte and buffet breakfasts, and for dinner you’ve got to try the hotel’s award-winning signature restaurant, Li Yen, which boasts excellent Cantonese specialities. Bookings and enquiries at ritzcarlton.com/KualaLumpur. And for special packages keep in touch via Twitter @ YTLHotels (Ritz-Carlton, KL).
www.rockcandymagazine.com.au | 61
TRAVEL
JUST LIKE PARADISE
ROCK CANDY EXPERIENCES A VERY DIFFERENT SIDE TO MALAYSIA: THE LAIDBACK VIBE AND BLISSFUL AMBIENCE OF LANGKAWI. By Antonino Tati
62 | July 2014
TRAVEL
W
hen most people t h i n k of Malaysia, they think of its capital Kuala Lumpur and all that shopping, shuffling and traffic jams. But just 30km off the northwest coast of Malaysia lies an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. Together they’re known as Langkawi, which could well be described as one of the most serene spots on earth. Langkawi is so named after the Malay words for ‘reddish brown eagle’ (helang meaning eagle, and kawi referring to the main colour of the bird’s feathers). In 2007, UNESCO certified the archipelago as Southeast Asia’s very first ‘Geopark’, and deservedly so since this ecological wonderland consists of 550-million-yearold rock formations, abundant rainforest and small deserted islands – save for the hundreds of wild bird and animal species that dwell here. Of course there are human inhabitants on some of Langkawi’s islands – well on four of them at least – with a total population of just under 65,000. As a tourist, though, you’ll feel as though you’ve landed in some semi-deserted paradise. After having spent three days in KL, mostly shopping, checking in at the Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi was like being thrown to the opposite end of the spectrum: quiet, calming and a real chance for holidayers to ‘collect’ themselves. The resort’s traditional accommodations are woven through acres of beachfront gardens dotted with palms, while five minutes away by boat sit perched in the sea the world renowned mangroves of the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. Kilim Karst seems to be where all the wildlife action is at. On one trip, I spotted eagles, otters, fish that could ‘walk’ (called ‘mudskippers’) and crazy fiddler crabs of just about every colour. The mangroves are also a great environment for watching families of macaque monkeys at work and play – the ‘work’ mostly involving sitting by the mangroves and putting on sad faces until tourists give them treats in the way
of food (although feeding the wildlife is not encouraged, your boat guide might be feeling generous enough on occasion). There’s plenty to do for the avid outdoor adventurist wishing to spend a few days in Langkawi. Besides eagle-spotting and mangrove safari-ing, there are heaps of watersports such as catamaran sailing, coastal kayaking, waterfall hiking and snorkeling. Or for the less adventurous, you can kick back and enjoy a cable car ride over the ancient forest escarpment of Mount Machincang. For an even more touristic experience, there is the great Underwater World – the largest aquarium in Malaysia and home to some of the cutest Rockhopper Penguins – or the expansive Wildlife Park where visitors are encouraged to interact with the animals. Back at the resort, things are more of a wellbeing bent than an active one. The Four Seasons Geo Spa offers specially tailored treatments to refresh, invigorate or calm – the choice being yours. I opted for a ‘Masculine Vigour & Vitality’ treatment that incorporates indigenous herbs and targeted massage techniques to strengthen and boost vigour and virility. Or so the menu promised! It began with an invigorating scrub followed by a steam and deep tissue ‘Keringanan’ massage using tongkat ali oil (which is known to promote energy). Kidney packs are then added, as well as a ginseng wrap to assist with the body’s blood flow. Let’s just say I was left feeling like a new man (cost: RM900). For those okay with getting up early in the mornings, the resort also invites guests to partake in sunrise yoga sessions, ranging from pranayama to hatha techniques. Private yoga sessions are also available in your pavilion. Speaking of which, the size of the ‘Melaleuca’ pavilion I stayed in was about that of half a house, the great arches and stone bathroom area taking their cues from traditional Moorish designs. As well as their obvious Arabic influences, the architecture and interior of the
Four Seasons Langkawi gives nods to the Asian and Indian cultures of Malaysia’s melting pot. And it seems like every inch of the resort has been constructed with the surrounding environment in mind: from the crystalline rock walls in the foyer, to the jagged limestone walls. There are plenty of windows in your pavilion to take advantage of the stunning scenery, and broad verandahs where tropical breezes pass through morning and night. Guests can opt for a pavilion with a garden setting or beachfront, but it’s the bathroom in this grand space that’ll see you happy staying in for the night. Four soaring arches surround the centre of it leading to a giant raised terrazzo bath: truly fit for a king. There’s not a lot to do in Langkawi at night, not even on the dining front, so my travelling companions and I were more than happy to trial a different restaurant each night of the four housed on the property. Ikan-Ikan serves up authentic Malay cuisine including spiced and coconut infused specialities. Serai crosses oceans for its inspiration, mainly turning to traditional Italian (although downstairs the restaurant does offer pan-Asian alongside Continental breakfasts). Kelapa Grill offers light and simple fair, from wood-fired pizzas to clean stir-fries. And Rhu Bar gives guests the option of munching on gourmet tapas or antipasto while enjoying a cocktail and soaking in the most awesome of sunsets. And on that note, let me say, I’ve never witnessed a sunset as captivating as that in Langkawi. My recommendation? If you’re limited for time on your next trip to Malaysia, be sure to cut your stay in KL by a couple of days so that you can fit Langkawi into the itinerary. Your mind and body will thank you for it, believe me. ▪ Both AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines have twice daily flights to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur. Ferry rides also leave on the hour from the port of Kuala Kedah. For more information visit www. langkawi-info.com or phone +604 966 7789.
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GALLERY
64 | July 2014
GALLERY
M O ST R r s e H C a We were hit with a tornado of positive responses since publishing our gallery of portraits by celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz last issue (that’s them twirling around Nicki Minaj!) so we simply had to call on our trusty lensman to round up another batch of awesome pics. This being our Music Issue, you’ll find a certain sonic connection to each and every one of the artists in this here selection. Welcome to the other side of the velvet rope… Photography by Mike Ruiz / Words by Antonino Tati
NICKI MINAJ >> SASS-MOUTHED SINGER Renowned for her outrageous outfits and bad-ass attitude, Ms Minaj has done an about-face lately. That is, she’s gone back to basics in the wardrobe and makeup departments. But the backchat is still there. “I went so far to the other side that there’s only one place to go from there,” the rapper recently told MTV. “You can either continue doing costumes or you can just say, ‘Doing nothing will shock them more.” Here she is captured by Mike Ruiz in a guise that falls somewhere, well, in between. Still with a shit-storm going on around her, of course.
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JENNIFER LOPEZ >> SINGER, ACTRESS, PERPETUAL HOTTIE Recently having provided the official song for the 2014 World Cup (with a little help from Pitbull), La Lopez copped some flak from Brazilians arguing she wasn’t from their country and so shouldn’t be singing the official tune. We say when it looks this good, who gives a fudge where the gal comes from? She could sing the West Coast Eagles’ anthem in Icelandic and we’d still love her for it.
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LL COOL J >> SHORT FOR ‘LADIES LOVE COOL JAMES’ The rapper-come-actor has shifted from naff roles in flicks like Halloween H20 to more credible slices of celluloid including Any Given Sunday (playing a running back for the dysfunctional Miami Sharks football team). He’s also not shy to let the occasional political rant rip, with his song Mr President questioning the US’s rationale for the Iraq War, and expressing sympathy for illegal immigrants. Still, it’s all cool.
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RICKY MARTIN >> SINGER, VOICE COACH, DADDY OF TWO Ricky shot to international fame with his highly celebrated World Cup Anthem of 1998, The Cup Of Life. While he can boast being one of Latin America’s biggest musical exports, he currently calls Australia home, coaching on the third series of television’s The Voice.
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JENNA JAMESON >> PORN STAR, NAKED DJ, ENTREPRENEUR Jenna’s first ‘non-porn’ film role was in shock jock Howard Stern’s controversial flick Private Parts in which she played the role of Mandy, “the first woman to strip naked for radio”. She recently sold her porn website clubjenna. com to Playboy and has been kept on as an executive. Not short on beauty or brains, then.
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KATY PERRY >> SINGER, STUNNER, AVID PERFUME PUSHER Set to visit our shores again later in the year, kicking off her Prism concert tour in Perth on November 7, Katy was in a spot of controversy earlier this year. Her video for the song Dark Horse featured a dark dude going up in flames while wearing a pendant with the word ‘Allah’ inscribed on it. Subsequently the song was banned across commercial networks in Muslim-majority countries. Heck, in this get-up we’ll give her full permission to burn an effigy of Tony Abbott.
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KIM KARDASHIAN >> RAP ROYALTY
Diehard fashionistas were up in arms when KK appeared on the cover of Vogue recently, being cuddled by rap star hubby Kanye West. Try-hard fashionistas loved the move. We ourselves reckon the girl scrubs us nicely as a blackclad moody vamp. All on her own.
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DEBORAH HARRY >> PUNK ROCK ICON Inspiration to an army of modern music makers, Debbie Harry delivered the sexiest brand of punk in the ’70s and pop/rock in the ’80s with her successful band Blondie, and continues to cut a damn fine live tune today. Blondie recently released a double-CD set Deluxe Redux, containing the band’s greatest hits plus a batch of very cool rarities. Hats off to Deb for looking this awesome at 69.
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