makepeace wrote: hi guys,

upon seeing a book of the history of South African contemporary music for sale, and also reading the article in the new Rolling Stone about Bra Hugh, i realized that i have not given old South African artists their due appreciation. does anybody have any enlightenment to offer regarding must-listens (and where they can be found) and also interesting caveats about old South African artists? maybe your favorite bands from a time a while ago or whatever.

Firstly look out for Tony Cox or Steve Newman, or better still Tony Cox AND Steve Newman. Both fab players, and the duo show they have been performing of late is a marvellous thing indeed.

Larry Amos and Tim Parr played together in Baxtop in the late 70s. A sort of ZZ-Top/Blues/Boogie outfit. Both of them are fine players.

A pity Kenny Henson isn't around any more, he was a pretty good player.

Philip Tabane of Malombo is, I think, still playing.

For songwriting consider James Phillips - a truly South African rock voice. Look for his album "Sunny Skies" with Willem Moller playing guitar.

Bright Blue, had a big hit with "Weeping" in the early 80s and Tom Fox is a good player.

Johnny Fourie was a guitarists's guitarist. There's an album he released not long before he passed away of jazz standards for which he did the arrangements. A very sophisticated player with massive chops.

I recall being at a thing at a Barnyard not so long ago. Not my cup of tea but it was a fundraiser for a good cause. I was sitting there determined to be bored by it all when one of the guitarists took a solo and my ears instantly pricked up. Great solo, lovely tone, great use of dynamics and vibrato and the player clearly had considerable skill and taste. Turned out it was Ralph Martin, who I recall from the 70s playing with the Rag Dolls and Ballyhoo.

And, of course, there is Trevor Rabin.

Thanks Bob! Haven't heard of any of those names which is great! Looking forward to having a listen.

I vaguely recall that Tony Cox has some shows coming up in CT and surrounds.

See http://www.tonycox.co.za/shows.html

My dad always speaks about Rabbit and Trevor Rabin who went onto to be a big time Hollywood film composer, he also played with Yes for a good while.

21Fretter wrote: My dad always speaks about Rabbit and Trevor Rabin who went onto to be a big time Hollywood film composer, he also played with Yes for a good while.

Ja. I used to go see Rabbit playing at some little basement in Joubert Park. This was before girls started throwing knickers at them. Trevor Rabin was the first guitarist I saw live that really made my eyes light up. 6 months later I was in the army and he was on TV and the object of much screaming and fainting and underwear peltage (and that was just the boys).

Larry Amos is a great musician. I saw him play a couple of times a few years back and even jammed 1 or 2 songs on stage with him.

Rabbit was also a great band with Trevor Rabin going on to found the popular prog band YES.

Brendon "BluJu" Neuhaus wrote: Rabbit was also a great band with Trevor Rabin going on to found the popular prog band YES.

Yes were superstars when Trevor Rabin was playing in a basement in Joubert Park.

What did happen (briefly) was that Yes split up, Rabin hooked up with some of the ex-members, they started working together then Yes vocalist Jon Anderson got involved and next thing you know the project is being marketed as "Yes" and they have a big selling album. Didn't sound much like Yes to tell the truth. Sounded like Trevor Rabin with a big budget and a big name producer and Jon Anderson helping out with the vocals.

few decent bands from back inthe day...

Diamond dogs
Back 2 Back (note, not the back TO back from CPT)
ballyhoo
Cant remember the band di stefani played in.. :-[

Really interesting to read that story about Weeping, and Bright Blue. Obviously have heard the song before, just didn't know who to attribute it to. Classic.

Also, did some reading on about Rabin, definitely know of him, and come to think of it, my dad also talks about him. He was the oak on Carte Blanche the other month, yes?

REALLY like Tabane's playing style and tone. Malombo is also really good.

Gave a little listen to Johnny Fourie, but I'll leave that for the moment. being jazz, I really would like to do it justice and give it a proper listen once I get a copy of a CD.

James Phillips is great (and the Lurchers) would like to get my hands on some CD's.

guitar work on Baxtop's "Work it Out" is great, the production is a little kitchy though for my tastes.

guess i'm christmas shopping on rhythm online ?

interesting story about Yes Bob. the guy sounds like a slight DB. just found out his son is the drummer of an overseas indie band called Grouplove, which a mate of mine told me about the other day. small world.

I can give you many names but most may not be your cuppa ?
But google "Freedoms Children"...you may like them ....try finding something by them on youtube

sounds cool Vic. oh, and PLEASE try me ? i think i remember you posted a while back about old SA bands.

Odyssey, Tribe after Tribe, Dog Detachment, Urban Creap. But my all time fave local act was GROINCHURN!!

HAHA, i mentioned Groinchurn in a thread the other day... loved them

anyone remember the gothic RABBI ADOLF?

makepeace wrote: sounds cool Vic. oh, and PLEASE try me ? i think i remember you posted a while back about old SA bands.

OK.....
John Kongos, The Flames, (soul outfit from Durban); The Staccatos,(JhBurg) The Invaders (from Uitenhage); The Dealians (East London); Manfred Mann ( ha,.. ha.. he was born here in Durban); The Bats (JhB); McCullagh Workshop (CTown); The Kynd (East London); Dickie Loader and the Blue Jeans (Durban); The A-Cads (JhB); Gene Rockwell and the Falcons (Durban?); etc... You'll find them on youtube.....all these were very popular in the 60's/70's and had a number of hits on the local charts (LM radio and Springbok radio) ?

kif, will give them a listen. thanks yous peoples!

guidothepimmp wrote: HAHA, i mentioned Groinchurn in a thread the other day... loved them

anyone remember the gothic RABBI ADOLF?

I saw them a few times at Abalard Sanction in Brixton. My significant other was the siren for Abstract Evil Barbee back then.

Don't know if these qualify as way back (I hope not ? ) but:
Nine
Band of Gypsys (not that one, our one)
Zap Dragons
Blue Chameleon
Battery 9
Kalahari Surfers (I own Warrick's live bass now - he's at Milestone Studios in CT)

Titan , Unchained, Black Rose for the heavier side of things

although u unlikely to find anytihing , maybe on Facebook there is a group for Golden Banana , not sure.

John Mair was a monster guitarist. Used to spend sunday evenings at Upstairs in Stellenbosch drooling over his chops.
Used to be the guitarist for Sweatband with Wendy Oldfield.

Awesome band from Cape Town (90s) was PsychoDelli - wish I could find any of their stuff