https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfkjW1iKCc
― acid in the style of tenpole tudor (NickB), Monday, 4 March 2013 19:19 (eleven years ago) link
A new Mark interview
http://www.drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4147553-dis-meets-mark-burgess-from-the-chameleons
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 15 April 2014 18:07 (ten years ago) link
He'll never make anything good with Yves.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 15 April 2014 23:47 (ten years ago) link
Why do you say that?
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 03:11 (ten years ago) link
Because everything he's done with him has felt half-baked and weak. Maybe I'm being hard on Yves, it's also possible Mark can no longer handle constructive criticism and so surrounds himself with people who tell him everything he does is great. I don't know for sure, but "Paradyning" is mostly bad, Invincible has one redeeming tune and the new EP is forgettable. Whereas "Zima Junction" is wonderful and "Why Call It Anything" is underrated, suffering only because the first three records are some immense. I want to believe Mark has one great album left in him but at this point, probably not.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 03:24 (ten years ago) link
Okay, ouch.
I kind of lump Zima Junction and Paradyning together — both solid 3.5 star albums. But I love the Invincible album; maybe even more than Why Call it Anything.
The semi-official live album from the Paradyning tour is very good, as well.
― austinato (Austin), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 03:53 (ten years ago) link
they're playing script of the bridge at my local pubbut it's £16 :( and i'm second skintdown the up price guys
― nathey, Tuesday, 29 April 2014 09:50 (nine years ago) link
i'm going to go and see them play here. how could i not? 30 years of listening to the chameleons and i've still never seen them live
― ricky don't lose that number nine shirt (NickB), Tuesday, 29 April 2014 09:57 (nine years ago) link
this is very silly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vasr1_sJV1A
― ricky don't lose that number nine shirt (NickB), Tuesday, 29 April 2014 09:58 (nine years ago) link
Definitely go see them live! But I wish Mark would expand his focus beyond Script, as great as that album is, and give some love to the rest of his work.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 29 April 2014 13:14 (nine years ago) link
That is a silly clip but, jeez, his words still penetrate. "Nothing's forever, some things rearrange the scheme of things" - a simple insight but what we all need to hear sometimes.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 29 April 2014 13:20 (nine years ago) link
http://devonrecordclub.com/2014/06/10/the-chameleons-strange-times-round-68-robs-choice/
― i reject your shiny expensive consumerist stereo system (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 27 June 2014 10:50 (nine years ago) link
Mark Burgess autobiography, View From A hill, about to be reissued.
We're very proud to announce the imminent publication of a newly-edited and augmented edition of View From A Hill. It has been produced with Mark's blessing and co-operation, and will be available in the UK and Europe in mid-late November.
You can make pre-orders here and they will reach you in time for Christmas: http://mittenson.com/vfah.html
There will be a kindle edition available at the same time, and we will make the paperback available in other parts of the world too. Please contact us for details of these, and with any questions - i✧✧✧@mitten✧✧✧.c✧✧.
― Mittens On, Sunday, 26 October 2014 14:17 (nine years ago) link
Apparently there's a Chameleons Vox farewell tour, being a performance of Script Of The Bridge.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 22:43 (eight years ago) link
They toured the UK last year performing Script in its entirety and they're touring here again in a month or so doing the whole second album. Unless something has happened suddenly to make Mark change his plans?
― yeovil knievel (NickB), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 23:00 (eight years ago) link
Mark change his mind? How unexpected.
**rolls eyes**
― austinato (Austin), Thursday, 30 April 2015 20:03 (eight years ago) link
Oh, so you know Mark too...
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 30 April 2015 23:06 (eight years ago) link
I am embarrassed that I own nothing by The Chameleons. However hearing songs of theirs pop up in my Killing Joke Pandora station have convinced me I need to rectify that.
Am I good if I pick up Return of the Roughnecks or are the first three albums all essential?
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:34 (seven years ago) link
Just get Strange Times, and if it thrills, proceed sequentially.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:45 (seven years ago) link
The compilation is expensive! An import only evidently.
I can get the original versions of the albums cheaply since they did the deluxe remaster dealios, I'll probably go that route unless those remasters are really essential.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:47 (seven years ago) link
No you just need the first album. And the peel sessions. Then you're good.
― brimstead, Saturday, 17 September 2016 23:24 (seven years ago) link
i mean, get all three albums, don't get a best of...
― brimstead, Saturday, 17 September 2016 23:25 (seven years ago) link
Is the Return Of Roughnecks the only compilation containing the Tony Fletcher EP?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 18 September 2016 00:36 (seven years ago) link
Yes.
― Austin, Sunday, 18 September 2016 01:31 (seven years ago) link
I was hoping it would show up on a Strange Times reissue.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 18 September 2016 01:45 (seven years ago) link
You need all three albums, no question. The "Tony Fletcher" EP is available on the "Dreams In Celluloid" comp of early material, so it won't be redundant, and is also available cheaply.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 18 September 2016 03:58 (seven years ago) link
Thank you very much. I heard the first three albums a decade ago and its nice not having to pay for an overpriced Best Of to get the EP.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 18 September 2016 11:57 (seven years ago) link
Absolutely awful news -- John Lever has passed.
http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2017/03/13/john-lever-chameleons-dies/
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:13 (seven years ago) link
oh shit. wouldn't have been the same band without him, imagine 'soul in isolation' without JL
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Monday, 13 March 2017 17:18 (seven years ago) link
Yeah I keep turning over so many different fills and breaks of his in my mind. Just would NOT have been the same, indeed.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:23 (seven years ago) link
Ouch. That is indeed unsettling news.
― Austin, Monday, 13 March 2017 17:38 (seven years ago) link
LIstening to soul in isolation on this, fantastic, thanks Ned.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSfxjgIYjeGYUBs4NLlFEaMaKp5C6FPpC
― wishy washy hippy variety hour (Hunt3r), Monday, 13 March 2017 19:09 (seven years ago) link
You're welcome of course. I'll have a piece running in the Quietus tomorrow.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 March 2017 19:36 (seven years ago) link
RIP :(
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Monday, 13 March 2017 19:39 (seven years ago) link
Way too young. A remarkable drummer in terms of what he didn't do, powerful without overpowering.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 13 March 2017 20:58 (seven years ago) link
One of my favourite little bits of JL is that minute and a bit outro of On The Beach where the drums smashing through at the end of each bar, wave after wave onto the shore
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Monday, 13 March 2017 22:23 (seven years ago) link
Terrible news. I also thought of "Soul in Isolation" first, now it's time to reckon with "In Shreds," "Nathan's Phase"... jeez.
― geoffreyess, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 02:30 (seven years ago) link
Giving a listen to the Live in Toronto album from the Strange Times tour now. They played San Diego that tour, and had I been just a bit more aware or on top of things, I suppose I could have gone or tried to go, but I was still very much a top 40 kid, wouldn't've known. Though I did see the reunion tour of course, I really can't complain.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 02:48 (seven years ago) link
FUCK
― example (crüt), Tuesday, 14 March 2017 02:52 (seven years ago) link
Man, what sad news. A lot of the Chameleons sound comes down to how powerful his drum parts were
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 05:00 (seven years ago) link
My Quietus memorial is live:
http://thequietus.com/articles/21990-rip-the-chameleons-john-lever
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 13:32 (seven years ago) link
Well said, Ned
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 14:14 (seven years ago) link
great piece ned
― nxd, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 14:15 (seven years ago) link
Thanks kindly.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 March 2017 14:21 (seven years ago) link
Another farewell to him, from Black Swan Lane's Jack Sobel
http://blackswanlane.com/goodbye-john/
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 March 2017 16:44 (seven years ago) link
https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20663881_10156145323592137_7011716937297355767_n.jpg?oh=7f94036b7bb4faeeb7aca0c2f0a6dad3&oe=5A346751
― scott seward, Thursday, 10 August 2017 15:40 (six years ago) link
oh my gosh, that is both brilliant and hideous
― plp will eat itself (NickB), Thursday, 10 August 2017 17:53 (six years ago) link
found amidst table of wizard of oz collectible plates and figurines at yard sale in illinois, so nutty. old lady next to me was like "is that suppose to be one of them oompa loompas...or ?"
― popcorn michael awaits trumptweet (Hunt3r), Thursday, 10 August 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
LOL. Can just imagine the Mrs' face when comes home with that.
― Tonight I Cut My Temple Teeth (Tom D.), Thursday, 10 August 2017 18:43 (six years ago) link
bump
― Shart Dressed Man (kurt schwitterz), Thursday, 14 September 2017 05:33 (six years ago) link