1) On Saturday August 2nd, 2008 Tymon headlined a special festival afternoon of folk and roots music at the Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees, England. The completely free festival (held from Wednesday 30th July to Sunday 3rd August) also included bands/artists such as: Super Furry Animals, Happy Mondays and Paul Heaton (Beautiful South and Housemartins), John Power, British Sea Power and Clinic.
Susan de Muth (August 11th, 2008):
"The Stockton Riverside festival was good. A photographer called Susan Cockerill was there who has some fantastic pictures of Tymon and Joe from 2002 and took a lot last weekend at the festival. We stayed in the same hotel as the Happy Mondays and had a merry drink with Bez who is great company and a fabulous performer as we discovered afterwards at the gig... After the festival we had a few days in the border country between NE England and Scotland - the most remote part of the UK with no mobile phone reception which was odd! - just cycling round and chilling out..."
2) On Monday July 28th, 2008, Tymon took part in an epic 4-hour live concert peformance of Hal Willner’s Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys concert, held at the Barbican Hall in London, England. Artists featured on the night, included: Shane MacGowan, Chris Difford, Baby Gramps, actor Tim Robbins, Gavin Friday, The Langley Sisters, Richard Strange, Martin Carthy, Neil Hannon, cartoonist Ralph Steadman, Teddy Thompson, Kamila Thompson, Sandy Dillon, Julie Fowlis and band, Robyn Hitchcock, Suzanne Vega, Martha Wainwright, Kathryn Williams, Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson, Rachel and Becky Unthank, Jenni Muldaur and house band: Kate St John (MD), Andy Newmark, Leo Abrahams, Rory McFarlane, Martyn Barker, Barry Reynolds and Roger Eno...
Songs played throughout the night included: "South Australia", "The Leaving of Liverpool", "Farewell Nancy", "Pinery Boy", "Boney was a Warrior", "Baltimore Whores", "Bully In The Alley", "Bay Of Biscay", "Good Ship Venus", "Johnny Leave Her", "Lowlands Low", "Caroline and Her Young Sailor", "Rolling Sea", "Sam's Gone Away", "Lowlands Away", "Cruel Ship's Captain", "Turkish Revelry", "Hog Eye Man", "Row the Boat Child", "Old Man of the Sea" and an improvised (due to Pete Doherty's non-appearance) "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor".
Six photos (two courtesy of photographer Caroline van Oosten de Boer at http://flickr.com/photos/caroline, one by flickr.com's 'Pix Gremlin' at http://www.flickr.com/people/aworan/, and one by flickr.com's 'Diamond Geyser' at http://www.flickr.com/people/diamondgeyser/) and the following three videos courtesy of youtube.com member, SeeGigFilmGigPost: 1) "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor" (improvised) featuring Tymon, Shane McGowan, David Thomas, Ed Harcourt and Gavin Friday. 2) "Bully In The Alley" (at 6:14) featuring Tymon, Sandy Dillon, Ed Harcourt and Baby Gramps. 3) "Boney was a Warrior" (at 7:06) featuring Tymon, Shane McGowan, Ed Harcourt and Gavin Friday.
Caroline van Oosten de Boer also said this of Tymon's performance on the night (August 1st, 2008):
"I have to say I was a little surprised. I didn't know who he was and he wasn't on the bill, I thought. I loved that he was really getting into the improvisation on "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor" and I thought he suited the material really well."
Amanda Farah, Londonist (July 2008):
"As (Hal) Wilner said, you couldn't get through an evening of sea chanteys without the obligatory rendition of "What Do We Do With A Drunken Sailor." In the hands of David Thomas, Keith Moline, the still-shaky McGowan, Gavin Friday, (and Tymon Dogg) it took on an apocalyptic nature. Despite a light-hearted reference to the accordion on his knee, Thomas succeeded only in making perhaps the best known of sea songs borderline terrifying. However, if a song has been covered to death then it might as well scare you near to death."
Tim Cumming, The Independant ( July 30th, 2008):
"A growling, Beefhearted David Thomas handled the essential "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor" ("is that a rhetorical question?" asked Hannon), taken down to a slow dirge with flashes of abstract, tremolo guitar from Leo Abrahams, and David Coulter's literally show-stopping way with a saw."
July 23rd, 2008
Updates for July 23rd, 2008:
1) Tymon will next be performing his music at The Sage Gateshead (aka Gateshead at the Sage) on July 24th 2008, as part of Hal Willner’s three-multi artist concert event series, Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. The Sage Gateshead is a centre for musical education, performance and conferences, located in Gateshead on the south bank of the River Tyne, in the north-east of England. Tymon will be appearing at the Hall One venue, which kicks off at approx. 7:30 pm. For more information about this show, please visit the "Live Shows" page.
2) Today I was sent another review of Tymon's recent performance at the HASENSCHAUKEL club in Hamburg, Germany as part of the club's Woody Bash Festival, courtesy of the festival's organizer and performer, Tanju (aka Tan Le Racoon). To read Tanju's (and Tymon's wife Susan's memories) excellent review of Tymon's performance, please visit the newly added "GERMANY - 2008" page. 11 photos of this event have now also been added to the "PHOTO GALLERY" page. A podcast extract of Hamburger Abendblatt's 'Episode 41 - Im Todestaxi mit Woody Guthrie' featuring Tymon performing "Lose This Skin" (and talking about Woody Guthie) is now featured below.
- Thank you Tanju for his excellent review and assistance, Boo Hoo for his assistance, http://mainstage.de/ and Chrissie for the use of two photos, www.myspace.com/maschine54 for the use of nine photos, www.iloveilive.de and www.abendblatt.de (German newspaper "Hamburger Abendblatt") for the iLIVE podcast (Episode 41 - Im Todestaxi mit Woody Guthrie - Christian Dittloff and Felix Pace) extract. I appreciate everyone's kind help and assistance with providing coverage of this event for the fan site, thank you very much.
3) Here is a short memoir of Tymon's July 11th, 2008 gig at Wild at Heart Club, courtesy of Tymon's wife Susan (July 14th, 2008) (video from this show, courtesy of Matze from Drunk 'n' Roll, can also be viewed below and on the "VIDEO" page):
"The Berlin gig at 'Wild at Heart' on the Friday night was well attended by young punks, curious kids and older people who were probably Clash fans, and, much to Tymon's surprise, his long-lost friend Ralfe who played bass guitar on 'Hollowed Out' and was one of the 'Fools' along with Richard Dudanski. Berlin is quite a scene these days - or at least Kreuzberg where 'Wild at Heart' is - a bit like London in the 1970s, full of idiosyncratic dressers and squats and alternative living projects. We were fascinated to see people living in brightly painted wooden trailers right in the heart of the city in woodlands shared with rescued animals! In the park near the venue, we found lots of people having impromptu parties (without being told off by the authorities as they would be here in England) and walking and cycling despite the fading light. In England people take dogs for a walk - in Berlin it seems people take their bottle of beer for a stroll in the park on a Friday night before heading out for the rest of the evening! 'Wild at Heart' is quite a hardcore venue run by a great bunch of people (thanks Uli, Lea…) who also have a veggie restaurant next door."
June 30th, 2008
Here are the latest updates for June 30th, 2008:
Firstly, if anyone wishes to subscribe to this fan site to receive update notifications, please visit the newly added "Subscribe" page. When there is an update on TYMON DOGG - SOUL MUSIC I will send you an e-mail notification. This way you never miss an update.
1) A few days ago, I came across two old Tymon albums that have not yet been released (and were never intended to be), recorded with his 'Frugivores'-era partner, Helen Cherry, possibly some time between 1977 and 1980 or 1985 and 1987 titled: From Immortality to Immortalityand The Lotus Train.
Both albums were once for sale as audiocassettes at the Sri Sathya Sai Book Centre in London, England, though the store now apparently no longer stocks such items. I emailed Tymon and wife Susan about such recordings, and received the following reply:
"I have heard from Immortality to Immortality - it's from a very spiritual time in Tymon's life when he spent a lot of time in India The site you mention is probably to do with that. I am not sure if these tapes are still available but if Tymon has any spare ones I'll post you one. Tymon says he is going to use some of the tracks from the tapes on future releases but the tapes themselves were for a particular project and not as a commercial release. I think he was pretty surprised to hear anyone has got copies of them to be honest."
So, a possible release of such material in some way will be available in the near future.
2) Here are a few words about the recent 30-40 minute headlining set Tymon played at London 's 'The Offside Bar' on June 13th 2008 as part of the 'Long Hot Summer Party', courtesy of Susan de Muth (I meant to add this sooner, though unfortunately it slipped my mind):
"It went really well except at the end when, incredibly, the pick-ups went on BOTH Tymon's violin and his Spanish guitar!!! I filmed it and it was very well attended. We especially liked Adrian Mitchell's set, he is called the 'Shadow Poet Laureate' of Britain because he's a great poet and very anti-establishment. He's pretty old now - well into his 70s - and didn't stay for Tymon's set but they had a good old chat before he left."
3) Three new Tymon gigs are lined up for July and August. These are:
I) In July, Tymon will be playing two live shows in Germany. The first will be at the Wild at Heart club located at 20 Weiner St. (Weiner Str. 20) in Berlin, Germany on July 11th, 2008 (8pm). Support includes Berlin punk/folk musician Pascal Briggs. For more information regarding this upcoming show, please visit the Official Wild at Heart website at: www.wildatheartberlin.de
I) The second show Tymon will be playing in Germany will be a headlining gig for the 'Woody Bash Festival' at a venue called Hasenschaukel in Hamburg on July 12th. The Hasenschaukel is located right by the harbour and Reeperbahn in St. Pauli, Hamburg. The following musicians/bands will also be appearing at the festival: Amy Rude, Unreachables, La Grande Illusion, Tan Le Racoon, Boo Hoo, and Dirty Dishes. The flyer for this Festival is featured below. For more information regarding this upcoming show, please visit the Official Hasenschaukel website at: www.hasenschaukel.de/
IIi) Tymon's upcoming third gig will be headlining a special festival afternoon of folk and roots music at the Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival held at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees, England, UK on Saturday, August 2nd 2008. This is a completely free festival but best to come down early if you want a space! Super Furry Animals, Happy Mondays and Paul Heaton (Beautiful South and Housemartins) will also be appearing at this year's Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival (Wednesday 30th July to Sunday 3rd August) with support from John Power, British Sea Power and Clinic. Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival is organized by the Tees Music Alliance, with sponsorship and support from Stockton Borough Council and Arts Council England. For more information regarding this upcoming event, please contact Jill at: jill@teesmusicalliance.org.uk
4) We are still looking for distribution and television broadcast for Merrill Aldighieri's 9 Lives of Tymon Dogg feature documentary. Director/ Producer Merrill Aldighieri can be contacted via her official website at: http://artclips.free.fr - Three following mp3 excerpts from the film are now available on the "Live Shows" page:
- We Dragged Ourselves (Mindsweeper Benefit, London - November 16th, 2007)
- Child of War (Arms Aloft 2007, London - November 15th, 2007)
- Johnny Is A Wanderer (The Hurrah Club, New York - November 21st, 1980) - also available below:
5) If anyone has any photos or thoughts they wish to share regarding Tymon's June 13th, 2008 headlining set the other night at The Offside Bar in London, please send me an email. Tymon took part in the 'A Night of 1968 Inspiration' theme as part of the 'Long Hot Summer Party'.
6) Added a short piece about Tymon's 1986 Frugivores "New Age Songs" album by someone named 'Zionist Conspirator' to the "Stories/Memories" page.
7) Lastly, the following Frugivores downloadable tracks have now been fixed: "Indestructible", "Train Crash", "The Optimist", and "Edge of My Heart".
May 31st, 2008
1) A couple days ago I received a personal copy of the excellent "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg" feature documentary directed by Merrill Aldighieri. Having watched it twice now, my final thoughts on this film are very positive. I think it benefits from a second viewing, just as Tymon's records do – which is always a good thing. To fully appreciate it, you need to see it twice. Watch for the ginger cat! Thank you Merrill for sending me the copy.
A new bunch of 'screen grabs' have been added to the "Photo Gallery" page. My thoughts regarding "9 Lives" are below (though I won't give away too much):
"9 Lives" opens with Tymon breaking into a vacant property, which contains a field/garden filled with wild pink/red flowers (which I have been told is all bulldozed and muddy now to make way for a new block of flats… typical) – the contrast between this and the surrounding drab looking buildings is very striking. Tymon walks into the vacant lot and beings playing an old tune called, "Beyond This Frontier" (featured on Frugivores' 1986 LP, New Age Songs). It's an amazing minimalist performance with just Tymon on violin and a backing track of harmonium.
Next, Tymon is interviewed in a location I cannot remember, though it has clocks and a running ticker of world news or something. Here he talks about his thoughts on resurrection and all forms of repetition, which is fascinating.
Footage of Tymon performing at New York's Hurrah Club from November 21st 1981 is used throughout the film, with Tymon playing the following songs: "Wheel of Life and Death" (originally released on Tymon's self-titled 1976 LP), "Johnny Is A Wander" (originally appeared on the unreleased 1983 Hollowed Out LP), and "Lose This Skin (originally released on The Clash's 1980 Sandinista! LP, and as a subsequent single). This footage is amazing to see, as Tymon during this point of his career is such an incredible solo act to experience live. All the songs from this show are so filled with energy - his busking days played a big importance on his music by the look/sound of it. Violin and harmonica at the same time, then straight back into such electrically–charged vocals… how does he do it? "Get Your Hands Off Me Satan" (originally released on 1982's Battle of Wills LP) from this same concert is also featured in the "Bonus" section of the disc.
Throughout the film, a bunch of new unreleased songs also feature, including: "Conscience Money", "Child of War", "Planxty John Mellor", "We Dragged Ourselves", "Its Time For Moving On", and a couple others I have never heard before.
Other interesting segments include: Tymon talking about being light of possessions such as a watch, coins in his pockets, etc. when performing a song (Whilst playing "Velvet Stella", Tymon flicks his sunglasses away); Tymon giving a private performance of his self-made Pyramid Harp (aka Tetraharp, or New World Harp), with an unknown (to me anyway) song, "Pick Up The Pieces" (?). though the song to me is unknown.
"Guantanamo" live at the Acton Town Hall Benefit from November 15th 2007 sounds even better than the CD single release from 2007. Tymon also plays "Cold Wind Blows" and "Oil" in the field/garden filled with wild pink/red flowers.
- You really must see the film for yourself though, as my comments are only a brief round up of the film. Over the weekend I will be contacting several documentary film distribution companies, along with television broadcasting stations, so if anyone would like to offer some suggestions with regards to such plans for this film, please let me know as it would be a great help and very much appreciated. Merrill Aldighieri can be contacted via her offical website at http://artclips.free.fr
2) Added Sean Millar (aka Doctor Millar) - The Bitter Lie (1995) to the "Related Projects" page. Tymon helped produce this debut album by Irish Singer/Songwriter/Poet Sean Millar (aka Doctor Millar) back in 1995. To learn more about his particular album, please read the recently added May 2008 Q & A piece featured on this site. To learn more about Sean, visit his myspace.com page at www.myspace.com/doctormillar
3) Below are two pieces of art I found which feature: 1) Tymon Dogg led pencil-drawn portrait by someone named Sophie (aka 'deppylegs') from the UK at www.myspace.com/bobmarleyislandon May 15, 2008, and 2) Tymon's lyrics from "Lose This Skin" used in a painting by blogger artist Jason Das at http://jasondas.com/ - the two-part painting this particular image was taken from is titled, 'Train Escaping January', from January 29th, 2008. A penicl drawing portrait of Tymon added to the site in December 2007 by fan Laura Ahrens is now located in the "Photo Gallery" section. Also added to this section is a photo of Tymon from the early 70's where he has half a moustache, and another where Tymon has a full beard and is playing the violin.
May 24th, 2008
1) A new May 2008 Q & A feature with Tymon Dogg has now been added to the site, which can be read on the "Q & A May 2008" page. In this piece, Tymon sheds some light on his forthcoming full-length album, his thoughts on recently played live shows, a possible upcoming tour, among other interesting stuff. My thanks to Tymon for kindly agreeing to take part in yet another Q & A feature for this fan site, and of course to his wife Susan de Muth for once again passing on my messages to Tymon for me - as always it is very much appreciated!!!
2) With Merrill Aldighieri's "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg" documentary of Tymon Dogg complete, she is now looking for distribution/broadcast possibilities/options, so again if anyone can help Merrill out in some way, please contact her via her Official website at http://artclips.free.fr/ - or simply send me an email via dogginfo@gmail.com, and I shall pass it on to her for you. Let's help get the word out about this film, and let it see a possible release some day soon.
3)Tymon will be playing a 30-40 minute headlining set at The Offside Bar, 271 City Road, London EC1, on June 13th 2008 as part of the 'Long Hot Summer Party'. The theme of the night is 'A Night of 1968 Inspiration' - which will feature Tymon playing a range of material from the late 60's to the present day. For more information about this event, visit: www.offsidebar.com- the poster/flyer of which can be viewed on the "Live Shows" page.
Also, on July 12th Tymon will be playing a venue in Hamburg called Hasenschaukel - as part of as yet unknown mini-Festival. More information about this second gig will be added when possible.
May 18th, 2008
Here are the new updates for May 18th, 2008:
1) Multi-award winning filmmaker Merrill Aldighieri has now completed work on her 2007/2008 Tymon Dogg documentary feature, 9 Lives of Tymon Dogg.
This 2008 documentary feature includes: Interviews, special solo performances and vintage footage of Tymon Dogg, his new band "The Quikening", and other surprises. This 1 hr. 6 minutes (including 20 min. of bonus clips) feature film is now available in a broadcast quality Widescreen stereo version for TV and DVD, so if any programmers or distributors are interested, please contact either Merrill for info on availability and materials via her website at: http://artclips.free.fr/ - or just send me an email via this fan site. To learn more about this film, please visit the "Documentary 2008" page.
2) A new 2008 Q & A feature will be added to the site hopefully by the end of May.
3) Found this great video extract of a full 'Tymon with Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Live At The Brixton Academy, 2001' concert on youtube.com - the video's uploader, Aristotlekh, had this to say about the show: "One of the most polished shows the second (and best) Mescaleros lineup would give. Everybody has the Global A Go-Go material down pat and it shows: Tymon Dogg ravages his fiddle on Bummed Out City, Joe is all over the stage during Global A Go-Go, and the entire band is energetic all night. Highlights include Minstrel Boy, Mondo Bongo and Blitzkrieg Bop, largely because I don't think I've ever seen those performed on video prior to this recording, but the whole show is pretty terrific. A lot more focused and musically diverse than the '99 gigs." So, here is Tymon with Joe & Mescaleros playing "Bummed Out City":
4) On August 29th, Tymon's wife Susan de Muth with the following news regarding Tymon and his music:
"We have been really busy... Tymon is working hard on new songs. There's not a great deal of news, (though) Tymon is not planning on doing many gigs now until the (new) album is finished but he is doing this one - I cut and paste from Mark's email: "13 June, Long Hot Summer Party, 30-40 minute headlining set. The Offside Bar, 271 City Road, London EC1 (see www.offsidebar.com). The theme is ' A Night of 1968 Inspiration' so a range of material going back to the 1960s, and right up to the present with the superb Guantanamo Bay track. I understand Tymon might also do a couple of numbers co-written with Joe for the Mescaleros (Scratchy will be DJ'ing who I guess you know).' "A visit to Merrill to look at final cut of '9 Lives' is planned for mid-May... "Have been making a few notes re your idea of what Tymon is listening to...one thing I can tell you is he has been listening a lot to Thomas Ades who is probably one of the hottest young classical composers of our times. Loads of other stuff too. I will send you something at end of the month.
March 29th, 2008
1) Tymon recently played a solo show on March 20th, 2008 as part an informal evening celebrating the music of Joe Strummer at London's legendary Filthy MacNasty's Whiskey Cafe. Johnny Green, who wrote the excellent Clash book ’Riot of our Own’, hosted the night. Tymon played songs he wrote with Joe and also some of his own songs which he hadn't played in many years. Here is a review from Susan de Muth of this show:
"The Filthy's gig was a one-off solo session featuring songs from the period 1970 - 1977. These included:
"Confessions of an English Tea drinker" (1974)
"I caught you dancing" (1973)
"Johnny is a Wanderer" (1970)
"Too small to lead, too big to follow" (1973)
"Lose This Skin" (1977)
"Locks and Bolts and Hinges" (1977)
"Tymon also performed an improvisation on the violin resembling one he did in the studio while the Clash were recording 'Combat Rock', Joe started shouting 'Rock the Casbah' in response to the tunes Tymon was creating and that's how that song came about. Johnny Green and Pat Gilbert read passages from their books about the Clash and then Tymon did a bit of a trip down memory lane playing songs from the 70's associated with the period when Joe lived in the same squat and, as Tymon told the audience, 'Joe was my roadie' at the time! Tymon also played the blue acoustic guitar that he taught Joe to play guitar on."
- Again, if anyone reading this caught Tymon on stage that night and would like to add a review/memory regarding his performance, please contact me at dogginfo@gmail.com
2) In April or May this year, I hope to add a new Q & A session with Tymon to the fan site. This new Q & A piece will include questions regarding the forthcoming album release, possible 2008 tour, and other assorted news and inquiries.
It has indeed been confirmed that Tymon now has all the material for this planned album, and when it is recorded a tour should follow. I have also been told that Tymon is writing more tunes and lyrics now than ever before.
3) This past month, Tymon was interviewed two US writers for two different projects. The first was by Kristofer Engelhardt for a revised 2008 edition of his book 'Beatles Undercover'. Secondly, Stefan Granados interviewed Tymon for his new book about The Beatles' Apple Records. Stefan is also set to write an article about Tymon for music magazine Shindig.
4) A possible new feature on this fan site will hopefully be the inclusion of a list of music (songs/albums) that Tymon has been listening to for the current month, whatever date that may be at the time of writing/update. The point of this new addition is for fans to get some kind of further insight into what interests Tymon musically during this period, or what may have acted as some form of inspiration during the noted month. The first addition will possibly be in May.
5) Filmmaker Merrill Aldighieri has apparently completed work on her Tymon Dogg documentary "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg". Merrill however is currently in the US; therefore an update regarding the latest on this film is currently unavailable.
6) Added a 1983 Melody Maker article featuring Tymon to the "Article - 1983" page.
7) Tymon's 2007 song "Guantanamo" has recently been compiled on an Anti-War compilation titled 'Child Victims of War/ Hastings Against War'. The following artists also appear on this CD: Natalie's Box, Pass the Cat, Claire Hamill, Gail Storm, Zoe Konez, Jonathan Martin, Gavin Brown, Nightshift, andThis Project. Tymon apparently also plays Piano on Jonathon Martin's contribution "Don't Let It Slip Away". To order a copy of this non-profit CD, contact Hastings Against War at hastingsagainstwar@yahoo.co.uk
Here are three new reviews of Tymon's "Guantanamo" single, and EP.
"Local legend Tymon Dogg is up next with "Guantanamo". This man has impeccable credentials, having recorded for the Beatles' apple label when he was only 17, and going on to be a sideman with the Clash and a founder member, along with Joe Strummer, of the Mescaleros. "Guantanamo" takes us right back to the issues at the heart of this CD and reminds us of the hollow, inhuman logic driving the policies behind the 'war on terror'. Tymon also contributespiano and violin to the next track, 'Don't let it slip away', a heartfelt eulogy to a distant lover by local musician and poet Jonathon Martin."
"Tymon Dogg‘s"Guantanamo", contrasting yet again, has an overwhelmingly Arabic flavour (Bowie’s weird and wonderful ‘Yassassin’ comes to mind), which suggests a Muslim viewpoint, and the lyrics (sometimes hard to hear over the array of wonderful instruments) burn with righteous anger. It’s cathartic like many of my favourite protest songs such as The Creekdippers "George Bush Industriale" (‘I want to grind his face in the Beatitudes’) and above all Dylan’s "Masters of War"."
"As an extraordinary singer/songwriter, Tymon Dogg's new songs deliver a powerful and highly original new sound, with radical thought-provoking content that most artists are afraid to let rip. GUANTANAMO a soaring, passionate indictment in a fusion of sounds is 'the Quikening's' first release. A surprising combination of instruments, from the talking-drum and mandolin to the piano, simmer in the background, whilst Tymon's expert, jagged violin strokes, with an Arabian zest, take the front seat. The song explores the dark political truth behind the US military detention centre in Guantanamo bay, Cuba, with a sense of urgency as it climaxes, reflecting how critical and barbaric the situation has become. OIL, another politically charged track satirises society's apathetic approach towards war and material preference over basic human values. Although "Oil" is essentially highlighting a bleak reality, ironic cheer is injected into the verse with some light-hearted, feel-good folk. COLD WIND BLOWS an emotive piece to explore. Working with a fluid, interchangeable group of musicians, Tymon ultimately demonstrates an ongoing commitment to telling it like it is in an exciting, compelling musical register that is unique to him."
Doug Highfield (cdbaby.com/)
"On "Guantanamo", the Arabic scales, the poignant lyrics, and unique vocals just smashed me. "Cold Wind Blows" is a great bit of reflective quiet-time that chills you to the bone. "Oil", this one is my favourite lyrically. – "If you are poor, we'll leave you to rot, you can't afford the justice we've got" – now, that sums it up. This is a real and true CD. No fucking wonder it ain't the radio. All together, this CD is and enlightening and eye (ear) opening experience… and you can dance to it!
8) As mentioned in a previous update, here again is the new official trailer of Merrill Aldigheiri's new Tymon Dogg documentary feature - 9 LIVES OF TYMON DOGG.
March 1st, 2008
Ok, for the last 25 days or so, this fan site has been not been working. This was due to my website host provider having some serious problems with hardware, etc. resulting in thousands of customers losing their sites for a near month. I have been trying to add the below updates to this site for those past three weeks, but simply had no means to do so. I could have changed host providers, but so far I have been relatively happy with my current one, and thought why bother? It seems too much hassle and I had not the time to do so anyhow. My apologies to those who had wanted to view the site and had not been able to, especially Tymon, Susan (thanks also for the Acton Town t-shirt!), and Merrill. If a problem like this ever occurs again, I will indeed be changing host providers. Here are the new updates:
1) On February 9th 2008, Tymon married girlfriend Susan de Muth at St. James Church in Piccadilly. Tymon and his nephew musician Daniel Sumner played a song together as part of the celebrations. Forthcoming "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg" filmmaker Merrill Aldighieri, was also a guest there, and managed to film the below video compilation of the day. Best wishes for Tymon and Susan – I hope you both have many years of happiness together! Thanks to Merrill for the video clip, and for Tymon and Susan for allowing (I hope!) this short video compilation of their wedding day to be hosted on this site.
2) Merrill Aldighieri's forthcoming Tymon Dogg documentary "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg" now has an official trailer, which can be viewed below (thank you Merrill).
3) Tymon will next be playing a solo show at an informal evening at the legendary Filthy MacNasty's Whiskey Cafe on March 20th, 2008. The night will be hosted by Johnny Green, who wrote the excellent Clash book - ’Riot of our Own’. Tymon wil be playing songs he wrote with Joe and some of his own new songs. Recommend people get there early to avoid disappointment as the venue is not that big. Filthy MacNasty's Whiskey Cafe is located at 68 Amwell Street London EC1, London, London and South East EC1. Cost: Free. Time: 8pm. For more information about this upcoming gig, visit the "Live Shows" page.
4) Added a new youtube.com-hosted video clip of Tymon performing "Mondo Bongo" with The Quikening at the recent Carbon Casino 3 gig in London. Don Lett's introduces Tymon and the Quikening. Tymon also later played two encores with Mick Jones' and Tony James' band Carbon Silicon. To check out this video, and two other youtube.com-hosted video clips from the night, visit the "Video" page.
5) Richard Dudanski and Tom Lardner's new group El Doghouse have just come out with a 12" vinyl maxi-single, including the songs "Shut Up", "Screamin Bloody Murder" and "Burro Blues". Tymon plays violin on "Screamin Bloody Murder". You can hear all three songs, which will be part of El Doghouse new 15-song CD "Howl", here: www.myspace.com/eldoghouse Richard and Tom presented the album recently on Charlie Faber's show on Spanish national radio, Radio 3. The record is primarily for promotional purposes, but if you're interested in obtaining one, contact the band via their Myspace page.
February 5th, 2008
1) A few nights ago on February 1st, Tymon and the Quikening played a guest set at Mick Jones's club night - Carbon Casino 3. Tymon himself also played three songs as the encore with Jones's band Carbon Silicon - the songs included: a cover of "Junco Partner", and two Carbon Silicon numbers: "Really The Blues" and "The Network's Going Down". Carbon Casino 3 was held at Inn on the Green, located at 3-5 Thorpe Close, Portobello Green, London. To find out when the next Carbon Casino show will be, visit the official Carbon Silicon at www.carbonsiliconinc.com/ - Two youtube.com clips from the show have now been added to the "Video" section on this site. Thanks t youtube's member's carbonsiliconvideos and anegokoro for the youtube.com video clips. Love that blue violin! sucksupbudgie from www.strummernews.com/ had this to say about Tymon's performance on the night:
"Tymon's set was interesting, I am not a massive fan but there was a slight line-up change from the last time I had seen them and he is a very talented and interesting musician. He did one of the old Meskies numbers Mondo Bongo which I enjoyed. For the encore Tymon came back on and did a magical 'Junco Partner' with Carbon Silicon followed by Really The Blues, The Networks Going Down. A REALLY GOOD NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT - THANKYOU GUYS!"
2) Also hoping to add some thoughts and pics from the January 25th Half Moon pub gig soon. So keep checking back!
January 31st, 2008
1) Tymon and the Quikening are to play a guest set at Mick Jones's club night - Carbon Casino 3, on Friday the 1st February. Tymon will also play something with Jones's band, Carbon Silicon. Inn on the Green, 3-5 Thorpe Close, Portobello Green, WX10 5XL. 8-1am. Tube: Ladbroke Grove. £10 on door (no advance tickets).
2) Last Thursday on January 25th 2008, Tymon played a gig at The Half Moon pub located at 10 Half Moon Lane, London. I hope to soon add some pics and thoughts/memories from the night to the site within the next few days, couresty of Klarita at www.kaparte.info - Kaparte Alternative Arts & Music Promotions.
3) In the extras section of the new "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten" DVD, which features over 100 minutes of unused family & friends interview footage, there is a part where director Martin Scorsese talks about Tymon's song "Lose This Skin". Scorsese says:
"They (The Clash) came to visit me – I was living in an apartment across the street here. I think it was the first time I met them. I forget what year it was – 1980… I was finishing Raging Bull. I was editing up there with Thelma Schoonmaker and I had a big stereo system and they came in and… outside it was a beautiful view of the city in that building – windows all around, and you could look all the way down Park Avenue, whatever. The sky was getting darker and darker and darker and darker. They came in and said hello, suddenly said, "Where's you unit", I said, "over there". They took something, a tape, threw it in, turned it on, blasted it, and that point it was "Lose This Skin", and that that point, thunder and lighting erupted all over the city! That was our hello to each other! (Laughter). The lightning and thunder – it was just one those great moments. Just to redo it now digitally would be really, er… (Laughs). But it is one of those things. It was all the forces came right down into that room. It was quite something."
Also, The Clash as it happens, once were an integral part in an early vision of Scorsese's epic Gangs of New York film, which he had wanted to make as far back as the early 80's. From the "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten" DVD, Scorsese talks about The Clash and his early ideas for Gangs of New York:
"My next film I wanted to make was Gangs of New York (after King of Comedy), but the whole industry had changed. Key to the project was, for me, the visualisation of the picture, and a sense of what the picture should look like was The Clash, um, even to the extent of putting them in as actors and certainly doing the score. And I remember them asking me one time, saying, wouldn't it be out of time or out of place, meaning would it be anachronistic. I said, no, that would be… Actually, it would probably be the best thing for the film, because that was the feeling that was the emotion that was the drive, the drive of the people living at that level, in the streets at the time. I really feel that. And it would also make it… it would also make it modern."
Unfortunately, such plans never eventuated, though Tymon and the Clash's "Lose This Skin" did play a small part in an early cut of the 2002 film. In the original work print of the film, Tymon Dogg and The Clash's "Lose This Skin" is used for exactly 8 seconds as 'temp' music, during the scene where Liam Neeson's character dies.
4) "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg" is currently still being edited, though director Merrill Aldighieri looks to have it completed possibly this month it seems.
5) Tymon's forthcoming new full-length album will indeed be ready possibly around (UK) springtime this year, which is March to May for us non-UK residents. So far I have received scant news about this planned album, though apparently members from Tymon's ever-changing stage band The Quikening will play on the release. I will take a guess and say at least the following three songs will be featured on this album: "We Dragged Ourselves", "It's Time For Moving On", and Tymon's moving tribute to his late friend Joe Strummer "Planxty John Mellor".
6) My apologies to Wendy Grossman (http://studio78online.com/) for misinterpreting her original email message to me regarding her memories of knowing Tymon back in the day, when he stayed with her in Hell's Kitchen, New York in the early 80's. Wendy has kindly sent me another message to rectify my original mistake, and it has now been added to the "Stories" section.
January 5th, 2008
1) The forthcoming Tymon Dogg feature documentary -9 Lives of Tymon Dogg - directed by Merrill Aldighieri is now in the final stages of editing. From two recent emails, which can be read on the 'Documentary' page, Merrill relates the news that "9 Lives" is now in the final stage of editing while awaiting the inclusion of some footage taken from the recent "Arms Aloft in Acton Town" November 2007 tribute concert for Joe Strummer. A fireman who organised a video shooting of the Acton Hall concert has offered Merrill several camera angles to supplement her own, which she hopes to plans to include in the finished film. Footage from the other November 2007 gig - The Mindsweeper Benefit - will also be featured in the completed film, as well as footage of Tymon giving a private performance of his own creation - the Tetraharp. For more information regarding Merrill's film, visit the 'Documentary' page, or check out Merrill's own website at http://artclips.free.fr/
2) Tymon's upcoming January 25th 2008 gig at The Half Moon located at 10 Half Moon Lane, London, will also include the following bands: Gertrude + Mr. Irvine + Planetzim - Entry: £7/£6. Tickets can now be purchased from the following link: www.wegottickets.com/event/24927. The gig's striking new flyer will be added tomorrow. Thank you to Klarita at www.kaparte.info - Kaparte Alternative Arts & Music Promotions - for sending me this flyer.
3) The January/February 2008 issue of fRoots magazine (fRoots 295/296), which features Tymon’s “Guantanamo” single appearing on the magazine's free compilation CD of 17 tracks, has now been released and is now on sale at www.frootsmag.com/
2007 - A SUMMARY OF NEWS & EVENTS
November
16th
Tymon Dogg & The Quikening took part in a Benefit gig for the restoration of the unique floating underground venue called the Mindsweeper on November 16th at ‘Climate of Change’ located at 235 -241 Union Street, London SE1 OLR. The Benefit gig was organized to raise funds towards the £10,000 needed to restore the ‘Mindsweeper’ to its former glory, which suffered a lot of fire damage earlier in September 2007.
15th
Tymon Dogg & The Quikening played a Joe Strummer Tribute Show at Acton Town Hall, Uxbridge Road, Acton, West London. This event commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Fire Brigades Union benefit where Joe Strummer played his last London show. Tickets sold out on months earlier on April 23rd, 2007. Two of Tymon's late 60's songs "Rambling Boy" and "The Bitter Thoughts of Little Jane" were compiled on an RPM CD compilation of obscure 60's/70's songs titled "A Glass Menagerie".Some time in October or November, GEAR magazine's Gavin Coulson interviewed Tymon for the magazine's November 2007 issue.
October
Tymon interview/article by Ian Anderson appears in the October 2007 issue of fRoots magazine.
September
28th
Multi-award winning innovative filmmaker Merrill Aldighieri (artclips.free.fr/) began work on "9 Lives of Tymon Dogg", a yet-to-be-released documentary dedicated to Tymon's music. Merrill travelled to London in September to film various live shows, solo performances and interviews for the film.
7th
Cardiff Festival24 gig cancelled.
August
14th
fRoots magazine's Ian Anderson interviewed Tymon at the 'Boot and Flogger' pub for the magazine's October 2007 issue.
8th
Received Tymon's answers to a list of questions I sent Tymon, regarding his music for a 2nd ' Q & A' piece for the fan site, courtesy of Susan de Muth.
2nd/3rd
Tymon Dogg & The Quikening played a gig at the Big Green Gathering Festival.
June
22nd
Tymon's early second single from the 70's "And Now She Says She's Young" was compiled on Flower Machine Records' “Fading Yellow” compilation
"Volume 9: The Other Side of Life".
15th
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros' "Johnny Appleseed" (which Tymon co-wrote) was chosen as the official theme song for a new HBO show called "John from Cincinnati".
May
27th
Tymon Dogg & The Quikening played a gig at Strummercamp 2007.
18th
Tymon appeared as special guest on The Sound Projector radio show.
17th
Tymon appeared as a special guest on Essex's Phoenix FM radio station (www.phoenixfm.com/). He joined 'The Bear at Lunchtime' on Phoenix FM and played two acoustic tracks "Oil" and "Time for Moving On".
9th
The Joe Strummer biopic "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten" directed by Julien Temple premiered at London's Notting Hill Coronet, ahead of it's theatrical release of May 18.
April
4th
"Lose This Skin" cover version by both Jim Allen features on Jimmy Guterman's "The Sandinista! Project".
March
23rd
Japanese artist and Tymon/Clash/Joe Strummer fan "nob" sent me an animated two-frame drawing of Tymon and Joe, circa the Mescaleros era.
10th
Mapmusic informed me that Tymon Dogg's new EP "Guantanamo" initially looked set to be released in the shops around May/June. A full-length album was also predicted for a release later that year in December 2007. This new album is now slated for a spring 2008 release.
4th
Got word from a Tymon fan from New Jersey who works with several re-issue labels in the UK who was interested in getting Tymon's older unreleased tracks, circa the late 60's, finally released. Nothing ever came of this though.
1st
Tymon and The Quikening played a gig at London's The Rhythm Factory – it was voted "gig of the day" by British newspaper Metro.
February
10th
Songs from Tymon Dogg & The Quikening’s new EP “Guantanamo” were played on Spencer Leigh’s BBC Radio Merseyside “Juke Box Jury” on Saturday the 10th of February on BBC 95.8FM at 6.30pm-8.00pm.
6th
Received an email from Susan de Muth at www.tymondogg.com who kindly went to the trouble of getting Tymon to help out with answering my list of questions sent t
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