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
Touring now, going to see Mark and the latest band in Boston on Sat night.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 14 September 2017 12:44 (six years ago) link
Who sang the first track on Tony Fletcher?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 8 March 2019 20:13 (five years ago) link
Mark sings everything. Except for the toast on WCIA.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 9 March 2019 03:16 (five years ago) link
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!"
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 9 March 2019 21:59 (five years ago) link
"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".
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 22 March 2019 18:22 (five years ago) link
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.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Saturday, 20 April 2019 02:04 (four years ago) link
Holy shit, I forgot they do 'In Answer' on here as well. This song is absolutely gorgeous. Always has been.👍🏻
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Saturday, 20 April 2019 02:10 (four years ago) link
Yeah, there's a dearth of great live recordings from the "Strange Times" tour.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 20 April 2019 03:32 (four years ago) link
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.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Saturday, 20 April 2019 14:16 (four years ago) link
xpost -- At least there's Live in Toronto. I know I have one other bootleg kicking around.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 20 April 2019 16:42 (four years ago) link
I used to have a boot from the Philly show but lost it years ago. I recall it being better than "Toronto".
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 20 April 2019 19:42 (four years ago) link
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-mission-uk-the-chameleons-touring-in-2022-with-theatre-of-hate/
― Bee OK, Friday, 8 October 2021 23:28 (two years ago) link
i used to love the Mission UK, they are so bad. just another U2.
― Bee OK, Friday, 8 October 2021 23:29 (two years ago) link
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.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Saturday, 9 October 2021 00:42 (two years ago) link
is there a rundown of the beef between Mark and Dave somewhere?
― aegis philbin (crüt), Saturday, 9 October 2021 00:50 (two years ago) link
well, mark's book was about two-thirds about exactly that, so lol not really.
it stems from mark and dave both having gigantic egos and was really ignited by mark pressing up unreleased chameleons recordings and selling them without asking all of the other members of the group (though he did give them a part of the profits) [citation needed].
i think that sums up the genesis of their beef, but there is a lot more. how they ever got back together for the reunion boggles my mind.
― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Saturday, 9 October 2021 01:25 (two years ago) link