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RELEASES
The book that accompanied the CD that supported the show. And essential it is, for anyone with an interest in the under-documented, often ordinary but sometimes startling scene that was Oz '60s punk. OK, there were lots of cover bands and six o'clock closing, but that only makes the good bands stand out all the more. There's a fair case (as the authors make) for regarding Melbourne as the epicentre of things back then, so it's cool to see that city's local government arm pumping some cultural dollars into this package to make it happen. Thirteen bands/artists merit a chapter each in what's almost a bite-sized and Aussiefied version of "Please Kill Me" (Legs McNeill's rabidly great oral history of NY punk) - although if you're expecting a similarly seamy and steamy traipse through Oz rock's back pages you'll be let down. Most of the participants allude to the sex-and-pills-fueled nature of the rawk back then, but avoid specific details (or have trouble recalling them). Members of The Elois, The Missing Link, The Throb, The Creatures, The Atlantics and The Purple Hearts (it was a great time for "The" bands) mostly tell their story in simple Q & A form. Lobby Loyde's laconic sense of humour jumps off the pages and makes you want to buy the man a beer, while The Missing Links piece draws heavily on sources like Half a Cow's essential CD liner notes but still manages to throw up some obscure facts. There are some superb black and white pictures throughout (speaking of, what a bunch of dags The Black Diamonds were!) The shadow of the late Dean Mittlehasuer stands tall over the entire project, being a driving force for documenting the scene. It's a 118-page soft cover effort and eminently readable, the occasional typo notwithstanding. If you want a copy, try the usual Melbourne shops or drop 3CR a line. Buy the CD/Book from 3CR for $A25 (incuding postage) by calling 03 9419 8377 or posting a cheque for $Aus25 directly to 'Community Radio Federation - Wild About You!", P.O Box 1277, Collingwood VIC 3066. If you're overseas, try e-mailing the Special Projects Coordinator Oh, and it comes with a CD of current Melbourne bands covering old tunes (reviewed here) and it's worth the cover price alone. - The Barman Taken from i94Bar Web site, October 20, 2004 |
