South African Artists - lets pay homage

Squonk

Lot's of talk lately of SA artists in certain threads
It would be good to keep their legacy alive!

Post your memories, or your experience with SA Artists.

For those of you with Long Memories

Baxtop

# Larry Amos: Vocals, lead, acoustic & slide guitars
# Tim Parr: Guitars, backing vocals
# Fuzzy Marcus: Bass, vocals, harmonica
# Bruce Williams: Drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, vocals

Saw these guys a couple of times in 1979, the SABC ran some kind of battle of the bands at 'His Majesty's' in JHB central, And there were some great bands on stage "The Rag Dolls", 'The Lancaster Band", "Radio Rats", "Hogs Norton", too long ago to remember all the other acts.

Larry was an exceptional guitarist and he and Tim had a good twin attack going, Fuzzy and Bruce were an awesome rhythm section.
Tim went on to form Ella Mental, saw him a couple of times in the early 90's in Rockey Street Yeoville
Fuzzy and Bruce were part of Tribe after Tribe

So a lot of History stemming from Baxtop, they did release an Album, which didn't quite capture their live performance, but was still good South African Rock.

I have seen Larry perform over the years and he has all the SRV, Hendix chops and a lot of his own.

Interesting SA Site with a reasonable catalog of SA artists CD's

http://www.freshmusic.co.za/retrofresh.htm

IceCreamMan

btw Bruce went to the states at one point an even worked as a general handy man on the oprah show at one point. He came back to ZA, last time i saw him was 10 years ago or so. He had returned and was married to a gal i used to work with.

Most of my memories centre around the Golden Banana and King of Clubs clubs. Golden Banana was situated at the top of Nugget Hill at the Nugget hill hotel. Upstairs from the Le Chaim pub (excellent Lord of the Rings kinda establishment)

Bands at Golden Banana were Tyrant , Black Rose, Unchained ,Razor an more. Many a great great time was had. After the Golden Banana we would make our way to King of clubs ...saw Band of Gypsies many a time there. Loved the King of clubs ...

Also went to concert in the park in 1985 ..what a monumentally good jol that was ... looking bakc on that it was a special event taking the times into consideration.

Bob-Dubery

I luuuuurved The Genuines. Great band, and a band with a South African flavour to what they did. Great live band. In particular I admired Mac McKenzie's writing and Ian Hermann's drumming.

James Phillips was also truly South African in his lyrical concerns and his vocal style. Great songwriter, and I was struck by how hard he worked at his craft. When I met James (hmmm.... sometime in 1979) he was a competent player in a band that had a real spark and great songs. By the time of his unfortunate demise he had grown substantially as a guitarist and even more so as a pianist and had polished the harmonic aspects of his compositions. I liked all of James's bands, but I have a special affection for Corporal Punishment.

Bright Blue... also had a South African sound, especially with the influences they took from The Soul Brothers. Great grooves. "Weeping" was a perfect song for it's time. Tom Fox was an understated and IMO underrated guitar player.

Roger Lucey. I first saw him in the mid 70s at Durban uni, with two of the Fataar brothers in his band. Charismtic, angry, eloquent. Saw him a bit in the late 70s when he had a crack live band that included Jethro Butow on guitar. THEN I caught him one night circa 1990 when he was supporting Jonny Blundell's then new band. Well the headliners had a very hard time following the support act - Lucey still had all the passion, the intelligence, the eloquence.

Ag... there's more. Baxtop. Shag. The Asylum Kids. The Gents. Wild Youth. Finch & Henson. Luis Ribeiro's Palm Boat Band. Edi Niederlander. Ella Menta. Flash Harry. The Lancaster Band. Winston's Jive Mixup. The Radio Rats. Horgs Norton... even Rabbitt who I saw in a basement in Joubert Park before they captured the teeny bop market. Trevor Rabin had my jaw on the floor in about the first 5 minutes.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote: Ag... there's more. Baxtop. Shag. The Asylum Kids. The Gents. Wild Youth. Finch & Henson. Luis Ribeiro's Palm Boat Band. Edi Niederlander. Ella Menta. Flash Harry. The Lancaster Band. Winston's Jive Mixup. The Radio Rats. Horgs Norton...

Jennifer Ferguson. Wired To The Floor. Tananas....

Squonk

Not quite rock or indie

Just listened to Leslie Rae Dowling - The Spaniard

She was a pleasure to watch and to listen too, and my favourite track was 'The Spaniard", I can still picture the video ?

I think she was a bit of a recluse and didn't enjoy touring etc, so her career never quite reached the heights that were expected.

All good stuff though!!!!

AlanRatcliffe

@Bob. Edi Niederlander moved to your end of the world recently. Last time I spoke to her she was looking for places to get out and play and people to play with, as well as findings some students, so I mentioned TJs and Andy's music evenings. She wasn't too sure about Andy's as she doesn't play much acoustic these days, although she does have a strong world music vibe.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: @Bob. Edi Niederlander moved to your end of the world recently. Last time I spoke to her she was looking for places to get out and play and people to play with, as well as findings some students, so I mentioned TJs and Andy's music evenings. She wasn't too sure about Andy's as she doesn't play much acoustic these days, although she does have a strong world music vibe.

She was up here in civilisation for years. I used to see her at the Sunnyside and at other venues.

Andy bends the rules occasionally (after all, they're his rules) and so they might come to an arrangement. It's a non-paying gig though - same with TJs.

Valie

For me it was Freedoms Children and Hawk when both lineups included Julian Laxton. Still think that the Astra album by Freedoms children was way ahead of its time. Suck also comes to mind and Omega Ltd. with Louis Greef on guitar.
Freedoms Children -
Bass - Barry Irwin or Ramsay Mc Kay
Drums - Colin Pratly (Brilliant)
Vocals - Brian Davidson
Guitar - Julian Laxton

Hawk - Vocals - Dave Ornellas (RIP)
Guitars - Mark Kahn
Bass - Les Goode
Drums - Braam Malherbe
Read the other day that Dave Ornellas passed away. Sad, he was a great vocalist

Hammeron

The Cherry Faced Lurchers
No Friends of Harry
Jack Hammer
Lithium

Seventhson

Hammeron wrote: The Cherry Faced Lurchers
No Friends of Harry
Jack Hammer
Lithium

The guy next door to me was lithiums singer/guitarist.

costafonix

This is going back to the 70's, early 80's,,,
Ballyhoo (the full outfit, the only band that I thought could do justice to Bohemian Rhapsody)
Fantasy (the resident band at Bella Napoli Hillbrow with probably what was IMO the best drummer in the world - Bokkie, who went on to play with Johnny Clegg and is now living in Canada).
Bite (also resident band at Bella on a Sunday evening, I think this band had a lot to do with my Tinnitus,,,,,,,, ?,)
Stingray
Blend (bought my Les Paul from Dave all those years ago)
Morroco
Dog Detachment
Boss (anyone remember them?)
Clout (one of my favourites, Cindy used to kick a$$ Big Time and great to see her still active in the music scene)
Diamond Dogs (their ex-drummer Claude is now the vocalist in my band) ?
Neill Solomon and the Passengers

IceCreamMan

CostaFonix wrote: Diamond Dogs (their ex-drummer Claude is now the vocalist in my band) ?

Nic the snger from Diamond Dogs still plays under the name Diamond Dogs. Play at the Country Pub every last sunday of the month.

Only Nic left but combined with a great drummer/guitarist/bassist they put on a great show..

Squonk

CostaFonix wrote: This is going back to the 70's, early 80's,,,
Ballyhoo (the full outfit, the only band that I thought could do justice to Bohemian Rhapsody)
Fantasy (the resident band at Bella Napoli Hillbrow with probably what was IMO the best drummer in the world - Bokkie, who went on to play with Johnny Clegg and is now living in Canada).
Bite (also resident band at Bella on a Sunday evening, I think this band had a lot to do with my Tinnitus,,,,,,,, ?,)
Stingray
Blend (bought my Les Paul from Dave all those years ago)
Morroco
Dog Detachment
Boss (anyone remember them?)
Clout (one of my favourites, Cindy used to kick a$$ Big Time and great to see her still active in the music scene)
Diamond Dogs (their ex-drummer Claude is now the vocalist in my band) ?
Neill Solomon and the Passengers

Good memories Costa

I have seen Cindy and Stewart Irving play a couple of times recently, completely impressed with their "keep it live, no backing track" attitude.
I saw them at a function where most of the crowd were in their 20's and 30's and had no clue of the music pedigree that was entertaining them.

I Remember Fantasy, Bite and Boss very well from the old Hillbrow Days ?

I dont know if anyone can remember a band called "Scandal", that had a guitarist called Josh Sklaar, not too sure of spelling or the band name. Saw them in Hillbrow in the 80's 8)

aubs1

Valie wrote: Hawk - Vocals - Dave Ornellas (RIP)
Guitars - Mark Kahn
Bass - Les Goode
Drums - Braam Malherbe
Read the other day that Dave Ornellas passed away. Sad, he was a great vocalist

I liked Hawk better BEFORE Julian joined, I think he changed their raw Afro sound ( but Julian is a brilliant guitarist, much better with Freedom's Children). I really liked Dave's deep voice...... (sad, his passing)...

Braam Malherbe for me was one of the best drummers to ever come out of SA.

PJH

CostaFonix wrote: This is going back to the 70's, early 80's,,,
Ballyhoo (the full outfit, the only band that I thought could do justice to Bohemian Rhapsody)
Fantasy (the resident band at Bella Napoli Hillbrow with probably what was IMO the best drummer in the world - Bokkie, who went on to play with Johnny Clegg and is now living in Canada).
Bite (also resident band at Bella on a Sunday evening, I think this band had a lot to do with my Tinnitus,,,,,,,, ?,)
Stingray
Blend (bought my Les Paul from Dave all those years ago)
Morroco
Dog Detachment
Boss (anyone remember them?)
Clout (one of my favourites, Cindy used to kick a$$ Big Time and great to see her still active in the music scene)
Diamond Dogs (their ex-drummer Claude is now the vocalist in my band) ?
Neill Solomon and the Passengers

Hi Costa

I was the one of the guitar players with Boss.

Cheers,

Peter.

costafonix

Hey Peter, small world ?,,,, I dont know if you remember we were competing at the finals at the Battle of the Bands competition in Germiston ? all those years ago? and Cindy was one of the judges? You guys had a mean (and crazy bass guitarist),,, I think you guys may have won it?? Good memories,

Warren

Wow, you guys are so old...

My student days saw me spending much time at Roxy's Rhythm Bar in Melville, watching the likes of

Just Jinger
Springbok Nude Girls
Boo (my fave of the lot)
Henry Ate

I'll try remember some others, but duty is calling. ?

Squonk

Warren I will add to your woes

Who can Remember Dickie Loader and the Blue Jeans. Saw them in Margate in the 60's at the Palm Grove.

Manfred-Klose

some of the ex members of "lithium" started a new band, they are called "throatball" , it a punk/metal groovy type of vibe, and they are pretty good at it.

costafonix

Squonk wrote: Warren I will add to your woes

Who can Remember Dickie Loader and the Blue Jeans. Saw them in Margate in the 60's at the Palm Grove.

And what about the Stacattos?? They played at our Matric Dance in 1979,,,,,,, ? ?