On February 17, 2014, Bob Casale died at the age of 61, in Los Angeles, California, due to heart failure. As with most musicians their legacy is both the influence and the music they leave behind, in the case of Casale what he accomplished with Devo is astounding.
The debut full-length album by Devo-“Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” broke into the UK charts reaching a high of number-twelve, that set the chain reaction of legend.
Although released to mixed reviews, since then Rolling Stone has listed in amongst the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it is also listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die-for a reason. It is the punk-electronic crossover, somewhere balancing between all-out rage and novelty recording. Produced by Brian Eno and David Bowie on the back of their experimental Berlin-trilogy, Devo became the perfect project.
“This is the band of the future”-David Bowie on Devo.
The strangest album-title comes from the lead single, released this month in 1978-“Jocko Homo" introduced the call-and-response "Are we not men?-We are Devo!". Indeed that single charted in the UK’s top-100.
“Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” broke down barriers as it reflected perfectly the state of rock-music. The death of glam, the cliches which were already falling into the punk movement and the heavyweight stadium acts who played for the money and not the audience is meshed into every inch of the album. It flung back the pretentious notions of the old-guard with a cover of The Rolling Stones “Satisfaction”, became spokespeople for the hippy-drug generation with “Too Much Paranoias”. In time Devo could be perceived as journalists, highlighting their perception of what the music business had become.
Bob Casale was intricate in the Devo sound, providing back vocals, keyboards and that sixties-based rhythm guitar sound. Though his later years was spent in the field of soundtracks to movies such as - Four Rooms, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the past would always reach for him in the form of reunion shows from 1996 until 2007.
Along with bands like Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, and Pere Ubu, Devo hailed a new era of electronic based compositions that set the trajectory for much of modern music. Looking deep with the modern framework of music points directly in the sound of LCD Soundsystem, Radiohead, even in Arcade Fire, you frequently find strong traces of Devo.
Kevin Burke Jan 2019
This month it’s been 23 years since Ministry released their cover version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Lay Lady Lay’!
This month it’s been 23 years since American industrial metal band Ministry released their cover version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Lay Lady Lay’ (February 1996). The song was performed earlier during a charity concert in October 1994, with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam performing the backing vocals. Later the studio version of the song was recorded and released as a 4 track CD single from Ministry’s sixth studio album, Filth Pig. The song also appears on the 2008 Ministry cover album, Cover Up. In the Rolling Stone magazine’s review of Filth Pig, critic Jon Wiederhorn wrote that the cover "amalgamates a deep distorted bass line, clicking electronic percussion, jangling acoustic guitars, ominous curls of feedback and Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen's trademark howls”.
Lay Lady Lay (CD) Tracklist
| Lay Lady Lay (Edit) | 5:10 |
| Lay Lady Lay (Album Version) | 5:45 |
| Paisley | 4:50 |
| Scarecrow (Live) | 8:18 |
Lyrics
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay lady stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
Stay lady stay
Heaven's fills our head
Whatever colors that you have in your mind
I show them on to you and you see them shine
Stay lady stay
Stay with your man a while
Till the break of day
Then you're gonna see him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing, he's ever seen
Why wait any longer for the world to begin?
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing over you?
Lay lady lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay lady stay
We're gonna build the whole night ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you all night
Lay lady lay
Lay lady lay
Lay lady lay
Lay lady lay
Lay lady lay
Songwriter: Bob Dylan
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
This February, it's 32 years since Kraftwerk released 'The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf'.
"The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" by the German band Kraftwerk was released in February 1987 as the second single from their ninth studio album, Electric Café (1986). The single became Kraftwerk’s second number-one on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and stayed two weeks at the number-one spot.
Although the somehow unsettling black-and-white video of this song suggests Wolfgang Flür is singing the lyrics, it’s actually Karl Bartos' vocals that can be heard.
The remixes on the singles were done by François Kevorkian.
The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" (7")
A. The Telephone Call (Remix) 3:49
B. Der Telefon-Anruf 3:49
The Telephone Call / Der Telefon-Anruf" (12")
A1. The Telephone Call (Remix) 3:49
A2. Der Telefon-Anruf 3:49
B1. House Phone 4:54
B2. Der Telefon-Anruf" (Remix)
The Telephone Call - Lyrics
[EN]
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
You're so close but far away
I call you up all night and day
I give you my affection and I give you my time
Trying to get a connection on the telephone line
I call you up from time to time
To hear your voice on the telephone line
I call you up from time to time
To hear your voice on the telephone line
[DE]
Ich geb' dir meine Zuneigung und meine Zeit
Ich muß dich wiedersehen, wann ist es soweit?
Du bist mir nah und doch so fern
Ich ruf' dich an, ich hör' dich gern
Songwriters: Florian Schneider Esleben / Karl Bartos / Ralf Huetter
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
One year ago Peek-a-Boo and Black Easter founder Ward De Prins passed away...
On this day just one year ago we received some very sad news that blew us away … our dear friend Ward De Prins, co-founder and one of the main driving forces behind our Peek-a-Boo Magazine, curator of the Black-Easter Festival, and so much more … had unexpectly left us for good.
His love for music and especially the more darkish alternative and out of the ordinary music was so intense, he dedicated most, if not all, of his free time to Peek-a-Boo Magazine. He was always ready to give his full support to bands, promoters, editors and writers who shared the same musical passion!
Ward's music preferences were quite eclectic, he loved Einstürzende Neubauten, Goethes Erben, Pink Floyd and Coil, to name a few … but he was also very fond of many vocal artists, classical music and opera…
But his real and all-time hero … was without doubt … David Bowie who also left this planet only 2 years before!
Only a couple of weeks before Ward passed away, he shared with us he was still unable to open and listen to his still sealed copy of Bowie's last album Black Star. Now his sorrow is over and he is reunited with his hero.
Ward passed away on 14th February at his home in Antwerp, he was only 48.
Rest In Peace our dear friend! Things are not the same anymore... WE MISS YOU!
20.04 + 21.04 Black Easter 2019 - In memory of Ward De Prins
Just one week before his death, Ward also told his friends he was again full of energy and ready for another edition of Black Easter in 2019... sadly he would never live to tell... But some of Ward's closest friends decided to still make his last dream come true! Based on found a personal band wishlist and with the full support of Ward's family these friends have now succeeded in putting together a worthy Black Easter edition for 2019.
Exact één jaar geleden moesten wij op deze dag helaas heel triest nieuws brengen...
Ward De Prins, mede-oprichter en een van de belangrijkste stuwende krachten achter Peek-A-Boo-Magazine, curator van het Black-Easter Festival, en nog veel meer... was niet meer.....
Ward's liefde voor muziek en vooral voor de iets donkere alternative en ongewone muziek was zo intens dat hij het grootste deel van zijn vrije tijd besteedde aan Peek-a-Boo Magazine. Hij was ook altijd bereid om zijn volledige steun te geven aan bands, promotors, redacteuren en schrijvers die dezelfde muzikale passie deelden!
Ward's muziekvoorkeur was behoorlijk eclectisch; zo hield hij van Einstürzende Neubauten, Goethes Erben, Pink Floyed en Coil, om er maar een paar te noemen... Daarnaast was hij was ook gek van vele vocale artiesten, klassieke muziek en opera...
Maar zijn echte en all-time held was zonder twijfel …David Bowie.
Nog maar enkele weken voor zijn overlijden vertelde hij ons dat hij nog steeds niet naar het laatste en nog steeds ongeopende album van zijn held had kunnen luisteren. Nu is zijn verdriet gelukkig over en is hij herenigd met zijn held.
Ward overleed afgelopen maandagavond 12 februari een jaar geleden in zijn huis in Antwerpen, hij was pas 48 geworden.
Rust in vrede, beste vriend!! De dingen zijn niet meer hetzelfde zonder jou! We missen je enorm!
20.04 + 21.04 Black Easter 2019 - In memory of Ward De Prins
Nog geen week voor zijn onverwachte overlijden vertelde Ward zijn vrienden dat hij volledig klaar stond om een nieuwe editie van Black Easter neer te zetten. Helaas zou hij het niet meer kunnen waarmaken. Daarom besloten enkele van Ward's beste vrienden om zijn uitgesproken droom waar te maken. Op basis van een gevonden wenslijstje met artiesten en met de volledige steun van de familie slaagden deze vrienden er in een volwaardige Black Easter 2019 samen te stellen.
Today, exactly 40 years ago, John Peel broadcast the first Peel Sessions, performed by Joy Division
Today, exactly 40 years ago (14 February 1979) John Peel broadcast the first Peel Sessions, a studio live session performed and recorded by Joy Division at the BBC Maida Vale studios in London on January 31st, 1979.
Below the setlist of this recording & broadcast session.
Exercise One
Insight
She's Lost Control
Transmission
At the time of broadcasting, all performed songs were previously unreleased.
Later that same year, on 10th December, John Peel broadcast a second recording session by Joy Division
7 years later, in 1986, the first 'The Peel Sessions' EP, was released by Strange Fruit Records. The version of Transmission featured on this EP is one of the few recordings available where both Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner played guitars at the same time.
The EP spent thirteen weeks on the UK Indie Chart, peaking at number 4.
The release of a second volume of the Joy Division Peel Sessions would follow in 1987.
Below you can listen to the original repeat transmission broadcasted by John Peel on 5th April.
Vandaag precies 40 jaar geleden (14 februari 1979) zond John Peel de eerste Peel Sessions uit, een live studio sessie uitgevoerd en opgenomen door Joy Division in de BBC Maida Vale studios in Londen op 31 januari 1979.
Onderstaand de setlist van deze opname sessie.
Exercise One
Insight
She's Lost Control
Transmission
Ten tijde van de uitzending waren alle uitgevoerde nummers nog niet uitgebracht.
Later dat jaar, op 10 december, zond John Peel een tweede opgenomen sessie van Joy Division uit.
7 Jaar later, in 1986, werd de eerste 'The Peel Sessions' EP uitgebracht door Strange Fruit Records. De versie van Transmission op deze EP is een van de weinige beschikbare opnames waarop zowel Ian Curtis als Bernard Sumner gelijktijdig gitaar spelen.
De EP stond dertien weken in de UK Indie Chart, met als hoogste notering plaats 4 op deze lijst.
Een tweede deel van de Joy Division Peel Sessions zou in 1987 worden uitgebracht.
Hieronder kun je luisteren naar het origineel transmission uitgezonden door John Peel op 5 april.
