Fans of Kirsty MacColl might remember the events surrounding her tragic death while scuba diving in Cozumel, Mexico. Kirsty’s mother, Jean MacColl, recently wrote a book on her daughter’s life: Sun On the Water. In it, she tells of Kirsty not only as an accomplished singer and songwriter — but also as a daughter, person and devoted mother.
Jean also talks with me about the Justice for Kirdty campaign, where she and the MacColl family are still fighting for a fair trial in the case of Kirsty’s death; the book reveals how Mexican officials let the owner of the boat and man responsible, Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova, off without being charged amidst some legal shennanigans. She also discusses the large amount of help and support she has had — and still has — from Kirsty’s friends and fans.
The interview with Jean MacColl will air this Friday on Revenge of the 80s Radio (7-9pm Eastern US Time) and will lead off the second hour (8pm Eastern US time). We will also feature some of Kirsty MacColl’s music.
The book, Sun On the Water, is available where books are sold online.
More information on the Justice For Kirsty campaign can be found on the organization’s website: www.justiceforkirsty.org.
The podcast for our April 25, 2006 Revenge of the 80s Radio Show is up. We talked with Songwriter/Storyteller/Vocalist/Multi-Instrumentalist Stan Ridgway, known to many as one of the foundig members of Wall of Voodoo and the band’s first lead singer. The interview leads off Hour 2.
During the interview, we talked about:
The beginning, rise and fall of Wall of Voodoo and the creation of a new style of music
Stan Ridgway’s thoughts on songwriting and storytelling
Stan’s solo projects and how hs own creaticity evolved
Who is “Teak” Lazar?
Stan’s work with other Drywall and Hecate’s Angels (with his wife, Pietra Wextrum)
Playig live, future touring plans and some works in progress.
Stan Ridgway is the epitome of the great American storyteller, with a musical style that channels the greatest aspects of the traditional and experimental to produce an unmatchable creativity while he leads listeners of his songs on a journey into the far reaches of his mind. Stan’s website is: www.stanridgway.com.
During the show, we also featured music from Doctor and the Medica, Voice of the Beehive, Falco, The Motels and other great artists of the era.
Tonight, Revenge of the 80s has the honor and privelidge of welcoming Songwriter/Storyteller/Vocalist/Multi-Instrumentalist Extraordinaire Stan Ridgway to the show.
Ridgway, well-known from his days as Wall of Voodoo’s original leader and a very creative solo career, will talk with us today. The interview will kick off Hour #2.
We will also feature music from The Motels, Doctor and the Medics, Voice of the Beehive, The Cramps and more artists from the era.
Revenge of the 80s Radio airs every Friday night 7-9 Eastern US time. Our podcast will be available on Saturday morning. <.p>
Do You have a request? You can always leave comments here on the blog, e-mail us at radio@revengeofthe80sradio.com, or call during the live broadcast on Q99.1FM in the Hudson Valley, NY: (845) 651-1110.
I suppose it is bad enough that McDonald’s and American Idol had combined forces to dull the minds of American youngsters by putting out special “American Idol Happy Meals.” The “Happy Meals” also feature a set of musical style-themed toys. One of them grabbed my attention quickly: “New Wave Nigel.” This character wears an orange outfit with purple punk-ish shades, an American Idol logo (yikes) and a Devo Energy hat.
The figure, basically, is an exaggerated likeness of a member of Devo, not just a generic piece. While Devo and music from American Idol have very little in common, I was curious about what its members might think of it. On the website “Club Devo,” maintained by megafan Michel Pilmer, was a post displaying his displeasure, also saying that the toy, when the little Devo-gnome’s switch is activated, plays a song sounding loosely like the band’s “Doctor Detroit.” One would suppose the band concurs with Pilmer, especially if the clain that nobody approached Devo about this little venture before it was ill-conceived.
Incidentally, with Nigel’s shades on, that “punk” happy meal/Idol character looks a bit like the “Punk Rockly” from the old cartoon “Hero High.” .
This Friday, Revenge of the 80s Radio welcomes Stan Ridgway, who many know as the former original lead singer of the band Wall of Voodoo. After he left the group in 1983, Stan began his solo career and hasn’t stopped, working on his own material and collaborating with other musicians including his wife, Pietra Wexstun. with her group – Hecate’s Angels.
Stan’s unique songwriting style might have best been summed up in a quote from Rolling Stone Magazine:
His songs tell stories that unfold gradually and trade in old fashioned narrative devices like character and suspense. It’s a move at once conservative and daring – but, best of all, it works
During the interview, we talk about:
The beginnings, rise and fall of the first incarnation of Wall of Voodoo.
How Stan Ridgway’s unique sound formed and evolved
Stan’s thoughts on songwriting and storytelling
Drywall and “Teak” Lazar
His longtime musical partnership with his wife, Pietra Wexstun, and her band — Hecate’s Angels
Stan Ridgway’s touring plans and future projects.
Stan Ridgway is the epitome of the great American storyteller, with a musical style that channels the greatest aspects of the traditional and experimental to produce an unmatchable creativity while he leads listeners of his songs on a journey into the far reaches of his mind.
Still, as his creative genius keeps evolving, Stan Ridgway will always be known best for the Wall of Voodoo classic, “Mexican Radio.”
Revenge of the 80s Radio broadcasts live every Friday night 7-9pm Eastern US time (GMT-4) Our interview with Stan Ridgway will air this Friday night, April 25th, leading off the second hour. Out podcast of te show will be up over the weekend.
Sun on the Water, the book about Irish singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl’s life (writtern by her mother, Jean MacColl), is officially being released at a launch party in the Soho section of London today. Proceeds will help the Justice For Kirsty campaign, which is helping the MacColl family seek justice and a possible retrial in the case of her tragic death while vacatoinig in Cozumel, Mexico.
The podcast for our 4/18/08 show is up. Hour 1 features music from The Go-Gos, Trio, Voice of the Beehive, Amazulu and more; Hour 2 includes cuts from Kate Bush, Q-Feel, ABC and Paul King.
Revenge of the 80s Radio airs live again tonight 7-9pm Eastern US time on Q99.1FM in the Hudson Valley, NY and www.revengeofthe80sradio.com.
We will feature music from The Filrts, Voice of the Beehive, Madness, Q-Feel and more. We will also talk about some tour action and the coming release of Sun On the Water, a book about the life of Kirsty MacColl and the struggle of her family to get answers and an apology after her untimely 2000 death while scuba diving in Cozumel. In a future show, we will talk with Jean MacColl, Kirsty’s mother, who wrote the book. Keep checking this blog for more details.
Sun On the Water, a book on the life of singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl, best known for her duet with The Pogues, “Fairytale of New York,” will be officially released on Monday, April 21st. It was written by her mother, Jean Newlove (as Jean MacColl), as part of the “Justice for Kirsty” campaign.
Many of us know about the circumstances surrounding her death while on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico in 2000; her family has been fighting for a fair trial against Guillermo González Nova, the millionaire owner of Mexican supermarket chain Comercial Mexicana and owner of the boat that hit Kirsty MacColl while speeding illegally in a designated scuba diving area. One of Nova’s employees took the fall for a total of about $3,000 (USD).
There has since been reports of conflicting eyewitness accounts as to who was driving, whether the “fall guy” received big bucks for taking the blame for Nova and a federal prosecutor in Cozumel found liable on “breach of authority” charges from his handling of the case.
The MacColl family continues to fight on and has been in contact with Mexican officials and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Here is an excerpt of a message from Joan MacColl on the Justice For Kirsty website:
I am not asking for a jail sentence, simply an admission of guilt which seems to be beyond their powers or a new trial and full investigation with new witnesses. This latter seems umlikely. Too risky, perhaps for Gonzalez?
So, much as I don’t want it (and neither do they), the court of Human Rights seems the only solution. Perhaps Gonzalez should reflect on how his behaviour to escape blame has led to shaming his country. I have no time for the judiciary’s quandary. Thank you all for still being engaged in the fight as it starts its eighth year.
The book still has a last page empty for an acceptable resolution.
Fans and friends of Kirsty MacColl can also donate to the cause through the “Justice for Kirsty” website.
While, as stated before, MacColl is known to most American 80s fans as the female singer in “Fairytale of New York,” she had several chart hits in the UK and Ireland from 1979 onward. One song, “They don’t Know,” became a bigger hit when performed by British Comedienne-turned-singer Tracey Ullman (whose video featured a cameo appearance by Paul McCartney). McColl had also worked with such artists as Big Country, Talking Heads and The Smiths.
More information on the book and the Justice for Kirsty campaign can be found on the official website. Joan MacColl plans to hold a special book release event in Britain on Monday, April 21st.
The podast from the Frida 4/11/08 Revenge of the 80s Radio Show is up. We featured music from Big Audio Dynamite, Voice of the Beehive, Strawberry Switchblade, INXS, Red Rockers and more.
Our “Soundtrack Classic” was an unlikely duet between Annette Funicello and Fishbone from the movie “Back to the Beach.”
