THE MISSING LINK


Gone, but one to never forget, LENNY HELSING pays tribute to Oz-punk legend, IAN THOMAS.


On 17th August 2009, Ian Thomas, 61 year old former bassist with ’60s Australian R&Beat- punks The Missing Links, died in Cambodia. He had been living in the country for five years, teaching music, and as Gypsy Davy, had recently released a CD of ballad folk songs. The Missing Links’ electrifying


noise included such shockers as ‘You’re Drivin’ Me Insane’, ‘Don’t Give Me No Friction’ and the incredible ‘Wild About You’. The last of which gained extra punk credentials when The Saints included it on their ’77 Harvest label debut (I’m) Stranded. The group’s notoriety grew from chaotic


appearances in the Sydney clubs and their unkempt image and extreme onstage behaviour was the complete antithesis of what was happening in Australia at that time. Their self- titled sole LP was released on Philips in December ’65 and aside from bass, Thomas took lead vocals for Eddie Cochran’s ‘Nervous Breakdown’ and his own echoey ballad, ‘Not To Bother Me’. After helping to rejuvenate the ‘Links,


adding an extra heavy dose of punk menace with his gargantuan bass throb, once the band split for good in mid ’66, Thomas returned to The Showmen and, as Thomas Hood, tried his luck as a solo singer. Andy James (aka Anderson) former frontman of The Missing Links remembers Ian as a “true original”.


RIOT ON THE SUNSET STRIP Shoppers and revellers at Hollywood’s Amoeba Music warehouse on Sunset Boulevard were treated to a rare appearance by garage legends The Standells last month. Performing for the first time in their native Southern California for over 20 years, the band were joined onstage by Jackie De Shannon, PF Sloan and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy in support of Rhino’s latest Where The Action Is retrospective boxset. Tearing through a mean version of key anthology track ‘Riot On Sunset Strip’, the newly assembled group saw founder member Larry Tamblyn joined by former members John Fleck and Paul Downing along with newly assigned drummer Greg Burnham.


CC RIDES AGAIN Fans of Motown’s most enigmatic blonde ambition, Chris Clark, will be thrilled to hear that the cult soul songstress will be making a welcomed return to the UK this month for two unique shows. Joining Brenda Holloway, Thelma Houston and Mable John on the 11th November at The London Jazz Café and HMV Hammersmith Apollo (13th) news of Clark’s imminent arrival, and the prospect of catching cult standards ‘Do Right Baby Do Right’ and the Berry Gordy penned ‘I Want To Go Back Home’ will no doubt mark an important date in the calendars for both soul brothers and sisters alike.


PLINTH CHARMING


Last issue, Shindig! told you the story of Wimple Winch. Recently, Dee Christopholus, rhythm guitarist with the band, was selected to participate in Antony Gormley’s One & Other project of one- hour art performances on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. Dee played Wimple Winch records and espoused the Freakbeat Manifesto with a copy of Shindig! in his hands. For a link to the video and to read the manifesto go to www.shindig-magazine.com


SHRED YR FACE THRICE The popular Shred Yr Face tour returns this November at a variety of venues across the UK. Although the ear- shredding nature of previous inaugurations of the tour are traded in for the appeal of the resurgent new-psych-folk revival, which will see Philadelphian powerhouse (with British folk leanings) Espers joining The Cave Singers and one of Shindig!’s favourite new folk duos, Woods. Stopping at Manchester’s Academy 3, the ULU in London, the Fleece in Bristol, the Electric Circus in Edinburgh and the Crawdaddy in Dublin. www.shredyrface.com


PINK FAIRIES DO IT ALL OVER!


A pub-fuelled rumour turns possible reunion? RICH DEAKIN explains why Pink Fairies are back… and reworking.


The Pink Fairies line-up of Paul Rudolph, Russell Hunter and Duncan ‘Sandy’ Sanderson have reunited to re-record their classic anthem ‘Do It!’ for a forthcoming Deviants and Pink Fairies tribute CD, which also doubles as a testimonial to their good friend and stalwart road manager Boss Goodman, who suffered a stroke three years ago. The recording session, which took place at Studio 284 in Brighton on 11th


September was co-produced by founder member of The Damned, Brian James, and saw the three play together for the first time in over 34 years. The following night there was a get together in a pub on Portobello Road – the


Fairies’ old stomping ground. Sandy, Paul and Russell all agreed how great it had been playing together again, and when asked if the recording session was a one-off, Sandy confessed that an interested party has offered to fly Paul Rudolph back over from Canada to record a new Pink Fairies’ album. Russell confirmed, “Yes there is talk, yet again, of an album. And why not?” Not before cautiously adding, “But it is still just talk.” When pressed on the subject of playing live again Russell was less positive,


although neither Paul nor Sandy ruled out the possibility of a one-off live reunion, or maybe even a few live dates. Perhaps The Pink Fairies might fly again yet!


For more info on the forthcoming Deviants and Pink Fairies tribute CD visit www.myspace.com/deviants_pinkfairies MOVE OVER ROVER!


Our Number One Prisoner professor EMMA STOTT tells us what to expect from a cult classic reborn.


This November sees the American screening and remake of cult darling The Prisoner, produced by AMC and scheduled for UK screens in early 2010 on ITV. Billed as ‘cinematic’, the extended trailer is certainly


a glossy, high action sort of fare, with sweeping shots of the desert, serving as this version’s Village. Oddly making Africa, an even stranger exodus than the original alien setting of Portmeirion, Wales. Jim Caviezel takes the lead as Number Six, and Ian McKellen the sinister


Number Two – a departure from the original series in that Two will be played by the same actor throughout. What writer Bill Gallagher has chosen to retain however are the same themes of paranoia and scrutiny which permeated Patrick McGoohan’s series, as well as the basic plot with Caviezel arriving suddenly in the Village, only to be mercilessly interrogated. AMC recently uploaded a small snippet of the forthcoming series and although


unfair to judge, the desert landscapes are startling, perhaps too overwhelmingly open to complement the themes, and Caviezel has much to live up to. Yet McKellen’s playing of Two has a shiver of Laurence Olivier’s O’Brien in Nineteen Eighty Four, which is by all accounts a promising interpretation. The series will run for a lean six episodes, and may leave the way open for more


to follow. And after much debate, it was decided that lethal balloon Rover will be making an appearance. Unmutual not to really... For more info on AMC’s The Prisoner visit www.amctv.com


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Photo: Tim Rundall


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