The Gonzo Daily: Friday/Saturday
YER EDITOR SEZ:
Last night was very strange. The gale was so strong that, although there was no damage, the noise kept me awake all bloody night, and I finally got to sleep in my armchair mid morning, waking at about 4:00 which is why today's blogs are a little late. But in good news, Graham has replaced the fan in my new computer, and it no longer sounds like an armoured column outside Stalingrad.
Corinna returns to hospital for the next batch of tests next week. She is still not right, but has been on some pretty heavy duty meds since late last year, and although she is still in intermittent discomfort, the pain is now being pretty well managed. We go back to the hospital at the end of February for the results of the aforementioned tests and will play it by ear until then. We would both like to thank the people all around the world who have sent us their good wishes, and included her in your prayers.
THE DIGITAL PRAYER FLAG
A prayer flag (Lung ta) is a colourful rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes. Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all. By hanging flags in high places the Lung ta will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags, which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the mantras.
I believe something similar happens with positive vibes transmitted electronically. And so, please forgive me when I write about Corinna's health problems every day, but I am convinced that these electronic Lung ta and the resulting torrent of good vibes that has been the major contributory factor to the aetiology of her illness so far.
Blessed be.
ALL TODAY'S GONZO NEWS WOT'S FIT TO PRINT:
JON ANDERSON ALBUM AND TOUR
THE GOOD DOCTOR GONZO REDUX
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Maria Callas - Puccin...
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
FAIRPORT CONVENTION IN THE NEWS
For those of you who are interested in such things, the Gonzo Privacy Policy is here:
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And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore may seem to be in order:
Meanwhile I continue to pretend that I am a popstar, because now I have sold eight whole copies of my new album Coldharbour. If I continue at this rate I will get a silver disc sometime at the beginning of the next millenium. Coldharbour, by the way, can be found here: https://jondownes1.bandcamp.com/releases
I think it is really rather good, but then again I would say that wouldn't I?
I do have good news to impart: Lars Thomas' book about the mystery land animals of Scandinavia and the Baltic States has been uploaded, and over at Gonzo the first volume of Kev Rowland's The Progressive Underground is also imminent. And at Fortean Fiction, my latest novel - 'Zen and Xenophobia' - vaguely a sequel to 2015's 'The Song of Panne' - is now available.
! would warn you that if you are of a nervous disposition, or easily offended, you will find parts of my novel both offensive and upsetting. There is sex, violence, drug abuse, occultism, pornography, firearms, politics, religion, and not a little sociology. But there is also love, kindness, faith, and redemption. And it's a cracking good yarn. Or I think so, at any rate. All I would say on the subject before bidding you farewell is Caveat Lector. And I'm not gonna explain what that means, because because if you don't know what that means then you probably shouldn't be reading the book in the first place.
AND THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GONZO MAGAZINE:
Gonzo Weekly #323/4
THE WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE? ISSUE
In this unscheduled, but very welcome issue of yer favourite magazine, the legendary Irvine Welsh visits Todmorden as told
by his landlady, Jon insults a radio show host, watches A Series of Unfortunate Events and remembers touring with Steve Harley, Graham brings us up to date with the world of Hawkwind, Alan introduces us to Skinny Living and Neil recounts the weirdest George Harrison conspiracy theory.
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney, Friday Night Progressive, AND Canterbury Sans Frontieres BUT Strange Fruit is on jiatus due to technical issues AND there are columns from Kev Rowland, and C J Stone, Roy Weard and Mr Biffo BUT Neil Nixon, and the irrepressible Corinna are on hiatus. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and rock wallabies who've blown a fuse (OK, nothing to do with the relatively small macropods who are having electrical problems, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
This issue features:
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket), Stella McCartney, The Beatles, ABBA, In Continuum, Elton John, Jimmy Page, The Specials, Roger Waters, Steve Harley, Richard Freeman, Friday Night Progressive, Canterbury sans Frontieres, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, Tara Emily Simmons, Marcel Azzola, Maxine Brown, Ulises Butron, Edwards McKenna, Marcelo Yuka (stage Name Marcelo Sources), Windsor Davies, Reggie Grimes Young Jr, Teresa Ryan (aka Lorna Doom), Christopher John Wilson, Debi Martini, Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, The Fall, Tony Palmer, The Chad Mitchell Trio, The Deviants ixvi, Mick Farren, Alan Dearling, Irvine Welsh, Giggy, Waka, Phil Bayliss, Neil Nixon, Skinny Living, Tash Bird, Kev Rowland, Dreamfire, Dokken, Bullet, Caliban, Crematory, Blodwyn Pig, Corinna Downes, Mr Biffo, Roy Weard, CJ Stone, Hawkwind, Jon Downes, The Coldharbour Diaries, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett,Thom the World Poet
And the last few issues are:
Issue 323-24 (Irvine Welsh)
Issue 321-22 (Discordianism)
Issue 319-20 (Brix Smith)
Issue 317-18 (Christmas)
Issue 315-16 (Steve Miller)
Issue 313-14 (Hawkwind)
Issue 311-12 (Extinction Rebellion)
Issue 309-10 (Steve Hillage)
Issue 307-8 (Michael Moorcock)
Issue 305-6 (Maartin Allcock)
Issue 303-4 (kOZFEST)
Issue 301-2 (Ringo Starr)
Issue 299-300 (Aretha Franklin)
Issue 298 (Alan in Hungary)
Issue 297 (Shir Ordo)
Issue 295-6 (Robert Berry)
Issue 294 (Bow Wow Wow)
Issue 293 (Stonehenge)
Issue 292 (Rolling Stones)
Issue 291 (Alien Weaponry)
Issue 290 (Frank Zappa)
Issue 289 (Misty in Roots)
Issue 288 (Paula Frazer)
Issue 287 (Boss Goodman)
Issue 286 (Monty Python)
Issue 285 (ELP)
Issue 284 (Strangelove)
Issue 283 (Record Store Day)
Issue 282 (Neil Finn and Fleetwood Mac)
Issue 281 (Carl Palmer)
Issue 280 (Steve Andrews)
All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!
You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at jon@eclipse.co.uk The more the merrier really.
* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...
* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk
* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!
* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 59 who - together with a Jack Russell called Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, and two half grown kittens, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?
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