Damien at one of the final Rifles gigs at Narrabeen RSL.
The loss of Damien Lovelock to cancer in 2019 left a yawning gap in more than just Australian rock and roll. The frontman for the cherished Celibate Rifles had by then become an cookbook author, a sporting commentator, a father, a yoga teacher and a raconteur.
The records show that the Rifles formed in Sydney in 1979 and amassed nine studio and three live albums along the way, making inroads into Europe and the USA. The band did not achieve mainstream successs, but did forge a path for high-energy yet thoughtful rock and roll. They inspired countless others to follow and do things, as the Rifles had, on their own terms.
Damo’s dry wit, laconic vocal and powerful stage presence were uneniable. Away from the music, his ability to talk the (blind) ear off anyone who wanted to engage him in conversation made him similarly unforgettable.
In October 2010, rusted-on Rifles fan Earl O’Neill sat down with Damien at a Narrabeen café. The interview that appears here was part of a planned book about the band (you can read a previous extract about the Rifles’ formative days here.) The book idea has long been shelved but the conversation stands up as a snapshot of the Rifles and the motivations of Damo himself. Peta Couvret transcribed the conversation.
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- By Earl O'Neill
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Photo by @alltoz696
Japanese madmen Guitar Wolf are bringing their brand of high energy rock ‘n’ roll to Australia for the umpteenth time. Inspired by ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll and ‘70s punk, Guitar Wolf always put on a balls-to-the-wall show, with energy and intensity that no-one can match MATT RYAN spoke with Guitar Wolf mastermind SEIJI via email on the eve of the tour.
I-94: I saw you guys at the Gaso in Collingwood back in 2023, and you’re coming back. I take it you must love coming here to come back so often and quickly?
Seiji: Of course! Australia is paradise for Japanese people, and I love the rock that was born from this country.
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- By Matt Ryan
- Hits: 1932
The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 livein Brisbane. Lucas Ciechanowski photo.
The Barman has put out Brisbane duo Mick Medew and Ursula's new record “In the Zone” on I-94 Bar Records. A bit of background (in case you're still sleeping off an Australia Day hangover...
Mick formed The Screaming Tribesmen back in 1981, and while there have been a number of members (including Ron Peno, Murray Shepherd and Mark Kingsmill), it's arguable that they're perhaps best remembered for their lives shows, classic 1983 single "Igloo", and 1987 album "'Bones and Flowers". Chris "Klondike" Masuak was a member from 1984-1989.
So, yeah, is this old-man rock? Curiously, the Tribesmen, and Mick's current releases with I-94 Bar, seem to find favour with younger folk these days as well. Curious, I decided to ask Mick a few questions.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1568
Sara Alice Ceccarelli photo.
He's as well known in Australia for fronting '80s Melbourne blues rockers The Wreckery as he is in Eruope for his work with The True Spirit, Fatalists and Dirtmusic, and onetime Bad Seeds guitarist Hugo Race is a man who never stands still. His latest album is a moody collaboration with Michaelangelo Russo called "100 Years" that's as sweeping in its musical vision as it is deeply rooted in the blues.
After immersing himself in "100 Years, Robert Brokenmouth was prompted to seek an audience with Hugo and ask him some probing questions. Their wide-ranging chat is here.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1824
Filmmaker Jason Axel Summers (right) with Stuart Gray. in Jason’s apartment. This “Stutue” was commissioned by Jason and depicts him with his Super 8 camera and light meter in either hand. The white of the lens and the sensor on the meter are made of glow in the dark epoxy. Stuart used his own hair as the hair on the Stutue
US filmmaker Jason Axel Summers' documentary about Australian-born musical anarchist and visual artist, Stuart Gray, “I Should Have Been Dead Years Ago”, is a prime example of what fantastic music there is out there to discover, and an excellent example of 'if you had expectations about this man, leave 'em at the door”.
Many I-94 Barflies will know of Stuart Gray (aka Stu Spasm), but not so much his music. If there's any justice, as a result of this documentary, Stuart will become a TV star and take his latest band, the New York City-based Art Gray Noizz Quartet, on an international stadium tour, complete with middle-aged ladies heaving their undies at him, while his oddly-insightful sculptures will sell for hundreds of thousands.
But hey, we live in a real world of struggle, pain, indifference, beauty, sin and downright foolishness, don't we.
So let's have a little yak with Jason Axel Summers, the somewhat determined man behind “I Should Have Been Dead Years Ago”.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 2556
Who is Chris Charlesworth? Well, you may well have a few of his books in your overflowing rock book shelves; a couple on David Bowie, four on the Who, one apiece on Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Slade, and Elvis. Go search Trove or Abebooks dot com and see what you can find.
In short, he is an acclaimed author, editor and interviewer. He was staff writer for UK music magazine Melody Maker in the ‘70s when it was arguably at the peak of its power. As its News Editor - and from 1973, US Editor, based in New York - he interviewed and/or wrote about just about every rock icon of the era.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1566
Smoked Salmon (Melbourne) (from left) Jeff Hooker, Claire Birchall, Kim Salmon and Doug Galbraith.
Kim Salmon's Smoked Salmon is the latest project for the Scientists/Beasts of Bourbon co-founder member and internationally revered avant-garde art rocker Kim Salmon.
Kim recently premiered a new video for "How Did They Ever Manage", the first single from the forthcoming new album on Cheersquad Records & Tapes. "How Did they Ever Manage" debuted at #1 on the AIR 100% Independent Singles chart earlier in the month.
The video was put together by Benny J Ward (of Rinehearts fame) at Pink House Productions, featuring images captured by Maxine Pryce.
Robert Brokenmouth jumped at the chance to put Kim on the spot and ask questions about his latest project.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 2370
Van Ruin (the band) are bassist Pete Trifunovic (Mushroom Planet and Sonic Garage), Phil Van Rooyen, guitarist Al Creed and drummer Stu Wilson preparing for their live debut this weekend past.
Van Ruin is, I suppose, the Australian way of pronouncing Phil Van Rooyen's surname. Perhaps best known to I-94-Barflies as one of the guitarists and vocalists in Manly's finest, Chickenstones, Phil has also been a mainstay of Panadolls, the Circus Chaplains, and Sonic Garage. Van Ruin is also the name of his new solo band.
Phil's influences have always been worn on his fretboard; phrasing seems not so much Detroit rock but more Radio Birdman, New Christs, Celibate Rifles or even Died Pretty ... That said, he developed his own way of thinking and playing long ago; to my mind, he's a distinctive and, with other writing partner and Chickenstones bandmate, Andy Doc Temple Ellard, a very under-rated musician and songwriter.
The debut EP by Van Ruin, "Jails, Death & Institutions”, is out now on Crankinhaus Records so I asked Phil a few questions.
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- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 2152
New Dictator Keith Roth flanked by (from left) Andy Shernoff, Albert Bouchard and Ross The Boss.
As far as reformations go, it was a longshot at best. We speak not of Oasis, but the much more seminal and important Dictators, out of New York City, who all and sundry figured had drawn their last collective breath after some bitter internal fallings-out.
The May 2020 announcement that the Dictators were reassembling - sans longtime frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba) - caught the world unaware. Before the first single, “Let’s Get The Band Back Together”, hit the Interwebs, it seemed similarly implausible that the new line-up was recording.
A new album, the plain language-titled “The Dictators” will be released online and on CD in September, with vinyl to follow in October. Which leads us to ask: How did punk rock’s original misfits and premier proto-punk influences find their way to being a band again?
Co-founder and songwriter Andy Shernoff gives us all the answers, live and on the line thanks to the wonders of Zoom…
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- By The Barman
- Hits: 8643
More Articles …
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- Messin' With The Drummer: A pot of tea with Ivor Hay
- Getting back in The Grooveyard: Jon Schofield looks back (just a little)
- FLASHBACK: Dennis Thompson and The American Ruse
- Ahoy! Ahoy! The Skids are coming
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