hiram.k.hackenbacker

Tickets available here.

I'm a fan and have been for many years. I still have that bulky vinyl set The Complete Works which I bought on its release. A fabulous collection of albums it is too. But I'm not an anorak obsessive about Queen unlike other artists I'm particularly fond of (Genesis, Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Rush etc). So, I was watching the Live at Wembley Stadium DVD set yesterday. Although it's essentially the same set, it's great to see two gigs of that scale filmed back to back on consecutive days. Within the extras there are interviews with May and Taylor where they state that the final gig with Freddie was at Knebworth at the end of the 'Magic Tour' in 1986 and that it was 'almost perfect' (for them) sonically. There are clips also which appear to be from Knebworth. This suggests that it was also filmed, but I can't find any reference to it having been released. Is anyone aware if the gig was filmed? It seems a shame if it was that it hasn't been released, being Freddie's last full gig.

“a sinister midget with a bucket and a mop”

Yes, another great album. I remember listening to The Torture Never Stops for the first time and wondering what kind of mind this could have come from....

Yes, spot on. Over-Nite Sensation is one of FZ's finest studio works. Got me into George Duke big time. This is one of my favourite FZ guitar phrases. There's nothing particularly difficult about it, it's just in the context of the song, it fits perfectly. Straight out of the gates as the first song of his second show in San Diego THAT DAY, the note that starts at 0:48 just makes the hairs stand up every time.

I'll look it up 👍

If you think 200 Motels is a tough listen, try Civilization Phaze III 😀

That's a big period to have dibs on 😂. As you say, there is so much to like. If pushed, I would probably go to the album that started it all for me - Zappa in New York (released in 1978, but recorded in 1976). My teenage brain really didn't know what to make of it; I just knew I liked it - a lot! That was the first album I heard, but it belonged to a friend of mine who I convinced to lend it to me so I could tape it. I played that tape so much I wore it out. I'm now the owner of every album he has produced as well as a mountain of bootlegs. More than I will probably ever be able to listen to. Happily, the ZFT have just announced the 40th Anniversary of Zappa in New York, comprising a 5 disc Deluxe Edition. More info here.

Most of the recipients of said behaviour deserved it though 😉

Rumour has it that Steve Vai might turn up at a few shows as well. Where else better than the London Palladium. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the kind words. Our lead man has an album of material to be recorded, but he has a mammoth amount of studies this year that need to take precedence. Maybe next year.

I'm sure I read somewhere that there is an interview of Frank talking about holograms and their potential use in the future for performances. He was all for pushing boundaries, so I think he would approve. That's what I'm telling myself anyway 😀.

Just bought my ticket for this at The Palladium. Anyone else going? I'm really looking forward to hearing Thunes play again since the last time I saw him some 30+ years ago. This is the promo blurb which sounds both promising and intriguing: "Live music’s premier hologram production company, Eyellusion, have announced that a who’s who of Zappa fan favourite musicians will support The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa hologram tour – set to hit the UK in May 2019. Hours of never-before-seen Zappa performance footage from the early seventies will form the basis of the “can’t miss” concert spectacle, which is being produced in close cooperation with the Zappa Family Trust. The “Bizarre World of Frank Zappa” hologram tour band is comprised of former Bandmates for this monumental series of shows. The touring unit boasts guitarists Ray White and Mike Keneally, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin and drummer and Zappa archivist Joe “Vaultmeister” Travers – with special guests set to join in on some shows. In 1974, Frank Zappa transformed his Los Angeles rehearsal space into a sound stage and cranked out a passionate, trademark performance seen only by the camera operators in the room who captured every last bizarrely beautiful moment. This footage, locked away in the Zappa vaults for 44 years, will serve as the basis for what will be the world’s most ambitious hologram tour to date, blending live footage of Frank with outrageous visuals that offer a striking view into his complex musical works." Here is the ZFT trailer....

New promo for 2019....

ChangesTwoBowie play The Clarets Bar at Chelmsford City Football Club, Essex on January 18th 2019. Supported by Delta Ladies. Tickets available here.

Just got home from the gig. I swerved the support acts. Most of the people I spoke with in the pub beforehand were of the same mind, although I did speak to someone inside the venue who said The Picture Books were OK. The Clutch encores will be posted here in due course.

+1. Clutch have had some decent support artists over the years, but this just seems like an easy fix to me. Two supports both of which only have a drummer and a guitarist. Kind of get it on the level that the origins of ‘stoner rock’ are on Clutch’s DNA, but they have moved on somewhat now.

I'm going to see Clutch again tomorrow in Brixton. I've just looked up the support acts. I don't think I'll bother getting there to see them if this is the best they have to offer.... Admittedly chosen at random on You Tube, but neither video predisposed me to put myself through another. Have they been with Clutch on all the UK dates? Anyone fancy trying to change my mind about either of them?

The table and chair from the '96 Outside Tour are on the list as well as the giant eyeballs, the smaller projected heads and roped mannequins. I think we'll have to draw a line at the giant glass spider. I don't think that will fit in the van!

Needs must of course Daniel, but it saddens me that you’ve had to keep dropping the price. Might be worth waiting until 2019 as it’s fully on silly season now. If it helps, I’ve pasted the link to the thread you were probably looking for below. The lastest video is the Smoothie in ‘slap’ mode on Ashes to Ashes.

I have to say that the Smoothie plays a big part in that deep sound you hear in Moonage Daydream. It is genuinely quite unlike any other Stingray I own - and I have a few! I’m sure @Chiliwailer would agree. All the more mystifying as to why his hasn’t sold yet, especially at that price.

Thank you kindly. The signal path is Musicman Stingray Old Smoothie > Darkglass Microtubes 900 > Barefaced Big Twin Generation III & DI'd to FOH (post effect). Nothing active on my board for this song.

The long list a couple posts up are songs already in play. Yes, Moonage is a great song to do 😀

Thanks Dave. Would be great to see you guys at a gig or two. Just trying to arrange a venue up near Cromer, Norfolk for next year and we’ve already had an invite back to Witney, Oxfordshire to play Fat Lil’s, so we’re beginning to spread ourselves a bit further. Although we should probably save it until the 20th anniversary in 2020, one idea we’ve had for next year is to play the whole of the (soon to be officially released) Glastonbury 2000 set. Just need to learn Hallo Spaceboy and we’re there!