THE CAROUSER
THE IDOL ISSUE 1 DRINK RELIGIOUSLY
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CONTENTS Editor’s Letter
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Wank Bank
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Contributors
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The King Of The Carousers: Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister
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The Rocker: Phil Lynott
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Female Idols: Lita Ford
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An interview with Thin Lizzy Female Idols: Rock Goddess Idolising Punk
Drinks Reviews
Bar Review: Black Heart Liquid Lunch: Oslo Idol Albums
The Carouser’s Idols Book Review
Carouser Literature Carouser Coverage
The Carouser’s Guide
To Iconic Music Venues
Letters to The Carouser At The Bar With
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THE EDITOR’S LETTER Nothing tells you that the golden age of rock is over better than the death of our heroes. This year, stars have been falling like some kind of tragic meteor shower, piercing the sky to the sound of thunderous drums and dynamic guitar solos. Not only has this given us more than an excuse to raise a glass, but it has made us extremely nervous for all other aging rockers. Every time someone cancels a show, we become extremely fearful that they’re next on the Grim’s list. When our idols die, we wrap ourselves in their words, and breathe in their sounds. We release by bleeding our hearts onto paper like that of Kayleigh MG’s piece on the late Lemmy Kilmister The King Of The Carousers (pg.9). A touching piece on a man who was essential to music and a key member of one of the best band’s in metal. Michelle Godding also delves into her loss of Philip Lynott The Rocker (pg.12)- a sense of loss that also brings with it the guilt of being born too late. I’ve had a lot of idols in my life - a bit of an idol whore. It started with Cruella De’Ville as a child. I had a certain fascination with villains, especially ones that wrap themselves in fur coats and smell of cigarette smoke. It was only inevitable that I would grow up to enjoy the darker side of the music genre - rock ‘n’ roll. As a young teenager, I fell in love with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day with his black smeared eyes and strong riffs. But, as I grew older, I found him to be nothing more than an adolescent crush. Now, as a mature adult who doesn’t think with her hormones, I’m not sure if I idolise anyone. But someone who comes pretty close is the unapologetic and devilishly charming Keith Richards. Not only is it impressive that he is still alive after aggressively partying his way through the ‘60s, but he is a key member of one of the oldest and most brilliant rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time (who are also still producing music) - The Rolling Stones ladies and gentleman. We all have our own distinct reasons for admiring these iconic people who have essentially soundtracked our lives. But rather than dwell on what we have lost, with this magazine, we hope to celebrate and bring to life the inspiration that the idols have given us. From the creativity of Bowie (pg. 44) to the rebellion of punk (pg. 22), our generation have been inspired by these motions and the music to pick up that pen/paint brush/guitar/ drink and live their lives recklessly and creatively. The Idol Issue is The Carouser’s thank you note, love letter and message in a bottle to the new generation of this cold and desolate world. Now please, go drink something and stop getting so sentimental. Forever & Always, Mandy Morello
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Wank Bank What we’re boning over this issue… Christhebarker
Buck & Birch’s Aelder Whisky
This artist has come to light due to his parody of the Beatles’ Sergeant Peppers cover that has gone viral this week. Paying homage to all those in the celebrity spotlight that we have lost this year, its impact was huge as he updated it with the addition of Leonard Cohen this week. However, on further inspection, all his art is pretty cool and smart. Check out his stuff at christhebarker.tumblr.com
Scottish pop-up company Buck & Birch have released a new creation – Elderberry Whisky, and we love it! Labelled as Aelder but more commonly referred to as an elixir, this is a blend of elderberry, scotch whisky and a ‘secret mix of Scottish herbs’. Not only does it contain all the health benefits of elderberries, but the taste is not as peaty as most whiskeys. If you’re after something a little softer, this could be the way. It works great neat and we can’t wait to try it.
Pink Floyd - The Early Years 1967-72 Cre/ation This is the band that keeps giving. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ll probably have the majority of these tracks in one form or another. However, this maps the evolution of the band in a chronological and remastered way, with the second disk containing a number of awesome remixes. The album is £10.25 on Amazon and is a great way to introduce people to a classic, iconic band.
Crazy Pedro’s Northern Quarter Manchester If you’re ever in the area, this is definitely the go-to place for some late night jams. Situated in Manchester’s Northern Quarter beneath Affleck’s shopping centre, the pizza joint/ bar is open till 4am and serves pizza till that time, making it great for a late night pit stop. Furthermore, it has its own single barrel tequila, as well as the biggest selection of tequilas and mezcals in the country. Shots all round if you end up in this party bar.
Gimme Danger This isn’t out at the time I’m writing this, but the trailer has got me mighty excited. It’s hard to deny the impact The Stooges and Iggy Pop had on the rock scene internationally, and this documentary lays out the story of the band’s evolution into one of the most important and iconic groups in the world.
Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout This book has come out at a great time; a time when all those with a voice should be sticking a middle finger up to those in power, who say their way of life is wrong or unnatural. And we back this completely. The Against Me! founder, Laura Jane Grace has written this brilliant memoir outlining her troubles as well as her amazing success in helping the transgender movement reach where it has in the rock scene.
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The King Of The Carousers:
Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister
1945 -2015 “Born to lose, lived to win.”
The 28th December has always been the day that feels like the Christmas season has officially ended and going back to work is rapidly approaching. If those blues weren’t depressing enough, 2015 bought us a whole new low and took Ian Fraser ‘Lemmy’ Kilmeister away from the music scene. December 28th will now forever be a day to celebrate the tremendous life of a true icon. Over the past couple of years, it had been common knowledge that 70 year old Lemmy had been battling with some serious health issues. What with cancelled shows and any live appearances showcased Lemmy deteriorating in front of us - you could assume that Lemmy’s passing was expected. It was however, a monstrous and earth shattering shock to all. Not surprising considering Lemmy had only been officially diagnosed with his terminal illness on December 26th - just 2 days before his death. When a person in the public eye passes away, a small part of you feels stupid for crying or feeling overly emotional about their passing. You didn’t know them; you probably didn’t even meet them. However, sometimes, these people affect your life in a more positive way than those around you on a daily basis. Deaths like Lemmy’s make you realise that physical presence isn’t always necessary to feeling close to somebody or their creations. Being only 28 years old, I wasn’t lucky enough to experience the creation of Hawkwind and Motörhead first-hand. However, my first memories of Lemmy go back to being only 2 or 3 years old. I remember my parents playing Hawkwind and Motörhead as my brother and I danced around the living room; watching Motörhead play ‘Ace of Spades’ on an episode of The Young Ones and being influenced by the sounds of Philthy Animal Taylor and Mikkey Dee as I learnt to play the drums in my teenage years. However, as I grew, so did my love and knowledge for heavy metal and naturally, Lemmy. After re-reading ‘White Line Fever’ for the 100th time, listening to ‘No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith’ on loop and drinking Jack ‘til I can’t remember jack, I felt it was time to remember Lemmy to the fullest. Celebrating his life from the day he was born to the day he left us. Christmas Eve, 1945 in Burslem, Stoke-On-Trent and Ian Fraser Kilmister was born. It is hard to believe that he didn’t pop out of the womb already donned in cowboy boots and denim shorts with a bass in one hand and a fag in the other. From the get-go, Lemmy’s life was a whirlwind. What with the separation of his mother and father, his mother re-marrying footballer George Willis, hating his 2 new step-siblings and relocating to North Wales where he was one of the only English kids, it’s no wonder that his rebellious nature already started to emerge. This was however, when the infamous nickname ‘Lemmy’ was created- rumoured to originate from Lemmy’s
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Phil Lynott The Rocker
1949-1986
Philip Parris Lynott was more than a vocalist and bass player; he was and is a legend. To many he is the epitome of Rock, putting Ireland firmly on the map as home to one of the greatest bands, Thin Lizzy. Music and creativity was in his blood, from his early years listening to his uncle’s records to playing in several bands as he was growing up in Dublin. Many saw that there was something special about him from the way he carried himself, his charm, his style and drive to succeed. A true one of a kind. Born in West Bromwich, England on August 20th 1949 Phil Lynott was the apple of his mother’s eye. Philomena doted on, supported and encouraged her son throughout his life so that he could become the star that she and many others knew he would be. Many noted the sheer determination he had, initially singing in The Black Eagles, Karma Sutra, Skid Row and Orphanage. In 1969 he went on to form Thin Lizzy as a frontman and bassist. His confidence and stage persona grew as time went on, no longer the shy man standing at the side of the stage, he embraced the frontman role.
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Born Again Heavy Metal Soundhouse
Find us at: https://www.facebook.com/bornagainsoundhouse
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Drinks Reviews
Reviewed by Daniela Cotado Mandy Morello Jim Newcombe Annamaria Crivellari & Emmanuelle Belle.
Photos by Mandy Morello
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MARSHALL’S BLONDE BEER 8.6% ABV
The famous amp company Marshall have released two rock ‘n’ roll craft blonde beers onto the world. One made in France, one made in the UK. And when faced with the ultimate decision of trying one of them, we naturally opted for the one with the stronger percentage the French one. Although we want to drink it from it’s extremely cool branded bottle, we pour it into a glass in the name of this review. It looks extremely cloudy - it no doubt leaves a mist on the brain. Marshall smells a bit citrusy and quite like the typical lager smell with a slightly sour tone. The taste is quite opposite. It’s sweet, with a mix of banana and coriander. The texture is quite chalky; it feels like thick and heavy in the neck vessel. Although quite weighty, it goes down a treat with the team. We listen to the sounds of ‘Enter The Sandman’ which I feel is very fitting for the drink. Marshall has perhaps targeted the casual lager drinkers with this one but as a better option than your typical gig venue drinks like ‘Fosters’. I’d certainly pick one up again whilst listening to a band through their famously popular speakers. But only for the lack of a better option.
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«Well...it’s a place we come after we’ve said goodbye to talk things out. To catch up. To remember.» The boy looked confusingly around the room at the array of people in decorated black, suits too big for them, normal people talking in plain unheroic accents. «Why is noone talking about her?» He asked me that and I blanked. He reminded me of my brother and I, when I was Daniel’s age and what he did despite himself. That day after my parents left the meeting with my headmaster, I took my usual walk, trying to hide behind my friends as I approached the school gates. But like always when they saw those same bullies coming for me, they dissipated, like vapour. So they came for me, ran at me and I sank as they pushed me to the ground. My bag flew across the basketball court and spilled its guts, my Walkman flying across the concrete into pieces. I clawed for it. I clawed and felt myself being pulled back towards the gates. My nails cracked against the gravel. I pushed against the blood I saw trailing from under me. I looked around to stop the pain, so I didn’t cry, to see their faces so I could burn them into my brain as the last time and maybe take a swing like the Headmaster had told my parents. But there, behind Jason Braddock stood my brother. He grabbed him around the face, until he let go of my legs, turned him around and rammed him against the gates. The other kids looked ten feet smaller than him as they were beating at his back and it meant nothing. He didn’t flinch and though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew how they looked. His movements were like a blur, like slow motion or the world was speeding up. He shape shifted. He didn’t move to do anything but slam Braddock’s head against the metal, dropping him to the ground. When he turned around the others dissipated in much the same way as my friends and it was just me, him and an unconscious bloody bully. He just stared at that kid on the ground. He didn’t help me up. He didn’t need to. He had pulled me out of something already. Besides the ringing in my ears like sirens, all I could hear was the opening riffs of that film score. I could hear it at the wake. I took my eyes off of his son and looked at him staring at his other children as he kept them in line. He still looked around the room and back at them awkwardly but tenderly in the same way he had looked at me that morning. I knew he was wrong about that car back on the east coast, we had seen three others on the way over and no Astons or Lamborghinis but I didn’t care because he was my hero. He glanced at me every once in awhile. I put my hand around Daniel’s shoulder. I wanted to tell him his dad was a superhero but I knew he should find that out on his own someday.
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Next Issue 6th of June
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CAROUSER COVERAGE GOOSE ISLAND BLOCK PARTY 2016 Words & Illustration by Mandy Morello
In the shadow of the star-spangled flag, something is growing wild and fast. The beer industry has skyrocketed in the past few decades - something that the prohibition could have never solved. America makes Britain’s beer scene seem like a bumbling hippopotamus in its infancy. Sure, it might grow to the same strength as America’s but we’ll have to wait a couple of years before we know for sure. One brewery that seems to have benefited from the rise of beer popularity is Goose Island. What was once a small-time brewery in ‘88, is now a well known name, even here in Britain. The brewery celebrates every year with a Block Party in their hometown of Chicago. A lot of music and a lot of beer over two days for anyone with a ticket. But their American parties wasn’t enough for this now big-time brewery. So, they’ve launched a new party, but in Britain. In the very trendy area of Shoreditch, London. But like our beer scene- it’s reduced down marginally by only one day rather than a weekend. Never one to turn down a party, I arrive slightly late and flustered from a brisk jog - the only thing I’ll run for is a beer. The party was taking place in a little slice of the Shoreditch area - Red Market. Thirsty and flushing, I made my way through the queue and entered this very impressively built-up den. I walked into a swirl of colour and a loud crashing of horns. A band was weaving their way through the crowd playing cover versions of popular well known songs. But even a live band couldn’t make a Kanye West song appealing. The man with the trumpet was going full throttle and throwing his hair around like a tasmanian devil. The sight, took my mind off of the beer for just a second.
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