Reformation Reformation Reformation

Everyone seems to be at it these days, whereas once upon time groups who reformed seemed to exclusively be the domain of long forgotten one hit wonders of the 1960s-1980's and usually reforming a band either meant the original drummer and 4 hired hands, or in some cases several former members of said band battling it out through the courts for the right to use said band's moniker and the gig listings then being full of 4 different "reformed" versions of the same band all vying for your attention.

Over the past decade the likes of The Pixies, The Stooges, Gang of Four, Blur, Mission Of Burma and Janes Addiction have all kissed and made up and returned to the live arena, in most cases these bands have merely played the "hits" to a field/venue full of misty eyed 30 and 40 something indie kids/punks/etc, in some cases it's lead to new material (Mission Of Burma, Gang of Four) but mostly it's been a nostalgia trip.

I've seen a few such bands during this time, from the Pixies at V-Festival in 2003, to Gang Of Four and the MC5 at ATP in late 2006 to Iggy and The Stooges (twice, once with Ron Asheton, once with James Williamson) all of which have delivered powerful sets, were they as powerful as they were at their peak? probably not in most cases (although the Stooges may possibly have been the exception to that rule) in the case of the MC5 they were somewhat hampered by the fact they were missing 2 members due to the passing of both vocalist Rob Tyner and guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith (although it must be said remaining members Wayne Kramer, Dennis Thompson and Michael Davis did a fair job with various guest vocalists and a bloke called Adam who used to be in the Sisters Of Mercy).

The floodgates do appear to be well and truly open though and, whilst it's great to be able to see bands that I either never got around to seeing in their prime (Pixies) or was just too young to see (Gang Of Four) or just simply wasn't born (MC5, Stooges) I struggle to see how anyone could get emotional at the "long awaited" return of such musical giants as Shed Seven or Cast?

The Pixies reunion has rolled on for nearly 8 years now, longer than the band were originally together, with the exception of one track (the Kim Deal penned "Bam Thwok") there seems very little chance of new material and surely there comes a time when that particular reunion has probably run it's course (20th Anniversary of "Trompe Le Monde" gigs anyone)?

Jarvis Cocker was honest enough to say in an interview the other year that he would be watching Blur's reformation with interest with a view to whether Pulp would get back together, I guess he liked what he saw (or heard) as this summer see's the return of said band for a series of shows, whilst Jarvis has done okay for himself during the intervening 10 years since the band went on "indefinite hiatus" I suspect most of his fellow bandmates will welcome the pay cheque. I'd rather bands were honest about this then watching interviews with musicians who clearly can't stand each other but tolerate each other's company for the sake of money, The Pixies remain one of my favourite bands, they were exceptional when I saw them in 2003 but watching interviews with them it's a bit painful to see a group of individuals who are literally making music as a business arrangement these days.

So who's next? who hasn't reformed yet, there are a number of bands I'd love to see back together (the more obvious being The Smiths, The Stone Roses, the less so include New Fast Automatic Daffodils, The Chameleons (who did reform but fell out with each other again) and Thee Hypnotics) although I expect the next revival circuit will consist of bands who were around in the dim and distant days of the 00's, McFly anyone?

They could've been contenders..... an occasional series

The history of popular music is littered with tales of recording artists who should've made it big, albums that ended up languishing away in bargain bins instead of selling thousands, songs that should, even now be staples of day time radio instead of being known to a select few. Despite accusations of being a bit of a musical snob over the years I actually would like nothing more than for the music I enjoy to be enjoyed by millions... unlikely in most cases though...

Anyway..... back on subject

The Chameleons were one such band, they were formed in the early 1980's and were based in and around Manchester, they were lead by a singing bassist called Mark, there were two guitarists called Dave and Reg and a bloke on drums called John. They were initially signed to a rather large major record label before being unceremoniously dropped, they made 3 studio albums during their initial time together "Script Of The Bridge" "What Does Anything Mean Basically" and "Strange Times" all of which contained powerful post-punk tinged pop songs such as "Don't Fall", "Up The Down Escalator", "Looking Inwardly","Mad Jack", "Tears" and "In Answer". 

I was a bit too young to get into the band during this time, I discovered them much later on (early 1991) when an album was released of the bands John Peel sessions which I bought from my local Our Price and pretty much wore out playing it relentlessly on my Sony Walkman. I was pretty soon hooked and, in those days before Amazon, i-Tunes etc, trawled record fairs tracking down the 3 aforementioned studio albums and various bootlegs of gigs.

The Chameleons never sold anywhere near the volume of records they deserved to and split up in 1987 mourned by a select few, the band did eventually reform in 2000 for a series of warmly received gigs and even a belated fourth album "Why Call It Anything" before once again disbanding.

There have been various reissues of the bands material and rather a lot of compilation albums of demos, live sessions etc, anyone interested I'd point you towards those original 3 albums, the Peel Sessions compilation and "The Fan and The Bellows" a compilation of 1981-1982 demos.

They were a cracking band and one who have gone on to influence the likes of Interpol, The Horrors, Editors etc 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7AnaKs3HJ4

The World Of Blogging

Several other friends have blogs, I read enough of them and it seemed a useful vehicle for my middle aged ramblings about the genius of Mark E Smith and The Fall, the demise of the high street music retailer, how The Telescopes second untitled album from 1992 was a misunderstood masterpiece and other such fare.

It's fair to say that I'm obsessed with music, I have been for most of the 38 1/2 years I've been on this planet, I have vivid memories of listening to my Dad's Beatles/Rolling Stones/Kinks singles in the early 70's,  I can remember the regular visits to that music retail giant known as Woolworths every 2-3 months in the early 80's to buy the new Madness single, going to see the likes of The Wonder Stuff, The Cure, The Stone Roses, House Of Love etc as an A-Level student in the late 80's, realising in the mid 90's (whilst at Uni) that by pretending I could actually DJ mean't I could sign up to mailing lists and receive tons of free music (although for every promotional copy of The Chemical Brothers "Setting Son" I had to endure a pile of still unplayed Menswe@r singles) picking up a bass guitar around that time and bluffing my way through a series of underachieving bands (sometimes even getting paid for gigs), meeting the great John Peel in 1997 and being warned that should my love affair with music last beyond my 30th birthday I'd probably be hooked for life.

Those visits to London to spend hours trawling through record shops in search of the first Monks album (seminal mid 60's proto-punk classic if anyone wonders), the monthly visit to Oxford Town Hall for the record fair and the drunken afternoon which followed in the pub afterwards discussing my recent purchases with like minded souls. I once lived on nothing but value rice and soy sauce for 3 weeks because I'd blown the last part of my wages on the reissued Nuggets Box Set on CD.

I'd like to say my obsession with music has calmed down a bit and it probably has, now staring 40 in the face I have other things to consider, wife, daughter, mortgage, day job and yet still I got wildly excited a few months ago when the Teardrop Explodes seminal debut album Kilimanjaro was reissued with a bonus disc of the lo-fi singles they recorded for Zoo Records.... yeah I know....:-).

So much great music has been made over the years but plenty still being made as we speak, 2010 has been a fine year with the likes of Liars, Deerhunter, The National, Edwyn Collins, Best Coast, Warpaint, Tame Impala, Drums, MGMT, LCD Soundsystem and Jim Jones Revue being added to the collection. I've even managed to convince my Wife that next year's summer holiday should take place at Butlins in Minehead, the fact this co-incides with the Animal Collective's curated ATP Festival? Pure co-incidence.

So... my offering to the world of blogging....... There really are worse obsessions