Bethlehem on Christmas Day : 20,000 Dead - The Hypocrisy of The West

 

Nirvana / Marine Girls

 

 

 

Marine Girls was an English band that comprised Tracey Thorn, Alice Fox and Jane Fox. Thorn later became famous as part of the duo Everything But The Girl.

In 1994, eleven years after the Marine Girls split up, Thorn was appearing on Later with Jools Holland. Also on the TV show that night, with her own band, was Courtney Love, the widow of Kurt Cobain. Just before the cameras started rolling Love looked across to Thorn's stage, put down her guitar and strode across the empty central area. "Hey", she said, "you're Tracey from the Marine Girls! Kurt and I were both huge fans of your band". Thorn managed to mumble something polite in return, before Love strode back and the show continued.

At the time Thorn wasn't sure that she entirely believed her. Later, though, she discovered that an old friend had travelled to Oregon, formed a band, and then signed to the same record label that ultimately signed Nirvana. He had played the Marine Girls album Beach Party to Kurt and Courtney. 

Years later, in 2002, Kurt Cobain's journals were published. The album Beach Party is listed as one of Nirvana's Top 50 albums, along with the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and Public Enemy. 

From that album...

 

 And from the album 'Lazy Ways'...

Place In The Sun (1983).

Pub & Cinema : Canon T70

Odeon Cinema, Weston super Mare. June 2023.

[ Tch.., I forgot to ask the developer to scan the above, so this is an Iphone photo of the original ]

Canon T70  (1985)

Kodak Colorplus 200

1980's Angular design, I love it. 

Leaf & Flower : Casio Exilim EX-P700

 July 2023.

3072 x 2304 Fine

ISO 160    F4.0   1/40 sec

3072 x 2304 Fine

ISO 160    F2.8     1/100 sec

 

Casio Exilim EX-P700   (2004)

  

Kevin Ayers ..... Galen Ayers .... Paul Simonon

 Kevin Ayers, from 1970, a tribute to Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd.

 

 'May I' (1972).... ( Mike Oldfield, pre 'Tubular Bells', on bass ). 

 

Daughter, Galen Ayers with Paul Simonon ... 2023

Organ by 1960's Farfisa, dug out from his collection of instruments by Damon Albarn. Albarn played occasional melodica on the album.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

As a student in 1971, I bought Neil Young's album After The Gold Rush.  And later, the cassette tape. The album disappeared along the way, and the cassette lay in the depths of my forgotten about.

One of the tracks was this.... 

 

Fast forward 20 years to 1991. At the wheel of my car, sat in heavy traffic in Wimbledon, South London..., rain pouring down as I headed for home in Hampshire after a day's work. Then this came on the radio. Such a brilliant version of Neil Young's song.  Completely transformed my day. Still love it. 

When you were young

And on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking of games
That I was playing
Trying to make the best of my time

 

  

 

PS. The player of the melodica is Debsey Wykes, who 40+ years ago was a member of a band called Dolly Mixture. Round about then they did a tour as support to Bad Manners. I was really into ska, and 2-Tone back then, and made sure to obtain a ticket when Bad Manners played at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.  Dolly Mixture, as support, were on stage first, and it soon became obvious that there was a bit of a problem. They were attired in Doc Martens boots, as were the skinheads up front, just under the stage. And there was lots of gobbing, the skins spitting at the band. 

Eventually, after quite a while of putting up with this shit, the band stopped playing, and one of them stepped forward and said either the spitting ceased, or they'd walk.   The spitting ceased. 

Anyway, a little while later, Dolly Mixture did backing vocals on the No 1 hit.. " Happy Talk ".....