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TEENAGE DREAM
The first Big Day Out hit Sydney 20 years ago last week.
The masses packed into the Hordern Pavilion for Nirvana.
In the crowd was a 13-year-old named Ben Lee. The gig changed
his life. "I felt that if there was a manual on punk rock,
someone just inserted the floppy disc and downloaded the
whole thing into my system like The Matrix - and it all
came through Nirvana," Ben told Howzat! "I think a band
like that only comes along every 15 or 20 years, and they
inspire people to do it themselves. Nirvana was that band
for me. I walked out of there and said, 'I'm going to start
a band.'" Soon after, Ben formed his own band called Noise
Addict.
Ben kept a diary as a kid, though he struggled with the
concept of it being "secret". "I couldn't get the point
unless you were publishing it. I wanted to share it with
the world." He dreamed of being as big as Elvis, Kurt and
Michael Jackson. "It never happened," he says ruefully,
"not yet."
Not many child stars have lives with a successful second
act. As Saved By The Bell star Dustin Diamond reflects,
"All these child stars grow up and they're knockin' over
banks and getting prostitutes." But the documentary Ben
Lee: Catch My Disease - which aired on the ABC this week
- shows that Ben has turned out okay. "Everyone wants to
be famous, but they don't know what they want to use their
fame for," he says, adding that he "wants to nourish people's
souls".
The movie was an 11-year journey for Melbourne filmmaker
Amiel Courtin-Wilson. Ben caught Amiel's eye when he declared
that his 1999 album, Breathing Tornados, was "the greatest
Australian album ever". Ben's ex-girlfriend Claire Danes
claims he was "playing the character of an arrogant pop
star". Catch My Disease documents a spiritual journey. "I'm
not hiding behind characters any more," Ben states. "I need
to start becoming what I am, instead of what I want to become."
"What is success?" Ben asks in a poignant moment. "I don't
know what I am looking for." The movie shows Ben's retreat
to India, where he has a guru. "I know it's a rock 'n' roll
cliché," he smiles, "get successful and go and get a guru."
What will Ben do next? His official website hasn't been
updated since the release of his latest album, Deeper Into
Dream, though he has been busy tweeting, asking if anyone
has had experiences with Nadi astrology, revealing he's
reading Samael Aun Weor's Treatise On Revolutionary Psychology
("Any attempt at liberation that does not take into consideration
the necessity of dissolving the ego is condemned to failure"),
and quoting Swami Shivananda: "The thief has more place
on the spiritual path than a coward. He has the courage
to do the crime."
Like Deeper Into Dream, the Catch My Disease doco won't
convert the Ben Lee haters. Perhaps he's just a little too
articulate and deep for Aussie rock fans. But Ben doesn't
seem to mind. "Success," he eventually concludes, "is knowing
the truth."
POSITIVELY HENRY WAGONS
Henry Wagons continues to make inroads in the US, doing
a cover of Dylan's Positively 4th Street for American Songwriter
magazine. Henry calls the song "one of the best mental disintegrations
in history … it's the best hate and exasperation song ever."
You can get a free download at americansongwriter.com.
HEAVY GROOVES
An album that Howzat! has been enjoying over summer is the
self-titled debut from The Cloaks (on EEO Records through
MGM). The Cloaks is a great name for this band because who
knows what is concealed underneath. The album swings from
prog rock to '60s pop. Produced by Matt Church, it's quite
a trip. The Cloaks are playing with Matt Church & The Golden
Apples, who are launching their new album, Girl In The Golden
Helmet, tonight (Wednesday) at the Northcote Social Club.
THE J CURVE
As the Herald Sun's Cameron Adams tweeted, "Triple J's Hottest
100 proves Australians love Australian music. If only commercial
radio realised this #nomorelmfaoandpitbullthanks." For the
record, the listener poll featured 44 homegrown hits (including
half of the Top 20), compared to 51 last year. Aussie songs
have topped the list in 10 of 19 years.
CHART WATCH
Adelaide's Sia has a hand in Australia's new number one
song, Flo Rida's Wild Ones, but Timomatic slips from two
to six. And Matt Corby rockets from 42 to eight.
Set It Off TIMOMATIC (number six)
Into The Flame MATT CORBY (eight)
Don't Worry Be Happy GUY SEBASTIAN (nine)
I Love It HILLTOP HOODS & SIA (11)
Boys Like You 360 & GOSSLING (19)
Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (21)
Good Night REECE MASTIN (22)
Galaxy JESSICA MAUBOY & STAN WALKER (40)
Boy & Bear return to the Top 10, jumping from 16 to nine.
Falling & Flying 360 (number eight)
Moonfire BOY & BEAR (nine)
Reece Mastin REECE MASTIN (13)
Making Mirrors GOTYE (15)
Vows KIMBRA (16)
All For You COLD CHISEL (20)
Busby Marou BUSBY MAROU (40)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Pointless Beauty BEN LEE
Song For Grace ANIMAUX
Morning Yard THE CLOAKS
Do Ya JIM KEAYS
Positively 4th Street HENRY WAGONS
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