Chameleons : Classic or Dud

Mark change his mind? How unexpected.

**rolls eyes**

Oh, so you know Mark too...

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?

Just get Strange Times, and if it thrills, proceed sequentially.

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.

No you just need the first album. And the peel sessions. Then you're good.

i mean, get all three albums, don't get a best of...

Is the Return Of Roughnecks the only compilation containing the Tony Fletcher EP?

Yes.

I was hoping it would show up on a Strange Times reissue.

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.

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.

Absolutely awful news -- John Lever has passed.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2017/03/13/john-lever-chameleons-dies/

oh shit. wouldn't have been the same band without him, imagine 'soul in isolation' without JL

Yeah I keep turning over so many different fills and breaks of his in my mind. Just would NOT have been the same, indeed.

Ouch. That is indeed unsettling news.

LIstening to soul in isolation on this, fantastic, thanks Ned.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSfxjgIYjeGYUBs4NLlFEaMaKp5C6FPpC

You're welcome of course. I'll have a piece running in the Quietus tomorrow.

RIP :(

Way too young. A remarkable drummer in terms of what he didn't do, powerful without overpowering.

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

Terrible news. I also thought of "Soul in Isolation" first, now it's time to reckon with "In Shreds," "Nathan's Phase"... jeez.

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.

FUCK

Man, what sad news. A lot of the Chameleons sound comes down to how powerful his drum parts were

My Quietus memorial is live:

http://thequietus.com/articles/21990-rip-the-chameleons-john-lever

Well said, Ned

great piece ned

Thanks kindly.

Another farewell to him, from Black Swan Lane's Jack Sobel

http://blackswanlane.com/goodbye-john/

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20663881_10156145323592137_7011716937297355767_n.jpg?oh=7f94036b7bb4faeeb7aca0c2f0a6dad3&oe=5A346751

oh my gosh, that is both brilliant and hideous

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 ?"

LOL. Can just imagine the Mrs' face when comes home with that.

bump

Touring now, going to see Mark and the latest band in Boston on Sat night.

Who sang the first track on Tony Fletcher?

Mark sings everything. Except for the toast on WCIA.

I hadn't realized that those Dreams In Celluloid recordings were non-studio album tracks. Started to realise when I heard "Everyday I'm Crucified". Cant forget a lyric like "I think I know how Christ felt when they killed him on that hill, pissed off!"

"Denims And Curls" sounds like a Morrissey song.

Another song on the EP sounds like a full-on "wake up sheeple" thing. Didn't notice until several plays that he was doing a sheep "baaaaa".

Tony Fletcher (the person and the music recording) are both essential to life.

https://www.discogs.com/The-Chameleons-Free-Trade-Hall-Rehearsal/release/387186

Listening to that album for the first time in ages. The mix still leaves a lot to be desired, but it's just about impossible not to marvel at how good they were. Any 'Mad Jack' is bound to be good, but man they rip through it here. Probably my favorite recording of the tune.

Holy shit, I forgot they do 'In Answer' on here as well. This song is absolutely gorgeous. Always has been.👍🏻

Yeah, there's a dearth of great live recordings from the "Strange Times" tour.

I don't think I will ever tire of hearing them move from the brute, maniacal charge in the first section to the sound of souls exiting in the second half of 'A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days.'

Would still argue that's one of their absolute best; and one of the most "zeitgeist-esque" songs of the era.

Mark relaying the situation in one summed up and terrifying question after the outburst:

"`Have you killed her?`, someone said." is one of the darkest and most intense moments in recorded music, I'd reckon. Makes me scared to visit northern England for sure.

But also somehow one of the most profound and beautiful codas I've ever heard.

xpost -- At least there's Live in Toronto. I know I have one other bootleg kicking around.

I used to have a boot from the Philly show but lost it years ago. I recall it being better than "Toronto".

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-mission-uk-the-chameleons-touring-in-2022-with-theatre-of-hate/

i used to love the Mission UK, they are so bad. just another U2.

hmm, dave not involved with the chams. those dudes have been through it. has anyone heard any of his stuff post-reunion? last i knew, he was in a band called coconut dogfuck but i never checked it out. he strikes me as a very misunderstood person, just in general.

glad to see mark has reconciled with reg to the point that they can share a stage again. wonder who's going to be on drums - i didn't see any details in the link.

in any case, yes the mish are quite boring.

is there a rundown of the beef between Mark and Dave somewhere?