Took a japanese friend to a tism gig a few years ago. She could hardly speak for a few days after that.

But what is burned strongly onto my memory is that the entire TISM set was accompanied by a full wedding reception taking place on stage behind the band. Long table, 3-story cake, bride, groom, bridesmaids and best men, all fully dolled up and nodding politely to one another. The utter banality of it all was spectacular and the contrast with the manic writhing taking place in front was sheer poetry. Not many bands ever imagined operating on that plane. They were a one-off.

The nude cricket playing on stage at glenworth (it was a hot day!)

Funky light suits at BDO

And I think they had red dragon suits at a homebake.

The big signs before every song.

My condolences to Jock’s family. His music touched a large number of people, and made them smile.

I’m sure Jock would be smirking and appreciating that TISM staple ‘40 Years-Then Death’ right about now. I still say ‘Saturday Night Palsy’ is one of the best songs they wrote but perhaps none more fitting for Jock than that B-side on the ‘Yob’ single, ‘The Last Australian Guitar Hero’.

Some friends of hers organised a benefit concert, partly to raise money for anything she might need, but mostly because it was the only thing they could think of to do. Most of the acts were small Melbourne bands who were friends, or friends of friends of hers. However, after the gig was organised TISM contacted the venue about doing a secret gig to try out their new material. It was a perfect fit and they were slotted onto the line-up under some pseudonym (although word got around).

Ironically, given the cause, the attendance would have been close to double the firelimit, so in a seething mass of far too many people, many light-headed at the news that Janoel would make a full recovery I was one of the first witnesses to a live performance of the song Robert posted, along with quite a few others. Truly an experience to treasure.

A ex-bandmate was recruited to mime keyboards as a band member for the previous tour of the West - apparently this was quite common - it was mostly just ADAT playback for lots of shows, with some live guitar and vocals.

Anyway, vale Jock. He’s defecating on angels now…

I remember that night - one of Ron Hitler-Barassi’s better on-stage rants (concerning corruption), set to:

Russ Hinze’s body lies a-rotting in his grave.
But Queensland goes marching on.

And yes I was sad to read of Paull’s death yesterday. Nabs, Buick KBT supported TISM at the Old Greek, but it would have been around mid-80s rather than late 80s? I think Blue Ruin may also have been involved? Must try and check.

They were a pain to support, because of the anonymity thing, backstage was off limits!

The BDO show was at 3:30 in the afternoon. Stinking Qld humidity up to my ankles in mud.

Recently I got their live DVD to relive the glory days. In memory of Jock, next time I’m in Melbourne I’m going to do a left hand turn at Springvale Rd/Frankston Rd intersection.

a one joke act like Devo

There are at least two Devo joke acts!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo_2.0

Just quietly, I had a birthday on Friday. I’m 35! OMG!

Hang out at the mobil service station with the Torana boys?

Are you assuming the options in Brissie were any wider at the time? I first hit The Beat when I was 15, I think! More fun than the servo or the skatin rink!

and the one started it all, overwhelmingly voted best new act in a nationwide poll conducted by JJJ in 1986.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pd_xCURto8
A provocative study of the analism inherent in Fascism, set to a killer beat.

What lifted and separated them from being a one joke act like Devo was some seriously barbed, lovingly localised yet universally pungent observations. And better musicianship.

Oh i was a pretty good baptist girl from Rocky in first year. Oddly enough I’d been going out to clubs since i was 14 (can you imagine that now?). Even my very conservative christian mother didn’t mind as long as the older ‘youth group’ boys looked after me. What else was there to do in Rockhampton in the eighties after watching Brat pack movies ? Hang out at the mobil service station with the Torana boys?

I hope you stayed away from the Rec Club til second year! I wouldn’t want to have to start a retrospective moral panic about underage female yoof drinking!