Vinyl Burns: December Vinyl

Howza Browza (internet greeting)

This is how I look on the inside.

Here’s my latest podcast thing.  My people say it’s important to keep putting them out, just saying hello and talking a lot.

I can see what they mean, because I’m listenable.  But… and I do mean it, I’m aware that this text blog is where you might come to read my genius… and to have the audio jammed in your face, is maybe a bit unwelcome.

So, from now on, the audio podcast will only be available directly through subscribing to it on itunes, or other great podcast service providers.  I’ll also probably tweet out the links, so follow me on @vinylburns

 

Also, just an apology because I was very passionate about this podcast, so I was way too close to the microphone… so it’s a bit buzzy from time to time.

OK… here’s the thing.

VB

Visit http://ipad.io/miB to hear my latest ipadio phonecast

Or listen here:

A Summer Tour

This is going to be weird.

I’m about to head out on tour.  Now, that in itself isn’t too strange… I’m certainly not unfamiliar to the grime of the vaudeville road, that’s why I take so many baths.  Thing is… since retiring down here in tropical electric paradise, most, if not all of my touring has been undertaken in the form of a giant, lengthy, commitment laden “northern summer” tour of such salubrious festival circuits as Canada, Eastern Europe, The U.A.E., Brazil and even the Spanish clubber’s beach paradise El Campello.

Spanish Club Dates 1988

This time it will be different. This time, it will be local.

Now, despite being retired, I still keep my hand in some pretty fruity pies down here… in part, to inspire a new generation of wannabes, but also, to be honest, because I can’t stay away from the business.  It’s in my blood… and it’s not alone, so I gots to keep the show biz pumping through my veins, or the biological ratio of good vs evil will get all out of whack… and who needs that.

So, I work a healthy circuit of gigs here.  All kinds of shit… all across the board… all tiers, classes, creeds, flavours, genders, budgets, venues, menus…   I soak it all up, cos I like to keep it real.  Also, it’s a small place, and there aren’t too many options.

This time around though, I’ve switched it up.  After 12 years of being woo’d and quietly coaxed, I’ve relented, and will be attending the Christchurch World Buskers Festival.

Now this is a nice gig…  Chilled schedule, beautiful locals, and a good solid pampering for the crew.  But what makes it very very odd for me, is having all my buddies from the northern circuits right here, now, shoulder to shoulder, on my turf.  Circumstance finally allowing me to play host to some of my closest friends and finest acts on the planet.  I will love it, as will all the performers and public fans alike…

The Worlds Finest Clowns

The novelty, and resulting weirdness I feel about it all, has reminded me why I chose this neglected backchannel to wind down my career with the grace and dignity it deserves…  You see, by retiring here, where there’s next to nothing going on, I can help to build a faith and passion in this industry, yet with the non-threatening status of “retired legend”, putting the youngsters at their ease.  I wear the respect, without the agro.

That’s all well and good, but sometimes, when the world comes to town for ten days, and you’re invited to go play with them… it’s mighty nice to feel the local breeze on your chest, hear the local voices in your head, and drink the local wines, with your local lips.

I welcome the world’s best to Christchurch this month, and hope you’ll live the dream with us.

Kia Ora Kaha Te Whanau

Vinyl

Vinyl Burns on the BBC 6Music

Hello listeners,

[subscribe to this blog via email]

I received word this evening, that the BBC’s Chris Hawkins (BBC6music) had retold the old legend regarding the origin of my band’s name…

Here is the transcript of the mention on the show…

“…The New Zealand variety showman Vinyl Burns (real name George Gallagher) called his band “The Flavour Of Yesterday” apparently because during rehearsal weeks, the drummer Johnny Martin, used to leave the same pile of snacks next to his drum kit for days, sometimes weeks.  It was the running joke with the band, that that was how he got that authentic retro feel, because he was eating “the flavour of yesterday”.”

Johnny Martin Stepper Circa 1976 Brazil Tour

That’s how it went to air… and it’s largely accurate.  I do want to amend a few things though.

It was the legendary Brazilian tour of 1976.  We were sitting at #64 on the Brizilian charts, with “Touch Me In The Velvet”, and while we didn’t speak the language… we could tell, people were talking.

In these heady times, it wasn’t uncommon to have our backstage sanctuary invaded by admirers and party goers.  We each had our own way of dealing with the lack of privacy…  Johnny just used to pretend he was a soldier in Korea, and that nobody could see him, because we were in Brazil.

That’s my kind of genius.

Myself, I didn’t like to say no to the fans.

Eventually I worked out that I should employ people to say no for me, but back then I was a bit too much of a yes man… and I said yes a lot, we all did. In fact, once the tour was over, we sat down, with some accountants, and worked out that, between us, we’d said yes to about 12% of Brazil.  Not bad for a band of gringos.

My real name IS Vinyl… George Gallagher was my travel double. His job was to run out of the venue or the hotel, looking a lot like me, and distract the bulk of the fans and autograph hunters, so I was free to pose for the paparazzi without interruption.

George is still with us, but I’ve lowered my profile (for environmental reasons), so now he’s just on call should I need ever him.

Indeed, those were good times… We began the band as “Vinyl Burns and A Group Of Gentlemen He Met By The Pool”, but this band name lead to confusion amongst our fans, and lead to a lot of budding musicians hanging around bothering me when I was swimming.

Don't mess with his lounging

So, we spent the best part of  the 1976  tour changing the band name every second or third show. We knew that we had to take the time it took to find the right organic name for our venture, but the constant re-branding made for small houses, and a marketing nightmare.  At one point, management were repressing the album several times a week, just to reprint the artwork.  You can still find collectible copies that album under the names listed below. We even re-recorded the track “I’m Vinyl and my band is called Knuckle Dusters”, the revised lyrics being “I’m Vinyl and my band is pretty swell”.

Ironically, the flip-side of releasing the same album 17 times under different band names, came  on September 14th, 1976, when the single “Touch Me In The Velvet”, peaked at #45, #25, # 17, #16 and #4 on the Brazilian charts.

Here are the names we appeared under during the great Brazilian tour of 1976.

Brazilian hair Do - 1976

Vinyl Burns and the Servants Of Daytona

Vinyl Burns and the Dutch Caress

Vinyl and the Dutch Water Caress

Speed Burns and the Vinyl Discs

Vinyl Burns and the Licorice Whips

Vinyl Burns and the Killer BeeGees

Vinyl Burns and the Aura of Young Guilt

Vinyl Burns and the Rainbow Justice Band

Vinyl Burns and the Hot Knuckle Dusters

Vinyl Burns and the Complicated Situation

Vinyl Jones and Goats of Jerome

The Electric Swan and a Squandered Charity Fund

Vinyl Burns and the Trouble With Smoking

The Apocalypse of Time featuring Vinyl Burns

Vinyl Burns and the Untapped Potential

Vinyl Burns and the Untouchable Distance To Bedtime

Vinyl Burns and his Squadron of African Money Men

Johnny Calming Down One Of The Groupies

Vinyl Burns and the Ugly Scars

Vinyl Burns and a Picnic with Ladies

Vinyl Burns and the Extortion Attempts

Vinyl Burns Like A Monkey Fink

Vinyl Burns and the Legends of Monkey Canyon

Vinyl Burns and the Dirt That’s Too Close

Vinyl Burns and the Greedy Jesus Orchestra

Vinyl Burns and a Christmas Surprise

Vinyl Burns and the Boxing Day Fistfights

Vinyl Burns and the Lifetime Banned

Vinyl Burns and the Easy Jews

Vinyl Burns and the Old Snacks

Vinyl Burns and the Old Snakes

Vinyl Burns and the Johnny Snackers

Vinyl Burns and Yesterdays Gravy

Vinyl Burns and the Disgusting Drummers

The Johnny Martin Band featuring Vinyl Burns

Vinyl Burns – Solo

Vinyl Burns and Maybe It’s A Shabby Plan

Vinyl Burns and the Late Departure Seven

Vinyl Burns and the Late Departure Six

Vinyl Burns and the Accidental Mardi Gras

Vinyl Burns and the Innocent Children

and finally…

Vinyl Burns and the Flavour of Yesterday.

It was a long and ugly Brazilian winter, but by the end of that 5 week tour, we knew each other inside out, and it was more than enough to hold us together for another 23 years.

These days, we’re just happy to get together for the odd charity or reunion show.

Glad to rock, in one anothers’ company, just one more time.

To The Flavour…

I Salute You.

VB

www.vinylburns.com

 

Johnny Hyperventilating