Namesakes #196: The Gorillas

Time to monkey around with some bands named after Gorillas. Amazing how many artists haven chosen to ape the largest living primates.

THE GUERILLAS #1

We start today in 1969, not with apes but with insurgent militia. They're all G'rillas to me.

The Guerillas - Lawdy Rolla

THE GUERILLAS #2

And while we're on that spelling, here are some more Guerillas, on a reggae trip. No date on this one, but I had to include them because of their mate "Militant Barry". Hopefully the mention of Dreadlocks won't trigger Ernie's 10cc phobia.

Michael Knowledge, The Guerillas & Militant Barry – Dread Lock Time

THE GORILLAS #3

I'll make things easy for you today, if you like. You don't even have to listen to the tunes. From the picture alone, these German Gorillas from 1971 clearly take top spot today. If George votes for anybody else, then I'm a monkey's uncle.

The Gorillas - Laugh Story

THE GORILLAS #4

Pub rock pioneers from Hammersmith in the mid-late 70s. Singer Jesse Hector (the one with a bad case of the Mungo Jerries in the photo above) sadly passed away in May this year.

The Gorillas - She's My Gal

GORILLA #5

A solitary ape now. Former members of early 90s indie band The Beyond went on to become a Gorilla in 1995. Singer John Whitby later became the Mayor of Derby.

Gorilla - Who Wants to Save the World Anyway

GORILLAZ #6

Remember when the idea of a "virtual band" was quite a novel one? Of course, these Gorillaz were created long before AI came along to destroy the music business forever, and they're really the brainchild of Blur's Damon Albarn and Tank Girl comic book artist Jamie Hewlett (and their musical guest star mates). In years to come, I wonder if these guys will seem as outdated as Max Headroom? Or will we just dream of the days when being a "virtual band" still involved actual human creativity?

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

GORILLA #7

A Japanese Gorilla, from 2014...

Gorilla - Mary Anne

GORILLA #8

And finally, another lonely Gorilla, because you can never have too much Hungarian psychobilly...

Gorilla - Child In My Dreams

Which is your great ape?

 

Snapshots Self-Improvement Spillover

Here are some more tips from popular musicians about how to change your life for the better... starting with a band who chose Self Improvement as a way of life...

What other advice can I give you?

Frankie Miller - Be Good To Yourself

The Marvelettes - Don't Make Hurting Me A Habit

Ben Sidran - Be Nice

The Jones Girls - Learn How To Love

Dan Reed Network - Chill Out

Annie Lennox & Al Green - Put A Little Love In Your Heart

The Three Tops - Do It Right

Drugstore - Say Hello

Canned Heat - Let's Work Together

Etta James - Do Right

Final piece of advice today, from a couple of old favourites. 

Firstly Frank...

And then, a last word from Simon & Julia.

Snapshots #455: Self-Improvement Songs

Yesterday it was Sting, today it's Gwyneth: two celebrities who love to bang on about personal development and self-improvement, yada yada yada.

Here are some songs that instruct us how to become better people...

15. What Zoolander plays in the pub.

Derek Zoolander likes to play dominos.

Derek & The Dominoes - Tell The Truth

14. Scottish Bob meets Arnold's brother.

Whutcha talkin' about, Robert the Bruce?

Bruce Willis - Respect Yourself

13. It appears they need tying up.

Loose Ends - Don't Be A Fool

12. Japanese plod collective.

Tokyo Police Club - Be Good

11. The Pogues' favourite cars.

The Fiestas - Think Smart

10. Long DJ meets Ragtime King.

Janice Long meets Scott Joplin.

Janis Joplin - Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)

9. Petrified Peter.

Frightened Rabbit - Be Less Rude

8. Dolls.

Pussycat - Smile

7. Often heard to crow, "your hair is beautiful"... but only when he's with his mates. 

"Your hair is beautiful," is from Atomic. Roosters crow. This guy was the guitarist with Atomic Rooster, but he also had a solo hit with the tune below...

John Du Cann - Don't Be A Dummy

6. What made Bret Anderson snap? 

The Suede Crocodiles - Paint Yourself A Rainbow

5. Clearly sir Toby was confused.

"Clearly sir Toby" was an anagram.

Bay City Rollers - Give A Little Love

4. Backwards German remake of English composer Ralph.

Ralph Vaughan Williams, backwards, with DE in the middle...

William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got

3. Jefferson, Jackson, Johnson...

They were all...

Presidents of the United States of America - Love Everybody

2. The fashion of an estranged prince.

Prince Harry Styles!

Harry Styles - Treat People With Kindness

Whatever you might think of Harry Styles, that's a great pop song.

1. Warning: in a Fury, he could break a man's arm.

Billy Fury gets in a fight with a swan.

Hopefully, you now know how to live a better life, just like Sting and Gwyneth.

More nonsense next Saturday.

Saturday Snapshots #455

Seven Days is a long time to wait between Snapshots, I agree. I thought about doing Snapshots more frequently, but I Was Brought To My Senses. 

Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot and guide you through the clues below. Who are they and how are their songs connected?

15. What Zoolander plays in the pub.

14. Scottish Bob meets Arnold's brother.

13. It appears they need tying up.

12. Japanese plod collective.

11. The Pogues' favourite cars.

10. Long DJ meets Ragtime King.

9. Petrified Peter.

8. Dolls.

7. Often heard to crow, "your hair is beautiful"... but only when he's with his mates. 

6. What made Bret Anderson snap? 

5. Clearly sir Toby was confused.

4. Backwards German remake of English composer Ralph.

3. Jefferson, Jackson, Johnson...

2. The fashion of an estranged prince.

1. Warning: in a Fury, he could break a man's arm.

If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free from wondering about the answers. Send them back here tomorrow morning and all will be revealed.

One Track Summer #4: Wile E. Coyote

If I had to pick a favourite cartoon character, it would probably be Overconfidenti Vulgaris, aka Famishius Famishus, aka Nemesis Ridiculii, aka Wile E. Coyote.

Not only is he a grandiose metaphor for the futility of existence and a glorious anthropomorphism of the persistence of the human spirit, but he is also the inspiration for one of the best comics I ever read.

I don't know if Wild Billy Childish ever read that comic, but he's definitely a fan of the Coyote. He first recorded a tribute back in the 80s with one of his many bands, Thee Mighty Caesars. 

Recently, he revisited the track with his latest band CTMF (I don't know what it stands for, and frankly I'm afraid to ask). It's the perfect encapsulation of the Wile E. Coyote spirit...