The BedRock Newsletter Archives

B E D R O C K
(The Band In The Sand)

- Disturbing The Peace Since 1994! -
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www.bedrockband.com
Bassman8655@hotmail.com
PO Box 1225 Oranjemund Namibia
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No 2 /2002 03 March 2002
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CONTENTS

1. Editorial
2. Stop Press
3. Some (More) Useless Facts About Bedrock
4. This Edition’s Recommended “Read”
5. On The Turntable
6. Our Website Tip
7. Voicebox

1. EDITORIAL

Well, it’s just over two months since our last Newsletter and hopefully you’ve all been sitting in eager anticipation waiting for the next one – which this one is! There’s been a lot happening over the past two months but the best of all is that the band are “back in the saddle”. In fact, drummer Eddie has a brand new “saddle” – a huge new drum stool to support his back whilst he’s playing. This thing looks like the seat of a Harley Davidson, or maybe a long drop, but Eddie’s really chuffed with it. There again, he will soon he less chuffed with it when he finds out that he has to carry it on his own! So, if you do see Eddie about please comment favourably on his new seat – he’ll really take it as a compliment! And don’t tell him he’s got a funny shaped bum when you see the seat…even if he has...

2. STOP PRESS

BEDROCK Is Back!

Hottest news of the day is the fact that BEDROCK are back gigging thanks to the excellent recovery Eddie has enjoyed after his major back surgery in December. Strictly sticking to “Doctor’s Orders”, Eddie has come through his ordeal very well and the band have been practicing for the last couple of weeks. There are a number of gigs in the pipeline including one at RUMOURS PUB in LUDERITZ on Saturday, 30 March, 2002. That, by the way, is Easter Saturday, so - if you’re up in Luderitz for the holiday break – get your dancing shoes on and head for RUMOURS which is in Kapp’s Hotel. To those of you who live in Luderitz, please get all those old rock ‘n rollers out of the closet and drag them along to what promises to be a HUGE party. It’s been over a year since we last gigged in Luderitz so we definitely owe the place a special occasion.

The other gigs are awaiting confirmation so you’ll receive news of those once that has been forthcoming. Watch this space!

BEDROCK’S New Release Takes Shape

Work on this year’s CD release is forging ahead with axeman, Kennuf, being the most prolific of all with his skilled pen. The CD will be much more of a rocker than the previous one and should be ideal party material for those hectic parties you all seem to have an affinity for! The guys are working on some nice ideas to incorporate into the recording and you can be guaranteed, once again, of a very nice package.

BEDROCK Merchandise

We’ll soon be receiving loads of new items of BEDROCK merchandise so keep an eye on our web site “SHOP”. The expected merchandise will include a selection of bumper stickers, licence disc holders, embroidered baseball caps and ‘T’ shirts. Final selling prices are not to hand yet but the prices will be little more than cost.

RECOVERY CD – Second Batch

The band are delighted to be able to say that the first allocation of stock of the RECOVERY CD has been totally depleted. Even more interesting is that we have had feedback from purchasers around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany – not to forget, of course, our loyal Southern African contingent. Before any of you starts to think we’re about to become millionaires allow me to disappoint you by advising that the RECOVERY CD arrives in lots of 300. So, 300 down with another 300 on the way! Will we achieve our interim goal of 1000 sales? Time will tell!

3. SOME USELESS FACTS ABOUT BEDROCK

· Although BEDROCK has always been a four piece, a number of personnel changes have occurred over the years. The original line-up was:

Pete Krog – Lead guitar/vocals
Charles Piggott – Lead/rhythm guitar & lead vocals
Pete Shout – Bass/vocals
Eddie Heusdens – Drums

First to leave the band was Pete Krog (1996) and he was replaced by John Rogers. John didn’t last too long – one public gig in fact! – before a transfer to Kimberley took him away from us. There were no obvious replacements knocking on the door so the band continued as a three piece and the unthinkable also happened – Eddie was given a microphone and sang backing vocals. Way to go!! Although playing as a trio wasn’t particularly easy the band sweated it out and even turned in a gold plated performance in Luderitz as a three piece. That’s probably why we’ve never been invited back. Only joking – of course we have! This was one of a sequence of five gigs before relief came in the form of Kenny Malherbe who joined in July, 1997, on rhythm guitar and backing vocals.

They say behind ever good man is a good woman and so it proved to be when Ken’s wife, Jenny (known to friends as ‘Skinny Spice’), followed her husband into the band. That was in September 1997.

And just to finish 1997’s sequence off, straight behind the “good woman” came yet another good man in the form of Kenny Ramage who joined in October, 1997. For a while the band was settled and busy.

In the latter part of 1999, however, BEDROCK suffered a triple blow when founder member, Charles Piggott, and the Malherbes departed. Fortunately the band were determined to play on and Mike Millad filled the triple-void which had been created by departures. And so, for the time being, the band is settled and busy once again.

· A light bulb pillaged from Ken Malherbe’s fridge once saved a gig at the local Hockey Club. You see, the bulb in Ken’s night light which illuminated his words and chords blew leaving Ken, as well as those standing at each of his shoulders, literally in the dark. No problem to our intrepid flier – off he went home and threw his fridge into darkness in order to give the band light!

· Eddie was once assaulted by a room divider whilst in the middle of a really “burning” drum solo. Actually, the room divider was knocked over by an over excited fan and created quite a sensation when it crashed onto Eddie’s head in the middle of a drum roll. His face was a picture as was that of the assailant who had failed miserably to save the situation even when it was apparent what was about to happen. Come back, Terry, all is forgiven!

4. OUR RECOMMENDED READ

TOMBSTONE BLUES (The Encyclopedia Of Rock Obituaries) by Nick Talevski
Published by Omnibus Press.

This is more a reference book that a good continuous “read”, however, once you start paging through it, it is hard to put down. Between the book’s covers are a 1000 biographies and obituaries to the world’s greatest deceased rock, soul and blues musicians. Nick Talevski spent five years researching material for the book and the quality of his endeavours is apparent. If there’s one thing that comes most starkly out of the book is the total and absolute waste of talented people through the abuse of harmful substances, accidents and suicides. One wonders what more musical treats would have been in store for us all had so many of these hugely talented people not have died prematurely. At just under 500 pages in length this is a useful addition to your collection of books on music for your home library.

5. ON THE TURNTABLE

Local Sounds

· Circus – Circus (Fresh Music Fresh - CD116)

This CD version of the original elpee is a real delight to listen to and will bring the 70’s crashing right back into your lounge again! What is immediately obvious is just how good these guys were – mind you, we all knew that at the time which is why we had their records anyway, right? The energy of their playing and the excitement is caused is prominent throughout demonstrating that Circus, at the height of their career, would have given many an overseas band a run for their money. Great stuff.

· Breakfast Included – Breakfast Included (BICD2001)

By no stretch of the imagination could Yours Truly ever profess to know too much about jazz but, if there’s one way to learn about it, it’s to listen to it. This debut release from one of Cape Town’s most promising young jazz bands is an interesting mix of standard jazz covers and originals penned by the band members. If you’re just getting into jazz your attendance at a Breakfast Included gig would be recommended – they’re a hardworking band who feature regularly in the gig sections of Cape Town’s newspapers. Seeing them “live” will also help you to get more enjoyment out of the CD. If you’re a jazz fundi already, well, sit back, relax and enjoy the talent of these young guys.

International Sounds

· Silver Side Up - Nickleback (Roadrunner Records CDDGR1536)

These guys are getting plenty of airplay at present and when you listen to this CD you’ll understand why. They’re a young, modern rock band who have an undoubted talent for writing decent rock songs although lead singer, Chad Kroeger, gets the credit for the lyrics to their songs. His lyrics are interesting and, unlike many bands, make sense. The tunes are collectively produced by all the band members. Listen out for HOW YOU REMIND ME and TOO BAD, both of which are being played regularly by commercial radio stations. Then go and listen to the whole CD! You shouldn’t be disappointed.

· Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings (25th Anniversary Edition) (Capitol)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we can hear you saying it – “You’re not still listening to that stuff after all these years are you?”. Well yes, we are. You see, this is the 25th Anniversary Edition release of Band On The Run, surely one of Macca’s best works. As such it comes in a neat little cardboard box, as a double CD. The second CD contains some really interesting trivia and information about what went into Band On The Run, right from the songs themselves to the selection of “worthies” for the album’s front cover. It is fascinating stuff as Macca and his guests contribute their own pieces to the record that became Band On The Run.

· If Paradise Was Half As Nice - Amen Corner – The Immediate Anthology (Immediate CMDDD 056)

Seeing Andy Fairweather-Lowe playing guitar alongside Roger Waters in his recent visit to South Africa was a delight for me having been an Amen Corner adherent for many, many years. In fact, I have never been able to understand why Amen Corner were not more popular in this part of the world than they were. Their recordings were one of the few that my mates didn’t own. In fact, I’ve never met anyone who has owned Amen
Corner records other than myself! With these self-same recordings now heavily “eroded” through years of playing time finding this double CD was a revelation for me. All their hits are on there – from (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice, Hello Susie, Lady Riga to their brilliant cover version of Robbie Robertson’s The Weight. Great listening. Weren’t they good!

6. OUR WEB SITE TIP

The Rhodesian Music web site at:

www.bedrockband.com/rhodiemusic/home.htm

Also check out:

www.bedrockband.com/kenny/paperlace.htm

7. VOICEBOX

It’s a delight to be able to say that we have had a number of e-mails since our first edition with only one person “UNSUBSCRIBING”. Amongst the rest there was nothing controversial or rude so I’ve nothing to say other than “Thank You” to those of you who have sent us communications. Keep ‘em comin’.

‘Till next time – Cheers!

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BedRock - The Band in the Sand
http://www.bedrockband.com
mailto:bedrock@bedrockband.com
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