My MataMemories
Sitting on flight cases backstage of a Gloria Gaynor concert with Jim Stanes and Jon English, (well known Oz singer/songwriter/actor), trying to decide who was getting which back up vocalist.
This should be a Highway memory, but there are so few of them we'll put it in here.
The gumps on the back of the drummer from Hush (Sydney).
Taking a photo of Crabs, Mango and Dave doing a pyramid 'brown eye'. ( Americans read 'moon' ) And I've still got it boy's. If I get more than 10 requests for it in the guestbook I will upload it onto the site and damn the consequences.
Playing Chequers in Sydney with "AC/DC", and having Angus climb all over our pa.
Holed up at the Salvation Army hostel on a Sydney trip and watching Crabs abusing the local's, and the local's abusing him back. I think he might have even learnt a few new obscenities to add to his repetiour on that trip.
The night life in Kings Cross, before it became the cesspit that it now is, and you could sit outside a cafe without being molested by drug crazed morons.
Jim and I getting drunk at The Savoy in New Lambton with Jim Portious and Phil Screen. And just about every other muso of the time for that matter. Lets not forget the Ambassador either, that was another popular after gig watering hole.
Playing a 'Gay and Lesbian' gig at "Bus Stop", and no one being game enough to go to the toilets alone. There's safety in numbers, 'don't ya know'.
Trying to figure out which was worse, the steps at Newcastle Town Hall or the steps at the Manly Vale Hotel. Let me tell you people, roadies hate steps, luckily I had one of those three wheel trolley thingo's.
'Egor' having engine trouble on a trip down to The Manly Vale Hotel and conking out half way there. The boy's flagged down a flat top truck, and he generously took just enough to do the gig the rest of the way. Me, I spent the night in the truck to guard the rest of the gear, middle of winter, no blankets, no beer and no food. Oh yeah, I remember that night all too well. A special thank you must go to Jim's uncle who had a monster tow truck and towed 'Egor' back to Newcastle, at no cost I might add.
'Mango' doing his favorite party trick, imitating a chook (chicken ). He had this down pat, and never failed to crack us all up. Many's the time I fell to the floor in uncontrollable fit's of laughter. He was one of a kind that boy.
'The Shaft' getting 'raped' on the oyster beds at The Salimander Hotel in the middle of a gig.
'Appy' had this party trick where he would put a dozen or so clothes pegs on his face. Very painful, but also very funny.
'Me' driving Egor up to Taree for a week-end gig, full of gear, the whole band crammed into the thing, and then the drivers side windscreen pop's in ! No problems, clean up the mess, and soldier on. So I remove the rotor arm out of the distributor that night, to deter truck thieves, put it back the wrong way the next morning and break it. A frantic search through the town finally locates a close match for the broken rotor arm and we are on our way home, you don't have to be stupid, but it sure helps.
Marks MataMemories
Memory 1
Playing at the Bel Air at Kotara. We used to pack the place. Dave and Crabs were the best guitar pair in Newcastle, (I am probably biased), the way they mixed up the rhythm and lead between them. We always rocked. And Big Jim just Ruled - I have never worked with anyone else with such presence. Mango and I had fun keeping the rhythm together.
(Or was it Ronnie or the Shaft - too many drummers to be sure)
I remember being out riding motor bikes in the bush around the gun club at Broadmeadow all day with Clarkie and others, ending up at the Bel Air for a cool ale - having 6 schooners and riding home, have a shower and getting the band gear on then pick up the fiance, head back to the Bel Air and do a great gig. We pumped and the crowd loved it. We were playing Dave's song 'Aint No Cowboy Band' then and it went down well. It was a great day for a 19 year old. I have a diary that shows my share of the earnings after costs (paying share for light show and pa etc) was $6.00.
The fiance drank $10.00 worth of cocktails that night.
We had the time of lives - I absolutely loved it.
Memory 2
Playing at Zorbas in Newcastle. What a strange gig it always was. It not only attracted all of Newcastle's weirdest it was also a favourite place for sailors, working girls, and gays of both sexes.
Memory 2a
The night some sleazes were trying to pick up mine and Dave's ladies. They kept trying to dance with them and our ladies kept turning away and dancing together. Then this sleaze goes the grope on my lady from behind. Dave and I are watching and are about to jump off stage and sort the sleaze out when with the speed of a Kung Fu master she spins around and punches him in the balls. He falls to the floor and his mates drag him out. It was impressive to watch.
Memory 2b
The night a couple of dykes brought a couple of nymphs in and decided to undress them on the dance floor while we were playing. Mango and I kind of dropped the beat when they dropped these gorgeous little honey's undie's and started feeling them up in the middle of every one dancing. I think Jim stuttered a little but stayed in tune. Dave and Crabs were professionals and kept it all together.
Memory 2c
There were a lot of Tongan sailors around in those days. They were big black and loved to drink. No different to our mates the Ridgeway's really except they were Tongan. We were great mates with them but they had this thing about us having to skull drinks with them. Some nights you had to skull so many drinks during the break you were smashed (well more smashed than normal) and playing was bloody difficult. But they were great blokes.
Memory 2d
How do I say this? Mango (bless his soul) had an interesting taste in women. He had unique partners and experiences. He certainly entertained us with his experiences that came from our time playing at Zorbas. I have never met any one who told such amazingly erotic stories in such a funny down to earth way. His "around the world" experiences from Zorbas were probably the funniest. And his punchline for nearly every story of "well then I turned her over and did her dog style" makes me laugh today.
Mark Apthorpe