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WHERE'S DAVEY LANE?
We love a list. Australian Guitar magazine's list of the
50
greatest Australian guitarists is a good one. Strangely,
they ranked just the Top 10, and then simply listed the
other 40. For the record, the Top 10 was: Angus Young, Tommy
Emmanuel, Ian Moss, Chris Cheney, Rick Brewster, Slava Grigoryan,
Deniz Tek, Jim Moginie, Lobby Loyde and Ross Hannaford.
The Top 50 includes Tim Rogers, but, inexplicably, fails
to mention Davey Lane. Huh? Howzat! is pleased to report
that Davey, the busiest guitarist in the business, is getting
set to release his debut solo album. The Top 50 did include
another one of Howzat!'s favourite guitarists, Ashley Naylor
- the human jukebox - but fails to feature our most tasteful
and versatile player, Shane O'Mara, and the brilliant blues
and rock player Jimi "The Human" Hocking. And Howzat!'s
best buddy Cory reckons Bill Chambers should also be on
the list.
TOUGH LOVE
The book is called One Way Or Another, The Story Of A Girl
Who Loved Rock Stars ($29.95, Black Inc). "Not another book
about groupies shagging rock stars," we thought when we
picked up a copy. But this book works because actor Nikki
McWatters is a fine writer. She's got a story to tell, and
she knows how to tell it. "Truth be told," she writes, "a
rock star in real life would make a hopeless partner. Far
better to be a rock and roll mistress than a rock and roll
missus. Musicians were junk food, not a proper nutritious
meal. Good and bad for you at the same time, like a plate
of greasy chips and a bottle of red, red wine." Nikki is
still a Gold Coast schoolgirl when she has her first sexual
experience, with a member of Australian Crawl, who she doesn't
name. She beds a Duran Duran member, and also falls for
a star who sounds suspiciously like Steve Kilbey (who provides
a plug on the front cover: "A great Australian rock 'n'
roll read"), a relationship that has unintended consequences.
Nikki gives Dragon a slap ("It was a running joke that Dragon
was the ugliest band in Australia. Queen won the international
title") and praises Pseudo Echo, calling bass player Pierre
Pierre "a walking hairdo and an interesting musician and
we chatted about current affairs. This was a breath of fresh
air in an industry that often viewed girls backstage as
meat on legs." More sad than salacious, One Way Or Another
is a rollicking read. Richard Lowenstein calls it "a Puberty
Blues for the '80s generation".
VALE PETER JONES
Howzat! had a funny experience with Peter Jones. We were
standing in line at Crowded House's farewell show at the
Corner. "Sorry mate, you're not on the list," the guy on
the door said to Peter, who politely replied, "I'm the drummer
in the band." There was no rock star tantrum; Peter just
quietly explained that, no, he wasn't Paul Hester, but,
yes, he had been the drummer in Crowded House after Paul
left the band in 1994. Peter Jones - who died from brain
cancer last week - was an unassuming rock star. He was also
the drummer in two other brilliant bands, Harem Scarem and
Deadstar. Much loved, he will be much missed.
ENDLESS SUMMER
Disco queen Donna Summer, who died last week at the age
of 63, had an Australian link. Donna was a childhood friend
of Marcia Hines. Marcia grew up with Donna (then known as
Donna Gaines) and her sister Linda in Boston. "They were
really cool chicks to grow up with," Marcia tells Howzat!
"Donna was always really musical. She was a few years older
than us and, consequently, incredibly hip. She was in a
band way before we were even allowed out of the house. She
wrote some of the best songs of that whole era."
CHART WATCH
Seven of the 12 Aussie hits in the Top 40 are connected
to The Voice. Meanwhile, The Temper Trap's anthemic Need
Your Love spends just one week in the Top 40. But expect
a big debut for their new album next week.
Nothing's Real But Love KARISE EDEN (number nine, debut)
Sitting On Top Of The World DELTA GOODREM (10)
Do It Like That RICKI-LEE (13)
Hands RACHEL LEAHCAR (15, debut)
Into The Flame EP MATT CORBY (16)
If Looks Could Kill TIMOMATIC (18)
Shut Up & Kiss Me REECE MASTIN (19)
Big Jet Plane LAKYN HEPERI (23)
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) VIKTORIA BOLONINA (28,
debut)
Child 360 (32)
In My Mind IVAN GOUGH & FEENIXPAWL (35)
I Never Loved A Man EMMA-LOUISE BIRDSALL (36, debut)
The Voice is also impacting on the albums chart, with coach
Keith Urban scoring his first local chart-topper with his
new compilation.
The Story So Far KEITH URBAN (number one, debut)
Now & Then DAMIEN LEITH (14)
Drinking From The Sun HILLTOP HOODS (17)
Don't Funk With Me ALSTON (22)
Vows KIMBRA (23)
Falling & Flying 360 (24)
Tin Shed Tales JOHN BUTLER (28, debut)
Trouble's Door ASH GRUNWALD (29, debut)
No Plans COLD CHISEL (30)
Nightflight KATE MILLER-HEIDKE (31)
It's Never Too Late ANDREW WISHART (36)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
I Understand SOPHIE KOH
Flash In The Pantz DAVE GRANEY & THE MISTLY
Maybe Alaska BUCKLEY WARD
Get The Gold GRAVEYARD TRAIN
Don't Leave DEADSTAR
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