down here in babylon

A big thanks to everyone who has mentioned my site whilst ordering copies of the film Babylon from Dub Vendor. I got a nice email from them 😉

They now have copies on DVD. (tho, as ever, I can’t vouch for quality cos I don’t have a copy and it’s not an entirely authorised release…)

blissblog

G.C. COLEMAN: ALL HAIL THE ORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIGINAL JUNGLIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!. 

Very much liking the bizarre alleys which Reynolds is running down at the moment (and not just cos he gives credit where credit is due… good to see Jim in the mix as well) – something very infectious about the sheer zeal and smiliness of his writing right now.

(Then again, he IS writing about jungle and nurse with wound, so the big red button marked “Oi! John!” is firmly depressed anyhow).

I did a google for GC Coleman and didn’t really come up with much. But I did get the low-down on what I assume is another GC Coleman who had produced a paper entitled:

“Cystic prostatic disease in ferrets with proliferative adrenocortical lesions.”

forsooth, HOW Nurse With Wound is that?

hic hac hoc

Merrick’s Strawberry Switchblade site (see below) includes an exclusive interview with none other than Bill Drummond, who was their manager for a time.

Also quite a lot of stuff on Rose’s subsequent work with Psychic TV, Current 93, Boyd Rice, etc and her somewhat obsessive interest in paganism and the occult.

I think the ONLY record I ever nicked off my sister was “since yesterday”.

A Million Mikey Dreads Will Flower

Dubversion muddying the waters by claiming that it is the same Mikey Dread.

He wrong, though. (And should update his blog.)

Mikey Dread – Dread at the Controls (aka Michael Campbell, lives in Florida). Did stuff with the Clash, also (I think) the first to use many “staple” samples such as “excuse me, sir would you mind saying that again?” and “you got a toyntable? Well get on it, it’s your toyn!”

The Channel One, Notting Hill, Mikey Dread. (lives in Stratford!).

And an honorary mention must go to Big Mikey Dread, who runs this excellent Johnny Clarke site.

I think DATC MD tried to get Notting Hill MD to change his name and the 3rd BMD got very confused in the cross-fire (and indeed was not alone in that) but is now alright with DATC.

There is also a MARTIN Campbell, who runs a record label called Channel One (UK) which is not connected with either the JA label (and sound, as was), or the UK Soundsystem.

And in addition to that, a Michael ‘Reuben’ Campbell who produced some Aswad LPs and sadly passed away recently.

Got that? Good.

In the next lesson we will discuss the numerous activities of the various “Al Campbells” in reggae.

what’s in a name?

Over at Reggae News, an interview with Mikey Dread* of the Channel One** soundsystem. Didn’t make carnival this year, but Channel One is always the one to check.

————
* As far as I know, not Mikey Dread of “Dread at the Controls” and collaborations with The Clash fame

** Not connected in any way (as far as I know) with the legendary JA label.

Which is an interesting conundrum, I suppose, because THIS Mikey Dread is a legend of the UK dub scene with well over 25 years’ experience behind him…

Lloyd Bradley mentions a few of these liberal reuses of names in his book “Bass Culture” including a UK soundsystem called “King Tubbys Hi-Fi” which had a DJ called “U-Roy” – with NO connections whatsoever to their namesakes.

crikey

Well, Paul certainly isn’t pulling any punches in the Agony Shorthand vs roots debate.

I got a nice email from Jay and was too knackered to reply to it properly but I think we have agreed to differ and agreed that differing is a good thing, in general, in the nerdosphere.

Weird to see Reynolds talking about UK-Dance as well, in terms of the all-consuming power of online ranting. Personally I love it, but I rarely completely lose it with people.

I often wonder if (depite protestations to the contrary) yer bosses actually like employees ranting online at work, because it’s a good way of letting off steam?