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Book Review: Thailand Fever
by Lang Reid
 While
strolling through my local Bookazine and giving a cursory eye over the Death
and Destruction shelves (you know the usual pulp printing of “Bankrupted by
Boom Boom”, or “Ripped off by Rattana” themes, of which there are far too
many), I saw this one called “Thailand Fever” (ISBN 1-887521-48-8, Paiboon
Publishing, Bangkok 2004). When I saw that this was the fourth printing I
looked a little further.
The front cover promises “A roadmap for Thai-Western relationships” while
the back cover says that it is a “one of a kind expose of the cultural
secrets that are the key to a smooth Thai-Western relationship”. If this
publication did indeed hold the key to the Thai Pandora’s Box, then all the
other books would be rendered redundant!
The format is a first person advisory session with various subjects covered
by the two authors Chris Pirazzi and Vitida Vasant, who give the ‘farang’
and Thai cultural viewpoints. What is very clever is the fact that both of
these are also given in Thai language as well as English. The concept being
that the two people in the relationship would read the sections together,
making it such that dialogue can take place between them, as they
individually gain insight into each other’s customs and culture.
The book begins with the couple feeling a mutual attraction, but unsure of
where to go from there. It then leads into the mutual (but entirely
different) fears about advancing further in the relationship, where both can
begin to understand a little more about each other and the pressures they
are under as individuals in a new relationship.
The various chapters include Trust, Sex, Money, Parents, Dowry, Privacy,
Independence, Saving face and general living (in paradise). All of these
topics do require in depth discussion by the two people involved, and cover
the rocks upon which most western-Thai relationships founder.
With Money (my capitalization as this is always very important in any
relationship), the advice is given to the Thai partner of “If you keep using
the method of asking constantly, without advance notice, a little bit here
and a little bit there, it’s as if each time you are extorting money from
him. Nine out of ten times this will cause your relationship to fall to
pieces.” Another piece of sage advice to the male is “Never assume that
silence is contentment.”
The very complex (and deep) situation of the marriage dowry is dealt with in
detail. The average western male has no real idea of the cultural
significance of the dowry, often feeling that this is a fine rip-off of the
westerner for taking away the family daughter. This is not so.
At B. 495 it is not cheap; however, it stands out as being well thought out,
with the novel English/Thai format and the ‘one on one’ narrative. It is in
fact a book of some worth and substance, unfortunately let down by a cheap
and tawdry cover. Chris Pirazzi and Vitida Vasant are to be congratulated
for producing a different and worthwhile book. For the fifth print run, get
a better cover!
Mott’s CD review: Uriah Heep
Bangkok 17th February 2006
Panting by Mott the Dog
Unrestrained eagerness by Meow the Cat
In 1969 a long long time ago there was a very good rock ‘n’ roll
band called ‘Spice’, going round in ever decreasing circles, well known
on the London club and college scene but never being able to make that
big leap to the big time. Along came Bron management who quickly
assessed the situation, and decided that proper management was need,
plus the addition of another musician to fill out the sound and add an
extra voice also helping out on the songwriting side.
So it was decided that the keyboard player from ‘Toe
Fat’, Ken Hensley, would join the other members of Spice. Mick Box, lead
guitar, Paul Newton, bass guitar, and Alex Napier, drums, became ‘Uriah
Heep’.
Very quickly the band started gigging everywhere and anywhere that would
have them, and released their first album ‘Very Eavy, Very Umble’ which,
although now thirty seven years later is considered a very acceptable
debut album, met with very mixed feelings from the music press at the
time. One American journalist threatened to commit suicide if Uriah Heep
were to ever make it big time, words of course she was later to
sincerely regret.
The band also quickly developed a reputation for a revolving door policy
with its band members. Three drummers were required to finish the first
album, whilst two more were required to finish the next two. Uriah Heep
was the main inspiration for the role of the drummer in the marvelous
comic rockumentary ‘Spinal Tap’ although it has to be said that present
drummer Lee Kerslake has shown no signs of spontaneously combusting over
the last thirty five years in the band, apart from when he declined to
be part of the ‘Conquest’ album in 1980 when he went off to join Ozzy
Osbourne for a couple of albums before returning for ‘Abominog’ in 1982.
There have been six bass players and Trevor Bolder has come and gone
once, six vocalists, four keyboard players, but to be fair only one lead
guitarist. The rock on which Uriah Heep has been built, Mick Box, is one
of the nicest people in Rock ‘n’ Roll whose catch phrase is almost as
well known as his stunning guitar playing: Appy Days.
At first, albums from Uriah Heep came thick and fast. After the debut
album there was ‘Salisbury’ (1971) which was another good album but drew
a lot of critical derision as the title track was almost one side long
and contained a brass section and a full choir, perhaps a little
ambitious for its day. This was a little unfair as the rest of the songs
on the album were very good, in fact the acoustic sing-along ‘Lady In
Black’ is still a staple of the live act and was number one in Germany
for over two months. But this was rectified by the quickly recorded
‘Look At Yourself’ (1970) which contained the template for the Uriah
Heep sound, a wall of keyboards, wailing wah wah guitar, harmonized
vocals, and a rock solid rhythm section, almost like the ‘Beach Boys’
gone hard rock.
This was a sound the band was to keep until the present day. ‘Look At
Yourself’ also included such classic songs as the title song and their
first truly great epic ‘July Morning’, which is on every ‘Soft Rock’
album you buy here in Thailand. Why it is always included on the ‘Soft
Rock’ Albums has always been a mystery to this dog as it really reaches
a rockin’ finale with keyboards and guitar battling for supremacy.
With the lineup finally stabilized to Mick Box on lead guitar and
vocals, Gary Thain (the thinnest man ever to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band)
on bass and vocals, Lee Kerslake on drums and vocals, Ken Hensley on
keyboards, slide guitar, and vocals, and David Byron on lead vocals.
They released their breakthrough album ‘Demons and Wizards’, which was
to go top thirty all over the world and give them their first
international hit single ‘The Wizard’.
This line up was to stay together for three years, and five chart
topping albums. Filling concert halls wherever they went. Limousines at
every airport, first class travel, and being lorded wherever they went.
Gary Thain finally had to be let go through ill health caused by the
rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of the band. He was replaced by bass superstar
John Wetton, which did not do much to quieten the unrest within the
ranks, and although the band carried on for seventeen more months and
two more albums, concert attendances were still good, but album sales
began to plummet. Nadir was finally reached in the middle of an American
tour when it was decided that Hensley and Byron could no longer share
the same stage, and David Byron was kicked out of the band, John Wetton
decided to jump ship too. Replacements were found in Singer John Lawton
and ex David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars bassist Trevor Bolder (who was to
turn out to be a very useful chap later on).
The band soldiered on for three more albums but the magic had gone.
Another low point was reached when Lawton was replaced by Robert Plant
sound-alike John Sloman as vocalist; Lee Kerslake had enough and was
replaced by Chris Slade, and then after recording ‘Conquest’ (1980) Ken
Hensley left too. A replacement keyboard player Greg Dechart was found
for the tour, but the results were not ideal and for a year Uriah Heep
ceased to be.
But it is a strange old world. Rock ‘n’ roll Mick Box still owned the
name Uriah Heep, he just didn’t have a band. Knowing that Mick’s talents
were far too great to waste, band agent and friend Neil Warnock coaxed
Mick Box back out and got him to form a new band. Lee Kerslake had just
been unceremoniously dumped out of Ozzy Osborne’s Blizzard of Oz, so was
up for the drum seat, bringing along bassist and songwriter Bob Daisley
whom Ozzy also found surplus to requirements. John Sinclair was
persuaded to move his keyboards from the ‘Heavy Metal Kids’, and
vocalist Peter Goalby came in from ‘Trapeze’. A new album was recorded
‘Abominog’ (1982) which met with great public and critical acclaim and
what do you know, the Heep were back.
After one more album, Trevor Bolder came home from ‘Wishbone Ash’ and
the band carried on for one more album before it was again decided that
things were not quite right. Peter Goalby was finding it tough keeping
up with Heep’s rigorous touring schedule, and John Sinclair and Heep
were never quite comfortable with each other’s styles.
So two new replacements had to be found. The extremely talented and
suitable keyboard player Phil Lanzon was looking for a home after stints
in ‘Grand Prix’ and ‘Sad Cafe’, whist the problem position of vocalist
was filled by Canadian Bernie Shaw after Mick Box spotted him singing
with his band ‘Strauss’ at London’s Marquee Club. This was 1986 and the
new Uriah Heep was ready
Twenty years later they are still together, still rockin’ and amongst
the top ten hard rock bands on the circuit, certainly the most hard
working, and without doubt the best musical line up Uriah Heep has ever
boasted. This line up has released four hard rockin’ studio albums:
‘Raging Silence’ (1989), ‘Different World’ (1991), ‘Sea Of Light’ (1995)
and ‘Sonic Origami’ (1998), all classic examples of modern hard rock.
They have also released a total of eight live albums, and almost yearly
DVDs, plus recording a collection of former glories by the new band to
reclaim royalty rights on some of their classic songs.
Live, the band goes from strength to strength, mixing old classics with
new classics and soon to be classics, whilst showing off their supreme
musicianship. One has only to listen to the ‘Electrically Driven’ (2001)
album to appreciate the power of the beast Uriah Heep has become live.
Now for the first time in their thirty five year history Uriah Heep is
coming to Thailand and will be playing at the Tero Hall in Bangkok on
Friday 17th February 2006. This is a concert not to be missed by lovers
of classic rock music. Book early because it is bound to be sold out.
Uriah Heep:
Mick Box: Guitar and Vocals
Trevor Bolder: Bass and Vocals
Phil Lanzon: Keyboards and Vocals
Lee Kerslake: Drums and Vocals
Bernie Shaw: Lead Vocals
To contact Mott the
Dog email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mott-the-dog.com
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