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Note from CKM...

BIG morning setting up systems not only for my return to oZ gigs with Red n Ged, but also for tours of Europe with my new Spanish rhythm section, The Outside, and Simon Drew Chainsaw!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENIZ TEK!

THE VISITORS REUNITE TO SUPPORT THE RON ASHETON FOUNDATION!

Just in from the I 94 Barman:

The untimely passing of Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton in January 2009 was felt around the world - but particularly in Australia.

A stellar line-up of Australian bands - including the Hoodoo Gurus - will recognise that fact by playing a tribute show benefitting the Ron Asheton Foundation at the Manning Bar at Sydney University on Friday, December 6.

The influence of Asheton and his bandmates held sway over the underground music scene in Australia like few others. From Sydney’s Radio Birdman to Brisbane’s Saints and Melbourne’s Birthday Party, innumerable bands owed a debt.

Legendary post Radio Birdman band The Visitors, led by Ron’s close friend Deniz Tek and fea lead vocalist Mark Sisto, will headline the night, making one of only a handful of appearances since disbanding in 1979.

ARIA Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Hoodoo Gurus will appear as special guests with a short and sharp set put together just for this occasion.

The New Christs, the band fronted by Deniz’s ex-Birdman bandmate Rob Younger, will join them on the heavyweight bill.

The SC5 – a sporadic Sydney tribute to Stooges contemporaries the MC5 – and The Four Stooges, reprising songs of the Stooges, will round out the list. Both bands feature a range of Sydney rock scene luminaries.

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

DENIZ TEK AND THE BADMAN ON TOUR IN JAPAN

MORE INFO ON DENIZ TEK OFFICIAL FAN PAGE

DENIZ TEK DETROIT CD AND 2013 AUSTRALIA TOUR DATES

DENIZ TEK DETROIT ON CITADEL RECORDS

DENIZ TEK's new album is coming out tomorrow February 22nd on Citadel Records in Australia (cd only). A cd and a vinyl version will be released April 1st in the US on Career Records.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, guitarist, singer and songwriter Deniz Tek's career has now extended over three decades.

Best known in Australia as a founding member of the influential 70s rock band Radio Birdman, Tek has pursued an ongoing musical path that has seen a significant number of solo releases as well as frequent touring and recording with figures emanating from Detroit's iconic bands The Stooges and MC5.

February 22nd marks the long awaited Citadel Records release of Detroit, Tek's first solo album in more than 10 years. Apart from luminous flashes of keyboards and harmonica, Detroit is at its heart, a guitar album, with Tek's vocals and signature guitar playing set against a rock solid rhythm section of veteran musicians.

Mixed at one of America's oldest recording studios, Houston's historic Sugar Hill, the album sounds raw and real with its themes often hard edged. Both sonically and lyrically, it will stand as a major evolutionary step forward for Tek's music as well as being a look back to his early days in Ann Arbor and the Motor City.

"The thrill and drill of Tek's performance was as true as the one I watch repeatedly, on YouTube, by Radio Birdman from Australian TV in 1977. Catch that one anytime. See the legend live every chance you get." David Fricke - Rolling Stone US - 2012.

In support of the album, Deniz and band will tour Australia in February / March before heading to Europe and the US.
Track Listing: (34:44 m:s)

Pine Box (3:40 m:s)
Fate, Not Amenable To Change (4:09 m:s)
Twilight Of The Modern Age (3:19 m:s)
Can Of Soup (2:47 m:s)
Growing Dim (3:30 m:s)
Ghost Town (4:07 m:s)
Perfect World (4:01 m:s)
Falling (3:03 m:s)
Let Him Pay For That (3:21 m:s)
I'm All Right (2:51 m:s)

48 HOURS WITH MARK SISTO

Mark Sisto at the Fleetwood Diner

I received a call early Saturday morning from Mark Sisto lead singer, great mate of Deniz Tek's who was coming into town for various reasons. Deniz asked if I'd like to interview Mark. I did want to interview him and at least meet him. Mark came to the Blind Pig show and I missed meeting him there by inches. He was chatting with Gary Quackenbush of SRC and I was right next to Gary with pal Trudie.

Kimmer and Trudie at the Blind Pig

Though barely knowing anything about Mark, his life or musical background, there was something about that name Sisto that was so attractive. Hearing he at the A2 show and I missed meeting him! I began doing my home work watching Mark with The Visitors and trying to catch up with 20 years of Mark's life on video. Never thought I'd meet him so soon after the show. I thought Mark was from down under not Birmingham, MI.

Thinking I had plenty of time to clean house and get cleaned up I was stunned when my phones went off at 9am on Saturday! YIKES now what??? Well what the hell grabbed a quick shower and flew out to the Ann Arbor train station.

Funny! Mark and I left the train station and bee lined for the Starbucks as I was jonesing for caffeine in a huge way. Poor Mark didn't sleep the night before on the train and was hungry too. Mark wanted to go to the Fleetwood diner, a place I had managed to avoid my entire life of living around here. I offered to take him somewhere better but he had fond memories of the way the Fleet used to be. Sadly Mark gave the experience 1 star for smoke, yucky coffee and didn't like his french toast either. (I just drank coffee, I knew better)

Mark is doing his best Deniz Tek's "The Look"

We decided to make a trek to Coachville the trailer park where James Newell Osterberg Jr. used to live. This small trailer park is still there on Carpenter Rd and right next to my friend Doug Davis's Miles of Golf aka Pat's Par 3.

Here we are at Coachville the home where Iggy grew up and had to live down. Can't believe it is still there. After here we made our way to Ypsilanti's Depot Town and had a beer at Aubrees where we ran into Al King.

Ended up back at my house in Lodi and had a blast listening to Mark sing along with the soundtracks of some movies I own. We had a great time digging into astrology charts and talking about solving the world's problems.

Monday back to work and school. Dropped Lesley and Mark of at the transit center and beat the feet off to the day job. Loved meeting Mark and hope to see him again some day. I felt like I had known him all my life, what a charming man.

MORE ABOUT MARK:

ATOMS ACTION (MARKNCHASE)

MYSPACE VISITORS

REVOLUTION ROCK

Following Radio Birdman's split in 1978, Deniz Tek would form another band called The Visitors. This band was different musically from Radio Birdman, coming off with more of a New Wave influence. Deniz Tek was on guitar, Ron Keeley on drums, Pip Hoyle on keyboards, Steve Harris on bass, and Mark Sisto on vocals. In addition the New Wave vibe that was present on their material, The Visitors music also loomed with an ominous Doors influence.

The band was made up of three former Radio Birdman members (Hoyle, Tek, and Keeley), Sisto was a long time friend of Tek's. The line up also was sonically different than The Birdmen, there was only one guitar (as opposed to Radio Birdman who had two guitar players), there was also a darker element to the bands music. Prior to the band forming, Tek and Hoyle were working as interns at a hospital, during their spare time they jammed on songs through piano and guitar and the songs for The Visitors were written.