6 replies to this topic

[John Kline]

Commenting on the introduction of a new, on-line registration form for people visiting the USA, Michael Restovich, from the US Department of Homeland Security, said: "We want to keep the bad people out."


Someone should tell him, they really should.

[somethinglikeant]

Tom Sharp

We must not only strike the iron while it is hot, we must strike it until it is hot.

[hazeyjane]

From an article I'm writing about Ghetto:

"I first met Mick and John way before Shack was even an idea, let alone a band. This was back in Stanhope Place and Mick had come down to play Dick some songs that he thought would be good to tout round as covers. I remember being invited in to meet them in Dick and Bryan’s big office, which was thick with Dick’s Montecristo cigar smoke. I was played the 3 or 4 songs (can’t remember the names and in fact I think one didn’t even have lyrics just Mick going la-la-la-la). They were very Bert Bacharach sounding but had some fantastic guitar riffs courtesy of John. Dick thought the songs would be great for Sandy Shaw (whom he knew from the 60’s). We chatted about lots of 60’s artists and it was here I found that Mick liked Arthur Lee and Love. I also remember Mick asking Dick about taking drugs in the 60’s and Dick saying he had never smoked dope. Mick said the nicotine hit from the cigars must be worse than any joint. Dick replied he never inhaled!"

"Mick got some band members together and we all went up to Liverpool to see a gig. I’d never seen Mick play live before and it summed up how we all felt about the band – there were flashes of absolute genius and beauty but you could never fully relax during any Mick Head gig as there was always that edge of danger where you felt the whole performance could crumble to bits at any moment. But in some ways that was what made the whole experience even more thrilling, that feeling of holding your breath until the last chords were dying away and only then could you exhale."

"I received a phone call at 2 in the morning from the studio engineer who had locked himself in the toilet because Mick had chased him in the carrying a wooden coffee table leg threatening to brain him for some sound issue. Mick had consumed a very generous amount of Brandy at this point and God knows what else. I had to get dressed go to the studio and calm things down."

[tca70]

hazeyjane, on 09 March 2012 - 12:28 AM, said:

From an article I'm writing about Ghetto:

"I first met Mick and John way before Shack was even an idea, let alone a band. This was back in Stanhope Place and Mick had come down to play Dick some songs that he thought would be good to tout round as covers. I remember being invited in to meet them in Dick and Bryan’s big office, which was thick with Dick’s Montecristo cigar smoke. I was played the 3 or 4 songs (can’t remember the names and in fact I think one didn’t even have lyrics just Mick going la-la-la-la). They were very Bert Bacharach sounding but had some fantastic guitar riffs courtesy of John. Dick thought the songs would be great for Sandy Shaw (whom he knew from the 60’s). We chatted about lots of 60’s artists and it was here I found that Mick liked Arthur Lee and Love. I also remember Mick asking Dick about taking drugs in the 60’s and Dick saying he had never smoked dope. Mick said the nicotine hit from the cigars must be worse than any joint. Dick replied he never inhaled!"

"Mick got some band members together and we all went up to Liverpool to see a gig. I’d never seen Mick play live before and it summed up how we all felt about the band – there were flashes of absolute genius and beauty but you could never fully relax during any Mick Head gig as there was always that edge of danger where you felt the whole performance could crumble to bits at any moment. But in some ways that was what made the whole experience even more thrilling, that feeling of holding your breath until the last chords were dying away and only then could you exhale."

"I received a phone call at 2 in the morning from the studio engineer who had locked himself in the toilet because Mick had chased him in the carrying a wooden coffee table leg threatening to brain him for some sound issue. Mick had consumed a very generous amount of Brandy at this point and God knows what else. I had to get dressed go to the studio and calm things down."

I enjoyed reading that, well written piece Matt. Any clue on what the article's for? Hopefully a rereleased/remastered retrospective of the back catalogue! It can't have done Shack any favours over the years that their records are so difficult to track down. You get some right shite being rereleased and repackaged these days so it's nothing short of criminal in the grand scheme of things.

Interesting to hear that Micks songs were being discussed with a view to the possibility of them being recorded by Sandie Shaw. Anything ever come of that? Or do we know if Mick has ever written for other artists? I'd imagine he must be sat on a massive stash of material. I remember Morrissey writing for Sandie back in the 90s or something "Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness' and 'Nothing Less than Brilliant' were two if I remember correctly.

Anyroad, nice article.

[hazeyjane]

tca70, on 09 March 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

hazeyjane, on 09 March 2012 - 12:28 AM, said:

From an article I'm writing about Ghetto:

"I first met Mick and John way before Shack was even an idea, let alone a band. This was back in Stanhope Place and Mick had come down to play Dick some songs that he thought would be good to tout round as covers. I remember being invited in to meet them in Dick and Bryan’s big office, which was thick with Dick’s Montecristo cigar smoke. I was played the 3 or 4 songs (can’t remember the names and in fact I think one didn’t even have lyrics just Mick going la-la-la-la). They were very Bert Bacharach sounding but had some fantastic guitar riffs courtesy of John. Dick thought the songs would be great for Sandy Shaw (whom he knew from the 60’s). We chatted about lots of 60’s artists and it was here I found that Mick liked Arthur Lee and Love. I also remember Mick asking Dick about taking drugs in the 60’s and Dick saying he had never smoked dope. Mick said the nicotine hit from the cigars must be worse than any joint. Dick replied he never inhaled!"

"Mick got some band members together and we all went up to Liverpool to see a gig. I’d never seen Mick play live before and it summed up how we all felt about the band – there were flashes of absolute genius and beauty but you could never fully relax during any Mick Head gig as there was always that edge of danger where you felt the whole performance could crumble to bits at any moment. But in some ways that was what made the whole experience even more thrilling, that feeling of holding your breath until the last chords were dying away and only then could you exhale."

"I received a phone call at 2 in the morning from the studio engineer who had locked himself in the toilet because Mick had chased him in the carrying a wooden coffee table leg threatening to brain him for some sound issue. Mick had consumed a very generous amount of Brandy at this point and God knows what else. I had to get dressed go to the studio and calm things down."

I enjoyed reading that, well written piece Matt. Any clue on what the article's for? Hopefully a rereleased/remastered retrospective of the back catalogue! It can't have done Shack any favours over the years that their records are so difficult to track down. You get some right shite being rereleased and repackaged these days so it's nothing short of criminal in the grand scheme of things.

Interesting to hear that Micks songs were being discussed with a view to the possibility of them being recorded by Sandie Shaw. Anything ever come of that? Or do we know if Mick has ever written for other artists? I'd imagine he must be sat on a massive stash of material. I remember Morrissey writing for Sandie back in the 90s or something "Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness' and 'Nothing Less than Brilliant' were two if I remember correctly.

Anyroad, nice article.

Yeah, cheers for that.

The Ghetto Recording Co article is actually for this website aimed at capturing those times and serve as short biog for Ghetto who have no real presence on the internet. It started two years ago with no prospect of completing it any time soon.

I have a few similar things on the go including a silent German Expressionist cinemagraphic style short film of suburban Liverpool decay which, in my head, will be narrated by Mick reading poetry over an alternating soundscape of the roaring sea, children playing, seagulls, amusement arcades, traffic and the wind.

[Jeff]

Ha! A good read... Who was the quote from Matt?

[hazeyjane]

Stuart Lawn provided the first two quotes and Paul Kinder provided the third.

I asked Mick a while ago who I should contact for a reliable account of the Ghetto days. He took out his pen and notebook and scribbled the name "Stuart Lawn" on the page.

Stuart recorded all those early demos in the basement studio at Star Street and was the "studio engineer" named in the third quote that Mick was attacking with the leg of a coffee table.