Overrated: Brian May

I bet you weren’t expecting this one.

Dr Brian Harold May CBE was the lead guitarist with the acclaimed rock band, Queen. Brian’s achievements in the world of music and outside music are too numerous to mention here. Suffice to say the university educated astrophysicist has hoovered up lots of honours. Principally, I would imagine because he is dynamite with a guitar in his hands.

It is well-known and not just in Queenland that Brian with his dad’s help created his own guitar before he was famous, the axe is affectionately known as the Red Special. The unique sounding guitar was played on all the albums and made Queen’s music distinctive from the rest. So far, so good.

Queen can do no wrong for me as you probably know. I always believed there were two geniuses at play in the world of Queen. Latterly, I have been downgrading that rating. There was only one. Continue reading “Overrated: Brian May”

Fantasticks June

I had not forgotten, just got a little behind with my homework this month.

Here is June from that strange work, Fantasticks, by Nicholas Breton, first published in 1626 and out of print for many a long year. I have been altruistically (lovely word) copying it out, month by month, since, when was it?

The word Bagge below means wine-skin, and I am told that a Tassell is a male hawking bird of some kind. Perhaps someone else could tell me exactly what kind.

JUNE

It is now June and the Hay-makers are mustered to make an army for the field, where not alwayes in order, they march under the Bagge and the Bottle, and betwixt the Forke and the Rake, there is seene great force of armes: Now doth the broad Oke comfort the weary Laborer, while under his shady Boughes he sits singing to his bread and cheese: the Hay-cocke is the Poore mans Lodging, and the fresh River is his gracious Neighbor: Now the Faulcon and the Tassell try their wings at the Partridge, and the fat Bucke fils the great pasty: the trees are all in their rich aray: but the seely Sheep is turned out of his coat: the Roses and sweet Herbes put the Distiller to his cunning, while the greene apples on the tree are ready for the great bellied wives: Now begins the Hare to gather up her heeles, and the Foxe lookes about him, for feare of the Hound: the Hooke and the Sickle are making ready for harvest: the Medow grounds gape for raine, and the Corne in the eare begins to harden: and the little Lads make Pipes of the straw, and they that cannot dance, will yet bee hopping: the Ayre now groweth somewhat warme, and the Coole winds are very comfortable: the Sayler now makes merry passage, and the nimble Foot-man runnes with pleasure: In briefe, I thus conclude, I hold it a sweet season, the senses perfume and the spirits comfort.

Farewell.

A pome about magic

I had a boy cousin (still do, come to that)
Whose whole world was, for him, a machine.
While the rest of us played on our bikes in the sun,
He took his to pieces – and not just for fun –
Testing modifications. Would this version run?
With occasional sweets in between.

 

 

 

One Christmas he had an old wireless set
Which he proudly displayed on the floor.
He’d removed all the parts and dismantled its case;
Examined each valve, disconnected the base.
Then (magic!) restored ev’ry one to its place;
Switched it on and it functioned once more!

Overrated: Robert Redford

One of the most well-known actors of his age Robert Redford has received two Oscars. Tellingly, none of them were for his acting. Redford’s most distinguished award came from France. In 2010 he was made a chevalier in the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur. This is nothing to brag about, MOO’s probably got one. Although established by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte the decoration is now handed out willy-nilly to lesser mortals. It’s on a par with winning an England football cap.

Hollywood loved the young Redford. He was your average all-American good looking blond boy, made for the screen. Nevertheless the young star showed signs of vanity and only wanted to be shot (film terminology meaning shot from a camera not a gun, for the avoidance of doubt) from his best side. He was conscious of the presence of facial moles on his right side and they were kept to a minimum on film. This startles me as imperfection is more interesting. Motorhead’s Lemmy has warts the size of golf balls on his coupon yet it doesn’t bother him and he’s done alright for himself. Continue reading “Overrated: Robert Redford”

Storm chasers

I’ve often thought these guys nuts (storm chasers that is) but recent discussions on the appalling luck that Oklahoma and other parts of the mid west recently experienced has changed that. They apparently provide up to the minute, on the spot detail of a tornado’s size, damage, direction, exact location, etc. Vital information I assume for listeners / residents survival strategies.

Watch how these guys and their car (an SUV) get lifted and tossed around.

and ….

Continue reading “Storm chasers”

Megadeth are coming to town

As big, brash redheads go Musty is in a class of his own. Not long to go until I see the ginger one in the flesh. Dave Mustaine is the singer, guitarist, penalty kick taker and chief songwriter of the family friendly thrash metal band, Megadeth. Our Dave also holds black belts in karate and Taekwondo, so although he’s a Christian (this is true), he’s not the type of guy that gets sand thrown in his face. He’s a mass of contradictions is the evangelist with the Dick Dastardly voice.

Contrary to popular myth, heavy metal gigs are not full of hard men (and women). Most of us are only kid-on tough guys pretending to be the spawn of Crowley with our devil’s horn gestures. I’ve been to many standing room shows and only seen one fight which was between two young lads, worse for drink. It was an absolutely appalling fight to boot. Continue reading “Megadeth are coming to town”