Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 78
Date: Thursday, 7 May 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 78
Thursday, 7 May 1998
Today's Topics:
Put It In A Letter-What Could Be Better?
Mary Margaret O'Hell?
Unemployment
(Fwd) Re: Something I was tempted to post to Chalkhills...
RADIO 4 & the Green Man
Hello again
You choose, you lose
Take a chill pill
Many of us need a chill pill
Dave's Leaving
Re: What's up with Christmas?
Re: Stereolab
My therapy.
And furthermore...
I'm bored with this.
How much chuff can a....?
Noel Coward "Helicopters" in Chicago
Ban the Censors!
A friend of a brat and his shed
Studio Guitarist
Re: Jon Brion
All of this mourning.
One last thing about Dave...
New Duffy CD...CDNOW! Purchase of "Greatest"
Demos??
XTC vs. TMBG
Administrivia:
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Chalkhills mailing list, send a message to
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> with the following command:
unsubscribe
For all other administrative issues, send a message to:
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
Please remember to send your Chalkhills postings to:
<chalkhills@chalkhills.org>
World Wide Web: <http://chalkhills.org/>
or: <http://come.to/chalkhills/>
The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
Chalkhills is compiled using Digest 3.6 (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
That something new's beginning!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <354EB5C5.1570D8FD@po.twin.ne.jp> Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 06:46:33 +0000 From: michaelw <michaelw@po.twin.ne.jp> Subject: Put It In A Letter-What Could Be Better? Hello Fellow Chalkers, This may echo sentiment from the last digest, but, is there some way we could all get together and convey to Dave our feelings, thoughts, sentiments, and overall thank-you's for the inspiration and gifts he's given us as 1/3 of the best band on the planet for the past 20 years? Or how do we send him our individual best wishes, you know, to tell him that we support him and love the stuff he's done? I bet he would be really "chuffed" (positive meaning!) and cheer right up if he heard from his longtime backers and supporters. Any ways to get through via snail mail to Dave? Also, I notice that the beginning of the "petty bickering" is starting to surface among some fellow chalkies; and although I'm not even going to approach John's job here, I really hope that I don't see/read any more flames toward Andy, Colin, or Dave, or anyone on the list, for that matter...remember, this is Chalkhills, dammit, not some cheap _________ (put in most hated pop band newsgroup/mailing list here--no, wait, on second thought...! :-) Which means, let's not get nasty, okay? We'll know the reasons why Dave decided to leave soon enough; Doesn't help things to try and paint any one of the lads as the "bad guy" at this point anyways I prefer to deal with his departure by cranking up all my XTC recordings (well, hopefully not at the same time!), the vids, and selected articles/musings from the past 25 years, and just having a good ol' time listening with even more amazement and appreciation at Senor Gregory's fantastic, out-of-this-existence, a-frickin'-mazing musical contributions, some of which goes beyond mere guitar playing (sorry if I'm gushing, but if we don't do it...knowing how modest Dave is !) And since a book is coming out soon....yeah, you guessed it: Top Ten Favourite Dave Gregory/XTC Music Moments ! ! ! Woah! STOP! That was tough just to type out...damn! Anyways, instead of having Mr. Relph jump down my throat, what I'd like those of you who are willing to play along is, e-mail me with your top 10 favorite XTC moments with Dave G, whether they be his guitar solo in (pick a song; any song; I dare you!); his orchestral work on Skylarking (or some other album); his live work; his Dukes work; his singing on Leisure, or backing vocals on, say, King For A Day; his interviews/things he's said either at a live concert or to a reporter, or to Andy or Colin, for that matter; anything goes (although I'm willing to bet it will probably be his guitar work, but it doesn't have to be; any fav moment will do) Send it to me via my e-mail, at: michaelw@po.twin.ne.jp I'll keep the results and will compile the results into a Top 20 when the Neville Farmer book is published, around the end of Summer, I suppose. Until then, looking forward to hearing news from Dave via who or whatever source, and eagerly awaiting "Firework" or whatever the hell they call it Keeping the Faith and Hoping for an Ecstatic XTC Summer/Fall, Michael
------------------------------
Message-Id: <354E4941.C08EF6F8@usa.net>
Date: Mon, 04 May 1998 21:03:36 -0200
From: Ben Gott <loquacious@usa.net>
Organization: Loquacious Music - http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott
Subject: Mary Margaret O'Hell?
Chalkers,
I remember reading (in Twomey's book) that Andy and John Leckie were
negged from the Mary Margaret O'Hara record because of their religious
beliefs (or lack of them). However, has anyone listened to her
background vocals on Morrissey's "November Spawned a Monster"? She
sounds like she's possessed by Satan.
Anyway.
You should all grab your copies of The Sugarcubes' "Stick Around for
Joy," and listen to Pat Mastelotto's drumming. He KICKS some
serious...drums. If you don't have this album, go get it and have your
Bjork fix for the day (with production by Paul Fox!) This album is
sooooooo worth lstening to. It's sitting in my CD player, along with
"Lizardland," Anita Baker's "Giving You The Best That I Got," Pat
Metheny's "First Circle," and "Upsy Daisy." The "shuffle" button makes
me smile.
Anyway.
The file sharing password for my computer is "byedaveg." By the way, I
echo Harrison's comment: Yazbek, Yazbek, Yazbek. Now Yazbek is in my
CD player, too. Hah!
Furthermore.
I'm almost done with my freshman year of college. Does this worry
anyone else?
-Ben
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
Ben Gott :: Bowdoin College :: Brunswick, ME 04011
http://www.bowdoin.edu/~bgott :: (207) 721-5142
She tries to smile very graciously, when she wants to kill him.
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
------------------------------ From: KB 305 <KB305@aol.com> Message-ID: <26eaabf5.354e9a05@aol.com> Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 00:48:04 EDT Subject: Unemployment All: Dave's JOB was to play guitar (and other instruments) for XTC, a band that doesn't play live, that makes records only rarely, and doesn't enjoy a large degree of commercial sucess. On top of that, he doesn't write songs for XTC, so he collects no royalties (as if royalties weren't a sore enough subject re XTC). Dave moonlights occasionally; we all know when and where. But the fact remains that no matter how brilliant Andy or Colin are as songwriters and record-makers (and of that I have no doubt), Dave's job wasn't enough. If XTC doesn't or hasn't done well enough in the marketplace to keep ends together, it's probably not Dave's fault. And if managers and lawyers (quick, someone parody 'Generals and Majors') have kept anything from the pockets of XTC, it's probably not due to any decisions Dave made. There are two kinds of pay in this world, especially when it comes to playing music: the green kind, and the kind that goes in your heart, if you will. I can see where David Gregory would be missing a lot of the former, and I can only speculate as to how much of the latter. But it's not hard to see why he would be unhappy enough to leave. I've played the guitar for 25 years or so, and I think I'm pretty good, but I couldn't afford to be the guitarist for XTC because THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO DO! I say Dave's a very good musician, and I will part with my hard-earned pay when I see a CD with his name on it. There, I've said it. kb
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199805050255.TAA02614@mail.eskimo.com>
From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com>
Organization: The Dead Cat Revolutionary Army
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 19:55:11 +0000
Subject: (Fwd) Re: Something I was tempted to post to Chalkhills...
Well, this is from a friend that lurks on Chalkhills... it was a
conversation between us... enjoy
Ah well, that's this world over...
Matt
(BTW, my bit is the part prefixed by only one >, Ben's is the >> and
no >s)
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: "Ben Allen" <hiway@eskimo.com>
Organization: The Dead Cat Revolutionary Army
To: mrme@eskimo.com
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 15:29:53 +0000
Subject: Re: Something I was tempted to post to Chalkhills...decided bett
> > >This is not, in any way, like the departures of Terry and Barry!
> >
> > Yes. The departures of Terry and Barry mattered.
>
> Dammit, you really should have, because it's true. Terry and Barry
> were not studio musicians, they contributed to the band. Dave just
> played the guitar and keyboards (kinda) and lurked in the background.
> Barry was far from the background, as was Terry. I mean, what's the
> first thing people mention when they hear "Nigel"? The Drumtrack!
> What's the first thing people mention when they hear Go2? The songs
> about rape!
If you want to post it, go ahead...say it's from a friend of yours
who lurks on the hill. In fact, why don't you just post this entire
conversation...including this, natch. Slap what's currently the
subject into the body of the post.
Ben Allen - hiway@eskimo.com
IncCo International
"Today's truth...Tommorow's trend!"
Are we not men?| (ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe)
| http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme
WE ARE DEVO! | http://deadcat.mil.smartpatrol.net
Yeah.
------------------------------
Message-Id: <TFSNXXHB@ubk.net>>
From: Jonathan Monnickendam <monnickj@ubk.net>
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 17:35:52 +0000
Subject: RADIO 4 & the Green Man
Associated XTC topic only
Can anybody help with a copy of the BBC Radio 4 programme about the
Green Man on Monday 1/5/98 11am ?
I was busy feeding the ducks in Regents Park when i remembered......
appreciated
jon
* ---------------------------------------------------------------
The views expressed are of the individual, and do not
necessarily reflect the views of The United Bank of Kuwait PLC.
* ---------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ Message-Id: <QQeocc14718.199805051934@relay2.UU.NET> Date: 05 May 98 15:37:41 +0000 From: Jeff Partyka <jeff.partyka@onlineinc.com> Subject: Hello again Hi Chalkhills folk ... Well, after being absent from the Chalkhills mailing list for more than a year, I come back after wondering what's up with XTC ... and I find out two things I had no idea about (the ultimate good news & bad news): 1. XTC has a new album coming out this year. 2. Dave Gregory has left the band. I let out an exultant "yes!!!!" after discovering #1, and then my heart stopped for a moment when I saw #2. Wow. I'm trying to imagine XTC as a studio-only duo ... I suppose it's possible but if this doesn't break up the band, what will? Anyway ... I wanted to say "hello" again and it's good to be back on Chalkhills with my fellow XTC fans. I still don't know any XTC fans "in real life" (i.e., away from cyberspace), so you folks are it! Best, Jeff Partyka http://members.tripod.com/~partyka/myhome.html Now Playing: "Hawaii," by the High Llamas (Holy Beach Boys, Batman!)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <354F6F3A.B183DA7E@erols.com> Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 15:57:46 -0400 From: Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: You choose, you lose Hi: Been waiting in the wings for the dust to settle a bit before I weighed in on this. Everyone's been more or less (some more, some less) eloquent in voicing their sense of loss/outrage over Dave's departure, and undoubtedly everyone has a right to do so (whether we choose to read it or not is, of course, our individual choice) in this forum of all things XTC. But one thing I've seen emerging that really bothers me is a "Dave vs. Andy" attitude that is completely unjustified, based on speculation and, IMO, _wrong_. Harrison was correct in pointing out that we have _no_ idea of the motivations or intentions of individual members of the band, and I think we do nothing but damage when we try to fill the gaps in our information by assigning blame. Life is complex. Relationships are complex. Something tells me the reasons for Dave's departure are equally complex. We can't know the true reasons, and even if we did, it wouldn't make a rat's ass worth of difference. What we can control, however, is the way we approach this. I'd hate to see this list -- which is by far the most considerate and literate I've encountered on the Internet -- split off into pro-Dave and pro-Andy camps that carp at each other instead of discussing the reasons we like the band and its music. That is, after all, what brought us all here in the first place, right? Funk Pop A Roll Beats Up My Soul... ByeBye! --Todd
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621 <MFa2707621@aol.com> Message-ID: <4ff43a26.354f7411@aol.com> Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 16:18:24 EDT Subject: Take a chill pill Chalkers, I was just reading the latest Chalkhills, and some of you are still blaming Andy. I know I offended a few of you by saying that the people who complain about Andy aren't really XTC fans. I was wrong for saying that, but I wish you guys would take a chill pill and relax. Does it solve anything to get upset about Dave's departure? I don't think so. I know I'm contradicting myself when I say this, but I think it's good to let out your feelings about Dave's departure. That's why I agree that this mailing list lis like a support group. I just think we should be more positive. Bye for now. Molly Buffalo, NY
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199805052029.QAA15587@mail.bna.bellsouth.net> From: "Cory" <csberry@mail.bna.bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 15:29:25 +0000 Subject: Many of us need a chill pill Okay, Dave left. Andy can be domineering. And Colin...well...why get him mixed up in the emotional tornado this list has become. Damn straight this has become group therapy. Some of us are angry, some are sad, some could care less as long as we get an new XTC CD ASAP: Simon said: > Look, i love xtc, i love their music and i respect the guys but > they're only human and we all have our faults. That's why i'm > not too upset about Dave leaving: no matter how great xtc > are, *they're only a band!* The world will keep spinning. Jeff wrote: > I will Listen to XTC with Dave, > I will listen to XTC without Dave, > I will listen to XTC. Read Dr. Seuss lately, Jeff? Green Eggs and Ham? We are all united under the banner of XTC (with or without Terry, Dave, Thomas Dolby, Adrian Belew). Those of us, like myself, that have no one else around us that would even know who Dave is, turn to our Chalkhills family to vent, cry, or question what is going on to XTC. Toes will be stepped on and those offended just need to get over it. That is what we are all hoping to accomplish -- getting over this recent family quarrell. Besides, I like getting Chalkhills more often now that we are seeing posts from people that haven't posted before or a long time. Nothing personal to the regulars, but diversity is nice. Cory
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1BB242B4C823D1118E300000C0B80000111F04@MSXUS03> From: "Addiego, MIchael" <Michael.Addiego@us.schroders.com> Subject: Dave's Leaving Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 16:32:34 -0400 People are already saying, "enough already about Dave leaving". I only read about it today. You know, I have been reading for some time about how AP is such a pain to work with. This is a shame. I have always naturally gravitated to the melodies and words of XTC. To me, they are much like a well worn pair of shoes. It saddens me to hear of this trouble also because it threatens XTC as I have grown accustomed to them. It must have been hell for Colin with AP and Todd R. going at it. Pathetic really. Dave's playing always has a sort of orchestral feel about it. Even when his melody line is sinuous and lean it still has a meatiness about it. Almost a keyboard-like vastness. I think this is why B. Andrews departure was remedied by DG's arrival. Anyway, that was boring....I hope XTC can work things out. We don't know the whole story but his alleged feeling that he wasn't contributing much makes a lot of sense. Just a big drag. Mike Addiego This message may contain privileged and confidential information. If you think, for any reason, that this message may have been addressed to you in error, you must not disseminate, copy or take any action in reliance on it, and we would ask you to notify us immediately by return Email, telephone or facsimile. Schroder & Co. Information Services PHONE: (212) 492-7202 FAX: (212) 492-7148
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 13:50:20 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <199805052050.NAA96747@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph> Subject: Re: What's up with Christmas? Robyn <reerler@students.wisc.edu> wrote: > >Oh please help me. What's up with Thanks for Christmas and Countdown to >Christmas Party Time on Rag and Bones Buffet?? It is so un-XTC they are >almost painful to listen to! Were these performed for a benefit concert? >Were they blackmailed into performing these songs? I have a feeling Thanks >has a bit of irony to it, knowing the boys--but it's really hard to pick up >on. And I don't get Countdown at all. That's because they are silly. The two songs are simply Christmas songs. Andy wrote the first one hoping that the office workers of Virgin Records would sing it as a chorus (The Virgin Marys), but Virgin didn't think that was a funny idea. So XTC did it themselves, except under a pstudionym. And the B-side? "Countdown To Christmas Party Time" must have been something that Andy dashed off hurriedly just so the single wouldn't warp. It reminds me of Kool and the Gang or something. Good-hearted silliness. And I like them both because they are simple good-hearted songs. > Who is The Good Lord? David Lord, producer of _The Big Express_. > Do you think these songs influenced Martin >Newell's CD? (a lot of cynical references to Christmas, many of which I >agree with) No. I think Andy's references are not cynical. Wistful perhaps, but not cynical. He has said before that he enjoys Christmas. He may not necessarily believe in the birth of baby Jesus as the turning point of western culture, but the holiday itself is quite nice. -- John
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 13:52:08 -0700 (PDT) From: relph (John Relph) Message-Id: <9805051352.ZM96758@mando.engr.sgi.com> Subject: Re: Stereolab John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> asks: > >Anyone else here caught the Stereolab bug? Top quality, very well done >stuff. Yes, I thoroughly enjoy _Dots and Loops_. I'm still looking for a used copy of _Emperor Tomato Ketchup_. I heard it at a friend's pad and enjoyed it. -- John
------------------------------ From: Richard.PedrettiAllen@exchange.Octel.com Message-ID: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BFF5@ex-campus2> Subject: My therapy. Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 13:58:56 -0700 "two people don't make a band" -based on what particular guidelines... Robert's Rules of People Who Could Never Hold A Steady Job? "they have to tour" -They simply must! Hell! I'll even let 'em use my flatbed. "[Dave] ...the one member capable of translating demos into beauty" -BLASPHEMY!! Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Rodgers and Hammerstien, Godley & Creme, Homer & Jethro, Pet Shop Boys, Hope & Crosby, Simon & Garfunkel (with only ONE musician!), Milli Vanilli (with NO musicians!) Call 'em a "duo." Or, if you subscribe to the King Crimson system, "Double Solo Artists." Wait! What am I saying?! Shouldn't they have to go to court to break up? Oh no!! What if Todd joins the band?! Maybe we can get a Dave statue carved and erected in Swindon? Let's start a Save The Dave fund! We can send all three to therapy and Andy will be cured of stage fright at the same time and they'll set out on some yearlong tour (bringing Terry and Prairie) and have a number one hit with a Dave Gregory-penned song and they'll invite Chalkhills members up on stage to sway and sing with the refrain, "Whoa! Listing To Port! Whoa! Listing To Starboard!" while Dave plays a seventeen minute masturbatory guitar lead and it'll be recorded for the double-live album! Dave is the Walrus, Goo, Goo Ga-joob. It is a cleverly designed and well performed ruse to get Amanda off of Chalkhills. Maybe Dave wanted more money than an even third (after songwriting royalties)? Maybe they wouldn't let him sing lead? Maybe he wanted to do a rock opera of "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" OR WHALING SONGS! Actually, he wanted to leave long ago but XTC couldn't get funding without "the one member capable of translating demos into beauty" so he hung around long enough to get the project off and running? WE DON'T KNOW THE REASON SO LET'S SPECULATE UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT! Or we can compile a list of theories and everyone can vote on them! I could speculate until I go indigo but it does nothing. GET A GRIP! As much as their product is artistic, it is still a product and products are made with business in mind. It is a business. Dave left for business reasons. Leave it at that! How can you surmise that Dave's departure will hurt him, them, us or Yazbek? Was Uriah Heep hurt when Gary Byron left?! Hell no! They sucked when he was with the band and they never got any better and they certainly couldn't have gotten worse! If it turns out that you don't like their product, my first piece of advice would be, "Don't buy things that you don't want." I fear that Chalkhills will be clogged with moans about how much better "song x" would have sounded if Dave played "instrument y" during "part z". Yeah, I stripped off all my make-up and climbed down from my shoes when Eno left Roxy Music prophesizing the end for both and boy, my face is still red! I'm sorry you're sad. Two weeks of Welbutrin, Zoloft or Prozac (try all three at once! woo, woo, woo!) and you'll be smirking at the sun again. Harrison, I think a "gigasecond" is almost 32 years. I'll be retiring when the next cymbal sings. Lastly, I think this would be Chapter 4 (C1-foursome with Barry, C2-foursome with Dave, C3-threesome, C4-twosome). I feel better now. Richard "Now THAT'S what I call a MOOD ELEVATOR!" Pedretti-Allen
------------------------------ Message-Id: <72EDB966944AD1118DC90080D820748847BFF6@ex-campus2> From: "Pedretti-Allen, Richard" <Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com> Subject: And furthermore... Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 14:02:24 -0700 He didn't get thrown out of the band so why aren't we angry at Dave for leaving?
------------------------------ From: R.Crawford@mgn.co.uk Message-ID: <802565FB.00700A8C.00@mgnmail3.mgn.co.uk> Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 22:03:29 +0100 Subject: I'm bored with this. This may well annoy but to after chatting to others I have to agree with Harrison on a lot of his points. I am bored and tired of this Dave leaving subject, everybody is saying the same things and wasting bandwidth. I don't even think the recording of the new album generated so much traffic. However everybody is saying almost the same things :- 1: We are sad to see Dave leaving 2: His timing seems crazy to us 3: The band won't be the same 4: It's Andys fault 5: We wish Dave well 6: We will still buy the new album (except for Amanda possibly) 7: We hope the split is not permanant 8: It's sad to see two friends part. To be honest 5 and 8 matter most to me with 7 coming a close third. I'd rather see one Chalkhills a week with interesting content than the present 6 (or there about) with the current apportioning of blame that is the current state of affairs. Possibly somebody should do a html form that allows the current messaging to be generated with a few mouse clicks and a small comment box to personalise it a bit. I know I was as guilty at the start of this, yes it is big news (to us), but please I want somthing interesting to read. We all know that Andy likes to be in control and to be honest he seems to have problems with relationships (both personal and working), but as long as he dosn't screw up his relationship with his kids that is the main thing. Dave Colin and Andy are big enough to look out for themselves (excluding the business sense it seems), so please have some sort of control of your grief it will pass. Anyway if you don't like what I've posted then at least think about your reply before EMailing as rants can imply that an the sender is a sad and lonely individual (I know I have ranted a couple of times in the past and given completely the wrong impression), and nobody on Chalkhills need be lonely (this is getting all huggy now) For some entertaiment we could consider interesting songwriters/bands for Dave to team up with... My suggestions for: Marty Wilson Piper / Steve Kilby : The Church (and All About Eve) Julienne Reagen : All About Eve Al Stewart Thomas Dolby Roger McGuinn Has anybody considered that a film about The Dukes would be a good idea, but not a Ruttles / Spinal Tap, but more a Hard Days Night / Help (or even Austin Powers) mould. Rob...
------------------------------
From: mark_heggen@studio.disney.com
Message-Id: <9805058943.AA894399854@ccmsmtp.wds.disney.com>
Date: Tue, 05 May 98 10:21:28 -0800
Subject: How much chuff can a....?
One of my friends from the Disney office in London has enlightened me further:
To lower the tone of your newsgroup ever so
slightly, it means to break wind. It would be used in the following
contexts:- "have you just chuffed?", "cor get a whiff of that chuff",
and "leave the room immediately you cheeky chuffer". It's an
expression favoured by kids and men. Women would never use it as
we're too polite ;-)
So this might render the term "dead chuffed" into some kind of inverted death
rattle. Hah!
And now, back to XTC...
-Mark
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s54f698c.099@wpo.it.luc.edu> Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 19:32:33 -0500 From: Jerry Kaelin <JKAELIN@wpo.it.luc.edu> Subject: Noel Coward "Helicopters" in Chicago "Helicopter" opens the 3rd act of "Design for Living" now in previews at the Goodman Theatre here in the Windy City. Ironic that that play is about the struggles of a trio of friends. I'll miss your guitar, Dave!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <354FC307.7163@together.net> Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 20:55:20 -0500 From: "K. Zimmer" <kzimmer@together.net> Subject: Ban the Censors! I'm a little disturbed by those who are demanding what can and can't be said on this list. We can't criticize the almighty Andy, because he is obviously made of gold, and we can't criticize the band for anything, because they might read the list and have their feelings hurt! Please. I think the band supports free expression. And even though I'm definitely not chuffed to hear MORE about Yazbek, I can scroll down. I'm bummed about Dave, too, but I like to think that some tragedies present possibilities. Someone's vote for Adrian Belew is brilliant! I'm sure he wouldn't be a regular member of the band, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him do something with the lads. I saw him play in Vermont and was thrilled to hear him gush over how great XTC is and how much he'd like to work with Andy. And you have to respect a guy that works with Paul Simon and Nine Inch Nails at the same time - that's range! King Crimson's ProjeKCt Two is playing Albany (NY) this Friday and I'm all over it. Anyone else going? So, I'm curious about who you people are. Where do you work? Do you do drugs? What political party are you registered with? Please add an addendum to your next message with this information. Ciao, you crazy cats! - Kirt in Vermont
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 22:58:53 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v0300780cb173beab74ca@[209.86.128.152]> From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: A friend of a brat and his shed Ok, I vowed to remain silent on this subject since I spilled the beans but a good number of you usually fine folks are driving me crazy. First of all . . . Dave left on March 16th. It is now May 5th. Relax. Secondly . . . although some of you may feel the need to say nasty and critical things about Andy, none of you would be here if it weren't for him. He's also a friend of mine. He's also one of your favorite artists. Imagine if you will the scenario in which the personal lives of all of your favorite songwriters, authors, directors, actors, politicians, musicians, teachers, etc. were revealed. How many of these people would you still be enthusiastic about supporting once you found out that, shockingly, each and every one of them was a flawed human being? Imagine the dismay when you all figure out that you are in that same category. AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. How would you all feel if someone decides to print out the last four or fives digests and mail them to Andy and Dave? Would you take back what you said? Too late. Thirdly . . . Yes it is sad that Dave has left. It's a terrible shame; he said so himself. But no one forced him to do it; he did it because he felt that it was for everybody's good. Life goes on. He'll be very busy in the future as soon as the rest of the world hears about his availability. Andy and Colin will continue to write songs. Their lives are going on. So should ours. Nothing lasts forever, especially the best things. Now some facts for you: Dave's playing will appear on the new album but keep in mind that the new album will be largely acoustic and orchestral so Dave didn't really do too much playing on these songs. Neither did Andy or Colin. Dave plays quite a bit on Colin's songs. Dave played quite a bit on the batch of electric guitar based songs scheduled for release as the album following the orchestral one. So to sum up, Dave will be on the next two XTC albums. All time consuming programming was done outside the studio. All time consuming Pro Tools editing is being done in the studio. Hayden Bendall is doing all the Pro Tools editing. Hayden Bendall is letting the band use his studio for free. They are paying him a fee to be the producer. I'll be back when all of this stops. Mitch
------------------------------ Message-ID: <354FF053.AE37D498@ix.netcom.com> Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 01:08:37 -0400 From: richard leighton <laydi2@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Studio Guitarist So I think we can be sure that there will be not be any kind of live performances to push the new album. And I think that is what broke the DG's back. However by the time AP and CM gear up for the album after this I woudn't be surprised to see Dave on it. Good Luck Dave lets get some product out.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <0996E8BB33A8D01194A7006097278BC50E4528@wallace.angliabc.co.uk> From: Peter Walker <PeterW@angliabc.co.uk> Subject: Re: Jon Brion Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 09:13:31 +0100 Sorry for such a puerile first posting, but don't Jon Brion and Dave Gregory have something else in common, namely a past attachment to a certain peroxide indebted singer-songwriter...... Regards, Peter Walker
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 11:58:29 -0400 (EDT) From: Sean Hennessey <suggs@tiac.net> Subject: All of this mourning. Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95.980506115051.5961D-100000@sunspot.tiac.net> Hallo all, A person called Pancho PRXTCFAN wrote: << I have to concur with Amanda the woebegotten in that XTC will never be the same. I will still buy anything AP or CM put out but the XTC I have known to love will be lessened. >> And my question is: how do you know? I agree with everyone that Dave is an amazing musician and an important ingredient in XTC, but we've heard not one note from them in ages asides from teasers and demos, and you simply can't say whether what comes out is going to be good or bad. Firstly, because Dave *is* still on the new album, his departure shouldn't have that great an impact, and second, change is often very good for a band, regardless of if its the loss of a genius musician. I'm personally going to reserve my judgement until I hear what's coming out. If XTC fail to stimulate me musically anymore, that's XTC's fault, and I'll go back to just litening to back catalogue, if they don't BRILLIANT! I guess what I'm saying in the end is, judge them by what they create, not by which cook had his hand in the soup... tara - Sean ******************************************************************************* Sean Hennessey, President of Boston Reds, http://members.tripod.com/~boston_reds/red_army.html Member and co-admin of the Red Devils list: red-devils@pipeline.com e-mail: suggs@tiac.net or giggs@tiac.net ICQ: 9288628
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum <LadyCPlum@aol.com> Message-ID: <5feb7a53.35508ced@aol.com> Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 12:16:44 EDT Subject: One last thing about Dave... (Swear to God, this is the last thing I'm gonna say about it......see if you can catch the poetry in motion......) Don't think for a second this is easy on us And don't think I didn't cry Very hard when I heard the Earth-shattering News We XTC fans are blessed Eternally with the Wonderful talent you shared with us. I feel a huge void is Left in the music world with you Leaving us for greener pastures. Many of us have gotten over the Initial shock, but the bite Still stings us. Sadly, it seems this is for good. You cannot be replaced Or dupiicated. You are Undeniably, one of the greats. And now, I'm going watch some Python. Tis all, Amanda XTC song of the day-Life Begins At the Hop non-XTC song-Under the Milky Way-The Church
------------------------------ From: wwilson@star.zko.dec.com Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 12:45:51 -0400 Message-Id: <98050612455106@star.zko.dec.com> Subject: New Duffy CD...CDNOW! Purchase of "Greatest" If you haven't gotten the new Stephen Duffy CD yet, you should. I've had it for about a week and am enjoying it immensely. Andy doesn't produce the entire album; most of it's produced by Stephen Street and Duffy. There seems to be something for everyone on this CD - from poignant, self-reflective folk songs about Stephen's life, to electro-pop with psychedelic overtones. This one's a winner, for sure. Also, has anyone else ordered "The Greatest" from CD NOW? Mine's on backorder - I hope they can fill it. Wes
------------------------------ From: "Thomas Paluzzi"<Thomas_Paluzzi@Pictel.com> Message-Id: <852565FC.005D5AAF.00@SMTPMail.PicTel.com> Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 13:01:37 -0400 Subject: Demos?? Hello all... I keep reading the in the digest about Andy's demos from the "Firework" sessions... Can anybody list the demo tapes made available lately and be willing to trade copies of them?? I have lots to trade... Email me if interested... Thanks, Tom
------------------------------ From: "KIMBERLY MARTIN" <KMAR0971@Mercury.GC.PeachNet.EDU> Organization: Gainesville College, Univ Sys of GA Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 12:53:35 EST5EDT Subject: XTC vs. TMBG Message-ID: <1EF01BF3ECE@Mercury.GC.PeachNet.EDU> Howdee once again people of the chalk... I was just e-mailing a friend regarding the absence of DG, and had an unusual thought. I have always been a big fan of TMBG, especially their pre-"John Henry" output. I liked their first 4 albums tremendously, due to the fact that this was pure creative genius, all put on tape by two guys with a bunch of off-the-wall ideas, a guitar, an accordion, a sax, and the rest of it computer generated. I felt that the "genius" was lost when they replaced the drum machine and sound toys with live musicians. Coincidentally (or not), their career seemed to suffer for this as well. This cute, quirky duo became a rock band. Now, take into mind XTC, who were, until very recently, a rock band, and not a very commercially successful one at that. Now, they have been reduced to a duo, of two guys known to be oftentimes cute and quirky, who are rumoured to enjoy making sounds the computer generated way now versus having live musicians. Could this be a success story in the works?? TMBG goes from quirky duo (with #1 UK hit), to band, and stop selling as many records. XTC goes from band that doesn't sell a lot of records, to "quirky" duo...does this mean they'll start selling lots of records now? Will "Green Man" be a success not unlike "Birdhouse in Your Soul"? I can see XTC touring like the John and John of old--he and Colin on stage, with guitar and bass respectively, and all the orchestral arrangements on tape. Andy can put on some shiny shades and sit behind his dj's booth, pushing buttons to make weird noise effects, and here we'll have the new and improved pop version of the Chemical Brothers...hey now, I may be onto something... Just a thought!! --Kim song of the past month or so: "Autumn Almanac"--the Kinks last XTC song played in continuous loop: "Vanishing Girl" (ok, the dukes, sorry)
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-78 ******************************
Go back to Volume 4.
7 May 1998 / Feedback