While reading the paper last weeekend I found this article in the IE (Inside Entertaiment) liftout, in the Sunday Herald Sun, December 3rd 2006. Enjoy!
A Killer rocks on
It's been almost 50 years since he burst on to the scene, but Jerry Lee Lewis is still going strong, reports BRYAN PATTERSON
Either be hot or cold, said Jerry Lee Lewis. If you are lukewarm, "the Lord will spew you forth 1 from his mouth".
Jerry Lee, seemingly always steaming hot, is a God-fearin' man.
"I haven't been to church for quite some time. But I'm a believer," he admits.
And Jerry Lee believes in himself. At 71, nearly 50 years after he first sang Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and frightened the life out of almost every parent, Jerry Lee still wants us to know he is "a rompin', stompin', piano playing son of a bitch".
"I'm tryin' to be a good boy these days, but I'm still wild," he drawls and chuckles down the line from Memphis.
"Maybe not as wild as I used to be... then again, maybe I am in some ways."
The man known as The Killer is coming to Australia In three or four months to play and promote his latest album, Last One Standing.
It's an album of duets with big wigs such as Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, George Jones, Kid Rock. Jimmy Page, B.B. King and Willie Nelson. And a bloke that Jerry Lee recalls as "that guy from the English band" - former Beatle Ringo Starr.
"I enjoyed working with all those people," he says.
"It was pretty much like a long party."
Despite the rock luminaries in a Memphis studio during the recording. It was always Jerry Lee's show. He most often turned up at rehearsals in his red pyjamas and flip-flops, but only after his daily dose of watching the old TV series 'Gunsmoke'.
"I sure like that show. I wish they'd made another series. I've seen 'em all dozens of times," he said.
"I thought about being an actor once or twice. But It seems like it's too much hard work."
Jerry Lee gave up alcohol and amphetamines years ago. He somehow survived the other members of the 'Million Dollar Quartet' - Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
Presley died in 1977, Perkins In 1998 and Cash in 2003, hence the title of the new Jerry Lee album.
Yep, I really am the last man standin'. And the last man breathin'," he says.
"But I always knew I would be."
The secret of long life, he says, is "good eatin' and good-lookin' women".
It's the sort of line he is probably used to repeating. He would like to be remembered as a great man, but not necessarily a good one.
"There's very few great talents left." he once said.
"I'm not saying I'm one of 'em, I'm saying I'm the only one."
Jerry Lee is an original. It has more to do with the music than the pills, booze, smashed-up pianos and wrecked cars, marrying a 13-year-old second cousin while still married to someone else or being related to TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
Jerry Lee was different from an early age. He had, he proudly says, only one piano lesson. "The teacher said 'Play this' and I J\just reached over and said 'No, I'm gonna play it this way'. I never went back for another lesson. I was about eight years old then," he says.
"I just listened to what other people did and then made up my own style. I was pretty good pretty early on."
He played other instruments. Including the guitar, bass, drums and violin, but the piano was his instrument. He practises two or three times a week. The name 'The Killer' was given to him by a fellow pupil named Cecil in the seventh grade. It just stuck.
One of his songs from the latest album is a cover of Bruce Springsteen's Pink Cadillac, but Lewis has never owned one.
He still drives a red Cadillac around rural Mississippi.
He doesn't like some of the myths surrounding him. Asked about the oft-repeated one that he was kicked out of church as a youngster for changing the words to a hymn and playing it boogie-woogie style, he erupts.
"That-never happened. I wouldn't do that" he says.
He proudly announces that his next album will be gospel.
"I just always liked good gospel music. It impresses me," he says.
Is it because it is spiritual?
"Well, so to speak I guess. I'm a Christian-minded person."
Jerry Lee first came to Australia with Buddy Holly in 1957. His wild-eyed piano playing and flamboyant, sometimes feral demeanour, shocked some of the locals.
"I've always had fond memories of Australia." be says. "I recall the beaches with all that sand, the fans and even people who weren't fans. Nice people, all of them.
"Lookin' forward to seeing everyone Down Under. Yes sir!" Last One Standing is out now.
Another few months have shot past without me realising it. Last month it was Cattin Around dot com's first anniversary. Hard to believe it's been a year since I decided to register my own domain name. I've since renewed it for another two years, so you're stuck with me!
I came across the April 2005 issue of Rock'n'Roll News. To my surprise, there was a picture of Dave Cantrell on the cover (with Steve Purcell, who now plays with Pearly Shells). Inside the mag. was a mini article on Dave. Here's the article for all of you to share along with a picture that was included with the article:
DAVE CANTRELL - The Boy Who Was Born To Rock
Since the Golden Age Melbourne has not produced a large number of stand alone featured acts in the area of Rock'n'Roll & Rockabilly. By definition - Artists who put bottoms on seats in their own right, and when you consider the size of our great city the pickings are lean and mean.
Let's run through the contenders from the new generation: Victor O'Neill has to stand in the front line while fast approaching legendary status. Danny from Flashback has to be seriously considered for sheer solid staying power. Then in recent years Big John Wells & Geoff Kennedy, while acts like Ann-Maree Rochford, Donna Fisk, Jo Jo Leslie, Lyndal Alderson and Leslie Avril made a strong impression, crossing between Rock'n'Roll and Rockin' Country. Other contenders for placement are Marcia Rae and Yorky from The Vincents. While all this was going on Dave Cantrell has been quietly honing his craft, finally emerging as a reincarnated Ronnie Self, or if you like Eddie Cochran, making one believe that Dave Cantrell had been born into the wrong generation. There is no doubt that had he performed during the Rockin' Fifties Dave Cantrell has the potential and authenticity to walk tall among the Golden Greats, and today given the opportunity I'm sure would have carried the status of Legendary Artist.
On Saturday 5 March 2005, Dave thrilled a packed house at the Kingston City Hall as he paid tribute to Eddie Cochran and Ronnie Self, beautifully backed by Itchy Fingers as the star support to the Normie Rowe & the Playboys Reunion. This type of booking usually goes to a legendary artist the likes of Colin Cook, such is the respect and standing of Dave Cantrell. The road to recognition for Dave Cantrell has been long, but paved with high lights. I first noticed him when He was pointed out by Billy Owens in 1983 fronting The Roadsters, then Dave & the De Sotos, The Wildcats, The Stringbusters, & The Starliners, etc.
Billy Owens thought so much of Dave that he commissioned him to play guitar on a series of heritage tracks recorded during 1984. The session included lan Allen on base, Henri Source on sax, Barry Anderson on Drums. This historic session is now known as The Lost Billy Owen Tapes.
In 1984 Dave & The Roadsters were booked to play a Sunday spectacular at the St Kilda Town Hall as the main support band to the Legendary All Stars. It was obvious that the new generation of rockers were more than worthy and capable of holding their own with the best of them. Dave Cantrell emerges into the new millennium as a prolific recording artist, appearing on countless tracks for Graeme Thomas' Preston Label, and carrying with him the respect of his peer group and, above all, this exciting artist puts bums on seats while harbouring a deep love of the music and the importance of perpetuating the tradition of the Golden Age.
Dave Cantrell
Walking in the Footsteps of the Greats
Don't Let The Music Die
Greg Lynch = dimensional@ozemail.com.au
WildCat's note: I reproduced this article without permission, but I couldn't resist posting it here. I hope the author doesn't mind. I wanted to share it with you because I think Dave is one of the most under-rated musicians we have in Melbourne. I first saw Dave play when he was with The Rockabilly Rebels almost 20 years ago. Since then I've seen him pick up just about any instrument and play it. He's just one of those natural talents. These days he plays with Hank's Jalopy Demons and he fills in for Flatfoot Shakers on the odd occasion. We're very lucky to have him around to entertain us.
On that note, keep boppin', don't bother stoppin'!
Well, another year has shot past us and I'm left feeling like I didn't do anything. Apart from try to keep up with the Rockabilly scene and deal with a few personal things along the way, five minutes ago it was January!
The Hot Jalopy & Rockabilly Weekender, in Mirboo North, is happening next month (Jan 21-23, 2005) and I've heard rumours of The Go-Getters coming out in March. Zombie Ghost Train look like releasing their new CD early in the year. Things are looking good for 2005 already. There's also a petition started online to try to get Stray Cats out here in 2005, too! Please go and sign it, lets tell the Cats that we really want to see them, it's been too long since they came to Oz and tore us up.
Thank you to the bands and friends who have sent in gigs and other bits and pieces for me to list this year. Thank you to the new people on my email list who joined to get my regular news and gig guides. Without your support, I'd have no reason to do this. Have a safe and happy Christmas and a merry New Year!
I got a phone call from Jamie a couple of days after he got back from yet another "tour of Europe". He was calling me to tell me about an article he thought I'd be interested in. He'd read it in a newsletter at the Rockabilly Rave, written by a friend of his, Jerry Chatabox. Of course, anything written about Ronnie Dawson I'm interested in, so with the kind permission of Jerry Chatabox, I post his article here to share with Ronnie's Australian Fans.
Ronnie Dawson - A Personal Story
You've all probably read a lot of stuff about Ronnie's untimely death in September of last year. The whole rockin' scene felt a body blow when the news was announced. (He was taken too early - although he said "I've had 63 good years, don't feel sorry for me").
The Dallas Morning News carried the simple headline "Dallas singer Ronnie Dawson dead at 64". Such a simple line, but behind those few words a lifetime of fantastic rockin' energy. A lot of people have since claimed he was their best friend, that they were really close - I suppose people just want to belong to something special.
As for me. I didn't know Ronnie that well. I'd worked with him just four times as a DJ on shows that he would headline. I'd just chatted to him a couple of times -he was polite and really friendly, but obviously much quieter than the hawk-like powerhouse presence he was on stage.
I told him once to keep making those dance floor fillers - they kept me in business as a DJ! Hell, they made me look good - packing the floor whatever the venue. The bread and butter of the rockin' scene.
When Ronnie had to pull out of Rave 6 because of cancer treatment, we were shocked. We organised the "Write to Ronnie" campaign and sent bundles of your letters, cards and messages over to his home in Dallas. During that year he responded well to his treatment and couldn't wait to come back and play. Then shortly before the Rave came the devastating news from his wife Chris. The cancer was back. He would have more chemotherapy. He would probably be too weak to make the trip.
But Ronnie, being Ronnie, didn't want to let his loyal European fans down. By the time we flew him in and got him to rehearsal, he was pale and gaunt and weak. His voice had weakened - his strength seemed lost. He could no longer eat properly and I wondered if he would actually collapse during the rehearsal.
As the promoter I spent the day fending off questions about Ronnie's health. He's doing ok, I would say, (which was sort of true). He's really up for the show (which was also true). He's looking great (I lied). And as I talked to people I realised I honestly didn't think Ronnie would be strong enough to perform that night. The flights, the chemotherapy, no proper food, the pain, the exertion of the rehearsal. Here was a man who could hardly speak, with cancer in his tongue and throat I know I couldn't have gone onstage in that condition.
Although it was never announced, the entire crowd knew that Ronnie's cancer was terminal. They knew it would be his last show in Europe. It was a powder keg of emotion in the hall that night - almost an eerie calm before the show. Nobody really knew what to say - everyone was twisted up inside. And then Ronnie's guitar could be heard. He wasn't on stage but walked through the hall, his guitar held high - he jumped onto the stage and the crowd went absolutely crazy! His reception was deafening- he strutted from side to side, stuck his chin out at the howling crowd and took command. He smashed through an unbeatable set - and the fans roared their approval.
Then it came, the turning point for many - Rockin Bones - "and when I die Lord bury me deep....a phonograph needle in each hand, gonna rock my way right out of this land..."
A standing, screaming, crying ovation. An outpouring of emotion that I have never seen the rockin' crowd display. People smiling, crying and clapping. Then "Congratulations To Me" as he looked over to his wife and she was in tears, as strong and fantastic as she had been on the whole trip - my heart went out to her. Words were not enough - the music said it all. And just as I thought the whole hall could break down on their knees, he powered into "Action Packed" and everyone was bouncing up and down, spirits lifted, celebrating with Ronnie-and lifting him from a thin ill man to the power house rocker that he always was. He told me later that he had no energy left when he went on stage and the crowd pushed him and he played from his very soul for over an hour!
When Ronnie left the stage we didn't know if he could make an encore. Del Villareal did a magnificent job talking to the crowd about what Ronnie meant to us all. But I had to find out if he could come back out. As I entered the dressing room Ronnie turned and hugged me, and he told me, the reason he came back to play was because of all the letters and cards, and as he spoke his voice cracked and his breath came in big sobs and he started to cry and I realised as I held onto his frail old rockin bones, tears were streaming down my face as well and the emotion of the whole show just engulfed me like a tidal wave. The show that night has gone down in Rockabilly history, and rightly so.
He didn't come back for me, he didn't come back for the fee. He came back because of the love and affection his fans had shown him over the years - he paid them all back - with interest!
Like I said I didn't know Ronnie really well, but that night me and everyone of you that was there, shared in something very special Thank you Ronnie. And when we play your records at this Rave and every one that follows, I hope you can hear them and stick your chin out and take command....
Jerry Chatabox
Rockabilly Rave
Footnote from Dingo....
Having just returned from Rockabilly Rave #8 (my 3rd), I thought it would be good to give people a little insight into the Festival and the man behind it - Jerry Chatabox.
Upon arriving at Pontins, the holiday camp where the festival is held, it was obvious that I was in for a big weekend. People were queuing up for their wristbands and chalet no's, hotrods and greasers were hanging outside the hall. Spotting Jerry in the foyer I wandered over to say g'day. Always happy to see each other, we hugged (In a manly way...) and started chatting about the festival.
Jerry was buzzing. When you see the look in his eyes as he talks about the acts he has booked, you know this is a man with a passion for this scene. Old 50's Sun Legends Jack Earls and Sonny Burgess (with a trumpet player!!), as well as a first time European appearance for Jimmy Lee Fautherlee, of Jimmy and Johnny fame, plus a whole bunch of today's top rockin' bands.
Jerry searches the globe for bands/DJ's to play on the festival, often travelling a long way to see them, just so he can book them for the Rave.
Jerry and I have talked in the past about some of the bands he has booked. Once I asked him how did he find a Rockabilly band from Russia? He said "I went there and checked them out and booked them". Crazy SOB! He has also had bands from Japan, Hungary, Croatia, Sicily, and even Australia! (Flatfoot Shakers).
The Rockabilly Rave is into it's 9th year now and is the fastest growing rockin' weekender in Europe.
Dingo highly recommends you check it out. Next Rave will be 11th till 13th of March 2005. Do be warned it is a seriously good time and when taking travel insurance for your trip, Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT mention you will be visiting the Rave....
Jamie "Dingo" Suppa.
P.S Another weekender Jerry is involved with is The Rhythm Riot, for the R&B, Swing and Jive cats. Also highly recommended!
Well, I have to say, it's good to have my web site back up after four months in the internet wilderness. I decided back in October to move from BigPond to another ISP after they took two months to "get" that I had a problem with the web space after the Swen worm went through their system. Then another week or two after that to reconstruct the space. By then I had decided not to bother persisting with them. Even though it meant that you wouldn't be able to see what was on (unless you were on my email list). So my Raspberry Award for January AND February goes to BigPond.
After much brainstorming to try to come up with a cool and catchy name to register, I decided on the bleedin' obvious and stick with the phrase I have always used for email news and the gigs table: "Cattin Around". I hope it's easy to remember and thus easy to tell your friends all about this site. It may not be the most "arty" site there is, but hey, I figure, why mess with the basics? Jump online, see what's on for the night, and go. So, having said that, please bear with me while I get this site more happnin'. As you can see I haven't loaded all my pages as yet. I just wanted to get this much up for you all to know that "WildCat's Waffle" has been reincarnated! If only Elvis, Gene, Eddie, Carl and Johnny Cash could do that..........
