Inside the Heliosphere

I’ve known Mick a long time, a friend initially through my wife Tina who has known him even longer, a quarter century and counting. They share, with others, a history in their Adelaide home town of creativity and ar-tistic community that has always seemed intoxicating to me. So very dif-ferent to the environment I experienced on the other side of the planet. I’ve never quite lost the sense of fascination, of awe at what Mick and others have achieved in creating and evolving Urban Cow, the Rhino Room and Howling Owl. Listen to this cracking interview to understand just what this menagerie of venues offers to the lucky people of Adelaide.

This interview, the Heliosphere Season Two closer, was conducted towards and through sunset on a cool Summer evening in Mick and his wife Ra-chel’s gorgeous ocean-side home. (Thank-you for lending me your man for so many hours Rachel!). As with so many of my intrepid, marooned astro-nauts, Mick began his interrogation almost unable to believe that the thing might take so long to work through. It seems increasingly that they come in around the four hour mark. I hope you (and Mick!) will agree that this languid, conversational pace and cavalier approach to editing pays dividends. The idea is that the stories unfold, the atmos-phere relaxes, the sense of the individual, overt and unstated, breathes through the thing. The waves and the spaces between the waves.

Unlike many, (but not all), Mick had in advance a strong sense of where he thought the interview would go, of the stories and scenes he would paint for me; for us. I’m very happy to say that he was only partially correct! At one point I took a gamble and let him know that, while he was the interviewee, for once he wasn’t the boss. Thankfully he saw the funny side, as did Rachel when we told her about this exchange after-wards.

On a more serious note, I gradually became aware throughout the inter-view, and in conversation during each song, that Mick was struggling to process and communicate a period of his life. Namely the earlier, pre-adulthood time in Gawler. Not that there was some dreadful spectre lurk-ing there, I think, but for me this provided yet another lesson in the art of the interview. I innocently prodded Mick on his childhood and teens at the beginning only to realise his hesitancy was borne not of early-interview nerves but a discomfort. From then on I worked even harder to listen, allow reflection. Mick, sorry for giving you sweaty palms mate!

I hope you can hear the depth to our discussion and the way Mick framed his stories; the amazing adventures and characters. I loved talking with my pal, as I always do. Listen closely and you can hear the space be-tween the waves.

This song marked the point of me leaving high school and moving into adulthood.

Although I had not started full time employment at this stage, every morning I would wake up in my parent’s house and after they went to work this would be one of the first songs on one

Where to start with this lovely, brilliant, hilarious hurricane of a man. Nic has only been in my life for the last few years but it feels like we have been friends my whole life. His voice, his experiences, his cultural touchstones, his worldview are all as familiar to me as English ale. And like real ale a few hours spent with the man give me a wonder-ful glow, and a headache (just kidding mate!).

By any objective measure Nic has led a fascinating life. Like any skil-ful raconteur, Nic has the gift of being able to package up its stories and chapters and present them with a full spectrum of emotion; happiness to heartbreak. Listen to this interview to understand what I mean. He got his start in publishing via charm, conversation, insight and smarts. He dreamed up a successful magazine, seemingly on the spur of the mo-ment, made it happen. I loved the story he tells here about how the name came to him and I love how he has lived a rich life alert to opportuni-ty, alive to possibility. And I love the way he has acted on these op-portunities to be a success in his business, a lesson in the ancient art of charm and the blag.

Nic is one of my spacemen who understood the ideas behind Heliosphere immediately, appreciated what it is I’m trying to do and agreed without hesitation to be marooned out past Pluto on Deep Space Station Gideon. I knew immediately that this would be a cracking interview, (with a crack-ing soundtrack!). This was reinforced when I read the eloquent, deeply personal pro forma he returned to me. It reads almost like a letter, frequently using my name to address me directly with his thoughts and emotions.

More than anyone else thus far, the horrible isolation at the very edge of our solar system provoked reactions I often felt guilty to trigger. The tears he cried here were the natural tears of a dedicated husband and father for whom the mere thought of separation from his loved ones was almost too much to bear. Again Nic, I apologise for putting you through this!

Listen then as an eloquent man with a ‘proper’ accent, ‘modern’ sensi-bilities and full access to his emotions goes deep into the adventure that leads him to his life today. But don’t listen if you have a sensi-tivity to fruity language, particularly the ‘F-bomb’.

Purely because Father Christmas kindly delivered this into my stocking – Christmas 76/77. It needs to be noted that I have remained a massive fan ever since – and this style of music has had a heavy influence and still does. Although I am more than mod than rocker I have a huge soft spot for this genre of music. Perhaps it is the simple vocals and the guitar based sound.

To pick a track is a journey it itself and this process has allowed me to discover the joys of this collection – so I would have to pick the track that for me is the essence of rock n roll – simple structure, a tune that goes in and out and with a guitar solo supported by a double bass structure. Man what a tune with punch lyr

Inside the Heliosphere has been good to me in many ways. New music, old music with a fresh angle, creative satisfaction, the opportunity to hear and record the lives and stories of others, education… Most of all it has given me an excuse to sit down with a friend or family member for a few hours and really make a connection. I can sometimes leave a social situation with a vague unease, a feeling rooted in some amorphous obses-sive compulsion that we didn’t really get into it, didn’t really cover it. That we didn’t get to some kind of truth. That thoughts and ideas and feelings were not properly communicated. Heliosphere is my antidote to this unsettling feeling.

Even before this interview I felt that Nicholas and I had connected many times before. He’s one of those cats that looks you in the eye, listens, considers what he has to say and says it with eloquence and humility, reinforced with learning, with intelligence. I knew, therefore, that the Heliosphere format would lend itself perfectly to getting the juice from this fascinating man. Nicholas certainly gave me the juice.

As so many of my space men and women do, he really gave credence to the concept, really went deep in sending me his musical choices and biog-raphy. He’s my wife’s cousin so I knew some of his story but, of course, still had much to learn. Nicholas is a devout man, a Baptist pastor (or minister, hear me grapple to understand the difference!), and his faith and how he came to it formed a fascinating bedrock for this conversation upon which all else was built.

I have a deep respect for people of faith and an instinct to defend them from what can seem sometimes a snide and cynical secular society. It’s easier to chuck rocks than fend them with patience and insight, with ed-ucation and compassion. In this regard and in others, I think Nicholas was wonderfully eloquent in this interview and, as ever with this valued friend, I came away with a sense of soul-satisfying connection.

This represents my wild years as a teen and the rock of the 70s/80s such as The Who, the Doors, Deep Purple, Kiss, Rainbow etc. I was also in my “becoming a famous rock drum-mer” season and John Bonham was simply the best there was.

This album and song are representative of 1980’s Aus rock that was such a big part of my life. I could have easily picked INXS, Hoodoo Gurus, the Models. But the Oils won out.

U2 have stood the test of time and cut through the decades with a swathe of great songs. I love the honesty, searching and rawness of their music. This album, and this song, came at a time when I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, though knew it was more than I had or was experiencing.

This Christian Glam Metal band took its name fro a text in ch

Everyone should have a Matt Maiden in their lives. He’s one of those people you know you can rely on for an entertaining, thought-provoking, intelligent and considered conversation. He’s busy, I mean really busy. I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy but Matty is busy. Listen to this to see just how busy.

He has also played such a very important part in my life. After we fin-ished this interview, another almost-four-hour marathon, we stood chat-ting with my wife in our kitchen over a cuppa and a biscuit. She told Matt, amongst other things, how grateful she is for how he has changed our lives. It wasn’t an empty platitude, it’s true. And it’s to do with horse racing. Have a listen, it’s not a betting story, (though there’s a good one of those too).

So how is Matt busy? Try a blended five-children family, running a re-search lab and working in one state (South Australia) and working in two hospitals in another one too, (Victoria). Try combining this with play-ing in a high-level orchestra and tending to a one-hundred acre farm. I love it when people are as busy as me.

This interview contains much laughter and much respect. Sorry if I made you late for band practice mate.

PS. Today I was sponsored by the word ‘busy’.

My earliest music memory. Must be played in stereo and loud!

Delicate perfection with musical glimpses into the future. The guy was a genius.

So musical. Multiple lines( just listen), dynamic, great control. No synthesisers. 1971 and has aged so well. Authentic and soulful. Have always liked it. Typifies what I value in music.

Folk music from a part of the world where I felt like I belonged.

Prokofiev could orchestrate and geez he had balls. He spent his life writing music knowing he could be sent to the Gulag.

This was written before anyone went to space or made movies about space. It defines the genre in all our minds. And what a piece of music to be involved in!

Simple but powerful. Proof that music does not have be complicated to work. Makes all my family move as one. Never any arguments to turn it down.

Now finally, along with all Douglas Adams’ written works (Google if you’re not familiar with him), please tell me:

Not a big film buff. Instead can I have “Don’t think twice its alright” by Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau. Jazz piano and mandolin dogin a great take on Bob Dylan. I have to have some jazz track in here somewhere. (Captain’s note: no Matt, you can’t.

There was a period of time, referenced during the conversation I had with Nicholas F in Season one of Inside the Heliosphere, when North Mel-bourne seemed to me alive with musicians and other creative types. These were the days before our children were born and my wife and I made regu-lar trips to her brother’s bar on Victoria Street. The nights were long and the drink measures non-standard.

Somewhere in this fog of promise and alcohol I made the acquaintance of this quiet, thoughtful man. We may have discussed music, we may have discussed guitars. There was a lot of that back then.

I’m never certain that people I meet remember me. A favourite question to put to people, and not just here, is ‘how do you think others see you?’. It’s a toughie.

So when I found myself at the Grace Darling Hotel in Collingwood, re-viewing one of Blake’s solo gigs for Stack Magazine, (read it here if you like: https://stack.com.au/music/live-review/blake-scott-grace-darling-melbourne/), I didn’t think he would much recall our conversa-tions, if at all. Therefore I was surprised after his quite brilliant performance to be given a hug and have a cheerful catch-up chat. Fur-thermore, I was extremely happy when Blake agreed to be interviewed.

I was lucky enough to see him play with his band Peep Tempel a few times, including their farewell gig at the Forum in Melbourne, (review here: https://stack.com.au/music/live-review/peep-tempel-forum-live-review/). I also watched with pride and a huge grin as his band released a series of fantastic videos to accompany their singles. Watch the one for Mister Lester Moore to understand why I asked Blake if he has had any training in acting.

It is a strange and wonderful thing to see friends take off with wings of acclaim, to feel real pride in the accomplishments of people with whom you’ve shared beer and crisps. Blake and the stupendous Peep Tempel fully deserve every compliment they get.

So listen to this fascinating conversation, conducted in Blake’s North Melbourne home, half a mile up the road from our old drinking venues. Whether a fan of Peep Tempel, and surely you should be, or a stranger to the man and his band, I think you’ll be intrigued by the complex duality of his life, and by the humble, disarming, eloquent and insightful way he views and skewers the world.

And I hope that one day, like me, you have the singular pleasure of standing in a large crowd at a festival, shoe in the air, chanting ‘And I don’t think Trevor is good for you’ While Blake tears it up onstage with his trusty white Epiphone.

I’m really not a fan of parties or large social occasions. If I’m lucky I’ll find a quiet corner and an interesting conversation. If I’m really lucky I’ll find a kindred spirit in that quiet corner to while away the hours until I can make my excuses and go home. Yep, I’m ‘boring’ and proud.

Paul and I met at a biggish work do in 2008. Introduced as fellow Lon-doners and fellow West Ham fans there was no way we would not hit it off. And so a much-valued friendship began, flowing like the Thames.

Paul has had many lives and has travelled, as have I, many miles from the town of our birth. I should note here with some little envy that he is ‘proper’ London – born within the sound of Bow Bells and therefore a bona fide cockney. I’m a sort of Essex boy pretender, whatever the ac-cent you may hear.

About half way between Whitechapel and Romford used to be the home ground of West Ham United. Paul and I share the affliction of calling them ‘our team’. I particularly enjoyed the bit of his interview where we discussed just what that meant in this age of mercenary football mil-lionaires.

Paul also shares my love of words; of writing and of creativity. There-fore it was no surprise when he agreed to be cast into deep space and explore his musical and personal history.

Listening back in the days after the interview I felt a degree of satis-faction that my attempts to learn from series one and consciously allow more space for the thing to breathe and the subject to express are work-ing. Well, that’s my very subjective opinion anyway. What I mean to say is that this conversation seemed to settle quickly into a relaxed and natural rhythm. I’m very happy with how it went and how Paul told his story.

One more thing: how on Earth can you explain the strange coincidence of me waking with ‘Going Underground’ by The Jam in my head to immediately discover that, in his overnight email, Paul had made it one of his seven choices? Insert Twilight Zone music here…

Live in London version. Incredible poem and Dublin story.

Martha Tom Waits Closing Time – Beautiful album

Punk gigs.

Greatest Hits (please let me have this album!). Fabulous jumping up and down music and first song I taught Mo and Libby.

Pinups. My funeral song. Story of my life…

Now finally, along with all Douglas Adams’ written works (Google if you’re not familiar with him), please tell me:

Game of Thrones complete box set including unreleased.

Road to Freedom Trilogy – Satre.

Some people ‘get’ Inside the Heliosphere very quickly. They tend to be people who are especially into music or the whole space/science thing. It’s hard to think of anyone I know more passionate about and, certain-ly, more qualified in both subjects than Jason.

It was my extreme good fortune to meet him in England through a couple of musical friends, Derek Day and Ali Shayesteh, as he toured as bass player for the former on a tour organised by the latter. We immediately hit it off and, on only our second meeting, when I told him about Helio-sphere, he didn’t hesitate in agreeing to be marooned past even the Kui-per Belt with a paltry seven albums. I’m glad two of his choices were his compositions because it meant that both you and I got to have our lives enriched by them too.

Jason is so impressive on so many objective levels. He lives and thrives by his talent, drive and imagination. To be an LA musician in the 21st Century takes more than a few good tunes and some ability, believe me. And if this weren’t enough, he scored a Mars expedition NASA gig. No, not playing at the staff Christmas party. Listen to the interview and prepare to be inspired as to what can be achieved if we put our minds and energies into life.

For example writing a piece of music, engaging an orchestral arranger and flying to Budapest to record it with a professional orchestra.

This interview was so much fun. Recorded in a Koreatown, Los Angeles ho-tel room, the city and hills and Hollywood sign before us, we took a while to settle down; find our rhythm. The first five minutes was all flight of ideas, streams of cascading consciousness and I loved having to really be on my toes. Three hours later I felt like we had managed to bottle some of the lightning that makes Jason such a fascinating and wonderful bloke. Meeting him was absolutely one of the highlights of a great year.

Almost Walking on the Moon (and not just for the space association) but in the end the opening Stewart Copeland drum fill won through. One of my two favourite musicians, (along with Eddie Van Halen) and this song, this moment is completely Copeland, utterly distinctive.

Obvious choice; the G chord alone on the opening riff would have been enough…

Bit of a toss up, could have been Abacab or Dodo/Lurker from Abacab. Dodo/Lurker was my inspiration for Ghost 1 and 2.

My first record (it’s my record so I’m picking a two-parter). With regards to my own shit, I felt that the two selections from my first album, as well as the new orchestral work, (choice six), altogether encapsulate some of my favourite recorded moments of my own sounds. Certainly with Ghost 1 and 2 it’s a diverse collection.

A bit like my dad and a bit like my mum, his sister, my Uncle Henry ap-proached his interview a little nonplussed. Not in the ‘who could possi-bly be interested in hearing about my life and musical history’ kind of way that so many of my modest astronauts wrongly assume. More of a ‘what’s this odd nephew of mine up to now’ situation.

I had driven my wife and children down from North Carolina on a diet of Subway sandwiches and soundtrack of Marc Maron’s life-changing WTF pod-cast, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Hurricane Florence was tracking slowly towards us, a Category Five giant of a storm that, in my mind, lent an added pathos to proceedings. My uncle had already told us he planned to stay where he was and ride the thing out come what may (and despite mandatory evacuation orders).

It’s not so very hard to draw a clear line between this no-nonsense, stubborn attitude and the man I have known and heard about my entire life. Deeply thoughtful and smart, he nonetheless comes with a ‘handle with care’ label earned over many authoritarian years both in his youth in post-war London and his new life in the new land across the pond.

You might hear me working hard in this one. Certainly I found it as dif-ficult to navigate as the interview with my dad but for different rea-sons. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect but I don’t think it was the raw emotion and tears that bubbled to the surface like water from this old East End geezer.

I know his children and relatives, my extended family, will listen to this. I don’t know if he will. I hope he does, for in it he will hear evidence the of love and respect I have always had for him.

Now finally, along with all Douglas Adams’ written works (Google if you’re not familiar with him), please tell me:

Bullitt, Sleuth, Silverado, Ipcress File.

The plays of Shakespeare.

Giles. Caught the essence of British people and their family life.

The Goons.

The Road to Hell is Paved With Good Intentions (ie Empty Promises and Procrastination).

Women are smarter more logical and mentally stronger than men, also never bullshit a bullshitter.

Over.

← BACK TO DATA

Have you ever met an artisan? I mean a real living breathing artist or craftsman or woman who can take some raw elements or ingredients or bits of wood and metal and make them into something beautiful or functional or even magical. Have you? In my opinion and in my experience it’s un-common. Mark is one of those hen’s teeth.

I don’t like infinity, it gives me the willies, but you know that thing about monkeys and typewriters and the complete works of Shakespeare? I don’t care how long you give me, I’m never going to turn some mahogany and aluminium and bits of wire into a guitar even close to what Mark gestates and delivers from his workshop in beautiful North Carolina.

This episode marked the first time I stranded a relative stranger on Deep Space Station Gideon. That is to say someone I had not previously sat in a room with. Not ate pastries and drank coffee with. Not met be-fore. Not had the luxury of some familiarity and shared stories with.

So on a classic Durham Sunday morning I was just a little bit anxious. I needn’t have been. Mark and his wife Kate welcomed me into their home, showed me the space where my MotorAve BelAire came to life. Introduced me to their dog. Treated me like a friend. It was a generous and moving display of trust and warmth.

During the interview we soon discovered common ground. Music of course, but also thoughts and a certain world view. Everyone has a story, and I can usually find in conversation something that fascinates and educates me but by any objective measure Mark’s narrative is amazing. Through a rich and varied life he finds himself at the pinnacle of his game – a luthier of the very highest calibre. I’m not sure if I quite managed to convince him of his singular genius but I’m pretty sure this record of me trying will find a fascinated audience beyond those musicians lucky enough to play one of his guitars. And the list includes one of my musi-cal heroes by the way: Josh Homme. It was seeing and hearing Josh wield a BelAire that inspired me to track Mark down in the first place.

Thanks Josh.

This interview occurred at the beginning of a road trip into the Deep South of the United States. It was a magical journey and this was the perfect opening chapter.

It’s where it all started for me. Maryta went and saw the movie in ’64 and bought the soundtrack record in the lobby. I found it in ’69 when I was six, learning how to use the record player, and it blew my mind. I’ve never been the same since.

It’s my spirit song. Years ago in Oregon, the Secrets played an outdoor show out in the woods somewhere.. there were 7 or 8 bands and it just went on and on, and we were stuck out there for the entire day ‘cos it was our PA. By the time we went on I was in a very black mood, and when the whole miserable thing was over we left, me and Dave the bass player, in his car down a long

What a start to season two of Inside the Heliosphere!

I consider myself very lucky to have a handful of friends with whom I can, quickly and reliably, fall into a deep and comforting conversation that makes the years and my forehead lines fall away like the service module from Apollo 9.

Brod is certainly in that group.

In fact, from our very earliest meeting, (around about 1985 we think), I have been aware that a singular conversational compatibility has been our good fortune. A hallmark of our interactions. Many a time we have talked late into the night; it has been a blessing for me and a con-sistent feature of our relationship from that time on.

In the days before mobile telephones, Skype and the internet a year might pass without us meeting up or even talking. It never mattered. We would always pick up immediately where we left off.

Today, with Skype, mobile telephones and the internet, a year might pass without us talking. We always pick up immediately where we left off. We have always been aware that this is an unusual and brilliant thing.

His wonderful parents, Sue and Dave, have always treated me with the same warmth and humour that produced such a grounded, smart, adored man. They even continued to welcome me into their Hereford home after I stole Dave’s hairdryer and broke his garage window with a basketball. Sorry again Dave.

This interview was conducted in Brod’s home in Finsbury Park, London. At one point you may hear the sound of me having to… compose myself. I had become unexpectedly and suddenly emotional in relating a conversation I witnessed between him and two of my daughters the day before. I didn’t feel embarrassed. In fact I felt happy as, yet again, this wonderful He-liosphere thing had gifted me an opportunity to tell a dear friend just how deeply I respect them; how important they are to me in my lucky life.

Hopefully Brod understands that. I hope you enjoy listening to our con-versation.

I Wanna Be Adored Stone Roses…….Very clear memory of this echoing through the house one night soon after moving in. Period of rediscovery.

La femme d’argent Air.. after university move to london. Calmly looking into the unknown.

Mate Rich gave me this album before it was released whilst I was in Salisbury. Urban Youth thought I was cool. I’d heard this track on the radio when I was in the gym. I obviously have no claim to be “london” or urban at all but, it is a part of the many flavours of the city that make it an interesting place to live. In that moment in the gym for me it was the carrot, to push and get back.

Welcome to jamrock…… https://youtu.be/I1yF